====== South Africa Surfski ====== . Photo: Sharon Armstrong video - [[https://youtu.be/tv_3mxUAcnU|Wild Downwind Durban]] {{:locales:southafrica:sharona_durban.jpg?direct&550x170|sharona_durban.jpg}} ---- **South Africa** is one of the places most responsible for the development and growth of modern surfski paddling. Like other countries with amazing ocean access, there has long been an ocean sport culture in South Africa where kids grow up participating in Life Saving programs and rescue skill related competitions. This culture has spawned famous surfski racers and shows every sign of continuing to foster new generations of skilled and fierce competitors. ---- ===== Safety ===== Please visit and absorb the lessons contained in the [[https://surfski.wiki/incident_reports_new#south_africa|surfski.info safety reports]] posted by experienced South African paddler, Rob Mousley. There are many extreme conditions that regularly occur in the ocean waters along South Africa's coastline. Most experienced local paddlers are familiar with the hazards in their back yard. But some risks can be deceptive, not visually apparent, and not always easy to anticipate or adequately gauge even for knowledgeable paddlers. One example is described by Rob ([[https://www.surfski.info/latest-news/story/1719/fatal-surfski-accident-in-cape-town.html|surfski.info post]]) in discussing the possible causes of a 2021 fatality in the waters off of Cape Town: \\ "The southeaster blows directly offshore on the Atlantic coastline, and it can appear deceptively calm in the lee of the shore, close to the rocks. But a few hundred meters out to sea, the wind, accelerating down the mountainside, can be lashing the water with squalls of 50kt or more. And of course, those howling squalls can arrive without warning, as the southeaster grows in strength. So, it’s possible for a paddler to feel safe in the sheltered water close to the rocks, but in extreme danger from the maelstrom of wind and spray, just a few hundred meters offshore. Adding to the risk is the water temperature. Strong southeasters cause upwellings of cold water: as the warmer surface layer is blown offshore, it’s replaced by frigid water flowing up from the deep."\\ \\ Rob's discussion in the above post goes on to remind readers about critically important communication equipment that can make a difference when paddlers are caught in conditions beyond their ability to paddle out of. * [[https://www.nsri.org.za/|National Sea Rescue Institute]] (you can make donations via their website to show support for the great rescue service they provide) * [[https://surfski.wiki/incident_reports_new#south_africa|surfski.info safety reports]] * … ---- {{ youtube>_cm03Vb632I }} . **Cold Water Risk **the water around the Western Cape is generally colder than the coastline farther east. But it is dangerous to underestimate the risk of somewhat warmer water - extended immersion will still kill you ---- ---- ===== Downwind/Paddles ===== TCSurfski Podcast - Oscar Chalupsky does a guide of South Africa Downwind Runs {{youtube>hNjXj_-jdR8}} ---- ==== Regions ==== ---- **(Coastline West to East)** ---- ==== Western Cape ==== * [[:western_cape|Western Cape]] Knysna, Witsand, False Bay, Fish Hoek, Cape Town, Langebaan… ==== Eastern Cape ==== * [[:eastern_cape|Eastern Cape]] East London, Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha), Cape Recife, St. Francis Bay… ==== KwaZulu-Natal ==== * [[:kwa_zulu_natal|KwaZulu-Natal]] Richards Bay, Durban, Amanzimtoti, Scottburgh… * … ---- ---- ===== Downwind Videos ===== * [[:south_africa_downwind_videos|South Africa Downwinders]] * … ---- ===== Weather ===== * For more specific weather and conditions look at the [[:south_africa#regions|regional SA pages]] listed above. * [[https://wind2speed.africa/|Wind2Speed]] created by windsurfers, with more information on the Cape Town area than elsewhere. But there may be some useful information here for surfskiers also. * [[https://www.wasaproject.info/docs/2_windclimatesafrica2010.pdf|Wind Patterns in South Africa]] * … ---- ===== Injury and Recovery ===== * [[https://www.facebook.com/oceanridersacademy/|Ocean Riders Academy]] - **Durban** technique, training, rehab ---- ===== Coaching ===== * [[https://www.blueabyss.co.za/|Blue Abyss ]][[https://www.blueabyss.co.za/|Aquatics ]]**St**** Francis Bay** [[https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063624398474|facebook page]] * [[https://surfskischool.co.za/|Mocke Surfski School ]]**Fish**** Hoek** * [[https://www.facebook.com/PaddlingAcademyDurban/|Paddling Academy]] (facebook) **Durban** * [[https://www.facebook.com/www.barrylewin.co.za/|South Africa Surf Ski]] (facebook) **Durban (Salt Rock) Barry Lewin** * [[http://www.wilddogza.com|WildDogs]]** - Durban, Linton Hope** * [[:coaches|Online Coaches]] * [[:training_camps#south_africa|Training Camps]] ---- ===== Groups & Clubs ===== ---- [[https://www.varsitycollege.co.za/surfski|Varsity College]] ==== Interior ==== * **Gauteng** * **Johannesburg** * [[http://dabulamanzi.co.za/|Dabulamanzi Canoe Club]] * [[https://www.facebook.com/FloridaLakeCanoeClub/|Florida Lake Canoe Club Facebook]] * [[https://www.gcu.co.za/|Gauteng Canoe Union]] ==== Coastline West to East ==== * **Western Cape** * **False Bay** * [[https://www.fhbsc.co.za/|Fish Hoek Beach Sports Club]] * [[http://www.fishhoeksurf.com/|Fish Hoek Surf Lifesaving Club]] * [[https://strandlifesaving.co.za/|Strand Surf Lifesaving Club]] * **Cape Town** * [[https://www.strava.com/clubs/251978|Cape Town Surfski Paddlers]] * [[https://www.peninsula-canoe.org.za/|Peninsula Canoe Club]] * [[https://www.facebook.com/MilnertonSLC/|Milnerton Surf Lifesaving Club Facebook]] * [[https://wccanoeunion.co.za/|Western Cape Canoe Union]] * **Stanford** * [[https://www.facebook.com/groups/233541187016324/|Stanford Canoe Club]] (facebook) * … * **Eastern Cape** * [[https://www.eccu.co.za/|Eastern Cape Canoe Union]] * **East London** * [[https://www.bordercanoeclub.co.za/about-us/|Border Canoe Club]] * **Port Elizabeth ****(Gqeberha)** * [[https://www.facebook.com/bwcc.paddling|Blue Water Canoe Club Facebook]] * **KwaZulu-Natal** * **Durban** * [[https://www.facebook.com/DurbanSurfski/|Durban Surfski Facebook]] * [[https://kingfishercanoeclub.co.uk/|Kingfisher Canoe Club]] * [[https://duc.co.za/surfski/|Durban Undersea Club/Point Watersports Club Surfski]] * … ---- ===== Races ===== [[:races:race_calendars|Worldwide Race Calender Page]] * [[:races:races_south_africa|]] * [[:races:south_africa_race_reports|Race Reports]] * [[:races:race_results#south_africa|Race Results]] * … ---- ===== Surfski Dealers/Makers/Equipment ===== **Dealers** * [[https://carbonologysport.com/|Carbonology Sport]] (based in Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha)) * [[https://www.fennkayaks.com/|Fenn]] (based in East London) * [[http://www.knysnaracingkayaks.com/surf-skis/|Knysna]] (based in Knysna) * [[https://www.orkapaddles.com/|Orka Paddles]] (based in Cape Town) paddles, rudders, accessories, Fenn Surfskis * Revo Kayaks formerly based in Durban - Bought and moved to Australia ([[https://www.facebook.com/revokayakaustralia|Revo Australia Facebook]]) **Equipment** * [[https://durbansurfski.com/store/|Durban Surfski]] **Used** * [[:used_boats_equipment#south_africa|South Africa Used Equipment]] ---- ===== Video ===== * [[:south_africa_downwind_videos|South Africa Videos]] * [[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuykg4We5c_BViNpgnJEDdX_ln2_Smb8L|Surfski TV Africa Youtube Playlist]] * … ---- ===== Resources ===== * [[https://paddleafrica.co.za/|Paddle Africa]] Surfski adventures * [[http://thepaddlemag.co.za/|The Paddle Mag]] * [[https://surfski.info|Surfski.info]] Premier website for surfskiers, based in SA * [[https://www.sup-surfski.co.za/|SUP & Surfski Tribe]] Cape Town, Lessons, Shuttles, Repairs * [[https://www.wavescape.co.za/surf-reports/wavescape-ocean-watch.html|Wavescape South Africa Beach Breaks]] * [[https://www.wavescape.co.za/spots/spots-by-region/false-bay.html|False Bay]] ---- ===== Wildlife ===== (we know, just a drop in the bucket, but sometimes we may be able to include something to watch out for either to avoid or enjoy) * [[:wild_life#south_africa|Sea Life near South Africa]] * … ---- **Miller's Run Sight** - photo D. Mocke [[https://youtu.be/BhrYSwHqCGE|video]] {{:locales:southafrica:millers_whale.jpg?direct&600x279|millers_whale.jpg}}