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Wayne Randall, President of the Dubai Surfski and Kayak Club, confirmed today that the prize pool for the women's race at the Dubai Shamaal has been more than doubled to a total of US$20,000.
 Katie Pocock (www.sportzhub.com)
Best Men, Best Women.
"We already have the best male paddlers signed up - seventy days before the event," said Wayne. "Two current Olympic Gold medalists, 3 or 4 Multiple World Marathon champions, the current world surf lifesaving ski champ, a 2 time world iron man champ, the 9 time, 11 time and 2 time Molokai champs, a 5 time Duzi champ, an all time great of the Sella, & the national surfski champions of France, German, Italy and Spain - and there is more. It simply is the greatest field of ocean racers ever to line up.
"But now we want the women!"
In the past, races have come under criticism from female paddlers for the disparity in prize money between the male and female fields.
"So we've responded," said Wayne.
Prize Pool Doubled - and then some
The prize pool was scheduled to go to 3rd place with US$5,000 for 1st; US$3,000 for 2nd and US$1,500 for 3rd.
Here's the new prize layout for the women's paddlers:
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Position
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Prize (US$)
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1
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6,000
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2
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4,000
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|
3
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2,500
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4
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1,800
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5
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1,500
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6
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1,300
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7
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1,000
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8
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800
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9
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600
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10
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500
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Impact on Women's Paddling?
"This is so positive for women's paddling," said current Surfski.info World Champion Katie Pocock. "That's going to bring a lot of girls to the race - especially with the Olympics out of the way." The New Zealander won the women's race last year but will be facing plenty of competition from the likes of South Africans Nikki Mocke and Alexa Cole.
 Alexa Cole (SA)
Katie beat Nikki Mocke the last time they met - at the King of the Harbour race in Auckland, but was beaten twice by Alexa this year - at Molokai and in Durban. Nikki Mocke has been out of surfski paddling for the last two years while she trained for the Beijing Olympics. Her comeback started with an emphatic win in San Francisco last weekend where she came 8th overall and won the women's race easily.
 Nikki Mocke (Pic: Robin Graham)
Michele Eray was part of the South African Women's K4 team in Beijing with Nikki Mocke. She's back in her surfski, also training hard for Dubai. "That's fantastic," she said on hearing the news, "I'm definitely glad to be back in a ski!"
Lauren Bartlett (Hawaii) beat both Katie Pocock and Alexa Lombard at the Molokai Challenge in May this year - and could easily be tempted by both the cash and the quality of competition that is likely to be seen in Dubai.
Highest Level of Competition
"Our goal is to achieve parity in prize money moving forward," continued Wayne, "but we need the ladies to step up to the plate - and that means numbers.
"There is no reason that we shouldn't have just as many women in surfskis as men," he went on. "We're hoping that this unprecedented prize pool for the women will jolt the system."
Bonus if Dawid does it again
In addition to the news about the women's prize pool, Wayne also announced a special incentive to the two-time champion of the Dubai Shamaal, Dawid Mocke.
"If Dawid wins a third time," said Wayne, "he'll be getting a US$5,000 bonus! No pressure!"
 Dawid wins #2, Dubai Shamaal 2007 (Pic: Alain Jaques)
Dubai Shamaal Website
For all the info on the race, go to the updated website: http://www.dubaishamaal.com/
Don't forget to enter the Anchorman competition!
Last but not least, if you haven't entered the Anchorman competition, DO IT NOW!
It's so easy - and you could find yourself:
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On your way to Dubai with a buddy, all flights and 5-star accommodation paid.
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Snow skiiing (on the biggest indoor slopes in the world), dune bashing and generally having an incredible time - all paid.
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Paddling the race in an 8kg Epic V10 Super Elite ski worth US$6,000...
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And... taking that awesome all-black V10 Super Elite home with you!
And all you have to do to enter is register on this website and answer three easy questions.
Click here to find out how!
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