Friday’s opening water sport event for the 2012 Splash Festival is set to be a world class event with the Madiba Classic Surf Ski Challenge drawing some of South Africa’s top international paddlers.
World Champion and 3 times Madiba Classic champion Dawid Mocke of Cape Town has confirmed his entry ahead of Friday’s race and will be lining up alongside British international white water kayaker Ben Oakley. Oakley a medical doctor from Nottingham in the United Kingdom has been an integral part of the British team since 2004.
Other top contenders for the coverted Splash Festival penguin trophy will be Mocke’s equally talented younger brother Jasper and fellow Cape Townian Sean Rice, both previous winners on the international circuit. Local challenges for the title will be expected to come from East London’s Steve Woods and PE’s Richard von Wildemann and Ryan Louw. Local female stars Kerry Louw and Kirsten Wessels will be expected to be on the podium together with East London’s Nicole Russell.
Friday’s surf ski challenge starts on Hobie Beach at 10am with paddlers doing a double lap of a course which takes them out towards Cape Recife before heading out to the Bell Buoy some 2.5km off shore and then returning towards Hobie Beach. A single lap short course race will also be held for the local paddlers, starting just before the elite event. With R28,000 in prize money, expect some top class racing amongst the paddlers.
3 times Madiba Classic champion Dawid Mocke of Cape Town
