Beachbum Beachblog » Stand Up Paddle Boarding

International Coreban Summer Stand Up Surfing Series

surfer — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 10:51:53 +0000

Day one of the Coreban Summer Stand Up Surfing (SUP) Series kicked off at Canal Walk in Century City near Cape Town yesterday with over 80 entrants from around the world battling it out on the gruelling 4 kilometre course around the Century City village’s canals and waterways.

The four day event, which includes sprint racing, wave-riding, Le Mans Formula 1 racing and endurance racing, began with long distance stand up paddle board racing.

The men’s event was won by German Andreas von Blottnitz. Jonathan Rosslind and Greg Bertish managed to do South Africa proud by coming in second and third respectively.

Germany took the ladies’ event as well, with Gabi Ott coming in first. Karina Figl from Austria tied with Natasha Pietersmann for second place.

The SUP series will continue until Saturday. If you’re in the area for holiday gift shopping, take some time out to see some of the worthwhile, upstanding action. Today presents the Le Mans Formula 1 surf slalom while the wave riders will battle it out on Friday.

2009 South Coast Surf Carnival

surfer — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:05:59 +0000

All of South Africa’s hottest up and coming young surfing talent is gathered in the KwaZulu-Natal town of Scottburgh this weekend for the seventh annual South Coast Surf Carnival. The event has grown to become one of the province’s premier water sports events dedicated to longboarding, Kitesurfing, Stand-up-paddleboarding, and, for the first time this year, kayak fishing.

The event will see South Africa’s current junior longboarding champion Scott Lefevre from Umhlanga vying to snap up yet another title. He will have to contend with Kane Bennewith and Jago England, both from Durban.

Bryce Rawlings from Umhlanga will also be there to defend his junior kitesurfing title. The kitesurfing component of the carnival is the longest running kitesurfing event in South Africa and will take place at Scottburgh’s main beach in front of the Cutty Sark Hotel.

Apart from the contest part of the Carnival, there will also be surfing lessons provided by uShaka Surf and Adventures. The clinics are open to everyone who want to learn how to surf. There will also be Stand-up-paddleboarding in the lagoon. The clinics will be run by qualified instructors and is great for helping novice surfers who wish to find their feet on the water.

The event kicks off tomorrow, 7 November and runs through Sunday, the 8th.

Stand Up Paddling Event Africa’s First

surfer — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 10:22:30 +0000

Last Tuesday, history was made in South Africa when more than fifty of the country’s top male, female and junior stand up paddlers descended upon Canal Walk near Cape Town to participate in the first ever stand up paddle boarding event in Africa.

This sport, once practiced by ancient Hawaiian kings, might be new to the continent, but that didn’t make the stand up paddlers participating in the Men’s Health Canal Challenge (presented by Coreban Hawaii) any less competitive. It was intense racing to the end as athletes used special one sided paddles to attain speed.

But the fierce competition among the stand up paddlers was all for a good cause, proving them all to be upstanding citizens too. All proceeds from the event were donated towards Ikahya Le Themba, a non profit organisation supporting Aids orphans.

“The great thing about the event was that the athletes really wanted to use this unique event to give back to the community,” said Ivan van Vuuren, contest organiser.

Greg Bertish ended up taking home first place honors in the men’s pro division, with Tracey Heard beating the rest of the ladies.

Picture Source: Premier Production.