Surfski team to mount title charge at world champs

SOUTH African surfski paddlers look to claim a strong title charge in the second edition of the ICF world championships in Tahiti led by defending men’s champion, Shaun Rice and the six time marathon world champion, Hank McGregor.

Rice was able to fend off tough competition at the McCarthy Toyota Durban King of the Bay race. The team that was put out was an experimental side for the upcoming championships, and proceeded to put in some good performances. Rice looks sure to keep tight grips on the title he won in Portugal two years ago. Rice revealed his jubilation for the upcoming tournament on social media , saying “I’m super amped for Surfski worlds, I managed to get out of the race course earlier and it was great.”

McGregor, the most decorated paddler in SA history, was at the first edition of the Ocean racing World Championships and with a considerable number of honours to his name, the SA legend is expected to do extremely well in this year’s competition.

South Africa’s team of women looks ready to go and set to compete in this year’s competition. The absence of Michelle Burn and Nikki Mocke, who were on the podium in Portugal 2013, will surely be missed, although a team of heated up paddlers chomping at the bit to gain their own honours, including Jenna Ward, Nikkie Russel and Hayley Arthur, will refuse to let absentees affect their competition.

Ward performed admirably in the overall women’s race with the race being won by New Zealand national Teneale Hatton, which left Ward losing out on third place by a slight margin.

Durban schoolgirl Kyeta Purchase finished fourth in the U23 race, she was also placed as the first junior. This feat is quite extraordinary as she is currently recovering from an emergency appendectomy after bursting an appendix two weeks ago at the World Marathon Championships in Hungary.