For 10 years, the US Surfski Championships has been held in the spectacularly windy waters of San Francisco Bay. From the very first event, it was clear to anyone that followed surfski paddling that was world-class venue, with all the ingredients necessary to entice international competitors and local aficionados alike.

The US Surfski Tour kicks off this weekend in New York City on August 14 with a classic tussle as two of Australia’s finest ski paddlers bang boats with two of South Africa’s finest over a 45km course that frames one big-ass chunk of rock...

San Francisco, California 22 August 2009: "The coldest winter I ever spent was summer in San Francisco" - attributed (incorrectly!) to Mark Twain.

Pic: Roger Dunn

Yesterday afternoon I paddled on the course of the US Surfski Champs from the start at Fort Baker, out as far as Pt. Diablo and back to the race finish at Berkeley Marina.  We hit the wildest currents I've ever seen.

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The U.S. Surfski Championships are set for August 22 & 23. This year's venue includes a new course that will be 80% downwind. This newly designed course will take paddlers out the Golden Gate and around the infamous Point Bonita Buoy where the course then turns downwind for a 13 mile run to Berkeley. The run from Point Bonita to Berkeley is one of the best downwinds in Northern California.

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