Took surfski pics again for The Doctor Race Week here in Perth. Have edited and posted online two races to this point: No 2 below Sunday 23rd Nov Downwind International - 12km Prone and Double Surfski (covered skis only); and No 3 below Thursday 27th Nov Dr Ben Hewitt's Sunset Surfski Series Race 3. Pics from The Doctor not posted yet (life in the way!).
Have endeavoured to get at least one pic of everyone, however this not always possible given multiple simultaneous arrivals or bystanders, helpers and/or paddles getting in the way.
Really worthwhile rolling through Thursday's pics (easy enough in thumbnail then just click on the pic and scroll right) as these taken at City Beach groyne with paddlers coming around the corner. Very challenging catching early paddlers before swell really lifted (lots of wipeouts later) as they came in very close so difficult with 200-500mm lens. One set in particular I'll include as the first link (No 1 below) about halfway through that event. I took 15 pics over 4 seconds, six only included here, but they tell a great little story. First image Epic V9 on a foamy to hell, then as he gets smashed, panned across and focus on doubles pair with front paddler mouth agape at the wipeout, who in turn looks across at Cory Hill who had finished previously and paddled back out to do some ins-and outs in the swell (big kid), with big grin on his face.
1300 pics in one hour reduced to about 10% of that. If you paddled or know anyone interested in any more pics of them (especially action shots of catching/wiping out) email me
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. I have included a few 8-10 shot sequences because they were iconic in some way - particularly the capable paddlers making it all look easy. (I have smashed ashore there a few times!) Pics here easy enough to download directly from the site.
From the middle thereabouts of the event:
No 1:
johnnywatto.smugmug.com/Downwind-paddlin...s-3-2025/i-W4sdx9N/A
No 2:
johnnywatto.smugmug.com/Downwind-paddling-races/Doubles-2025
No 3:
johnnywatto.smugmug.com/Downwind-paddlin...urfski-Series-3-2025
Also previous races here in Perth including the Worlds 2023:
No 4:
johnnywatto.smugmug.com/Downwind-paddling-races 
