Two-time world ocean racing champion Kira Bester will have a new-found sense of self belief when she aims for her fourth win in the Prescient Freedom Paddle around Robben Island on Monday 27 April.

The 2024 and 2025 world champion from Strand is riding the crest of a wave as the country’s most successful paddler. On Freedom Day, Bester will join up with regular paddling partner and friend Melanie van Niekerk to defend their Prescient Freedom Paddle title and are hoping to add to Bester’s other wins in 2021 and 2024.

Bester’s small stature hides a big heart which has overcome some severe tests in the past 12 months – both as a world champion athlete successfully defending her title in Durban in October last year and, on a personal level, when her coach and mentor Peter Cole suddenly passed away a few months earlier.

“My training has been going really well,” Bester related. “I haven’t trained much with the squad yet. It’s kind of been a lot of my own training and just looking at old programmes of Pete, and trying to put together something that I know works for me, and that has worked well in the past.

“It is very different. It’s been a process to come to terms with the fact that I need to now be responsible for my training and I need to be responsible for whether or not I’m going to pitch or not – if I miss training I’m not going to get a phone call saying, ‘where are you’?

“Back then I didn’t realise I could do it myself. I was very reliant on Pete keeping me accountable, because it’s just an easier option. But now that I’ve had time to process everything and just wrap my mind around all of it, it’s like I’ve come to terms with the knowledge that I am capable. It’s very empowering and very freeing, because I know I am directly responsible for my results and there’s no finger I can point. I am solely responsible for how well I do.”

Bester is also aware that she faces a tough Freedom Day long weekend, with the trial for the national team on the Saturday or Sunday before the paddle.

“In my opinion, the Prescient Freedom Paddle is probably the most difficult race of the calendar,” said Bester. “I always find that it’s just flat and hard work – and you’re going fast and there’s just nowhere to hide. Obviously I’m very excited for it because it’s one of the first races of the year and it’s a good way to kickstart the system and build into what’s coming next … but I’m not excited for the pain.

“To me, the selection race is just another opportunity to race. It’s not to defend a title or to try and prove that I’m the best. It’s just another opportunity where everyone gets together. The cool part of it is seeing everyone and having a lekker race.

“It might take away some of the vooma that some people have for Prescient Freedom Paddle. But I think if it’s going to be a downwind, it’s going to be tough, but it’s also going to be really fun because that section of the ocean is so clean, and it’s just awesome to actually paddle downwind there.”

The bad news for the other women’s crews is that Van Niekerk and Bester could be better than ever before.

“Melanie’s been clocking up new PBs on her downwinds, so from a partner perspective, it’s a really refreshing to see your partner doing so well. And we also jumped in the double the other day and it was really good. We’ve got a new double, the Flash from Carbonology, and it’s so much nicer when it comes to how we sit together.” Bester said.

“This new boat is a bit narrower and we’re sitting super snug. It feels almost like I’m in a single, and it’s really, really been a game changer.”

One potential rival crew that now looks unlikely is that of rising star and former world mixed-doubles champion Georgia Singe and Jade Wilson. Singe has injured her shoulder and there is a question mark over their participation.

However, Bester said she is expecting a tough battle from Saskia Hockly and the UK’s under-23 world champion Rosie Edwards. “I’ve never actually seen the two of them combining, but they paddled together and won the Pete Marlin, so I’m sure they will be in very good shape,” she pointed out.

“I’ve been racing against Rosie for a few years and she’s very good, so it’s going to be fun. I think it could be dependent on the conditions on which combination gets the upperhand.”

Prescient Freedom Paddle entrants will have the option of two distances: the elite paddlers will tackle the 27 km route from the Oceana Power Boat Club, around Robben Island and back to the start, and the 10 km route from the club, around Robben Island but taking paddlers along the coastline to a turning buoy, before returning to the club.

The event is open to all human paddle-powered craft that are seaworthy enough to complete the course, including surfskis, lifesaving paddle boats, stand-up paddle boards, ocean skulls and ocean kayaks.

 Entries and more information can be found at freedompaddle.co.za.