Surfski Beginner’s Guide on DVD: Dawid’s Ocean ABC Sunday, 18 January 2009 | Written by Rob Mousley We're constantly asked why there isn't a "How to start Surfski" DVD on the market. Well now there is one - and it's been put together by one of the best surfski paddlers and coaches in the world: South African Dawid Mocke. {mosimage} Surfski School Dawid and Nikki Mocke started their Surfskischool (http://www.surfskischool.com/) in Fish Hoek, Cape Town in 2003 and they've trained over 3,000 beginner paddlers since then. Every one of those paddlers went through the Mockes' "ABC" course. It's a brilliant course that gives the rookie paddler a thorough grounding in the sport - everything from the best way to carry the ski through to catching your first wave. Although it's aimed at the Rookie, even advanced paddlers can learn something from this DVD - like how to teach other wannabe paddlers to get started in our beautiful sport! {mosimage} What's on the DVD? The DVD is divided into 5 lessons: Lesson 1 - The ABC of Surfski Paddling A - Awareness B - Balance C - Control
Some of the questions covered: What ski should you start with? How do you set the leg length? Introduction to your wing paddle and how to hold it. What's the difference between on and off-shore winds? Being aware of the waves - don't let the surf catch you by surprise! How do you balance in the ski? Eyes, Body and Paddle! "When it doubt: legs out!" Controlling the ski: on land (how do you carry a 6m craft in wind?!); in surf (how do you avoid getting knocked down by the ski?) and in deep water! What safety gear should you have offshore?
Lesson 2 - Making the boat go forward The theory and practice of paddling: Lesson 3 - Making it out through the waves Making it out through the surf "without getting eaten" in the impact zone! Lesson 4 - Catching a wave "One of the ultimate benchmarks of your skill is to be able to catch a wave on a surfski!" Lesson 5 - Catching the runs "The ultimate skill when catching runs, is to be able to connect the runs - to go from one run to the next." Purchase the DVD here Surfski.info is proud to be associated with the DVD and to offer it to our readers. You can purchase the DVD on the Surfski.info online shop using your credit card or Paypal, click here to go to our online shop. Preview Latest Race News  Durban – Team Best 4 Kayak Centre captain Hank McGregor reclaimed his customary place at the top of the pile when he cruised to victory in the Stellar Kayaks surfski race, race two of the Discovery Best 4 Surfski Series, on Sunday morning. Written on Tuesday, 15 May 2012 in Africa
Read more...  A week of great paddling awaits those going to the fourth edition of the Mauritius Ocean Classic. Starting on Sunday, 24 June 2012 with ski issue and then into training sessions with Dawid Mocke and Barry Lewin. Everyday there will be scheduled downwind paddles, allowing all to get familiar with the conditions and ready for the races. Written on Saturday, 12 May 2012 in Africa
Read more...  In another all-out heart-bursting sprint finish, Simon van Gysen managed to boost his ski's nose a few cm past Sean Rice to take the second EuroChallenge race along with the overall title. Written on Sunday, 06 May 2012 in Europe
Read more...  “Van Gysen is pulling ahead of McGregor… it’s his race to lose. No! He’s heading for the harbor instead of the buoy… He’s realized; he’s turned. McGregor’s right up with him! He’s around, they’re sprinting for the finish…” Written on Sunday, 06 May 2012 in Europe
Read more...  It’s only a few weeks until the 11th King of the Harbour Ocean ski race and excitement is building in the surf ski community. It’s a close-knit group and all agree that our race here in Auckland is unique in the world and one of the best. Written on Tuesday, 20 March 2012 in Aus/NZ
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| | Latest Product Reviews  Transcribe the accumulated wisdom of two of the best surfski paddlers in the world, add some truly stunning photographs, and in case that’s not enough, make things even more clear with beautifully executed diagrams. That’s SURFSKI with the Pros in a nutshell. Written on Sunday, 27 November 2011 in Product Reviews
Read more...  When Mario Graziani called to say that there was an Allwave CX surfski in Cape Town and would I like to try it, I leapt at the chance. At the same time I was a little apprehensive – what could Italians possibly know about making surfskis?! Written on Saturday, 20 August 2011 in Product Reviews
Read more...  “Ok, let’s sprint to the other side of the harbor,” I said. Issuing a challenge like that to my training partner Dale Lippstreu always results in a ball-bursting, neck and neck, 110% redline effort. This time though he just disappeared (behind me) and 200m later I looked back to see him paddling backwards. “I thought I had something on the rudder,” he said. Nah. We did it again and the same thing happened. I was on an Carbonology Sport Atom – and on flat water it made me look like a paddling super-hero. Written on Sunday, 12 June 2011 in Product Reviews
Read more...  Let’s start by clarifying that this is an independent product review. Secondly, I have won numerous national kayak titles in both sprint and marathon, and was selected to represent Australia at the World Cup and other International Events. I have also competed in surfski events at state and national levels in surf lifesaving. Summary – independent and qualified advice on craft. Written on Thursday, 02 June 2011 in Product Reviews
Read more...  A year ago, Kayakpro released an updated version of their Speedstroke kayak ergometer. In an effort to be on the leading edge of the indoor paddling world, I made the switch from their older model, the Speedstroke which was introduced in 2001, to their newer model, the GYM, one year ago. KayakPro is owned and operated by British ex-Olympian and World Champion Grayson Bourne. Written on Sunday, 30 January 2011 in Product Reviews
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Latest News  Richard Kohler, attempting to circumnavigate the SA coastline for charity, has been hammered for the third time by the unforgiving KwaZulu-Natal conditions. Written on Tuesday, 13 December 2011 in Latest Surfski News
Read more...  The email was brief: “Newsflash - Richard was attacked by a shark. He is safe, but his surfski is seriously damaged (entire rudder system trashed).” Later came an update: “Richard is safe, though he had to stop 3 times on his paddle today to empty his boat. “ Written on Thursday, 08 December 2011 in Latest Surfski News
Read more...  A solo Cape Town paddler is braving the entire South African coastline on a kayak, a first-ever attempt, to raise awareness and funds for children born with cleft lips and palates. Written on Thursday, 01 December 2011 in Latest Surfski News
Read more...  Here are the 2011 Surfski World Rankings, courtesy of Dean Gardiner and Ocean Paddler who have put it all together... Written on Tuesday, 23 August 2011 in Latest Surfski News
Read more...  Imagine taking ten days out of your life to paddle with (and be coached by) two of the best surfski exponents ever… In 2012, you have three opportunities to take a spectacular trip to some of the most remote and beautiful parts of the Western Australian coast with Dean Gardiner and Oscar Chalupsky. Written on Monday, 20 June 2011 in Latest Surfski News
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| | Latest Tips & Tricks  Here’s a debate that pops up quite often: what length is optimum for surfskis? Ralph Baker, a student at the Newcastle University School of Marine Science and Technology (phew what a mouthful!) recently completed an eight month long project looking at this precise question. Written on Saturday, 12 May 2012 in Tips: Other
Read more...  [Editor: When Jean Mars Tavignot tried out his new Red7 Surf 70 Pro in downwind conditions, he was not pleased; his 10 year old Fenn Millenium handled the short steep Mediterranean waves better! Nothing daunted, he took out his toolbox…] Written on Tuesday, 09 August 2011 in Tips: Other
Read more...  I have always wanted to fit an elliptical rudder to a Fenn, particularly a Mako 6 as it is my favourite ski. I can paddle an Elite but I prefer the 6 for all round stability and performance particularly in chop. Its main weakness is that the shark fin loses bite because of the ski's rocker and the fin's proximity to the tail causes the odd broach particularly in big swells. Written on Monday, 01 August 2011 in Tips: Other
Read more...  "Life's too short to learn from our own experience, instead, learn from others and save the expense..." I recently hurt my back and was forced to stop training in my kayak and ski for six weeks. In the process of repair I found some amazing things I’ve been doing wrong for at least eighteen months, and thought surfski.info readers might benefit from my mistakes. Written on Sunday, 17 July 2011 in Tips: Other
Read more...  Rudders are a critical part of any boat’s design – and in my opinion many of the rudders on surfskis are sub-optimal, to put it mildly. But at last a manufacturer has got off their butt to offer a wide range of rudders for different conditions. Written on Wednesday, 15 June 2011 in Tips: Other
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