Matt Bouman registered his second win of the 2013 Varsity College Marine Surfski Series when he claimed Friday evening’s Thule Surfski Challenge. Anthony Grote/Gameplan Media
Durban – Umhlanga-based Matthew Bouman breathed new life into the challenge for the 2013 Varsity College Marine Surfski Series title when he stormed to victory in the Thule Surfski Challenge, the fourth race of the 10-leg competition.
In the process he relegated series defending champion Hank McGregor to the second step of the podium for the first time in over three years.
Bouman, McGregor (Team Best 4 Kayak Centre) and Varsity College student Grant van der Walt have enjoyed a ding-dong battle of international standard for the past three seasons. However McGregor’s class has managed to edge him ahead throughout seeing him to three consecutive series titles.
The 2013 season had started in similar vein with McGregor claiming two of the first three races, only missing out once due to international commitments.
That was until Bouman paddled like a man possessed on Friday evening to clinch a memorable victory and reopen the challenge for the overall spoils, decided by paddlers’ top six results throughout the series.
“I knew if we just settled into things as Hank (McGregor) is used to then it would be pretty difficult to beat him so I went out a bit differently tonight and tried to attack early on,” explained Bouman. “I figured if we could get ahead on the first leg then he (McGregor) would have to work really hard on the second leg which would be a bit tougher as he would be a little more tired.
“As I turned at the bottom can I glanced back and Grant (van der Walt) was a little way off my tail and Hank was even further back. I knew then I had to push as hard as I could and just give it my all.”
“I knew it wasn’t going to be easy going back into the wind, especially with Grant, who has been paddling extremely well recently, trying to chase me down. I set my GPS at 14km/h and decided if he caught me doing that sort of speed then well done to him.
“Fortunately he couldn’t and I managed to get away from him a little more before the line.”
The woman’s race was once again clinched by London Olympian Tiffany Kruger who now has a firm grasp on the title challenge.
The Hansa Surfski Challenge, the fifth leg of the Varsity College Marine Surfski Series, takes place on February 8.
