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 Joe Glickman
Here's my highly-subjective scouting report on what is sure to be one of the
most competitive and talented fields yet assembled.
The Oscar Factor
 This is my fifth Molokai and I've never seen a
fitter and more focused Oscar. While Oscar typically has more confidence than Paris
Hilton does DWI charges, this year Oscar and his training partner Bevan Manson
did 10 50-kilometre paddles just last month - racing for beers and bragging
rights the entire distance. Armed with a ski that's lighter than a 12-pack,
Oscar has thorough belief in his ultra-light craft. And the old man is flying:
Last week in training over a 45 min. piece Oscar averaged 17.6 kilometres per
hour in "modest" downwind conditions. Had the trades been pumping I'd
consider him the favourite. With far more modest conditions the Oscar factor is
diminished a bit. However, Oscar has trained diligently and says that he can't
sit on the wave no matter how hard the young bucks go. At 44 years of age, a
svelte Oscar recognizes how precious a 12th title will be.
First Time Phenomenon
No paddler on the planet has won more kayak races in a variety of disciplines
than Hank McGregor. In an ICF kayak he's won both the Junior and Senior World
Marathon Titles as well every important river race in South Africa.
Those in the know said his solo win in the non-stop Dusi against a talented
field of K2's bordered on the impossible. In a
ski he's just as formidable. Last year he won 16 consecutive Men's Health
Series races as well as the World Cup held on his home turf in Durban. In other words, when Hank McGregor
starts as race he usually wins. Paddling a stunningly light Epic V10L elite
carbon ski seems almost unfair given the "flat" conditions. This, of
course, is his first crack at Molokai so look
for Hank to do as Clint Pretorius did last year - shadow Oscar and rely on his
world class sprinter speed to come through at the line.
Defending Champ
 Analyzing Clint Pretorius' pre-race plan is like analyzing a humming bird with
headphones. In fact, the 22-year-old from Durban
seems virtually unaware of the fact that he's the defending champ in the most
talked about surf ski race in the world. Last year he won on an Epic V10; this
year he's opted to use a Fenn Mako 6. By his own admission, Clint is less fit
this year than last so the smaller conditions make repeating less likely.
However, Clint is perhaps the most gifted paddler in the field on the flats and
in the bumps so he will undoubtedly be up with the leaders right to the end.
Mocke Machine
The mini war within the war is the rivalry between the Epic boys (Oscar,
McGregor, Manson) and the Fenn squad of Pretorius and Dawid
Mocke. Given his win at the Cape Point Challenge, US Surf Ski Champs and
King of the Harbour New Zealand, Mocke -- the lone Capetonian among the
Springboks -- is clearly one of the top 3 ski paddlers on the planet. Last year
at the World Cup in Durban
he finished second to Hank McGregor and led virtually the entire race. Though
he's largely built his reputation as a brilliant grinder and strategist with
superior fitness, it's clear from training this week that Mocke can surf with
the best in the game. Now fully recovered from his tick bite fever that set his
training back for 10 days, Mocke is prepared to push the pace from the gun. It
will take a very fit and focused paddler to knock him off the podium.
Downwind Maestro
 A Molokai without Dean Gardiner is like Oscar without the bluster. Most
insiders thought he'd skip the race this year but late last week the nine-time
winner made arrangements to secure a Fenn Millennium and race he shall. Or will
he? Apparently Dean prepared diligently for this year's race but if it's not
blowing he may not race. If the trades blow then look for Deano to be doing
what he does best.
The X Factor
Bevan Manson raised more than a few eyebrows last month when he finished fourth
at the King of the Harbour in New
Zealand, beating standouts like Daryl Bartho
and Kiwi sprint star Ben Fouhy on a course that favoured flat water
specialists. Since that race the former water polo national team member has
been "Little Oscar" - doing virtually every session with his mentor
and pushing him every step of the way. While Manson is not likely to crack the
Oscar/McGregor/Mocke/Pretorius stranglehold as the top South Africans across the
line, he has done the mileage, is a terrific fighter and has the best Homer
Simpsonesque hairdo in the field.
The Best of the Rest
 Ash Nesbit
 Dean Beament
 Lewis Laughlin
 Sandman
[Editor: Joe took time off from training and his professional commitments to write this - thanks Glicker! For those who don't know, Joe is professional adventure writer, author of several books and a paddler of note.]
 Waikiki race blessing (Photo: Pierre Tostee)
For more race information, see www.molokaiworldchampionships.com
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