Young stars shine bright at surfski race

THE Borland Surfski Challenge, race three of the Varsity College FNB Marine Surfski Series, saw tomorrow’s stars sparkle as the talented juniors took full advantage of some of their regular bigger name rivals absence. This was true for Our Lady of Fatima pupil, Kyeta Purchase, who stole the show in the women’s clash as she clinched her maiden senior race title despite still being a junior competitor.

Purchase took the opportunity to prove just how much she has grown in recent months as an open ocean racer.

“I was a little sore after the race but I was really happy to have won my first senior race,” said the 16-year-old.

“Considering I was hardly able to finish the short course race last year, I’m really stoked to have beaten someone as good as Michelle (Burn) in the last two races and my training I’ve been doing with Lee McGregor has definitely planned a big role in that.

“Last night I got out cleanly through the surf and then the runs offered us some more assistance than the previous week but coming in I did have a bit of a swim, just a quick one,” she chuckled admittedly.

The young star hopes to use Durban’s array of surfski series as part of her preparations for the ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships in Hungary at the end of the year.

The men’s race saw 2014 series co-winner and uMhlanga resident Matt Bouman get a first win of this year’s series under his belt as he powered home ahead of Ironman lifesaving sensation Wade Krieger.

Race four of the 2015 Varsity College FNB Marine Surfski Series, takes place at 5.30pm on Friday 30 January at Addington Beach.