Bester heads up a world class field at the Prescient Freedom paddle
CAPE TOWN – With just over two months to go, the field for the 2025 Prescient Freedom Paddle on April 27 is stacking up to include a list of international ocean racing stars befitting the prestigious race around the world famous Robben Island.
Both the men’s and women’s field has attracted a sprinkling of South African-based current and former world champions who will also be competing for the national SS2 (doubles) Ocean Racing title.
Heading the list of early entrants is the 2024 Women’s World Champion, Cape Town-based Kira Bester, who will be hoping the Freedom Day weekend kick-starts her journey to defending the world title she won in Madeira, Portugal last year.
The long weekend is a double bonanza for surfski fans in Cape Town, with the South Africa SS1 Championships and team selection for the World Championships also taking place, either on Friday or Saturday April 25-26. With the World Championships scheduled for Durban in October, the team selection for a home world championships takes on extra importance.
Bester, who also claimed the U23 world championship title in both 2023 and 2024, will be joined in the 27km race around Robben Island by at potent lineup of current and former Ocean Racing World Champions. Uli Hart (2024 SS2 mixed) and Jade Wilson (2021 U23) have already entered for the 2025 event. Other paddlers who have indicated they will be entering include 2021 women’s world champion Michelle Burn, former men’s champions Sean Rice (2013 and 2019), Kenny Rice (2022), and Nic Notten (2021); U23 world champions Matt Fenn (2023 & 2024) and Joshua Fenn (2019); and junior champions Sam Mocke (2024), Georgia Singe (2024 & 2024 mixed SS2), Mark Keeling (2015), Joshua Smith (2022), Saskia Hockly (2021 & 2022), and Holly Smith (2023).
However, the list of 15 current or former world champions is further boosted by a sprinkling of World Canoeing championship medalists who are aiming to win the race around the historic landmark on Freedom Day, including Hank McGregor, the world’s most decorated kayaker, who will be teaming up with Josh Fenn to defend their title for the fourth time.
“I think it is indicative of both the standard of surfski racing in South Africa, and the prestige of the Prescient Freedom Paddle, that we could have 15 current or former world champions on the starting line on April 27,” said a race spokesman this week. “South Africa is surely the strongest ocean racing nation at the moment, and the fact we can draw such a competitive field of world-beating stars to race each other every year on such an historic course must contribute to that.
“This year is a special year for surfski racing in South Africa with the World Championships taking place in Durban later in the year, so this year’s Prescient Freedom Paddle provides an great opportunity for Cape Town supporters to get a sneak preview of what could be the next crop of world champions.”
For more information on the 2025 Prescient Freedom Paddle go to www.freedompaddle.co.za. Entries are open on the Canoeing SA portal at paddler.canoesa.com/