FNB Surfski series kicks off
Matt Bouman took home the overall honours at the Funky Pants Surfski Challenge, race one of the 2018 FNB Surfski Series.
FOLLOWING two freak weeks of uncontrollable weather, the 2018 FNB Surfski Series got underway at Addington Beach on Friday with the Funky Pants Surfski Challenge which saw Durban’s surfski community come out in support of the popular series.
“It’s great to see the Durban surfski community coming out and taking on some tricky conditions on Friday. We saw a number of the stalwart competitors paddling with newcomers to the surfski scene which is brilliant to see. It was manageable surf but the paddlers showed some great skills with some big runs. Having people taking part and introducing others to the sport of surfski paddling is what we love to see and hopefully it can continue,” series organiser Barry Lewin mentioned.
In some big surf paddlers showed their true skill and the likes of Bouman and Krieger’s class shon through as they battled it out for the top spot on the podium.
Current ICF Ocean Racing World Champion Hayley Nixon was in the first all-ladies boat across the line. The defending ladies series champion teamed up with lifesaving star Carmell Bilson to finish 14th overall. In the trying conditions Kaylee Smit was the only ladies single to finish the long course and having only been paddling for under a year it was a very impressive effort from the Amanzimtoti raised paddler.
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It is becoming a common sight to see Luke Nisbet and Jenna Ward in a boat together. The pair were the first mixed double to cross the line in an impressive third overall.
Kyeta Purchase and Josh Simpkins were the second mixed double with Gareth Miles and Raquel Arcediano finishing in third.
The first all-men’s double across the line was the pair of Travis Kruger and Brent Chiazzari with Tyron and Tevor Maher in second with Dave Harker and Justin Swart finishing in third. Robbie de Billot was the only stand-up paddleboard to brave the testing conditions on Friday evening.
Race two of the 2018 FNB Surfski Series takes place on Friday, 2 February at the Thule Surfski Challenge.
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