MATT Bouman stepped up to the plate when the second leg of the Bay Union Open Ocean Surfski Challenge took the paddlers out into the runs and currents off the Bluff on Sunday, using his expertise to bag the Citadel Open Ocean Challenge, his first win in the four race series.
With a gentle South Wester forecast, the race from DUC was an out-and-back loop to turncans off the fences south of the harbour, offering good runs on the way back, but with the approach of the cold front the wind picked up steadily during the morning, making for tough and choppy conditions for the paddlers.
Bouman used his years of deep water racing experience to good effect as he cantered home to win from the on-form Gene Prato by thirty seconds, and Wade Krieger snatching the last step on the overall podium from Grant van der Walt and Andy Birkett.
In the women's race, Michelle Burn revelled in the runs to win from Nikki Russell, reversing last week’s result, with Kyeta Purchase and Christie Mackenzie behind them.
Burn said that her big base of marathon training had paid dividends but added that she was worried that her heavy training session at Camps Drift the day before might hamstring her.
Jenna Ward opted to paddle in a double with Sabina Lawrie, and finished fifteenth overall.
Zoog Haynes and Lance Howarth were the first double ski home, in sixth overall.
The popular 6km short course was won by Matt Mahoun from Steve Evans and the women's double ski crew of Tracey Nuss and Sharon Armstrong.
In the Stand Up Paddleboard class that took on the short course Julian Ryder showed his class by streaking away from Nicholas Park-Ross and Matt Swemmer, followed by Jon Ivins and the form female SUP paddler Lande Williamson.
The weekly Sunday morning now shifts to the Geriatskis Open Ocean Challenge, starting at DUC at 9am next Sunday, 23 July.
