Comments for Blistering Opener for Cape Discovery Men’s Health Series (** now with video) at http://www.surfski.info , comment 0 to 6 out of 6 comments http://www.surfski.info Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:47:59 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/537/147/#pc_1590 Yep, the PFD rule now applies to all races in South Africa held under the auspices of the National Surf Ski Committee/Canoeing South Africa. - Rob Mousley Thu, 18 Oct 2007 17:40:52 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/537/147/#pc_1589 Rob, do you guys have new safety rules? I noticed everyone in pfd's. - Dave R Thu, 18 Oct 2007 17:06:47 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/537/147/#pc_1588 Yes, Hank is now sponsored by Fenn Kayaks, along with Dawid Mocke and Lewis Laughlin. This will add spice to the Dubai Shamaal where a number of the other top paddlers will be driving V10s... - Rob Mousley Thu, 18 Oct 2007 16:09:05 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/537/147/#pc_1587 On the picture, Hank is paddling with a Fenn mako 6 and a ? paddle. But this year he had a V10L and a Epic paddle. Does he now paddling for Fenn kayaks ? - Guillaume Morin Thu, 18 Oct 2007 15:33:05 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/537/147/#pc_1584 The grading system does two things - it splits a large field up into batches for easier control of starts eg from now on the Elite, A & B paddlers will start together; the C paddlers 5 minutes later, the D&E paddlers after that. Sometimes for safety reasons they do a reverse batched start eg for the Cape Point Challenge in order to get the bulk of the field more or less together at the most tricky part of the course. Perhaps more importantly for the paddlers, the grading system gives you a measure of your performance relative to your peers and to the top paddlers. There are also prizes for the winners of each grade at the races - so it offers a way to share out the loot instead of giving it all to the same faces every race! The way the percentage is worked out is: (1 - (your time - winning time)/(winning time)) x 100% So - the winning time on Sunday was 58:31 or 3511 seconds. My time was 1:10:56 = 4256 seconds. So my percentage was (1-(4256-3511)/3511)x100 = 78.78% Then the grades are worked out as follows (for single skis): Elite 95% A: 90%-95% B: 80%-90% C: 70%-80% D: 60%-70% E: 50%-60% F: 40%-50% So at 78.78% I'm now C-grade. If I get two B-grade times in subsequent races, I'll be promoted. If I get two consecutive lesser grade times, I'll be demoted by one grade (happened to me last year :() Why "new grading rules"? At the end of last season, Billy decided that the B-grade was too easy to acquire and upped the required percentage for all grades by 5%! Aaaargh! For more on the series rules, check out www.surfski.co.za - Rob Mousley Thu, 18 Oct 2007 10:03:00 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/537/147/#pc_1583 Hi Rob, thanks for another great article. Could you please explain the "new grading rules"? It is not something we have here, but it sounds like an excellent system to promote and develop racing.... - Mulletman Thu, 18 Oct 2007 09:31:42 +0100