Record entry for Dunlop Durban Surfski World Cup 2010 - International contingent

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Friday, 14 May 2010 16:49

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The international contingent includes a big team of French racers, all of whom have been sharpening their skills in downwind conditions off the coast of Brittany, as well as seasoned Spanish surfski internationals.

The overlap with the Molokai Challenge, caused by the clash with the FIFA Soccer World Cup the will bar a contingent of Australian, New Zealand and Pacific Island paddlers from taking part. However the field still boasts a significant number of global pacesetters and contender.

The women’s race is less complicated. Eastern Cape star Michèle Eray starts as the hot favourite to retain her title. The twenty-something Olympian has single-handedly raised the bar of women’s surfski paddling since the Beijing games and on her day will look to place in the overall top twenty, let alone win the women’s race.

Her bid to win the EuroChallenge in Alicante, Spain two weeks ago was railroaded by a persistent flu bug that left her heart-rate rocketing to dangerous levels early on in the race, ruling her out of contention.

That shouldn’t detract from a star showing from Nikki Mockè, wife of world champ Dawid Mockè, who took her comeback from a maternity break to a whole new level by winning the women’s title, and the handy purse of Euros.

Add to that mix the classy local likes of Michelle Eder from Amanzimtoti, eager to make her mark on her local waters, and Donna Winter, and the women’s race promises to be intriguing, especially over the 33km haul to Winklespruit.

The record entry of just under 300 paddlers sets a new world best for any international, and a new high entry for a world series race.

The big field will include a number of novices, as well as the marine Surf Lifesaving clubs surfboat crew, which has committed to racing every event on the winter Discovery Sunglass Hut series calendar, including the Dunlop Surfski World Cup and the tough season ending Scottburgh to Brighton ultra marathon.

SUMMARY OF WINNERS:
Men:
2006 Hank McGregor
2007 Oscar Chalupsky
2008 Hank McGregor
2009 Clint Pretorius

Women:
2006 Nikki Mocke
2007 Alexa Cole
2008 Alexa Cole
2009 Michèle Eray

ISPA World Series -  best four results to count
Perth Doctor (Australia) 16,17 January 2010
EuroChallenge (Spain) 1 May 2010
Dunlop Surfski World Cup (South Africa) 16 May 2010
Molokai Challenge (Hawaii) 16 May 2010
Mauritius Ocean Classic (Mauritius) September 2010
US Surfski Champs (USA) 21 August 2010
Dragon Run (Hong Kong) 20 November 2010
Dubai Shamaal (UAE) 2 December 2010

PRIZEMONEY
MEN
1^st R40 000, 2^nd R20 000, 3^rd R10 000, 4^th R 7 500, 5^th R 5 000, 6^th R 3 000
WOMEN
1^st R10 000, 2^nd R 5 000, 3^rd R 2 000
U/18
1^st R1500, 2^nd R 750, 3^rd R 500
Veteran
1^st R1500, 2^nd R1000, 3^rd R 500
Master
1^st R1000, 2^nd R 500, 3^rd R 250
B-Grade
1^st R 500, 2^nd R 250
C-Grade
1sr R 500, 2^nd R 250
D-Grade
1.R 500, 2.R 250
Doubles
1sr R2000, 2^nd R1500, 3^rd R1000
Mixed Doubles
1^st R1500, 2^nd R1000, 3^rd R 500
Veteran Double
1^st R1500, 2^nd R1000, 3^rd R.500
Master Double
1^st R1000, 2^nd R 500