|
Custon Kayaks Mark's Diary Winter Series Race 7 |
 |
|
Monday, 30 June 2008 17:46 |
|
MENS HEALTH WINTER SERIES – RACE 7 – I felt really sorry for series organizer Billy Harker, when I got the SMS to confirm that the full fun filled weekend he had planned down at Scottburgh on the South Coast had to be cancelled due to floods and storm seas etc. He has worked tirelessly over the past few months, promoting this whole new concept of a Winter Solstice weekend with mountain biking, off road trail running and surfski racing etc, not to mention , a full program of evening entertainment. True to form, like the Champion he is, he did not let it faze him at all and he put on an awesome race along the Durban Beachfront instead. Despite flat conditions he conjured up a really great imaginative course with changing scenery at every turn. Add the spice of the visiting Aussie paddlers here for this weekends World Cup and you have a “Race”. Hats off to Billy for bouncing back so strongly. You can’t put a good man down. The racing was hot and furious. The Aussies did not disappoint, and have come out here in good nick, raring to go. Hank Mcgregor had to give it all to just pip Jeremy Cotter from Australia for line honours. It was great to see the return of Mathew Bowman to the podium after a long absence. A big jump in level for Ian Gray, (top 5), the local boy who has put all the hard work and experience of travelling to races overseas to good use. For me I can only quote “Kelsey Grammer”, out of the movie, “Down Periscope”, “I LOVE THIS JOB”. While the double ski race lacked some of the better combinations yesterday, it 1) Gave yours truly and my tough as nails partner “Linton Hope” another overall win in the series, and 2) once again reflected the increasing popularity and success of the APEX double ski. The two improving juniors from Richards Bay, Donavon Kennedy and Shaun Austin, who have access to other double ski’s, contacted me over night and asked if they could do the race on our demo APEX. I pointed out my reservations about trying out anything new in a race for the first time, but they were curious, and went well enough to finish in second place overall. An impressive performance from these two young guys. The other very competitive masters (over 50 yrs) team of Joe Boy and Steve Evans, narrowly missed a visit to the podium in the overall stakes and were just pipped into fourth spot. The two of them also very happy on their new APEX and a reward for their hard work of entering the top 5 overall. A first for a masters combination. Tale of the Tape:- APEX double ski - 1st Overal, 1st veterans, 1st juniors, 1st masters, Yesterdays, great weather, great racing and great results, capped a really “GREAT” weekend. Whoever knows what next weeks World Cup has in store for us????? Whatever! It will be exciting! Out of respect to the occasion I am discarding the double ski for the World Cup and will enter the fray on a single. I am a bit rusty on how the single reacts in moving water, but I really am looking forward to the race and all the hype it brings. Not to mention seeing old friends again and meeting the new stars of this wonderful sport. See you on the start line. MARK |
|
Last Updated ( Monday, 30 June 2008 18:09 )
|
|
Rhoose SLSC Ski Race 11th May 2008 (3rd in SLSA GB Ocean Ski Series) Details ! |
|
|
Sunday, 04 May 2008 11:02 |
Rhoose SLSC Ski Race 11th May 2008 (3rd in SLSA GB Ocean Ski Race Series) Venue: Rhoose Club House, Fontagary, Rhoose, South Wales. Directions: J33 off M4 (A4232), Follow signs to Cardiff Wales Airport, Close to airport follow signs for. Rhoose. Go through village and at west end follow signs to Fontygary Holiday Park. Park by the swimming pool. Start: 12.3.00pm. Briefings at 12.00pm Cost: £5 Classes: U16, U19, Open, Masters, Doubles Distance: 4k, 10-12k, 8k, 10 - 12K For More Details please contact: Dave Cooper 01446
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Find us on Google Maps.
|
|
Last Updated ( Tuesday, 06 May 2008 09:38 )
|
|
Exeter Canoe Club - Lower Exe and Estuary Race on Sunday 11th May 2008. Hasler Race |
|
|
Tuesday, 29 April 2008 09:24 |
|
Exeter Canoe Club will be holding the Lower Exe and Estuary Race, a Hasler Race on Sunday 11th May 2008. The race is suitable for paddlers of all standards and this year there will be classes for Surf Skis. Please note the early start times to meet the tide. All races will start and finish at the same place on the river, adjacent to Exeter Quay. 12 and 8 mile courses will be on the river, canal and estuary; 4 miles course will be on the river and canal only. Portage is approx. 150 metres. Classes as follows: - 12 miles, 2 portages. Divs1, 2 and 3 K2 or C2 only. Open to Surf Skis.
- 8 miles, 2 portages. Divs 4,5 and 6 K2, C2, K1 or C1. U19 Surf Skis.
- 4 miles. Divs 7, 8 and 9 K2, C2, K1 or C1. U16 Surf Skis.
- 1 mile (approx). Lightning/Fun Race K1 only.
Registration will be in the Exeter Canoe Club building on Haven Road, Exeter, EX2 8DP at 0930/1030hrs. BCU membership cards must be shown. Day tickets will be required for non-members (and those without a valid BCU card). The Lightning Race starts at 1030hrs, Div races start from 1115 hrs at 2 min intervals, HW Topsham at 1200 hrs. For more information on Fees, Safety, Rules etc visit : www.exetercanoeclub.org.uk or email :
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
|
|
Last Updated ( Tuesday, 29 April 2008 09:52 )
|
|
GB Ocean Ski Series Race 1 Tarka Ski Race Results |
|
|
Sunday, 27 April 2008 10:27 |
Ocean Ski Series Rd 1 - Tarka Ski Race - Results
Monday, April 21, 2008
Tarka Ski Challenge- Barnstaple 1st Race of 6 in British Series The 2008 British Ocean Ski Series was kicked off on Saturday evening in Barnstaple on the River Taw. 50 paddlers from across the country tested their fitness levels on the course which was set between the New Barnstaple Bridge and The Tarka Line Railway Bridge. The Open Mens 12k race set off first and before long a lead pack was formed with the top five paddlers playing cat and mouse with each other to see who might make a break. The last 200m of the race proved to be the deciding factor when Andrew Maycock, Tom Sharp and Tim Widershoven upped the pressure for a gruelling sprint finish. With 10m left Tim Widershoven proved the strongest and edged out Tom Sharp on the line with Andrew Maycock taking 3rd spot. The 8k course was contested by the Open Ladies, Masters Men / Ladies, Open Double and the Under 19 Men / Ladies. These categories also produced some great results with some hard fought battles to the line. Open Ladies: 1st Karen Harris, 2nd Zoe Betteridge, 3rd Holly Hawkey U19 Men: 1st James Granfield, 2nd Alex Bunney, 3rd Luke Penman U19 Ladies: 1st Sara Rowe, 2nd Amy Byles, 3rd Gacie Dack Masters Men: 1st Colin “Biggles” Smith, 2nd Owen Philips, 3rd Richard Lark Masters Ladies: Steph Robinson Open Double: 1st Lawrence/Richards, 2nd Pasco/Martin The 4k course was battled out by the Under 16 Boys and Girls categories that showed great stamina in the cold windy conditions. U16 Boys: 1st James Bunney, 2nd Feddie Hedger, 3rd Matt Robinson U16 Girls: 1st Venessa Pearson, 2nd Emma Challacombe, 3rd Amy Harrison The second race of the British Series will be at Hayle in Cornwall on the 4th May. This could throw up a completely different set of results when ocean racing skills will be put to the test! |
|
Custom Kayak Mark's Diary. Men's Health Winter Series Durban 2008 |
|
|
Sunday, 27 April 2008 10:16 |
| WINTER SERIES,MOLOKAI RACE, NIPPER BOARD | | MENS HEALTH DISCOVERY WINTER SERIES 2008 – The count down has started in KZN, building up to the biggest surfski race series in the World. Three weeks to go and you can visibly see the vibe picking up all around. Visits to our shop to look for the necessary accessories. Lifejackets are now compulsory, so we have stocked up with a few brands. Phone calls to the shop and factory all day about the availability of new and second hand surfski’s. A big increase of paddlers on the water paddling in their respective groups. Orders for new surfski’s from the local market have jumped as they always do before the start of the series, despite the increase in prices from last season. This is unavoidable due to the weaker S.A. Rand exchange rate, which makes all our imported material more expensive and the repeated increases in crude oil prices. Oil being the base raw material for our resins and reinforcement material (clothe etc). Working extended shifts, we are making one APEX double ski per day at the moment and we are working around the clock to get the new single ski into production. Progress is going well but I will not fall into the trap of a deadline, which can make you cut corners somewhere. I am a big fan of nipper lifesaving for youngsters. I recently had the pleasure of making a nipper board for a young swimmer (Rolf van de Meden – 11yeaqrs old), (see picture), from the pirates Lifesaving club in Durban, who was competing in his first nipper lifesaving season. I have often said and maintain that the skill level, balance and anticipation learnt in the surf on a board at a young age will give any future surfski paddler an advantage in the surf in years to come. Despite never having paddled a board before and only getting his new board about 2 weeks prior to the S.A. Championships, I was impressed by his determination to master the board and I saw him down at the beach regularly in various surf conditions practicing. Despite being new to the discipline he picked up a silver medal in one of the board events. The elite paddlers that are travelling to the Molokai surfski race in Hawaii are doing their long hard training at the moment and all eyes will also be on the race in Hawaii in about 4 weeks time. See you on the water MARK |
|
|
|
Last Updated ( Sunday, 27 April 2008 10:22 )
|
|
Custom Kayaks - Mark's Diary: Kia Durban Summer Series Race 10 & Final Results |
|
|
Wednesday, 16 April 2008 21:52 |
| KIA DURBAN SUMMER SERIES, RACE 10 AND FINAL RESULTS | | KIA DURBAN SUMMER SERIES – RACE 10 AND OVERAL RESULTS The series ended up on a high note with race 10 run in very exciting strong onshore conditions. A two lap course was set to benefit as much as possible from a downwind, down swell last 2 km to the finish on each lap. An interesting scenario unfolded near the end of the race that makes me realize why I enjoy surfski racing so much. The front four double ski’s broke away and were bunched together at the top turn in very rough unstable conditions. Myself and partner Linton Hope were in this front bunch at the time. As we reached the turn the front two boats came across a single ski paddler, (who we were now lapping) lying on his ski, side on to the chop unable to get back into his ski. He looked very tired and had obviously been there for some time. Oliver Burn and Barry Lewin, the front paddlers in the leading two ski’s jumped out of their ski’s and assisted the paddler to get back on to his single ski. Myself and Butch Murray, the front paddlers in the other two doubles also stopped instinctively and waited for the other two double skis to get going again. We could see the remainder of the field coming upwind towards us but the two rescuing paddlers managed to remount, recover their composure and line up with us again and without a word exchanged between us, when all 4 ski’s were level and facing downwind, we proceeded with a race off down wind to the finish. Barry Lewin has only done a few of the races in the series due to other commitments and used race 10 as an opportunity to introduce a development paddler he has been coaching, Stembiso Mbatho, to double ski racing using our demo APEX Ytech double ski. They posted an impressive win over the series leaders and favourites, Oliver Burn and Dave Maritz, who just edged out myself and Linton Hope also on an APEX double ski. While Oliver Burn and Dave Maritz were on one of our MARK 2 double ski’s it was clear to see how much advantage paddlers have in downwind conditions on the APEX. In 4th place in the race was mixed doubles pair Mark and Angelique Mulder also on a MARK 2 double ski. A great advert for our products having two of our new boats and the overall winners plus some of the category winners of the series on our double ski’s. The attached picture is of Barry Lewin and Stembiso Mbatho riding a wave in to the finish on the new APEX. The overall results in the series was once again very close in most of the categories. The full series results are attached:- Kia Motors Marine Surf Ski Series 2008 - Overall Series Results Singles, Men, Open: 1 Herman Chalupsky, 2 Andre Pohl, 3 Steve Woods. Veterans: 1 Herman Chalupsky, 2 Murray Smith, 3 Derek Hauptfleisch. Masters: 1 Peter Duncan, 2 Joe Boy, 3 Stephen Evans. Juniors: 1 Jabin Lyons, 2 Luke Chalupsky, 3 Terry McDougall. Women, Open: 1 Michelle Eder, 2 Tiffany Kruger, 3 Natalie Veckranges. Junior Women: 1 Lauren Felgate, 2 Jenna Ward, 3 Kerry Segal. Doubles, Men, Open: 1 Oliver Burn / Dave Maritz, 2 Mark & Angelique Mulder, 3 Mark Lewin / Linton Hope. Veterans: 1 Mark Lewin / Linton Hope, 2 Trevor Vernes / Gary Probert, 3 Ian Nicholson / Michael Johnson. Masters: 1 Buck Symons/ Solly Segal, 2 Mark Johnson / Len De Beer, 3 Stephen Knight / Russell Sobey. Women, Open: 1 Cara & Penny Bush, 2 Belinda Carbutt / Kim Adamson, 3 Jenna Ward / Tori Neal. Mixed: 1 Mark & Angelique Mulder, 2 Sean & Alison Uys, 3 Michael Cousins / Judy Eder. See you on the water MARK |
|
|
|
Last Updated ( Friday, 18 April 2008 21:10 )
|
|
|
Feed Entries