PRESS RELEASE

Saturday, the 29 June was the first annual Mariner’s Wharf Return event. The conditions were pristine, not a breath of wind as paddlers lined up to get ready for the 10km race. Top South African stand up paddlers Dylan Frick, Ethan Koopmans, Gary van Rooyen, Brigette van Aswegen, Mishka Steyn and Peter Petersen were amongst the field and ready to give it there best to be qualified for the SUPSA 2014 worlds team.

Hout Bay was really showing off with the windless conditions, and this allowed for the perfect route around the bay all the way to Chapman’s Peak and another loop to complete the 10km race. Briefing was held and 16 racers set off at phenomenal speeds. As paddlers headed further out in the bay the ocean became choppy, some took a dive (they claim to have been sweating too much!). Dylan Frick (59’40” minutes) managed to stay in front for the entire race, with Ethan Koopmans (60’00″minutes) (up and coming paddler) closely on his tail. These two young paddlers created quite a gap then came Francois Frick (62’58” minutes) (Dylan’s strong Dad!). Two ladies competed in the 10km and were on each others tails. Brigette van Aswegen came out first in a time of 69’19” minutes followed closely by Mishka Steyn 70’16” minutes.

Spirits were high and many that had just completed the 10km decided to do the 3.5km as well! The 3.5km route was kept in the bay, was very spectator friendly and had 34 paddlers on the line. Our youngest paddler in the 3.5km, Cameron Tripney did phenomenally well and really is going to grow up to be a superb paddler. Dylan Frick came out first in a time of 19’10”, followed again by Ethan Koopmans (19’55”) and third was Tom King SA long boarder (20’55”). The ladies participating did an amazing job, Mishka Steyn came out first (22’57”), Sue Maxwell second (Sue had never paddled in the ocean before – great effort and did 26’00” minutes). Maleen Hoekstra was the third lady out the water in a time of 26’37”.

We ended the day of paddling with a fun 1km paddle raising funds for Development Through Sport (www.devthroughsport.co.za). Over 10 paddlers (some very young 8years old Finn Bertish) lined up ready to do the triangle 1km loop. Some paddlers had never been on a board before but LOVED the 1km route and swore they would be back for more!

We are all so excited with the growth of the sport and look forward to more and more events.

We could not do this without our sponsors – so huge thank you to Mariner’s Wharf, Coreban, Naish, Xpression on the Beach, Mocean, Glider, New Balance, Vitamin Water, Red Bull, Arabella Wines, Bulksms.

Organised by Ocean Love – any queries email Juliette info@oceanlove.co.za 

<END>