East London – SOUTH Africa’s top surfski paddlers can look forward to a healthy payday on November 4th and 5th when the Biogen Pete Marlin Surfski Race in East London pays out almost R140 000 in prize-money.
The prize-money justifies the race’s South African Championship status, with the winner of the men’s and women’s singles events earning R15 000 each to go along with their national titles. With prizes going up to the top ten in the open category as well as top three in all age groups for singles as well as doubles events, the total prizefund is believed to be one of the biggest for any surfski event in the country.
The singles races on Saturday, November 4th will see the top three sharing R35 000 in both the men’s and women’s races. The winning doubles on Sunday, November 5th will earn R3 000 with second and third worth R2 000 and R1 000 respectively in both the men’s and women’s categories.
The healthy financial reward for the elite paddlers, along with the event’s SA Championship status, means almost all of South Africa’s top ocean paddlers have already entered or indicated they will be entering the popular event.
“We are excited to be able to reward the elite paddlers with one of the biggest prizes in surfski paddling in this country,” said event organiser Charl van Wyk. “The top paddlers put in so much time and effort into preparing for this event that is it is only fitting they are well rewarded.
“We pay out prizes for the male and female age categories from U16 up to over 65s for the singles race, and also reward paddlers from juniors up to 60 plus and the top mixed crews for the doubles event.
“Our aim is for this weekend of downwind paddling to honour Pete Marlin and so we try and make it one of the biggest and best surfski events in the country, and that means the prizefund has to be one of the biggest and best as well.”
The 2023 Biogen Pete Marlin Surfski Race will take place on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 November in East London.
