Latest Surfski News

Tuesday, 17 October 2023 07:11
“What the bloody hell are you doing here?” I thought to myself a few moments after launching on the brand new V10 4G for the first time. It was getting dark; it was raining; the squalls were lifting sheets of spray off the water… directly offshore. What WAS I thinking? The answer is that I’m a sucker for new toys – and if I get my hands on one, I HAVE to play with it. Damn the weather, full speed ahead… Since then I’ve paddled the boat many more times, in much pleasanter weather. Here’s what I think of this,…
Thursday, 08 June 2023 12:42
East London, South Africa: Angus Warren watched helplessly as the shark’s teeth crunched through the hull of his surfski. “It seemed to go on and on,” he says, “pushing and chomping. I was thinking, why is it not working out that it isn’t food? “I can’t tell how long it took, but I had enough time to shout a couple of times to the others.” The next thing he knew, he was in the water…
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Thursday, 27 April 2023 18:42
CAPE TOWN - Hank McGregor and Josh Fenn convincingly claimed back their Prescient Freedom Paddle title on Thursday in a dramatic race marked by tough conditions and a rain-delayed start.  Conditions were extremely tough - a brisk northwester blowing spray from the big confused chop into the paddlers' faces as they headed out to the island.  Huge breaking surf on the far side of the island ensured a wide line but the wind dropped as the fleet started on the journey back to the finish, making it that much more difficult and energy sapping to catch the runs.  
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Tuesday, 25 April 2023 11:50
Last Friday, however, I paddled with Dawid on a windless autumn evening in Cape Town. Cruising from Fish Hoek to Muizenberg, we paddled together, stopping at all the coves to surf a few waves. In short, the operative word was "fun". This was a different Dawid - off duty - and, well, I've never paddled with anyone so noisy before. Whistling, singing, shouting to folks on shore - yahooing as he caught a wave. Heading home at dusk we crept up behind a group of seals lazing on the surface. Dawid began barking like a five-year-old paid by the bark...until…
Thursday, 09 February 2023 07:39
A look back - aaaaargh! A mountain. Let it go through... A smaller one, with a glimpse of something massive lurking further out to sea. Catch it, catch it! Sprint, sprint, you’re on it, here’s the break zone, keep going, keep going, the roar from behind and the sudden acceleration as a massive foamy caught up to me, keep it straight, keep it straight... Phew. Arrived. Panting. Stop the watch. ok. Made it. Empty the boat, pick it up to prevent it knocking you down. Done.
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Saturday, 26 November 2022 17:16
The South Africans cleaned up today at the most prestigious surfski race in Australia – arguably the most prestigious race in the world - taking five out of the top six places and the entire podium at the Shaw and Partners “The Doctor” in Perth. Defending women’s champion, Kiwi Danielle McKenzie won the women’s trophy.
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Saturday, 19 November 2022 13:01
Gold Coast paddler, Cory Hill, took first scalp in the five-event ocean ski racing series, the Shaw and Partners WA Race Week, winning the inaugural race today, the 24km Fenn West Coast Downwinder from Fremantle, just south of Perth, to Sorrento Beach. In fine conditions with a 16 knot SSW wind courtesy of the famed Fremantle Doctor, the start off Port Beach was intense with the top paddlers in a terse battle to make the first break.   But it was 33-year-old Hill – the 4-times DOCTOR champ who relishes the Perth conditions – who was able to shake the field…
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Tuesday, 16 March 2021 13:54
It’s not easy to catch a rolling, runaway single ski in 30kt of gusting wind – and as they attempted to grab it, Alex and his doubles partner lost their balance and fell into the water. By the time they’d remounted, the single ski was gone – blown away by the strengthening near-gale. They turned and paddled back upwind to find their buddy.
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Wednesday, 03 March 2021 12:08
Accident reports are easy to write when the story ends happily, but this one didn’t and it’s with a very heavy heart that I’m writing this, with a view to learning what we can from it.
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Wednesday, 15 July 2020 09:13
When the NSRI found Duncan MacDonald, he was approximately 6km off Smitswinkel Bay, drifting rapidly further offshore. Gale-force squalls whipped sheets of spray off the waves, reducing visibility almost to nothing. What Happened? Given the small size of the surfski community, there’s always intense interest whenever there’s a rescue. What happened? What did they do wrong? What can we learn from it? Clearly there are lessons to be learnt from any mishap – so here’s a description of what happened, shared with the permission and cooperation of the folks involved in the hope that we might all learn from this…
Friday, 24 April 2020 11:41
Durban – As the continued coronavirus lockdown grips the country, Canoeing South Africa will host a 24 hour Canoeing4COVID-19 event this weekend as a way to raise funds for members of the broader paddling community that have been badly affected by the lockdown.
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Wednesday, 11 March 2020 14:35
“Hey, Rob! Help!” The shouts penetrated the sound of the howling wind and crashing waves – and even through the noise it was obvious from the tone of his voice that something was seriously wrong. I turned and headed back upwind.
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Tuesday, 03 March 2020 14:43
Many paddlers use Personal Locator Beacons, or tracker apps like SafeTrx on their mobile phones. But handheld VHF radios are also a great choice to consider – especially when they’re DSC-capable like the Standard Horizon HX870E.
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Monday, 24 February 2020 12:01
I finally got my hands on a demo Fennix Swordfish S this weekend and did two Miller's Runs in succession to see if I could feel any difference in handling between the 2018 Swordfish S and the new Fennix model.  Conditions were challenging: False Bay was covered in whitecaps, whipped by a combination of a 25-30kt southeaster and small, confused seas.  The result?  I definitely want to spend more time in this boat.
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Thursday, 26 December 2019 10:30
The shark smashed like a freight train into Roger Swinney’s surfski in an explosion of noise and spray, knocking him off into the water.  “I managed to get back on the ski,” he said, “but I fell off again and as I remounted the second time, I saw the swirl and tips of the shark’s fins. “I didn’t see it clearly, but from the force of it and the movement in the water, it looked big!”
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Rob Mousley

EuroChallenge 2013 - Revamped, raring to go

Sunday, 14 April 2013 13:22 |

EuroChallenge was the first major international surfski race to be held in Europe.  This year the organizers are pulling out all the stops to make it a proper downwind event. 

Ben Fouhy Crowned King Of The Harbour 2013

Sunday, 07 April 2013 12:28 |

Ben Fouhy, showing great form, took out last Saturday's King of The Harbour in Auckland, in mild conditions. The confused harbour and weather conditions caused race director Terry Newsome some angst, the wind swinging from SE, to SW to back to SE again a few hours before the race start. He finally opted for the Waiheke back to Birkenhead course, and ultimately did well in securing a predominantly downwind course for the field of 67 ski paddlers plus Stand Up Paddle-boarders.                       

New Zealand's King Of The Harbour Countdown

Tuesday, 19 March 2013 13:34 |

The 12th King of the Harbour Ocean Ski Race will be based from Auckland’s waterfront in the heart of Auckland, 6 April 2013. Race Director Terry Newsome has promised a $8000 (NZD) prize-bucket, and free-of-charge glass FENN ocean-ski's for all international and South Island paddlers, attracting a contingent of overseas/international paddlers. If last weekend's conditions are anything to go by, this could be another exceptional downwind event - Cyclone Sandra's tailings left a 5m swell sneaking through the Colville Channel and a 40knot following NE tailwind. Will we see 2012 Jeremy Cotter's 1:25:42 record fall?


Overseas Contingent

With three of the Tahitian team staying at my place on Waiheke Island (including Sebastian Mosole, Race Director for the highly successful Mara'amu World Cup Surfski race in beautiful Bora-Bora), there's no secret to which course we are favouring! It's also no secret that someone is seeking retribution, for being forced (almost!) to eat the legendary fermented raw fish Tahitian delicacy 'fafaru' directly following an epic Pacific island crossing at last years race. I am not sure New Zealand has an equivalent, but I expect that some exposure to volcanic region of Rotorua's sulfurous/noxious fumes might be a good start.

The Tahitian connection is strong: most international flights to Tahiti fly via Auckland. Terry talks of future races aligning with the Mara'amu. There are bound to be a few good stories from this race - book your part in this now by entering this iconc event at the below link.

Course Options

One of Auckland's iconic Fullers ferries will be used to transport competitors and their skis to the start or from the finish for the King of the Harbour, as we have done in the past. 

"Not only does travelling by water add to the excitement and atmosphere of the race, it will also add a unique dimension to this race when compared to any other ocean ski events around the world as spectators will be able to see how the race unfolds aboard the Fullers Starflyte." declares Terry.

As wind direction is fundamental to a successful race, one of four courses will be selected to present the competitors with at least 80% down-wind paddling. The final course will be determined by the wind direction 24 hours prior to the race. Last years event saw a wicked little NE swell making for a blistering downwind run from Waiheke Island to Auckland's viaduct.

2012 winner Jeremy Cotter completed the 22km from Waiheke to Auckland in 1:25.42.

One of the following four courses will be selected to offer paddlers at least 80% downwind paddling:

King of the Harbour 2013

(Above) Gulf Harbour to Auckland or Auckland to Gulf Harbour (Distance 25km), favoured if a Westerly or Easterly prevailson race day.

King of the Harbour 2013 

(Above) Waiheke Island to Auckland or Auckland to Waiheke Island (Distance 19km) if winds are NE on the day, as seen in 2011 and 2012, or SW.

The prevailing SW provides a consistent wind chop from Auckland back to the island, and indeed my record time paddling this stretch of water is set at dusk on a pumping Sou' Westerly. However, there is nothing like the ocean swell that the NE brings into the Motiuhe Channel, and as paddlers depart from Matiatia ferry terminal on Waiheke, the rushing tide and ocean swell can make the first 13km's of this stretch world class in terms of downwind paddling.

 King of the Harbour 2013

Race Day Schedule

  9:00am

Scrutineering and late registrations and loading of boats

 10.15am 

Fullers Ferry will leave for Waiheke or Gulf Harbour for the start

 12:00am 

SUP race start, all course options: Auckland, Waiheke or Gulf Harbour                                       

 12:30pm

Ocean ski start, all course options: Auckland, Waiheke or Gulf Harbour

 2.00pm 

First paddlers expected from this time

 3.30pm

Race officially over. Ferry will leave Waiheke or Gulf Harbour for Auckland

 4.30pm

Ferry docks at Auckland and unloads boats and passengers

 6:00pm

Prize giving

Product Launch: Carbonology-Sport Cruze

Tuesday, 12 March 2013 09:38 |

Carbonology Sport launches a new surfski into the beginner market today: the Carbonology Cruze.  The Cruze is aimed at the same market segment as the Think Eze, the Fenn Bluefin and other ultra stable skis.

Video: Cape Town Downwind World Series

Thursday, 07 March 2013 06:42 |

When some of the best surfski paddlers in the world gathered in Cape Town, South Africa for the inaugural Cape Town Downwind Race, Greg Kitto of White Hot Media was on hand to record the action.

How to: remount your ski (side-saddle method!)

Saturday, 02 March 2013 07:26 |

Alex Matthews is a Sea Kayak instructor from British Columbia.  Bob Putnam lent him a Think Eze surfski for the winter (eeek - that's cold!).  Bob said that Alex "had been resistant, almost anti-surfski."  Clearly though, sea kayakers are a tough breed and Alex is now hooked on surfski and has been playing in a tidal race called Baynes Channel.  The first thing he had to do though, was practise remounting the ski.

Remounting the V10 Double (and first looks)!

Sunday, 17 February 2013 15:30 |

Second time out on my new V10 Double - in some challenging downwind conditions - and we take a swim...  Nothing like being 2km offshore to try out remounting a new ski!

The Doctor 2013 Video

Tuesday, 29 January 2013 16:33 |

"I didn’t have a specific race plan or line," wrote Jasper Mocke in his post-race report, "but being in front and staying there seemed like a good idea!"  

When things go wrong...

Thursday, 13 December 2012 08:27 |

Chasing 3m breaking waves in 35kt gusts is the best fun you can have outside of tangled sheets – but gear failure can be a much bigger issue.  You have to be mentally and physically prepared for things to go wrong…

Steelcase Dragon Run - Rambo's Video

Saturday, 24 November 2012 22:31 |

The heat and almost windless conditions made for brutal conditions two weeks ago when some of the world's best surfski paddlers lined up for the 2012 Steelcase Dragon Run.  But defending champion Tim Jacobs made it all look too easy...