McGregor up against world’s best for the extreme Maui Jim Molokai challenge title

Hank McGregor

DURBAN, 17 MAY 2016 – After winning the fifth and final race of the 2016 Bay Union Surfski Series this past weekend, Hank McGregor (Jeep Team) is on his way to Hawaii to compete in the Maui Jim Molokai Challenge, the world’s oldest and toughest downwind surfski race that is set in one of the roughest ocean channels in the world.

This year, this 53km surfski ultra marathon, which takes place on Sunday, 29 May, also doubles up as a World Surfski Series event, attracting the best and toughest surfski paddlers from around the world.

Now in its 40^th year, the Maui Jim Molokai Challenge is legendary for testing paddlers’ extreme skill, endurance and knowledge of ocean surfing.

The course is set in the Kaiwi Channel, between the Hawaiian islands of Molokai and Oahu. Here, a paddler’s ability is pushed to the limits against the unpredictable, fast changing, and extreme weather conditions experienced in the channel.

It’s no surprise that this race has been a favourite amongst South Africa’s thrill-seeking paddlers for many years, with Durban’s legendary paddler, Oscar Chalupsky, holding the record for the most wins (12 in total) over the race’s history. Chalupsky claimed the Men’s title a record 7 consecutive times (from 1983 – 1989), and then again in 1995, 2000, 2003, 2005 and 2012. Chalupsky will again be racing in 2016.

In 2009, McGregor won the Maui Jim Molokai Challenge for the first time, followed by a second victory in 2014 when the race doubled as the Surfski World Championship.

In 2015, he was a dominant force throughout the 53km race, leading the field until the final two kilometres when Australians Cory Hill and Clint Robinson managed to take an inside line that saw them leapfrog into 1^st and 2^nd respectively. McGregor finished 3^rd.

Said McGregor, “After my frustrating finish last year, I’m really looking forward to take on this year’s Maui Jim Molokai Challenge. Bring it on!”

Other South Africans on the start line of the 2016 event include Sean Rice (4^th at the 2015 race), Lee Furby and Herman Chalupsky (Oscar’s brother who tied 1^st place with him in 1995).

In preparation for the Molokai Challenge, McGregor partnered with Lee Furby to conquer the fifth and final race of the 2016 Bay Union Surfski Series, which took place in Durban on Sunday, 15 May.

McGregor and Furby won the Doubles-only race in 1h02m05, just a few second ahead of second-placed Matthew Bouman and Louis Hattingh in 2^nd in 1h02m15. Gene Prato and Bailey de Fondaumiere finished 3^rd in 1h04m15.

It was a close race with Bouman / Hattingh racing neck-and-neck with McGregor / Furby until the final 1.5km, when McGregor / Furby managed to get the upper hand in a thrilling sprint finish.

Said McGregor, “The Bay Union Doubles Race was only a fifteen kilometre race and we’ve got to race 53km over in Hawaii, but it’s great to leave South Africa with a win, and to have enjoyed a solid race with a great friend like Lee, was awesome!

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