Thursday, 24 March 2011 12:50
Surfski young guns head to Durban
The top teenage surfski paddlers from across the country descend on Durban this week for Friday night’s eagerly anticipated Varsity College SA Schools Surfski Championships.
The best surfski prospects from schools in the Western and Eastern Cape will line up alongside the cream of the local talent for the final leg of the Varsity College Marine Surfski series in what promises to be demanding offshore racing conditions.
With the prestigious SA Schools Surfski Champ title on the line along with a generous R40, 000 bursary to Varsity College and prize money it’s all to play for for these aspiring young paddlers.
“It’s great for the sport to have events such as the Varsity College SA Surfski Champs. This is the breeding ground for the champions of the future and we’re really proud to be able to host the champs as part of the Varsity College Marine Surfski Series,” said event organiser Barry Lewin.
Much of the home province’s hopes lie with the girls defending champion Kerry Segal of Amanzimtoti (Kingsway High School) who has steadily improved on the form that won her the national junior title last year.
Pietermaritzburg will also be part of the action this year as girls from Epworth and no less than twelve lads from Maritzburg College try their hand at surfski racing with up and coming river paddler Murray Haw, after recently claiming the Junior Boys’ title at this year’s The Unlimited Dusi canoe marathon, leading the inland charge.
Current ISPA World Series champ Dawid Mocké is backing the powerful Cape challenge and singles out three teenagers that are capable of snatching the CSA gold medal depending on the prevailing conditions.
“Dominic Notten is an exceptionally talented athlete,” says Mocké of his fellow Fish Hoek Surf Lifesaving Club team mate. Notten of Wynberg Boys’ High was the first lifesaver to win both the junior and senior Malibu board event at the WP champs since Mocke did it in 1994.
“Notten was a regular top ten finisher in the senior races in the last Discovery Sunglass Hut Surfski Series in the Cape, and it won’t be long before he starts challenging for podium places,” said Mocké. “It’s got to the point where I am not giving him any more tips!”
Mocké also hinted that Notten's close friend Craig Flanagan (SACS) is another paddler to keep an eye on. “Craig is a great paddler and works closely with Dominic Notten. In fact it is Craig who likes to call the shots.”
Should the South-Westerly buster come through as expected on Friday evening then conditions may well favour Kenny Rice from Bergvliet High, the younger brother of international title winner Shaun Rice.
“If it gets big and there are runs out there, watch out for Kenny. He loves it when the ocean comes to the party and will be hard to beat if the runs are big. He also has an unbelievable killer instinct that most schoolboys lack.”
However Port Elizabeth youngster Jordan Zeelie (Grey High) will also have his own ideas and with many tipping him as the ‘dark horse’ of this year’s race he will certainly look to put pay to any premature title hopes his Western Cape and KZN rivals may have.
The Varsity College SA Schools Surfski Champs and the tenth and final leg of Varsity College Marine Surfski Series take place on 25 March at 17h30.
Add comment
