CRISSY FIELD, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA SEPTEMBER 29 & 30, 2007

Renowned for its challenging course conditions, world-class competition and cosmopolitan venue, the 2007 US Surfski Championships in San Francisco will host an elite field of kayak racers from across America, as well as overseas competitors from South Africa, Australia, Brazil, Argentina, Japan, and Canada.

Eight weeks to the US Champs in San Francisco...  South African Dawid Mocke will be back to defend his title; Oscar Chalupsky will be participating for the first time...

There are signs that in San Francisco the guys are taking this race more seriously than ever before...

The organizers of the US Surfski Champs have confirmed that the event will take place on the weekend of 29/30 September 2007.

South African Dawid Mocke, the defending champion and winner of the 2005 event will be there as will Barry Lewin (also from South Africa) who was runner up last year.

2006 U.S. Surfski Championships, Crissy Field, San Francisco, California

 

As people started gathering at Fort Baker for Friday’s Surfski Demo Day and Paddling Clinics, I am sure a few of them were thinking, “ What have I gotten myself into?” The winds were howling through the Gate at speeds of over 30 knots, whipping the bay waters into frothy whitecaps. While these west winds promised some great downwind surfing, they also meant a long haul into the wind outside the Gate to the usual #4 turn Buoy off Fort Cronkite. As predicted and quite the contrast, Saturday found racers waking to blue skies and calm conditions. The San Francisco Bay resembled a glassy mountain lake rather than the treacherous surfski playground it had been the day before.

 

Two of South Africa's top surfski paddlers leave this week for San Francisco where one will be defending his title while the other sets out to prove himself on foreign waters.

Last year Cape Town's Dawid Mocke caused something of an upset at the USA National Surfski Championships by beating the field, including America's Greg Barton, a double Olympic gold medallist and past winner of the event.

Yep, it's official - as from 1 November 2008, Hank McGregor is the latest member of Team Epic...

"I'm really chuffed," said Hank.  "River paddling is half my career and now I have a sponsor that can support me on the sea or on rivers - all over the world."

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