VETERAN ocean racing ace Matt Bouman signalled his dominance of the 2018 FNB Surfski Series when he powered away to win race seven, the Boland Surfski Challenge, presented by Marriott, and the 2018 series title in tricky conditions on Friday evening.
With a powerful north-easterly to contend with, SMG/Epic Kayaks’ Bouman showed the field why and how he is one of the premier surfski paddlers in the country with an emphatic display that gave him his fourth win in as many races to wrap up the series title with only a handful of races to go.
Bouman, who has been a class apart in 2018, had the usual suspects to battle it out with and once again he managed to get the better of his friend and rival Wade Krieger who finished second. Krieger had a tough battle for second place but manage to pip Gene Prato to the spot by 10 seconds.
Having just come off a bronze medal at the 2018 FNB Dusi Canoe Marathon, Euro Steel’s Jenna Ward and Luke Nisbet teamed up to take home the mixed doubles honours on Friday evening after a long absence from ocean racing.
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Ward and Nisbet have combined to become a formidable force in a double surfski and have won far more races than they haven’t in the mixed category. Although Ward will return to singles she is using the mixed doubles racing as a preparation.
After seeing her new husband power to a FNB Dusi Canoe Marathon title, Nikki Birkett (neé Russell) hopped back into a surfski to take home the ladies crown on Friday. She beat off the challenge from Sabina Lawrie and Sharon Armstrong to take her first race win of the 2018 series in impressive fashion.
Tyron Maher and Trevor Maher were the second strongest doubles pair on the water while Trevor Verness and Skye Prato rounded out the doubles podium.
The all-ladies crew of Euro Steel’s Hayley Nixon and Carmel Bilson were once again the strongest ladies double and finished fourth overall in the doubles category.
The 4km short course saw Matt Maroun take his first win of 2018 ahead of Connor Botha in second and Dave Rees in third.
Experienced paddler Kyeta Purchase partners up with Joshua Simpkins to take home the doubles honours in the short course on Friday evening.
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