Some time ago, we decided to create a "Surfski.info World Rankings" log including the results of six of the top international races around the world.  We started with the 2006 US Championships and the final race was run on 1 July 2007: the ARB Surf Ski World Cup in Durban.

Before the Durban race, Dawid Mocke was a clear 4 points ahead...

Oscar's Incredible Performance

Oscar Chalupsky should be past it.  He turned 44 this year after all.  He also has a reputation for training extremely hard for specific races, winning them and then falling totally out of shape.  There is no way he should have maintained fitness and performance over a whole year.  Not only that, but Oscar has been considered to be the best downwind paddler in the world - but on the flat?  Most paddlers would bet on Dawid Mocke and Hank McGregor to beat Oscar any day on flat water.   And Daryl Bartho (who travelled to Perth with Oscar) was beating Oscar consistently in the races in Durban at the beginning of the season.

Perth World Cup

Oscar and Daryl an hour into the race, Day 2, Perth

In November 2006, Oscar tackled the Aussie World Cup in Perth.  Darryl Bartho was there and was confident of beating Oscar.  Day 1 was flat.  Who won?  Oscar.  Day 2 was flat.  Who won? Oscar.

Daryl was dumbfounded.  "Oscar hasn't beaten me all year and he comes here and does it twice in one week, go figure?" he said.

Dubai Shamaal

Oscar leading in the Dubai canals before losing to Dawid Mocke

A week later it was the inaugural Dubai Shamaal.  Everyone knew that this was going to be a flat, flat race.  And Dawid Mocke and Hank McGregor had joined the party, along with Barry Lewin, Clint Pretorius, Ash Nesbit and Zsolt Szadovszki to name but a few in the star studded lineup.  Surely Oscar would be lucky to make fourth position.  For a while expectations seemed to be met - Dawid, Hank and Daryl broke away - but Oscar fought his way back and in a sprint finish fought out in the canals, Oscar came a close second.

King of the Harbour

Oscar chases Dawid Mocke and Mike Walker at King of the Harbour 2007 (Photo: Sportzhub)

Auckland beckoned in March 2007.  The two day event was won convincingly by Dawid Mocke.  The international representation was small (no Aussies) and Mike Walker provided the local competition.  The course favoured the lighter paddlers (particularly in a shallow section around Rangitoto Island on the second day) and Oscar battled...  and came third behind Mike Walker (in front of newcomer Bevan Manson and Daryl Bartho).

Molokai

Oscar - fourth at Molokai (Photo: Pierre Tostee, Covered Images)

Oscar was clearly taking the 2007 Molokai World Championship seriously.  He trained like a demon in South Africa and went to Hawaii two weeks before the race to get fully acclimatized.  Competition looked fierce with Ash Nesbit, Dean Beament and Dean Gardiner coming from Australia to battle it out with the strong South African contingent that included defending champion Clint Pretorius, Dawid Mocke, Bevan Manson and a strong Hank McGregor.  From Tahiti came Tepa Leopold and Lewis Laughlin.

The usually reliable trade winds died on race day and the competitors ground their way 60km across the channel on glassy flat seas.  Dawid took the wrong line and was punished by a strong current while Lewis Laughlin won the race after paddling a magnificent race.  Hank McGregor came second, Dawid third and Oscar a disappointed fourth.  In the context of the flat conditions, however, this was also a stunning achievement.

ARB Surf Ski World Cup, Durban

At the finish of the ARB Surf Ski World Cup (Photo: Gameplan Media)

What a race!  Finally the weather gods delivered Oscar's favorite conditions - massive waves and a 28km downwind course.  But there was the small matter of the last 1.5km directly into a 35kt headwind.  Hank McGregor arrived at the harbor mouth about 50m ahead of Oscar and they were both temporarily stopped as a huge container ship was approaching.  The race officials decided it was safe to continue, and both men shot off, sprinting for the finish. 

Oscar's long experience paid off - he'd studied the final section days before and realized that there was shelter to be had from the harbor wall.  He set off at 45 degrees to Hank's course, milked the shelter and runs offered by the wall and finished 200m and 1 minute in front to claim the R80,000 prize.

Dawid came sixth, and this meant that Oscar moved into the lead spot on the Surfski.info World Rankings - by a single point.

Surfski.info salutes a giant in the paddling world

Dean Gardiner (3rd) and Oscar Chalupsky (1st) on the podium at the 2007 ARB Surf Ski World Cup (Photo: Rob Mousley)

Oscar's a big man in every way - physically, vocally, and he never holds back.  In his mind, he is always right - no argument.  His big match temperament is second to none.

But love him or hate him, one thing is certain - Oscar's performance this year is worthy of the title of "World Champion". 

We salute the "Surfski.info 2006/2007 World Champion", Oscar Chalupsky.

Comments (19)

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Well done big guy!!
written by Ash Nesbit, July 13, 2007

I dont think you can dispute that Oscar is an awesome paddler and a deserving World Champ...Well done Oscar from me and my family!!
Also congratulations to Rob for spending so much time on this, your work is bringing our sport into a world wide community!!
Ash Nesbit

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You're the man Oscar
written by Jodi Wilmott, July 13, 2007

What a superb athlete and spokesman. Any sport would be proud to have someone of your calibre and personality at the helm. We look forward to seeing you back in Hawaii next summer. Aloha. Jodi

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Well Done
written by Ann EB, July 13, 2007

You're a legend, Oscar. Well done!
Sean & Ann EB

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written by David Williams-Ashman, July 13, 2007

Oscar also came second in the PE to EL in conditions that only favoured him on day two. Us Cape Town guys ribbed him quite badly at the prize giving.He took it on the chin with a smile and came to our hotel afterwards and held fort at the bar with us til late.No sulking about coming second, just full of positive vibes and keen on giving the next event(s) a full go.

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World Champ
written by Dean Gardiner, July 13, 2007

Good Work Osc

Well deserved and I look forward more battles in the future.
Deano

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Well there you have it!
written by DawidM, July 13, 2007

To Oscar - Well done, the results speak for themselves.

To Surfski.Info - Congratulations on formulating a series, which seems to be accepted by everyone. Bring on 2007/2008! See you all in San Francisco.

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written by Raymond Inggs, July 13, 2007

Well done Oscar like we know you, you are the best around.

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Well Done Champ
written by michael baker, July 13, 2007

As only a kid beggining in the sport Oscar just cause of his gigantorism is someone you look up to but also admire well done big fella. Isnt it great it was close but a single point, congratulations on a more than honourable second Dawid.

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Respect
written by Jamii Hamlin, July 13, 2007

Anybody who can stand up & smile after the infamous DWASOPE speech at the PE-EL Challenge prize giving deserves a World Champion honoury...... well done Oscar you are an inspiration & legend of this sport!

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Champ.
written by GD, July 13, 2007

From all the boys in Dubai - as the Arabs would say MABROOK.(Well Done!)

Who else can drink 10 beers, 1/2 a bottle of Red, one or two whiskeys the night before the Shamaal and still kick ass. On the 3rd night of the PE/EL in a little farm coastal village called Hamburg - when you have done about 200km in 3 days - Oscar went to my friends house for some afternoon 'recovery'. He washed down a few kgs of the local oysters with about 8 quarts of Castle Lager - when most of the paddlers were nursing energy drinks and worrying about the 50km home in the morning.
You will not find it in the Men's Health Endurance Manual.

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Go 'O'
written by Alain Jaques, July 13, 2007

Oscar well done, you are an inspiration.

I must say I expected to see Dawid at the top of the rankings, so when Oscar pipped him I was both sorry and chuffed at the same time. I thought Dawid has many years ahead to be champ, Oscar has less - so its great that he is acknowledged as the champ before age slows him down. But then Oscar has proved sceptics wrong year after year, I would not be surprised for Oscar to do it again next year, and the year after that. Incredible but likely.

Let's celebrate Dawid too. From what I can figure out he lost the title over the last 2 km of the last race. He is a true sportsman, gentleman and a power station of positive energy , well done Daw.

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...
written by Michaela Pazdera, July 13, 2007

Congrulations on your great victory!! You are an awesome athelete!! Enoy the Champagne.... cheers to you!!!

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Another cool thing about Oscar's win....
written by Alain Jaques, July 13, 2007

He won on the lightest, strongest and fastest ski - the Epic V10 Elite using an Epic paddle both of which his company (Epic) designed and built. It's like Enzo Ferrari or Ferdinand Porsche winning the F1 World Championship in a car they built and raced.

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World Champ!!!
written by Travis Dbn, July 13, 2007

A most deserved title (finally given to him by someone other than himself) for the Big O! He has been doing this for so long now it is great that he has maintained and indeed raised his high standards into this "international growth" phase of surfski paddling.
Great effort big guy

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A legendary winner . . .
written by Ian Kingon, July 13, 2007

Well done to the Big O! A man with an attitude of "just get on with it"! Well you sure did. A big up to Dawid as well - I expect much from you in the coming year! Oscar is a true legend to the sport and to many of us that just wish we could sit slip for a little while. We're excited to have you coming to Dubai in a few weeks time to share your secrets - I dread how much beer we will have to drink! And Oscar and Epic are now giving away the world's lightest, strongest and fastest ski in the world to some lucky Shamaal paddler - ah-hoo!

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Well Done
written by Christo Tromp, July 13, 2007

Oscar, well done, you are a great Ambassador to our sport called surfski.

Dawid, coming secound to this great man is no bad luck, Well done

Can't wait to paddle with you guys again

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Wavetamer Adventures
written by Tom Watson/Wavetamer, July 15, 2007

Way to go Oscar....for a little guy, you do all right! Hi to Greg and Brian, too.

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Awsome Performance
written by Pieter Last, July 16, 2007

Well done mate. Keep it up. The only problem is you put the rest of us that are your age - totally to shame. Was nice seeing you in Durbs. Look forward to a proper reunion next year this time. Lotsaluv the Combrincks & the Lasts.

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written by Mark Andrews, July 17, 2007

I have never sat on a surf ski in my life and have no idea the effort involved but I do know Oscar and though he does not look like a true athlete it takes a great athlete to accomplish what he has done. If this was cycling Lance Armstrong would have had a true challanger. Well Done Oscar, we are proud to have you as a South African.

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