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Durban, South Africa - Bevan Manson staged an impressive solo charge to snatch the top honours in the New balance Season Starter surf ski race that kick started the Discovery Mens Health Surf Ski series.
 Bevan Manson wins the 2008 Discovery Men's Health opener (Pic: Anthony Grote/Gameplan Media)
Manson found himself at the front of the fast packed pack racing in dead calm conditions with very little swell with two sprint canoeists Ant Stott and Michael Arthur, shortly after the starts from Ushaka beach.
However by the second turn, off Snake Park beach Manson had powered away alone and splintered the chasing group, as Stott set off alone in an effort to try and catch the breakaway leader.
"Bevan went ahead at the top turn and put his ears back," said Stott afterwards. "I tried to catch him but he never gave me the chance."
 Ant Stott (Pic: Anthony Grote/Gameplan Media)
Manson proved to be untouchable on the day, and powered to the finish at the end of the two lap, 12km race with more than a minute lead over Stott, with Brett Bartho finishing third, forty seconds further back.
The victory for Manson follows his excellent victory in the season-ending Scottburgh-to-Brighton marathon last season, but was achieved against a big field depleted of several big names that are away preparing for next weekend's Epic Molokai Challenge, including Hank McGregor, Barry Lewin and Dawid Mocke.
 Clint Pretorius (Pic: Anthony Grote/Gameplan media)
Toti surf ski star Tiffany Kruger simply picked up where she had left off at the end of last season, and posted a minute and a half victory over Michelle Eder, with Donna Winter winning a three boat scrap for third ahead of Danica Vorster and Nikki Irvine.
The double ski category was won by Chris Couve and ace 200m sprinter Scott Humphry, in a thrilling dice to the beach finish with veterans Glenn Hilliar and Gary Waud and the evergreen sub-masters Mark Lewin and Linton Hope.
Stretch Struwig and his wife Colleen took the mixed doubles honours ahead of the siblings Andrew and Tori Neal.
The Boys title race was dominated by the emerging Richards Bay stars, with Donovan Kennedy taking the honours just ahead of Shaun Austin, with Toti teenager Jenna Ward taking the junior girls prize.
The event was contested by over 400 paddlers, indicating healthy interest in the ten-leg winter surf ski series.
Photos by Anthony Grote http://www.anthonygrote.com/
SUMMARY OF RESULTS - NEW BALANCE SEASON STARTER
Elite Men
- 1. Bevan Manson 56:07
- 2. Ant Stott 57:15
- 3. Brett Bartho 57:51
- 4. Oliver Burn 57:57
- 5. Warren Jacobs 57:59
- 6. Andre Pohl 58:14
- 7. Michael Arthur 58:51
- 8. Murray Smith 59:05
- 9. Clint Pretorius 59:08
- 10. Mark Mulder 59:57
Women
- 1. Tiffany Kruger 1:04:08
- 2. Michelle Eder 1:05:47
- 3. Donna Winter 1:07:10
- 4. Danica Vorster 1:07:28
- 5. Nikki Irvine 1:07:33
Double skis
Men
- 1. Chris Couve/Scott Humphry 56:03
- 2. Glenn Hilliar/Gary Waud 56:03
- 3. Mark Lewin/Linton Hope 56:26
- 4. Butch Murray/Gary Albers 58:26
- 5. Angus Ferguson/Dirk Van den Bergh 58:27
Mixed doubles
- 1. Thomas Prior/Kelly Howe 1:00:48
- 2. Andrew Neal/Tori Neal 1:01:18
- 3. Stretch Struwig/Colleen Struwig 1:01:26
More information can be found at http://www.surfski.co.za/
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