Florida Lake Canoe Club participate in 12th High Altitude Surfski competition

Florida Lake Canoe Club’s paddlers took part in the 12th High Altitude Surfski race on Saturday, March 11.

Also read: Canoe club members and friends gather for a braai

Hosted by Dabulamanzi Canoe Club at their Emmarentia Dam home, the only high-altitude surfski race in the world gives paddlers the uniquest of challenges. Surfski is popular on beaches across the world but high-altitude surfski requires the improvisation of motorised boats and jetskis to provide the waves and choppy water.

Also read: Florida Lake Canoe Club fighting the white waters at the annual Vaal River race

The overall winners of the event this year were Emmerentia paddlers, S2 Doubles Surfski duo Bradley Boulle and Michael John Robb. The pair finished in a time of 42 minutes 33 seconds, followed by KwaZulu-Natal pair Andy Birkett and Matt Fenn in a time of 42 minutes and 41 seconds.

The third and fourth-placed teams also hailed from KZN, Wayne Jacobs, and Ricci Talevi finishing ahead of Hank and Pippa McGregor in times of 42 minutes and 45 seconds and 46 minutes and 59 seconds, respectively. Florida Lake’s star was Chantelle Fraser who finished 29th in her second surfski event, a few minutes after the hour mark.

Paddling action will be back at Florida Lake in April with the Florida Lake Dragonboat Regatta to be held on April 10 as well as the Florida Lake Flatwater Race on April 15. The Dragonboats bring colour and flair to the lake while the flatwater event will feature a junior, long, short, and senior race as well as K1, K2, and K3 action.