|
Dubai (UAE): Not content with attracting the great and the good of world
surf skiing, organisers of the 2007 Dubai Shamaal have announced the second
staging of the event will be the richest race of its kind ever seen in the
history of the sport worth a staggering US$ 50,000.
Competitors such as current world champion Oscar Chalupsky, world number
two Dawid Mocke and US Championships and Molokai winner Lewis Laughlin will all
have their sights set on the US$ 20,000 first prize - and with a difference of
US$ 14,000 between first and second place, it promises to be a memorable fight
to the finish.
 Hank and Clint tour the Burj Al Arab
Entries: Global Who's Who of Surf Ski
To be staged on November 30, the event has received entries from all
over the globe. In addition to the powerhouse trio of Chalupsky, Laughlin and defending
champion Mocke, other big guns confirmed for the Dubai Shamaal include the
evergreen Hank McGregor, nine-time Molokai winner Dean Gardner, flat water
master Tim Jacobs and double Olympic gold medalist Greg Barton, who is showing
form with solid performances in the US Championships and New York Mayor's Cup.
Three-time Molokai winner Herman Chalupsky is also racing and is in form
after wining the Mayor's Cup in New York last week, while Australian-based South
African teenager Antoine de Rooster will face the stars of the sport having won
the recent Dubai Anchorman prize.
Anchorman Antoine De Rooster
As well as flights and accommodation to help him compete at the sharp
end of surf skiing's biggest ever event, De Rooster will also race with the
world's fastest and lightest racing ski, the Epic V10 Super Elite, yet another
of his Dubai Anchorman prizes.
Add the US$ 3,000 on offer to the competitors for the three ‘Fennspots'
gates on the course and it is easy to see why a race that is still in only its
second year is dominating the world surf ski calendar with around US$ 65,000
worth of prizes. And with Race Director Randall announcing plans for a US$ 100,000
prize-fund in 2008, the event looks set for a bright future.
Media Coverage
As expected from a ground-breaking event, the race will see an impressive
media turnout with website Surfski.info reporting the race as it happens.
Specialist outlets Paddle Power TV, Surfski TV and South African Paddler
magazine have also confirmed coverage of the event, while US-based adventure
writer Joe Glickman will report back to an intrigued US market.
Randall added: "We are planning a unique doubles race over 1,000m, a
sunset Dragonboat dice around the Burj Al Arab - the world's most luxurious
hotel - the mother of all after-race parties on the beach and a trip to the
finals of the Dubai Rugby 7s.
Prize-money breakdown
| MEN |
USD |
| 1 |
20,000 |
| 2 |
6,000 |
| 3 |
4,000 |
| 4 |
3,000 |
| 5 |
2,000 |
| 6 |
1,600 |
| 7 |
1,500 |
| 8 |
1,000 |
| 9 |
800 |
| 10 |
600 |
| |
40,500 |
| Women |
USD |
| 1 |
5,000 |
| 2 |
3,000 |
| 3 |
1,500 |
| |
9,500 |
| Total Purse |
50,000 |
 |
Subscribe to this comment's feed
I think with the prize money that is now being offered, ski paddling is rapidly following suit as a sport that only needs water and is not overly limited by the conditions.
Fueled by a few personalities and some good TV coverage this sport is going to have a sonic boom shortly.