Durban – As the continued coronavirus lockdown grips the country, Canoeing South Africa will host a 24 hour Canoeing4COVID-19 event this weekend as a way to raise funds for members of the broader paddling community that have been badly affected by the lockdown. The brainchild of CSA President Kim Pople, the event is open to […]
Surfski is a unique paddling activity, taking place on the sea. Whilst there are similarities to river canoeing, marathons and even slalom, it is a distinct sport, offering a broad range of opportunities for recreational and competitive endeavours… A surfski is a versatile watercraft, designed especially for use in the open sea environment and the […]
We were paddling slowly upwind into a howling northwester, about 2km from Hout Bay beach when my paddling partner turned to me, shouted, “I’m exhausted!” and fell off his surfski. As he made a number of efforts to remount, he was drifting fast downwind, towards the cliffs under Chapman’s Peak and I realized that the […]
My previous two pieces focused on seconds (our unsung heroes) and paddling with children. This time I explore the logical extension of these themes: family time on the water. Most paddlers would love to share their passion for paddling with their families. This well-intentioned idea can have disastrous results. I believe that the biggest mistake […]
Rules provide the framework for your training sessions, enabling you to derive the optimum benefit from them. Working to rules ensures that you don’t suffer from the illusion of fitness, only to undergo a reality check when competing in an event. Few individuals have the flexibility to train at the times he or she wants, […]
Imagine a boxer who never spars with a training partner. He skips rope and punches a punch bag to prepare for fights. The only time he ever gets to learn and experience fighting, is in an actual fight. Imagine a rugby team that runs around the field for fitness. They stand in a circle and […]
In the 25-odd years that I’ve been involved in competitive paddling, many things have changed. One thing certainly hasn’t: the ego-driven idea that anyone who is paddling a stable boat is somehow inferior. The reality is that most K1 paddlers in South Africa are paddling boats that are actually too unstable for them. If a […]
An instructional piece that I read recently advised paddlers to remove their Personal Flotation Device (PFD) when caught in a weir. This reminded me of the period when I started doing river races in the early 90s. Back then, PFDs were not compulsory at most river races, and certainly not on flatwater. When CSA got […]
Most paddlers would like their children to paddle. Most paddlers are unsure of how to go about it, but they give it their best shot. Sadly, most paddlers fail. Paddling is one of those rare sports that can be enjoyed from a very young age to a ripe, old age. For many, it is a […]
While on holiday at Plet over the Christmas break we often watched a group of guys paddling just past backline. It looked like fun but unfortunately they were too far out to ask them about it. I hope that you don’t mind but how does one get started – Steve. Hi Steve unfortunately you do […]
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