Two important announcements have just been made concerning surf ski in Australia - three races to decide the Cash to Compete recipients for the Dubai Shamaal race - and the Ocean Series will decide who competes in Durban in 2008.

Tim Jacobs (Photo: Gameplan Media)

  TIM JACOBS FAVOURITE FOR 2007 OCEAN SERIES

The 2007 Ocean Series to be held on the Sydney Northern Beaches of Sydney is shaping as the highlight of endurance Ski and Board paddle racing this summer.

Ski paddlers will take to the water over five rounds of competition opening with the Mathemagic Rocks to Reef Challenge on September 29 at Dee Why Beach.

Tim Jacobs - hard to beat? (Photo: Gameplan Media)

Defending Ocean Ski Series champion and veteran, Dave Kissane should again feature this year as he renews his battle against fellow  Northern Beaches paddlers Tim Jacobs and rising young gun Murray Stewart,  all  of whom will be looking for a good start to a big season of racing that includes World Cup events and the famed Molokai race in Hawaii in April. 

The 2008 series is offering the top three overall placegetters a chance to contest the ARB Surf Ski World Cup in South Africa next year with paddlers also eligible for major prizes at the end of series including a random draw for a new XLR8 Ski for those who contest all five races along with overall masters and women's competitors prizes.   

Ash Nesbit (Photo: Gameplan Media)

The series will be even more competitive than last year with many more top line paddlers expressing their intention to commit to the series. Tim Jacobs has just announced in local press today that he has ditched his Olympic kayak dream to concentrate on Ocean Paddling. Kenny Wallace (our top K1 paddler) has said that he would like to line up in some of the races although Olympic preparations may prevent him from travelling to South Africa is he finishes in the top 3.

The format of the series has been developed to ensure the best paddlers go to South Africa and not just the most consistent. The best 3 of 5 results will be taken which opens the field right up. There are 2 classic downwind races, 2 cliff and headland races and one circuit type race. This brings paddlers like Dean Gardner and Ash Nesbitt into play as they are the best downwinders in the country and only would need one reasonable result from the other 3 races to get their trip to SA. Dean, in particular, will be one to watch. For the last 5 years he has raced sporadically due to his responsibilities to the Mens Health Series. Now that he can focus 100% on the races, he is a realistic "outside" chance of winning the series.

Murray Stewart during ARB Surf Ski World Cup, Durban 2007 (Photo: Gameplan Media)

The smart money is on Tim Jacobs to dominate the series. Up to 20km, when he is fit and focused, he is almost unbeatable over a circuit type course. He is vulnerable in big downwind but should get the points to win his ticket for next year.

After Tim, the field is wide open. There are about 10 paddlers capable of getting a trip. Murray and Dave Kissane will struggle in the first couple of races due to injury and sickness issues so will be relying on the last 3 races for their points. Other contenders will be Dean Gardiner, Ash Nesbitt, Matt Reece, Dean Mercer, Kenny Wallace, Cade Barnes, Kurt Tutt and Dane Sloss

The opening Mathemagic Rocks to Reef Ski Challenge is a 14 kilometre ski race divided into  two laps from Dee Why Point to North Curl Curl pool, then to Long Reef Point & back to Dee Why, online entries close on September 27 with discounts for those entering the entire series.

Online entries and further race information can be found at www.oceanseries.com.au
 

2007 Ocean Ski Series

Round 1        Saturday 29^th September   Rocks to Reef Challenge               Dee Why

Round 2        Saturday 20^th October         Lion Island Challenge                  Avalon

Round 3        Sunday 11^th November      Narrabeen Beach Challenge           Narrabeen

Round 4        Sunday 25^th November      King of the Harbour                       Manly

Round 5        Saturday 15^th December    20 Beaches                                 Northern Beaches

2007 Ocean Board Series

Round 1        Saturday 20^th October         Lion Island Challenge                    Avalon

Round 2        Sunday 25^th November      King of the Harbour                         Manly

Round 3        Saturday 15^th December    20 Beaches                                   Northern Beaches

Cash to Compete Events in Australia.

The Dubai Shamaal Team have come to the party with the "Cash to Compete" Promotion being run in Australia. Due to the Perth World Cup being run after the Shamaal Race the "‘Cash to Compete" Promotion will be run prior to the Dubai Shamaal over 3 events in 3 States in Australia.

Winners of each race pick up $1000US when they front up in Dubai for the Shamaal on November 29.  (You can't win more than once.)

The Aussie races are:

• Gold Coast Sep 30   http://geocities.com/currumbinpaddlers
• Palm Beach NSW Lion Island Challenge  Oct 20
• Western Australia "King of the Cape" www.myocean.com.au

For more information on these events contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Dean Gardiner (3rd) finishes the 2007 ARB Surf Ski World Cup (Photo: Gameplan Media)

Comments (1)

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let the games begin
written by Christo Tromp, September 17, 2007

It seems that surfsking is starting to explode all around the world, not just to mention 'down under'. It's great to see such commitment from so many people.
- This is going to make all races a lot more interesting -
-- LET THE GAMES BEGIN --

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