WAIS paddlers hit the surf last weekend, fresh from competing at the kayak nationals in Perth.
Reece Baker (Marmion) paddling with partner Dan Humble won silver in the double ski event at the Australian Surf Lifesaving Championships at Scarborough Beach last weekend. Looking in great form throughout the carnival Baker and Humble got off the beach well hitting the turning buoys in second place which they held through to the line paddling furiously to hold off a group off paddlers scorching down a wave hoping to catch the second place crew.
The result was just reward for Baker who had looked in dominant form throughout the carnival and unluckily missed the single ski final after a 20 metre lead and a place in the final was extinguished after being wiped out by a wave coming into the beach.
Big wave conditions certainly made great spectator viewing and ensured there were some surprise winners as well as some surprise elimination of favourites. Lisa Russ (Hilton) was paddling a great semi final in the single ski coming into the beach in first place, however, she was dumped by a ferocious wave which caused her to dislocate her big toe and miss a place in the final by one spot. Russ bravely pushed on with plenty of strapping to make the mixed double ski final with Ash Nesbit where they finished seventh in the final.
Alana Nicholls (Dianella) was one of the favourites to take out the single ski, however a large wave cleaned up all but two of the paddlers shortly after the start. Nicholls like many off her competitors wound up alongside her upturned ski and by the time she had recovered paddled round the course in the second half of the field.
