Latest Surfski News

Tuesday, 17 October 2023 07:11
“What the bloody hell are you doing here?” I thought to myself a few moments after launching on the brand new V10 4G for the first time. It was getting dark; it was raining; the squalls were lifting sheets of spray off the water… directly offshore. What WAS I thinking? The answer is that I’m a sucker for new toys – and if I get my hands on one, I HAVE to play with it. Damn the weather, full speed ahead… Since then I’ve paddled the boat many more times, in much pleasanter weather. Here’s what I think of this,…
Thursday, 08 June 2023 12:42
East London, South Africa: Angus Warren watched helplessly as the shark’s teeth crunched through the hull of his surfski. “It seemed to go on and on,” he says, “pushing and chomping. I was thinking, why is it not working out that it isn’t food? “I can’t tell how long it took, but I had enough time to shout a couple of times to the others.” The next thing he knew, he was in the water…
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Thursday, 27 April 2023 18:42
CAPE TOWN - Hank McGregor and Josh Fenn convincingly claimed back their Prescient Freedom Paddle title on Thursday in a dramatic race marked by tough conditions and a rain-delayed start.  Conditions were extremely tough - a brisk northwester blowing spray from the big confused chop into the paddlers' faces as they headed out to the island.  Huge breaking surf on the far side of the island ensured a wide line but the wind dropped as the fleet started on the journey back to the finish, making it that much more difficult and energy sapping to catch the runs.  
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Tuesday, 25 April 2023 11:50
Last Friday, however, I paddled with Dawid on a windless autumn evening in Cape Town. Cruising from Fish Hoek to Muizenberg, we paddled together, stopping at all the coves to surf a few waves. In short, the operative word was "fun". This was a different Dawid - off duty - and, well, I've never paddled with anyone so noisy before. Whistling, singing, shouting to folks on shore - yahooing as he caught a wave. Heading home at dusk we crept up behind a group of seals lazing on the surface. Dawid began barking like a five-year-old paid by the bark...until…
Thursday, 09 February 2023 07:39
A look back - aaaaargh! A mountain. Let it go through... A smaller one, with a glimpse of something massive lurking further out to sea. Catch it, catch it! Sprint, sprint, you’re on it, here’s the break zone, keep going, keep going, the roar from behind and the sudden acceleration as a massive foamy caught up to me, keep it straight, keep it straight... Phew. Arrived. Panting. Stop the watch. ok. Made it. Empty the boat, pick it up to prevent it knocking you down. Done.
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Saturday, 26 November 2022 17:16
The South Africans cleaned up today at the most prestigious surfski race in Australia – arguably the most prestigious race in the world - taking five out of the top six places and the entire podium at the Shaw and Partners “The Doctor” in Perth. Defending women’s champion, Kiwi Danielle McKenzie won the women’s trophy.
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Saturday, 19 November 2022 13:01
Gold Coast paddler, Cory Hill, took first scalp in the five-event ocean ski racing series, the Shaw and Partners WA Race Week, winning the inaugural race today, the 24km Fenn West Coast Downwinder from Fremantle, just south of Perth, to Sorrento Beach. In fine conditions with a 16 knot SSW wind courtesy of the famed Fremantle Doctor, the start off Port Beach was intense with the top paddlers in a terse battle to make the first break.   But it was 33-year-old Hill – the 4-times DOCTOR champ who relishes the Perth conditions – who was able to shake the field…
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Tuesday, 16 March 2021 13:54
It’s not easy to catch a rolling, runaway single ski in 30kt of gusting wind – and as they attempted to grab it, Alex and his doubles partner lost their balance and fell into the water. By the time they’d remounted, the single ski was gone – blown away by the strengthening near-gale. They turned and paddled back upwind to find their buddy.
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Wednesday, 03 March 2021 12:08
Accident reports are easy to write when the story ends happily, but this one didn’t and it’s with a very heavy heart that I’m writing this, with a view to learning what we can from it.
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Wednesday, 15 July 2020 09:13
When the NSRI found Duncan MacDonald, he was approximately 6km off Smitswinkel Bay, drifting rapidly further offshore. Gale-force squalls whipped sheets of spray off the waves, reducing visibility almost to nothing. What Happened? Given the small size of the surfski community, there’s always intense interest whenever there’s a rescue. What happened? What did they do wrong? What can we learn from it? Clearly there are lessons to be learnt from any mishap – so here’s a description of what happened, shared with the permission and cooperation of the folks involved in the hope that we might all learn from this…
Friday, 24 April 2020 11:41
Durban – As the continued coronavirus lockdown grips the country, Canoeing South Africa will host a 24 hour Canoeing4COVID-19 event this weekend as a way to raise funds for members of the broader paddling community that have been badly affected by the lockdown.
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Wednesday, 11 March 2020 14:35
“Hey, Rob! Help!” The shouts penetrated the sound of the howling wind and crashing waves – and even through the noise it was obvious from the tone of his voice that something was seriously wrong. I turned and headed back upwind.
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Tuesday, 03 March 2020 14:43
Many paddlers use Personal Locator Beacons, or tracker apps like SafeTrx on their mobile phones. But handheld VHF radios are also a great choice to consider – especially when they’re DSC-capable like the Standard Horizon HX870E.
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Monday, 24 February 2020 12:01
I finally got my hands on a demo Fennix Swordfish S this weekend and did two Miller's Runs in succession to see if I could feel any difference in handling between the 2018 Swordfish S and the new Fennix model.  Conditions were challenging: False Bay was covered in whitecaps, whipped by a combination of a 25-30kt southeaster and small, confused seas.  The result?  I definitely want to spend more time in this boat.
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Thursday, 26 December 2019 10:30
The shark smashed like a freight train into Roger Swinney’s surfski in an explosion of noise and spray, knocking him off into the water.  “I managed to get back on the ski,” he said, “but I fell off again and as I remounted the second time, I saw the swirl and tips of the shark’s fins. “I didn’t see it clearly, but from the force of it and the movement in the water, it looked big!”
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Cool Kit - Paddling Gear Inventory

Sunday, 01 June 2008 11:43 | Written by 
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I just reorganized my collection of paddling gear - here's a list of what I use...  Some of it's really cool stuff - some of it's just practical.  What do you use?

Rob's paddling gear 2008
Rob's Paddling Gear (Pic: Rob Mousley)

Clothes

Paddle Me paddling shorts: they're cool because they're the only pants I've found that are made without a seam that runs up between the legs - this makes it less likely that they'll chafe my coccyx, a problem that I struggle with (www.paddleme.com).

Huki hi-vis shirt: apart from their being made out of wicking material, I like these shirts because they're made from a high-visibility neon orange - I like being visible out on the water and from experience I know that bright clothing makes it easier for people on other boats to see me.  (http://www.huki.com/)

Vibram 5 Fingers
The coolest sports shoes on the planet: Vibram 5 Fingers
Vibram 5 fingers: These are the coolest booties I've ever come across - and they featured in Time magazine's list of "Best Inventions of 2007".  They combine the health benefits of going barefoot with the protection and grip of a sturdy but thin sole.  My favorite downwind run here in Cape Town, starts on a concrete ramp at Millers Point, the bottom of which is infested with sea urchins.  I once spent two hours carving 15 spines out of my feet after a run that started at low tide.  The 5 fingers booties protect my feet, yet don't get in the way in the ski's cockpit. 

They come in various shapes and sizes - these are the "Flow" style.  See http://www.vibramfivefingers.co.za/ for more information.

Hat: My favorite cap was given to me by paddlers.co.za, a shop in Simonstown that specializes in Sea Kayaking.  It's cool because it's comfortable.  It's also made out of waterproof material so it's warmer than a normal cloth cap - but it also has strips of mesh that allow my head to breath...

Windproof waistcoat: I bought this at Dawid Mocke's shop in Fish Hoek (http://www.thepaddlingcentre.com/).  It keeps the wind off my torso and is extremely effective at keeping me warm.  I only use it when the conditions are really cold (which for us means about 10-15C!)

Safety Gear

PFD:  I use the Mocke PFD - designed by Dawid Mocke.  I like it because it's light and comfortable - it doesn't cause you to overheat even in hot weather.  It has a big front pocket for all my gadgets and it has a good camelback juice bladder with bite-valve.

Rob's Comms Gear
Comms gear: Aquapac mobile phone pouch with whistle; Icom M71 Handheld Marine VHF radio
Aquapac Mobile Phone Pouch: These are the best pouches that I've found and I've been using them for years.  However, you need to check them every time you use them and they do eventually wear out.  I popped my old one in Hawaii and my mobile got wet (fortunately with fresh water - I took the battery out and dried the phone with a hair dryer, left it in the sun for the afternoon and it still works.)

The pouch hangs around my neck with the phone tucked away on the inside of my PFD.

Whistle: I keep the whistle on the lanyard of the Aquapac.  In tests we showed that the whistle is very effective at attracting attention - but be aware that the sound carries up to ten times further downwind.  Our tests were carried out in a 25-30kt wind and although we could hear the whistle only about 50m upwind, the sound carried 400-500m downwind.

Handheld VHF: I use an Icom M71 radio.  It's cool because of the features - clever things like dual channel monitoring, etc - but mostly because at 6W transmit power it has more range than most of its competitors.

I keep it tucked away in the front pocket of my PFD. 

We tested in exercises with the NSRI and it is the easiest to use, most effective way of talking to your rescuers. 

Pencil Flare Kit: Also stored in my front pocket.  I've used pencil flares once in anger - when my buddy got into difficulties in Hout Bay a couple of years ago.  The flares were called in to the NSRI by numerous onlookers.

We tested them during an exercise with the NSRI and the helicopter crew said that they were very effective.  The interesting thing was that although each flare only lasts 5sec or so, the smoke trail remained visible for minutes - and was carried intact downwind.

Space Blanket: (Say what?!)  Recommended by the NSRI, we tested a space blanket during our exercise.  One of the guys in the water held it out so that it fluttered in the wind.  The sun glinted off the slivery material and made it much easier for the helicopter to spot the paddler.  It's also useful to wrap around you of course, reducing heat loss and delaying the onset of hypothermia.   And it's so small and light that it takes virtually no space in your pocket.

Epic ankle leash
Epic ankle leash
Ankle Leash: I use an Epic ankle leash which has a handy mini-karabiner clip at the ankle side of the leash which makes it easier to attach or disconnect the leash for example when approaching the surf line.  You want to be firmly secured to your ski when out at sea in a big downwind, but woe betide still being attached if you come off in a big surf break - you could be severely injured. Huki also sell a comfortable ankle leash and they're also available from Ocean Paddle Sports.

No one piece of safety kit is a "silver bullet" by itself - and clearly what you should take depends on the circumstances.  I use almost all of this stuff when I do downwind runs in open water, but it would clearly be overkill for example when doing ins and outs through the surf!

GPS/heart rate monitor: In spite of the fragility of the unit, I still rate the Garmin Forerunner 305 the best combined navigation and training unit on the market.  I hate going for a paddle and finding that I've left it behind.  I use it as a logging device, a training aid and a navigation tool.

Paddle: Last but not least, I've just started using an Epic mid-wing split shaft paddle (http://www.epickayaks.com/).  It's a beautifully made piece of equipment - I really enjoy the lightness of the paddle; and the ability to play with the length and feather angle.  Until I started using it, I had a fixed shaft blade, length 2.14m.  With the tendency of the top paddlers to use short shafts (for example Herman Chalupsky uses a paddle set to 2.10m), it was great to be able to shorten it and try it out.  So far 2.12 seems a very comfortable length and I was complimented on the apparent change in my stroke.  Whether or not that has anything to do with the paddle length is up for debate - but something seems to be going better!

(I haven't yet attached my paddle leash to the new paddle; nor have I yet painted the blades neon pink, Greg forgive me!  But neon pink blades can be seen kilometers away - literally - and that's a fundamental part of my safety plan.)

Gear up for the conditions

My kit has evolved over the last seven years for paddling in Cape waters.  Our water temperature ranges from 8C on the Atlantic side to 20C in False Bay.  The air temperature varies from 30C in summer to 10C in winter.

In Hawaii I wore the race "skins" top and felt that it worked well to keep me (relatively) cool. As long as it was wet, I could feel the breeze cooling me down - and it was effective at protecting me from the sun.  I'd never use it here in Cape Town of course - except in mid-summer.  (And having said that, I still managed to become dehydrated during the course of the race.)

We'd be interested to hear what other people use - both in terms of clothing and safety gear - around the world.