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 In the days leading up to the 2007 ARB Surf Ski World Cup,
the Aussies were horrified to learn that the organizers were considering a
lap-based course off Vetchies Beach.
Their strongly expressed opinion was that the race had to be
a downwind and the conditions were ideal - it was a World Cup race after all.
And as we know, the race turned into a classic Durban
downwind event... so how did the Aussies
like it?
Ash Nesbit
The 37 year old Perth based paddler didn't have an ideal
build up to the race.
After hearing the news that Thiess-Kentz were going to
sponsor him (courtesy of Durban based Terry Henebrey), he headed out with a
photographer to take some publicity photos...
 Body posture relaxed, nice and easy does it!
he was paddling his favorite carbon Fenn Millennium ski behind the
backline when a sudden, much larger, swell started peaking about 50m further out
to sea. He turned and charged the wave
in the hope of punching through it. No
dice. It smashed into him and broke his
ski...
 Body posture not relaxed, oh F$#K!!!
The photographer was delighted with
the spectacular shots - but refused to hand over the crucial images. Ash deviously managed to secure the shots in
this article. Note the contrast between
his casual posture in the first photo - and the frantic attitude (and gouts of
spray from his churning paddles) in the second!
Ash's World Cup Race
Ash's stated preference is for downwind conditions (although
he's no slouch on the flat) and he was pleased not to be faced with wash riding
and the prospect of being dropped. The
wind and swell direction were opposite to what he's used to at home
though. "The wind normally comes over my
left shoulder at home in Perth," he said, "and I was a little concerned that I
hadn't had a training paddle in the conditions."
Both he and Oscar had a bad start (Ash was still walking
down to the water when the gun went) and they arrived together about 30 places
back at the turning buoys. "I was a fair
way back with Oscar on an outside line so I decided to shadow him." Ash
commented. "I did have a small chuckle
to myself as I saw Daryl Bartho try to cut over the shark nets and get caught
up."
"...very big runs"
As expected, he struggled initially with the wind and wave
direction and he lost ground on Oscar.
But after 40 minutes, he started to hit his rhythm and to enjoy the
spectacular runs, glances at his GPS confirming that he was hitting speeds of
25-30km/h consistently. "At times I must
say I went down some very big runs," he said, "and it got quite unnerving as I
did broach twice during the race, one time even being turned back the other
direction!!"
 Ash's speed track - faster and faster, until the slog to the finish
 Ash's heart rate trace - why the hectic HR mid-race?
Click here for Ash's GPS data on Motionbased.com
Worried that he was on a line too far out to sea, he was
reassured by glimpses of Dean Gardiner's yellow Australian vest some 200m
ahead.
He was one of a group of paddlers held up as a container ship
passed into port - and during the 1.5km grind into the 35kt headwind, he passed
Daryl Bartho to finish in 9th place.
"I will be back for Durban ARB World Cup next year....congrats
on an awesome well run event. I must make special mention of Terry Henebrey of
Thiess-Kentz for his support and help throughout the week, also thank you to
Gavin Searle and ARB for the best event I have been to. Last but not least to
Keith Fenn for dusting off the Millennium mould and building another awesome
boat in record time."
 Ash at the finish (Photo: Rob Mousley)
Dave Kissane
I met the Aussie team captain two days before the event just
before a safety briefing at which he intended to make it clear that the
Australians were in South Africa for a downwind run - they did NOT want a lap-course
around the cans off Vetchies Beach!
 Press Briefing: (l to r) Lauren McKie, Dean Gardiner, Murray Stewart, Dave Kissane, Ash Nesbit (Photo: Rob Mousley)
He wasn't expecting to win the race as he was coming off a
shoulder injury that had prevented him from training until shortly before the
event.
He started well and was close behind Oscar went he took a
particularly steep wave, nose-dived, and pitch-poled hearing a ghastly cracking
sound in the boat as he did so. "I
managed to get back onto the ski," he said, "but in less than a minute I could
feel that it was filling up with water, and I realised that it would be a
struggle just to get to the finish."
Of team mate Ash Nesbit, he said, "I know Ash was a similiar
line to Oscar because I was right behind Oscar when I went down the mine. Ash eventually passed me but a long way after
it happened and I had slowed down significantly by then."
"Ash was a long way behind the other guys," he added, "so
must have had an incredible last 10kms. In the Perth WC, I reckon Ash came from
about 9th or 10th with 5km to go and finished 3rd just in front of Herman. If
it is possible to compare his last 5km time to the other guys you would see how
quick he is on the back end."
And the rest?
Dean loved the race - coming in 3rd about a
minute behind Oscar and Hank McGregor at the harbor mouth. He also took the deep line. "The contrast and buzz around the finish at
the end of the race was just so much better than in 2006," he said, "this is
what we come for."
 Dawid Mocke (and Rob Mousley!) took an inside line; Oscar Chalupsky, Ash Nesbit (as well as Dave Kissane and Dean Gardiner) took the outside line.
Murray had high hopes of the race but was suffering the
effects of a tummy bug that struck the day before - and he didn't perform as
hoped. Keep your eye on this paddler
though - awesome talent.
Lauren McKie was enjoyed the race and was pleased with her 5th
position.
Tim Jacobs came 5th and Tommy Woodriff 17th
- but I didn't get to talk to them...
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Deano, Oscar, Lewis and I tried to get them to switch the days last year in Durban as we found out from Windguru it was going to blow on Saturday and do you think they would??? Main reason I was not up for traveling two plus days and spending 5K. They even told us that the majority of paddlers don't prefer big downwind!!!!! Can you believe it..
Sounds like Butch got it right this year though and with the new 3 day holding period I am in for next year!!
Mark