CAPE TOWN – Uli Hart will be looking to make use of his home-town advantage when he defends his South African SS1 (single surfski) Ocean Racing title in Fish Hoek on Friday – but there is more than “just” national titles on the line in a race that has some added spice this year.
Last year Hart was in sublime form in Durban to grab a 30-second victory over Mark Keeling and claimed his first SA Surfski Championship victory, and now would like nothing better than to defend that title in front of a home crowd on Friday.
SA Team
As an added incentive, the event is a selection event for the SA team. That means a win for Hart should also secure his spot in the team which will take part in the World Championships being held for the first time in South African waters in Durban in October.
In the women’s race a tight battle is expected, with a long list of potential winners headlined by current World Champion Kira Bester, who is also relishing a chance to claim the national title in front of her home crowd.
With relatively flat and almost windless conditions predicted for the race, the big-water skills of some specialist ocean paddlers will be nullified, and it is likely to mean a bigger front group battling it out close to the finish.
Women’s Race
In the women’s race, the absence of defending SA Champion Michelle Burn means Bester, Saskia Hockly, Melanie van Niekerk, Georgia Singe, Jade Wilson, Pippa McGregor and Nix Birkett are most likely to form a lead group.
In the men’s race, Hart, who recently shone at the national flatwater sprint championships, will be equally comfortable in the smoother sea conditions, but will still face a huge tactical battle against the likes of multiple World Marathon Champion Hank McGregor, Josh Fenn, Keeling, Kenny Rice, Nic Notten and possibly Dawid Mocke, while juniors Sam Mocke and Jared Shrimpton will be hoping to mix it with their older counterparts in the relatively flat conditions.
Friday’s SS1 Championships is just the first leg of a big weekend for the country’s top surfski paddlers, with the prestigious Prescient Freedom Paddle on Sunday doubling as the SS2 Championships and providing an opportunity for two national titles in one weekend.
Robben Island
The 27km race around Robben Island on Freedom Day has become one of the country’s major paddling events and has developed a status befitting the historic venue.
The overwhelming favourites to claim the doubles title is the McGregor and Josh Fenn combination that has won four of the past five editions of the race. The pair will also go into the event as the defending national champions.
Their biggest threat is likely to come from Kenny Rice and Nic Notten, with the Mark Keeling / Ron Benjano combination hoping to pull off a surprise.
In the women’s event, defending national champions Bester and Van Niekerk are going to be tough to overcome. The pair of close friends have developed a deep understanding in a boat and the resultant combination is always hard to beat.
Their biggest challenge should come from Saskia Hockly and Pippa Mcgregor or Jenna Nisbet and Nix Birkett.
Mixed doubles
Sunday’s mixed doubles race looks to be something of a foregone conclusion with Hart and Singe opting to paddle together at the Prescient Freedom Paddle as a training race, and thus signalling their intention to defend their World Championship title later this year in Durban. Another strong mixed doubles crew will be the young brother and sister combination of Christy and Jared Shrimpton.
The SS1 Championships are scheduled to start at Long Beach, Simons Town, at 10am. Paddlers will turn 200m south of the Millers Rock and then head back to to the finish at Fish Hoek Beach.
Sunday’s race around Robben Island will start at 9.30am from the Oceana power Boat Club.
