Emmarentia Dam became a wave pool for the ninth time at the annual Gauteng High Altitude Surfski Championships.
Dabulamanzi Canoe Club hosted water enthusiasts from all over the country for a bit of fun on 2 March. This included paddling 10 laps (10km) around the dam in surf skis and on stand-up paddle boards.
The catch was that all the while, speed boats and jet skis made their way round and round to create enormous waves for the paddlers to withstand. This required a lot of concentration to maintain balance and a few splashes here and there ensued as people fell into the water.
All-in-all everyone had a lot of fun, which was the purpose of the event. “Surf skis are designed for the seas so it was a lot of fun doing this in Gauteng,” said Dabulamanzi’s chairperson, Graham Neate. “We had 100 crafts on the water and there was an amazing family atmosphere. It is one of our highlights of the year.”
Neate added that prizes were given to winners, and a lucky draw for a surf ski valued at R12 000 was won by a man who then sold the craft to a fellow member for cash to use for study tuition.
As with all events on water, there were also serious racers. They were people who made the waves appear small as they created their own rapids from the pace at which their paddles propelled them around the dam.
Hank McGregor and Wayne Jacobs were in the first surf ski to finish and were the first doubles winners in 00:43:41. The first woman to finish was Bridgette Hartley in 00:52:04. The first mixed doubles were Hayley Nixon and Mike Arthur in 00:46:21.
The first stand-up paddle boarder was Antony Peterson in 00:59:59. The first over 50 crew were Colin Wilson and Nic Oldert in 00:48:18. The first junior was Nongama Makasi in 00:55:28.
Details: Dabulamanzi Canoe Club; 011 486 0979.
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