South Africa’s Kira Bester is aiming to deliver her brilliant best on home waters to retain the women’s surfski single crown at the International Canoe Federation Canoe Ocean Racing World Championships.
Bester is among a stellar cast of South African paddlers desperate to achieve home glory as Durban plays host to the ICF flagship event on Saturday and Sunday.
Last year saw Bester get the better of compatriots Michelle Burn and Melanie van Niekerk to be crowned world champion in Madeira, Portugal.
The 23-year-old is now seeking to repeat that success as she takes to South African waters.
Click here for live startlists and results from Durban
"Training has been good, and I am feeling good,” Bester told gameplanmedia.
“You don't race not to try and win, otherwise, I don't really know why you'd race, but I would say it's been a good build up and I'm happy with it and feeling confident, so it's going to be a fun race."
After finishing second to Bester in 2024, Burn, a world champion in 2021 and a Durban resident, will be eager to gain revenge.
Other contenders include 2019 world gold medallist Danielle Richards of New Zealand, South Africa’s van Niekerk and Spain’s Judit Verges.
"Based off of what the history says, I would guess that Michelle (Burn) and Dani (Richards) are the other favourites, but really I'm not ruling out anyone,” said Bester.
“I am going to line up as if every single one of those people are just as good as me.
In the men’s SS1, Germany’s Gordan Harbrecht will be looking to make it back-to-back world titles after making history in 2024.
Harbrecht, known as “Flash Gordan”, became the first European paddler to a senior surfski world crown and is excited to go for glory again.
“This is a very cool place to paddle and the condition are good," Harbrecht told gameplanmedia.
"When the wind is blowing it is fun to paddle. It is interesting, but nothing crazy.
“What is a little bit special is the surf when we are coming in to the shore, because we do not have anything this big.”
Australia’s three-time world champion Cory Hill, who came second to Harbrecht last year, will be looking to return to top spot.
The great Hank McGregor will also be determined to succeed on Durban waters along with many other strong South Africans including former winners Nicolas Notten and Kenneth Rice.
"There are many paddlers I need to keep an eye on in the race I think," said Harbrecht.
"But I think Cory and Hank and me have been on the podiums in recent races and I think they will be my strongest competitors.
"Cory is always strong and Hank is on his home turf and then there is Kenny Rice and Nic Notten and many more South Africans.
“We also have got Pierre Vilella from France and Walter Bouzan from Spain so I think it will be pretty interesting to see the top 10."
Competition will begin on Saturday with the mixed surfski double before paddlers battle it out for women’s and men’s SS1 success on Sunday.
Full coverage of the ICF Canoe Ocean Racing World Championships can be viewed on the Planet Canoe YouTube channel.
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