Thanks to Peter Ekström! Thanks to Dawid Mocke! Thanks to all others that made the Surfski Spring Camp 2012 to such a great event! We had a great surfski weekend with Dawid Mocke as the main instructor. Peter Ekström from Globalsurfski.com arranged a very nice, cool and fun surfski camp for the fourth consecutive time. It was, as always, well organized and all activities worked out well. Dawid Mocke contributed a lot with his knowledge and personality. Besides the planned activities most surfski suppliers in Sweden were presented with their skis. The possibilty to try a lot of different skies and gear in one weekend is great. Unfortunetly I was very eager in practising my own paddling and didn’t get the chance to try some new skies.
Dawid Mocke impressed a lot.
Full focus on surfski paddling.
Peter Ekström, to the right, organized a great surfski camp.
The approach to implement a full surfski season in three days was smart.The friday kicked off with pre-season training. Dawid Mocke organized a group paddling where anyone who wanted could join. It was a kind of pursuit that triggered you to put some extra effort into the paddling. Meanwhile taught Leif Davidsson from Aterra the beginner’s course for those who did not have any experience. Conny Edholm, ICF world champion in the K-2 10 000 m event in 1985, held paddling technique courses.
Dawid håller instruktioner inför fredagens paddling.
Conny Edholm
There was a lot of opportunities to check out new stuff and gear.
even more stuff…
Dawid Mocke made his presentations about Oceans ABC on Friday night. Dawid started holding classes in 2003 with his wife and he told us that they have developed the concept over time. It became clear that Dawid was a very experienced lecturer. He has a great approach and explained about surfskiing in a very relaxed, fun and educational way.
Possiblities to try different surfskis.
The Fenn Swordfish got a lot of attention. Bjarne from Lillehammer is trying a Swordfish.
I was very impressed by the Epic V8 in the surf. In surf some paddlers were able to paddle faster ( >20km/h) than others in a lot faster surfskies. Never sacrifice stability to speed… Here is Lars Kristian in his Epic V8.
During Friday night the wind increased, it started to blow more from the north, approx 9-12 m/s (17-23 knots). We had a splendid opportunity to paddle a surfski in waves, both during the morning and afternoon sessions. We were able to practice the theory from Dawids Oceans ABC into practice. Put your nose in the hole and when in doubt – legs out (credit to Hank) worked great! In the afternoon session two different groups set off to do downwind paddling. A shorter distance, a 7 km downwind that turned out to be about 10-11 km and a longer distance, approx 23 km. The evening ended with after surfski and Dawid told anecdotes from his racing career with great sense of humor.
Jonas Fager is preparing to go downwind
Dawid is trying to get someone to paddle into his framing…
Tommy Karls
Leif from Aterra, a surfski enthusiast, in his Vault from Carbonology Sports.
Pedro Pontes in a Fenn Swordfish
Paul Rosenqvist finishing hard after 23 km downwind.
Patric Petersson in a Zedtech Griffin
Epics, V8 and V10 Double.
Martin Nordstrand bought a Fenn Elite SL a couple of weeks ago.
Bloody Westcoast badass surfskier Trent Victor
Coolaste surfski during the camp? Spektrum! 
Lena Karls in a Epic V12
The compact season approach ended on the sunday with a surfski race. The race was on a circular course. Less wind and hardly no swell. There were opportunities to participate in two distances 5 km or 10 km. I chose to start in the 5 km race (which turned out to be 7.5 km). Those who paddled 10 km had to paddle about 15 km. It was nice way to finish the camp and I’m happy with my results, just under 47 minutes. The camp has triggered me even more. I’m now looking for something faster but I’m still remembering Dawid saying: Never Sacrifice Stability to Speed!
Many swedes used drysuit. Dawid did not. Cool heels?
Jonas Hollander from the magazine Paddling tried the new Rapido 2.0.
Roland from Åland sprinted and finishing just in front of me. The start isn’t the most important part of the race…
Oddbjörn owned me! I really wanted to win against him!
Some test paddling during sunday in more sunnier weater.
Martin Nordstrand is almost as tall as his Elite SL is long.
The winners!
I really enjoyed the surfski spring camp but it is a long trip from Goteborg. approx 600 km… It is worth the trip and I really hope Peter will arrange something similar next year.
English
Svenska