The Eastern Cape 2008 SA Men’s Surf Ski Champion, Richard van Wildemann, claimed this year’s 22km Hansa Victoria Bay Sedgefield which forms part of the Discovery Men's Health Surf Ski Series in a nerve-wrecking and risky finish through monstrous 5 metre swells.
He finished a mere 20 seconds clear of KZN’s Durban legend, Herman Chalupsky.
The monstrous surf at Vic Bay may trigger the relocation or re-scheduling of the race, though that was not the plan.
There were breaks in the sets, but not long enough for the paddlers to race from the beach and out through the treacherous outer break. Thus paddlers were instructed to remain in batched holding patterns off the Vic Bay Pier, braving medium sized "foamies".
Series organizer Billy Harker, scanning the sea, was in contact with a lifesaver at the most outer rock and on the start of the easing of the outer break sets local organizer Alastair Fraser blew the horn.
By the time the batches reached the outer break it was again huge and the paddlers were ramping the final wave to screams of encouragement from spectators on the pier.
Although about 20 crews elected not to start the race, whilst a fleet of 60 surf ski’s including 3 indomitable ladies in single skis, eventually braved the mighty Southern Cape ocean and struck off down the coast in light 16 knot south-westerly wind conditions towards Gericke Point at Sedgefield.
A flotiilla of safety jet-skis and NSRI rubber-ducks were in attendance throughout the race.
Harker placed the finish cunningly within the lee of Gericke Point.
"The oblique swell conditions didn’t really suit the likes of Graeme Solomon (third) and I today, as it was really a hard pull for 1 hour and 30 minutes and suited PE’s young-gun and muscle-man, Van Wildemann, much better", said Chalupsky who claimed second position.
East London’s international 2009 World Cup Surf Ski Series contender, Bevan Manson, was the fourth elite men’s single-ski paddler home on the day with his veteran East London team-mate, Hennie Roos, finishing in a creditable fifth place.
Only three hard-core ladies tackled the tough surf-ski ocean paddling challenge and were led home by Beijing K4 canoe-sprint finalist Michelle Eray with Big Bay’s (Blouberg) gutsy young SA Marathon K1 team-member, Bianca Beavitt finishing second, just ahead of Port Elizabeth stalwart Kirsten Wessels taking third position.
The race, run from Knysna in easterly winds and from Vic Bay in the westerlies, always finishes in Sedgefield.
The jet-ski that Garth Duminy was patrolling on was sponsored by the Series sponsor, Discovery Health, and the rubber duck used by Declan Nurse off Gericke Point was sponsored by the Knysna Yacht Club.
For more information and detailed results go to www.surfski.co.za.
