Rain doesn’t deter stellar turn out for surfski clash
Durban's Matt Bouman claimed his second consecutive race win while Nikki Russell won the women’s race in the Borland Surfski Challenge on Friday.
DESPITE the rain, Friday evening’s Borland Surfski Challenge presented by Marriott, race two of the 2016 Varsity College FNB Marine Surfski Series, saw Durban serve up another memorable set of ocean conditions for the over 250 enthusiasts who took up the challenge.
Durban’s Matt Bouman claimed his second consecutive race win while Nikki Russell won the women’s race.
Bouman enjoyed a tough tussle with Herbalife’s Wade Krieger and Gene Prato in the series opener in week one and once again charged home ahead of the pair second time around, this time with Prato getting the better of Krieger after the latter got himself stuck on the shark nets.
“I’ve been training really hard and was feeling even better this week so I went out a bit harder than last week this time around and managed to get away from the guys a bit earlier. It was another good race though! We’re really lucky here in Durban, there is just so much talent in this little town of ours!” said Bouman.
The relatively small surf and flat ocean, together with a ten knot wind, made for gentle conditions that were once again enjoyed by many of Durban’s ever-growing surfski community.
The depth in Durban’s surfski talent continued into the women’s clash with a first race win in her debut showing at this year’s Marine Surfski Series for Fenn Kayaks’ Russell was hotly followed by a bumper contest for second, third and fourth position.
A strong effort from Hayley Nixon (neé Arthur) saw her ultimately edge out a charging Donna Tutton while an FNB Dusi-focused Jenna Ward (Fenn Kayaks) claimed fourth and junior competitor Christie MacKenzie fifth.
Zoog Haynes and Linton Hope again put in a strong challenge in the doubles race, leading home mixed doubles winners Jason Ekstrand and Kerry Segal as well as Shaun Burgin and Lee Muir.
The 4km short course encounter saw junior Keaton Riddle surge home ahead of Mkwaba Banda and Lucky Mabuya while the doubles title went to Calvin and Tamryn McKie.
The Hansa Surfski Challenge, race three of the 2016 Varsity College FNB Marine Surfski Series, is at 5.30pm on Friday 22 January at Marine SLC, Addington Beach. Visit: www.marineseries.co.za
