Comments for McGregor wins, Surf smashes paddlers ** photos ** at http://www.surfski.info , comment 0 to 14 out of 14 comments http://www.surfski.info Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:03:28 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/423/147/#pc_936 Well if we go to that race at Winkle I can vouch for all the saftey crew that were there both in the water and on the beach when the race started. I am a fairly experienced paddler and I enjoy the big surf. I was however takeing a fairly inexprecienced paddle out in that race. Just to add it was no bigger than what we have paddled in the past so I was confident about the situation. The rescue inquestion was my doubles partner. I can vouch for everything that went on at that moment. We had been dumped by a masive wave in the shorebreak. As I surfaced I saw my partner about 2 metres away from me getting repeatedly being pounded by the waves. I was trying to get to him as quick as possible to get to the situation under control. By the time the rest of the assitance had got there to help us I was already starting to pull him closer to me with my paddle. Due to fear and shear panic the situation suddenly becomes a lot worse as you are unable to communicate the basics to help people. To put everything into perspective. Yes he was wearing a life jacket, which was secure before we went into the water, I always check it and insist on it most times, by being pounded by the surf it felt like the lifejacket had come off, which caused more panic. I would like to thank all the people who came out to help in that situation. I know my partner greatly appreciated it. Also with so many boats and people all over the place, instinct takes over. I myself went in to help another paddler shortly after I had got my partner to the beach with the help of all the others. - andrewa Tue, 12 Jun 2007 15:04:16 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/423/147/#pc_935 FIRSTLY I AM THE PADDLER THAT NEEDED SAVING. THANKS TO ALL THOSE THAT DID HELP ME INCLUDING LIFE SAVERS.I AM SORRY IT HAS CAUSED SO MUCH TROUBLE. I WAS WEARING A PFD FROM TRIPPER WITH FOAM WITH A DRINKING SYSTEM OF 3L I HAD 1 L OF WATER AND HAD BLOWN UP THE BALANCE AS EXTRA FOR THE START.I ENTERED AS A DOUBLE FOR SHORT COURSE DUE TO THE FACT I AM A NOVICE. WE COME 3RD IN THE GRADING RACE. MY PARTNER WAS A LIFE GUARD AND SEASONED PADDLER. I TOOK A CALCULATED CHANCE THAT DAY BECAUSE HOW DO YOU GROW AND BECOME EXPERINCED BUT BY TRIAL AND ERROR, IN THIS CASE I GUESS I OVER STEPPED THE MARK. I AM DETERMINED TO TRAIN HARDER AND BECOME BETTER. I HAVE PADDLED IN BIGGER SURF BUT NEVER SWAM. MY SKI IS BROKEN AND WITH IT MY SEASON HAS SADLY ENDED.I HAVE NO COMPLAINTS WITH THE BILLY AND HIS TEAM AND HOPE MY INCIDENT DOES NOT EFFECT FUTURE RACES. ITS A GREAT SPORT AND FANTASTIC SET UP, I GUESS I WILL STAY ON THE BEACH AND TRAIN HARDER AND HOPEFULLY WILL NOT NEED THE FANTASTIC SERVICES OF OTHER PADDLERS AGAIN. THANKS AGAIN TO THE PFD AND ALL THOSE WHO HELPED. PS. ARE THERE ANY PADDLING / SWIMMING SCHOOLS OUT TO TEACH ME HOW TO SWIM BIG SURF. - THE ONE THAT WAS SAVED Tue, 12 Jun 2007 14:53:22 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/423/147/#pc_923 Hi Rob, You have a great site when it sticks to topics like this. To say it is luck to get through the surf is a massive statement. Luck is when PREPERATION MEETS OPPORTUNITY. When there is a break in the surf you still have to be good enough to take the opportunity when it arrises. And the same coming in, when you catch a wave you have to have SKILL to hold it. You say professional paddlers want to take the luck factor out so the race comes down to skill, I dont see them holding up Molokia until theres a 40 knot tail wind! Like I say you have to take the conditions as they are. Theres not going to be surf at every race. If you want to have ideal conditions for sport then take up Lawn Bowls, next you will be saying you cant race until its 25 degrees because its too cold! Some people out there need to have a spoonful of cement powder and HARDEN THE F!*K UP! And as for people not showing up because of the chance of waves is again a massive statement. I would say this is what attracts people to the sport, the chance to pit yourself against the elememts as well as your fellow competitors. One final thing. Races are won by what you do Monday to Friday, not so much on raceday. remember the 6 P's, PRIOR PREPARATION PREVENTS PISS POOR PERFOMANCE! If I have offended anyone by my comments, I apoligise. Feel free to have a cry. Now I have the hang of this comments thing, you may from hear me again. Cheers H. - Horatio Sat, 09 Jun 2007 02:07:46 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/423/147/#pc_922 This is a highly debatable topic. >> do not have any business being 3km offshore in swell. I disagree! I'm hopeless in surf but I go out almost every day in summer in big waves & 30-40kts of wind. >> Stay on the beach...get stronger in smaller surf That's a great idea in Durban. But in many places in the world, you just don't get surf in which to play and acquire the skills. >> I think we are in danger of softening it to much with foc rides to the back line. The problem is that unless we provide an alternative route to the back line, many overseas competitors just won't come. Why should they pay big bucks to fly here only to be trashed on the way out before the race even begins. >> anybody on his day can 'luck' a surf break If I was a professional paddler, I'd be really irritated that luck should play such a part in the race. Paddling is about skill, and as you say, going through surf takes much of the skill away and replaces it with luck. I know some of the top paddlers would prefer ALL races to take place behind the backline. It's an interesting issue you've raised though - we should debate what the sport is. For me it's long distance ocean racing and surf is a not a factor. For guys in Durban, surf is part of the fun. We seldom get to play in surf in Cape Town so we come up there and get pounded. Not fun! "Toughness" has various forms; I agree you've got to be tough to go out through Durban surf, but you've also got to be tough to go out in big waves & wind in our cold water in Cape Town. - Rob Mousley Fri, 08 Jun 2007 11:12:11 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/423/147/#pc_921 Is not the surf line - part of the sport. Take it out - and it becomes rough water K1. The best part of the sport is that anybody on his day can 'luck' a surf break - and get a lead on a champ like Dawid / Oscar. They will catch you - but for those 10 min you are the man. Same coming in...the race is not won until you are up the beach. I think we are in danger of softening it to much with foc rides to the back line. I do not want to make light of the conditions in the Durban race last week or the guy who go into trouble (glad he was wize enough to wear a vest) - but this is a tough sport - and guys with out enough experiece to get through the surf line....and sort it out once it go's wrong (which it will) do not have any business being 3km offshore in swell. Stay on the beach...get stronger in smaller surf (like everbody else has done to start) and then go out in the big blue. We want the sport to grow..but not at the expense of it's surf lifesaving roots - and that means surf. - GD Fri, 08 Jun 2007 10:23:42 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/423/147/#pc_920 good one Dawid...all the way to durb's for a race and end up doing a bit of lifesaving!! - southsea Thu, 07 Jun 2007 12:04:36 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/423/147/#pc_919 There were 6 lifeguards in attendance with two rubber ducks beyond the break. It's worth noting that for the SA World Cup, they're making special arrangements for out-of-towners (like me) who aren't used to that kind of surf. The start will be behind the backline with lots of time to get out. Also they will have "ski-jockeys" in attendance to take skis out for competitors who will then be taken out on jetskis. See www.surfskiworldcup.com for more. - Rob Mousley Thu, 07 Jun 2007 08:41:11 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/423/147/#pc_918 Thanks for providing the other details Dawid. Article didn't mention the lifeguards rescuing too. Glad my Mocke Jacket PFD just arrived from South Africa. Thanks to Linda and Karen of Quiver outdoor for accommodating my overseas request. It was a challenge to get it here reasonably priced ; ) I'll be wearing it every time I paddle now. It lessens the odds of having something unfortunate happen. - MFB Thu, 07 Jun 2007 04:28:29 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/423/147/#pc_913 Hey, yes.. big of Dawid and Clint to give up on their race to do that, hats off. I can't help noticing from the pictures on surfski web sites from DMHealth races that hardly any of the Durban competitors use PFD's (lifejackets in oldspeak) do they have a different set rules there I wonder? Although not wanting to start a nefarious debate here but this is quite telling... - GraemeT Wed, 06 Jun 2007 13:21:59 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/423/147/#pc_912 For our international readers - the lifeguards being "paraat" means that they were alert/on the ball! - Rob Mousley Wed, 06 Jun 2007 12:26:27 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/423/147/#pc_911 "Was he wearing a life vest? What safety measures are in place for races like this?" Hi MFB, I would just like everyone to know that this guy WAS wearing a PFD, and in fact, if it wasn't for that he would definitely have gone under! By the time we got to him he was totally exhausted from getting dumped in the break. I would also like to add that it wasn't only me and clint who rushed to to the rescue, although Clint was the first to get there. There were a number of other paddlers and also the lifeguards on duty who were very paraat. Regards - DawidM Wed, 06 Jun 2007 11:52:31 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/423/147/#pc_910 Dawid and Clint are heroes! I wonder where the rescue crew of the organizers were when this happened. If Dawid and Clint didn't see him, it would have been a different story. Was he wearing a life vest? What safety measures are in place for races like this? - MFB Wed, 06 Jun 2007 09:38:45 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/423/147/#pc_909 Hats off to Dawid and Clint for sacrificing their race in the interests of a fellow paddler's safety. - Brian Kernick Tue, 05 Jun 2007 19:17:49 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/423/147/#pc_898 Go Campbell go. Next ones yours. Love from Dick Alaska - richard Tue, 05 Jun 2007 06:58:07 +0100