The surfski world is about to come alive again: Puerto Rico's Culebra Challenge takes place on 2 March; Auckland's King of the Harbour is on March 28th. The Molokai Challenge is on May 18th and the South African World Cup on June 28th. Sadly we've just had word that the Tahiti race, due to be run on 21 & 23 March has had to be cancelled.

Tahiti - Cancelled

Bad news from Tahiti:  I received the following in an email this mornng (22 Feb 2008) from Tepa Leopold , president of the Tahiti Canoe Federation:

"I was in Tahiti Island for many meetings with: The Tahitian Federation Staff, Sponsors, Sports Minister, Government President and last night, The Tahitian Federation Staff decided to cancel The Tahiti Event on 21 st and 23rd March 2008. Because there's many trouble on the Government in our country now."

Our best wishes go out to the community in that troubled area. 

King of the Harbour

Race organizer Kirsty Elmiger says that everything's on track for New Zealand's premier surfski event.  She took on the organization of the race late last year and was faced with finding sponsors at short notice. 

"Prize money is scarce," Kirsty said, "but the sponsors have really stepped up to the plate and we have at least NZ$10,000 worth of spot prizes to give away.

"Post 2008 race, with more time I will be able to further develop the race," she added. "We'll continue to seek further sponsors while at the same time researching options for developing a new World Series focussed race, elsewhere in the country, with the possibility of being up and running by 2009."

The event website is at: http://www.kingoftheharbour.co.nz/

Puerto Rico

How come the Puerto Rico race is 3-star?  The answer is that they committed to providing the prize money and have a classic downwind course on the open ocean.

However, not many of the top paddlers are attending the race - the reason?  There's not enough prize money.  Hence, the change in the rules next year to up the required prize money to achieve the higher star-ratings.

Having said that - it looks as though the race is going to be a stunner... 

The event website is at: http://www.surfskipr.com/

World Rankings

With the first two races rated at one-star and six races to count, any paddler wishing to make an impact at the top of the World Rankings is going to have to go to Hawaii and to Durban in July. 

Here are the current top twenty:

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written by STEELNEAL, February 25, 2008

Not going to Tahiti...Come to Plett. 22nd March 20km(and 10km) Surfski race, R10k first prize for open single. Other cash prizes and lots of spot prizes. Sponsored by Pennypinchers.

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