Great fun at high altitude surfski race
Victoria Lake Canoe Club was represented at the recent Gauteng High Altitude Surfski Championships race.
Surfski races along the coastline have been growing in popularity, and paddlers in Gauteng are feeling left out, especially as rivers become more polluted.
The decision to host a Gauteng High Altitude Surfski Championships race annually has taken the surfski, SUP and sit-on top paddling community by storm, and the race in early March every year is growing from strength to strength with superb sponsorships from Euro Steel, Adreach, Fenn, Set and a number of private individuals.
To make it even more exciting, top celebrity paddlers come from far and wide to challenge the Gauteng champions.
The celebrity status competitors included multiple Dusi winner Andrew Birkett, the world Surfski and marathon champion; as well as multiple Dusi race winner Hank McGregor; the Olympian bronze medallist Bridgitte Hartley and two-times world surfski champion Jasper Mocke.
The race was recently hosted at Emmarentia Dam – 10 laps of the dam made up a 10km hard, fast time trial.
To make the waves – for simulated surf conditions – a number of motorboats and jetskis revved motors up and down the centre of the dam as the paddlers made circuits on the outside – with enormous fun enjoyed by all, especially the spectators, passers-by and drivers.
Richard Cele and Colin Ledwaba from Victoria Lake Canoe Club were among the numerous Gauteng paddlers who took pleasure in the enjoyable event.
They finished in 20th position in a time of 50 minutes.
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