King Of The Bay 2019

In the weeks’ build-up to the auspicious annual race through the Durban Harbour, paddlers had a keen eye on the weather and wind predictions. Initially, the reports were not looking too great and the thought of a long slog was certainly starting to become a reality. As race day arrived the weather was perfect and a window had appeared allowing paddlers to make a break and hopefully be unscathed by an ominous on shore wind set to arrive mid-morning.

The SUP field was 18 strong across the divisions including two prone borders for the very first time! Race favourites Dylan Frick and Charlotte Atherton were setting their sights on the top honours for the day. A stacked line up in the juniorette’s field had last years SA Junior Karisa Grace setting out to defend her title, with Durban’s Jess Rankin and Cape Towns’ Chiara Vorster both eager to get to the top of the podium.

The Legends Field had a new ‘young gun’ arrival Shayne Chipps’ relatively fresh from a few races on the European Circuit – definitely stirring some rivalry amongst the competitive Legend field.

At approximately 09:15 racers were under starting orders, lined up, set and ready to go. Paddlers were to head across the Durban Harbour and make their way out the channel entrance, banking left and heading to the final turn buoy before hitting the beach at Marine Surf Life Saving Club. Frick made his trademark dash at the start line, followed closely by Klos, Park-Ross and Swemmer whilst, not so far behind Atherton and Vorster were well on their way in the women’s field.

Paddlers negotiated their way through the port channels’ whilst on the look-out for dead spots and shallow sand banks waiting to swallow up boards. On approaching the main channel crossing, edging closer to the entrance the onshore wind started to loom with a gentle chop on the water and a steady headwind. In the women’s field Atherton had pulled away from Vorster with De Billot and Williamson in tow whilst Frick had widened the gap from second place, with Swemmer slightly edging off from Klos with Park-Ross in pursuit.

The timerkeepers’ clock was approaching the hour mark and the gentle breeze had now strengthened to a steady headwind and paddlers were making the final slog out the Harbour entrance. Wind swell was up and the chop was up with it! Frick hit the beach in first place with a comfortable lead. Swemmer was knocked of his board by a surfski paddler and Klos managed to get caught up in the aftermath. Second place went to Swemmer and Klos securing his third place after a good swim. Atherton had mustered a 3 minute lead on Vorster and maintained to the finsh line to secure the win with Vorster in second and De Billot taking 3rd. The juniorettes’ field was trumped by Grace, with Rankin in second and Vorster in 3rd. Well done to these girls for the amazing accomplishment. The Legends field was grabbed by Chipps with Ivins in second and Oets taking third. The prone divisions were won by the brother sister team – ‘Team Buncombe’. Special mention must be made to Murray James and Shelly Naylor, both new to the Long Distance SUP scene making an incredible display of perseverance and tenacity to get to the finish line after a real tough morning facing harsh winds and ship movements in the port.

A big thanks to Bay Union / King of the Bay organizers for allowing the Stand Up Paddle and Prone Borders to participate in this iconic race and SUP Durbs! Committee for assisting on the SUP admin side of things.

Make sure you check out more photos on Facebook, here. Next race coming up is Zinkwazi on 10 August. Make sure you do not miss out on this one! 

Hout Bay Series 2019 Race 1

We kicked off with the Hout Bay Series 2019 on Sunday, 28 July. Our registration started off at 8 am in a cloud of mist, followed by some exciting racing at 9 am sharp with happy and speedy paddlers. Stand Up Paddlers, surf ski’s and prone boards made their way onto the water with the best crowd of supporters on the beach. See the results here.

Cool prizes and great food followed at Marinas Wharf. 

Thank you for all of your support and a massive thank  you to our title sponsor, Combustion Technology as well as Xpression on the Beach.  

We are very excited for the second race taking place on 18 August 2019.

 

Check out more photos on our Facebook page

Hout Bay Series 2019

The Hout Bay Series 2019 is here!

We have 4 races planned for you in the most beautiful corner of our country. Make sure that you spread the word and bring along your family to this family-friendly event.

The courses are either a 3.6 km, 6 km, or 9 km. The races will take place on the following dates:
– 28 July
– 18 August
– 29 September
– 27 October

Registration will be at 8 am at every race with the race starting at 9 am.

Each race will have a cost of R100 for adults and R50 for under 13’s & pensioners.

The divisions include divas, legends, open women, open men, junior boys and girls for either SUP or prone. Contact us if you want to bring your surf ski or K2 along, and we will organise as demanded. You can register here.

We have scheduled these races so that it does not clash with any other Western Cape events, so make sure you get on your board and paddling. There will be parking at Harbour Zone 75 and post-paddle-food-deals will be available at Marinas Wharf.

With the greatest support from our title sponsor, Combustion Technology, there will be cash prizes at the finale for overall participation as well as prizes by Xpression on the Beach and Marinas Wharf. 

We hope you are as excited as we are!

SA SUP Wave Champs

The SA SUP Wave Champs is upon us, and this year we are at a fixed venue – Surfers Corner Muizenberg, which is celebrating 100 years of surfing.

It was in 1919 that Heather Price was recorded as the first South African to ride a wave. Since then, millions of waves have been riden by hundreds of thousands of surfers from all over the world. So, we thought it very appropriate to stage our 2019 SA SUP Wave Championships at the world famous Surfer Corner.

This event will see athletes from around the country compete for glory as well as to gain points towards 2020 SA team selection. Watch out for the likes of World SUP Sprint Champion, Tarryn King as well as her husband Tom King, who is yet to be beaten in a wave event in Cape Town waters. Durban is sure to send down their best to join Jethro Johnson from East London. Others to watch will be twins, Tammy & Penny as well as Khara Doyle, Matt Maxwell and Hence Scholtz. On the foil side, will the sensational Nathan van Vuuren be in town to state his claim or will Tom King walk away with the title? On the social paddling front, the Wahines will once again be out in full force!

Thanks to sponsors:
SURFERS CORNER CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES, XPRESSION ON THE BEACH, PLAKKIES, JOELENB SUNGLASSES, PEPPER TREE AND WINE TIME.

SUP Events Coming Up 2019

Upcoming events
While we update our calendar on the SUPSA site, make sure not to miss any events, coming up.

 

 6 October & 27 October – Hout Bay Winter Series

(Hout Bay Series Race 3 is postponed to 6 October)

20 October Boat Show SUP Cape Town Races

9 November Battle of the Bay – The Fish Hoek Mile

10 November The Xpression Wave Classic (SUPSA Sanctioned) 

 

Time Trials

Monday 16:45 – Emmarentia Beginners Time Trials, JHB  

Wednesday 18:00- Intaka Canals Time Trials, Canal Walk, CT 

Thursday 17:30- Emmarentia Canoe Time Trials (SUPs welcome), JHB 

Saturday 11:00- SUP Cape Town Time Trials, Waterfront, CT 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

G-Bay Winter Series ‘Everyone’s a winner’

Dear G-Bay Winter Series Paddler, Sponsor and Supporter

Despite an extreme offshore Berg wind warning the 1st G-Bay Winter Paddling Series kicked off on Sunday 2nd June in excellent conditions that favoured everyone’s skill level. A small but enthusiastic field of surfski and SUP paddlers were set a safety-oriented 6km course from the corner beach start past the GB Harbour along the Gordon’s Bay cliffs to the 5 Houses Rock as a turning point and return leg to the start with long course completing two laps and able to support any novice paddlers in need of assistance in the bumpy but almost windless onshore conditions.

Promising junior Bartho Visser won the 12km ski long course overall in a 1h02:43 pipping perennial winner Anton Holtzhausen by 3 seconds with series convenor Jamii Hamlin managing to claw back onto the podium having lost ground to Stephan du Toit whilst checking on a few paddlers straying a little off course to avoid the bumpiness. Former Springbok canoeist Donia Kamstra won the Ladies convincingly in 1h07:58 with rising star Kira Bester coming in second and taking the Junior Ladies as well. With Gay Pepler and Danie Nel having a ding dong in the over 65 Bullets, with Gary took the glory along with receiving his permanent number #11 for a 100% attendance since the series was started in 2007/8.

The short course had Joshua Kruger of Natural Energy taking the SUP win in 1h05:20 whilst in the surfski Paul Jacobs in 45:45m took the win from Scott Hogg whilst Noeleen Vermark was the 1st Lady and 3rd overall in 53:21m whilst Lifesaving stalwart and former WCCU administrator Jurie Wessels took the Bullets podium.

Since several of paddlers had been wary of the strong wind forecast and decided not to arrive, the request for a 3km Sprint course within the corner of the bay will be set up for novice SUPers and also ideally suited for the likes of under 12 Strand Lifesaving Nipper Champions Calhan and Liam Clarke wishing to keep their prone racing skills ticking over during the winter.
Race No2 is the 30 June, with updates and info available via G-Bay Winter Series Fb profile and Whatsup Group.

The G-Bay Winter Series key focus is to ensure the format and course options are accessible to all surfski, SUP and prone paddlers within the protection of the Gordon’s Bay corner that is well sheltered from strong winter conditions. Post race a complimentary soup with bread is served by hosting eatery Potters Pantry and with NSRI Station No 9 on standby for any emergency and safety requirements as a portion of the entries fee collected allocated to support their endeavours.

The series ensured #EveryonesAWinner as all paddlers are eligible to receive a lucky draw prize whilst podium places get bragging rights and photos. Many thanks to the sponsors Funky Pants, Freedom Paddle, Mocke Ocean Gear, Natural Energy, Brian’s Kayaks, Go Deep, RYD, Cape Classic, Triggerfish Brewery, Ecostake, Manor on the Bay and Malan Lourens Viljoen Attorneys.