Top US ski paddlers for Durban
22 June 2006
A strong US team has been confirmed for the Surf Ski World Cup which takes place in Durban on 2 July. It will be spearheaded by husband and wife team DeAnne and Patrick Hemmens, who met through canoeing in the Western Cape before emigrating to the United States.
The team also includes Mark Sandvold, Dave Jensen and Mark Buck.
"The Surf Ski World Cup is creating a lot of interest in the United States," said DeAnne Hemmens from Costa Mesa in California. "The sport is exploding in the States as well, and everyone is talking about the World Cup in Durban.
'Conditions will be tough'
"We all anticipate that the conditions will be tough and, to be honest, a few of the ski paddlers here are a bit afraid of the conditions. However, we are looking forward to the race immensely," she added.
42-year-old Patrick Hemmens is a veteran of the US sprint and lifesaving teams and has completed seven Molokai Challenges,
placing twelfth overall at this year's event.
His wife DeAnne was part of the US K2 and K4 sprint team at the 1996 Olympics and was a gold medalist at the Pan American Games. She has completed four Molokais, two on a single ski and twice in a mixed crew with her husband Patrick.
Three-time US champion
Californian Dave Jensen is a seasoned marathon kayaker and ski paddler, has been US surf ski champion three times and is the current US double-ski champ.
He is a regular campaigner on the tough Molokai Challenge, and has raced the tough Oahu crossing in the OC1, OC2, outrigger and ski categories. He won the gruelling 400km Texas Water Safari in 2002, and has also won the US Wavechaser ski series twice.
Mark Sandvold will also pose a threat at the World Cup, after a solid sixth overall at the Molokai Challenge last month. With more than 10 Molokai crossings to his credit, the 40-year-old brings speed and experience to the US
team.
35 Molokai crossings
Mark Buck is a veteran of ocean outrigger and ski racing for more than 45 years, having completed 35 Molokai Crossings, with five victories and eight other top-10 finishes in the outrigger class.
He started ski paddling in 1979, and has been a dominant force in ski races around Hawaii, Maui and Oahu.
The US team: Mark Buck, DeAnne Hemmens, Mark Hemmens, Dave Jensen, and Mark Sandvold
SouthAfrica.info reporter
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