In surfski the dominant brands are Fenn and Epic... Ask anyone to name the dominant brand in the K1 world, and it's highly likely the name "Nelo" would spring to mind.
Can a K1 manufacturer really compete with the giants of the surfski world?
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Here's a new ski that has a design pedigree that stretches back twenty years or more. Two weekends ago, Hein van Rooyen paddled the first Carbonology "What?" into second place in a Discovery Men's Health series race in Port Elizabeth, South Africa...
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UK Women's Surfski Champion Chloe Bunnett, UK Olympian Ivan Lawler and a few friends recently hosted BBC Sports presenter Mike Bushell in Poole, UK...
Bushell had come to find out what the sport of surfski paddling was all about...
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Here's something radically innovative - and something we want to do for Surfski in the not too distant future... Live video streaming of a paddling race... This is the Molokai Hoe OC6 race in Hawaii...
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A few months ago we posted an article on a new surfski designed by Nordic Kayaks in Sweden. Notable was the innovative hardtop option, designed to keep the paddler dry during winter paddling when the water approaches freezing point.
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The Fish River Marathon is one of the biggest paddling races in South Africa - this year's race had over 1,400 competitors... The pic shows the only surfski [Editor: "only"? maybe not - see comment below] in the event, paddled by Tom Schilperoort!
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Is it time for Surfski racing to have its own International Federation? In my opinion, the answer to that is a resounding yes…
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3 September 2009, Port Elizabeth, South Africa: The body of 37-year-old Barry Guy Marshall was recovered from the sea 10nm off Port Elizabeth according to NSRI spokesman Craig Lambinon.
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While some debate as to what should constitute a surfski race – open ocean, downwind, 10km, 25km, triangle course – it occurred to some race organizers in Australia and South Africa that one group of paddlers was being neglected: the novices.
Novices are the life-blood of any sport. To nurture and grow surfski paddling, we need a steady stream of new participants in races around the world. But novices often find the bigger races intimidating – to satisfy the demands of the more experienced paddlers, the races are often held in challenging conditions.
So – this season two race series, one in Sydney, Australia and one in Cape Town, South Africa, have started up – aimed directly at the novice paddler.
Dawid and Nikki Mocke have been training people to paddle surfskis since 2003. But they noticed that nearly all their “graduates” remained social paddlers, in spite of the many and varied races on offer in Cape Town.
Dawid and Nikki Mocke (Pic: Meds Martin)
After doing some research, they discovered that many of the paddlers felt intimidated by the big series races.
So, along with Tom Schilperoord and Adam Bothma they started the Seadog Series in Fish Hoek Bay. It’s been a great success – with over 210 paddlers registering and an average of 40-50 finishers on any given night with the highest figure so far being 135. “I say ‘finishers’,” laughed Nikki, “because the races are run whatever the weather. Our motto is ‘never cancelled’ and this means that the conditions are often quite hectic.”
Nikki attributes the success of the series to a number of factors:
“We’ve really tried to target the surfski school type paddler,” said Nikki. “The races are not intimidating, yet they can be challenging and they definitely give the guys a goal to work towards.”
[Editor: the first race of the Sydney Harbour Series attracted close to 100 paddlers.]
The Bing Lee/LG/Epic Kayaks Harbour Series has been designed for paddlers who may never be in the elite class but want to enjoy competitive paddling on a ski, sea kayak or outrigger canoe on the beautiful waterways around Sydney.
Awesome Scenery! Sydney Harbour Series
It is also good for that large group of paddlers who are itching to get out on the ocean but don’t yet quite have that confidence to enter an ocean race. Just do a few of the Harbour Series races and you may well be ready to take the next step.
The first race was held at Balmoral on Sydney Harbour early Saturday 23rd Jan in a fairly stiff breeze on what turned out to be a baking hot morning. The mass start got everyone jostling for position with the usual quick starters getting out ahead and the beginners in the usual panic at the back! The course took you into the wind to Fairlight Beach and then came the downwind dash towards Bradleys head. Those less focussed on the competition could take in the beautiful views of the cliffs of the harbour foreshore and the beachside suburbs of Vaucluse and Mosman.
There were plenty going for a swim, mainly around Middle Head, but the Lifesavers from Long Reef Surf Lifesaving Club were there in their inflatable rescue boats and everyone was able to get back on and either finish or else think about how they would finish the next race, which is at Cronulla Bay on 13th Feb.
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The series is run by Harbour Racing Incorporated which is an initiative of a group of surfski paddlers operating under the umbrella of PaddleNSW. It is a ground breaker in that all the paddlers entering the events are insured under the AC insurance scheme. Before this, the organisers of surfski events have been insured but not the paddlers.
These events are good for a wide range of paddlers, beginners young and old, women and men. Just grab a ski, outrigger canoe or sea kayak and see how you go! Find all the details at www.harbourracing.org.au
The first race of the inaugural International Surfski Paddling Association’s Surfski World Series was held in Perth in January. South African Dawid Mocke won the race and heads the ISPA World Rankings.
“We’re keeping it really simple for this year,” said ISPA’s Dean Gardiner. “Seven races, best four results. Dawid Mocke currently leads the men's rankings; Lauren Bartlett heads the women's rankings. Well done Daw and Lauren!”
Dawid Mocke is reigning Surfski World Series Champion.
The newly formed ISPA took over the administration of the Surfski World Series from the website Surfski.info, which had run it on an informal basis for the preceeding three years. Surfski.info’s Rob Mousley said, “I’m very happy for the series to be taken over by the ISPA. We started it off with the intention to raise awareness of the international races and to promote both the sport and the paddlers.
“We succeeded - to the extent that both race organizers and paddlers were taking it increasingly seriously. So it’s great that an organization started by the paddlers for the global surfski community is going to take it forward. I'm sure that it's going to grow from strength to strength and will achieve the international recognition that it deserves.”
The next race is the EuroChallenge 2010 in Spain – being held again in La Vila Joyosa on the Mediterranean coast.
Race | Country | From | To |
---|---|---|---|
Perth Doctor | Australia | 2010/01/16 | 2010/01/17 |
EuroChallenge | Spain | 2010/05/01 | |
World Cup South Africa | South Africa | 2010/05/22? | 2010/05/23 |
Mauritius Ocean Classic | Mauritius | 2010/05/24 | 2010/05/29 |
US Surfski Champs | USA | 2010/08/21 | |
Dragon Run | Hong Kong | 2010/11/20 | |
Dubai Shamaal | UAE | 2010/12/02 |
Billy Harker, organiser of the Durban World Cup said that the race is unlikely to be held on the 22 May as originally planned due to circumstances beyond his control. "The Soccer World Cup is proving to be a huge nightmare," he said. "Airfares are at least doubled during the the tournament and through to August which severely limits our options." The event is traditionally held during the first week of July - but has had to be moved for 2010 because of the Soccer World Cup which is being held in South Africa.
Name | CATEGORY | Overall Points | Category Pos | Category Points |
---|---|---|---|---|
Dawid MOCKE | Open | 500 | 1 | 500 |
Jeremy COTTER | Open | 499 | 2 | 499 |
Bruce TAYLOR | Open | 498 | 3 | 498 |
Jasper MOCKE | Open | 497 | 4 | 497 |
David SMITH | Open | 496 | 5 | 496 |
Brad RODGERS | Open | 495 | 6 | 495 |
Tim JACOBS | Open | 494 | 7 | 494 |
Brendon SARSON | Open | 493 | 8 | 493 |
Murray STEWART | Open | 492 | 9 | 492 |
Dean GARDINER | Over 40 | 491 | 1 | 500 |
Tony SCHUMACHER | Open | 490 | 10 | 491 |
Hank MCGREGOR | Open | 489 | 11 | 490 |
Kurt TUTT | Open | 488 | 12 | 489 |
Dave KISSANE | Over 40 | 487 | 2 | 499 |
Ken Wallace | Open | 486 | 13 | 488 |
Heath WRIGHT | Open | 485 | 14 | 487 |
Matt REES | Open | 484 | 15 | 486 |
Hayden WHITE | Under 20 | 483 | 1 | 500 |
Michael LOCKE | Open | 482 | 16 | 485 |
Dean BEAMENT | Over 40 | 481 | 3 | 498 |
Michael BAKER | Open | 480 | 17 | 484 |
Mark ANDERSON | Open | 479 | 18 | 483 |
Malcolm HALL | Over 40 | 478 | 4 | 497 |
Tim BIRD | Open | 477 | 19 | 482 |
Nicholas TAYLOR | Over 40 | 476 | 5 | 496 |
Brendan RICE | Under 20 | 475 | 2 | 499 |
Adam MCKANE | Open | 474 | 20 | 481 |
Robert BARRY | Over 40 | 473 | 6 | 495 |
David GRAHAM | Under 20 | 472 | 3 | 498 |
Paul BUTTEL | Open | 471 | 21 | 480 |
Travis ENGLAND | Open | 470 | 22 | 479 |
Justin FARRELLY | Open | 469 | 23 | 478 |
Matt CARTER | Open | 468 | 24 | 477 |
Ryan LOUW | Open | 467 | 25 | 476 |
Ian TIMBRELL | Over 40 | 466 | 7 | 494 |
Stephen PERRY | Over 40 | 465 | 8 | 493 |
Karl TREACHER | Open | 464 | 26 | 475 |
David TUDOR-JONES | Open | 463 | 27 | 474 |
Andrew STEPHENS | Open | 462 | 28 | 473 |
James MANGOLD | Over 40 | 461 | 9 | 492 |
Gary BUTLION | Over 40 | 460 | 10 | 491 |
Rob JENKINSON | Over 40 | 459 | 11 | 490 |
Tony BOWMAN | Open | 458 | 29 | 472 |
Shaun RICE | Over 50 | 457 | 1 | 500 |
Dean MORGAN | Over 40 | 456 | 12 | 489 |
Gary DAVID | Over 50 | 455 | 2 | 499 |
Lauren BARTLETT | Open Women | 454 | 1 | 500 |
Luke MORRISON | Open | 453 | 30 | 471 |
Kirsty HOLMES | Open Women | 452 | 2 | 499 |
Hayden QUINN | Open | 451 | 31 | 470 |
Todd BREVER | Under 20 | 450 | 4 | 497 |
Stewart O'REGAN | Open | 449 | 32 | 469 |
Alan CROSS | Open | 448 | 33 | 468 |
Michael FORD | Open | 447 | 34 | 467 |
Jesse PHILLIPS | Open | 446 | 35 | 466 |
Steve DALTON | Open | 445 | 36 | 465 |
Ricky SMITH | Open | 444 | 37 | 464 |
Kobi SIMMAT | Open | 443 | 38 | 463 |
Tim SCHLEIGER | Open | 442 | 39 | 462 |
Mark STEWART | Over 40 | 441 | 13 | 488 |
Bradley Taylor | Under 20 | 440 | 5 | 496 |
Mark LOWRY | Open | 439 | 40 | 461 |
Lindsay WILAND | Over 40 | 438 | 14 | 487 |
Chad ALSTON | Open | 437 | 41 | 460 |
Walter CHALUPSKY | Over 40 | 436 | 15 | 486 |
Alan ALBERT | Open | 435 | 42 | 459 |
Peter OHIGGINS | Over 40 | 434 | 16 | 485 |
Jason CUNNINGHAM | Open | 433 | 43 | 458 |
Kelvin SHORTTE | Over 40 | 432 | 17 | 484 |
Kevin WHITE | Over 40 | 431 | 18 | 483 |
Glen ORCHARD | Open | 430 | 44 | 457 |
Joseph FORD | Open | 429 | 45 | 456 |
Michael BINGEMANN | Open | 428 | 46 | 455 |
Ruth HIGHMAN | Open Women | 427 | 3 | 498 |
Neil O'LEARY | Over 40 | 426 | 19 | 482 |
Angus SPROTT | Over 40 | 425 | 20 | 481 |
Mark NATHAN | Over 40 | 424 | 21 | 480 |
Robert DOHERTY | Over 40 | 423 | 22 | 479 |
Peter HINDS | Open | 422 | 47 | 454 |
Cam MIDDLETON | Over 40 | 421 | 23 | 478 |
Richard EADIE | Over 40 | 420 | 24 | 477 |
Jean-pierre SCHAILLEE | Under 20 | 419 | 6 | 495 |
Brendan SIMCOCK | Under 20 | 418 | 7 | 494 |
Paul SMITH | Over 40 | 417 | 25 | 476 |
Ian KININMONTH | Over 40 | 416 | 26 | 475 |
Nathan CHANDLER | Open | 415 | 48 | 453 |
Dave ZELLER | Open | 414 | 49 | 452 |
Matt HIBBEN | Open | 413 | 50 | 451 |
Jane HUMPHRYS | Open Women | 412 | 4 | 497 |
Steve Ford | Over 40 | 411 | 27 | 474 |
Dave WALTER | Over 40 | 410 | 28 | 473 |
John SULLIVAN | Over 40 | 409 | 29 | 472 |
Matt WALKER | Open | 408 | 51 | 450 |
Darryl LONG | Over 40 | 407 | 30 | 471 |
John TOOMEY | Open | 406 | 52 | 449 |
Dean GILMOUR | Over 50 | 405 | 3 | 498 |
Kim BINGHAM | Over 40 | 404 | 31 | 470 |
Elderfield RICHARD | Open | 403 | 53 | 448 |
Andrew PETERSON | Over 40 | 402 | 32 | 469 |
Martin GUNDA | Over 40 | 401 | 33 | 468 |
Peter FARMER | Over 40 | 400 | 34 | 467 |
Julie JENKINSON | Over 40 Women | 399 | 1 | 500 |
Craig PORTEOUS | Open | 398 | 54 | 447 |
Peter JOHNSON | Open | 397 | 55 | 446 |
Damien KELLY | Over 50 | 396 | 4 | 497 |
Craig THRUM | Over 40 | 395 | 35 | 466 |
Sean CLAUSON | Open | 394 | 56 | 445 |
Todd VLADICH | Open | 393 | 57 | 444 |
Kylie BROAD | Open Women | 392 | 5 | 496 |
Robbie STEWART | over 50 | 391 | 5 | 496 |
David STILES | Open | 390 | 58 | 443 |
Grant GILMOUR | Open | 389 | 59 | 442 |
Mat SMITH | Open | 388 | 60 | 441 |
Craig SANDS | Over 40 | 387 | 36 | 465 |
Geoff DEWS | Over 50 | 386 | 6 | 495 |
Phil DE GRAAF | Open | 385 | 61 | 440 |
Jeremy MULCAHY | Open | 384 | 62 | 439 |
David MARTIN | Open | 383 | 63 | 438 |
Wade KELLY | Over 40 | 382 | 37 | 464 |
Murray JACOBS | Over 50 | 381 | 7 | 494 |
Shane CADDY | Open | 380 | 64 | 437 |
Sam GRIFFITHS | Open | 379 | 65 | 436 |
Mitchell JENKINSON | Under 20 | 378 | 8 | 493 |
John WHITEHAND | Over 50 | 377 | 8 | 493 |
Martin DANGER | Open | 376 | 66 | 435 |
Tim HOOKINS | Over 50 | 375 | 9 | 492 |
Euan CAMERON | Over 40 | 374 | 38 | 463 |
Nicholas TUCKER | Open | 373 | 67 | 434 |
Davey BRAND | Under 20 | 372 | 9 | 492 |
Charles BRAND | Over 40 | 371 | 39 | 462 |
Paul MCLAREN | Over 40 | 370 | 40 | 461 |
Jenni-maree BATEMAN | Open Women | 369 | 6 | 495 |
Brodie HOLMES | Open | 368 | 68 | 433 |
James RENNELL | Over 50 | 367 | 10 | 491 |
Narciso ASTONE | Over 40 | 366 | 41 | 460 |
Joel TATE | Open | 365 | 69 | 432 |
Dieter STRAUSS | Open | 364 | 70 | 431 |
Robyn MACDONALD | Over 50 Women | 363 | 1 | 500 |
Hugh TRENWITH | Over 40 | 362 | 42 | 459 |
Evan SHAPLEY | Over 40 | 361 | 43 | 458 |
Stuart TENNANT | Over 40 | 360 | 44 | 457 |
Tom SIMMAT | Over 50 | 359 | 11 | 490 |
Leon CONRADIE | Over 40 | 358 | 45 | 456 |
Mike PRIESTLY | Over 40 | 357 | 46 | 455 |
Liz LANG | Open Women | 356 | 7 | 494 |
Johann BOTHA | Over 40 | 355 | 47 | 454 |
Malcolm PEACOCK | Over 40 | 354 | 48 | 453 |
Dan BOWKER | Open | 353 | 71 | 430 |
Chris ALLEN | Over 40 | 352 | 49 | 452 |
James BACK | Open | 351 | 72 | 429 |
Alan HERBERT | Open | 350 | 73 | 428 |
Mark MATEAR | Open | 349 | 74 | 427 |
Julie CAMMELL | Open Women | 348 | 8 | 493 |
Meghann OLD | Open Women | 347 | 9 | 492 |
Paul RYDE | Over 40 | 346 | 50 | 451 |
Tom WALSH | Over 40 | 345 | 51 | 450 |
Roland BODT | Over 50 | 344 | 12 | 489 |
Tim STOKES | Open | 343 | 75 | 426 |
Ken VIDLER | Over 50 | 342 | 13 | 488 |
Matthew ROOS | Open | 341 | 76 | 425 |
Shane ADAM | Over 40 | 340 | 52 | 449 |
Bruce WILSON | Over 50 | 339 | 14 | 487 |
Bae HOOPER | Open Women | 338 | 10 | 491 |
Di ARNOTT | Open Women | 337 | 11 | 490 |
Name | ISPA CATEGORY | Overall Points | Category Position | Category Points |
---|---|---|---|---|
OPEN WOMEN | ||||
Lauren BARTLETT | Open Women | 454 | 1 | 500 |
Kirsty HOLMES | Open Women | 452 | 2 | 499 |
Ruth HIGHMAN | Open Women | 427 | 3 | 498 |
Jane HUMPHRYS | Open Women | 412 | 4 | 497 |
Kylie BROAD | Open Women | 392 | 5 | 496 |
Jenni-maree BATEMAN | Open Women | 369 | 6 | 495 |
Liz LANG | Open Women | 356 | 7 | 494 |
Julie CAMMELL | Open Women | 348 | 8 | 493 |
Meghann OLD | Open Women | 347 | 9 | 492 |
Bae HOOPER | Open Women | 338 | 10 | 491 |
Di ARNOTT | Open Women | 337 | 11 | 490 |
UNDER 20 MEN | ||||
Hayden WHITE | Under 20 | 483 | 1 | 500 |
Brendan RICE | Under 20 | 475 | 2 | 499 |
David GRAHAM | Under 20 | 472 | 3 | 498 |
Todd BREVER | Under 20 | 450 | 4 | 497 |
Bradley Taylor | Under 20 | 440 | 5 | 496 |
Jean-pierre SCHAILLEE | Under 20 | 419 | 6 | 495 |
Brendan SIMCOCK | Under 20 | 418 | 7 | 494 |
Mitchell JENKINSON | Under 20 | 378 | 8 | 493 |
Davey BRAND | Under 20 | 372 | 9 | 492 |
OVER 40 MEN | ||||
Dean GARDINER | Over 40 | 491 | 1 | 500 |
Dave KISSANE | Over 40 | 487 | 2 | 499 |
Dean BEAMENT | Over 40 | 481 | 3 | 498 |
Malcolm HALL | Over 40 | 478 | 4 | 497 |
Nicholas TAYLOR | Over 40 | 476 | 5 | 496 |
Robert BARRY | Over 40 | 473 | 6 | 495 |
Ian TIMBRELL | Over 40 | 466 | 7 | 494 |
Stephen PERRY | Over 40 | 465 | 8 | 493 |
James MANGOLD | Over 40 | 461 | 9 | 492 |
Gary BUTLION | Over 40 | 460 | 10 | 491 |
Rob JENKINSON | Over 40 | 459 | 11 | 490 |
Dean MORGAN | Over 40 | 456 | 12 | 489 |
Mark STEWART | Over 40 | 441 | 13 | 488 |
Lindsay WILAND | Over 40 | 438 | 14 | 487 |
Walter CHALUPSKY | Over 40 | 436 | 15 | 486 |
Peter OHIGGINS | Over 40 | 434 | 16 | 485 |
Kelvin SHORTTE | Over 40 | 432 | 17 | 484 |
Kevin WHITE | Over 40 | 431 | 18 | 483 |
Neil O'LEARY | Over 40 | 426 | 19 | 482 |
Angus SPROTT | Over 40 | 425 | 20 | 481 |
Mark NATHAN | Over 40 | 424 | 21 | 480 |
Robert DOHERTY | Over 40 | 423 | 22 | 479 |
Cam MIDDLETON | Over 40 | 421 | 23 | 478 |
Richard EADIE | Over 40 | 420 | 24 | 477 |
Paul SMITH | Over 40 | 417 | 25 | 476 |
Ian KININMONTH | Over 40 | 416 | 26 | 475 |
Steve Ford | Over 40 | 411 | 27 | 474 |
Dave WALTER | Over 40 | 410 | 28 | 473 |
John SULLIVAN | Over 40 | 409 | 29 | 472 |
Darryl LONG | Over 40 | 407 | 30 | 471 |
Kim BINGHAM | Over 40 | 404 | 31 | 470 |
Andrew PETERSON | Over 40 | 402 | 32 | 469 |
Martin GUNDA | Over 40 | 401 | 33 | 468 |
Peter FARMER | Over 40 | 400 | 34 | 467 |
Craig THRUM | Over 40 | 395 | 35 | 466 |
Craig SANDS | Over 40 | 387 | 36 | 465 |
Wade KELLY | Over 40 | 382 | 37 | 464 |
Euan CAMERON | Over 40 | 374 | 38 | 463 |
Charles BRAND | Over 40 | 371 | 39 | 462 |
Paul MCLAREN | Over 40 | 370 | 40 | 461 |
Narciso ASTONE | Over 40 | 366 | 41 | 460 |
Hugh TRENWITH | Over 40 | 362 | 42 | 459 |
Evan SHAPLEY | Over 40 | 361 | 43 | 458 |
Stuart TENNANT | Over 40 | 360 | 44 | 457 |
Leon CONRADIE | Over 40 | 358 | 45 | 456 |
Mike PRIESTLY | Over 40 | 357 | 46 | 455 |
Johann BOTHA | Over 40 | 355 | 47 | 454 |
Malcolm PEACOCK | Over 40 | 354 | 48 | 453 |
Chris ALLEN | Over 40 | 352 | 49 | 452 |
Paul RYDE | Over 40 | 346 | 50 | 451 |
Tom WALSH | Over 40 | 345 | 51 | 450 |
Shane ADAM | Over 40 | 340 | 52 | 449 |
OVER 40 WOMEN | ||||
Julie JENKINSON | Over 40 Women | 399 | 1 | 500 |
OVER 50 MEN | ||||
Shaun RICE | Over 50 | 457 | 1 | 500 |
Gary DAVID | Over 50 | 455 | 2 | 499 |
Dean GILMOUR | Over 50 | 405 | 3 | 498 |
Damien KELLY | Over 50 | 396 | 4 | 497 |
Robbie STEWART | over 50 | 391 | 5 | 496 |
Geoff DEWS | Over 50 | 386 | 6 | 495 |
Murray JACOBS | Over 50 | 381 | 7 | 494 |
John WHITEHAND | Over 50 | 377 | 8 | 493 |
Tim HOOKINS | Over 50 | 375 | 9 | 492 |
James RENNELL | Over 50 | 367 | 10 | 491 |
Tom SIMMAT | Over 50 | 359 | 11 | 490 |
Roland BODT | Over 50 | 344 | 12 | 489 |
Ken VIDLER | Over 50 | 342 | 13 | 488 |
Bruce WILSON | Over 50 | 339 | 14 | 487 |
OVER 50 WOMEN | ||||
Robyn MACDONALD | Over 50 Women | 363 | 1 | 500 |