Newly-crowned world champions Kira Bester and Matthew Fenn of South Africa remain on the crest of a wave as they added another gold medal to their glittering collection with victory in Reunion, France.
Bester and Fenn clinched the respective women’s and men’s surfski single titles at the International Canoe Federation Canoe Ocean Racing World Cup on Saturday.
The South African pair arrived in Reunion fresh from starring at the ICF Canoe Ocean Racing World Championships in Durban where Fenn clinched the mixed surfski double crown with Saskia Johanna Hockly, and Bester sealed top spot in the women’s SS1 on home waters.
Fenn demonstrated his class in the men’s SS1 as he swept to victory in a time of 59:16.75.
He was the only paddler in the field to break the one-hour mark as France’s Florian Revollon came second in 1:04:22.65 and fellow Frenchman Pierre Grimoux bagged bronze in 1:07:03.27.
Bester also picked up from where she left off after the World Championships as she stormed to the women’s SS1 title.
A time of 1:04:13.45 saw Bester secure top honours as Great Britain’s Rosemary Edwards, who earned world bronze in Durban last month, clinched silver in 1:06:19.42 and South Africa’s Jade Wilson came third in 1:08:25.22.
“It was a really nice feeling to cross the finish line first on this beautiful island,” said Bester.
“It’s stunning and probably the most beautiful island I’ve ever been on.
“The conditions were so beautiful, so consistent, and I would say it’s the best downwind I have had on a race conditions.
“You have got the volcanos, you’ve got the waterfalls, the ocean, the coral reefs – it’s an amazing package.
“The competition was great, well organised and the people are so friendly.
“It’s a beautiful community as they go out of their way to try to accommodate the internationals.
“They took us on multi downwinds beforehand which is a first for me.
“They really tried their best to show us around the island to the different parts and show us the possible conditions.”
Reunion will be one of the locations for next year’s series of ICF Canoe Ocean Racing World Cups, playing host from November 9 to 15.
The other World Cup hosts will be Kuantan, Pahang in Malaysia, Molokabra in Brazil, and Tahiti.
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