Krieger crowned 2016 Wall and Back men’s champion

FORMER surf lifesaving ace turned surfski talent, Wade Krieger claimed the 2016 Illovo Suncoast Pirates Wall and Back Surfski Series men’s title on Friday evening when he raced to victory at race five, while junior star Kyeta Purchase claimed the women’s race spoils.

The result saw Krieger, who also reigned supreme at race one and two and finished second at race three, clock up his fourth result of the series, qualifying him for the overall standings while also earning him an unassailable lead over his nearest rivals.

Having missed last week’s fourth round clash due to being in East London for the Pete Marlin Surfski Race, which doubled as the 2016 South African Surfski Champs, the Gravity Sports/Epic Kayaks athlete returned to the Durban based contest eager to sew up the series title after a string of consistent results.

“I took a few days off after Matthew Bouman and I managed to get a second place in the doubles race at SA Champs last weekend, so I felt really good and fresh after a bit of a break,” explained Krieger.

He said even though Matthew Bouman and Hank McGregor weren’t there, he felt it was important to imagine that they were, and to try push the whole way.

“I tried to keep my pace up right to the end, especially as the Pirates Wall and Back Surfski Series has been going for so long now and the faithful are always there, having a good dig,” he added.

Krieger charged out the blocks and using the few small runs available on the way down to the harbour wall, refused to surrender his early lead.

Upon turning at the halfway stage, Krieger continued to push hard into the wind on the return leg as he raced home ahead of Steve Woods and Bay Union/Fenn Kayaks’ Luke Nisbet.

In the women’s race Purchase was unrivalled at the sharp end of the contest as the Euro Steel/Mocké Paddling flyer charged to her first race victory of the 2016 series, the perfect early birthday present to herself the day before she celebrates her 18th birthday.

Having now banked her third result of the series, matching that of women’s series log leader Jenna Ward who was absent from race five’s line-up due to being at the Dragon Run in Hong Kong – which sees many top South African paddlers competing, it is all to play for at next week’s sixth and final leg of the series in the race for this year’s women’s crown.

Another competitive doubles clash saw Byron McKie and Irvin Dixon claim the spoils, finishing ahead of Lee Muir and Shaun Burgin while Vanessa Mayhew and Charl Massyn claimed the mixed doubles’ win and Savannah van Rooyen and Siobhan Sharp the women’s.

The sixth and final leg of the 2016 Illovo Suncoast Pirates Wall and Back Surfski Series is at 5.30pm on Friday 18 November. Visit: www.wallandback.co.za.