Durban, South Africa – Surf Iron Man Matthew Bouman signalled his return to competitive surf ski racing in the most emphatic fashion possible, by winning the first race of the Discovery men’s Health Surf Ski Series against a very strong field.

Bouman, who has been absent from ski racing for the last two years due to his commitment to the national sprint team, shook off early pacesetter Hank McGregor and then held off the dogged Capetonian Dawid Mocke to win the New Balance Season Starter by thirty seconds.

The 12 kilometre race, which was raced over a triangular course from Marine Surf Lifesaving Club to Snake Park beach before rounding a deep sea buoy, was contested at a furious pace, which resulted in Bouman paddling alone at the front of the race.

Barry Lewin (Photo: Craig Dutton)

Tactics

“I couldn’t see anyone!”, said Bouman afterwards. “Hank McGregor was putting the pressure on early, so I decided to try and get away from him. But that meant that I was on my own for a lot of the race.”

“When Dawid Mocke came back at me I decided to give it everything to try and hurt him, and I managed to hold on to the end,” said a delighted Bouman.

Caught by surprise

“I think Matt caught us all by surprise today,” said runner up Dawid Mocke, the multiple Kiwi King of the Harbour and US Ski champion. “He was absolutely awesome. Everything we threw at him, he had an answer for.”

Matt Bouman - favourite for the SA World Cup? (Photo: Craig Dutton)

Surf Ski World Cup

Bouman’s victory has heightened interest in the ARB Ski World Cup in Durban in July, which has already attracted the interest of the best ski racers from around the world.

Coming off a strong sprint training base, he stamped his authority on a field that included arguably the world’s top ten ski racers, including the defending champion and runner up from last year’s ARB Surf Ski World Cup, Hank McGregor.

"...early days..." 

While he was thrilled with his victory, Bouman was modest and quick to label it as “lucky and still early days.”
Durban entrenched its reputation as the global capital of surf ski racing as close on 500 paddlers took part in the season’s pipe opener. This is just shy of the record of 525 set up at this event two years ago, which still stands as the world record for participation in a ski race.

The city rolled out near perfect conditions for the 12km and 6km races, which serve as the season’s grading races. Under clear skies, and paddling into a light north easterly swell, the big field could enjoy the challenges of ocean racing with confidence.

The Discovery Men’s Health series shifts to Dairy Beach for the Lab Series 15km race, which usually offers more challenging surf for the ski racers to confront as they leave and return to the beach.

SUMMARY OF RESULTS

1.Matthew Bouman 54:09
2.Dawid Mocke 54:35
3.Herman Chalupsky 55:01
4.Daryl Bartho 55:33
5.Hank McGregor 55:36
6.Barry Lewin 55:43
7.Gary Waud/Glenn Hilliar 58:00
8.Stephen Wilson/Simon Brittz 58:01
9.Wayne Wilson 58:10
10.Butch Murray/Marc Germiquet 59:03
11.Brett Bartho 59:16
12.Steve Woods 59:20
13.Grant Bowden/Dirk van den Berg 59:45
14.Wayne Thompson/Laura Thompson 59:49
15.Ken Collins/Chris Couve 59:53
16.Trevor Vernes/Gary Probert 1:00:04
17.Andre Pohl 1:00:28
18.Nicola Irvine/Brett Irvine 1:00:53
19.Craig Nortje 1:00:54
20.Sven Bruss 1:01:01

Short Course (6km)

1.Ian Moore/Meghan Bush 36:50
2.Tim Korving 39:22
3.Andrew Atkinson/Andrew Lake 39:36
4.Andy Booth 39:59
5.Vernon O’Connell 40:26

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