South Africa’s champion surfski paddlers Jasper and Dawid Mocke came 1st and 2nd respectively yesterday in Australia’s premier ocean paddling event, The Perth Doctor, also the second race in the World Surfski Series.
The two were locked in a titanic struggle for most of the race alongside young Australian from the Gold Coast, Cory Hill. It wasn’t until 2kms from the finish that younger Mocke, Jasper, managed to open up the tiniest of gaps to eventually cross the line first and successfully defend his the title he won for the first time last year. Older brother Dawid came in 24 seconds later to take second place.
“My brother pulled away from us in the middle part of the race. I thought he had it but after I relaxed and started focusing on my own race I started linking some swells and soon we were together again. Then just before the finish I caught a great swell and pulled away. That was it.” an elated Jasper Mocke said.
Dawid said: “Coming into the last 6kms of the race I had pretty much spent myself to stay in front. When Jasper caught up to me again I had no answer to his intensity. A good race by him.”
The local paddlers had no answer to the South African’s superior downwind paddling skills in what was a perfect surfski race.
Jasper enjoys an early lead in the World Series after his win yesterday as well as winning the first race last week in Mandurrah, Australia.
Dawid is a former World Series Champion having won the Series four consecutive times from 2009 to 2012.