Massive swell and fickle winds were on the menu for competitors in the first of the Smartline Fenn Cup series.
Due to inconsistent wind reports leading into the race, the course was shortened and change to a two lap out and back course. This enabled competitors to take advantage of the big swell on hand with some linking waves for 300-400 meters.
Around 180 competitors took to the water to tackle the waves that were at times closing out the start point at Fishermans Beach.
A considerably large contingent of Queenslanders made the trip south and definitely made their presence felt. The Queenslanders were headed by Jeremy Cotter and Ben Allan with ironman champ Zane Holmes, Bruce Taylor and Krystyl Smith also in the mix.
Cotter and Allan had gone head to head in the first event on the National Series (AORS) at Byron Bay in July. In that race Allan out-sprinted Cotter to the line. A few weeks later Cotter got the better of Allan in the US Champs in San Francisco.
With so much depth on the line for this event predictions were that any one of ten competitors could take the race out, especially in such testing conditions.
The ASN (Australian Sports Nutrition) Hotspot 500 meters from the start, was the first contest of the day. Tony Schumacher and Murray Stewart fought a tight battle at times clashing paddles with Schumacher touching out Stewart and picking up the $500.
From this point the race settled in the rythym of a distance race. Cotter took the early lead with a pack of Allan, Holmes, Taylor, Tim Jacobs and Paul Green not far behind. Cotters lead was reduced when Allan picked up a nice wave going into the end of the first lap.
Once again these two would go head to head for the entire second lap. Coming in for the finish Allan took a shallow line with Cotter wide hoping to pick up and outside wave. Cotters plan looked like it was going to work when he picked up a bomb on the outside.The wave steepened sharply with Cotter slewing.
Allan was still on a very shallow course which meant a long way to cut back to the to get to the finish chute. Cotter picked up another wave and rode that one to beach. Allan was a wave in front but had 100 meters to run. Cotter fumbled slightly in the shorebreak but still had the slight advantage. As they hit the chute together Allan had the inside and deflected Cotter making it 2 for 2 in the National Series.
Bruce Taylor rounded out the top three with Holmes and Green filling the minor spots.
Ironwomen Krystyl Smith had a successful day taking both the ASN Hotspot and the race in the ladies category. Manly paddler and Adventure Racing champ Mel Pelly took second with Erin Braund filling the ladies dias.
Race Report
Fenn Cup, 14th January 2012
Smartline Fenn Cup 1 Race Report – 18th Sept 2010
Massive swell and fickle winds were on the menu for competitors in the first of the Smartline Fenn Cup series.
Due to inconsistent wind reports leading into the race, the course was shortened and change to a two lap out and back course. This enabled competitors to take advantage of the big swell on hand with some linking waves for 300-400 meters.
Around 180 competitors took to the water to tackle the waves that were at times closing out the start point at Fishermans Beach.
A considerably large contingent of Queenslanders made the trip south and definitely made their presence felt. The Queenslanders were headed by Jeremy Cotter and Ben Allan with ironman champ Zane Holmes, Bruce Taylor and Krystyl Smith also in the mix.
Cotter and Allan had gone head to head in the first event on the National Series (AORS) at Byron Bay in July. In that race Allan out-sprinted Cotter to the line. A few weeks later Cotter got the better of Allan in the US Champs in San Francisco.
With so much depth on the line for this event predictions were that any one of ten competitors could take the race out, especially in such testing conditions.
The ASN (Australian Sports Nutrition) Hotspot 500 meters from the start, was the first contest of the day. Tony Schumacher and Murray Stewart fought a tight battle at times clashing paddles with Schumacher touching out Stewart and picking up the $500.
From this point the race settled in the rythym of a distance race. Cotter took the early lead with a pack of Allan, Holmes, Taylor, Tim Jacobs and Paul Green not far behind. Cotters lead was reduced when Allan picked up a nice wave going into the end of the first lap.
Once again these two would go head to head for the entire second lap. Coming in for the finish Allan took a shallow line with Cotter wide hoping to pick up and outside wave. Cotters plan looked like it was going to work when he picked up a bomb on the outside.The wave steepened sharply with Cotter slewing.
Allan was still on a very shallow course which meant a long way to cut back to the to get to the finish chute. Cotter picked up another wave and rode that one to beach. Allan was a wave in front but had 100 meters to run. Cotter fumbled slightly in the shorebreak but still had the slight advantage. As they hit the chute together Allan had the inside and deflected Cotter making it 2 for 2 in the National Series.
Bruce Taylor rounded out the top three with Holmes and Green filling the minor spots.
Ironwomen Krystyl Smith had a successful day taking both the ASN Hotspot and the race in the ladies category. Manly paddler and Adventure Racing champ Mel Pelly took second with Erin Braund filling the ladies dias.