Hank McGregor wins world’s toughest Surfski race for the third time
PIETERMARITZBURG, 31 May 2016 – South African surfski paddlers dominated the 40th annual Maui Jim Molokai Challenge in Hawaii on Sunday, 29 May 2016, with Jeep Team’s Hank McGregor leading the charge to claim his third Maui Jim title in relentlessly flat and windless ocean conditions.
McGregor finished the 53km surfski ultra marathon in 3h45, with fellow South Africans Sean Rice and Jasper Mocke finishing 2nd and 3rd respectively in 3h47 and 3h48.
The Maui Jim Molokai Challenge is the world’s oldest surfski race, and also one of the longest and toughest marathons, set across the Kaiwi Channel, between the Hawaiian islands of Molokai and Oahu. Called the ‘Channel of Bones’ by Hawaiians, the channel is renowned for unpredictable, and often extreme, weather conditions that can change in seconds.
2016 was one of the toughest Maui Jim Molokai Challenges in recent years, with paddlers competing in uncomfortably hot and humid conditions, with no downwind to speak of, which saw the race turn into a strategic test of physical strength and endurance.
A few kilometres into the race, a group of five paddlers surged ahead of the pack. This included the South African trio of McGregor, Rice and Mocke, plus Australia’s defending champion Cory Hill and his compatriot, Clint Robinson.
The race soon turned into an individual battle of endurance with each paddler seeking his own line across the channel that was offering no swell, runs or downwind assistance. In these conditions, McGregor’s experience gave him the edge he needed to find quicker lines and to finish at Maunalua Beach Park a minute and a half clear of second-placed Rice.
Said McGregor, “Last year I came so close to winning, so to come back and win now is awesome, and everything that I had hoped for. It was hot and brutal out there – probably one of the toughest surfski races I’ve ever done, and yet again living up to its name. Congrats to all my fellow countrymen that did so well!”
McGregor first won the race in 2009, followed by a second victory in 2014. In 2015, he led the field until the final two kilometres when Australians Cory Hill and Clint Robinson pipped him to the finish line.
2016 MAUI JIM MOLOKAI CHALLENGE RESULTS
- Hank McGregor (RSA) 3:45:34
- Sean Rice (RSA) 3:47:01
- Jasper Mocké (RSA) 3:48:19
- Clint Robinson (Aus) 3:49:20
- Joey Hall (Aus) 4:01:02
Other Jeep Team results…
Surfski
In Durban, Jeep Team’s Barry Lewin claimed 3rd place in the 15km Winkle SLC Surfski Race, which took place on Sunday, 29 May.
The Winkle Race was one of the preliminary events leading up to the FNB Durban Downwind on 25 June 2016, which also doubles as a World Surfski Series event.
MTB
In the North West province, Jeep Team’s Pierre Smith competed in the season-opening event of the 2016 Gauteng Nissan Trailseeker MTB Series, which took place on Saturday, 28 May.
Smith finished the 70km marathon through the Mabalingwe Game Reserve in 8th overall in 2h37. Max Knox won the Men’s race in 1h51, followed by Martien Venter in 2nd (2h07) and Heine Engelbrecht in 3rd (2h29).
Said Smith, “I had some great fun at the 1st Nissan Trailseeker race. I’m happy with a solid 8th overall after some tough races thus far. Thanks for all the support from everyone.”
On Sunday, Jeep Team’s Thinus Redelinghuys competed in the 54km Hollard Jozi Urban MTB Adventure.
The unusual race, in partnership with City Parks and Johannesburg Zoo, took riders on an urban adventure through Johannesburg’s parks and outdoor recreation facilities, with the route passing through interesting features that included storm water drains, underground tunnels and floating bridges.
Redelinghuys finished 5th overall and 1st Senior in 2h09.
#JeepTeamSA
Have a look at the following platforms to keep up to date with Jeep Team SA:
Website: www.jeepteam.co.za
Facebook: www.facebook.com/jeepteamsa
Twitter: @jeepteamsa
Instagram: JeepTeamSA
Editors’ Notes
Photo credits to Anthony Grote / Gameplan Media.
For more information please contact Bronwen Blunden on 079 060 1905 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
McGregor up against world’s best for the extreme Maui Jim Molokai challenge title
DURBAN, 17 MAY 2016 – After winning the fifth and final race of the 2016 Bay Union Surfski Series this past weekend, Hank McGregor (Jeep Team) is on his way to Hawaii to compete in the Maui Jim Molokai Challenge, the world’s oldest and toughest downwind surfski race that is set in one of the roughest ocean channels in the world.
This year, this 53km surfski ultra marathon, which takes place on Sunday, 29 May, also doubles up as a World Surfski Series event, attracting the best and toughest surfski paddlers from around the world.
Now in its 40th year, the Maui Jim Molokai Challenge is legendary for testing paddlers’ extreme skill, endurance and knowledge of ocean surfing.
The course is set in the Kaiwi Channel, between the Hawaiian islands of Molokai and Oahu. Here, a paddler’s ability is pushed to the limits against the unpredictable, fast changing, and extreme weather conditions experienced in the channel.
It’s no surprise that this race has been a favourite amongst South Africa’s thrill-seeking paddlers for many years, with Durban’s legendary paddler, Oscar Chalupsky, holding the record for the most wins (12 in total) over the race’s history. Chalupsky claimed the Men’s title a record 7 consecutive times (from 1983 – 1989), and then again in 1995, 2000, 2003, 2005 and 2012. Chalupsky will again be racing in 2016.
In 2009, McGregor won the Maui Jim Molokai Challenge for the first time, followed by a second victory in 2014 when the race doubled as the Surfski World Championship.
In 2015, he was a dominant force throughout the 53km race, leading the field until the final two kilometres when Australians Cory Hill and Clint Robinson managed to take an inside line that saw them leapfrog into 1st and 2nd respectively. McGregor finished 3rd.
Said McGregor, “After my frustrating finish last year, I’m really looking forward to take on this year’s Maui Jim Molokai Challenge. Bring it on!”
Other South Africans on the start line of the 2016 event include Sean Rice (4th at the 2015 race), Lee Furby and Herman Chalupsky (Oscar’s brother who tied 1st place with him in 1995).
In preparation for the Molokai Challenge, McGregor partnered with Lee Furby to conquer the fifth and final race of the 2016 Bay Union Surfski Series, which took place in Durban on Sunday, 15 May.
McGregor and Furby won the Doubles-only race in 1h02m05, just a few second ahead of second-placed Matthew Bouman and Louis Hattingh in 2nd in 1h02m15. Gene Prato and Bailey de Fondaumiere finished 3rd in 1h04m15.
It was a close race with Bouman / Hattingh racing neck-and-neck with McGregor / Furby until the final 1.5km, when McGregor / Furby managed to get the upper hand in a thrilling sprint finish.
Said McGregor, “The Bay Union Doubles Race was only a fifteen kilometre race and we’ve got to race 53km over in Hawaii, but it’s great to leave South Africa with a win, and to have enjoyed a solid race with a great friend like Lee, was awesome!
#JeepTeamSA
Have a look at the following platforms to keep up to date with Jeep Team SA:
Website: www.jeepteam.co.za
Facebook: www.facebook.com/jeepteamsa
Instagram: JeapTeamSA
Twitter: @jeepteamsa
Editors’ Notes
For more information please contact Bronwen Blunden on 079 060 1905 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
