Garmin have signed on as my newest sponsor. They will be supplying me with the best GPS units on the market and helping me get to some of the international races this year!

 

Thanks to the team at Garmin for the support.

 

Please check their website out at www.garmin.co.za

With Monday a public holiday some of my mates were heading up North to Ponta d’ Ouro for the weekend. I could resist and decided to go with for a little timeout. 

 

I have in the past had some amazing holidays up there, so much so I call it my happy place. If I am having a kak day all I have to do is...

Last year this time I went up to the Energiser Night Relay. The event happens on the Hilton College School estate with a run, walk or mountain bike option. I did the run last year and this year I decided to challenge the legs even more by doing the MTB. 

 

There is a lot of pressure at paddling races so I love going to do something different where I can relax and just enjoy the experience. This was one of those enjoyment time...

Over the last couple months I have made many changes to the way I approach my paddling career. This website is just one of the ways I am trying to take my paddling to a different place. The logo on the front page of this site is now used on my kit and I am hoping it will one day become my signature brand.

 

There are others that have travelled this path before me and have shown me the path forward in many aspects of my career. Max Cluer, Team Jeep’s marketing man has been a great help in seeing the vision and always being there to bounce ideas off.

With Hawaii looming which is a childhood dream there is a rumbling in my spirit, a shining light of joy and air of excitement in my heart. It’s taken me 6 years of racing my surfski to get to this point where I am ready to take on the crossing from Molokai to Oahu and thanks to the support of my sponsors I am finally there.

 

There is still a lot to do before I leave for on the 3 week trip to the islands. Sponsors stickers, racing kit, paddles, put pads, drinking systems, Garmin’s, Usn racing juice, sun screen have all been packed 2 weeks early. I...

I recently did some writing for out there magazine. They asked me to write on some of the popular products in the market at the moment. I was to rate them as a paddling expert. Quite a compliment for such a big mag to regard me in that light and trust me with the article. Well here it is! 



These arent the grea...

I awoke this morning to a chill in the air as I pushed snooze on the phone alarm to cuddle under the blankets for an extra 5min of sleep. Perfect sleeping in weather. The first winter cold front had hit bringing with some nasty rain and SW wind.

 
When I eventually crawled out of bed the 10m to the coach, opened my laptop to check how strong the wind was going to blow and tucked up under another blanket.

 

After a shocker weeks training I was quite stoked to sit on the coach on Saturday for the afternoon off when I suddenly realised I had 20 mates coming over to the digs for a braai. It hadn’t sunk in yet that it was my birthday as I had to coach that morning and the though of hosting so many people scared me a little.

 

...

I have had a week that seems like everything is the wrong way round. Normally I get through my paddling sessions with ease and battle in the gym, running and swimming sessions. I love my paddling sessions, it’s what I do and hate the gym. I get claustrophobic when I have to train indoors. I believe I was built to be outdoors and that’s where I feel at home.

 

Well this week I have battled on the water, not really feeling at home in the boat with my mind wondering elsewhere. Where has the focus gone? To be honest I don’t know. In chatting to ...

Hey 

The school has been really blessed with some great conditions for school the last week. You can check out some of my photos from the Tuesday morning class last week at http://www.barrylewin.co.za/index.php?sectionID=1&pst=62 to see how special it is to see Durban from the sea at that time of the morning with the sun coming up.

 

With winter approaching the weather is just going to get better and better so get down to the school and get fit for the Menshealt...

At the end on an intense week I like to kick back and recover with a day off out of the paddling environment. This last week has gone great, I have got through some awesome training including a Salt Rock to Marine paddle of 46km. These sessions have a massive effect on my motivation and mindset at times. Not great to admit but the harder I train the crankier I get. 
 

Well after a massive session on Friday and coaching at surfskischool the last thing I wanted to do was talk more about training. Sunday would be a day off!!!!! Wahoo!!!

 

Durban – Chesterville teenager Stembiso Mbatha announced his arrival on the thriving surf ski circuit with a win in last summer ski series races.



Paddling with seasoned Durban paddler Barry Lewin, the duo coasted to home to win the tenth leg of the Kia Marine series, in a race laced with unexpected drama.

Lewin and Mbatha were leading the strong doubles field from the start at Addington beach when they encou...

I had 5 minutes this evening driving home from a terrible movie this evening to assess the last weeks progress if you can call it that. It’s been 10 days since I moved out of home into my new digs. I am enjoying most, missing mom’s cooking of course but all in all a good move. I think I landed my ass in the butter at my new spot.

 

Prep for Hawaii has been stepped up the last 2 weeks. I now have less than 4 weeks to got before I fly via Atlanta to Honolulu for the Molokai race. Body is kicking nicely to the training and I am gettin...

Earlier in the season I did one of the Kia Motors Marine Surfski series race with one of my development paddlers Sthembiso Mbatha with great success, we ended second in the doubles. 

 
I have watched him grow over the last 3 years into a great paddler. I first taught him how to paddle as part of the Marine lifesaving clubs development programme. I then took over with 4 of the paddlers that showed promise and have coached them ever sin...

I was really excited to get a surprise in the post form sponsor Rudy Project. They sent me some kit I have been dying to test. They have kitted me out with a pair of Kopernic’s, which are really funky casual glasses.

 

I so love this brand and the products are just out of the top draw. I simply can’t live without my Rudy’s, once you go Rudy you won’t go back!!!

 

Rudy also make some a...