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 Zsolt Szadovszki - top US Surf Ski paddler; Golden Gate behind - top US bridge (Photo: Martin Sundberg)
CRISSY FIELD, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA SEPTEMBER 29 &
30, 2007
Renowned for its challenging course conditions,
world-class competition and cosmopolitan venue, the 2007 US Surfski
Championships in San Francisco will host an elite field of kayak racers from
across America, as well as overseas competitors from South Africa, Australia,
Brazil, Argentina, Japan, and Canada.
Most competitive
international field yet
Defending champion and two-time winner Dawid Mocke of South
Africa will go against his countryman and surfski racing legend Oscar
Chalupsky, while Olympic Gold Medalist Greg Barton of the USA will also try to
reclaim his previous title.
Also from South Africa, newcomer to the US Champs Daryl
Bartho (4th in 2006/2007 World Rankings) and Barry Lewin (2nd
twice running in the US Champs) will be in among the leaders.
Challenging this impressive field is the 2007 Molokai World
Champion winner Lewis Laughlin from Tahiti, and local paddler (and top North
American in the 2007 Molokai Challenge) Zsolt Szadovszki. The women's division
includes DeAnne Hemmens, former US Olympic Kayak team paddler and a previous
first place woman in the US Surfski Championships.
2007 marks the 5th year of the US Championships in San
Francisco.
 Dawid Mocke winning the 2005 US Champs
Race Course
The race course includes San Francisco Bay, the Golden Gate,
and stretches of exposed ocean. The 17 mile route is designed to test the
endurance and rough water skills of expert surfski paddlers. Conditions vary
with changing tides and the weather, but high winds, large waves, and strong
currents are typical of these waters.
The race venue, Crissy Field, is part of the Golden Gate
National Recreation Area and lies just inside the Golden Gate on the city side
of the Bay. With the spectacular backdrop of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz
Island, Marin Headlands, and the San Francisco skyline, it offers a large sandy
beach for launching surfskis as well as great viewing opportunities for
spectators. Ample free parking is immediately adjacent to the beach and start/finish
area. Food and drinks will be served, and prizes handed out on location after each
event.
 Dawid Mocke (SA) dicing runner up Barry Lewin (SA) - 2006 US Champs (Photo: Martin Sundberg)
$12,000 Prize Money
Over $12,000.00 in prize money has been donated by the event
sponsors. Cash will be paid out to the top 10 men's long course finishers, top
5 women's long course finishers, top 5 doubles teams, and the top relay teams.
New for 2007 is the 4 x 2 mile "Alcatraz Breakout Relay" on Sunday, right after
the doubles surfski race.
Surfski.info World
Rankings
The US Champs will be the first race in the 2007-2008 Surfski.Info World Rankings. The six-race Surfski.Info World Rankings are recognized by
many as the World Series of surfski racing.
Live Coverage
With the international interest that the US Champs has
generated, the organizers want to be able to let everyone around the world
follow the race as it progresses. To
make this happen, we are partnering with Surfski.Info
to provide live race day coverage on the Internet.
The first ever live Internet coverage of a surfski race was implemented by Surfski.Info at this year's Molokai race. It turned
out to be a huge success. With very little pre-race publicity for the live
Molokai coverage, Surfski.Info had 10,000
page views during the race.
Here's how it will work for the US Surfski Championships. We'll have our media
coordinators on the water in escort boats during the race. They will be in
phone communication with Surfski.Info's Rob
Mousley in South Africa. As Rob gets the verbal play by play, he will be typing
away as fast as possible and uploading the play by play action (or should we say wave by wave action) to
Surfski.Info. Those following the Surfski.Info coverage will know more about the
race than those waiting at the finish line.
 Greg Barton, 2006 US Champs (Photo: Martin Sundberg)
Registration info
Entry fee is $55 per racer for one race (either solo or
doubles); and $35 additional for second race (solo and doubles) if
pre-registered before September 1. After September 1, fees are $75 and $55,
respectively. Relay race fees are $20 per racer. $55 entry fee includes a racing
jersey for the first 100 registrants, and a goody bag (one per person).
Lunch will be served on site for all registered paddlers
after the races.
Schedule of events
Singles Race (long and short courses): Saturday, September
29, 2007
Registration: 9:00 a.m.
Race Start: Noon
Doubles Race and Relay Race: Sunday, September 30, 2007
Registration: 7:30 a.m.
Doubles Race Start: 9:00 a.m.
Relay Race Start: Noon
All races start and finish at Crissy Field in San Francisco.
About the Wave Chaser Paddle Series
Wave Chaser (www.wavechaser.com) is the main organizer of
the U.S. Surfski Championships, which attracts top paddlers within the United
States and internationally.
Established in 2002, the Wave Chaser Series has become
Northern California's premiere racing series for human-powered watercraft
including outriggers, surf skis, kayaks, and paddleboards.
For more info, contact:
Kenny Howell
Phone: (650) 784-7377
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
www.ussurfski.com
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Good luck to the South African Boys, doing this race, and lets know work as a team and make it a nice 1st, 2nd and 3rd.