Whatshot
Champions, Currents, and the Spirit of Durban
Champions, Currents, and the Spirit of Durban
Date: 2025-11-03
Under a moody, rain-washed African sky, the 2025 ICF Canoe Ocean Racing World Championships reached a stirring crescendo off Durban's golden coastline. The ocean was anything but forgiving, yet it became the stage for moments of pure grit and glory.
Home-grown hero Kira Bester defended her senior women's SS1 world title in an emotional, fearless performance - a race she dedicated to her late coach. On the men's side, Australian stalwart Cory Hill carved through the chaotic swells with trademark precision to clinch his fourth world crown, proving that age and experience still have the final word when the surf gets serious.
In the mixed doubles, South Africa's Matthew Fenn and Saskia Hockly turned bronze into gold with a thunderous victory on home waters - a storybook finish for the host nation. And if the medal board proved anything, it's that ocean racing has truly gone global: the men's top five represented five nations - Australia, France, Portugal, South Africa, and Germany - while the women's top three hailed from RSA, New Zealand, and the UK.
Adding a touch of horsepower to the weekend, CMH Ford Ballito partnered proudly with Durban Surf Lifesaving as the official vehicle sponsor, supplying three Ford vehicles to keep the event rolling smoothly. "Supporting local talent and world-class athletes is what drives us, both on the road and out on the water," says Mathew Buck, Dealer Principal at CMH Ford Ballito.
You'll find CMH Ford Ballito at 35-37 Moffat Drive, Ballito Business Park - or online at https://www.fordballito.co.za Because whether it's waves or wheels, it's all about performance that moves you.