Champion Spirit Rewards Burn and Flanagan with Gold

The tenth and final leg of the Varsity College Marine Surfski Series, the Varsity College Surfski Challenge, saw Michelle Burn bring down the curtain on what has been stellar individual series, while Cape Town-based junior sensation Kirsten Flanagan left her mark on the Varsity College SA Schools Surfski Champs, when she claimed the under-18 girls title over best friend Amy Hare.

For Burn it was a particularly tough day at the office as she was forced to claw her way back from a disastrous start which saw her fall out of her ski midway through clearing the surf at the start of the race, leaving her to swim back to the beach to retrieve her ski and handing her rivals a massive advantage from the outset.

However the classy Toti-based athlete brushed off the mishap and, with motivation levels at an all-time high, obliterated the deficit and caught Nikki Russell, who had led proceedings for most of the race, just meters before the finish line and managed to out-sprint the Varsity College student up the beach to finish first.

Despite the world-class action at the front of the clash, much of the large crowd’s attention was on the younger members of the field, as the country’s top junior talent tackled the eight-kilometer Varsity College SA Schools Surfski Champs.

The under 18 girls battle was certainly one to remember as school mates, best friends, regular doubles partners and permanent single ski rivals Kirsten Flanagan and Amy Hare (both Springfield Convent, Cape Town) resumed the contest they started in 2012 – which saw Hare claim victory by the smallest of margins after an end sprint up the beach – only this time it was the other way round, as Flanagan made the top step of the podium her own.

With very difficult North Easterly conditions prevailing Flanagan got the early advantage and the talented young star soon opened up a slight gap over Hare through the early part of the first of two laps.

Disaster nearly struck late on the opening loop though as Flanagan found herself stranded deep out to sea after her rudder hooked onto the shark nets, leaving her floundering and unable to paddle on.

“I thought that was my race over right there,” explained an animated Flanagan. “I was just about to jump off my ski to get my rudder free when somehow it just came free on its own.”

“Fortunately I had a bit of a gap over Amy (Hare) at that stage so I was still in the lead when I finally got going again, but from that point onwards I decided to just push as hard as I could,” said Flanagan.

“I’ve been working pretty hard since last year’s race, so I was really well prepared coming into the race this year, and I’m really glad it seems to all have paid off.”

The under 16 girls title was won by surfski novice Anya Botes (Hoërskool Centruion), who made the trip down from Pretoria for the clash.

The tenth and final race of the 2013 Varsity College Marine Surfski Series brought down the curtain on what has been a hugely successful summer series with just the series final prize giving left to be staged. This takes place at Billy the Bums at 18h30 on Tuesday 19 March and all are encouraged to attend.