The Steelcase Dragon Run, Hong Kong’s international paddling event and part of the World Surfski League, took place over 21KM of water between Clearwater Bay and Stanley on 9th November. Participation by an outstanding assembly of surfski and outrigger canoe paddlers from around the world, the race saw some of the most glorious and tactically challenging weather conditions in years.
2019 World Champion, Danielle McKenzie from New Zealand, took home the women’s trophy with a superb performance, and 2017 World Champion, Cory Hill from Australia, claimed victory in the men’ s division. Cory Hill was slated to defend his title and claimed the hat trick, whilst McKenzie’s win was her first, beating a tough field including last year’s winner Hayley Nixon from South Africa. In the OC1 category, Tupuria King successfully defended his title in the men’s division, whilst Anna Mathisen claimed the women’s crown.
Bruce Seymour, Dragon Run Race Director, said: “We applaud our contestants for their extraordinary performances and congratulate all the winners at this year’s Steelcase Dragon Run. This is a fantastic year for the race, with the highest calibre of paddlers together with the largest number of returning champions to contend for the most remarkable prizes yet. The ramped-up sponsorship also allowed us to make this year’s Run a truly world-class event by bringing in new technology, enhancing paddlers’ safety and offering fans and spectators real-time updates of the race. We very much look forward to another marvellous race to come next year.”
With a strong commitment in promoting paddling sports in Hong Kong, Steelcase Dragon Run also aims to raise public awareness for the environmental challenges facing the city’s coastlines and waters, by highlighting the relationship between human sports, wellness and nature. This year, the Run partners with Plastic Free Seas, a non-profit organisation dedicated to education about marine plastic pollution. A live auction was held to raise funds for the organisation’s initiatives.
Uli Gwinner, Regional President of Steelcase Asia Pacific, said: “As a company creating workplace solutions that promote wellness and people sustainability, enabling an active lifestyle, we were delighted to support this highly challenging sport, as well as its ongoing efforts in conserving our marine environment. It was thrilling to see the world’s most elite paddlers coming together in Hong Kong to compete and to celebrate the beauty of the city’s nature.”
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Photo Credit: Ivan Kurmyshov / Shutterstock.com
