World's top surfskiers for Durban
13 June 2008
Durban will once again host the world's most prestigious surf ski event this winter when the Durban Surf Ski World Cup takes places on 28 June, and in the process it will decide the outcome of the inaugural Surf Ski World Series.
Most of the world's top surf ski racers have already confirmed their entries for the event, which is the only event on the 10-leg Surfski World Series to carry a five-star status, and with it the most points towards the series rankings.
Durbanite Oscar Chalupsky is the current series leader. He won last year's World Cup in stormy sea conditions that proved to be very demanding for most of the field, with several ski paddlers having to be rescued by the NSRI after being separated from their craft.
A fair and safe contest
Race committee chair Butch Murray has confirmed that the date and course will be finalised once the organisers have a clear idea of the weather conditions, to ensure that the contest is a fair and safe one for every single participant.
"While it was exciting, we learnt some lessons last year," said Murray. "Safety is paramount, not just for the well known elite paddlers, but for every one of the 400-odd surf ski racers that we expect to enter the race this year."
Chalupsky and another well known personality Keith Fenn have thrown their support behind the Durban Surf Ski World Cup to ensure that the event - and Durban as a venue for surf ski racing - remains entrenched at the top of a sport that is mushrooming worldwide.
The weather and the water
"Durban has the weather, the water is warm, and it has the biggest surf ski paddling community in the world, so it is no surprise that this World Cup is regarded as the big one," said Chalupsky, whose company Epic Kayaks is backing the race.
"Not only are the top South African paddlers dominating the sport worldwide, but our skis are as well. In the Molokai last month roughly half the field was racing Epic skis," he added.
East London-based Keith Fenn is just as passionate about driving the status of the Durban World Cup. "The world tends to look at South Africa when it comes to surf ski paddling," said Fenn.
SA the world's pace setter
"Whether it is the elite paddlers, or the development of new craft, South Africa is the pace setter, so it is important that we deliver a top class World Cup."
Fenn kayaks are also exported to every continent and are in demand at the other Surf Ski World Series events.
Event organiser Butch Murray has confirmed that the World Cup race will be a 25 kilometre to 30 kilometre downwind contest, based on the prevailing weather and the safety standards that have been set for the event.
Schedule
"The main World Cup race is scheduled for Saturday, 28 June, with a fun relay planned for the Sunday, and the prizegiving for both events on Sunday afternoon," said Murray.
"If the weather plays a major role on the weekend then we might reschedule the main World Cup race for the Sunday, and hold the relay on the Saturday," he added.
He also confirmed that the World Cup will be a deep-water start and not a beach start, because some internationals were not comfortable with the big surf that is common in winter along the KwaZulu-Natal coast.
Source: Surf Ski World Cup
