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Hi ,
Surf ski paddling is alive and well in South Africa, but especially in the Western Cape.
The much heralded Cape raiding party, to the Fenn SA surfski championships, did not disappoint. They may have missed the main scalp on both days, but otherwise went home with a bucket load of medals. Seven out of the top 10 in the men's race.
If the KZN team adopted the maxim of "first is first and second is nothing" then they too will be strutting around with their chests puffed out. Both Hank and Michelle managing to pull off the illusive double, by winning both the S1 and S2 on consecutive days.
All in all, a fantastic weekend of proper surfski racing.
Even the elements lined up in our favour.
From a preview of the weather forecast, paddlers were preparing themselves for 2 days of dam like conditions.
Instead, we had superb downwind conditions on Saturday and a useable bump on Sunday.
Each age group was impressively contested and medal winners appreciated that they had achieved something.
It was exceptionally encouraging to see the number and quality of junior field.
The organising committee, led by the shy and introverted Dave Harker, did a superb job under testing circumstances.
Here are links to the full list of the SA S1 and SAS2 results.
The selectors have almost completed the job of choosing a national team to compete in the ICF Ocean Racing World Championships in Lanzarote (Spain) in July.
The team should be announced later today, or tomorrow.
Surfski paddlers will not be hanging their paddles up though, as a new winter series starts in KZN this very weekend.
The main surfski focus this month will, however, be on the Freedom Paddle which takes place on the 27th.
This race gives paddlers the opportunity of paddling around Robben Island, on Freedom Day, and has attracted paddlers from around the country, and a few internationals as well.
Weather and sea conditions have the potential to be a challenge. Let's hope that the organisers receive the same blessings as the SA champs ones did.
For most of the provinces, the river paddling season is drawing to a close.
The boys and girls on the other side of Sir Lowrey's are, however, just getting started. The organisers of the Berg River Canoe Marathon have launched themselves out of the starting blocks. Despite Covid, the event promises to be a memorable one.
This year will commemorate the 60th running of this iconic race from Paarl to Veldrift, from the 7th to the 10th of July.
Paddlers from all provinces will be forming raiding parties of their own to ensure a cross border migration of medals and titles.
270 odd kms over 4 days in a Cape winter is no walk in the park. It is hard core.
It gives you a massive base for your next season.
It is Gauteng's turn to host the SA K1 river championships. They proposed the Lowveld Croc, which is the best river race in the world. However, the CSA marathon committee had to reconsider due to the remote chance of a hippo sticking its head up.
Their next best alternative was selected, being the Liebenbergsvlei marathon on 11 - 12 September. This race is always superbly organised and is run down a stretch of river that is user friendly and supplied with a guaranteed flow of clean water. Bang it onto your calendar.
CSA has entered into an exciting partnership with SIS, the supplier of a range of supplements that are regularly tested for any performance enhancing additives.
We have negotiated an extremely attractive deal for our elite athletes. The rest of the rats and mice, like us, have also been included in the deal.
If you use the code reflected below, you will receive a 15% discount when purchasing their products online.
Judging by a number of our performances over the weekend, some supplements might just be what is required. |
