Surfski in Melbourne Area

Hi Guys

I'm moving to Melbourne, Australia, and am looking for information on the Surfski paddling scene over there; clubs and locations; where I would go to be plugged in to the sport etc. Including Port Philip Bay, and the Bass Strait coast.

Thanks
Richard

These guys have regular training and a few of them have paddled skis across Bass Strait.

www.peakadventure.com.au/store/index.asp

Leaving Melbourne in the next couple weeks. In summer there are some guys who train in Port Melbourne but in winter we tend to train on the Yarra.

There is not a huge amount going on really, but as the previous poster said, your best bet is Jarad's squad or potentially some guys who paddle out around black rock i believe.

thanks for the info. is it worth me bringing across my river boat - the type of DR canoe used in the Avon Descent? Is there a river or flatwater paddling scene up the Yarra or elsewhere?

There are a number of crews who paddle from mercantile boatshed in the city or wesley boat house about 4km up from the city. It is all flat water. Guys paddle K1s. If your DR boat is one of those bulbous nose things, you would need to head to Tasmania to get any white water.

There are also a couple of clubs (Ivanhoe or Fairfield) where they do some flat water stuff.

My boat looks something like the attached pic - it's not a white water DR boat you're thinking of. I'll look into those places you've mentioned thanks. I guess there's also the Murray River as well?

ok, SA river boat Murray is a long drive - 3 plus hours. Some people train to do the race, but not really that interesting - 400km of flat hot river. Did a race there a couple months ago (60km) which was ok.

Re your inquiry about paddling in Melbourne - Fitness Paddlers Australia run Time Trials in the Melbourne area on a weekly basis. Beaumaris one week - Geelong the next. Courses are around the 10km mark and they run all year round. A handicap system is used so paddling ability is equalised for the purposes of the Time Trials. For all the information you need and to register for their newsletter etc go to www.fitnesspaddlers.com.au

Forgot to mention - all the Time Trials are run in the bay and ocean and set up especially for surfy ski paddlers.

Cool - thanks for the advice!

Thanks JML - what days do they run and what times?

The next one is this Saturday 31st March - Beaumaris. 8am for 8.30 Start.
7th April - St Helens Beach, Geelong. 8am for 8.30 Start
14th April - Beaumaris etc. etc.
Details of the events are on the web site www.fitnesspaddlers.com.au
If you register as a member (Free) you go on the mailing list and receive all the info each week including weather updates etc.

Having just moved here 6 months ago from Auckland it is easy to underestimate the surf-ski scene in Melbourne. I did, and am pleasantly surprised. There is the Fitness Padllers TImetrial in Beaumaris/Gelong alternating every week. There is the Outlaw Crit surfski series that has just wound up, and a bunch of other races that run through the season. Through Jarad's group we train together a couple of times a week, and there are regularly 30 plus paddlers down at Sandridge at 5:45 in the am before work taking part in the Peak Adventure training sessions and group squads. Check out the Melbourne Paddlers Group on Facebook, where we synch up for paddles and training sessions. In short, there is a fast growing surf ski scene in Melbs that is well organized and accessible to all. Also, don't underestimate The Bay: I have had some world-class down wind paddles from good old Beaumaris to Sandridge, a 24km course, on the prevailing SE'lies. Drop me a message if you are looking for more info....

That's exactly the info I was hoping for! Thanks - very useful. I will be sending my Epic V10 Surfski in our container next week and will be there myself in May. Would appreciate staying in touch and will see you on the water. I assume it's useful to belong to the Sandridge Surf Lifesaving Club, and also for storage of boats etc?