I was asked to write a little story about why anyone should do the Cape Point Challenge (CPC), So here goes …

A few years ago I was doing a talk in Australia to a whole group of surf ski paddlers. The question was brought up: “Tell us about this crazy CPC”. After asking why they told me that they’ve all heard some war stories about this incredible challenge that we have here in South Africa. I told them how it began for me.

We were all qualified SPA Surf Life Savers. to do the race in 1984. There was no question that the race started at the crayfish factory in Kommetjie and ended in Fishhoek. Irrespective of the wind or waves. My cousin Glen said to me: “ Let’s go and do it in a double!” I remember clearly asking: “Why? I’m not a ski paddler. I’m a swimmer.” He said: “ When you finish at Fishhoek, you are going to feel that you’ve done something special in your life.” My reply was:“ What? You are kidding me. Why?” He said: “Just do it with me and you will understand.”

We got in a 30kg plus lifesaving ski with a built-in nose cone in the front. No juice. 226cm flat blades. No training, and arrived at 5am in Kommetjie in a screaming South Easterly gale. It was blowing so hard, it was actually spitting with rain due to the build-up of the clouds in the mountains, known as the Black South Easter. (I later received a certificate from the Surf Life Saving Association saying the wind was blowing at 51 miles per hour at Cape Point Lighthouse at 6 am. 80 km per hour.)

KEEP READING from page 74 in Issue 6 of 2018: https://issuu.com/thepaddlemag/docs/tpm_6_2018