30 August 2012 Porto, Portugal: In the lead up to the Nelo Summer Challenge, a host of international paddlers have gathered in Porto, Portugal, amoung them Sean Rice (SA), Jasper Mocke (SA) and Bill Bain (Aus).  Yesterday, they went out in "serious" downwind conditions, to find two paddlers in serious trouble.

Trees blown down on powerlines, roofs ripped off buildings, yachts blown ashore...  Downwind time in Sydney, Australia!

This is a great little video from the Epic training centre in Tarifa, Spain.  What stands out for me is the look of the conditions - beautifully shaped, big waves, cracking downwind...  

A recent post in the surfski.info forums asked for an update on Dale Lippstreu’s downwind paddling ability – after his two sessions with Oscar Chalupsky paddling Millers Runs in Dale’s double.  Has anything changed?  Here’s Dale’s reply.

I recently bought one of the new HD GoPro Hero cameras...  It’s been a learning curve but I’m finally getting the hang of it.

The purpose of this article is simply to help those struggling with the often frustrating art of downwind paddling. Some of the techniques utilized are counter-intuitive, particularly for those like me who grow up with very little experience on large bodies of water. The principles contained below were gathered from and discussed with veteran paddling instructors Rick Nu’u and Mike Giblin from Maui, and Dawid Mocke from South Africa.

(First published in SA Paddler Jun/Jul 2005)

Going downwind is not as easy as some might make it look.  It takes lots of practice and definitely a fair bit of experience.  Here are a couple of tips to get you on your way.

Hurricane Alley was living up to its name - the 30kt NNW wind was ricocheting off the cliffs and mini-tornados were swirling clouds of spray across the surface of sea...  and I knew that the cameras were out of memory!

Reverse Buffels surfing...

Forecast (on Buoyweather.com): "Gale Warning. Very windy conditions with rough seas

Small craft advisory: Large long period swell

Winds: SE 27 to 35kts

Seas: SW 14ft at 13sec"

Translation: "Yee haa!"

To quote the distinguished and celebrated sage Jerry Seinfeld:  "The sea, that day was angry my friends, like an old man returning soup."

What happens when you lose your ski on the beach!