McGregor wins second Durban Surf Ski World Cup title ** video **
Written by Dave MacLeod, Gameplan Media
Sunday, 29 June 2008
Durban - Hank McGregor raced a perfect race in testing rough sea conditions to win his second Durban Surf Ski World Cup title in a contest that was laced with intrigue and ultimately decided by tactics and composure on the water.
Hank McGregor on his way to an emphatic win in Durban (Pic: www.anthonygrote.com)
McGregor pinned his ears back and stuck to a line the he felt would be the best straight course from the start at Vetch's Pier in Durban to Westbrook beach outside Tongaat, while around him the elite paddlers fell foul of tactical errors and lapses in judgment in the three meter high seas and a South Westerly wind gusting up to thirty knots.
"Conditions were perfect for me, but I actually didn't know whether I had won the race until I reached the beach finish," said a relieved McGregor after the race, who had been despondent to see a ski finish ahead of him that actually belonged to a backmarker who had enjoyed a fast race from their reversed order start.
It was only once he had asked race timekeeper Margie Oliver where he had finished, and was told that he had won, that McGregor could punch the air in triumph.
The race provided a riveting duel as McGregor stuck to his straight line option, while talented Durban youngster Clint Pretorius opted for a line much further inshore, Cape ace Dawid Mocke went two kilometres out to sea, and defending champion Oscar Chalupsky switched lines throughout the race.
Oscar switched lines throughout the race (Pic: www.anthonygrote.com)
"Hats off to Hank as he raced a great race, but I cant believe that with 45 years of experience I panicked and changed my mind in the middle of the race," said Chalupsky, who was unnerved by reports that Mocke had taken the lead with his gamble to race far out to sea here the runs were formidable.
Mocke conceded that he too had strayed too far out to sea, even though he had stuck with the readings from his GPS Navigation device. "Suddenly I started getting this reading from my GPS telling me to go in closer, and I realised that I was too far out," said Mocke afterwards.
He cut sharply shore-wards as the race neared the finish at Westbrook Beach, but he could only watch as first McGregor reached the finish followed by Pretorius, leaving him on third place overall.
It was however enough to see him leapfrog into second place in the final World Series Rankings, ahead of Tahitian Lewis Laughlan, who did not fare well on the day and finished eighteenth overall.
Tim Jacobs (Aus) finished 7th (Pic: www.anthonygrote.com)
Oscar Chalupsky finished fifth, just behind his younger brother Herman who had doggedly persisted with a line closer inshore throughout the race. Oscar Chalupsky's fifth place was enough to wrap up victory in the World Series rankings for the veteran surf ski paddler, after holding of the challenges of Mocke and Laughlan.
The women's title was successfully defended by Cape Town star Alexa Cole, who revelled in the big downwind conditions to lead the ladies race from start to finish, holding off Kiwi ace Katie Pocock by less than thirty seconds.
"I had no idea where I was in the race because the sea was so big and I never saw any of the other girls," said Cole. "When I got to the finish I was trying to concentrate to make sure I didn't make a mistake in the shore break, when I heard over the loudspeakers that I was the first women home."
"I also heard the announcer saying that Katie (Pocock) was right behind me, which added just a touch of pressure as I was coming in through the big shore break!"
In addition to encountering dolphins and flying fish on the race Cole was also stung on the hand by a bluebottle, which caused uncomfortable swelling of glands in her arm.
"The downwind conditions were just perfect for me," said Cole afterwards. "It wasn't as big as last year's race, and I never felt out of control."
Alexa Cole won her second consecutive world cup title (Pic: www.anthonygrote.com)
Durban star Michelle Eder wrapped up third ahead of Nathalie Veckranges and Tiffany Kruger.
The thrilling action on the heaving seas north of Durban proved to be too much for the junior world marathon champion Grant Van Der Walt. Racing in his first surf ski race, the Johannesburg schoolboy overshot the finish and was eventually rescued from the beach at Princes Grant, far north of the finish.
Durban paddler Steph De Robbillard also caused anxious moments for his seconds and family by being the other paddler unaccounted for late in the day, until he was located at Tinley Manor.
Durban paddler Marc Germiquet (obscured) is rescued by the double ski crew of Grant Smith and Ross Plumbley (Pic: www.anthonygrote.com)
Scottburgh star Shadrack Mkhize excelled on the day, finishing just ahead of the first double ski, paddled by Butch Murray and Gary Albers. Kelly Howe and Thomas Prior took the mixed doubles class, while Jenny Cullinan and Bettina Risch were the first all women's double ski crew home.
World Cup 2008 Video
This video clip was put together by Dustin Weber of D4 Productions (www.d4productions.co.za). Awesome stuff!
Durban World Cup Reloaded written by Alain Jaques,
June 30, 2008
You can rerun the race on the GPS spectator console. Check out the tactics and the blunders. http://spectator.sport-track.c...aceid=9221In the next race we cover I expect to see the tech-savvy Oscar with a laptop taped to his knees.
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Life Guards at Westbrook great effort!! written by Travis ,
June 30, 2008
I really think a very special mention must go out to the life guards at the finish. Thankfully I did not need their assistance but those youngsters put their bodies on the line to save both man and boat (and ladies too) from the pounding shore break.
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