Woolacombe, North Devon, UK: The second year of the Icon Classic Ski Race from Woolacombe to Combe Martin proved to be an outstanding event for Britain’s top ski paddlers.  Joining the line-up were 1 Spanish, 1 Portuguese and 2 Australian paddlers.

Last year the Icon Classic proved a real test with Glen Eldridge taking the Classic Gold followed by Ivan Lawler and Mark Ressel.  The Classic is back – on 9 July, 2011.

Ivan Lawler narrates this cool video which introduces our sport...  If anyone asks you what surfski paddling is all about, send them the link...

Well the 2010 UK Surfski Racing season has been great. The amount of interest from paddlers and spectators has increased and the sport is growing so fast here it is amazing.

Last weekend was the inaugural Icon Classic Ski Race.  The 16-kilometer ocean surf ski race from Woolacombe to Combe Martin saw 30 of Britain’s top ski paddlers compete for the Icon Classic Gold.

Third in the British Surf Ski Series for this year, the Gold Coast Ski Race on 20th June claimed the biggest ever entry for a British Surf Ski race. With 81 boats, the field included top paddlers from Spain and Portugal as well as the best of the British and the large field of juniors to underline the growth of this sport.

Organised by Cardiff Bay Kayakers, and sponsored by  Childsplay Surf Gear the 2^nd British Flat Water Surfski Championships (sanctioned by RLSS & SLSA) will be held at Cardiff Bay on Saturday 27^th September.

Standing shivering with the temperature hovering in the high single digits and the wind chill factor dropping it to very close to freezing, I look on and wonder if Oscar’s enthusiasm for all things paddling ever wavers. The answer is clear . . . and is reflected in the bright young faces of the youngsters from Rhoose Lifesaving Club just outside Cardiff in Wales.

Next Generation of Paddlers from Rhoose LSC.