One of the strongest groups of paddlers ever will be competing in the Lion Island Challenge this coming weekend - not only are they paddling for the Lion Island Challenge Cup, but also for the US$1000 prize put up by the organisers of the Dubai Shamaal race...

AUSSIES GO HEAD TO HEAD

Avalon Beach SLSC will again host the Lion Island Challenge this Saturday 20^th October 2007. This 14km ocean ski endurance race is shaping up to be one of the hottest events on the Australian ocean ski calendar this year, with some of the top  paddlers from around the country  lining up to compete not only for the Lion Island Challenge Cup, but for the $1000 prize purse put up by the Dubai Shamaal organisers to entice Australian paddlers to their race.

The following paddlers are confirmed to be on the start line at Palm Beach on Saturday.

Tim Jacobs- winner of 2007 NSW Ocean Series Race 1 and 2007 East Coast Ocean Challenge. Seen by many as the race favourite.

Jeremy Cotter - 2^nd Coolongatta Gold 2005 and winner of several Men's Health Ocean races , making a comeback from retirement

David Rhodes - Current #2 Aussie sprint kayaker

Dane Sloss - part of winning 2007 Coolangatta Gold team. Was equal first with Tim Jacobs on ski leg

Dean Gardiner - 9 times winner of Molokai Ocean Race. After a winter of solid training, this veteran of 25 years in the sport is now in top form particularly if the ocean is big.

Dave Kissane - winner of Lion Island Challenge 2006 and NSW Ocean Series winner 2006. Winner of Men's Health series 2003, 2004 & 2005.

Ian Timbrell - represented Great Britain at the 1992 world marathon championships. Current holder of the NSW SLSA open double ski.

Ben Allen- Junior NSW single ski title and winner of recent Anaconda Forster adventure race in the Team Division. A young gun on the incline.

David Smith- represented Australia in flatwater sprint racing at the recent world championships qualifying in the K4 for the Beijing Olympics.

Kurt Tutt- finalist in the open ski at Australian Surf Life Saving titles 2002, 2003 & 2007

Jacob Clear- 1st U23 K1 1000 & K1 500m Australian Sprint Kayak Championships. Winner of Qld Ocean Racing series.

Over 150 paddlers

These paddlers will join over 150 others from the East Coast of Australia, making this one of the most well contested events on Australia's growing ocean ski racing calendar. On top of the US$1000 travel voucher for the winner to attend the Dubai Shamaal Race in November there is also over $4,000 in prizes on offer to all competitors entering this event.

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