millers run

While it's impossible to say who's the best surf ski paddler in the world, it's fair to say that the short list would include Oscar Chalupsky and Dawid Mocke. 

[Editor: Paul Mauger sent us this great piece about the origins of the Millers Run - one of the perennial favourite downwind routes here in Cape Town, South Africa.  Paul now lives in Australia and runs the Currumbin Creek Surf Ski series on the East Coast]

There seems to be quite a bit of news and such surrounding the Millers Run at the moment, what with the Garmin Challenge, youngest paddler etc. It occurred to me that some of the more recent paddlers may be wondering who started the whole Millers Run thing. 

The "Millers Run", a downwind route between Millers Point and Fish Hoek in Cape Town can be pretty daunting when the southeaster is up and False Bay is full of breaking waves.

But Duncan Buchanan, a 14 year old visitor from Auckland, New Zealand, was keen to give it a go.

A black southeaster hit Cape Town this weekend and the 30kt wind on Saturday afternoon was perfect for a downwind.  

Two unidentified paddlers were spotted leaving Milnerton beach, clearly for a Milnerton to Big Bay run...  Elsa Lourens took the photos.

...happy, sunny harbinger of fun - the summer southeaster

“Very windy with large seas. Small craft advisory. Large long period swell. Winds: SE 21 to 28 knots Seas: SW 14 feet at 14 sec.”

Interpretation:

“Millers Run calling all surf skis. Awesome run predicted.”

(by Wayne Borchardt)

After weeks of trying to coordinate a downwind paddle, Rob and I eventually manage to align our plans. Miller’s Point to Fishhoek for a classic downwind paddle is on the cards for 1pm.