Chris Harvey on his way to the gold medal in California. (Picture by Chris Ketner)
CHRIS Harvey retained his gold medal at the opening World Cup Series surf kayaking event of the year at Santa Cruz, USA.
The 28-year-old Sarnian who is one of the top surf kayakers in the world, pulled off his trademark aerial moves at the famous Californian surf hot spot of Steamer Lane, to grab the top place on the podium for the second year running.
In the process the outdoor education teacher who currently works in North Yorkshire got the better of world champion, Rusty Sage, on his home break. ‘It was quite nice to beat the current world champion and to retain the title,’ said Harvey.
After two days of intense action in 10ft swells, Harvey made it through to the finals in second place behind the number one ranked Sage.
With five minutes left in the heat, Harvey found a wave that walled up sharply near the Santa Cruz lower cliffs.
He cut into it hard, lifting the vessel about three feet above the lip.
He landed it perfectly and kept surfing while whoops and hollers spilled out from the large crowd on the cliffs.
Harvey got a perfect score of 30 on the wave, which vaulted him to the top of the standings and ultimately saw him take the title.
The victory also sees him qualify for the World Cup finals that are being held at Ile d’Oleron, France in October.
The year’s top 16 surf kayakers qualify for the world cup.
At last year’s finals in Bakio and Mundaka in northern Spain, after being the only UK surfer to make the final heat, Harvey won bronze for the second year running.
This year, he has his eyes set on the gold.
‘Hopefully but the game is tough,’ he said.
‘Everyone who makes the world cup is in a position to win it. The aim is to notch it up a gear but it’s going to be a challenge for sure.’
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