​The Prone paddlers set out with the long course participants, making some team and individual trips to Robben island.

The four teams of 2 paddlers swopped out every 7.5 kilometres to make up the race distance.

Their prone Freedom Paddle experience is described here by Kit Beaton:

A brutal headwind 10 km start to the island….. Sheet rain squalls and some shelter on the inside of the island… Incredible runs along the side of the island!

We suffered a lot from cold, and actually had a few situations. Nothing escalated, as we managed to bail the boys out.  Naor was in a rash vest and a pair of jammers.  We had to get him into a wetsuit halfway across the channel. He lost about 3 minutes or so – bailing him out of potential hypothermia, just making sure he completed. Heath also went into quite a cold state on the support boat afterwards.

It was so gnarly at one stage that, actually, paddling was almost easier than the support boat!

I warned them all but they didn’t want to listen to me. They are all “laaities,” and they want to go as light as possible, as fast as possible.

I think everybody learnt a vital lesson. If you get cold; you lose energy. You lose energy; you go slow. If you get more cold – you’re gonna have to DNF (did not finish).

That’s what could’ve happened – but it didn’t happen and everybody was super stoked.

Only three of seven paddlers stayed the full Freedom Paddle course. Conditions were gnarly enough to chase away even some of the very best.

Due to this weather, the SUPS were prevented from rounding the island, but still did a hefty 22km there-and-back course, just 5kms short of the full route. 

Sinda’s long paddle was filled with a variety of emotions:

“It was intense at the beginning – everyone bailing out ! When I looked behind me, there was no one – no boat, no one! Then the fog started AND there was rain.

I couldn’t see the island and I was going in the wrong direction because there was no one in front of me, no one at the back of me!

I couldn’t see Cameron because the swell was so big! It was like mountains, you know – it just covers.  You can’t see anything, you can’t see anyone…. There were big waves breaking on the island. I could actually see it…. I paddled for like an hour 45 minutes, but I couldn’t get to the island. I could see the lighthouse, but I couldn’t get into it, and I was like, “I’m just gonna turn around.”

So I told Steve (on the safety boat) and he was like, “NO!”…. He told me I’m so close – the island was 3km away from where I was!

I got to the island, and saw some penguins on the way – that was one of my wonderful experiences in the race.

I even saw a bus – just imagine! I’m like, “Oh! How did they get the bus there on Robben Island?”

Anyways, I turned around and as I was paddling back, I saw Rudy. I told him, “Bro’ you already close, you just need to go there and come back.”

On my way back it was intense. It was not fun at all because the wind had died down, so we were not doing a downwind, it was like side swell…..I can’t measure it, but I know it was big. Side chop and there was no wind , so we had to paddle back you know!

Yah, it was TERRIBLE, in one way, it was terrible AND hectic at times.” (Sinda Simoni)

Rudy, as the newest SUP paddler, took on a massive task by entering the long course:

“The conditions were trying for sure, as you know, most of the field dropped out.

I just kept pushing – at one point I had to check my watch to see if I was still moving forwards, and I always had to check behind me to see if I was getting anywhere, ‘cos a lot of times it just felt like I was paddling on the spot.

A lot of persistence and just having casual chats with the canoeists as they came past…. I was definitely a back marker and the slowest out there, but it was great. It was good fun and I eventually got to the island and we headed back.

I can’t believe I lost my legs on the way back! It was just really, really so difficult, and my legs were the ones that went first – cramping, just from keeping upright on the board.  I can’t believe or imagine what Cameron and Sinda went through because they were obviously up on their legs a lot more.

It was definitely the hardest paddle I’ve been on and can’t wait to join the next one. I hope that it will be a little bit easier. It was super fun! Loved the camaraderie, loved the support. A lot of support there – that was very cool.”

(Rudy Kindler)

Cameron’s story echoes his journey to World Champ status – waiting, and being ready for the right time:

“I’ve been keen to do this race for a while, but the first time I was too seasick, the next time I was sick, then I had a knee injury – so it’s been a long time.

When I got back from Italy I was definitely in a really good mindset, especially after going against the standard those guys race in. I’ve found my new self in paddling: to push past my limit, which I never thought I could.  I did lots of distance paddling with Rory, and was just excited to get on the water and paddle.

Once the race eventually started, it was a gruelling 10 or 11 kilometres towards the island. You don’t get much worse headwind than we had – almost 30 knots, with 3-4 metre big side swell. With the added surprise of mist and rain towards the island, even making it there was an achievement!

When my Dad came past and said some paddlers had pulled out, I thought, “I’m really alone now.” I got a pretty good lead in the start, and was in the mentality to paddle by myself and to my best ability. I did not want to draft anyone or paddle with them, but just to stay in my own bubble, really. I went off on my own mission. My dad who was in the safety boat, also had to look after the other paddlers,  so he was constantly going up and down. 

There were moments I was stuck out at sea in 4m swell, wind, rain, no one around me… I literally felt so lonely.

I was feeling a little nervous, but was so zoned in. I wasn’t going to let anything stop me. Let me just get there, and I’ll treat it like a downwind home and finish strong.

I got to the island after about 2 hours of paddling in the crazy headwind.  I was already so sore and tired, but my mind just took over.

I didn’t feel like I was paddling – my mind was just doing its work. It became like an emotionless paddle. 

On the way back it was just a home run from there.  My dad stuck with me the whole way, which is amazing. Catching as many bumps as I could, like it was just a 10km.  As if I didn’t even paddle 10km into the wind before, I  treated it like a race on the way back. I was just enjoying myself.  My legs, however, were cramping and aching like never before from all the balancing. I fell off quite a few times, but I was on a 23″ wide board.

I finished really strong and was greeted towards the end with a nice crowd, everyone cheering. I didn’t really know how to pace an over-20km race; so I just treated it like it was a 10km race. I had a pretty good pace for that distance.

Great race! I hope to do it again next year, hopefully with some great conditions!” (Cameron Tripney)

These race descriptions give us a great summary of the event. If you know the paddlers, you’ll hear them exclaiming as you read it:

“The race was terrible!  It was hard! It was hectic! It was intense!  But I told myself I’m gonna do the race, no matter what it takes. I’m gonna go to Robben Island and back.” (Sinda Simoni)

“Hopefully I’ll recover some time this week. It was really such an experience.” (Rudy Kindler)

“It was a great, great day and this was one hundred percent, by far, the toughest thing I’ve ever done! Not even just in paddling – just the toughest thing, mentally and physically.  When I got out of the water I was broken; I was dehydrated; I was sore; my vision was messed up. I just didn’t stop paddling, so it truly showed me what is possible and what’s not. You can really push your body past the limits to what you think you can’t do.” (Cameron Tripney)

“Absolutely brutal, really tough!  It’s really amazing that Rudy, Sinda and Cam made it to the island and back. Once you got closer to the island you were in the lee of the wind and the swell, so it was ok.  It was the two and a half hours that it took to get there which is absolutely horrific, so well done!”  (Gary Van Rooyen)

“Seeing Sinda and Rudy finish, broken and relieved was the best sight ever. So proud of these paddlers. Cam made it clear why he is such an accomplished paddler – swooshing through wind, swell and chop like a hot knife through butter. (Evette Terblanche)”

This is why we paddle: the joy, the pain, the thrill of the chase and the challenge! Surviving nature’s lashings becomes another tale to store in our mental paddling journal.

Always keep in mind that the ocean (or any body of water) is not a force to be overcome, but an element to be respected – don’t paddle outside of your abilities, but work on them to become stronger.

Paddle safe, paddle strong!

Bravo, Freedom Paddlers!

All photos courtesy of Prescient Freedom Paddle photographers.

The dawn of a lazy, rainy Muizenberg Saturday rolls in with glee as the bed beckons loudly…. but then you remember the surf comp is on and that trumps the call of the mattress!! Boards out, suits out…. and the memorable pull of the tide has you running!

The gentle morning rains did not deter the ins and outs racing today. It’s a real challenge to paddle when the buoy seems to be so far away that it’s almost out of sight!  The paddlers returned from lap one in a state of breathless accomplishment, vowing to do more fitness training in the future! Ever inspiring, Tom and Tarryn King torpedoed their way through the distance at speeds unknown, stopping only when done to look back for the paddlers left behind.

Some nice tussles developed at the finish line between the eager newcomer Rudy Kindler, and the stalwart Gary van Rooyen, sadly leaving Gary with a pulled calf muscle. Rudy then went on to hit the surf on a board he did not even know. This guy is fully sold on SUP is all we can say! We were treated to some stellar surfing from Tammy, Sinda and Chelsea, whom we’ve not seen for a while, as well as the local squaddies and some of our central and northern suburbs paddlers out here on a special “local visa.”

OPEN WOMEN:

1. TARRYN KING
2. EVETTE TERBLANCHE
3. MISSY VOLKER
4. GABY NORDGAARD
5. CHELSEA VAN ROOYEN
6. LYNNE BEACHY-HEAD
7. CANDACE WATT

The surfing heats had to be reshuffled at the start due to quite a few cancellations, but the paddlers had the benefit of some generous waves and little wind, with the blessing of the sun to encourage them. Judging by the post-surf smiles, the waves had injected all with their usual stoke!

The SUP-SURFING results were as follows:

LEGENDS’ SUP SURF:

1. MIKE TERON
2. RORY SMYTHE
3. MARK HENDRICKS
4. RICK VOLKER
5. PETE HANES

DIVAS’ SUP SURF:

1. EVETTE TERBLANCHE
2. CANDACE WATT
3. MISSY VOLKER
4. MEGAN SMITH
5. LYNNE BEACHY-HEAD

Thanks to Billy Ackerman of PB Surfing for the remarkable photography, as always, capturing the essence of the activities!

Thanks also to Gary van Rooyen of Xpression / Olympic South Africa for another spectacular event!

Well done to the paddlers – we wish you all the best for the upcoming competitions this year!

A fantastic effort by all paddlers brought in the following results:

Legends:

Plate final:  1. Guy Mottram, 2. Terry Allan , 3. Craig Girdlestone, 4. Francois Terblanche, 5. Rick Volker

Cup final:  1. Rory Smyth, 2. Gary Van Rooyen, 3. Adrian Van Varik, 4. Ernest Van t’Riet

Open Women: 

1. Tarryn King 2. Evette Terblanche 3. Melissa Volker 4. Cailin Vincent (prone)

Open Men:

Plate final: 1. Nick Louw 2. Rudy Kindler

Cup Final: 1. Cameron Tripney 2. Jadon Wessels (prone) 3. Rob Fowler

A great race, on a great day, in a bustling vicinity of the Waterfront –  we are so grateful to the host and organisers, SUP Cape Town, for arranging the fun-filled event, and the generous blessings afterwards with which the paddlers were showered.

Now that all the racing gears are in sync, we’ll see you at the next event in March, for some surf skills and the ultimate ins and outs challenge! Get on it!

Images will be available on social media as they become available.

Velddrif, home of the West Coast Canoe Challenge.

“Sign up,” they said….. “It’ll be a flat water race,” they said….

The weather, however, seemed to think it was time for some effort after the lazy days of December, and blew in some challenges for the first race on the SUPSA calendar.

The original course had been altered to allow a scenic paddle through the canals of Port Owen, allowing viewers a better chance at supporting their favourite watermen and women. As race day dawned, these had to be altered or shortened to alleviate chaos and sheer exhaustion setting in when paddlers have to fight against prevailing winds.

A race day is never without a spot of drama amongst paddlers, leaving us stories to tell in recovery time. This time it was Cameron Tripney, our Junior World Sprint Champ, who was leading the field with headway to spare when dilemma struck.

The safety boat crew including Coach Dad had not been informed of the latest course change which took place at the race briefing, and so he proceeded to turn the leader of the pack around, convincing him that he was heading in the wrong direction. When the next SUP paddler came along, this safety officer started to smell the bokkoms, and wondered what on earth these paddlers were thinking! He was promptly informed that Cameron had been heading in the right direction – oops!!! He dashed off to tell Cameron to turn around… you can surely imagine the many expletives hitting the surrounding ears…..(@£$%^&*) Of course, being the competitive soul he is, Cameron got right back on course and pumped his way back to the lead, taking it comfortably.

Our other World Sprint Champ, Tarryn King, also gave us an indication of what a blessing it is to have someone at your side, coaching and guiding you through the rough spots to help you achieve your very best. Tom King gave up pushing for his own race to keep her going and help her get through. What an exemplary waterman and loving husband / coach!

Our new paddlers were in awe of the experience, and Sameer Agherdien, who had travelled all the way from the “windy city” of PE / Gqeberha, exclaimed that Velddrif could be vying for that title. He bravely paddled the short course, and made it safely back in under the watchful eye of the safety boat. He stated that it was “lekker to have shared the waters with the best in the game,” making his travels worthwhile. We even had some prone paddlers  join in for the great river experience! Now that’s hard work, with only your body, no help from a paddle at all! 

The value of these races is inestimable. You need to try them, no matter what level of paddling you are at.

Start small, join the fun short courses. In time your strength will grow and you will surprise yourself at what you can aim for. Join your local squad paddling sessions or time trials for group support and a valuable extra “push” from peers and coaches.

Racing and training are the essence of improvement.

They offer opportunity for travel and the joy of social interaction with like-minded water warriors. And for those of you that have not done the West Coast paddle, there’s opportunity to experience the delicacies of far-away shores, like Bokkoms – the West Coast speciality of dried fish (mullets) “biltong” as a special reward!

Racing is the prize –  so get your race pace on for 2023!

For more race images, click to view our Facebook race album:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=StandUpPaddlingSA&set=a.581248757378014

(Feedback by Gary Van Rooyen)

Thursday’s forecast predicted epic KITING weather for the SUP race day!!

The paddling die-hards tightened their tie-down straps and left home. They were off to the well-known Breede River Lodge hosting the “Pili Pili Whale of a Race” in Witsand. They had an old score to settle, and the race was only a part of it.

The paddlers all knew it would be windy from the start, but they turned up on race day with their heads in the game.

Due to the priority of safety first, and with no NSRI boat on duty, it was agreed that there would be no crossing over the river mouth. This area can be tricky with the current going out & the swell to work through, let alone during a strong wind.

The race was shortened to around 5km out of the regular 7km, which was a bit disappointing to the regulars, but it made sense when they had to start in the harbour due to the wind factor. No one  could stand in a straight line outside the harbour!

The course involved a paddle with the wind upstream to a buoy about 100m away. Paddlers went around the buoy and back into the wind for about 3,5km, all the way down to a sand spit.

There was lots of falling and jostling – trying to find the best line with the current going out and the wind coming towards you was no easy task. There was also about a two foot wave mid-river, so it was best to steer clear or stay to the side of that.

Some paddlers got off to a great start, but others had lots of falls. Tarryn King broke away quickly from the ladies’ group. In the men’s department, it was our Junior Sprint Champion Cameron Tripney who darted off, leaving all in his wake – making it difficult for the other guys to catch up,  so the lineup held fast with a slight shift mid-race.

Eventually it was Cameron Tripney who took it home, with a lovely downwind from the sand spit all the way home –  a very easy run. Tom King came in second, Miggie really showed up well, coming in third place!

The two prone paddlers did exceptionally well too, with Jadon coming in 3rd overall in the men’s section, and Cailin earning second place overall in the ladies’ division – impressive work! According to Jadon, the event really lived up to its name of being at the “Xtreme Sport Centre!”

The first lady of SUP was Tarryn King, followed later by Evette Terblanche. Some really nice prizes went to Candace who spent a bit of time on her knees, but hats off to some of the girls like Lynne and Gaby too – it was a tough day but they did incredibly well. Charles too!

Sadly this was the last race – the owners have sold the restaurant, and we hope they can host another race in their new location.

This news, however, did not mar a great weekend, with the highlight being the continuation of a traditional post-race beer pong rivalry. The “wild horses,” Gary and Candace, almost reached the finals, but were unable to topple the unbeatable duo and owners of Pili Pili – Neels and Craig – who have won for 8 years running! This game is serious business, as surely as were the sore heads on Sunday morning!

So is this the end of an era? We hope not, and we are confident that the beer pong champions will find a new venue and a new race to continue the legacy! The SUP addicts will be there, still trying to settle that beer pong score!