Michelle Burn made best use of some good downwind paddling conditions to claim the women’s national title on the second day of the Euro Steel South African Surfski Championships, presented by Fenn, in Durban on Sunday, 14 July, 2024.
Burn had to work hard to secure her victories in conditions that contrasted sharply with Saturday’s doubles race, which was held on a flat sea.
The singles race took place with the arrival of the predicted wind, and paddlers experienced a 23km downwind race from Durban to Umdloti on Sunday, where former World Champion Burn earned what she thinks is “at least” her sixth national title.
Sunday’s start at the Durban Underwater Club was also almost waveless, but once the competitors paddled beyond the protection of the Bluff, the race from Durban to Umdloti was a thrilling contest of downwind skill as the paddlers worked the swells.
Durban local Burn had no issues with her navigation, but was under constant pressure from defending champion Kira Bester, who finished second ahead of first junior Georgia Singe, ensuring the Western Cape claimed five out of the six overall podium places.
“I was really comfortable out there. I enjoy this course because we do it quite often in training,” said Burn. “So I didn’t have to think too much about the route.
“I had a fantastic start to get to the front and I then just tried to control the race as we were getting out to the runs (waves). I did not want the other girls to cut too far left, so I went to the front to make sure everyone went deep until we got to the good conditions, and then I just paddled and linked up the runs as best I could.
“I pulled away from Kira for a while, but at Umhlanga I looked back and she was right back on my tail. I pulled away a bit again and she came back at me, and for the last three kays she actually pulled up right next to me.”
2024 SA Women’s Singles Surfski Champion, Michelle Burn
“I was battling with some forearm cramp and I just couldn’t get onto the right bumps (waves), but I just managed to hold it together somehow and in the last 100 metres I managed to get on a wave ahead of her as we came in,” said Burn.
Leading Women’s Singles Results of the SA Surfski Championships in Durban on Sunday, 14 July, 2024
1. Michelle Burn 1:36:29
2. Kira Bester 1:37:04
3. Georgia Singe (1st Junior) 1:40:48
4. Saskia Hockly 1:41:12
5. Melanie van Niekerk 1:41:50
Original Copy: Tim Whitfield for Gameplan Media, with editing by gsport
Photo Caption: Michelle Burn made the best of windy conditions to win the 2024 women’s singles title at the Euro Steel SA Surfski Championships presented by Fenn in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, on Sunday, 14 July, 2024. Photo: Lynne Hauptfleisch / Adrenalynne Photography / Gameplan Media
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