I have raced the winter series in Durban Now for 12 years running. I remember my first race at North beach in 2001 crashing through the surf next to the pier in my borrowed Mark 1. I have been hooked on Surfski ever since and it taken me on a wild ride of adventure.

I am very proud of my results and achievement. I my first year I got 4^th in the series and winning the juniors and since then I have been in the top 3 for 11 years.

This year has been my...

The final race of the season creeps up on you at a rapid race, the amazing winter in Durban I love so much flies by in a wiz of paddling, surfing, running and racing.

Getting back from Mauritius on Tuesday with week has been awesome but a little bit of a blur, with some really exciting projecting going on with my Varsity College Surfskischool in Durban I jumped straight back into 4 days of hectic coaching and admin, really battling to find the routine I cra...

Got an abrupt wakeup call from my phone going off next to the bed. The race had been moved forward and hour which related in a mad rush to get out the house and down to the beach. I really don’t like the wait around before the start of a race as the nerves build so suited me fine. Just get the job done in the back of my brain.

The weather certainl...

Cratching over a set on my second go (thats me on the right).

If you follow me on twitter you will know I was at the doctor last week Saturday rather than at the race. Eish! So bummed. On the other hand the rest allowed me to recover really fast and start training again with very little time lost. 

Found my feet in the boat quickly with...

The forecast this whole week has been for a strong SW over the weekend and true to form it came to deliver the first proper downwind of the season. The reason why we paddle, the elusive ‘downwind’.

Well done to race organiser Billy Harker on the decision to move the race course to a 22km stretch of the south coast from Scottburgh to Winkle.

I can’t tell the excitement in the car down the coast in amongst the Marine crew...

The 5 Beaches is my favourite race on the Durban Winter scene but the last time it ran its original course was longer than I can remember. I have been doing this a while so that was like a hundred years ago.

The weather finally played ball for ‘Sam’s’ course. What a day. Light offshore breeze with mild south c...

King of the Bay is such a unique challenge. Not only is it the only day of the year we get to paddle out of the harbour mouth but the race also has a rather large lap of the Durban bay all the way to the river mouth and back to Marine.

This creates 3 very different sections to the race. Flat in...

What an epic show by Anthony Grote www.anthonygrote.com via www.gameplanmedia.co.za

I find little things that work for me, everyone does. Waking up for race 2 of the series on Sunday, I was very aware of the little pieces of pre-race routine and how things just seems to be waxed. Still half asleep, knowing just the right amount of Future Life to put in the bowl and savouring the sweet taste of fresh coffee. 

I have done at least 6 races in the...

My season kicked off this last weekend with a simple 12km course race at my home club. Training the last month has been some of the most consistent I have had in years so the hope and confidence leading into a long season is on a high for sure.

Although training the last month has been awesome prep for race 1 was less than ideal. I joined a crew doing an expedition the last couple of days and the long miles on the water are gladly banked but n...

Photo by Anthony Grote www.anthonygrote.com

Waking up to the series sms from Billy Harker saying the 5 beaches had changed venue to Marine was super disappointing. 

Pictures but Anthony Grote www.anthonygrote.com

Picture by Anthony Grote

Photos by Dennis Walthew

Amazing day in Durban, sun out, warm water and smooth sea

Loving the trim of the Bullet, really suits my weight, just the right amount of bouancy in...

Written by Game Plan Media and photos by Anthony Grote

The weather in Durban is certainly living up to its reputation. Race 2 was a cracker. Not a stitch of wind over the last 3 days leading into the race making for the calmest open ocean conditions I have paddled in, in weeks.

Picture but my amazing girlfriend Kirsty off here phone. Thanks. More to Come.

Pics by Anthony Grote (www.anthonygrote.com)

Love the colour of the pink bullet in the dark backround of these shot. Thanks Anthony!

Press Release written by Game Plan Media photos by Anthony Grote

Mark Mulder sprinting to get 3rd in the mens

Where do I start? Rain, Wind, Rain, Nerves, Rain, Boats, Rain, Paddles and more Rain dominated the day. 

It is Saturday afternoon and the kid inside me is just had a full party load of sugar and is wanting to jump out my skin and off the walls.

I have to do something or will start to cause trouble, so have sat down on the balcony looking over the sea and amazing skyline (pic above) to gather my thoughts on my adrenaline management problems. 

I spent the morning with Billy, Tracy of the Winter Series and Game Plan Media's Dave, Sam and Kyle on Wednesday morning at the Media launch for the series. Was great to hang out with the great media people who give the sport so much coverage and have some fun on the beach in an amazing race style media day.

I got to race with Tommy and had a ball, got a bit lost at times and still came about 4th.

I am really excited about ra...

Thanks to John from www.capetownsportphotography.co.za for the shots

Check out the whole lot at http://www.facebook.com/#!/album.php?aid=25486&id=...

The week leading into big races like this are normally very stressful for me. I always doubt if I have done enough training or if I have forgotten something important I need for race day.

I end up playing the race tactics through in my head which kind of makes the stress even more. Well this was a little different for me. I really don’t believe I could have been any more prepared for the race as Ant and I had done 6 races in the lead up to work out the ni...

Press Release by www.gameplanmedia.co.za

Durban -  Siblings Dawid and Jasper Mocke snatched victory in the 2010 Discovery Scottburgh to Brighton surfski ultramarathon after twice having to grind back into contention after suffering major mishaps.

The win was a maiden victory for younger brother jasper, and a sixth victory in the gruelling 46,5km classic for Dawid Mocke, the reigning world surfs...

Anthony Grotekindly sent me some shot us Ant and I bashing through the shorebreak at the 5 beaches over the weekend. Duck and hold on, haha! Thanks Anthony!

Duck

Hold

Coming up for air

And t...

After two weeks of slogging into the wind the weather gods played ball this week and threw out some cracking condition, finally a downwind.

The traditional course has obviously 5 beaches in it with 3 ins and outs. Due to the large surf there beach stops were canned and we took a straight line from the start at Umkomaas to Toti. There was min swell so the runs were really fun and fast making for a super days paddling.

Almost felt guilty ...

Photo by Anthony Grote - www.anthonygrote.com

Pic by Anthony Grote - www.anthonygrote.com

From Wednesday forecasts already windguru was showing a south west wind the whole weekend. I lucky got my Varsity College Surfskischool class over on Saturday morning before the wind picked up to much but once it arrived there was going to be no hiding from it on Sunday for the oldest race in the world.

It course is a simple o...

Photos by Anthony Grote - www.anthonygrote.com

Photo by Anthony Grote www.anthonygrote.com

I have to say I haven’t been this amped to race for some time. Felt like a kid again. The break from the racing scene has had an effect and definitely positive on the motivation.

The World Cup over the weekend marked race 10 and the end of the winter surfski series. The season has been amazing with Durban dishing out the best waether on earth.

Matt Bouman ran away with line honours dominating with 7 wins. I picked up a 2nd, probably my best season ever and Andre Pohl in 3rd.

All the results at www.surfski.co.za

Training is going really well for the 2 big races of the season. Started to taper speeds in the boat are getting better every day. I decided to skip the race this weekend (Pirates Umhlanga Pirates) to make sure the body is fresh and ready for a good run on the world cups.

Can’t wait to fly to Mauritius on Tuesday. Mates already there are raving about the spot. Let hope there is wind.

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All photos by legend Anthony Grote. www.anthonygrote.com

Written by Game Plan Media. www.gameplanmedia.co.za

Scottburgh - Matt Bouman extended his unbeaten run in the Discovery Men's Health surf ski series with an emphatic victory in the Island Tribe Scottburgh Surf Classic, while Michelle Eder posted her maiden series win in tricky South Coast surf conditions.

Bouman dominate...

The winter solstice is the shortest day of the year. Well this doesn’t need to be a bummer being the middle of winter. Durban Just doesn’t have winter, hehe so the Surfski Series head honcho Billy Harker held a weekend of adventure on the south coast with the surfski race at Scottbrugh.

Saturday, trail run, mountain bike, rugby on a big screen and a band. Sunday, race 7 of the surfski series.

I make no graces about hating running so I took on the mountain bike for the Saturday’s activities. Was planning on doing the 25km but got lost in the ...

The body simply didn’t fire today. Sore and stiff from a tough weeks training the muscles felt heavy. The surf turns made the race super fun, luckily kept my hair dry and paddled clever to hold 2nd. Matt Bouman far in the distance. Tough racing tired.

My boet Warren came down to watch the finish of the race, which made it a family affair. Amazing day out with Durban dishing out its best!  
 

Looking at training for the week I really needed to get in at least one long paddle with the race on the weekend only being a lap race in the bay. With a couple of phone calls a team was assembled. Downwind here we come.

The team assembled were 2 East Cape invaders, Michele Eray (best women’s surfski paddler in the world right now) and Steve Woods (world traveller) along with Mark Mulder (top river paddler convert to surfski coming top 10 th...

Written by Game plan Media. www.gameplanmedia.co.za

Durban - Matt Bouman survived a day of high drama, including  ploughing through fishing lines to claim his fifth successive win of the Durban winter Discovery Men's Health Surf Ski Series at the Discovery Winkelspruit Race.

Spectators lined the Winklespruit beach in chilly winter conditions to watch the line of competitors arrive at the finish after a long 23 km race from Scottburgh. Moment...

All photos by Anthony Grote. www.anthonygrote.com

Looking like a drowed rat after a swim coming in at Winkle.

Surfski Series Race 5 – Race Report – 3rd

The last couple week racing in the bay of Durban have been cool, good weather, sunshine, a little wind, tons of fun. Time for a new challenge and some proper open ocean freedom.

The surfski series moved to a more exciting and challenging course on the south coast today. The first downwind of the series from Scottbrough to Winkle. Conditions were light but really fun.

There were 4 boats in contention of Matt Bouman, Herman, Oscar and myself. Had a good start this week and let the first secti...

All photos by Anthony Grote. www.anthonygrote.com

The 5 beaches is by far one of my favourite races on the calendar, great people on the south coast and old school fun coming through the surf on the 5 beaches along the course. Well huge surf that has smashed the coast made the race impossible forcing Billy Harker to move it to town and have a 2 lapper from Marine. Good call for the large field.

There is some small part of me that would love to have taken on the south coast today. I remember years crashing through mountainous surf. The sport is going in the right direction but there are still a small few with the skills and ...

All photo's by Anthony Grote. www.anthonygrote.com

Chopper and I hanging onto Matt Bouman's wave right near the end of the harbor mouth.

Its really feels strange starting a surfski race at the Stella Canoe Club in the harbour after the first 2 races of the series we beach starts. Less tension worrying about getting away through the surf. Got away fine and settled in the bunch and even did one small stint on the front (more to see if my rudder was clear of weed) on the 10km loop out the harbour.

It was super low tide today so the root thought he harbour was simple until the mouth where there is massive construction works widening the harbour walls. The water starts rebounding off the ships as you near the mout...

All photos by Anthony Grote. www.anthonygrote.com

 I love racing season, especially the winter series. Classic weekend with your mates on some of the best beaches in the world. Been getting mails from www.barrylewin.co.za reads in Europe and Canada bitching and moaning about the stupidly cold conditions they paddle in.

Well Durban don’t have no winter, O boy and it delivered again today. Moderate surf with a stiff SW wind (died during the race) and the sun shining.

Didn’t get a great start. Not like me! Was standing in hole and got held by a wave. Just made the back of the front bunch into t...

All photos by Anthony Grote. www.anthonygrote.com

Had been taking part in the legends challenge so had little time to check the weather before arriving at my home club of marine for the open race of the surfski series. The wind had dropped from the day before but there was still enough bump from the South West to make things interesting. Even the rain cleared for most of the race!

Had a good start and lead almost all the way to the f...

Sad, sad, sad, yes the best surfski series in the world is over for another year. This has been the 7^th year I have raced the series in a row. It’s kind of art of life here in Durban. Billy Harker puts on a great show, fun people, great weather here in our non existent winter and a great time in the ocean. 

Check out some awesome pic's by Anthony Grote (www.anthonygrote.com) from the weekends race!

Have to tell you about the blueprint for the best weekend in Durban. Beach on Saturday morning with the best conditions of the year, the Vodacom Durban July in the afternoon (which stretches well into the night), surfski race on the south coast on Sunday morning and the Mr Price Pro Surfing final in the afternoon. 

What more can I say but this is the best example of lifting the game. The first edition of Surfski TV for the current Winter Surfski Series (season 2) hit the screens of Supersport last night with a bang. It’s amazing to see how the coverage of surfski has evolved with the passion of a small view.

Check out Anthony Grote's great photo's on his website at www.anthonygrote.com.  







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