2010!

Wow, another year is here. Time is sure flying:)

2009 was an unbelievable year. I had some great success in the World of Surf Ski, not losing a race I entered. I finally made A Grade in the Discovery/Men’s Health Surf Ski Series. I traveled the world, racing my ski, and became totally pro in that regard. I lived in Durban for 5 months. I turned 30! I got a dog called Bongo, who is a little crazy:) I made new friends, and re-connected with old ones.

I hope you all had a great 2009, and I have a good feeling 2010 is going to be even better.

Bring on the Soccer World Cup. Bring on new Challenges. Bring on more Fun.

Here’a video clip of the most amazing biking skills I have ever seen.

Sabrina Love Ocean Challenge

Start @ Central beach

Every year, I have the opportunity to take part in the Sabrina Love Challenge event here in Plett. The Sabrina Love Foundation does some pretty amazing work for children with disabilities, here is the web link www.sabrinalove.co.za The event gets great “celebrity” support, with Olympic swimmers Natalie du Toit and Chad Ho, Dusi Duke Martin Dreyer, Comrades icon Bruce Fordyce and many more taking part.

Plett Central Beach

This year there were over 1500 entries for the swim, mountain bike, surf ski, run and beach walk. Event organisers Magnetic South, as usual put on an unbelievable show, slick and well-run. 100% of entry money goes to the Sabrina Love Foundation, so thanks to all those who took part, and of course, thanks to Stonehage and Discovery for sponsoring it!

Martin, Natalie, Chad & me

Laurent, Jess & me at finish

Finish Line

Neal & Stef

Cape Point Photo

Owen Middleton sent me this great photo from the Cape Point Challenge. Check out www.owenm.smugmug.com/events for more great shots.

Cape Point Challenge

That was a proper Challenge! Well done to all those who finished, as it was surely one of the tougher one’s in recent history. Pete Cole had to make the call to start in Simon’s Town, as the NSRI safety boats were battling to get to the Point in the wind and swell. So we started at Longbeach, Simon’s Town, and paddled to Buffel’s, where we ran around a flag on the beach, and then headed out for the final 5km of Head Wind to a marker buoy at Cape Point, then home in the fading Down wind to Fish Hoek Beach. 50km in total.

Team Plett checking out the start the day before

The Head Wind section was hhhard! The wind was relentless, and when I looked at my GPS and saw 7min/km pace, I realised we were in for a long day! It got better as we approached a more protected part of the Peninsula, to my relief. The part past Smitswinkels Bay was very bumpy, but at least there was the possibility of catching some small rebounds there. unfortunately Buffels claimed a few broken rudders, and DNF’s.

The last 5km to the Point were not my strongest, and I started feeling sea-sick. When we finally turned for the home stretch, the wind actually died a bit, but the leftover runs were pretty fun. I was super happy to go past the Lighthouse as I knew I had 5km to go! Broken is an understatement, but pumped to win my 2nd Cape point Challenge in a row, and narrowly missing out on a Top 20 finish by a minute and a half, ending up 21st Overall.

Great organisation by Pete Cole and his team at the Life Saving Club. This is definately one of the Ultra’s you have to put on your Bucket List.

Nicky & Janine stoked with their medals! Well done!

I am back in Plett, looking forward to some down time. Lots of very exciting things on the cards for 2010. I am so pumped for what’s to come, both on the racing front and on the development side. Watch this space!!

Team Oos Kaap rocking the Brass Bell

Dubai Shamaal Wrap up

Training paddle in Dubai

The race went well. I managed to avoid all the flu/colds circulating our house, and felt really well rested come race day.

Had an average start, and made a call to back off from the Hotspot and to wait for the downwind section to make my mark on the race. Managed to get a small gap as we started the down wind bit, then just concentrated on stringing the runs together. I took quite a deep line, hoping to get the benefit later on in the race, but the wind kind of died halfway, leaving me a bit deep. I thought I could see Jasmin to my right, but it was hard to tell as there were many men’s boats all over the place.

When I got to the entrance to the Marina, I had no idea if I was in 1st, and the last 600m of flat were a bit nerve-wrecking as I couldn’t see any of the others. There were a bunch of guys I felt I should be ahead of that took the shallower line, so I really think I messed that up a bit. I did win however, with Jasmin in 2nd and Katie in 3rd.

I didn’t win Surfski.info’s World Series however, even though I won every race I entered this year! There were a number of changes to the race’s nominated to be Series Races at the beginning of the season, and I had made plans according to the original star ratings… Anyhow…

As I got back, I drove down to Cape Town to do the Daniel Conradie Memorial race. Daniel was my mentor, and I wish he was alive today to see what I have achieved thanks to him getting me to start paddling! I think he would be very proud, especially of the Olympic final and Marathon medal! His race was part of the 2 day Peninsular Marathon. On the 2nd day we got to paddle around Robben Island, which is always an unbelievable experience! I won the event, and became the 1st woman to make A Grade in the Discovery/Men’s Health Surf Ski Series (on both days)!

Last race of the year is the Cape Point Challenge on the 19th, haven’t done much long distance for it, but we’ll hope for the best!!

New Nelo Ski

After the race, I went to see The Killers concert! Wow, it was awesome! Now I am back in Plett, with less than 2 weeks until the Cape Point Challenge!!

Dubai Shamaal

Waiting for the start now, shew it’s hot already. Really hope the wind is going to blow!

Check www.surfski.info for live commentary.

The Dragon Run

Shew, hard race! Very technical, great runs, but veeeerrrrry technical.

Had a good day out, felt comfortable on the runs, just got very cold at the start (didn’t pack any thermals), and it came back to bite me later on, as I started cramping with 5km’s to go. The last 5km were really hard, as I got to the Kissing Whale’s first, but with not too much of a lead, and I was convinced that Ruth and Katie were going to catch me. Managed to hang on to 1st, very stoked to win here in Hong Kong again.

Aussies took 1st – 3rd in the men’s race, with Lightee in 4th and Dawid in 5th.

This is definately a race not too miss. Great organisation, fanastic course, hospitality of note, and … shopping for Africa

Will try get hold of some photo’s soon.

Went to Kowloon today, hectic! 5 hours of serious bargaining, shopping, and trying to walk at the same time as more 50 000 other people. Good times!

Photo of the women’s clinic here in Stanley.

Knysna Sedgefield Race… Big Saturday

It was beeeg. Sorry this post is late. Going to let the pictures do the talking…

Great Day, Ocean Park and Ladies Paddling Clinic-more photo’s tomorrow

Babs @ Ladies Clinic

Ocean Park about to get raided by the Saffa’s

Movember

Me and Barry, training paddle

Hong Kong

I arrived in Hong Kong last night, after 3 flights, and a 200km drive. Eish, travelling from Plett adds a bit of time to anything But worth it to be living there at this moment.

Stayed with Rene and Babs last night, Rene treated us to a whole bunch of different Dutch cheeses. After a lie in, we made our way to Stanley, to the Sea School to move into our new accomodation with Bill the principle. It is freezing here, like 10 degrees. Much to my surprise after last year’s heat, and to the surprise of my packing skills, and very light and therefore empty bag… Perfect excuse to go past Stanley Market and SHOP for a warm top…

Some Chinese food for lunch (no chicken feet this time), and a fun paddle, and now I can feel that time difference setting in  

Map of race course below, good winds predicted… See http://www.thedragonrun.com.hk/ for the race website.