SKI PADDLING STEWART NOW THE PIED PIPER OF THE PINES

April 3: Manly's newest Australian surf lifesaving champion Murray Stewart is like the pied-piper under the pines these days.

Last Sunday, Stewart, his family and supporters and members of the Manly Life Saving Club's ski paddling fraternity, gathered at the club rooms to watch the Channel Seven coverage of Murray's historic win. (Part two of the Whereis 2009 Australian Championships will be show this Sunday from 11am AEST).

Sitting amongst the throng was a special guest, Manly's 1948 Australian single ski champion Fred Hanson, who made the trip down from Toukley on the Central Coast to share the golden moment with 22-year-old Stewart.

Hanson, now 82, was the last Manly paddler to win the coveted single ski title, some 61 years ago when he conquered six metre waves on a home made ski.

He was quick to shake the youngsters hand when the roar went up as Stewart surged from behind to lower the colours of Olympic great Clint Robinson (bronze) and Beijing Olympian Tate Smith (silver).

Stewart was followed around the promenade by a host of young nippers, eager to shake his hand and to hold the paddle, used in the NSW, Australian and World Championship wins and hopefully one day follow in his footsteps.

It was great to see legendary ski paddlers Tony Viecelli, Greg "Tank" Bennett and Trent Herring join in the celebrations.

Word is, future Manly stars Nick Dawe and Sam Speer could well add to the club's ski paddling gold medal collection.

Dawe was the Australian under 19 champion in 2008 and a finalist in 2009 while, Speer, son of popular Manly clubby Rob Speer and nephew of Phil and Dave Speer, was an unlucky second in the Australian under 17 final.

MANAGING DIRECTOR'S FOOTNOTE: In case you are wondering, Fred Hanson is in fact the father of Hanson Media Group managing director Ian Hanson and the grandfather of Olympic silver medallist Brooke Hanson. On behalf of the team at HMG and the Hanson family we send our heartiest congratulations to Murray Stewart who is a credit to his family and a fine young ambassador for Australian Surf Lifesaving and the Australian Canoeing community. We wish him all the best in his endeavours to represent Australia at the 2012 London Olympics. You can follow his progress on the Hanson Media Group website...