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17 Nov 2007 Knysna, South Africa - Durbanite Barry Lewin snatched victory in a
drama-laden Hansa Knysna Sedgefield surf ski race that saw the huge surf at the
finish at Sedgefield cause havoc with the big field.
 Barry Lewin wins the 2007 Hansa Knysna Sedgefield Race (Pic: Jon Vellacott/Gameplan Media)
Beat the doubles
Lewin also bagged
the incentive for a single ski paddler finishing ahead of the double skis, as
he raced to the finish well clear of the classy crew of Eastern Cape stalwart
Peter Mote and Gauteng's Alan Schuddinh.
The rapidly improving Ian Black finished second, with the seasoned Port
Elizabeth ski racer Kirsten Wessels mastered the big surf to win the women's
title in a ding-dong duel with Capetonian schoolgirl Bianca Beavitt, who was
the only junior to complete the race. PE master paddler Rob Welsh used his
skills and experience to notch up an excellent top five finish.
(Photos below courtesy of Jon Vellacott/Gameplan Media)
(Plettenberg Bay paddler Neal Stephenson completed the tough 36km Hansa Knysna Sedgefield in fourteenth place. Stephenson lost his right leg in a shark attack, and is a respected river and surf ski paddler.
The single ski batch turns at The Heads at the start of the Hansa Knysna Sedgefield surfski race, which was won by Barry Lewin.
The big field emerges through the substantial swell running at The Heads at the start of the Hansa Knysna Sedgefield surf ski race.
Durbanite Barry Lewin powered away alone in the closing stages to win the Hansa Knysna Sedgefield surf ski race on the weekend.
Eventual double ski winners, Eastern Cape
local Pete Mote (front) and his Gauteng partner Alan Schuddinh lead the
Hansa Knysna Sedgefield race out of The Heads.
Wojtek Orzechowski successfully negotiates the crunching eight foot surf at the finish of the Hansa Knysna Sedgefield to finish sixth in the single ski category. The massive surf destroyed several skis as backmarkers battled to negotiate the shore break at Sedgefield.)
Delayed Start, intimidating
The start of the race, which forms the sixth leg of the Discovery Men's Health
Surf Ski series, was delayed by half an hour as the assembled field prepared
for the daunting task of paddling out through the Knysna Heads, where a big
swell was rolling in.
"It really was intimidating," said Lewin afterwards. "As you paddled out there
was this wall of white water rolling in at you. As a novice on this course I
was lucky to be able to tuck in behind Pete Mote and Alan Schuddinh, who showed
me the way out using a tight channel on the extreme right hand side of The
Heads, literally a metre or so from the rocks."
Lewin shrewdly stayed with the experienced double ski crew for the first half
of the race. "They showed me some awesome sneaks, like how to paddle inside the
reef at Buffels Point," said the Team Jeep athlete.
Shortly after halfway Lewin decided to make his break, and was able to drop
Mote and Schuddinh to reach the finish at Sedgefield, where massive eight foot
surf lay in wait ahead of the beach finish.
Massive surf at the finish
"Luckily this was one part of the course that I knew, because I have surfed
Sedgefield before," said Lewin, who managed to approach the beach finish close
to the shore, thereby cutting out the massive Sedgefield surf.
While the top five boats managed to reach the finish without any hitches,
behind them the crunching surf wreaked havoc with the backmarkers. The NSRI
boat crews were kept busy rescuing floundering paddlers and their skis, several
of which were smashed by the brutal shorebreak.
 Wojtek Orzechowski negotiates the 8ft surf at the finish (Pic: Jon Vellacott/Gameplan Media)
"It was no place for the feint hearted," confessed Lewin after watching the
carnage in the surf, less than a hundred meters from the finish, which resulted
in one of the NSRI rescue craft being flipped by a massive wave.
Lewin was thrilled with the win, as it completes his preparations for the Hong
Kong Dragon Run and the Perth World Cup in morale boosting style. "It was the
perfect dress rehearsal," Lewin enthused. "I was able to work through some
annoying little issues like seat pad problems, and it has given me just the
sort of confidence booster I needed," said the Varsity College student.
"It really is a
spectacular, breathtaking course," enthused Lewin about the race.
SUMMARY OF
RESULTS
1.Barry Lewin 2:01.07
2.Ian Black 2:05.59
3.Christie Augustyn 2:08:07
4.Rob Welsh 2:08.37 (1st Master)
5.Wojtec Orzechowski 2:09.48 (1st Veteran)
6.Justin Maddock 2:11.27
7.Daniel Kantor 2:12.23
8.Andre Woods/Jean Austin 2:12.05
9.Stewart Rew 2:12.40
10.Oliver Burn 2:12.47
Women
1.Kirsten Wessels 2:45.31
2.Bianca Beavitt 2:45.59
Double Skis
1.Pete Mote/Alan Schuddinh 2:02.10
2.Andre Woods/Jean Austin 2:12.05
3.Nielen Beyers/Donovan Mansfield 2:12.56
Mixed doubles
1.Alan Mills/Karen Planting 2:16.15
2.Billy Harker/Tracey Harker 2:24.56
3.Richard Kohler/Judy Goodspeed 2:26.52
More information can be found at www.surfski.co.za
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The Shamaal is waiting for you & we are having solid 2 ft waves. Just like the Knysna Heads.