When some of the best surfski paddlers in the world gathered in Cape Town, South Africa for the inaugural Cape Town Downwind Race, Greg Kitto of White Hot Media was on hand to record the action.

"I didn’t have a specific race plan or line," wrote Jasper Mocke in his post-race report, "but being in front and staying there seemed like a good idea!"  

Fish Hoek - Local paddling sensation and recently crowned 2012 Oceanpaddler World Series champion Dawid Mocke and younger brother Jasper overcame their disappointment of Saturday's single ski race when the pair charged across the line first in the double ski leg of the SA Surfski Championships on Monday 17 December.

Fish Hoek – Paddling superstar Hank McGregor overcame a world class field to successfully defend his South African S1 Surfski Championships title in the Cape Town Downwind on Sunday whilst locally based Dawid Mocke cemented his position at the top of the Oceanpaddler World Surfski Series standings.

The sixth edition of the Dragon Run will take place on Saturday, 10 November and it’s set to be a cracker – in more ways than one.

The 2-day, 74km Stellar Kayaks Dolphin Coast Challenge is one of the iconic surfski races in South Africa and 2012 was its 13th running. 

“Whoa, Mocke’s on a tiger line,” yelled race director Anton Erasmus as he watched Dawid Mocke come in through the Le Morne pass. “If he doesn’t catch this one, he’s going to get taken out…”

As I watched the white-haired paddler surf away, paddles down for the nth time I grimaced.  I consider myself to be a pretty competent downwind paddler – but he was putting half the effort in that I was and I just couldn’t catch him.

Umhloti – Hank McGregor (Team Best 4 Kayak Centre) capped off what has been yet another magical winter surfski season for him when he once again showed off his sublime open ocean racing abilities to canter home to victory in the 26km Epic Kayaks KZN Surfski Champs on Saturday afternoon.

Scottburgh, South Africa – Paddlers couldn’t have asked for better conditions for the Island Tribe Scottburgh Surfski Classic, race seven of the Discovery Best 4 Surfski Series, and, despite some drama in the closing stages of one of the series’ unique feature races, it was once again Hank McGregor who lead the field home.