Mockes rule SA surf-skiing
21 December 2005
The husband and wife pair of Dawid and Nikki Mocke cleaned up at the Men's Health Cape Point Challenge ski race that served as a the South African single ski championships at the weekend, in tough big swell conditions.
The race course was altered on the day to accommodate the forecast of very large swell off Cape Point, and in particular on the Atlantic side of Cape Point. The course was changed to an out-and-back course from Fish Hoek, turning at a buoy set one hundred metres off Cape Point.
The record field, nonetheless, had to contend with substantial swell during the taxing event, which included a compulsory 10-minute stop at Buffels Bay.
Class of his own
Dawid Mocke, who earlier in the year won the US National ski title in San Francisco was in a class of his own over the 57-kilometre course, and romped home five minutes clear of second placed Simon van Gysen, with Peter Cole in third, a further three
minutes back.
"My plan was to get away from Oscar Chalupsky before the downwind section, as he is so strong on the runs," said Mocke. "But to have a four-minute lead at the turn was beyond my wildest expectations.
"It was really hard work on the way back because there was a strong, lumpy ocean swell running, and no wind, which made the runs difficult to pick up," said Mocke, who opted not to make the recent trip to Tahiti and Australia for the World Cup series, to save himself for his Cape Point bid.
Blitzed the women's race
Nikki Mocke produced a carbon copy performance as she blitzed the women's race to win by eight minutes from classy Cape paddler Kim Rew, and finished in the top 20 overall.
The duo downplayed the significance of a husband and wife winning the respective SA titles simultaneously.
"Sure it's a big thing," said Nikki Mocke. "It's been a good year for us and a good year for ski racing," she added.
In
2006, she and husband, Dawid, will be devoting their time and energy to sprint racing.
Race victim
Visiting US paddler Michael Murphy was one of the race's many victims. He was hamstrung by rudder failure in the big swell, and was eventually forced to limp into the nearest beach for repairs, before heading for the finish at Fish Hoek, determined to finish the race.
"It was a humbling experience," he said afterwards.
"I was really bummed that the race route had to be changed, and that we weren't going to go all the way around the Point, but it was pretty daunting when we got to the Point, so I can only imagine what it was like on the Atlantic side," he reckoned.
Matthew Collins took the junior gold medal from Border star Matthew Tebbitt. Molokai champ Oscar Chalupsky comfortably won the veterans race, finishing fifth overall.
The first double-ski crew of Joe Kearney and Edgar Boehm Junior was beaten to the line by the
charging Dawid Mocke, with Antje Manfroni and Phillip Kantor taking the mixed doubles title.
RESULTS
Men
1 Dawid Mocke
2 Simon van Gysen
3 Peter Cole
4 Julian Callebaut
5 Oscar Chalupsky
Women
1 Nicola Mocke
2 Kim Rew
3 Michelle Eray
4 Wendren Milford
5 Bronwyn Hobbs
Vets
1 Oscar Chalupsky
2 Chris de Waal
3 Daantjie Malan
Masters
1 Joe Boy
2 Tienie van Schoor
3 Dale Lippstreu PEN
Juniors
1 Matthew Collins
2 Matthew Tebbutt
Doubles
1 Joe Kearney/Edgar (Jnr) Boehm
2 Pete Mote/Alan Schuddinh
3 Steve Cohen/Ken Collins
Mixed Doubles
1 Philip Kantor/Antje Manfroni
2 Henri van der Merwe/Jean Wilson
3 Nick Longley/Alice Rawlinson
Source: Canoeing South Africa
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