Nightmare conditions force surfski opener abandonment
The much anticipated series was postponed due to the winds that reached up to 70km/h and swells as high as three metres.
GALE force winds and treacherous seas conditions on Friday forced the postponment of the opening leg of the Illovo Suncoast Wall and Back Surfski Series.
The decades old event that was revived last year brings many surfski enthusiasts to the Durban beachfront on designated Friday evenings in October and November annually to partake in the eight kilometre mad dash to the harbour wall and back.
This is a popular way to kick start the weekend in Durban, home to the largest surfski population in the world. It will however, have to wait another week though as Mother Nature once again turned the ocean upside down.
The much anticipated series was postponed due to the winds that reached up to 70km/h and swells as high as three metres.
“If you head from Pirates to the habour wall you’d be paddling straight into the teeth of the wind,” explained elite paddler Barry Lewin.
“Paddling into strong winds is any paddler’s worst nightmare” he added.
The series consists of six races on consecutive Fridays and will now get underway a week later than initially scheduled.
The opening leg of the Illovo Suncoast Wall and Back Surfski Series will now take place on Friday, 24 October and will conclude on Friday, 28 November.
