Surfski stars look forward to 2016 season
Local surfski paddlers have their sights set for the start of the Varsity College FNB Marine Surfski Series which gets underway on Friday, 8 January.
THE 2016 Varsity College FNB Marine Surfski Series gets underway on Friday, 8 January but already the province’s top surfski stars are hard at work prepping for the opening race of the ten-leg summer series.
With both titles sponsors Varsity College and FNB back again in 2016, more of the same great value and organisation as well as the weekly clashes providing the ideal platform for participants and their families to ease into the weekend, the 2016 edition promises to be yet another memorable one for all.
“The Varsity College FNB Marine Surfski Series is the biggest of its kind in the world which creates a playground for some of the world’s best paddlers and we can’t wait to bring yet another memorable edition to Durban’s and the rest of KZN’s paddlers in 2016!” confirmed series coordinator, Barry Lewin.
“We have some of the best surfski talent in the world based here in Durban that sees each week’s contest a mini-World Champs up front while our hardy regulars enjoy many a ding-dong battle against mates a little further back in the pack each week,” he added.
With its popular 8km long course and 4km short course options weekly, the series attracts hundreds of paddlers weekly with the opening leg once again expected to produce a three hundred plus field.
2016 will again see the series look to assist two great causes close to the hearts of those involved in the series.
“Through Varsity College’s VC Cares programme, we will once again be giving away a surfski with all funds raised from the sale of raffle tickets going towards the great work that those involved in this programme do!
“The Lettie Paddle initiative started by Danica Bartho a few years ago is another organization that has become synonymous with our series and again our pre-FNB Dusi exclusive Tuesday race on Tuesday 16 February will be supporting the Lettie Paddle efforts to raise cancer awareness and funds.”
Up front, the battle is again set to be hotly contested in both the men’s and women’s series title race.
Household names the globe over such as Hank McGregor (Euro Steel/Epic Kayaks), Matt Bouman (Epic Kayaks) and Wade Krieger (Herbalife) will look to fend off challenges from Lewin (Varsity College/Jeep Team), Steve Woods, Adam Nisbet, Oliver Burn, Gene Prato and youngster Bailey de Fondaumiere.
The women’s clash will again see the depth of Durban’s female paddling talent on display as Nikki Russell, Michelle Burn, Jenna Ward, Kyeta Purchase (all Fenn Kayaks), Donna Tutton, Hayley Nixon (neé Arthur) and Danica Bartho go head-to-head.
The series finale – the Varsity College Surfski Challenge – on 11 March will again double as the year’s South African Schools Surfski Championships where the country’s top junior will battle it out for the coveted national title and the chance to win a bursary to the Varsity College Sports Life program worth R50000.
“It has been great to see the growth of the series over the seven years that Varsity College has been involved; growth in the number of participants, spectators and the competition!” said Varsity College’s National Sports Manager, Carole Adam.
The 2016 Varsity College FNB Marine Surfski Series gets underway on Friday, 8 January with racing starting in front of Marine Surf Lifesaving Club, Addington Beach at 17h30. More information can be found at www.marineseries.co.za
