Safety

Wednesday, 17 October 2018 10:03 | Category : Latest Surfski News

As the avalanche of water broke over him, smashing him off his surfski, Killian Marzin felt an agonizing pain shoot through his shoulder.  He knew he was badly hurt – and the next wave in the set was roaring in towards him…

Tuesday, 16 October 2018 10:29 | Category : Latest Surfski News

All I remember is that it felt like being hit by a truck,” said Andy Wheatley.  “The crunch was pretty impressive!” 

Flung violently off his surfski and into the water, Wheatley’s “first thought was to get back on and go!”

Monday, 23 April 2018 09:48 | Category : Latest Surfski News

“NSRI Plettenberg Bay duty crew were activated following reports of a man bumped off his surfski near Robberg Beach, Plettenberg Bay…” Bump? Some bump!

Thursday, 14 December 2017 09:18 | Category : Latest Surfski News

As he fell off his ski yet again, Tim Wightman felt panic starting to well up.  If he didn’t get back on and paddling in the next few moments, the gale-force wind and breaking waves would drive him onto the jagged rocks of Miller’s Point.  “Calm down!” he yelled to himself.  “Take it slowly!”  “This time, stay in the f%#$ing boat!”

Tuesday, 12 December 2017 15:39 | Category : Latest Surfski News

I missed out on a cracking Miller’s Run on Sunday.  It wasn’t a total loss – I had fun photographing the paddlers who did go – but it made me reflect on how we make decisions, especially when there’s ego or peer pressure involved.

Wednesday, 29 November 2017 16:52 | Category : Latest Surfski News

A couple of weeks ago, here in Cape Town, a paddler found himself in trouble on the famous (notorious?) Miller’s Run downwind route.  Some 2km offshore, he fell off and after a number of attempts was unable to remount his surfski.  He activated his McMurdo FastFind 220 Personal Locator Beacon.  An hour and half later he was pulled from the water having swum his ski almost all the way to safety. A happy ending - but not because of the PLB.

Friday, 13 October 2017 09:50 | Category : Latest Surfski News

“We have multiple reports of a surfski washing ashore without the paddler,” said NSRI Simon’s Town Station Commander Darren Zimmerman. “We’re activating.  Can you please try to find out who it might be?”

Thursday, 13 December 2012 08:27 | Category : Latest Surfski News

Chasing 3m breaking waves in 35kt gusts is the best fun you can have outside of tangled sheets – but gear failure can be a much bigger issue.  You have to be mentally and physically prepared for things to go wrong…

Thursday, 08 December 2011 06:48 | Category : Latest Surfski News

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. “

Wednesday, 04 August 2010 08:29 | Category : Latest Surfski News

Duane Strosaker was paddling his sea kayak about 5nm offshore from the Gaviota State Beach in Southern California, when a Great White Shark decided he was worth investigating.  Duane "screamed like a girl" (who wouldn't) as the shark gently put its mouth around the hull of the kayak and held it for "10-15 seconds".

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