millers run

Kenny Rice and Stuart MacLaren dominated the Western Cape Double Surfski Championships in False Bay on Sunday, in perfect downwind conditions… Bianca Beavitt and Angie Austin won the Women's title.

Peter Holloway got into surfskis in the late 90s, using a series of hand-me-down boats for playing in the waves...  but around that time Fish Hoek saw a series of encounters between Great White Sharks and surfskis (click here for the details).  "For some reason," says Peter, "I lost interest in paddling for a while and took up cycling instead!"

And it was only 2014 that his yearning to be back on the sea overcame his aversion of big toothy fish.  He bought a Custom Kayaks Horizon from the surfski school and went on to a Think Evo II in which he did his first Miller's Run in 2015.  He now paddles a Fenn Swordfish S and this video was taken as he did his 89th Miller's Run.

#mockemillersrunoftheseason

The Mocke Millers Run Of The Season competition started in November and continues until the end of February; prizes for fastest run, the most runs, the fastest mixed doubles runs and... the best video are all on offer.

Pete's also after the 20-run special edition shirt and is only 4 away from that particular goal.

The day of this video, the SE swell was just begining to swing into False Bay, and Pete took one on the nose as he headed out to Bakoven Rock (which marks the start of the run itself).  It was big and bouncy and enormous fun.

"For me, the Miller's Run is the epitome of surfski paddling," said Peter. "It is a perfect combination of facing your fears and harnessing the power of the wind and waves. The rush of flying down the face of a huge ocean swell at 25 km/h is one that not many sports can compare with... it's also a great way to keep fit!"

Anything under 50min is considered a respectable time and Peter has broken his own record no fewer than 4 times so far during the competition, his current personal best being 47:32, which he achieved on 28 Dec 2017.

Go Pete!

“What would happen,” I thought, “if we put the current surfski world champion onto a double with one of the best downwind paddlers of all time?”

Summer is now in full blast and the early exit of Italy from the World Cup; Valentino Rossi’s injury; Ferrari’s F1 woes and the Berlusconi sexual shenanigans have all been put aside and the Italians are making their way to the beach... and surfskis are being tried out and used more and more often.

Wednesday afternoon and I’m sitting at my desk watching the live data from the weather station on Roman Rock lighthouse.  It’s 15m/s SE (30kt or thereabouts)...  I sneak out of the office early...

[Editor: This is the first of what will become a regular feature; Route Notes that describe a favourite paddle.] For those downwind paddling addicts living in the Southern Suburbs of Cape Town, the Millers Run is the default route in summer when the southeaster blows.  Here are some notes on how and when to do it.

False Bay, Cape Town: February 8, 2008.

[Editor: Murray Williams sent us this account of a classic downwind run across False Bay here in Cape Town...]

The squad at Pringle Bay - 7am (Pic: Dawid Mocke)

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)

I've been fortunate enough to play in some very strong winds recently - and on Saturday I had another chance to experience a downwind paddle in a gale. 

At speed - downwind paddling at its best!

False Bay was covered in breaking 2m waves and the wind, already 30kts, seemed to be strengthening.  But the worst problem was that it was already almost dark.

And as I paddled into Fish Hoek at the end of what should have been a classic downwind run, I was frantic with worry - I was almost certain that one of the group was off his ski, in the water, about ten kilometres back near Millers Point.