Michael McKeogh won the over-60s at the Australian Ocean Racing Championships in Ulladulla – just one of a number of Illawarra paddlers who took out top spots. Photo: Michael McKeogh.
More than 200 paddlers from WA to QLD took to the ocean in Ulladulla to race for selection into the Australian team, but most of them were disappointed.
Wollongong competitors thrashed the competition and secured a huge number of places in the 20 km Australian Ocean Racing Championships which ran from Bawley Point to Ulladulla Harbour.
Mackenzie Hynard came first in the open men’s, Montannah Murray came second in the open women’s, Ben Constable first in the over 40s, Cade Barnes won the over 50s, Michael McKeogh won the over 60s and Gary Hancock the over 70s.
All six are from the Illawarra.
Michael McKeogh said Wollongong paddlers also took out a significant number of the remaining available Australian team spots in a dominant performance.
Despite having a smaller number of paddlers than some other communities, Michael said Wollongong athletes pushed the pace when it came to training.
“For Wollongong to turn up and win every single category it’s an anomaly; we have far fewer paddlers than the northern beaches of Sydney, there’s another big group in the Hunter area, but Wollongong seems to win them all,” he said.
“Quite a lot of us train four days a week for about an hour in Wollongong Harbour, some train six and spend time doing flat water training on Lake Illawarra or at Minamurra.
“A lot of us do running, cycling and gym work as well to keep us fit and strong.
“People dedicate themselves to training and training well; wind and rain doesn’t stop them.
“I think it’s the joy of being on the ocean, it seems to be good for the soul, and it’s probably why Wollongong seems to excel.”
Surf ski ocean paddling is a sport that takes strength, endurance, grit, excellent water skills and a sense of adventure.
The Ulladulla race was a prime example of a marathon-style event, with competitors working their skis out into the open ocean for a relatively calm stretch before the wind came up and paddlers had to surf the ocean swells before battling around the Ulladulla headland in rough conditions and sprinting into the harbour.
Competitive surf ski craft are more than six metres long but just 42 cm wide – sleek and fast, they’re also easy to tip over.
Michael said it took most people years to develop the necessary skills to graduate from a wider beginner ski to an intermediate ski and finally on to an elite ski suitable for competition.
The challenge is part of what makes the sport so addictive.
“A lot of people have hobbies but this hobby keeps you fit physically and mentally; the concentration is huge,” he said.
“You’re focussed on catching the next run, the next wave, how to control the boat in the conditions.
“Pushing through a wave or paddling into the wind is really hard work; you have to be strong, but it’s low impact so you can manage yourself and do it for a long time.
“Then you turn around and come back with the wind; it’s like being a kid on a roller coaster, surfing the waves with the wind behind you and you’re flying along, racing your mates; it’s a lot of fun.”
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