Surf Ski . Info - Internationals shine in World Cup Warmup

Internationals shine in World Cup Warmup

Written by Dave MacLeod, Gameplan Media

Monday, 23 June 2008

Durban - The large contingent of international surf ski racing stars made their mark on Sunday's Cyclelab race in Durban, with Kiwi Katie Pocock romping to victory in the women's race, and Hank McGregor having to scrap his way through the pack to secure his overall victory.

Jeremy Cotter (AUS), Hank McGregor 2008 Cyclelab 2008, Durban

Jeremy Cotter (AUS) leads Hank McGregor at the start of the 2008 Cyclelab race in Durban (Pic: www.anthonygrote.com)

The race was held over two laps starting and finishing at Ushaka beach, and served as an ideal warm-up for the Durban Surf Ski World Cup next weekend, and provided an opportunity for the Australian and New Zealanders who had jetted into Durban for the event to shake off their jetlag and get used to the local conditions.

McGregor found himself in an unaccustomed sixth place as the Australians led by Jeremy Cotter, Tim Jacobs and Tommy Woodriff set a furious pace in the mild conditions on Durban Bay on Sunday morning. However McGregor responded to the early challenge with typical tenacity, and had wormed his way to the front of the race by the latter stages of the first lap of the 15km race.

Hank McGregor wins the 2008 Cyclelab race in Durban (Pic: www.anthonygrote.com)

Once McGregor had posted his victory, several of the internationals came home in the top ten, providing an intriguing appetizer for next weeks World Cup showdown, only to have the leaderboard shaken up by the disqualification of most of the top overseas paddlers for failing to wear a lifejacket.

In the women's race Kiwi ace Katie Pocock signalled her intentions for next weekend's World Cup in no uncertain terms when she cruised home to snatch the women's title, in a very fast time on 86% off Hank McGregor's winning time.