The Durban Preview: Top contenders for surfski world champs, with reigning world champ Kira Bester скачать в хорошем качестве

The Durban Preview: Top contenders for surfski world champs, with reigning world champ Kira Bester

It’s a double episode for Durban: Billy and Betsy make their predictions for who are the best candidates to win this year’s Canoe Ocean Racing World Championships in Durban, South Africa. And then reigning surfski world champion Kira Bester joins the conversation to talk about the conditions in Durban, two possible courses, and who she thinks could win. The ICF Canoe Ocean Racing World Championships will be held in Durban, South Africa from the 17th-19th October 2025. The hype has been building for more than a year now, and virtually all of the top names in surfski will be racing in the home of surfski racing. The first surfski race ever, according to the event and ICF, was in Durban in 1957 when a group of lifeguards from the Pirates lifesaving club decided to do a long race. The Durban coast is well known for its exceptional downwind conditions, and Hank McGregor recently spiced things up when he recorded a 2:47 split on the course for Downwind Drag Race. Kira Bester went out to test the course with Jade Wilson in July, and says she’s hoping for Course A, DUC to Westbrook. But racers will need to be wary of potential challenges including a possible buoy at Umhlanga, whales and sharks, and a brutal shore break at the finish. The DUC to Westbrook course is ideal for the prevailing south westerlies, but swell and current add two more dimensions that could make for a more technical course. In the women’s race, Kira might be the favourite as defending champion from 2024, but her biggest competition will probably come from Michelle Burn (South Africa) and Danielle Richards nee McKenzie (New Zealand). Michelle is local to Durban and learned to downwind along the race course, so her local knowledge could put her over the edge except that Kira has already been out scoping the course thoroughly. Danielle is a previous world champion and didn’t race at surfski worlds in 2024 – Kira has looked up to her since she was little, and describes her as an “absolute weapon”. But Kira has been training hard, and is hoping to win by a clear margin… The men’s race looks as tight as anything, and hard to predict. Defending champion Gordon Harbrecht (GER) is a podium favourite, along with last year’s runner up Cory Hill (AUS) and local Hank McGregor (RSA). But there’s plenty of other top names including more former world champions who could challenge for the Top 5 or maybe even the podium. From South Africa, that list includes: Nicky Notten, Matt Fenn, Kenny Rice, Uli Hart, Mark Keeling, and the young Matt Coetzer. Notten is looking particularly strong after impressive racing at Marathon World Championships in Gyor Hungary a few weeks ago, and sources say his training is going well… The doubles race (SS2) is looking like one of the best yet, with the main category being mixed gender racing. 2024’s world champs will be back again, the young crew of Georgia Singe / Uli Hart (RSA). And some top European crews are looking strong, including Walter Bouzan / Judit Verges (ESP) and Pierre Vilella / Thais Delrieux (FRA). But a bunch of other top names from South Africa are entering as well – Kira shares the inside scoop during her interview… Thanks to Carbonology UK for sponsoring this episode of Paddlecast! Carbonology is one of the world’s leading surfski brands, and notably it’s the brand of choice for reigning world champion Kira Bester, who won her title last year racing the Carbonology Flash X LV (Low Volume) ski. Carbonology produces a great variety of options, not just for World Champions and elite paddlers, but also for beginner and intermediate paddlers and even for kids. Head over to carbonologysport.co.uk to check out their skis and other equipment from paddles and PFDs to funky pants. Contact [email protected] to learn more. 00:23 Introduction & Durban race preview 08:08 Top contenders to win the women’s race 21:15 Top contenders to win the men’s race 35:22 Previewing the SS2 mixed doubles race 39:23 Kira Bester interview Useful Links: Downwind Drag Race (Hank’s new fastest time):   / dprrbtqjzh1   Downwind Drag Race (novice Clinton Dixon’s sub 4 minute 1km):   / dpvpbv1dhfg   Downwind Diaries by South Africa Surf Ski:    • Downwind Diaries   Mocke Top Tips series for Durban Worlds:   / dpdz8yscmkn   Paddler’s Pod interview with Durban race director Colin Simpkins: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7atq... Kira Bester on Instagram:   / kira.besterpaddling