Primi Naish Downwind Series au Cap. Superbe conditions pour la finale des Primi Naish DW Series, une série de 5 courses sur un run de 10,1 Km ds la baie de Cap Town. Le cap Doctor ce vent de Sud Est aura été fidèle à sa réputation avec des rafales à plus de 35 nœuds offrant des surf hallucinants. On peut dire sans hésiter que l’Afrique du Sud offre un des meilleur circuit DW au monde. Un record de participation avec 55 participants en SUP 14′ (ici pas de 12’6) et 33 surfskis.

Ethan koopmans, rider Naish, boucle le dernier run du Primi Naish DW SEries en tête en un temps canon de 43min  avec une moyenne impressionnante de  14km/h. Il est suivi de Dylan Fricks rider Starboard qui, avec sa deuxième place et 4 victoires sur 5, s’adjuge la victoire overall pour la saison. A noter qu’il serra présent en Europe pour les grands rendez-vous de la saison.

Chez les filles, c’est la jeune révélation de la saison Mishka Steyn (Starboard)  qui remporte cette finale devant Brigette von Swegen. A noter une participation du Frenchie Yves Gondre qui se place à la 3ème et 4ème place en Sup Open sur les deux dernières courses.

Rappelons que le run en Afrique du Sud est l’un des meilleurs car le vent qui déboule de Table Montain permet à la houle de prendre de l’amplitude. Les surfs de 200 mètres sont courants et permet, en toute sécurité, aux meilleurs de connecter entre les bumps.

Classement overall de la saison

Men

1st Dylan Frick
2nd Ethan Koopmans
3rd Kimon dos Santos

Girl

1st Mishka Steyn
2nd Brigette von Swegen
3rd Taryn Kyte

a lire aussi en anglais : -
Epic Final PRIMI Naish Downwind race in South Africa
Written by Peter Peterson
The Cape Doctor finally delivered. After a relatively poor run of conditions (by Cape Town standards) for our 20 week PRIMI Naish Downwind Dash series, with only 10 out of 19 races having been held, and many in lightish winds, the prescribed 30+knots came and delivered gusts up to 35knots on a perfect day with decreasing tide and no swell to speak of.
The great forecast combined with this being the final race of the season saw a record number 54 SUP’s take to the start line. Dylan Frick had already secured the championship but runner up Ethan Koopman had a score to settle. Dylan has been completely dominant in the light wind downwinds and he even managed to steal one under the nose of Ethan in the last race with 30knots back on the 5th of Feb despite Ethan having having held a commanding lead in that race until he lost his way in through the surf.
This week Ethan heeded the advice given back then: “Make sure you are further ahead next time…” and set a blistering pace from start to finish. Ethan was so quick, in fact, that he nearly broke the course record of 42.57 set  by Ivan van Vuuren in a 40knot stonker two years ago – young Ethan did the 10.1km in 43.14  - a mere 17seconds short of the record!!!! Thats a pace of 4min17secs per km and 14.0km/h average speed! And he did it in his classic fashion – one of the first start back-markers remarked how Ethan had come flying past, held a brief conversation with him – all the while still smiling! Well done Ethan, 17yo and you have definitely set your mark in the downwind discipline this year.
But the main kudos must go to Dylan Frick, winning 4 out of the last 5 races and clinching both the the Oct-Dec and Jan-March Championships – there is total domination for you!
Today’s conditions were nothing short of epic, solid wind the entire way with big runners allowing for multiple linked runs with very high average speeds and an endless supply of proper surfing runs. It seems like the word is finally getting out there as well as we had 5 internationals taking part today. Mr. Ike Frans, the Dutch flatwater champion 2013 and a top five 11-City finisher, Patrick and 15yo Bowien vd Linden also from Holland, Tim Warner from California, USA and Yves Gondre from France who rented a 2011 Glide to take home 8th in a great time of 49.58. All five were beaming from ear to ear after having had the ride of their lives.
Although Ethan and Dylan in the end dominated the race, it wasn’t that clear-cut at the half-way mark. Greg Bertish had the best start of all and revels in these conditions. He held the lead for the first 1-2km until Ethan slipped away. But Greg managed to hold Dylan for a long time and only let him slip with 2-3km to go. Tom King is another up and coming paddler who turned it up a notch in this race. Swapping 4th and 5th place with myself until about the halfway mark he really took off and caught Greg and very nearly Dylan as well to take 3rd in 45.06 just shy of Dylans 44:48
The ladies had a very close tussle with Mishka Steyn cementing her arrival on the scene this year despite still being on borrowed boards until her just signed sponsorship boards arrive. Mishka narrrowly took the win from Tarryn Kyte who is another paddler who has been improving week by week. Brigette had held Tarryn and Patricia Kohrs till just before the finish where she let Tarryn slip by. Impressive performances by all the ladies and none more so than in our ladies Masters Division where Patricia took the night but Monika Wohlgemuth took the title ahead of Patricia and a much improved Maleen Hoekstra who set a PB last night in 1:07.54 to come third.
The juniors saw a repeat of last week with Ethan pipping Kimon dos Santos and Joshua Robertson once again.
The Masters saw last weeks winner Armin Wohlgemuth slip to 3rd on the night with myself taking the win and Gary van Rooyen claiming 2nd.
Special mention must go to the Los Flamencos team consisting of El Presidente, Antony Martinez, Roscoe Keeler, Darren Barker,  Hennie Bredenkamp and Mark Breyser. They may not have lit up the timing sheets but driving 200km round trip from the protected downwind waters of Langebaan Lagoon shows great commitment and is much appreciated – we’d love to see you down here again soon!
Another testament to the great conditions was the fact that 33 Personal best times recorded as well!
Most improved paddler for the year was Grant Donald – he has consistently been closing the gap between himself and the winning time of the races – and that is what makes you the Most Improved!
Big thanks to all our sponsors who made the prize-giving and season a memorable one. Pizza’s and cash prizes from PRIMI and lots of product and support for the series and weekly give-aways from Naish, Bodytec, BulkSMS, SIC/Seattle Coffee, Bondiblu, Oceanminded, Island Tribe, Mystic, Watersports Warehouse and Vitamin Water.
Also thanks to our Time-keeping Team of Mobii (Photofinish – every time), Jen, Lollo, Aden, Jane and Betsy.
Big shout out to our safety crew and after paddle hosts from Big Bay Lifesaving Club – Derrick et al.
Full Results here: http://www.sup-culture.com/results.html (click on paddlers name to see photo-finish)
Overall results Jan-March –  5 completed race with one discard:
Mens Open
1st Dylan Frick (Starboard)
2nd Ethan Koopmans (Naish)
3rd Kimon dos Santos (SIC)
Ladies
1st Mishka Steyn (Naish/Starboard)
2nd Brigette van Aswegen (Naish)
3rd Tarryn Kyte (Coreban)
Juniors
1st Ethan Koopmans (Naish)
2nd Kimon dos Santos (SIC)
3rd Joshua Robertson (Starboard)
Masters
1st Peter Petersen (Naish)
2nd Armin Wohlgemuth (Naish)
3rd Gary van Rooyen (Coreban
Lady Masters
1st Monika Wohlgemuth (Naish)
2nd Patricia Kohrs (Naish)
3rd Maleen Hoekstra (Naish)