Durban – Young paddling sensation Kyeta Purchase showed her temperament in difficult conditions after she took advantage of a Nicole Russel blunder to take her second win of the 2016 Varsity College FNB Marine Surfski Series with victory at the Hansa Surfski Challenge on Friday evening.

The north-easterly wind reared its head providing some testing conditions for the big field that turned up however a mistake from Fenn Kayak’s Russell on the way in paved the way from Purchase to sneak home and secure another win.

“The race was quite difficult and I was a bit tired going into it but it went well which was good,” the Euro Steel star mentioned.

“I didn't see Nicole coming in and I saw a break so I went hard and then I saw her swimming so I knew that I had to go hard to get up the beach and across the line first.

“Conditions were good, quite rough and a bit up and down getting to the third buoy but I enjoyed it,” Purchase explained.

Despite a swim when the race was in her grasp, Russell was very diplomatic about the outcome.

"The finish was a bit of a disaster for me because after my swim I lost my boat which meant that Kyeta passed me in the surf but it happens in paddling, I guess," she mentioned.

The men’s race was won by Durban paddling stalwart Wade Krieger who managed to pull away from Barry Lewin on the second lap to give himself his first win of the series.

Despite a watered down field Krieger was still happy with the win and with that he has opened his account for 2016 with six of your best results to count.

“Very stoked to get my first win of the series ,” Krieger said. “Even if a few guys are absent and the field is a little bit weaker it is still good to get a win.”

The race at the front was tight as Jeep Team’s Barry Lewin managed to reign in Krieger however the latter put in a good surge to pull clear of Lewin on the second lap handing him an advantage that he would not relinquish.

“I had a great start and was in the right place off the start with the water being a little bit deeper and got out first.

“I managed to work the runners well across the beach and then Barry managed to catch me on the first lap and on the last lap I decided to focus on myself and put my head down,” he added.

Despite his win and the chance of an overall title Krieger does not see the overall title as his main priority with getting back to top form being a major goal of his and the series win would be a positive by-product.

“ think that I am in with a shout at the overall title but n even higher priority is to try and get that spark back - I wasn't feeling 100% today and I know that if I get that spark back then I will be happy,” mentioned Krieger.

The Thule Surfski Challenge, race four of the 2016 Varsity College FNB Marine Surfski Series, takes place at 17h30 on Friday 29 January Marine SLC, Addington Beach. More information can be found at www.marineseries.co.za

SUMMARY OF RESULTS – BORLAND SURFSKI CHALLENGE PRESENTED BY MARRIOTT
RACE TWO – 2016 VARSITY COLLEGE FNB MARINE SURFSKI SERIES

LONG COURSE
Overall
1.Wade Krieger 35.42
2.Barry Lewin 36.35
3.Luke Nisbet 36.50
4.Jason Ekstrand 37.29
5.Brett Bartho 38.41
6.Oliver Burn 39.01
7.Nic Burden 39.28
8.Paul Rabinonitz 40.05
9.Jordan Clauson 40.07
10.Richard Lowe 40.46

Women
1.Kyeta Purchase 41.59
2.Nicole Russell 42.14
3.Vanessa Mayhew 54.04

Junior Boys
1.Luke Criticos 41.11

Junior Girls
1.Kyeta Purchase 41.59

Doubles
1.Zoog Haynes/Linton Hope 36.07
2.Shaun Burgin/Lee Muir 36.58
3.Brice Hatton/Marc Stanton 36.59

Mixed Doubles
1.Lee McGregor/Sabina Lawrie 38.05
2.Ian Marais/Taneal Marais 43.44
3.Mark Xantho/Lyn Bennett 44.03

SHORT COURSE
Singles
1.Keaton Riddle 25.10
2.Brendan Sharp 25.26
3.Jeffrey Maingard 25.33

Doubles
1.Calvin Mckie/Tamryn Mckie 23.15
2.Bruce Pender-Smith/Matthew Pender-Smith 26.01
3.Patrick Palmer/Brandon Palmer 28.34

SUPs
Men
1.Daryl Bartho 31.26
2.Brandon Read 31.28
3.Nick Pack-Ross 32.47

Women
1.Jackie de Billot 35.28
2.Lande Williamson 45.35
3.Angela Whittle 53.29

GamePlan Media Press Release, photo by Anthony Grote