Rob Mousley

We're considering starting a column on the site called, "The Adventures of Oscar the Paddler"...  Yep, he's at it again.  Oscar Chalupsky is on a European tour to visit the Epic dealers (and to create new ones).  Last seen in Wales, he's re-surfaced (briefly) in Sweden where he joined the local "Dawn Patrol" in a warm (0-2degrees Centigrade) paddle with some of the best Adventure Racers in the world.

Oscar sets off with the dawn patrol in Norkopping, Sweden.

Gale Force?  Interest has been expressed in some quarters as to just how strong the wind was last Wednesday when the Downwind Dash records were beaten.  Jean Tresfon, sent us the story of what happened at his factory - which is located near to Milnerton and probably experienced the same wind conditions.

Gale force winds at Milnerton, Wed 6th Feb 2008 (Pic: Brett Dorman)

All the top paddlers will tell you that in order to increase your paddling speed, there's nothing like sprint training.  Sometimes, though it's difficult to get motivated - it's hard work after all.

When sprint training really matters...

Looks as though this guy just found the answer to the motivation problem... 

Alain and Rob would like to wish all visitors to Surfski.info a fabulous Christmas and a phenomenal New Year!

Thanks to everyone who has corresponded with us, contributed or just read the articles.  Surfski.info wouldn't exist without you.

Happy paddling!

The Dubai Surfski and Kayak Club (DSKC) is about to host the richest race in the history of paddling: in ten days time, the winner of the Dubai Shamaal will walk away with US$20,000 of the US$50,000 prize pool.

DSKC Evolution!

It appears that Nathan Baggaley and his brother have been arrested again - this time on even more serious drug related charges.  

Nathan Baggaley in happier times

Since 2002, three surf skis have been bitten and severely damaged by Great White Sharks in False Bay, here in Cape Town, South Africa (See Sharks and Skis).  After each incident there has been vigorous debate about how to prevent such interactions between the sharks (who are after all just living in their own environment) and humans.

Fenn Mako6 Shark Shield Special - showing location of the battery pack (Pic: Mike Schilperoort)

Gordon's Bay, Cape Town, South Africa.  Kyle Mahood saw the big 30ft catamaran motor slowly out of the harbor.  "Great," he thought, "they're coming to help."  But to his horror, he saw the big fishing boat rapidly accelerate, heading directly for them and he realized that the skipper hadn't seen them. 

Kyle Mahood & Theo Conradie with the wreckage of Theo's ski (Pic: Theo Conradie)

Nigel Hatton had a dream - to set a new World Record for crossing the English Channel in a Kayak.  Problem was that the current holder of that record, Ian Tordoff, had blown him away in a Sea Kayak race in 2006, so he decided to find someone else to do the job for him.

Ian Wynne starts the crossing (Pic: Nigel Hatton)

Anton Fouche of Durban, South Africa was hurtling down a wave at 25-30kph off Umhlanga when his Fenn Mako6 ski came to an abrupt halt.  The sound of the impact was "really loud" - but what had he hit?

More accurately, the question is what hit him?  "I caught a glimpse of a large dark object & a big splash," he said, "and almost fell out trying to turn to evaluate the damage & whether I was going to sink or not."

Shark Bite Damage to Anton Fouche's Fenn Mako6 Surf Ski (Photo: Ant Fouche)