Tomorrow, 23 Sep 2007, sees the running of the St. Marteen Souliga Challenge in the Netherlands Antilles in the Caribbean.  We had an update from some of the competitors including South Africa's Barry Lewin who is competing in the race for the first time.

Stuart Knaggs and Barry Lewin paddle out from St. Maarten Island (Photo: Stuart Knaggs)

Barry Lewin, International Yachtie

Knowing that it was going to be hot and not wanting to be caught out - as he was in Tahiti in 2005 - Barry arrived early and has been acclimatising to the conditions.  He's been living in Stuart Knagg's yacht in the local marina - keeping close to the water.

"The island is beautiful," Barry said, "and surf ski paddling is thriving."

Barry won an 8km race last weekend ("without racing a sweat," said host Stuart Knaggs) and took time out to do some paddling instruction. (Barry runs the Durban branch of Surfskischool in South Africa).

Barry Lewin instructing on St. Maarten (Photo: Stuart Knaggs)

World Class Course

"The course is world class," he added, "and I'm certain that many more paddlers are going to want to do it in the future."

The paddlers will be ferried across to the island of St. Barthelemy where the race starts.  Although the weather has been unsettled over the last week by hurricane Irie, the trade winds are expected to be back - albeit from a less than ideal easterly direction.

Souliga Challenge Route

Barry rates Ffrank Fifils (from Guadeloupe) his main opposition, although the current French marathon champion, Benoit Leroux will also be competing.  "Ffrank has the local knowledge and is used to the heat," Barry said, "and the short choppy runs they get here."

Nigel Wall

Yorkshireman Nigel Wall moved to Trinidad, West Indies, four years ago and took up surf ski paddling just over a year ago after starting on a plastic sit on top, moving to sea kayak and finally buying a Huki SR-1.

He's more of a runner - and has a South African connection in that he did the famous Comrades Ultra-marathon last year.

Nigel Wall - Comrades Marathon

Surf Skis in Trinidad

Surf Ski paddling is becoming increasingly popular in Trinidad: "Two years ago the local kayak centre had mainly plastic SOTs with a few sea kayaks," he said.  "Now there are half a dozen privately owned Dorados, about 20 Red7s and some other imports.  Mine is the only Huki though!"

Nigel - paddling!

Multi-sport

Races tend to be part of multi-sport events which combine paddling with running and road or mountain biking.  "The coast to coast culminates in a 30km paddle after two days of running and cycling," he said, "a real tester!"

Paddling conditions are mixed - Nigel paddles mostly in the sheltered Bay of Paria, but is venturing onto the north coast of Trinidad "which sees all of the Caribbean conditions," he said, "with some Atlantic swell thrown in."

As for the Souliga Challenge, "my goal for my first ‘real' surf ski race is simple," he said, "I want to finish!"

Go Nigel!

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