With only three more sleeps to the biggest Surf Ski race of the year, "The Doctor" is shaping up as a classic with the famous "Fremantle Doctor" looking like it will make an appearance over the weekend off the coast of Perth.
Vaikobi will have our full compliment of Race Team members all gunning for the White Jacket which is given to the first paddler to reach the beach at Sorrento on Saturday afternoon.
With a strong contingent of South African paddlers all in Perth- Rice X 2, Mocke X 2, Mcgregor et al + Aussie contenders such as Clint Robinson, Cory Hill, Reece Baker and Mark "Ando" Anderson, the Vaikobi Race Team will be ready to battle it out.
Tim Jacobs is still smarting after damage to his ski in Hong Kong last weekend ended any chance of achieving his 3rd HK Dragon Run victory. TJ is fired up now and wants to get back out there and claim his 3rd Doctor title.
Michael "Boothy" Booth our multi discipline paddler, claimed a big win in Perth on the weekend taking out the Fenn West Coast Downwinder and will be ready to fire come Saturday.
Olympic Gold Medalist Murray Stewart is set to throw a cat amongst the pigeons on Saturday as he steps out of his K1 and back into the Ski. Muz pushed TJ hard to pip Jacobs at the finish of the King of the Harbour in Sydney and has the experience and ability to go all the way.
From the USA, Austin Kieffer has come to Perth and is ready to experience his first Doctor. Austin has been training in South Africa for the past month and half and will come with his race face on. A great result in Perth by Kieffer will hopefully inspire more US Paddlers to come and race in the future.
Finally, Young Gun, Joey Hall will be also looking to make an impression in the strong field and is pumped to get out there and race.
In the Women's Ski, defending champ Ruth Highman will see a strong challenge from Kiwi and Molokai champ Rachel Clarke. Stay tuned for all the action!
Vaikobi will be on the ground in Perth and will have all our latest new products available on Friday afternoon during registration and the briefing. We will be launching our fantastic new Hi-Vis Ocean Racing PFD in Perth, so come by and check out the Vaikobi difference!
