European Round-up

European Surfski

It’s all happening in Europe – races in Spain, Portugal, Italy and the Netherlands; Malta receives a shipment of skis; Nelo launches a range of skis.  Here’s a round-up of some of the news from Europe…

EuroChallenge 2010

Just a reminder that 1 May, 2010 sees the next ISPA World Series race happening in Villa Joyosa, Alicante, Spain.  

Entries so far include:

• last year's winner, Matt Bouman (SA)
• Dawid Mocke (SA)
• Hank McGregor (SA)
• Michele Eray (SA) and Nikki Mocke (SA) - interesting women's race already!
• Adam McKane (Aus)
• Hayden Smith (Aus)
• Daniel Sanchez Vilora (Spain) (fresh from a three week training camp in South Africa)
• and paddlers from the UK, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Dubai and Sweden... best get signed up and book your ski!

The website is atwww.eurochallenge.es.

Busto paddling the new Nelo 

Nelo

In case anyone hasn’t noticed, there’s an elephant in the room!

Nelo officially launched their range of surfskis into the global market at the beginning of this year.  A handful of the brightly colored skis was seen in Dubai in December 2009, where they were used mostly by Nelo’s sponsored K1 and marathon paddlers.

Ski paddler on the team

“What they really need,” we all said, “is one of the top ski paddlers on their team.”

Tim Jacobs just competed in the Sydney Harbour Bridge to Beach race… in a Nelo ski.  He came third.  TJ was reticent when I spoke to him last week, only confirming that he was not currently contracted to any sponsor.  Will he be signing up with Nelo?  Watch this space!

Nelo Race

Nelo also announced a weekend of racing in Vila do Conde, Portugal on 27/28 August, 2010.  On the Saturday there will be a 10km downwind sprint, with a Le Mans style start and a beach sprint at the finish.  “It’s the best and safest downwind paddle you can do here,” said Andre Santos of Nelo.  “It will also become our image a short, fast and emotive race versus a long boring 2 hour paddle, plan is that top 20 arrive within 2 minutes!”

On Sunday, there’s a knock-out surf tournament: paddlers using identical Nelo surf lifesaving skis will paddle an 800m round the can course out and back through the surf.

Total prize money on offer for the weekend is currently US$45,000 but Santos intimated that they’re hoping for more.

The website is at http://summerchallenge.nelo.eu

Year round Surfski on the Algarve Coast - the DK Training Centre

DK Training Centre and the Portuguese Race of Champions

Situated in the Algarve, on the Mediterranean Coast in the south of Portugal, the newly opened DK Training Centre offers the “best year-round weather in Europe,” according to Rui Aguiar.

The centre caters for both surfski and flat water paddlers and will be the host venue for the Portuguese Race of Champions event on the weekend of 5 September, 2010.

The centre will be holding regular training camps – packages are reasonably priced and include accommodation, all meals and ski hire.

Check out their website here: www.dktrainingcenter.com.

Ohana Mana Cup – Sardinia, Italy

The second Ohana Mana Cup takes place on September 25, 2010 in Villasimius, Sardinia.

The 20km race takes place on Saturday; a social paddle and clinics are available on the Sunday.

Skis (Fenn, Epic, Honcho) can be rented – contact the race organizers at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

The course has it all - rough water, downwind, upwind - and stunning scenery

For more info on the Ohana Mana event:

Website: www.kaunateam.it

On facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ohana-Mana-Cup/353978683609

Tulipaddle Challenge – The Netherlands

The Tulipaddle Team (TTT) is happy to inform you that we will organize a second edition of the Tulipadle Challenge Saturday 17th of April 2010 at Oosterduinse Meer (Noordwijkerhout - The Netherlands) regarding the great feedback we had last year from competitors from Holland, Germany, Belgium and France.

The Tulip Challenge runs among several channels of South-Holland during the flowering period. This challenge is as well for fit beginners as experienced watermen using a SUP (Stand-Up Paddle) or a paddle board (PB) or a surf ski (SS1 or SS2) or an outrigger (OC1 or OC2).

The aims of this challenge are:

• to offer a nice course in a beautiful and unusual environment for watermen;
• to allow people to discover Holland under an other aspect;
• to discover the legendary and amazing colored tulip fields;
• to provide people to taste a middle-distance waterman race in a safe frame;
• to promote water sports in the Netherlands.
• to have a funny and friendly race.

I invite you to have a look at the website of the Challenge (www.tulipaddle.nl).

We are available to provide you for any further details.

Many thanks for your attention.

Best regards,

The Tulipaddle Team - TTT

Please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Malta joins the ranks of the surfski nations!

Thanks to the generosity of members of the Dubai Surfski and Kayak Club, the sport of surfski has arrived in Malta.

The fledgling Malta Canoe Racing Club took delivery of six surfskis donated by DSKC members – and they’re hoping to get to the next Dubai Shamaal.

“Last Saturday we took them out for a spin and we paddled for 28km in 1.5m swells…,” said Chris Camilleri, president of the Malta canoe racing club.  “Not bad I guess for people who are stuck training in a 600m long marina!

“We have big plans to become part of the international circuit in surf ski racing…”

Welcome to the absolute best paddling discipline, guys!

The Malta Canoe Racing Club’s blog is at http://maltacanoeracingclub.blog.com.mt/