Saskia Hockly: A World Title Built on Teamwork

The mixed surfski world title demands more than individual excellence. At the 2025 ICF Canoe Ocean Racing World Championships in Durban, Saskia Hockly and Matthew Fenn rose to the challenge, combining precision, commitment, and trust to secure the gold medal. Already a familiar name on the international circuit, the young South African athlete added a new dimension to her career by conquering the world stage in a double surfski. Sharing the cockpit meant sharing effort, pressure, and ultimately victory. This title was not only about strength or technique, but about partnership, belief, and connection. In this interview, Saskia reflects on that defining race, the bond she shares with her teammate, and what winning a world title together truly represents.

Hi Saskia, we’re really happy to meet you. In a few words, who is Saskia Hockly?

Passionate, driven, humble, happy, and a true team player.

What would you say was the key moment in your career that allowed you to move from a promising athlete to a world champion?

I would say it was in 2021, when I was selected to represent South Africa for the first time at the World Championships in Lanzarote, Spain. I was a 17-year-old girl who did not really know what to expect and simply went there with the goal of giving my all and having fun while doing it.
The moment I heard the national anthem played for me at the prize-giving ceremony was when I knew I could really go places in this sport.

In your opinion, what makes a strong and successful surfski duo?

The most important thing is being able to work with someone and trust them completely, knowing that together you can achieve your goal. Without that, a combination is doomed from the start. One person cannot be fully committed while the other is only halfway in.

What strategy did you and your partner set before the World Championship race? Was it different from the way you approach your solo races?

Doubles racing is almost tougher, in my opinion, because it is so much faster and you are fully focused on each other, working together to push to your maximum for the best possible outcome.
Matt and I are very good friends, and we actually never paddle together, so being able to jump into a double and instantly click is something really special. I usually just aim to push myself to my best potential, and when I do that, everything else tends to fall into place naturally.

Which double surfski model did you choose for the World Championships, and why did you choose that one?

I have only ever paddled FENN surfskis, so I am definitely biased when it comes to choosing equipment. Keith and Travis have been incredibly generous and supportive of my career for several years now, so I will always stay loyal to them.

How would you describe this double victory compared to your solo successes?

Becoming a world champion is always a huge achievement, and I am so incredibly happy that I got to share this one with one of my best friends. I will always cherish all my victories, and I am always happy to congratulate anyone else who achieves greatness as well.

To Follow SASKIA HOKLY on Instagram, go to:
@saskia._hockly