Lewin Takes Gold at Norway National Surfski Champs

OSLO FJORD, NORWAY – This past weekend saw Jeep Team’s longest standing athlete, Barry Lewin (Jeep Team/Epic Kayaks) continue his successful European tour when he took the Gold medal at the Norway National Surfski Champs in Southern Oslo Fjord, just a week after winning Gold in the 2017 Seamasters Downwind surfski race in Sweden.  Norway National Surfski Champs was organised by the Oslo Kayak Club, and featured 25 strong paddlers, including international paddlers from South Africa, Germany and Sweden. Surfski paddling is still a young concept in Europe as the sport was only introduced at the Oslo Kayak Club in 2011. Conditions on race-day were very tough and flat with a 10-knot wind, making for a tactical 12km out-and-back race.  Lewin took the win in 56m49, ahead of German paddler Steffen Burkhardt in second in 57m30 and Gleb Greben from Norway in third in 57m40.

 Results - Norway National Surfski Champs

1. Barry Lewin (RSA) - 00:56:49
2. Steffen Burkhardt (GER) - 00:57:30
3. Gleb Greben (NOR) - 00:57:40  

###  OTHER JEEP TEAM NEWS Cycling – Smith’s Everesting Challenge for the SPCAThis past weekend, Jeep Team mountain biker extraordinaire took on the impossible and won. Pierre Smith, set out to attempt the Everesting Challenge - the concept challenge being to choose any climb, anywhere in the world and ride it repeatedly to climb the cumulative elevation of Mt. Everest - 8848m. Smith took his challenge to a 500m long hill with an elevation gain of just 30m near Leewspruit Primary School in Sasolburg. Smith needed to repeat this hill almost 300 times to complete the challenge within 24 hours.  Riding from 5am on Sunday morning, Smith invited friends and family to support his cause, join in on the ride and bring food donations for the SPCA.  After riding for 23h54m13s, Smith covered 421.5km, accumulating a total of 8905m of elevation gain.  

Paddling – Euro Steel McGregor Paddle Series Race 4Saturday, 25th August 2017 saw the Euro Steel McGregor Paddle Series return to its home base at Blue Lagoon for Race 4 - Bidvest McCarthy Toyota Durban North Race, the penultimate race of the series. This series’ race attracted over 70 young paddlers, all eager to see multiple world champion, Hank McGregor, in action. The Jeep Team / Euro Steel paddler is dedicated to giving back to the sport, introducing newcomers to the sport and providing a platform for them to grow. McGregor took part in the 8km race, taking the win in a time of 34m43.05s. Second and third wen to the Lovemore brothers, with Hamish taking second in 35m05.49s and Thomas a few seconds behind in 35m13.38s. The final race of the series will take place at Camps Drift in Pietermaritzburg on Friday, 1 September. The 2016 World Surfski Champion and eight-time World Marathon Champion, McGregor, is preparing for the 2017 ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships from 7 to 10 September in Pietermaritzburg. Watch McGregor’s interview with CGTN Africa here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lZOFEEXxx4 

Results – 8km Bidvest McCarthy Toyota Durban North RaceMen (K1)

1. Hank McGregor - 00:34:43.05
2. Hamish Lovemore - 00:35:05.49
3. Thomas Lovemore - 00:35:13.38 

Women (K1)

1. Christie Mackenzie - 00:39:03.43
2. Emma Anderson - 00:39:57.64
3. Sabina Lawrie - 00:40:40.09 

### EDITOR’S NOTES 

Written and Distributed by Hot Salsa Media on behalf of Jeep Team SAAll enquiries to viv@hotsalsamedia.co.za / 084 486 2136 Thank you.  

Have a look at the following platforms to keep up to date with Jeep Team SA: #JeepTeamSA

• Website - www.jeepteam.co.za
• Facebook - www.facebook.com/jeepteamsa
• Twitter - @jeepteamsa
• Instagram - JeepTeamSA