Lewin wins US double-ski title
3 October 2007
Durban paddler Barry Lewin won the US national double-ski title with Tahitian star Lewis Laughlan at the weekend to end his month-long international tour - which also included a win in Souliga Challenge in the Caribbean Netherlands Antilles and victory in the Liffey Descent in Ireland - on a high note.
Lewin and Laughlan were part of a frantic three-boat scrap for the title, raced in calm conditions around the picturesque Golden Gate Bridge, close to the island that houses the legendary Alcatraz prison, involving fellow South Africans Bevan Manson and Darryl Bartho, and the local crew of Zsolt Szadovszki and Robert Clegg.
Durban's Bartho and Manson gambled by taking a wider line to try and escape the strong current in the San Francisco Bay, but it backfired and left them off the pace in the closing stages of the race.
Frantic pace
"The pace at the end was frantic," said Lewin. "Szadovszki and Clegg were
leading, and I managed to use a few small runs to catch up, and we sat on their wave for a while to recover and time our end-sprint."
The duo broke away 500 metres from the beach finish and managed to get clear of the race leaders to take the title by nine seconds. Bartho and Manson crossed the line a minute further back, in third place, while another South African, Oscar Chalupsky, took fourth with Greg Barton.
The win for the Durban-based Team Jeep SA paddler yielded valuable points on the new Ski Racing World Series, and provided some consolation for his disappointing fourth-place in the single-ski race the day before.
Singles
The singles' victory went to Laughlan ahead of ARB Durban Surf Ski World Cup champ Oscar Chalupsky, with 48-year-old Greg Barton outstripping the youngsters to take the hotspot prize.
"I was frustrated and disappointed with my result in the single-ski race," explained Lewin. "Without taking anything away
from the guys that made the podium, I made some tactical errors. It was technical in the currents and at the turn at Point Bonnita I was in eighth position."
The victory in the double-ski race was particularly special for Lewin as it allowed him to retain the title that he won with Dawid Mocke, also of South Africa, last year.
"Winning it for the first time was great, but it was twice as hard to defend it," he reckoned.
Thrilled
Lewin was also thrilled at how well his combination with Laughlan worked, as they had never paddled together before.
"I was really stoked Lewis (Laughlan) asked me to paddle with him. I really like and admire him. He is a real legend, so modest and a true gentleman - the type of person I strive to be!"
The pair ended the weekend by winning the team event, teaming up with Bartho and US sprint legend Rami Zur to post a narrow win over Barton, Chalupsky, Clegg, and Manson.
Lewin will return to
South Africa, and start preparing for the next major international ski race, the Dubai Shamaal at the end of November.
Fantastic tour
"It has been a fantastic tour for me, with four wins from five outings," said the Varsity College student, describing his wins in the Liffey Descent in Ireland and the Soualiga Challenge in the Caribbean.
"This trip is all about gaining experience," Lewin added. "I am a youngster with plenty of years ahead of me, and the chance to race against the top guys is invaluable and a privilege."
US Surf Ski Championships Doubles Results
1. Barry Lewin/Lewis Laughlin 58:19
2. Zsolt Szadovszki/Robert Clegg 58:28
3. Daryl Bartho/Bevan Manson 59:19
4. Greg Barton/Oscar Chalupsky 1:01:07
5. Carter Johnson/Ian MacKenzie 1:01:14
SAinfo reporter
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