dawid mocke

San Francisco: 96 athletes from 11 countries will line up later today to race the new US Surfski Championships course, among them a fair selection of the best surfski paddlers in the world today.

Dawid Mocke extended his lead in the Oceanpaddler Surfski World Series to 19 points with an outstanding win in Mauritius against Jeremy Cotter, his closest rival at the top of the rankings.  Action now moves from the tropics to the frigid waters of the Arctic - the ASKC takes place at the end of the month in Norway.

For 10 years, the US Surfski Championships has been held in the spectacularly windy waters of San Francisco Bay. From the very first event, it was clear to anyone that followed surfski paddling that was world-class venue, with all the ingredients necessary to entice international competitors and local aficionados alike.

“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.

Four weeks to go to one of the premier events on the Oceanpaddler World Series calendar… the 4th Mauritius Ocean Classic.  And an awesome line-up of the world's top surfski paddlers will be there.

Although Dawid Mocke had a disappointing race at EuroChallenge, his result was enough to springboard him to the top of the Oceanpaddler World Rankings.  Jeremy Cotter (Aus) lies only a few points back...  all eyes will be on the upcoming Mauritius Ocean Classic at the end of June.

So, it must be spring again! Because the Swedish Surfski Spring camp is on this weekend! It’s still a bone shaking 10degrees outside and the water hasn’t become warmer than a cold beer should be.

A week of great paddling awaits those going to the fourth edition of the Mauritius Ocean Classic.  Starting on Sunday, 24 June 2012 with ski issue and then into training sessions with Dawid Mocke and Barry Lewin.  Everyday there will be scheduled downwind paddles, allowing all to get familiar with the conditions and ready for the races.

Villajoyosa, Alicante, Spain: It’s confirmed: the fourth edition of the EuroChallenge is part of the Ocean Paddler World Series.  The event takes place from 4-6 May, 2012.