80 Paddlers Contest The 2024 Sporty Anderson Surf Ski Race

Caption: Winning doubles team of Jason Goedhals, second left, and Fanta Gous, far right, with Hein van Rooyen and Oscar Chalupsky

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The Sporty Anderson Surf Ski race has been held in St Francis for over 30 years, even during Covid; this year, there over 80 paddlers contested the 15 km route.

Local paddler Phill Smith, who last won the race in 2020, won convincing this year. He broke the line in just over an hour with Junior Matt Coetzee about a minute behind, followed by last year’s winner Murray Starr.

Winners of the Sporty Anderson Surf Ski race on the left local St Francis paddler Phill Smith winning the men’s section with Jade Wilson top national paddler from East London winning the ladies race

The Route

The route starts at the main beach and heads out towards the harbour. Here, the field makes a left turn towards the Kromme mouth. This year, the light easterly caused a bit of a problem with the paddlers due to the side chop.

Once through the mouth, they head down to the river to the Cove. Here they turn left into the Main canal and the Ski canal. It’s then out the mouth and right towards the Main beach.

This year, Jade Wilson, an international paddler of note, took line honours. She beat the past two years’ winner, Candice Starr, by a sizable distance. Kirsten Scott rounded off the podium.

Oscar and Herman Chalupsky

It was good to see one of South Africa’s greatest sportsmen, Oscar Chalupsky, on the line for the first time. He was paddling in the race after undergoing extensive cancer treatment. He was linking up in a double with National competitor Hein van Rooyen. Oscar’s brother Herman was also at the event. A world-recognised paddler, he paddled in his third Sporty Anderson race sponsored by PW Harvey & Co. He was with Andy Leith in a double. The Moore family from St Francis were the only competitors in an S 3, with Dad paddling with his two sons.

Jason Goedhals and Fanta Gous comfortably won the doubles race. Kerry von Wilderman and Fabian Smith from Blue Water Canoe Club won the mixed doubles section.

The St Francis paddling club and Station 21 NSRI must be thanked for seeing to the smooth running and safety of the event.