CLINT ROBINSON LINES UP FOR EPIC 20 BEACHES CLASSIC

Sydney Northern Beaches, December 17: Five-time Olympian and Australia's greatest ever ski paddler Clint Robinson will be hoping to add another title to his already impressive trophy cabinet when he tackles the $10,000 Epic Kayaks 20 Beaches Classic on Sydney's Northern Beaches on Sunday.

The Olympic gold medallist and 36-time Australian surf life saving champion will tackle an all-star field including two-time nib Coolangatta Gold winner Caine Eckstein; Ironman legend Dean Mercer; former Ironman-cum-ski paddler and defending champion Jeremy Cotter and the man-of-the moment, Dubai Shamaal winner Tim Jacobs.Ian Hanson reports...

Organisers have received record entries for the 20 Beaches Classic in what will be a grand finale to Sydney's most successful Ocean Ski Series and a race that will cover a 25 kilometre stretch of coastline from Palm Beach in the north to Manly in the south or reverse, depending on wind conditions.

Robinson has targeted the 20 Beaches in the lead up to next year's Molokai Challenge in Hawaii which he has raced four times before but never won.

"The Epic Kayaks 20 Beaches is an event I have always wanted to contest but it has never fallen into my schedule but with no short term goals set for this season and with my sights set on Molokai this is a perfect opportunity to see where I'm at," said Robinson.

"Every time I have raced in any long distance event I have probably had inferior equipment but legendary paddlers Oscar Chalupsky and Greg Barton have helped develop a new ocean racing craft and I'm excited about the opportunity that Tony King from Epic has given me and I know it's going to be a lot of fun.

"The field is going to be very tough indeed with the combination of ski paddlers, iron men and a group of young paddlers putting their hands up as well.

"Tim Jacobs is a paddler who I have raced in the surf and in kayaks over many years and he is certainly the man at the moment.

"Deano is always very competitive, a great ocean racer and to have the iron men like Caine Eckstein adds a new dimension to the field and Jeremy Cotter is also a great competitor who I also have a lot of respect for.

"I believe there is a real exciting future in ocean ski paddling, there is some money coming into the sport and there is increasing interest from the media and it is something where you can come into a venue in a day and be home again that night."

The prize pool is  the largest ever put up for the event with prize money spread across not only  the elite men's field but also women's and masters age groups.

The efforts of Freshwater's 30-year-old father of three, Jacobs has already been nothing short of phenomenal over the past two months.

It has witnessed him claim the opening four rounds of the Series as well as the Coolangatta Gold team event with Freshwater and most recently the world's richest endurance ski event the Dubai Shamaal in the United Arab Emirates.

Organisers  hope to attract even greater numbers as the race makes its debut as a two star event on the Surfski World Series.

Other top flight competitors include Manly's reigning world champion Murray Stewart, nine-time Molokai winner Dean Gardiner, former 20 Beaches winner David Kissane, Queenscliff's Nick Holt, former iron man Brett Tyack, Robinson's former Maroochydore team mate Kirk Jarrott, fellow noted Queenslanders Brad Stokes and Martin Kenny, Swansea Belmont's Matt Rees and Byron Bay's Kurt Tutt.

Sydney Northern Beaches event manager Marcial Nunura is excited about what is going to be one of the most exciting finishes to a Series in years.

"There are six return airfares to contest the Molokai Challenge in Hawaii going to the top three open males in the series; the first open female; the first 40-49 year-old male and the first 50-59 year-old  male," said Nunura.

"Only the best three results count for the series pointscore with the Epic Kayak 20 Beaches worth double points compared to the other races."

TOP TEN (best two places):
Tim Jacobs (400 points)
Murray Stewart (396)
Brett Tyack (394)
David Kissane (394)
Nick Holt (394)
Matt Rees (394)
Mark Anderson (393)
Kurt Tutt (391)
Michael Locke (388)
Ian Timbrell (388)

RACE START: 1 pm (from Palm Beach or Manly) Depending on wind direction

RACE DAY CONTACT: Marcial Nunura (0422) 235185

ALL OTHER INFORMATION: Ian Hanson (0407) 385 160