Stars come out to shine in 2012 Varsity College Marine Surfski Series
Durban - Marathon world champion Hank McGregor can expect a hero's welcome
when he lines up for his first race in the defence of his Varsity College Marine Surfski series title this summer, as the big field of paddlers that
supports the popular Friday evening series measures themselves against the
Durban icon's ability.
The short eight kilometer races in the shelter of Durban Bay have seem some
thrilling encounters between McGregor and the classy likes of Matt Bouman,
Grant van der Walt and his younger sibling Brandon van der Walt, all of whom
have indicated their desire to contest the series, and perhaps exploit
opportunities created by McGregor's pressurised schedule of commitments.
McGregor, who spearheads the new Team Best 4 Kayak Centre, will miss a few races at the start of the series as he will be
racing in Gauteng and then defending his title in the Global Trader Drak
Challenge in Underberg, leaving the door wide open during the first two races
for his competition to get a headstart in the overall rankings.
However once he is back on the startline, McGregor will be hard to beat.
Since last year's The Unlimited Dusi, he has not been beaten in a domestic
race, a record that he will not want to relinquish without a struggle.
In the women's ranks, Amanzimtoti surfski ace Michelle Eder has stamped her
authority on the series and makes no bones about her love for the Friday
evening races. With her Toti friend and paddling partner Tiffany Kruger
battling with a shoulder injury from her sprinting commitments, pressure may
well be brought to bear on Eder by the rapidly improving youngster Jenna Ward
and the seasoned pros like Donna Winter.
Many top paddlers use the Friday night sessions as a key part of their
training for The Unlimited Dusi, now ensconced in its new place in the
calendar in mid-February, and enjoy the variety that the ocean racing brings
to their training regimes.
The series culminates once again in the Varsity College SA Schools
Championships, which is gaining prestige year-on-year and attracting the
cream of the junior surfski talent from around the country. The powerful
force of junior lifesavers from the Western Cape, fronted by Dominic Notten
and Craig Flanagan will be the paddlers to beat.
The series gets under way with
the Borland Financial Services Surfski Challenge at 5:30pm on Friday 13
January.
2012 Varsity College marine Surfski Series
Race 1 : 13 Jan Borland Financial Services Surfski Challenge
Race 2 : 20 Jan Billy the Bums Surfski Challenge
Race 3 : 28 Jan Buddy's Surfski Challenge
Race 4 : 3 Feb Thule Surfski Challenge
Race 5 : 10 Feb Hansa Surfski Challenge
Race 6 : 24 Feb Dion Wired Surfski Challenge
Race 7 : 2 March Borland Financial Service Surfski Challenge
Race 8 : 9 March C-Prime Surfski Challenge
Race 9 : 16 March IT Works Surfski Challenge
Race 10 : 30 March Varsity College Surfski Challenge and Varsity College SA
Schools Champs
ENDS
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World marathon champ Hank McGregor is
determined to defend his title in the
Varsity College Marine Surfski Series despite a busy calendar of commitments
in 2012. |
Owen Middleton/
Gameplan Media |
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Amanzimtoti ace Michelle Eder wrapped up the
women's series title in the 2011 Varsity
College Marine Surfski Series, and will be the woman to beat in the 2012
series. |
Anthony Grote/
Gameplan Media |
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