Bouman powers to victory
uMhlanga's Matt Bouman back on the podium after missing first race of surfski series.
IT was a return of the titans as race two of the Illovo Suncoast Wall and Back Surfski Series got underway on Friday evening as defending champion and uMhlanga resident, Matt Bouman, paddled to victory. In the women’s clash, it was a repeat of last week’s results which saw Nikki Russell make it two from two, with Mt Edgecombe resident Jenna Ward coming in close second.
Bouman recently returned from his fourth place effort at the Breizh Ocean Race in Quiberon, France. He went head to head with Durban North resident Grant van der Walt, who throughout the eight kilometer showdown ended just ten seconds apart.
“I couldn’t really ‘get ahead’ of Grant (van der Walt) at any stage; it was just about eking out those inches the entire way and in the end it was a just a wave or two between us so it really was a close, tough race between the two of us.
“Wade (Krieger) has a lifesaving World Champs third place in the ski competition to his name as well and he finished third here tonight which just goes to show what a town little town Durban is to paddle in,” he said.
Van der Walt meanwhile, is busy building towards his international assignment in Hong Kong, the Dragon Run, in a few weeks’ time and was satisfied with his second place effort.
“There wasn’t much in it between Matt and I. It was a pretty good race in the end,” he said. “I’m gearing up for Hong Kong, the Pete Marlin in East London and then maybe the Cape Town Downwind in December so this is all part of getting ready for those.”
In the women’s race, Nicole Russell was forced to recover from a poor start before a strong return leg saw her paddle past Jenna Ward.
“A wave broke square on my head at the start so when I caught up Jenna and the bunch I decided to stay with them rather than try go off on my own. We turned at the bouy together and that’s when I just put my head down and went for it. Fortunately I managed to string a couple of good runs together.
“This Sunday I’ll be racing in the Mouth2Mouth race on the north coast, which I’m really looking forward to, and then from Wednesday to Saturday I’ll be taking part in the four-day long Richards Bay to Pirates race,” said Russell.
Results men
1.Matt Bouman 33.17
2.Grant van der Walt 33.27
3.Wade Krieger 34.35
Results women
1.Nicole Russell 38.45
2.Jenna Ward 39.57
