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 [Editor: 52kph on a surf ski? Impossible!
Well, Malcolm "Goblin" Stewart has some compelling evidence - and a
hilarious story - to share following the hectic ARB Surf Ski World Cup last
Sunday. Read on...]
Preparation
Sean Temple & I are still recovering
from one helluva doubles ARB World Cup. Our preparation was anything but
intense evidenced by our time and position (2hrs 30 mins, 38th
double). We had done just one race together plus a handful of 40 minute early morning
sessions. And the race we had done was the 12k Lab Series race from Durban's
Dairy beach in flat, calm and windless conditions. It was also done in a
different boat to the one we planned to use for the race.
Race Day: the Green Machine
Our race day boat was an old, but trusty
luminous green Dorado double known to us as the "Green Machine". Since we had
incorporated some in's and out's into our training schedule we reckoned we
could handle anything that Poseidon and the elements could throw at us.
We arrived at Toti on race day with a
false confidence that was only slightly eroded by the howling sou'wester.
Primed for action, we waited keenly for the doubles start. During the 20
minute gap between starts, we noted with increasing trepidation the 4 or 5
singles paddlers that were rescued by the Life Savers. Finally the doubles gun
sounded weakly in the stiff breeze.
 Primed for action - the doubles wait at Toti (Photo: Rob Mousley)
We took off like banshees, easily
handling the rough conditions at the break zone and took a conservative wide
line around the cans to avoid the chaos of the big group.
Surreal Sight #1
After about 10 minutes of cruising we
had our first swim. We hadn't worked out the direction, power or strength of
the swells which were getting bigger and bigger by the second and seemed to
come from both sides. Confidence somewhat shaken we had another 2 swims in the
next 6km. Between our 2nd and 3rd dips we encountered
surreal sight number one. Coming towards us from the east was a double ski,
with one paddler on top and a rather frightened looking paddler clutching the
back sans paddle.
We shouted over to them if they were OK,
got a muted "lost paddle but OK" then continued on. Quite what we would have
done had said they needed help I still don't know. Rougher and rougher seas
greeted us and regular 20km/h boat speeds and the odd 30km/h followed with not
a soul in sight - no helicopter no rescue boats just a wild angry ocean with
white caps everywhere.
Surreal Experience #2
Then surreal experience number two: in
the middle of nowhere after 18km we saw a paddler swimming in the sea, as cool
as ever - no boat no paddle, just a life jacket. We asked if he needed help and
thankfully he said, "No thanks, I'll swim in." "What's your number then?"
Sean shouted. "640-something" and we were gone and he was gone.
That dude was about 1km from the shore
in the angriest sea I have ever been in and yet he acted as if he was going for
a Sunday afternoon swim in his 10ft bloody millpond! "How hardcore are
paddlers?!" I wondered anxiously, clutching my paddle white knuckle hard and
teeth clenched. At exactly 20km Sean
shouted with great joy "20k's up, just 10 more to..." upon which we got swamped
by a monster. A swell had become a wave and broke right over us. We had seen
plenty of waves breaking around us and had been lucky to miss them until know.
52kph
How we stayed on Green Machine after
this swamping I still can't fathom. Then 4 km later, after plenty of nervous
brace-filled runs, a massive swell approached from behind, breaking at the
crest with an ominous roar. Evidently we were perfectly aligned to catch this
beast which was the last thing we intended. We tried our best to steer to the
right to prevent us from going directly down the steep face and into the abyss
below.
Bracing harder and harder and with no
response from Green Machine's rudder, we were plucked up by the white crest of
the monster and shunted forwards maintaining a dangerously fast straight line
down the bumpy 4 metre face. The Green Machine and two terrified paddlers
shuddered and cracked (crapped!) down this wave. Unbelievably the GPS read
fifty two crazy km/hr (see below) until we all but disappeared into and under
the next swell.
 There it is - 52kph...
After an amazing nose dive with
complimentary enema via nose we popped up, in one piece atop our trusty Green
Machine! After a big laugh at the madness of it all we continued on and
made it to the finish at Vetches much to the relief and surprise of our much
more sensible better halves. Boat slightly damaged, full of water but in one
piece... Crew, well crew in one piece but
completely wrecked mentally! What a race, what an experience, what madness...ARB
World Cup 2007....
Goblin (aka Malcolm Stewart) and Sean Temple
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