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A final wrap up of two iconic surf ski events, held a week apart and only a week after the World Surfski Championships in Perth.
The first is undoubtedly the toughest paddling event on our calendar – and perhaps on any calendar – the Carbonology Sport PE2EL Surf Ski Challenge.
This year was the 50th anniversary of this epic four-day event.
The race was started when East London lifesaving legend, John Woods, challenged a runner, John Ball, to a race between the two Eastern Cape cities.
The event evolved into a four-day stage race, with the first day being a mammoth 80km to Woody Cape, renowned for its challenging surf.
Originally the Lucky Strike Challenge, it then became the Texan Challenge, the Plascon Challenge and the Red Heart Challenge.
In those days, the race was held strictly from PE to East London, irrespective of the wind direction. Lifejackets were unheard of, as were lycra paddling tops, elaborate drinking systems and, (besides a few fortunate individuals) competitive and light ski's. Most of the entrants camped overnight.
Spec skis, a speedo, a vest and a two-litre polystyrene juice bottle taped to your deck were the order of the day.
It was not unheard of for competitors to take over 13 hours for the first day alone.
Although the modern version of the race is not quite as "raw", it still involves the same number of kilometres, along the same stretch of coastline, with very much the same challenges. This applies to both paddlers and organisers.
At a time when many of our races are faced with declining numbers, and there has been a significant drift away from long epic races (Umkomaas, Vaal, etc.), the fact that the PE to EL had an increase in participation bears testament to sound organisation, and an indication that the adventurous spirit in some of our paddlers has not died completely.
Unlike a number of our major races, the PE2EL does not usually alternate or concentrate predominance on a category. Both the single and double ski categories are equally competitive.
This year both of the categories produced exciting duals, with no "run away" leader.
Zach Preyser edged out Bevan Manson by just over two and a half minutes (after over 18 hours of racing) in the singles, with EL local and son of the races founding father Steve Woods finishing third (over an hour back). Bianca Beavitt finished 14th overall and was the first woman.
In the doubles category, Hamish Lovemore and Brett Hadiaris managed a narrow 11-minute win over fellow Durbanites Richard Louw and Jason Ekstrand, with Ben Bradford and Scott Rodgers finishing just 15 minutes behind them.
When I did my last PE2EL about 25 years ago, the father of the race, John Woods, was on the beach to greet all of the competitors and to present their medals.
It was fitting that on the 50th anniversary of the race, and a celebration of his 80th birthday, that "Jan Plank" (as his close mates know him) was on hand to present the medals to this year's competitors once again.
The next PE2EL promises to be even more exciting, with the likelihood of a couple of Australian teams coming over to contest a team event.
A massive thanks to the organising team from Bluewater Bay Canoe Club, under the able leadership of Bulla Wood, as well as the major sponsor Carbonology Sport, assisted by National Finance Brokers, Dunlop Tyres, Windmill Roadhouse, Broubart Security and Bate Chubb & Dickson.
Surfski paddlers were treated to a return to format of the Cape Point Challenge last Saturday.
Favourable weather conditions allowed the organisers to let the competitors paddle around the point, for the first time in six years.
Although it was unlikely that any of the PE2EL competitors would be on the start line (Bianca Beavitt excluded), many of the paddlers who represented SA at the World Championships in Australia, two weeks previously, had made the return trip.
Nic Notten made amends for a sixth place in Perth by winning the single ski category by three minutes from Josh Fenn and Uli Hart. In the women's division, Kira Bester made an even more emphatic statement by taking 18 minutes out of second place Melanie Van Niekerk, who sneaked in a few seconds ahead of Chloe Bunnett. Heath Clarke won the junior men.
Simon Van Gysen and Kenny Rice managed to hold off the husband and wife crew of Hank and Pippa McGregor by just two minutes in the double ski category, with the U16 crew of Jared Shrimpton and Ryley Smith having an absolute stormer to clinch third.
Hopefully, in years to come, the organisers are not plagued with adverse conditions and the race can return to its original iconic status.
Congratulations to Peter Cole and his team for a fantastic event. |
