TEN time world champion Steve Allen has overcome a dramatic false start to claim his second Windsurfing Marathon title in as many years at the Lancelin Ocean Classic on Saturday.
Allen, who finished in a time of 29mins 59sec, was forced to regain his composure when a restart was called after a group of sailors apparently misheard the starting siren.
“The start didn’t have too much of an effect on me, it was the seaweed that slowed me down more than anything.” Allen said.
The 40-year-old from Queensland said he was confident going into the race but was keeping a close eye on the fast finishing Isaac Devries who took out second place in a time of 30mins 12sec.
“I was just stoked to be the first back to the beach, the conditions were tricky, especially at the start, almost all of us carried seaweed off the beach except for Isaac but I was able to reel him in.” Allen said.
118 athletes negotiated gusty 15-20 knot winds to finish the 25-kilometer down wind race.
Peter Volwater finished third in a time of 30mins 41sec while one of the pre-event favourites and 41 time world champion Bjorn Dunkerbeck finished fifth.
West Aussie Dale Stanton won the 25km kite surfing marathon on the fourth and final day of the 2014 Lancelin Ocean Classic, on Sunday.
Stanton negotiated a 15-18 knot breeze from Ledge Point to be first on the beach at Lancelin in a time of 24min 39 sec, more than a minute quicker than his closest rival.
“I’m just stoked to cross that line first, it’s a hard event but it’s so much fun. It’s run really well and the whole community gets right behind it which always make it a great event to compete at.” Stanton said.
Torvar Mirsky was the next man across the line recording a time of 25mins 56 sec while Johnno Keys rounded out the top three in 26min 33 sec.
It’s the second year the event has featured a kite surfing marathon and 56 athletes took part in the race.
Husband and wife pair Jake and Teresa Gordon took out the Lancelin Ocean Classic’s inaugural kite surfing wave contests on Friday.
Jake prevailed in a tight contest made up of four West Australians at Lancelin's Back Beach.
So close was the scoring that the judges were forced to extend the final by five minutes before crowning Gordon ahead of Ryland Blakeney and Andre Carter with Andy Cooksey rounding out the top four.
Conditions were less than ideal with 25-knot winds and head high sets.
30 athletes took part in the event all riding strapless in the four-man double elimination style tournament
Teresa Gordon made it a family affair by taking out the female event while Shannon Ducker finished runner up.
The junior division was won by 13-year-old Billy Hampton from Margaret River.
