SYDNEY, Tuesday 11th December 2018
Pic: TJ has his eyes on the prize
This Saturday marks the return to Ocean Ski Paddling for champion Australian paddler Tim Jacobs at the Shaw and Partners 20 Beaches Ocean Classic.
Better known as TJ, Tim holds the record for the most wins in the history of the 20 Beaches, having won the iconic race an amazing Seven times.
TJ’s first win was back in 2000, which saw the beginning of a decade where Tim dominated the sport, winning all the major international races and was known as the man to beat.
TJ's last Ocean Ski race was at the 20 Beaches Classic in 2014 when he was pipped by London Olympic Gold Medalist Murray Stewart, (who Tim coached to the Rio Olympics), in a tight finish at Palm Beach.
Pic: TJ and Murray Stewart battle it out for the 2014 20 Beaches Ocean Classic- The last time Tim raced.
Over the past 4 years, Tim has been working hard, growing his construction business and spending more time with his Four kids and wife Renee, however he has not lost any of his speed and the lure of extending his record to eight titles plus the $10,000 first prize cheque has got TJ back on the water and excited to compete again.
TJ will be up against the current crop of the World’s best paddlers, some of which were only five years old when Tim won his first 20 Beaches Title.
The 20 Beaches Ocean Classic takes competitors along the coastline of the Northern Beaches which presents many different conditions and local nuisances that take years to understand. Tim’s intricate knowledge of the race track will no doubt play in the mind of the others he is racing against on Saturday.
When asked how he was feeling about his comeback, Tim commented “I have nothing to loose really and all the pressure is on the young guys who race all year round, so I am really looking forward to getting out there and having fun on Saturday.”
In regards to local knowledge, he commented that "It is a tricky race course and local knowledge will play a big part in deciding who gets to the finish first. I back myself to know the right way to go!”
Pic: Current World Champion, Cory Hill is the man to beat at the Shaw and Partners 20 Beaches Ocean Classic
It should be an excellent tussle up front with current World Champion, Cory Hill leading the charge up against a host of contenders including Jacobs, Mackenzie Hynard, Sean Rice (South Africa), Jasper Mocke (South Africa), Josh Fenn (South Africa), Tom Norton, Jeremy Cotter, Clint Robinson, Michael Booth, and Pat Dolan and Austin Kieffer both from USA.
One thing is for certain, not many of the contenders will be feeling comfortable seeing Jacobs hot on their tail at any point of the race!
The current forecast for Saturday is for a North Easterly wind, which will see competitors start at Station Beach, Palm Beach. From here competitors will race around Barrenjoey Headland before turning south and navigate around the notoriously rough Bangalley Headland before setting course for a fast run down the coast to Fishermans Beach at Long Reef for a total course length of 20 kilometres.
The Shaw and Partners 20 Beaches Classic is proudly sponsored by Shaw and Partners Financial Services and supported by KPMG and Fitness First in partnership with Ocean Paddler.
This year, Take 3 for the Sea is the official charity partner for the Shaw and Partners 20 Beaches Classic. For more information about Take 3 for the Sea, please visit: www.take3.org
For more race information on the Shaw and Partners 20 Beaches Ocean Classic, please go to www.20beaches.com.au 
