Sport

SA shines in world's richest surf ski race

7 December 2009

South Africa's Dawid Mocke was edged out by reigning Dubai Shamaal champion Tim Jacobs in a dramatic end sprint for the honours in the world's richest surf ski race last Wednesday as South African paddlers filled 10 of the top 20 places.

After the completion of the $60 000 Dubai Shamaal, Dawid Mocke received the Surfski.info World Series men's award, while the women's World Series title went to New Zealand's Katie Pocock.

South Africa's Michele Eray, who won all eight races she entered during 2009, was named the Surfski.info Paddler of the Year.

Successful defence

It was a successful Dubai Shamaal title defence for Australia's Jacobs, a feat that was matched by Eray in the women's event.

In the men's race, Mocke, from Cape Town, took an early lead as the 140-strong field raced out of Dubai's vast reclaimed landmark, the Palm Jebel Ali.

Just one-kilometre out of the channel, into the open sea, Mocke clinched the course's Nelo Hot Spot, claiming €1 000 for reaching the buoy first.

Bouman and Jacobs never let him out of their sight, and the trio raced downwind for the next 15 kilometres, expertly reading the diagonal wind swells towards the Palm Jumeirah.

Emerging star, Murray Stewart of Australia, hung on in fourth place, a position he kept until the finish.

Deep water threat

South African downwind paddling expert Clint Pretorius posed a threat throughout by taking a deeper line in the hope of being able to race back to the coastline under the power of a stronger wind swell, but the front-running trio was simply too fast.

With just two kilometres to go the finish, Mocke held a small lead, with Bouwman challenging him for first place wave-for-wave. But it was the supremely composed Jacobs who then kicked down a gear and raced to the front in an extraordinary display of power and precision tactics.

End sprint

With only 500 metres to go, Jacobs rounded the breakwater into the harbour with Mocke and Bouman on his tail, and gunned his Epic ski to the finish and glory.

The biggest disappointment of day was the disaster that struck the reigning Molokai champion, Hank McGregor, whose ski was hit from behind with the race barely under way, causing his rudder to sever from his craft and putting him race.

In the women's race, Eray, the dominant athlete in the sport, was followed across the finishing line by Australia's Jasmin Kelly and New Zealand's Katie Pocock.

DUBAI SHAMAAL RESULTS

Men

Tim Jacobs (Aus) 1:14:42

Dawid Mocke (SA) 1:14:47

Matt Bouman (SA) 1:14:55

Murray Stewart (Aus) 1:16:41

Clint Pretorius (SA) 1:17:07

Dane Sloss (Aus) 1:17:56

Scott Rutherfoord (SA) 1:18:13

Barry Lewin (SA) 1:18:24

Brendan Sarson (Aus) 1:18:28

Sean Rice (SA) 1:18:39

Women

Michele Eray (SA): 1:29:36

Jasmin Kelly (Aus): 1:32:06

Katie Pocock (NZ): 1:32:57

SAinfo reporter



	Tim Jacobs and Dawid Mocke duel for victory in the Dubai Shamaal Surfski Race (Photo: Surfski.info)

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