New surfski championships in Durban

The brand new event will not only become the permanent home of both the KZN and Gauteng Surfski Champs, but this year's opening edition also doubles as the 2014 South African Surfski Championships.

Starting at Marine Surf Lifesaving Club at Durban's Addington Beach, paddlers head 26km either north to La Mercy or south to Amanzimtoti - depending on the wind direction. Under the watchful eye of race director Barry Lewin, the race seeks to become KwaZulu-Natal's premier downwind surfski event.

"The depth of talent in South Africa when it comes to surfski paddlers is incredible, so every year the racing at SA Champs is really tight and I'm sure it will be again this year," said one of the world's greatest paddlers of all time: Hank McGregor. "It's great to have SA Champs back here in my home town this year. We haven't had a top-class downwind event in Durban for a while and it's great to see big-name sponsors like First National Bank (FNB) and Mazars getting on board," added McGregor.

Despite dominating proceedings in his home town in recent years, McGregor regularly enjoys stiff opposition from Epic Kayak's Matthew Bouman as well as regular training partner Grant van der Walt (Epic Kayaks/Team Jeep) and McGregor believes the pair will certainly be in with a shout at this year's nationals.

A very strong Western Cape contingent

"Who knows, if the conditions get up and the wind blows then the likes of my dad (Lee McGregor) and Oscar and Herman Chalupsky may even become a factor too! They've probably done more runs along this stretch of coast than rest of us all put together." KZN's top male competitors won't be expecting home-ground advantage to count for much though, especially as a world-class Western Cape team gathers in and around Fish Hoek and surrounds. Current World Surfski Champ Sean Rice (Think Kayaks) will lead a very strong Western Cape contingent, which includes the likes of Dawid Mocké (Fenn Kayaks), Kenny Rice (Think Kayaks) and Tom Schilperoort while Bevan Manson will look to lead the Eastern Cape's charge.

Rice, the defending national champ as well, will be eager to retain the title he clinched in East London last year although McGregor is just as ready to make the title his own.