uMgeni Park’s Hayley aims for podium finish at World Champs

IT is fair to say that uMgeni Park resident, Hayley Nixon has had the ideal lead-up to the ICF Ocean Racing World Championships which takes place in France in September.

In a busy and productive international schedule, Nixon finished third at the Maui Jim Molokai Challenge in May, then followed that up with a win at the Mauritius Ocean Classic (a title she won in 2018 as well) before sealing another victory at the Nelo Summer Challenge (she also won the title in 2018) in Portugal.

Nixon then returned to SA for a few shorter surfski races and won the Bay Union King of the Bay trophy in the ladies race for the very first time.

“I think the quick turnaround between some of the international races stood me in good stead. My preparations for the Mauritius and Portugal also differed and I feel I learnt valuable lessons in both races, particularly at the Nelo Summer Challenge,” she explained.

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Nixon gave up about a 30 second lead in the Nelo Summer Challenge after losing her bearings on the course.

“This year they reversed the order of the race and I think I was complacent because I felt I knew the course well. I didn’t do any training paddles on the reverse course and even though we were all paddling from a different direction I felt I would still be able to recognise markers. It was about 12 kilometres into the race things became confusing. I was trying to remember landmarks but when you haven’t seen those landmarks, your mind begins to play tricks. I actually had to wait for Angie Le Roux of France who was about 30 seconds behind me to find out which way to go. She was kind enough to tell me to keep going straight,” she said.

While Nixon still powered her way to victory, she added she would not make the same mistake at the world champs.

“I’m going to be in France about five days earlier and I’ll definitely get to know the course before we paddle on race day. You have to control the controllables. Even though I feel there’s a target on my back being last year’s world champion, I’m okay with that. It’s an honorable position to be in. I feel I’ve had a solid lead up to France so I’m fairly confident in my ability to overcome whatever obstacle comes my way,” Nixon explained.

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The championships will be held in the north-west of France, at Saint-Pierre Quiberon in Brittany. It will be the first time the World Championships are held in this region, and the first time in France.

Nixon will be joined by Durban North’s Sabina Lawrie, La Lucia’s Kyéta Purchase and Mount Edgecombe’s Jenna Ward who are all part of the 20 plus squad going to France.

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