South Africa

Scott Rutherfoord extended his lead to just over seven minutes today and is seemingly in an unassailable position – but said that anything could happen in the downwind conditions tomorrow.

The Southern Shamaal class of 2010 has survived Day 2 of the world’s longest, toughest surfski race – thanks to a Woody Cape, which, for once, was meek as a lamb.

The first day of the Southern Shamaal PE2EL Challenge kicked off this morning with 50km out and back course set by race director Anton Erasmus.

As I write this, over 160 paddlers have already started the toughest four-day surfski event in the world – the 250km Southern Shamaal Port Elizabeth to East London Challenge.

Cape Town - Sean Rice exploited the mild conditions off Camps Bay and the absence of ISPA World Champ Dawid Mocke to win his second race in the Discovery Sunglass Hut Surfski Series, powering past Simon Van Gyssen in the closing stages of a thrilling race to claim the title.

Standby for the toughest surfski race in the world … the Southern Shamaal, presented by Epic Kayaks - 21 days and counting!

Dawid Mocke made no mistake in bagging the third Discovery Sunglass Hut Series race in Fish Hoek on Sunday.  Nikki Mocke ran in an easy win in the women’s race.

Dec 9, 2010 will see the start of one of the World’s longest running Ocean Paddling races. The Port Elizabeth to East London Solo Challenge holds iconic status among South African paddlers as an ultra distance event where simply finishing is a victory.

[Editor: The Mouth to Mouth is one of South Africa's classic surfski races - and the paddlers usually experience downwind paddling at its absolute best...  However, this year Mother Nature didn't cooperate...  Nigel Stevens tells the story]

Cape Town’s Tom Schilperoort finally dumped the monkey off his back and won his first victory against world champion Dawid Mocke.