The best surfski paddlers from around the country were in Scottburgh on the KZN South Coast to compete in the Leatherback Rum Surfski Challenge on Sunday, 11 June, a proud addition to the first-ever Ocean Festival. Event organisers welcomed a larger than expected field for the 8km short course and 15km long course which included a paddle around Aliwal Shoal, one of 41 Marine Protected Areas in South Africa.

It was a well-contested challenge for the R50 000 prize money but, at the end of the day it was the GOAT of surfski racing, Hank McGregor, who took the first spot in the men’s race; while local paddler and the world number 3, Michelle Burn, cruised to victory in the ladies’ division.

Barry Lewin, the Race Director, commented: “The Leatherback Rum Surfski Challenge was an amazing success with paddlers from around the country coming together in celebration of World Oceans Day. All of these paddlers come with an immense amount of pedigree and showed their skill in the Scottburgh surf getting through the wave line at an immense speed! Congratulations to all our competitors for putting on an impressive performance, and thanks to all our event sponsors for making the Leatherback Rum Surfski Challenge possible!”

The race saw paddlers head from Scottburgh Main Beach in front of the Premier Hotel Cutty Sark beyond the surf zone north towards the Greenpoint Lighthouse. For the 8km short course, paddlers then headed back from the Greenpoint. The 15km long course saw paddlers turn around the first marker buoy and head in an easterly direction to the internationally renowned Aliwal Shoal. Paddlers then headed around the hot spot marker south for the final approach around the backline marker, through the surf zone and to the finish line on Scottburgh Main Beach.

In the men’s race, 13-times World Champion, Hank McGregor took the early lead ahead of Joshua Fenn, the current U23 World Champion, and Mark Keeling, the single ski Lifesaving World Champion.

Lewin recounted the race: “At the turnaround point halfway into the race, within the Aliwal Shoal MPA, Hank had a small lead of only 20 seconds, but he managed to extend this over the second half of the race to win by a comfortable margin ahead of Fenn.”

In the ladies’ division, it was the current third in the world and Amanzimtoti local, Michelle Burn, took an early lead, racing in one of the men’s groups before taking a top 10 overall finish. Second place went to U23 paddler, Saskia Hockly, with ex-Olympian Tiffany Kock – who is making a comeback to surfksi paddling after a sabbatical – taking the third podium spot.

“Some other highlights were in the mixed doubles race where the father-and-daughter team, Shane and Julia McAlister, put on an impressive performance. Then the Siyaphambili Surfski Club members Wandile Dube and Senzo Ngcobo came home in style, catching one of the biggest waves on the day!” said Lewin.

The beneficiary of the Leatherback Rum Surfski Challenge is the Clansthal Community Project (CCP), committed to the community and conservation efforts related to Clansthal, and for the Green Point Inshore Restricted Zone (GPIRZ).

Leatherback Rum Surfski Challenge Results

Open Male / Vets (40+)

• 1st Hank McGregor
• 2nd Joshua Fenn
• 3rd Mark Keeling
• 4th Brent Chiazzari
• 5th Luke Nisbet

Open Female:

• 1st Michelle Burn
• 2nd Saskia Hockly
• 3rd Tiffany Koch

Open Female U23 winner:

• Saskia Hockly

Junior Male (U18):

• 1st Keagan Vogt
• 2nd Jayden van Rensburg
• 3rd Luke O’Connor

Male U23 winner:

• Bryce Lawson

Master (50+):

• 1st Brad Pearse
• 2nd Peter Watt
• 3rd Marc Descoins

Grand Masters (60+):

• 1st Mark Lewin
• 2nd Dave Harker
• 3rd Gavin Smith

Open Double:

• 1st Shane and Julia McAlister
• 2nd Senzo Ngcobo and Wandile Dube
• 3rd Clifton Bridge and Sbonelo Kwala

Short Course Male winner:

• Tyne van Achterbergh    

Short Course Female winner:

• Deirdre Bentley

Short Course Double winners:

• Lwandile Gasa and Kwanele Banda        

Leatherback Rum Surfski Challenge formed part of the first-ever Ocean Festival in Scottburgh, KZN South Coast which ran from 8 to 11 June in commemoration of World Oceans Day. In addition to the surfski contest, the Ocean Festival programme included:

A Beach Clean-up in partnership with SAAMBR, ORI, and Sea World

MPA Aliwal Shoal underwater reef clean-up with Scuba Co.Cutty Sark Pro presented by SMTH ShapesWorld Oceans Day River Clean-up in partnership with Legends KayaksConservation Speaker Session in partnership with SAAMBR, ORI, and Sea World featuring Maryke Musson sharing turtle research and Dr Ryan Daly on the Shark Tagging ProjectOcean Festival Coastal MTB Social Ride in partnership with Renishaw Hills and Badgers CyclesOcean Festival Movie Night featuring Cutting the LineStreet artist, Giffy Duminy, painting the bridge to the Premier Resort Cutt Sark with sponsorship from Apex InternationalKeep Scottburgh Beautiful Beach Walk / Clean in partnership with Keep Scottburgh Beautiful and Halfway ToyotaMade for More Surf Contest      Ocean Festival Event & Live Music featuring Qadasi & Maqhinga

Thanks are extended to all partners involved in the Ocean Festival: South Coast Tourism & Investment Enterprise (SCTIE), SMTH Shapes, Premier Resort Cutty Sark, Halfway Toyota, Instinct, Leatherback Rum, Sir Fruit, SAAMBR, Gladiator Security, Renishaw Hills, Legend Kayaks, Badgers Cycles, Keep Scottburgh Beautiful, Scottburgh Surf Lifesaving, NSRI Rocky Bay, Point Watersport, Renishaw Hills Medical, Scuba Co., Made for More, and Feral Marine.

If you missed the action, be sure to check out @theoceanfestival on Instagram and Facebook, and www.oceanfestival.co.za website!