Riders enjoy the Emmarentia Dam surf
EMMARENTIA – Emmarentia Dam was turned into coastal-like conditions for the Gauteng High Altitude Surf Ski Championships.
The calm and gentle ripples of the Emmarentia Dam were turned into coastal-like waves for the fun and adrenaline-filled Gauteng High Altitude Surf Ski Championships on 3 March.
The Dabulamanzi Canoe Club was alive with action as spectators were welcomed by bagpipers at the world’s only high altitude surf ski race. The well supported annual event saw various teams and individuals compete on paddle boards and surf skis.
Some competitors were in serious sporting gear and others dressed in fun outfits for the occasion.
Because the surf skis and paddle boards are designed for rough waters, speed boats and jet skis circled the dam to generate waves for the more than 100 participants.
The official race was won by the Dabulamanzi crew of Dave Hamilton-Brown and Wayne Jacobs in a time of 00:43:10 followed by Piers Cruickshanks and Michael Arthur in 00:43:14. Andy Birkett and Colin Wilson came in third in 00:43:27.
The club’s Jennie Dallas said, “We had a lovely race that was alive with action.”
Dallas thanked all the race sponsors who provided everything from food to fuel on the day.
The competition was set on a demarcated course of 10km long for surf skiers and 6km for paddle boarders, which proved to be quite a challenge with the man-made rough waters.
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