The weekend has flown by in a haze of jetlag from some hectic flights home. After two days of flying I got home late Friday night and was thrown in the deep end with Surfskischool the next morning.

 

The weather was top notch and was great to hear some stories of how the racing was going. Managed to get through Saturday on a high of being home, started to crash and was late for good mate Andy’s 21^st. Did don the fancy dress (theme was tight and bright) which was really fun. Thanks to Robyn for the tights!

 

Went ...

Bags are packed and I am ready for the massive two days flying home to Durban. Packing my stuff up looking back on the trip I am reminded what a great time I have had, laughs I have shared with great people and amazing things I have seen.

 

The trip has been expensive but that doesn’t come close to the logistics involved in this race. Organising a place to stay, flights, entries, boats, containers, hired c...

The overnight prayers for wind were not answers yesterday for my first Molokai crossing. On the hottest day in Hawaii since last summer the 130 strong field took off from Molokai to cross the channel to Oahu some 53km away. 


 

The beach was packed with escort boats on the paddle through the waves on Molokai, luckily found Mark’s boat with his brother Tom driving to hand over my Jeep kit bag. Warmed up to the right of the boys ...

I finished my first Molokai crossing yesterday, sorry for the slow update but haven’t been able to get near a computer.

 

The race didn’t go to plan and I finished a disappointing 21^st.

 

Photo’s and race reports coming soon!

Hawaii – Durban North surf ski paddler Barry Lewin is part of a major South African challenge for the worlds toughest ocean race, the Epic Molokai Challenge that takes place between the Islands of Oahu and Hawaii on Sunday. 

Widely touted as the world championships of surf ski paddling, this year’s Molokai forms the penultimate leg of the newly formed Surf ski World Series, and has attracted a virtually all of the worlds be...

Day 10

 

Another lazy start to the day, with no boats to paddle there is no point in rushing out the house early. I attended the race press conference and didn’t get asked a question. The media here are only interested in the local doods or the race organisers.

 

The race is sponsored by one of the kayak manufactures and they want their due so doesn’t pay having me in the media as I don’t paddle their boat. It was a total waist of time so I sat around and caught up with a friend from New York, Jo.

&n...

Was meant to wake up early to paddle this morning but it just didn’t happen, body is a bit tired so no harm. Spent most of the morning loading a container, for some reason the Saffa boys were last on the list so our boats got loaded last and we were the first ones there.

 
Typical hurry up and wait situation so we got involved to speed up the process. Think they were a bit shocked; these doods just started loading boa...

Early start this morning to meet the group for the final downwind paddle before the big race on Sunday! The boats go in a container to Molokai tomorrow so we won’t have boats for the next couple days. Keen on the rest, been paddling a ton the last week I have been here. 

 

We met for a Makapuu run to Hawaii Kai with like 30 doods all hitting the water. The wind was really light and min swell so we decided to th...

Today almost seemed boring in comparison to the last week as I never did anything new. I paddled in what is now becoming a familiar spot from the house in Hawaii Kai to Mahayana bay and back practicing the finish of the race. 

 

I managed to drag myself away from the couch this morning before the paddle to brand my boat. I had a little moment, all alone on the grass in from of the house when I noticed it was the first tim...

News from home is flooding in via the net. Sound like the grading race went off with a bang. Flat conditions and great weather. What else do you expect from winter in Durban? Best climate in the world.

 

Bevin Manson won the singles with my housemate Ant Stott second and then school buddy Brett Bartho in third. Good to see Bevin back in action after the waterpolo season.

 

My dad Mark and his partner Linton Hope got 3^rd in the doubles in the new Apex double. Good showing considering he is 52! Still loving every min of h...

While I am focusing on the Molokai race in Hawaii life goes on at home. This is the first year I am missing the opening race of the Menshealth Discovery Surfski Series since I started paddling surfski come 7 years ago.

 

The series has been my platform to grow as a paddler and learn about being an athlete. I have made great friends, seen the sun rise in some great places.

 

There is simply just no doubt ...

The wind pumped today 6 love! Went for a drive out to Kailua (voted the best beach in the world the last 3 years). Was great checking out that part of the island but the wind was calling. Didn’t get to stay long before we had to head to training.

 

Did a downwind from Makapuu back to the finish where we staying with a massive group. Three cars packed with tons of boats, paddlers from 4 countries out into the massive conditions only Hawaii could dish out. The combination of wind, open ocean swell in the middle of the Pacific and current running between th...

The explorations of the island were stepped up this morning after a serious days training yesterday. The team headed out to the North Shore for a bit of site seeing.

 

The surf didn’t live up to its reputation, it was totally flat! The place is pretty enchanting with a lot of local Hawaiian tradition the western world hasn’t eroded, the surfing vibe instilled by the Duke is alive and kicking.

 

Today the real training and race prep starts as I am basically over my jet lag. I have gotten into a sleeping pattern and am not awake in the middle of the night which is great.

 

We started early with a solid 2h15min paddle from Makapuu out to sea into the channel and then down to the finish in Hawaii Kai where we are staying. The trade wind has been picking up over the last 3 days so it was also the first paddle in true rough ...

Today was back at training after a rest day yesterday. An early morning was in order to miss traffic to collect our ski’s which had arrived from LA thanks to Ocean Paddle Sports. 

 

My boat got here perfect which is a great relief as there are always risks in shipping light carbon ski’s half way round the world. Thanks to Custom Kayaks for the amazing boat. Its great being in such a light ski, felt like home!

In an attempt to recover from the long flights I had a rest day today. Lazed around the house this morning admiring the view of Hawaii Kai from the porch playing music on my laptop. 

 

Went exploring through Waikiki and did some shopping at the Halamawana shopping centre and the Island Paddler shop. The Waikiki main stretch and beach is quite a site with tons of people on the beach enjoying being in the protected bay.

WOW! 



The day wasn’t that different to a day at home. Woke up, had chow, went for a short run, did a downwind in the afternoon and supper with mates.

 

Well it’s done here in Hawaii with a massive difference being the SPOT.

 

The run was through a forest on the side of a volcanic mountain with the mates I am staying with (Steve, Ian and Carter) near our condo in Hawaii K...

I landed last night on the Island of Oahu to be greeted by good mates Steve Woods and Ian Grey. What an awesome sight to see two familiar faces after 36hours of flying. 

 

The trip went ok; I missed a connection in Atlanta which cost me about six hours. It wasn’t a train smash as it gave me a chance to have a decent meal and recharge. It did mean I arrived last night in the dark and I haven’t had a chance to see the Island yet.

 

A local friend has put some of the overseas boys up here and given us an amazing spot...

www.surfski.info interview

 

Last week I was interviewed but prominent surfski website www.surfski.info about my trip the Molokai race this year.  

 

Check out the article at http://www.surfski.info/content/view/698/156/

I am sitting typing in a corner of the Joberg airport where I could find a plug to charge my laptop. I have had the last hour’s flight and waiting in lines to contemplate the last 3 days. I have been meaning to blog about the emotions of a dream trip like this coming true but never got near the key board.

 

I woke on Thursday to a light SW rustling the tree’s outside the digs. This was what I was waiting for the last week, some wind. I didn’t hesitate calling in my mom (you are a legend my most awesome mother) to drive me down the coast for ...