Been in Dubai for the last couple days training out of DIMC where the race next week will be based. Really been looked after well by the locals and my awesome hosts, Big up to the Randell's, Wayne, Linda and Jade for having me.

Training is going really well, have had a chance to chatch up with some local mates and do some solid sessions. There is quite a large gap between The Dragon Run and the Dubai Shamaal which means back to the hard work on the wate...

There are 4 Varsity College Surfskischool coaches out here in Hong Kong for the Dragon Run and we were all blown away with our hosts at the Sea School. The principal of the school, Bill has rocked this week. He has saffa's sleeping all over his house and the ex Ausi is now a sold saffa fan. We have converted him.

Well 4 of the schools pupils did the race so we decided to do a coaching clinic here at the school. It went off really well thanks to Bill's tran...

Early morning wakeup call with some lingering jetlag wasn’t fun but as soon as the trucks arrived to transport our ski’s to the start the vibe changed to that of excitement and nerves. Game face time only to get off the bus and get hit by freezing 10 degree Temperatures!

Just a quick note. Went ok in the Dragon Run. Got a 9th. Very technical course.

Results

1 - Shannon

2 - Jezza

3 - TJ

4 - Lighty

5 - Dawid

6 - Daryl

7 - Deno

8 - Scott

9 - Me

10 - Jasper

Off to find food, will do a full report this evening!

Just finished with the race registration briefing and all the boys are here.

The main talk is not who is here, everyone knows each other by now and rather on the race course. The prediction is for northerly winds. This makes the race extremely technical and hard. No sprint champ is going to win the dragon run.

The first section from the start on the main land will to the 9 pins will be side on and very bumpy. There are little islands everywhere with huge a...

Got the paddling out the way early this morning. There are min boats lying around so wanted to get a turn on what was so hit the water for a spin.

Had to get out the school and explore a bit today. Not worth being kooped up so we headed out to Ocean Park. Did the whole roller coast thing like typical tourists and found this mad cable car where we could see the whole paddling course and the extensive inlands.

Helped offload the boat container so we cou...

So excited to see a new spot, especially a part of the East with tons of culture. When the opportunity came up to head this way for the Hong Kong Dragon Run (www.thedragonrun.com.hk) I didnt hesitate booking the ticket. Arrived very late last night and hooked a spot to stay with a local friend (Thanks Rene) as it was to much of a mission to find the Sea School where I am staying so late. 

Got some sleep last night which is great to try get the jet lag out the system. Missioned from the north of Hong kong down to the south where the b...

Spent the weekend in the berg at my housemates wedding. Inspiring to see fairy tales come true! Great people I have come to call extended family over the last 2 year living together in our digs. So stoked for Warwark and Hev. Go you good things.

The wedding was in Underberg and got a chance to stay at http://www.karmichaelfarm.co.za/ again. Best spot I think I have ever stayed. The view in the morning lookin...

Where will our next champions come from? Well in Ausi the lifesaving system feeds surfski with tons of new talent and it shows in their results recently.

In South Africa the demagraphic of surfski is very old and there need to be a system to get more young people into the sport to create champion for generations to come. The Varsity College Surfskischool has a plan to change the face of surfski and take paddling to the schools.

I shows in the canoeing fro...

My nice light ski was left in the Easter Cape for the Southern Shamaal so i didnt have somethng at hand to train on except the ski's at the Varsity College Surfskischool. Well grabbed one of my new ski's from Custom Kayaks called the Horizon.

I blogged a little about the Horizon a months ago while in the moulding process. I had quite a bit of input into the boat and am proud to see the boat do so well. It has taken off here in SA with...

Really did the layout and photos of my artical in SportsGuide Magazine. So love working with SportsGuide, dynamic people with a propper product pushing sport coverge to a new level. You can pick up a SportsGuide for FREE at all good sports stores or download it off their website www.sportsguide.co.za.

I am very lucky to have Varsity College as one of my awesome sponsors, well there is now a chance you can to take advantage of their new sports programme called 'Sportslife'!

Carole Adam from Varsity College has this to say about the prgramme!

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This is off topic but had to post it. Stayed with Richard 'chopper' Von Wildemann and his dog is just as crazy as he is. Check this out!

Photos thanks to Anton Erasmus of Epic Kayaks and the Southern Shamaal

The highly anticipated Southern Shamaal for 2009 has launched their website. It's is awesome and sets a huge statement for the event, what it represents and where it is going. 

The race has huge history, charator and tradition. With only the international relay this year the oos kaap is going to cook with some of the worlds best surfski paddlers. 

Go check out the site at Read More..

Got 2nd today in a Surfski Series race in PE. Racing Richard Von Wildemann on his home course was interesting. He smoked me over a section through Cape Recife opening a 60m gap I couldn't close. Great to get some race practice in to sharpen the skills, hurt from the big effort the day before in EL.

Here is the Press Release on the race by Game Plan Media

Flat and hot conditions greeted the paddlers this morning on Nahoon beach in East London at national trials. The 31km paddled to Kids beach was going to be tough with a strong field and min wind.

Amoungst my admin chaos there is light, haha. My computer is down, the one I borrowed is not grafting and the mails on my phone are pilling up. I have given up the fight and will deal with it on monday, time to focus on the oos kaap.

This weekend there are some national trials for the Southern Shamaal relay challenge in a couple of weeks. The trials are in the quite little town of East London in the Easter Cape. It's a really special place with classic peo...