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ARB Surf Ski World Cup - Strong Reaction to Laughlin Withdrawal |
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Written by Gameplan Media
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Monday, 18 June 2007 |
 Durban, South Africa - A strong reaction has followed the news that ace Tahitian paddler Lewis
Laughlan has pulled out of the ARB Surf Ski World Cup in Durban later this
month.
The quietly spoken star who hit the headlines a few weeks back when he won the
Molokai title in brutal conditions said that he had opted to stay in Tahiti to
honour commitments to a local RAI event rather than make the trip to South
Africa for the year's only ICF Sanctioned Surf Ski World Cup. He was the
highest placed international at last year's successful inaugural ARB Surf Ski
World Cup.
Laughlan won the Molokai title after a
tough and at times heated contest with South African surf ski stars Oscar
Chalupsky, Hank McGregor, Dawid Mocke and Clint Pretorius.
 At the finish of Molokai 2007 (Photo: DeAnne Hemmens)
"I'm really disappointed to hear that he is not coming now," said Matt Bouman,
one of the top contenders for the world-record R80 000 first prize. "The South
African challenge will be very strong, but to prove that we are the world's
best we need to beat the best paddlers from the other ski racing nations fair
and square."
Defending champ Hank McGregor was quick to join the reaction to the news of
Laughlan's withdrawal. "He' a good paddler, especially if the conditions are
flat, so it's sad that he won't be here. Especially after the Molokai, I would
have loved to have him on the start line in Durban."
 Lewis Laughlin comes in 9th at ARB Surf Ski World Cup 2006 (Photo: Dave MacLeod/Gameplan Media)
Laughlan incurred the wrath of the South African quartet during the Molokai for
the way he rode the slip of nearby safety boats, during the tough crossing,
which resulted in some heated exchanges over the legality and ethics of what he
was doing.
This is not the first time controversy has hit an international event and the
organizers of the ARB Surf Ski World Cup have committed themselves to ensuring
that the rules are clearly defined and communicated.
His tactics paid handsome dividends, as he conserved enough energy to be able
to break away in the final half an hour to become the first Tahitian to win the
Molokai, and break the stranglehold that Australian and South African paddlers
have held on the event.
Despite Laughlan's withdrawal, the Tahitian team will still be a force to be
reckoned with, as another seasoned Tahitian ski racer Tepa Leopold has been
lined to head the Tahitian challenge. Leopold will be targeting a top 10 finish
in Durban.
The
ARB Surf Ski World Cup will take the form of a 25km to 30km single ski
championship race, to be held on either Saturday 30 June or Sunday 1 July, to
take advantage of the best weather conditions. Doubles entries are also welcome
and category prizes will be awarded. There will also be over R 60 000 of
attendance lucky draw give aways. All the race information can be found at www.surfskiworldcup.com
Note: The views and
opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those of Surfski.info
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Update: Click here for the follow-up article where the three runners-up are quoted as saying that Lewis Laughlin broke no rules at Molokai.
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All that does is yet again encourage this valuable site to be less global and a sheltered workshop for South African propaganda.