WINTER SERIES RACE 5,6 & 7 – These three races in Durban, Winklespruit and Scottburgh respectively, all involve negotiating the surf zone, a few times during the race.

I find that the change of pace, the odd portage using your legs, and the acceleration required, works in the favor of the younger paddlers, and after each of the surf turns I seem to have lost some ground against the paddlers that I am immediately competing with. I usually have to work my way back chasing them down. It has been good for my mind though in the knowledge that in the longer open ocean races I am going to have an edge.

I have been consistent though, finishing in the top 10 in the last three races. This means that I have probably consolidated first place in the masters division and will possibly finish in the top 10 overall in the series, having now done seven of the races. This was a goal I set myself before the start of the series.

 Using my GPS during these events has helped me to gauge my consistency and determine that I can manage an average speed of about 12.5km per hour in relatively flat conditions in a race of about 1 -1.5 hours. The next step is to now shift the goal posts completely for the 46km Scottburgh to Brighton Marathon which is the final event of the season. On flat conditions you have to base your preparation on paddling for 4 hours. As the Dusi Canoe Marathon is to Canoeing, and the Comrade’s marathon is to local running in this region, the  Scottburgh to Brighton is a major event on the South African Surfski Calendar. It attracts a large field from throughout South Africa and is definitely one of the premier events. The major category for the race alternates each year, and this year double ski is the feature section, with all the prizes going to the double ski category winners.

 The remaining three races in the Winter Series gears one towards the Scottburgh to Brighton distance, with the first one this weekend being the Pirates to Umhlanga to Pirates race. This, the oldest ski race in S.A., is always unpredictable and tough. The surf at Battery Beach is notorious and the wind for the out and back course is very seldom favorable. We expect the field for the double ski division to start increasing in quality as pairings start to develop towards the Scottburgh to Brighton.

 I will probably have to wait one more week to get a chance to race the new look APEX double ski. We have made a number of significant changes to the ski to make it more competitive. We are in the process of finishing the mold, so I will miss my target of being able to race the new boat this weekend myself. Next week will do. “Watch this space for pictures and more info on the new ski”.

WHALE SHARK – GREAT PICTURES – Sharon Armstrong, a very enthusiastic lady paddler and a good customer of ours was paddling off our North coast at Sodwana Bay, a well known diving venue, and took some pictures from her surfski of a whale shark that passed underneath her surfski. Although they are totally harmless, I still admire her ability to be able to stop and take photographs while paddling a racing surfski. (See attached pictures)

See you on the start line

MARK