The Pennypinchers Easter Surf Ski challenge 4th April 2015

The Pennypinchers Easter Surf Ski challenge 4^th April 2015

 The Pennypinchers Easter Surf Ski Challenge stated 8 years ago in the hay day of surf ski paddling in this country. Billy Harker and the Discovery Surf Ski Series were getting record entries of surf ski racers in Cape Town and Durban. The Plett Paddling Club decided it wanted a slice of the action and the event was born with the initial sponsorship from local Pennypinchers operator Sean Gannon.

The race quickly grew with Tv coverage and bigger sponsorship from Pennypinchers Head Office and PPC Cement  it became a regular event on the Surf Ski Calendar. With the Tv coverage show casing the magnificent Plettenberg Bay the race attracted paddlers form all over the country and the lure of great prize money from the sponsors attracted the best of the best.

Sean Rice arrived on the surf ski scene with his win in Plettenberg Bay on a Think Evo Ski that has seen him go on to win many local and international races on that same brand of ski.

Another young winner was Brandon Van Der Walt who has since gone on to become a World Champion Marathon Paddler. Other men’s paddlers who have topped the podium at this race are the Mocke brothers Dawid and Jasper, and  Hank McGregor who between them hold more current and past World Championship medals in canoeing and Surf Ski paddling . The ladies podium has been dominated over the years by Ladies world champion paddlers Nicci Mocke and local Mich  Eray.

With the Bay offering many different course options the route is generally set by local paddlers Neal Stephenson and Stef Le Roux who’s vast paddling and NSRI experience results in a course that is challenging yet safe form all levels of paddlers.  Last year it was decided to have the Doubles race late in the afternoon on the same day as the singles . This allows the paddlers the option to chill on the beach and then enjoy great hospitality at the Plett Surf Lifesaving Club afterwards.

The Surf Ski Race is also the last leg in the Off the Treble Hook Challenge (sponsored by Off the Hook and Robberg Seafood  . This Challenge Trophy is given to the athlete with the fastest combined times in Pennypinchers Cairnbrogie Easter Trail Run, The Pennypinchers Night MTB Relay and the Pennypinchers Easter Surf Ski Challenge.

 This year Stanley Island will once again be hosting some the country’s top paddlers and offering discounted rates to any other competitors in the events hosted by the Pennypinchers Adventure Racing Team over Easter Weekend. It is also part of the Plett Easter Games held every year in conjunction with Plett Tourism

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