Race got away cleanly at 9am with the downwind leg first up down towards the city. Even though it is on a lake and it’s fresh water there were some really nice runner all the way to the turn at the North Breakwater.

Dawid was fast out the blocks as normal and went onto his wave to the first buoy. It broke up as soon as we caught our first run. I stayed a little closer in. I have never paddled this section so was relying on my Garmin to sho...

Just finished the race registration and dinner here in Chicago for tomorrows 3rd running of the Chicago Shoreline Marathon on Lake Michigan.

Weather.

The weather has been back and forth and I have seen 3 different wind directions in as many days. Unfortunately the wind for to...

I got in late last night to Chicago. Tim Flentye of www.chicagoshorelinemarathon.com has been amazing setting us up with an amazing spot to stay. Loved my first day here. Had the best coffee eva and went to the Museum of Science and Industry.

Felt like a kid again. Even had a tour around a real U Boat German Sub. Hectic stuff. The city is...

Have had a couple days in San Francisco before heading up to Chicago. Been hanging with Dawid Mocke who is always great to travel with. Super pumped to do stuff and explore new spots and we certainly made the most of it.

Kindly expat saffa Robin Graham put us up in Woodside near the Stanford University so have really got a chance to see a ton of San Francisco this trip. Have hung out in Fort Baker, Sausalito, Berkeley, the City, San J...

Dawid and I have only climbed in the boat together twice. The first time was 3 years ago when we won the US Surfski Champs Doubles race and again today.

The race was a simple 16km out and back from Berkeley in the bay. The wind picked up really strong really early in the morning so there were some really solid bumps rolling in for the bay standards.

We sat really well on the back of the bunch with 2 Ausi parings doing the wo...

Paddling in San Francisco is super fun, small waves and strong wind. It has a third element that certainly throws a curve ball into the mix every time. Current dominates the Golden Gate. It’s impossible to read even for the locals.

In the years gone by it has been difficult to race here but didn’t have a huge ...

The demo day went off really well today. There are tons of doods from around the states that only get a chance once a year to see other paddlers and the new kit on the market. All the states distributors had people trying boats all day and I gave a lesson to some keen paddlers. This is the third time I have been over here and I can deffinately see drastic growth.

It's Friday evening and the people I am staying with on mate Carter ‘100 miler’ John...

Did a lesson today in Berkeley during the demo day. Went off really well and really enjoyed giving a lesson to a very different crowd with massively different questions than back home. Had paddlers from both the coasts and as far as New York! Had to limit the class to 5 so I could spend some quality time with each paddler. Really good fun passing on some knowledge.

Mike, Tom, Jim, Steve and Jeff
 

My week in LA is coming to an end. Tomorrow I hit the long drive to San Francisco for this the USA Surfski Champs. The week in LA has been a huge success. Jetlag has been kicked really fast, got in some really good training at the Newport Aquatic Centre and meet some classic people along the way.

DeAnne and Patrick Hemmens of Ocean Paddle Sports have been amazing, given me a bed (more like a second home) and allowed me to torment their kids....

What am I doing in the states?

Is it the place? Is it the cool people? Is it the lifestyle? Is it the accents? Is it the unknown?

What do I want and where am I going?

This mystery is yet to be answered! Maybe it’s as simple as chasing a dream.

Mate Dan Hugo has written two classic blogs on the torment of chasing such a dream. I really enjoyed reading these and they are certainly worth checkin...

Missed the states trip last year, now am wondering why as I really love California.

Got I Friday after a long but good flight. My Joberg Washington was empty and got some sleep, a first. So cool hearing such drastically different accents. The USA is so spread out you can’t really call it one country but ...

All photos by Jon Ivins, www.jonivins.com thanks to Max Cluer Sports Marketing, www.maxcluer.com.

My rocking Rudy's

Mad Max out load, what's new.

Garmin 405

<...

With the race on Sunday I decided to take Monday off training. My states trip is looming and needed to get away so decided to meat up with some friends in the berg. It’s quite a drive, some 2,5 hours inland but I have never been up Sani Pass, something every Sout...

These races just don’t disappoint. Probably my favourite events of the year. These is no pressure and get to really enjoy the day out with some of my team Jeep mates.

I choose to race 2 man teams with Varsity College’s Craig Turton. Craig had an awesome run leading the team event. I haven’t been riding with all my prep for the states in the coming weeks so my job was to survive with no crashes or mistakes. It went really well. Didn&r...

My computer dood, the IT legend Dave has been working on a Twitter aplication for www.barrylewin.co.za, well it's done. Thanks Dave! You can now follow my tweets on the right hand side of the blog under the registration or if you are on Twitter click the 'Follow Me' tag to check out my Twitter page!

I missed the first race of the Jeep Multisport Series, well not going to miss the second this weekend.

Let me put this straight, I am no runner and I am no biker but these are simply the funnest events ever, they are very achievable for anyone. Check out the info at www.maxcluer.com and get the the family to Shongweni on Sunday! 

This is way off topic but found it such good reading i had to put it up. The surfing industry is in debate over a new world tour. Read this artical for ll the details: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25858526-5013449,00.html. What a cool place to be in. The ASP are dominating with the best live coverage of sport already with webcam technology and surfing is about to up it's game even more to main stream coverage in the US. Now isn't this where Surfski should be headed!

According to the Durban papers I was going to be defending my title at the Avon this week. Pity they haven’t been reading this website or they would know I am focusing on my surfski racing and am about to head to the USA. I will be back at the Avon one day, it’s and amazing race.

Ash and Clint training last year!

There were some would class Saffa’s at the race worth a shout out. Clint ‘Lighty’ Pretorius and his Ausi part...

Was going to write a full report on the new Horizon but in reading the article on www.customkayaks.co.za which sums up all of what I was going to say there is not point! Please check out the site for a detailed explanation of the boat with tons of pics. This boat is going to be a complete win. So super stable my Grandmother could paddle it!

It's been classic being involved in the design process and see such a possitive result. Let me tell you shaping a ski is really hard graft, well done to Custom Kayaks!
 

I have the first Horizon by Custom Kayaks down at the Varsity College Surfskischool this morning and managed to snap some pics. Full story to come!

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