WITH surfski paddling riding the crest of a wave during the Winter Surfski Series, a big field of tough paddlers set off from Scottburgh’s main beach shortly after sunrise on Saturday morning, 26 June for the annual 46km Scottburgh to Brighton surfski marathon.
Billed by many surfski paddlers and lifesavers as one of the ultimate ocean paddling challenges, the race included a compulsory beach stop at Amanzimtoti, roughly halfway through the paddle to the finish at Brighton Beach on the Bluff.
Designated a single ski championship event, the race attracted many of the regions elite surfski racers, including Gene Prato, Bevan Manson, Jason Eckstrand, Hamish Lovemore and Jean Luc Mauvis, while a significant number of paddlers have travelled from beyond the boundaries of the province to contest the prestigious title.
East London U23 racer Josh Fenn, who hit the headlines winning the national double ski title with Hank McGregor in Durban in April, was a serious threat to the title, while Cape challengers included Ian Black and Paul Marais who joined a number of upcountry based paddling stars on the start line. In the women’s field Jenna Nisbet squared up to Nix Birkett and seasoned downwinder, Sharon Armstrong.
But the most talked about entry was hidden in the field of doubles, where national champ and multiple marathon world champion, Hank McGregor entered with his wife Pippa. Both were in great form, Hank McGregor having won the recent winter series title and Pippa coming off the back of a string of podium finishes in the women’s division.
With the annual sardine run in full swing at present, the deep sea trip from Scottburgh to Durban normally rewards paddlers with sighting of dolphins and massive schools of feeding game fish and seabirds. The critical deciding factor on the day was the weather and with a sizeable field including a significant number of Scottburgh to Brighton novices, the race organisers breathed a sigh of relief when the clear skies and the sun came out with favourable moderate South-Westerly wind and manageable surf conditions.
