Durban - Junior paddlers gear up for SA Schools Surf Ski Champs
Durban – A strong field of junior paddlers from around the country is
gearing up for the first ever Varsity College SA Schools Surf Ski Championships
at uShaka beach on Friday evening.
Dozens of enthusiastic scholars are putting in some extra training ahead of the
national junior surfski title decider, with elite junior paddlers from Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Richards Bay
and Mossel Bay set to descend on Durban for the series
finalé. The overall winner will win a cash prize and a full bursary from Varsity College.
“Juniors have been active and successful in all of the major surfski series
nationally so it was only a matter
of time for a SA Schools Championships to be sanctioned by Canoeing South
Africa,” said series
organiser Barry Lewin.
Junior ranking pace setter Terry McDougall of Durban Boys High School has
been cementing his position for the SA Schools race by topping the logs in
the weekly Varsity College Marine
series races.
“It’s fantastic for us junior paddlers as it give us the initiative to race
hard and train even harder. That gives us the incentive to progress even further
once we are experienced paddlers,” said McDougall.
Current junior series leader Kylie Winterburn of Kloof High School has been
paddling for the past two years and has her heart set on taking the title in
the SA School Surf Ski Champs next weekend.
“It’s going to be great to race against some of the paddlers coming up from
the other regions,” said Winterburn. She is currently training for the champs
and is considering competing in the Dunlop Surf Ski World Cup set for May 16.
“My goal for the future is no doubt to be the Women’s Surf Ski World Champ,
but all in good time!” laughed Winterburn.
“It’s great that we finally have a race like this where we get to compete
against girls from the other provinces,” said series regular Jenna Ward of
Kingsway High School. “It will definitely make me push harder to stay on
top!”
Junior paddlers have taken advantage of the current Varsity College Marine
Surf Ski Series as a platform to gain experience and knowledge from fellow
paddler before tackling the SA Schools Champs.
“Being a beginner I have grown to love paddling because of the series,” said
junior paddler Byron Mackie. “I enjoy racing and being competitive and the
challenge of various race conditions within the series.”
The Varsity College SA Schools Surf Ski Champs which forms the final leg of
the Varsity College Marine Surfski School Challenge takes place on Friday, 9
April at Ushaka Beach in Durban.
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Terry Mc Dougall of Durban Boys High School
gets in some last minute training ahead of the Varsity College SA Schools
Surf Ski Champs to be held on Friday at Ushaka Beach in Durban. |
Anthony Grote/
Gameplan Media |
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Kylie Winterburn of Kloof High School has her
heart set on her heart on winning the Varisty College SA Schools Champs to
be held on Friday at Ushaka Beach in Durban. |
Anthony Grote/
Gameplan Media |
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