Aussie flavour for FNB Durban Downwind
Australian Mark Anderson will lead the small foreign contingent at the upcoming FNB Durban Downwind at the weekend
RESPECTED Australian paddler Mark Anderson will add an international flavour to the 2017 FNB Durban Downwind from 24 to 25 June, when he makes a return to an event that he knows very well.
The 2017 FNB Durban Downwind attracts the cream of the South African surfski fraternity’s crop with the likes of Hank McGregor, Jasper and Dawid Mocké, Kenny Rice and Matthew Bouman expected to be on the start line.
Not only is the event a sought after title to win but it has the added incentive of being the national single surfski title race, adding an extra carrot to the elite racers that will be contesting the line honours.
For Anderson, racing in the Durban winter is always an attraction and to be able to test himself against the best in the country is added motivation for him to make the journey out from Down Under.
“I come out to South Africa every year to catch up with friends and enjoy the Durban winter but to have a race while I am there is always a bonus. If I am not mistaken this will be my seventh visit in the last ten years!” Anderson mentioned.
Anderson is no stranger to the FNB Durban Downwind having secured a third position in 2016 and a sixth in 2015 the 39 year-old star is hoping for good conditions and another strong performance against South Africa’s best.
“The long range forecast looks promising so I am hoping for a cracking downwind race against South Africa’s finest on their home turf! I’m going to be in South Africa for a while after a quick trip to Mauritius so if there are other races that pop up I will definitely get involved!” he said.
Joining Anderson for the Durban Downwind is fellow Australian Shaun Rice. Rice immigrated to Australia from South Africa many years ago but has a sound ocean racing pedigree behind his name. The two Australian paddlers will have their work cut out for them when they set off in Durban during the two-day window that the race organisers have set aside for the event.
More information can be found at www.durbandownwind.co.za.
