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

Shamaal Gold? Simon de Speville

Friday, 19 November 2010 08:19 |

When Simon de Speville came 14th in this year’s Island Shamaal in Mauritius, the race sponsors sat up and took notice.  Not only is Simon the top Mauritian paddler – but he’s only 17 years old.

Wanted: Ten Paddlers for a Trip of a Lifetime

Tuesday, 16 November 2010 08:31 |

On March 6, 2011, the 22m catamaran K20 will set sail from Fremantle, Australia bound for Exmouth on the remote north-west of Australia.  On board will be Oscar Chalupsky, Dean Gardiner and ten surfski paddlers bound for a trip of a lifetime.

 

Epic V8 Launch – Interview with Greg Barton

Friday, 22 October 2010 09:53 |

Epic Kayaks just launched the latest in their stable of surfskis, the V8.  We interviewed Epic CEO Greg Barton.  Here’s what he had to say about the new ski, and about Epic in general.

RSS Feeds

Wednesday, 15 September 2010 14:06 |

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Shark Alert (South Africa)

Wednesday, 18 August 2010 10:56 |

Sea Rescue – National – Wednesday, 18 August, 2010. WARNING – Shark activity close inshore.

The NSRI and Save Our Seas foundation are warning bathers, paddlers and surfers to be acutely aware that at this time of year sharks migrate towards the shoreline in search of food.

 

Surfski Artist – Tom Schilperoort

Monday, 16 August 2010 18:51 |

Many people are familiar with Tom Schilperoort as a top surfski paddler – both locally and internationally.  But not so many know of his other passion in life: painting.

More New and Updated Skis ** MORE updates!**

Wednesday, 11 August 2010 21:04 |

The Lamborghini of surfskis?  Or perhaps the Volvo...  Italy and Sweden are the origin of the two of the new skis that are on the market in Europe...

Lost Surfski Found after 6 weeks and 1000km! **update**

Monday, 09 August 2010 13:31 |

Sam Dawson was catching waves in his Fenn Mako XT at a favourite spot near South Sound, Grand Cayman.  Suddenly his world turned upside down - literally.  “I got caught by a wave and flipped off,'' Dawson said. “The wave took the surf ski away from me - I assumed never to be seen again.”

Paddlers take on 72hr non-stop challenge

Wednesday, 04 August 2010 19:16 |

Nine paddlers; 72 hours; average speed 10kph.  That’s 720km.  Welcome to Project 720.

 

Shark/Kayak Incident in California

Wednesday, 04 August 2010 08:29 |

Duane Strosaker was paddling his sea kayak about 5nm offshore from the Gaviota State Beach in Southern California, when a Great White Shark decided he was worth investigating.  Duane "screamed like a girl" (who wouldn't) as the shark gently put its mouth around the hull of the kayak and held it for "10-15 seconds".