SURFSKI SAFETY Lessons from the STORM

After determining that a Reverse Millers Run would be too risky with 50Kt+ gusts I decided to head for the vlei (Afrikaans word for a small body of water, a little lake) to test my ability to paddle directly into 30, 40 and perhaps even 50Kts**. It did not go very well ! **In fact, a max wind speed of 61.4 Kts was recorded at Zandvlei at 11.00am. I was there between approx 7.30 and 8.30am Inevitably Mother Nature had a few lessons in store for me: 1. How not to increase your chances of a swim in heavy conditions 2. Leash failure lessons 3. Paddling directly into 30+ Kts is extremely demanding. There are not many of us that could paddle themselves out of trouble for long or far. How about you ? How long/far can you paddle INTO 30, 40 or 50Kts ? NSRI: Thanks for watching and helping raise just a little bit of money for them