Durban - Matthew Bouman won the final leg of the winter Discovery Men's Health Surf Ski Series with an emphatic victory in the Gateway Toyota Pirates Umhlanga Pirates surf ski race, the world's oldest surf ski event.
 Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No it's Solly Seagal (Seagull?) flying over partner Bucky Symons (Pic: Dave MacLeod)
fOnlookers at Suncoast beach watched Matt Bouman claim his title and then enjoyed the spectacle of watching the rest of the field trying to negotiate the big surf at the end of an energy sapping 25km race that concluded with a tough home paddle into the gradually increasing wind and swell.
Bouman, who is thoroughly enjoying being back in his hometown after a stint in Australia, described the race as "tough" after avoiding the race in the past due to his thoughts of it being "a stupid idea to paddle back into the wind."
 Matt Bouman wins the Pirates Umhlanga Pirates 2008 (Pic: Dave MacLeod)
He arrived at the start hoping that the course would be altered to a straight downwind paddle to Umdhloti, only to find that the 51 year old race was to be raced on its traditional format from Pirates to the Umhlanga lighthouse and back. "Paddlers over forty enjoy the tradition of the race and know the history behind it," said Bouman who opted to complete the full 25km paddling course, despite being less fit that he is used to.
Racing against a field depleted of series stalwarts like Hank McGregor and Barry Lewin who were in the Cape for the Isuzu Berg River canoe marathon, Boumann led the field to the turn, and paddled the gruelling headwind leg alone to win the event, and beat the first runner home by more than two minutes.
Pics by Dave MacLeod: www.gameplanmedia.co.za
The race always hosts a challenge between triathletes who paddle to Umhlanga and then run back along beach roads and paths, and the paddlers who complete the return leg.
The women's race ended in a thrilling finish as Tiffany Kruger and Michelle Eder reached the backline at Suncoast beach together, where both of them were dumped in the big surf. It was Kruger who had the advantage and was able to scramble up the beach to claim the women's title.
 Tiffany about to have an unexpected swim! (Pic: Dave MacLeod)
"It was terrible!" said Kruger. "I thought seriously about quitting about five times while I was out there." Kruger held a narrow lead throughout the race.
"I caught up with Tiffany at Umhlanga and we both caught some guy's wave the whole way back," laughed Eder. "I thought I was never going to get back," said Eder. "It was tough out there!"
 Tiffany wins the ladies' race (Pic: Dave MacLeod)
The pairing of Steven Cohen and Jason Golding were the first of the runners to finish after choosing the paddle/run option allowing participants to paddle to Umhlanga and take a return 13 to 15km run to the finish. Nigel and Michael Stevens took the double ski title, ahead of Quinton Rutherfoord and Brett Hadriaris, and last years Scottburgh to Brighton star Shadrack Mkhize paddling with Willie Kranz.
The winter season wraps up with next weekend's Discovery Men's Health Scottburgh to Brighton race, which doubles as the SA double ski championships.
Men:
1.Matt Bouman 2:17.22
2.Murray Smith 2:23.29.
3.Andre Pohl 2:24.40
4.Luke Nisbet 2:27.45
5.Oliver Burn 2:28.09
Doubles:
1.Nigel Stevens/Michael Stevens 2:18.07
2.Quinton Rutherford/Brett Hadiaris 2:18.63
3.Shadrack Mkhize/Willie Kanz 2:22.73
Ladies:
1. Tiffany Kruger 2:44.15
2. Michelle Eder 2:45.13
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