World Series champion Dawid Mocke will defend his surf ski title at the MTN Nelson Mandela Bay Splash Festival in Port Elizabeth on Friday, organisers confirmed on Tuesday morning.
Mocke, who beat Durbanites Matt Boumann and Hank McGregor to the shore in last year’s Nelson Mandela Bay Surf Ski Classic, is excited about hitting the PE surf again.
“The course is one of the best in the world, especially in the vicinity of Cape Recife. They’ve got an awesome wave there.”
Mocke, from Fish Hoek in Cape Town, is widely regarded as the favourite and he’s more than ready to take on the challenge in the 26km event starting and finishing at Hobie Beach.
“My training has worked out very well, so there’s no reason why things shouldn’t go the same way as last year. The only thing I can’t control is how well the other guys are paddling.”
Mocke said he was not taking the event lightly and expected the biggest push to come from brother Jasper and fellow Capetonian Sean Rice, but he was not discounting anyone. “We’ve got the best guys in the world paddling over there, so it’s like racing in a top international race.”
Last year’s winner in the women’s event, Michéle Eray from Plettenberg Bay in the Southern Cape, will also be returning to defend her title against stiff competition.
“Hopefully the conditions will be nice. Last year there was a south-easterly and a bit of surf. I haven’t looked at the predictions for this week, but it’s always exciting to race there.”
Her biggest opposition is likely to come from New Zealand’s Katie Pocock, the reigning world champion who has flown in especially for the race.
“It sounds like PE has really put on a high-vibe Easter. I’m a bit nervous about how the body will cope with all the racing, but I’m stoked to be part of the festival.”
Pocock said she was quietly confident, without taking anything for granted. “Ocean paddling is all about adapting to the conditions, so I guess I always expect the unexpected.”
The world champion believed it would be tough to beat the titleholder. “Michéle has been in outstanding form over the last few months and will be tough to beat at home.
“I know that she is doing some coaching over here and I’m sure she will be bringing along some of her protégés, who will undoubtedly be fierce competitors as well.”
Eray, on her part, was confident of getting the better of Pocock. “I raced her twice last year and beat her both times.”
She however pointed out that there were a number of “quick” girls in the field. “Everyone you race is a threat. You can’t underestimate anyone.”
A prize pool of R45 000 is up for grabs.
For more information, contact the festival office on 041 393 4844 or visit www.splashfestival.com.
Issued by:
Full Stop Communications
Coetzee Gouws
041 368 4992
082 575 7991
coetzee@fullstopcom.com
www.fullstopcom.com
On behalf of:
MTN Nelson Mandela Bay Splash Festival