Jasper Mocke wins the Ohana Mana Cup of surfski in Sardinia (Italy)

Winner, Jasper Mocke

The brilliant bronze medalists at last Marathon World Championships in Rome, Jasper Mocke and Simon van Gysen (RSA), kept showing their current great shape last weekend at the Ohana Mana Cup of surfski held at the Island of Sardinia (Italy).

With a 38 km. downwind course along the southern coast of the island, about a hundred surfskis took the start on this 2012 edition. And, as it is usual, South Africans, with permission of the few Australian paddlers, claimed the main positions of the race. They put 5 paddlers into the top ten, claimed victory in the Women's race and showed Europeans again in their own field the superiority of southern hemisphere paddlers when it comes to surfski paddling.

Jasper Mocke and Simon van Gysen got the lead for the full length of the race, until finally the younger Mocke got some advantage facing the finish line, where he entered in first position (1h36'30") with 44 seconds over his marathon K2 partner, winner this spring of the Eurochallenge at Vilajoiosa (Spain).

Dawid Mocke wins the Défis Kayak at Guadeloupe

The Caribbean island of Guadeloupe, French territory, held last week the Surfski World Series race of Défis Kayak EDF. Not many contestants, around 50, but with a very high international level, coming from all around the world.

With a paradise landscape as background, the paddlers took the start at Île Desirade, where they had to complete two laps in a course inside the lagoon (new this year, as it seemed  that Desirade inhabitants were quite unhappy with seeing the kayaks going away straight to the horizon) and then go to open sea heading Saint François, at the main island of Guadeloupe.

Dawid Mocke wins the Miller's Classic

Photo: Cape Town Sport Photography

Last Saturday was held at Fish Hoek (RSA) the Miller's Classic, one of the races of the Cape Town Downwind Series. This time the conditions were perfect, with light swell and a constant 15-18 knots wind heading Fish Hoek from the start at Miller's Point. Victory was for the local star Dawid Mocke, followed closely by Tom Shilperoort and Adam Bothma. First junior was Craig Flanigan. The veterans podium was with Gary Cromie on top, Ian Trautmann second and Jami Hamlin third.

The SUP category, which had a less risky route to approach the finish due to sea conditions, was won by Peter Petersen, closely followed 30 seconds behind by Greg Bertish. Gary van Rooyen took third spot.

In the double boats category victory came to Gary Kroukamp, who had an outstanding partner who answered to the name of Tim... Brabants.

You can read a full chronicle at Dawid Mocke's Paddling Center webpage.

Mocke brothers finish in victory their Down Under tour

Last Sunday, as a dessert for Perth's surfski weekend (after Saturday's The Doctor), The Finn Coastal Challenge was held in a two-man discipline, with 26 km. along the coast splitted in two legs, one from Fremantle's Port Beach to City Beach and the second and final finishing at Sorrento Beach.

After Tim Jacobs' victory at The Doctor, there was some revenge aim at the Mocke brothers to beat the Australian couple Robinson /Jacobs, and it was right from the start that it was clear that these two couples were going to fight close for victory. Robinson was determined to keep leading the first leg, leaving no chance to Jasper Mocke of going ahead.