france

“I knew a few of the paddlers had done the course earlier in the week and… my goal was to sort of sit with them and see where their line was,” said newly crowned World Champion Danielle McKenzie. “I had no idea where I was going. As far as race plans go, I had absolutely nothing… Just go pretty hard from the start. Yeah, bloody awesome!”

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…

Following the success of the 2010 edition of the 'Breizh Ocean Racing', this year, the event is moving a little further into the Atlantic Ocean.
It will take place around Ploudalmézeau in Brittany, France from October 7th to 9th.

The weather was extreme: 10/10ths cloud, 45kt westerly, zero visibility.  The UK paddlers had just turned around and gone home, their skis broken – on their car – by the force of the wind…

More and more races organised in France are run on a downwind course, as with the 2010 French Championships organised in Cherbourg.  

[Editor: Jean Rillard sent this report on the French Ocean Racing Champs. Huge changes have taken place in French Surfski racing - full-on downwind racing, and relaxation of the old regulations around decklines, etc.  Brilliant stuff!]  

On the last 26-27 of August the 11th French Ocean Racing championship took place in Cherbourg. Around 450 competitors from all around France; from Guadeloupe; two guys from Germany and one from the UK participated to this competition.

Cherbourg, France:  100 single skis registered for the race; one of the final steps in the French series to qualify for the National Championship that will take place in August on the Côte D'Azure...

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Watch out world - the French are taking Surfski paddling seriously!  The first in a series of elite N1 races takes place this weekend, 8th and 9th November 2008.

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