South African junior surfski athletes prepare for national championships

South Africa's junior surfski championships set for Durban

The 2016 Varsity College FNB South African Schools Surfski Championships are scheduled for Friday, March 11, at Marine Surf Lifesaving Club in Durban. This event, also the final race of the ten-leg 2016 Varsity College FNB Marine Surfski Series, will gather young paddlers from across the country to compete for national honors in Under-18 and Under-16 age groups.

Boys' Divisions: Key Rivalries

In the Under-18 boys' category, a rematch is anticipated between Durban's Bailey de Fondaumiere and Cape Town's Mark Keeling. De Fondaumiere, last year's winner, has shown strong form in the Marine Surfski Series. Keeling, an Under-18 FNB Dusi title winner, also boasts impressive ocean paddling skills. Other contenders include Western Cape's Zach Preyser, a flatwater sprinter excelling in surfski, and East London's William Wood, moving up from Under-16 after a second-place finish last year.

Girls' Race and Emerging Talents

Kyeta Purchase (Fenn Kayaks) is the strong favorite in the junior girls' event, aiming to defend her Under-18 title after winning the Under-16 in 2014. Her performance in the Marine Surfski Series has seen her challenging senior women. Christie MacKenzie and Sabine Lawrie are expected to contend for other Under-18 girls' podium spots. In the Under-16 age group, promising athletes like Cape Town's Oli Hart, Durban's Hamish MacKenzie, and Dante Lahore are expected to feature strongly.

Event Information

• Date: Friday, March 11
• Time: 17h30
• Location: Marine Surf Lifesaving Club, Addington Beach, Durban
• Course: Eight-kilometer route starting and finishing at Marine SLC.
• More Details: www.marineseries.co.za

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