CAPE TOWN – Two-time World Ocean Racing Champion Kira Bester will have a new-found sense of self belief when she aims for her fourth win in the Prescient Freedom Paddle around Robben Island on April 27.
The 2024 and 2025 World Ocean Racing Champion is literally and figuratively riding the crest of a wave as the country’s most successful paddler. On Freedom Day, Bester will join up with regular paddling partner and friend, Melanie van Niekerk, to defend their Prescient Freedom Paddle title and are hoping to add to Bester’s other wins in 2021 and 2024.
Bester’s small stature hides a big heart which has proven able to overcome some severe tests in the past 12 months – both as a World Champion athlete successfully defending her title in Durban in October, and on a personal level when her coach and mentor, Peter Cole, suddenly passed away a few months earlier.
“My training has been going really well,” said Bester this week. “I haven’t trained much with the squad yet. It’s kind of been a lot of my own training and just looking at old programs of Pete and just trying to put together something that I know personally works well for me, and that has worked well in the past.
Responsible
“It is very different. It’s been a process to come to terms with the fact I need to now be responsible for my training and I need to be responsible for whether or not I’m going to pitch or not – if I miss training I’m not going to get a phone call saying, “Where are you?”
“Back then I didn’t realise I could do it myself. I was very reliant on Pete keeping me accountable, because it’s just an easier option.
“But now that I’ve had time to process everything and kind of just wrap my mind around all of it, it’s like I’ve come to terms with the knowledge that I am capable. It’s actually very empowering and very freeing, because I now know I am directly responsible for my results and there’s no finger I can point. I am now solely responsible for how well I do.”
Bester is also well aware that she faces a tough Freedom Day long weekend, with the trial for the national team on the Saturday or Sunday before the Prescient Freedom Paddle on Monday, April 27.
Most Difficult
“In my opinion, the Prescient Freedom Paddle is probably the most difficult race of the calendar,” said Bester. “I always find that it’s just flat and hard work – and you’re going fast and there’s just nowhere to hide.
“Obviously I’m very excited for it because it’s one of the first races of the year and it’s a good way to kick start the system and start building into what’s coming next … but I’m not excited for the pain.”
“To me, the selection race is just another opportunity to race. It’s not to defend a title or to try and prove that I’m the best. It’s just another opportunity where everyone gets together. The cool part of it is seeing everyone and having a lekker race.
“It might take away some of the vuma that some people have for Prescient Freedom Paddle. But I think if it’s going to be a downwind, it’s going to be tough, but it’s also going to be really fun because that section of the ocean is so clean, and it’s just awesome to actually paddle downwind there.”
The bad news for the other women’s crews is that Van Niekerk and Bester could be better than ever before.
“(Melanie’s) been clocking up new PBs on her downwinds, so from a partner perspective, it’s really refreshing thing to see your partner doing so well.
New Boat
“And we also jumped in the double the other day and it was really good. We’ve got a new double, the Flash from Carbonology, and it’s so much nicer when it comes to how we sit together. This new boat is a little bit narrower and we’re sitting super snug. It feels almost like I’m in a single, and it’s really, really been a game changer,” added Bester with a happy smile.
One potential rival crew that now looks unlikely is that of rising star and former World Mixed Doubles Champion Georgia Singe and Jade Wilson. Singe has injured her shoulder and there is a question mark over their participation.
Bester said she is however expecting a tough battle from Saskia Hockly and UK’s U23 World Champion, Rosie Edwards.
“I’ve never actually seen the two of them combining, but they paddled together and won the Pete Marlin so I’m sure they will be in very good shape.
“I’ve been racing against Rosie for a few years, and she’s very good, so it’s going to be fun. I think it could be dependent on the conditions on which combination gets the upper hand.”
Entrants will have the option of two different distances on April 27. The elite paddlers will tackle the full 27km route, which takes all competitors from the Oceana Power Boat Club, around Robben Island and back to the start.
The additional shorter 10km route, introduced in 2023, caters for those paddlers and lifeguards who are not confident enough for the long, open-water route around Robben Island. That course begins from Oceana but takes paddlers along the coastline to a turning buoy, before returning to the start/finish area.
The event is open to all human paddle-powered craft that are seaworthy enough to complete the course. This includes surfskis, lifesaving paddle boats, stand-up paddle boards, ocean skulls and ocean kayaks.
For more on entering the Prescient Freedom paddle Click Here
