Speculation was rife before the race – what tactics would the top paddlers employ in the tricky currents of San Francisco Bay? South Africans Hank McGregor and Dawid Mocke, the race favorites, both have a reputation for charging off the start line.
US Surfski Championships women's champion Nikki Mocke (Pic: Robin Graham)
In the end though, it seemed to be fairly straight-forward.Neither paddler wanted to risk being at a disadvantage in the treacherous conditions so they stuck together - with Steve Woods tagging along as well - for more than half the race.
On the way back into the bay Hank opened up a lead, which he steadily extended.He said afterwards that he kept an eye on Dawid, mimicking every move he made until the finish came into view.
"Hank was the stronger paddler on the day," said Dawid."I don't think I put him under any pressure at all."
Women's race
Ex-Olympian DeAnne Hemmens only got as far as the Golden Gate bridge when she injured her shoulder and had to withdraw - leaving Nikki Mocke with no real opposition in the women's race.
Nikki, fresh from the Beijing Olympics, had been worried about her fitness given that she hadn't paddled any long distance for months before the race - but she paddled magnificently into the top ten, finishing a mere 10 seconds behind fellow South African Bevan Manson.
Video
Thanks to Judy Barker & Robin Graham who provided pics & the video clips...
Downwind 2 Dubai!
Summary Results (long course):
Hank McGregor South Africa 1:55:42 OP 1st
Dawid Mocke South Africa 1:58:37 OP 2nd
Steve Woods South Africa 2:01:04 OP 3rd
Zsolt Szadovszki Honolulu, Hawaii 2:09:50 OP 4th
Patrick Hemmens Costa Mesa, California 2:12:41 MST 1st
Erik Borgnes Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin 2:14:05 MST 2nd
Bevan Manson South Africa 2:15:16 OP 5th
Nikki Mocke South Africa 2:15:26 W 1st
Noah Hawk Irvine, California 2:15:37 OP
John Hoogsteden Kahuku, Hawaii 2:16:14 MST 3rd
Chris Barlow San Diego, California 2:16:44 MST 4th
Billy Harker South Africa 2:17:07 OP
Tony Calderon Lahaina, Hawaii 2:18:58 MST 5th
Danny Ching Redondo Beach, California 2:18:59 OP
Chris Stout Monterey, California 2:19:40 MST
Mike McNulty Boulder Creek, California 2:21:56 MST
Well done Saffas written by Jamii Hamlin,
September 22, 2008
Congratz to the Saffas paddling & broadcasting, eish you could think it was an SA Champs..........! Big welcome back to Nikki"coach".... we are nervous that we are going to get a "pak slaap" at the grading race!
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Nicky M written by Gavin Dickinson,
September 24, 2008
You go girl. Very well done. Can't wait to see Nikki M & Katie P go at each other in The Dubai Shamaal. Anybody want to start the betting?
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... written by Trautmann,
September 26, 2008
No disrepect to Katie, I think she is a top athlete, but anybody who really knows the sport will tell you that Nikki is in a league of her own! Nikki will not only beat many of the top male paddlers in Dubai, she will beat Katie by a long way!! Good luck to both of them! its great to see more woman racing at this level!! Cheers
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Fast Ladies written by Gavin Dickinson,
September 26, 2008
Katie is the current champ & sombody has to beat her in Dubai to change that. Best of luck to them both. Word is that with $6 000 1st prize (bigger than most of the male 1st prizes in the world series) a lot of of the EU sprint & marathon girls are coming to the desert. It maybe that we will see a brand new name to the sport on the trophy. Dubai can throw up big water like last year but 90% it will be moderate downwind gentle water - so the K1 womens speedboats can feature if they come out to play.
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Hank the Tank. written by Gavin Dickinson,
September 26, 2008
Currents in this race play a HUGE role. If you get the line & water right, you can change everything. That said the sea conditions for the 2007 and 2008 race seem to have been fairly simlar as do the currents & tide.
Hank won the 2008 race in 1hr 55min 42 secs. Lewis (being hounded by an angry Oscar C) won the 2007 race in 1hr 58min 36 secs.
This guy is seriously good (as his K1 results have shown for years) and when he decides to focus on Surf Ski, there will be little point in lining up to race him.
With great respect to all the champs going to Dubai to race he has got to be odd's on for $20 000 pay day.
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Big welcome back to Nikki"coach".... we are nervous that we are going to get a "pak slaap" at the grading race!