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Durban World Cup: Tim Jacobs Predicts Aussies will dominate |
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Written by Dave MacLeod, Gameplan Media
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Thursday, 26 June 2008 |
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Australian surf ski star Tim Jacobs has predicted an Aussie dominance of the top five places in this weekend's Durban Surf Ski World Cup.
 Tim Jacobs at the 2007 Durban World Cup (Pic: www.anthonygrote.com)
"Obviously the conditions on raceday will affect the outcome, but there are some strong guys who are out to race hard," he said. "I can promise you that we are not here to make up the numbers. If the conditions are right you will see two or three Aussie in the top five."
Jacobs has arrived in KwaZulu-Natal with compatriots Tommy Woodriff, Mark Anderson and Jeremy Cotter to prepare for the 30km downwind event and to acclimatise to the weather and sea conditions.
Jacobs, who underscored his current form with an impressive third in the recent Epic Molokai Challenge in tough conditions, has also hinted at a very fast paced race.
 Dean Gardiner - dominating in Durban? (Pic: Vince Bechet)
"The way these races are being contested now it will be a sprint from the gun," said Jacobs. "From the word go every stroke is going to count. You can't let anyone get away, which means that you will have to nail every single stroke if you want to win this race."
While he is happy with his own form, Jacobs has hinted at Mark Anderson as dark horse with a chance at the title. "Mark was a good junior kayaker before ten year layoff. In the last two years he has come bouncing back. He's like a bulldog, and never gives up," he said.
Jacobs also tipped Jeremy "Jezza" Cotter as a contender, following his competitive second to Hank McGregor in last weekends Discovery Men's Health Surf Ski Series race. "He's a former Aussie Iron Man who loves endurance racing," said Jacobs. "He has a good fitness base, and if it is flat he will have a good crack at it."
 Lewis Laughlin and Oscar Chalupsky (Pic: Vince Bechet)
Jacobs said he and the other Aussies would adapt their racing to the conditions on the day, but added that they would not hesitate to work together in a pack to stay in contention.
"Guys like Dean Gardiner and Oscar Chalupsky will be a factor if it is a big downwind," said Jacobs. He also suggested the double Molokai champ Lewis Laughlan would also battle to challenge for title, given the distance of the race.
"25km or 30km is too short for Lewis (Laughlan). He is a great paddler, and over the 50km of the Molokai he is brilliant. But he doesn't have the speed to really challenge over this sort of distance," said Jacobs.
The Durban Surf Ski World Cup will be staged either on Saturday 28 June or Sunday 29 June, depending on the best weather conditions, and will take the form of a 25km to 30km downwind race based around Durban.
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