Surf Life Saving and Ski Racing Events Calendar

Events

Icon Classic: Britain's top ski paddlers conquer 'death point'

Date: 4.30pm, Saturday 24th July 2010

Woolacombe, North Devon, UK: The second year of the Icon Classic Ski Race from Woolacombe to Combe Martin proved to be an outstanding event for Britain’s top ski paddlers. Joining the line-up were 1 Spanish, 1 Portuguese and 2 Australian paddlers.

Challenging Conditions

The sea conditions didn’t disappoint and tested everyone’s ability to the max. Cornwall’s Glen Eldridge, last year’s winner, fought off Portugal’s Andre Santos to win in 1 hour 18 minutes and in 3rd place was Dan Latham, also from Cornwall. Also back to defend her title was Cornwall’s Jenna Hawkey who took first place in 1 hour 33 minutes. 2nd and 3rd places went to Chloe Bunnett and Jess Hanafin (full results attached).

Glen Eldridge led from the start by setting a blistering pace out to Morte Point. With Andre Santos only a boat length away, they quickly broke from the pack. As ever Morte Point tested everyone’s skills, with its fast moving water pushing over the rocky ledge.

This combined with the 15mph tail winds ensured that technical ocean skills would decide the final results. A classic example of this was the performance of local legend Colin (Biggles) Smith. At 58 years old he took 6th place and still continues to show the younger fitter paddlers how to read the ocean. The final 15 minutes of the course coming into Combe Martin Beach was make or break for many paddlers as choosing the right line can seriously change your final position. As last year, every paddler came through the line looking like they had been truly challenged, but the grin on their faces told you how much fun they had had.

Jenna Hawkey’s Race

After getting annihilated by Chloe Bunnett over just 6km a few weeks ago, I knew I had to pull my finger out if I was going to be able to defend last year's title. But I wasn't really too bothered about that because, after last year, I knew it was going to be a great race whatever happened.The Icon Classic is a downwind (yay!) event that starts on Woolacombe beach in North Devon and finishes 17km up the coast in the picturesque Combe Martin. Organiser Mark Ressel had also pre-booked the south-westerly and had a word with him upstairs about suitable swell size after the monster waves that washed out the Gold Coast Ski Race three weeks ago.

I think a few people had been drawn in by the awesome video footage from last year as entries were up, including paddlers from Australia, Spain and Portugal. It was also good to see proper start protocol in place, and hopefully it taught some of the visitors that really, if we're being honest, what with it being a race and all, you ought to wait for the gun before you start. ;-)

Stupidly messy – but small

One thing that could have caused me trouble was a big beach break, but I was relieved when we got to the water's edge to see that, despite it being stupidly messy, it was barely pushing one foot. I got a fairly good start and tried not to get blown back to shore as I made my way to Morte Point (aptly meaning 'death point'). I took Ress's advice, which everyone had ignored last year, and stuck very close to the point. It again provided a washing machine of peaks and troughs but I got spat out the other side very quickly into what I hoped would be endless super-speedy runners.

But what a naive cliff-hugger of a fool I was. I went for the first wave I could get on. I had a lovely time but it sent me hurtling straight for land. If I wanted to get any more like that I had a choice - either end up at the foot of the cliff and have to paddle back out against the wind and swell to get around the next point, or paddle out now, sacrificing a lot of runners and not heading towards the finish line. This is what I debated in my head for a further 15km, by which time Craig Salamone - whom I'd rounded Morte Point with - was a mere speck on the horizon.

“it seems to go on for ever”

Despite telling first-timers before the race that "it seems to go on forever", I managed to fool myself into hoping that surely the town that was coming into view must be Combe Martin, which means the finish should be just around this corner. Imagine my disappointment when I recognized it from one of Ress's landmark photos as Ilfracombe, and recalled that it meant I had 40 minutes left....on second thoughts it meant that someone as fast as Ress would have 40 minutes left....this is the point where I tried to stop thinking any more.

"Best bit of the day" has to go to the home straight approaching Combe Martin. Just when you started to think the waves were gone and you were going to have to make that last slog to the finish line all by yourself, some beauties built up behind you to save the day, before dumping you in no-man's land to crawl the last half mile alone.

More training necessary!

I finished in 12th place, first woman home, in 1:33'14". Unfortunately that's 6 minutes slower than last year and 15 minutes behind the winner. I think a little more training is going to be necessary before taking on the international surf-ski and kayak contingent in Portugal next month. Congratulations to Glenn Eldridge, who fended off hot competition from Nuno Santos of Portugal to successfully defend his title.

So it's one apiece for me and Chloe this season, which is pretty exciting because we both know it's going to be a hard and close-run race next time we meet. The day was rounded off very nicely with a beautiful meal and a couple of beers (although not for me, as I was still feeling pretty sea-sick) at Tides Inn in Woolacombe.

Thanks heaps to Mark for organising another brilliant event, (you can't lose a race that gives you a free Helly Hansen), thanks to Rich and Ivan for lending and transporting our skis, thanks to the safety crews and also to the Combe Martin Tourist Information ladies for providing us with tea and snacks at the finish line.

Can't wait for the next years Icon Classic - THE sporting event of 2012!!

Chloe Bunnett’s Take

I was really praying for wind as I love the windy conditions. So when I woke up to see the wind was blowing I was very excited to get out and race!! We went down to register and got the low down of the safety precautions we must take. After that we had about 1.5hrs until the start so we all made our way to the beach to get our ski's on the start line. The wind was blowing almost in our face but when we turned at Morte Point to go along the coast we should find it behind us...or so I thought...

I found it really hard to get out through the surf, every wave seemed to break on top of me. Going around Morte Point was easier than last year and when I got around it the wind was not directly behind us and the swells were side on. I found these conditions really challenging and now realise how much I still have to learn about the art of downwind paddling. I broadsided on so many waves I thought I had lost everything I had learnt in Fish Hoek.....but these conditions were so different.

Then going past Bull Point I thought someone had turned the switch to extra spin as I felt like I was in a washing machine, even saying that I still managed to catch a few runners past the point.....so it makes me hungrier to get out there and learn more. I finished second behind Jenna Hawkey, who had a great race.

All in all I had great fun out there - which is why I love this sport!! Thanks to Mark Ressel from Icon for a great race and a great get together with a few beers afterwards.

Men Results

Pos	name	TIME
1	Glenn Eldridge	1.18.21
2	Nuno Santos	1.20.30
3	Dan Latham	1.25.10
4	Ivan Lawler	1.26.37
5	Robby Sandbach	1.27.00
6	Colin Smith	1.27.09
7	Craig Salamone	1.27.25
8	Tono	1.28.55
9	Jordan Roberts	1.29.02
10	Greg Fettell	1.30.00
11	Graham o'regan	1.30.30
12	David Green	1.34.52
13	Jack Staddon	1.35.29
14	Peter Molnar	1.36.25
15	Richard Lewis	1.42.56
16	Nick East	1.43.03
17	Tristran Turner	1.49.19
18	Rob Knott	1.50.28
19	Rhys Dutton	1.52.05
20	Stuart Sherman	1.52.26
21	Richard Folland	1.54.10
22	Andy Parritt	1.57.34
23	Andy Ferris	1.58.48
24	Alex Bowden	2.13.36
25	Kevin Cook	2.26.30

Womens Results

Pos	name	TIME
1	Jenna Hawkey	1.33.14
2	Chloe Bunnett	1.38.00
3	Jess Hanafin	2.00.44

Doubles Results

Pos	Name	TIME
1	Dave Lang	1.29.42
2	Peter Maycock	1.29.42
3	Ian Robinson	1.39.44
4	Philip Nye	1.39.44

Calendar of UK Long Distance Ski Events for 2010 season:

Date	Event	Location
18th April	Tarka Ski Race	Barnstaple
9th May	Race 1 of British Cup Series	Rhoose
29th May	Race 2 of British Cup Series	St Ives Bay
5th June	Weymouth to Lulworth Cove	Weymouth
20th June	Race 3 of British Cup Series (Gold Coast)	Saunton
3rd July	Race 4 of British Cup Series (Open cat. Only)	Brighton
24th July	ICON Classic (Woolacombe to Combe Martin)	Woolacombe
25th Sept	British Long Distance Championships	Bournemouth

For more info on races go to www.WellSimple.com or www.SurfSkiGB.org.uk.

Proud Sponsors of 2010 British Cup Surf Ski Series:

The series races are at Rhoose / St Ives Bay / Saunton (Goldcoast) / Brighton (open only). The winner of each category will go into a draw and one of them will win a ‘Surfspec’ Ski.