dawid mocke

Here are the 2011 Surfski World Rankings, courtesy of Dean Gardiner and Ocean Paddler who have put it all together...

Message from Dawid Mocke, Paddle for the Planet Ambassador:  Hi there fellow paddling friends!  It’s time to Paddle for the Planet and I need your help.

What is your definition of the phrase: “Life defining moment”? I will let you ponder on that for a while as I retell my experience last Friday morning. I really want to share it because this truly was “life defining”.

“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?”

Cape Town, South Africa: It’s a fact that Cape Town is a windy place and the summer southeaster is often regarded with extreme disfavour by the general populace!  But for the growing number of downwind surfski junkies and any number of kite-boarding enthusiasts, the wind is their very raison d’être.

[Editor: Dawid Mocke is known for going out hard from the start...  and sometimes choosing the wrong line.  Here's the story of his last three big races...]

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Yep, it's official - as from 1 November 2008, Hank McGregor is the latest member of Team Epic...

"I'm really chuffed," said Hank.  "River paddling is half my career and now I have a sponsor that can support me on the sea or on rivers - all over the world."

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Dawid and Nikki Mocke were sitting behind the waves breaking on the point near Kalk Bay Harbor when they noticed onlookers yelling and waving at them.  "We thought it was some of our buddies come to watch," said Dawid, "and it was only when I caught a wave in that I saw two people in the water."

Dawid Mocke catches a giant wave near Kalk Bay (Pic: www.omiphotography.com)

[Editor's dictionary:

jol: [ jawl ] (plural jols) noun  Definition: South Africa social occasion: a party, or a good time (informal)]

Paddling Clinic in Valencia, Spain

[Editor: Dawid is spending some time in Spain as the guest of the Federacion de Piraguismo de Comunidad de Valencia.  He's been giving paddling clinics and will be taking part in a championship race this weekend...  He's been writing to tell us about his trip...]

Upwind Spanish Style! Dawid & host Jonathan Neill