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PENINSULA MARATHON

RACE REPORTS

Peninsula Surf Ski Marathon December 2009

View pictures from Day 1 HERE

Cape Town - Graeme Solomon bagged his first significant surf ski victory of the season by winning the two day Peninsula marathon in idyllic calm conditions in a race around Robben Island that was laced with intrigue.

Solomon started the day with a thirty second lead over Paul Marais, who in turn had thirty seconds over the hungry Steve Farrell, as they set off in a massed start from Blouberg beach for the out-and-back course around Robben Island in hot and flat conditions.

The race format played into veteran Solomon's hands, as the 36 year old simply had to stay with the front bunch to safeguard his overall race lead.

"The real race was between Paul (Marais) and Steve (Farrell) and I had to keep my eyes on them both," said Solomon. "Steve Farrell had some biog moves after we had turned around Robben Island, but we managed to catch him on the leg back to Blouberg."

Solomon's wise lines and skills in riding the small runs saw him power to the front, but as he approached the finish he was happy to let the other two contenders get alongside him.

"Coming back to Blouberg it is actually quite hard to see where the finish is, so I was happy to paddle in with the other two guys," said Solomon.

Marais fell off the front bunch in the tough hot conditions, leaving the door open for Farrell to mount a charge that took him to the finishes line first, and allowed him to leapfrog Marais and claim the overall second place.

"It feels fantastic to win the Peninsula Marathon. It's my first surf ski race win this year, and it comes at the perfect time as we head for the Fenn Cape Point Challenge in two weeks time," said Solomon.

The women's title provided a fascinating duel as local rising star Rebecca Newson pushed Dubai Shamaal champ Michele Eray all the way to the line. However the Plettenberg Bay prodigy showed her class powering away on both days to record an unique achievement by becoming the first female paddler to finish in an A grade time for any race in the decade old Discovery Men's Health Surf Ski Series.

"I was really tired from all the travelling, and both days turned out to be flat, honest grinds with no real downwind," said Eray. "I am not complaining as no=one can control the weather, and I guess it was good training for the Fenn Cape Point," she added.

With Cape Town teeming with tourists attending the FIFA World Cup 2010 draw, the two days of hot sunny and windless weather seemed tailor-made for the visitors rather than the surf-ski paddlers.

"Just wait till they come back in June," said Solomon with his trade mark chuckle. "They are gonna wonder if it's the same country!"

SUMMARY OF RESULTS
FINAL RESULTS OF THE PENINSULA MARATHON
LEG 7 & 8 OF THE DISCOVERY MEN'S HEALTH SURF SKI SERIES
Elite Men Single Ski
1.Graeme Solomon 3:06.33
2.Steve Farrell 3:07.19
3.Paul Marais 3:07.55
4.Bruce Neill 3:14.45
5.Heinrich Schloms 3:18.28
6.Alastair Glass 3:18.30
7.Adam Botha 3:19.57
8.Jamii Hamlin 3:20.59
9.Glen Trueb 3:21.24
10.Michele Eray 3:24.26

Elite Women Single Ski Long Course
1.Michele Eray 3:24.26
2.Rebecca Newson 3:29.23
3.Bianca Beavitt 3:31.36

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New Balance Men’s Health Peninsula Surf Ski Marathon Feb 2009

The Western Cape's summer surf ski season reached a climax this weekend with the prestigious New Balance Men's Health Peninsula Surf Ski Marathon, with the Cape Doctor poised to deliver weather conditions for two days of top class downwind racing.

The marathon, which is into it's sixth year, is the only multi-day surf ski marathon on the Western Cape calendar, and attracts the cream of the Cape's surf ski racers eager to test themselves over the two stages of the event. This event was used as the first Surf Ski World Cup in 2004 and surf ski has snow balled from there.

While the final course will be determined by the actual weather conditions on the day, the first stage was set to test the field of single and double skis over the classic 22km route from Big Bay around Robben Island, with a reserve option of a brand new 22km course from Oudekraal to Big Bay.

For the second stage on Sunday, when the weather is expected to shift to a strong South Easterly wind, with some really big swells, 4.5m, race boss Richard Kohler has lined up the 22km route from Big Rooiels to Strand, with a fall-back option of Milnerton to Melkboss.

day1

start1

Day one was going to be a tough day at the office. The conditions were a windless, foggy and overcast morning with building ground swell. The race got underway early to avoid any adverse wind and be home before the shore break got too hectic. This world class route sees paddlers navigating the 22km anti-clockwise around, the world heritage site, Robben Island and back to Big Bay.

With the double ski fleet sure to set the pace and dominate the racing, all eyes will be on the seasoned crews of Herbert Conradie and Mynhardt Marais, from Strand, and the Milnerton pairing of Eugene van der Westhuizen and Marais Stein but it was the duo of PW Basson and Nick Longley who lead the field home.

Conditions for day two were for a building South wind and the event was moved to the Strand in False Bay and the course from Rooiels to Strand was set. Sunday’s midday start allowed for the wind to strengthen suitably enough providing enough assistance to help the paddlers catch and surf the large swells without making the conditions too difficult or dangerous. This chosen route has only been raced once before and the excitement at the start was almost palatable.

The start had to be moved to behind the surf zone as the shore break was a hard and hollow 5 footer. From the start the competitors got into their rhythm of working the swells to gain as much advantage as possible.

day2

In the perfect downwind conditions the PW Basson and Nick Longley were victorious ahead of Herbert Conradie and Mynhardt Marais in a near record of 1h22:39 with Jamii Hamlin and Heinricht Schloms slightly off the wave.

Despite a swim at the finish van der Eugene van der Westhuizen and Marais Steyn secured a fourth place over Daantie Malan Justin Swart team and clinched the Vets title. Seasoned Strand combo of Tienie van Schoor and Adie de Kock were runners up to Dale Lipstreu and Shaun Butler in the Masters category.

winners

Given the extreme conditions there were very few mishaps with one single breaking a rudder cable (return to shore by rescue craft) and then the mixed doubles pairing of Nils von Delft and Andrea Hugo snapped the nose off their double ski after getting dumped by the big swell at the finish.

nose

So the Cape Surf Ski season comes to a close on a high note. (not quite like our national carrier!)

Open category

1 PW Basson/Nick Longley 03:01:19

2 Herbert Conradie/Mynhardt Marais 03:06:45

3 Jamii Hamlin/Heinricht Schloms 03:09:12

Vets

1 Eugene vd Westhuizen/Marais Steyn 03:11:54

2 Daantjie Malan/Johan Swart 03:13:30

3 Russell Ikin/Mike Schwan 03:22:56

Masters

1 Dale Lippstreu/Shaun Butler 03:23:30

2 Tienie van Schoor.adie de Kock 03:26:23

Mixed

1 Nils von Delf/Andrea Hugo 03:32:57

2 Gary Kroukamp/Lis Hart 03:38:12

Singles

1 Quinton Miller 03:26:23

2 Adrian Cox 03:39:51

3 Fouche Whitehead 03:41:00

4 Rob Mclean (master) 03:45:40

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