Surf Ski . Info - Hank McGregor Annihilates Strong Durban Field

Hank McGregor Annihilates Strong Durban Field

Written by Dave Macleod, Gameplan Media

Tuesday, 17 June 2008

Hank McGregor produced a sublime display to romp home to victory in the HiQ Marine surf ski race on Monday, signalling to the elite field his plans to stage a strong bid for the Durban Surf Ski World Cup title in a fortnight's time.

Hank McGregor - Favourite for the Durban World Cup? (Pic: www.anthonygrote.com)

McGregor made a lightning fast start, racing in calm and windless conditions for the duration of the two lap 12km race on Durban Bay, which included five compulsory beach stops.McGregor did not put a paddle wrong, and shortly after the first beach stop at Snake Park beach, he was alone at the front, and raced away to win by a minute and a half from plucky Port Elizabeth racer Richard Von Wildermann."It went pretty well today," said McGregor, whose mastery of the understatement is one of his most intimidating and formidable tactics. "I got through the surf fine, and found myself in front on my own on the first lap, and managed to stay there."

McGregor had been racing side by side with Barry Lewin, before Lewin made a mistake in the surf at Snake Park and got dumped in the backline, tumbling from joint leader to eighth place. The plucky Team Jeep paddler clawed his way back through the field to finish third overall.

Daryl & Brett Bartho win the doubles (pic: www.anthonygrote.com)

Oscar Chalupsky was another of the race's casualties. The winner of last week's race at Winklespruit paid for a chancy line that was too close to one of the piers, and his collision with the pier dumped him out of the top ten. It also opened the door for his teenage son Luke to beat his father for the first time as the talented schoolboy posted an excellent ninth place overall, winning the junior race by more than five minutes.

The women's race saw Michelle Eder post her third series win as she got home ahead of Tiffany Kruger, who was struggling with failed steering after a collision with another ski during her last beach stop. Danica Vorster was a distant third.

Darryl Bartho and his brother Brett won the double ski race in a time that placed them second overall, just edging out Mike Arthur and Nic Burden in a thrilling dice for the finish at Ushaka Beach. Thomas Pryor and Kelly Howe were comfortable winners in the mixed doubles, while Nathalie Veckranges and Hillary Pitchford dominated the women's double ski race throughout.