Danielle McKenzie and Cory Hill have taken out the Dragon Run ski race in Hong Kong

The 2019 Dragon Run ocean ski race in Hong Kong will be one to remember for Northcliffe duo and long course winners Danielle McKenzie and Cory Hill.

THE 2019 Dragon Run ocean ski race in Hong Kong will be one to remember for Northcliffe duo and long course winners Danielle McKenzie and Cory Hill.

For McKenzie, it was her first time in Hong Kong while for Hill, it was his third straight win in the 24km race and first international race win as a father.

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“I haven’t had an international win since being a father,” said Hill who finished in a time of 1:24:15 ahead of former Gold Coast Suns academy member Jackson Collins and Kenny Rice

“To come across, I knew I had to do something special.

“In the downwind section, I put the pedal down knowing that the last 5km always hurts and there’s a lot of great paddlers out there.”

The Dragon Run male winner Cory Hill. Picture supplied.

2009 winner Shannon Eckstein finished slightly further down the field in a time of 1:31:16.

Not only does 2019 mark McKenzie’s first win at the event, but she also prevented Hayley Nixon from claiming a third straight title.

The Dragon Run female winner Danielle McKenzie. Picture supplied.

“I didn’t really know where to go but I listened to the race briefing,” McKenzie admitted after the race.

“I’m really excited to be here in such a quality field.

“I’ve grown up (in New Zealand) around Teneale (Hatton, third place) and Rachel (Clarke, fourth place) and racing them in surf life saving so we know each other very well.”

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The 25-year-old will return to the Gold Coast to compete in round two of the Nutri-Grain series on November 17 at Burleigh.