23 June 2006

Another international team has lodged its entry for the Surf Ski World Cup in Durban on 2 July, upping the intensity of the showdown expected at the event.

Experienced Franck Fifils from Guadeloupe heads up a team of four men that are on a mission to put French West Indies paddling on the international map. The 31-year-old does much of his paddling off the French mainland, and has been a multiple French surf ski championship title holder.

Earlier this year he won the tough Culebra Challenge in Puerto Rico, entrenching his reputation as is one of the most respected ski paddlers around.

'A very good paddler'
"I raced against him in the European champs in France, and in several ski races in Tahiti. He is a very good paddler," said South African team captain Herman Chalupsky.

Fifils is joined in the French West Indies team by 41-year-old Stuart Knaggs, and two up-and-coming youngsters in Zou Tanguy and Fred Longa, both of them aged 19, with international ski and sprint racing experience.

"We are building a team for the future, with the younger racers on this rip, this World Cup is part of a process," said Fifils from Guadeloupe. "But you must understand that we want a very good result from this World Cup," he added.

'Ski racing is growing fast here'
"Ski racing is growing fast here," he said. "We have some good races around the Caribbean, in places like Puerto Rico, Guadeloupe and Saint Martin."

"The Caribbean paddlers will be competitive," predicted Chalupsky. "They train in conditions that are similar to ours and will be able to handle it if it gets rough."

The French West Indies team joins the US team on the start line, with teams also being entered from Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti and Bahrain.

The Surf Ski World Cup gets under way in Durban on 2 July, and will be decided over a 30-kilometre downwind course between Durban's Bay of Plenty and Westbrook Beach.

SouthAfrica.info reporter

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	Franck Filfils will spearhead the French West Indian challenge at the Durban Surf Ski World Cup (Photo: Surf Ski World Cup)

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