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Yes, for sure. The best advice is to block every attempt they make to communicate with you.

Thanks for the feedback AB.

hi Lee, I had nearly forgotten about this experience but "enjoyed" watching it again. At some stage in the future I am going to do another Safety video on the topic of how "psychology can kill" you as there were some subconscious developments that led to my putting myself and my buddy in danger

Wyatt, whew, I do hope that you managed to resolve your incident without undue negative impact ? We intentionally did not name the actual extortionists in the video as they have a track record of circulating the pics/videos more often than not. Thanks for your feedback.

@@ForbesRichard did you guys end up going to the police??? I turned in a report.

Good on you for having done so Wyatt. We did not for the simple reason that the police in South African are overwhelmed by violent crime (the 2021 murder rates for the USA and SA respectively, per 100 000, were 6,81 and 36,4) so we did not believe that any action would have been taken.

@@wyattstevensonn9692 No we did not as the SA Police are over-run with violent crime (our murder rate per 100K capita is approx 36 whereas the US is approx 7) and so we held out little prospect of their following up on this matter

Thank you Matt.

Thank you Hardley 🙏

Thanks very much Dan. I will pass on your thoughts to Geoff and Chris 🙏

Thank you Stan. Whilst I do not wish to (self-effacingly or self deprecatingly) deflect your appreciation, I know that I could have been a much better father; that is part of my motivation in developing content for this sub-channel. 🙏

Thank you. Always good to hear from you on this channel. I suspect that your daughter to whom you refer gave you quite a few grey hairs as she went through her teenage years !

@@ForbesRichard She was pretty good, but didn't ask me such questions after that. But I do blame them all for the hair colour and needing longer arms to read things. When lockdowns were announced a few years back they were announced to kick in at midnight. She had a few weeks earlier got her first boyfriend and asked if I could drive her over to see him thinking 10 minutes. I said I'd pick her up just before midnight, 4 hours later. On picking her up she asked, "why I'd left her so long?" I replied, "Time for snogs and snuggles because we don't know how long this will last." She immediately responded, "No!", to the snogs and snuggles so I gave her that look. "Yeah, OK", she came back with a smile.

nod, nod, wink, wink..

Thank you Alex.

Thanks Joe (?), glad you mentioned the school prospect as it also struck me that that might be a good channel for raising awareness. I have sent to one teacher contact of mine so please do pass on to any such contacts that you might have.

Thanks "Y2K".

👊

Thank you Jamii.

Thank you Dave.

Dead right Steve. Fortunately I have indeed learnt from my earlier experiences. Have a look at my more recent SURFSKI SAFETY videos

Thank you Graham 🙏.

sorry Graeme !

Much appreciated again, thanks Nick.

Thanks Charles. Thought provoking response. Re relying on the NSRI. I have spoken to them about this and their view is that provided we are thoughtful, well prepared and know our limits, they are only too happy to help us when the &*^$ hits the fan. And, even if we are idiots (like I have been) they will also apply the same degree of effort to saving us ! There are however quite a few of the very experienced elite paddlers who will go to the nth degree to self rescue. But very few of us have what it takes (skill and mindset) to do that.

hi Keith. I depends on both the conditions and the experience/capability of the paddler. So if you are on a regular SE run in 25kts then many of us could self rescue with just one blade. However if you are on a reverse NW run in 30kts plus (being blown slightly offshore) then it is an entirely different story and most of us would call for help. However, even under such circumstances there are instances of where elite paddlers have made it to shore either by using just one blade with a leg or two out, or by lying on their skis and paddling with arms like a surfboard.

Yep, thanks. I think we have a lot to learn from your fraternity that ventures out in typically more extreme cold weather and water.

It is a different culture and we quite often take flak from the Sea Kayaking crowd for being "reckless". I think it's something akin to camper vans v sports cars (without being derogatory). Why would you load down your sports car with hydraulic jacks and tool kits and camping gear? Downwind paddling is all about sleek, clean, light craft surfing waves. Hanging all kinds of gear like spare paddles on a surfski just doesn't fit the mould. Having said that, I carry VHF, phone, emergency steering kit, flares, etc, and most of us do have some or all of that we're not entirely cavalier. We normally do shorter, quicker paddlers than Sea Kayakers who seem to do longer, adventure type paddling. Respect to each. Different strokes, for different folks, etc.

The "all kinds" of gear you are referring to are really the result of the same though process you went through. Instead of learning by costly mistakes one can take a look at the adjacent sport and pick what is appropriate without resorting to us vs them type of debate. Specifically we are talking about sufficient immersion wear and maybe a spare paddle. The latter shouldn't make you much less slick. Introduce an extra bungee attachment point further out at the stern and that's it.

Neat contrasting and distinguishing analogy, thanks Rob.

Mark, thank you. What are DSC and MMSI ?

@@ForbesRichard they form part of the GMDSS, which the EPIRB you use forms part of. I'll probably botch an attempt at a brief explanation. There are some good explanations on youtube if you search VHF DSC emergency button and VHF MMSI. I considered an EPIRB, but felt the VHF with emergency VHF ability, was a better option for shorter range, close shore emergencies (especially with the ability for two way communication). My unit (IC-M93D) is a bit bigger than those mini EPIRBs, but I carry it in the hydration pouch of my PFD and have done so for a few years now. In my experience as a Helicopter rescue swimmer/ sea survival instructor and having worked at sea for 16 years... the "LOCATION" element of survival is the one given least thought (because we all naturally feel cold, hungry or thirsty), but the old adage; "No one is a survivor, until they have been rescued" is as apt as it gets. Hope that helps, I'm always interested to learn better or newer alternatives.

Thanks, will check out the YT videos. Bit like buying property...."location, location, locatio"

Yep, I too am very lucky to have survived my earlier stupidity/ignorance !

hi Mick, thanks. PLB link: oceansignal.com/products/plb1/. There is NO subscription as it uses the inter-governmental satellite network.

@@ForbesRichard awesome thanks. Where do you get the orange stickers as well?

@@Mickfoil1 Orka Paddles in Main Road Kirstenbosch OR from Ian Black who provides the service of collecting your ski from FHBSC, fitting stickers, and then returning your ski. Pls message me for his number: 076 716 8891

Careful of those black rugby short lest Etzebeth gets hold of you ! 😉

@@ForbesRichard Good thing is I've never been to a Rugby game in my life. An expat South African we had working with us could not comprehend such a thing from a kiwi.

What !!!!! never been....you gotta be kidding me. Our (SA) perspective is that it is an (obligatory) religion down there !

@@ForbesRichard Yeah, I always preferred to be doing things myself. Running, rowing, kayaking, swimming, cycling, tramping, ... nicking the rugby teams ball. 😇

👊

Oh, and I really don't rate wetsuits for paddling. We aren't in the water and as you say, wetsuits are useless when wet and exposed to the wind. Much much prefer garments like reed chillcheater or Rooster aquatherm. If I get too hot when paddling in these, I scoop up some water and dump it down my neck.

Thanks for your feedback Alastair. Will you pls copy links for those two garments that you refer to ?

Thanks very much Rob. I will give you a shout about the cell phone/Safetrax issue (and PLB AIS signals etc) as I think there is room (and appetite) to ensure we know the actual science and practical functioning. Got my sights on a follow up clarification video. 🙏

Thank you Eric.

Thank you Van Zyl.

For sure, thanks Johann.

Thanks Wayne, Watch this space as there is still another chapter relating to more complete justice.

Great Dmitrii, Surfski is fantastic and I really do hope that you get to love the sport as much as we do here in Fishhoek !

Thank you for the feedback 🙏

Thanks Nick 🙏

That sounds like a very interesting observation. Please tell me a bit more ?

@@ForbesRichard Your consciousness at times is just along for the ride. Paddling downwinders provides a "plum" of a situation where you start to react before you realize the situation you are in. You don't have to be aware of something before you do it. You do it because your mind has learned a beneficial outcome from prior experience.

@@elffirrdesign2063 what top sportsmen and women call "being in the zone" or some call it the flow state or being in good form..I agree, sometimes it just seems like the runs flow before you even know they are coming lol. Listen Paddy Upton's pod cast series where he explores this in detail with some of the world's best sportsmen

@@daviddouglas7622 Yeppers

I have no argument with flow state, but I also believe there are times when conditions are so good for you that your primary job is to just keep your mind out of the way. I once "rode" a well trained cattle horse where it got so fed up with my nonsense that it made me get off and walk it back to the corral.

Lekka Dave ! Good to have you back on the water !

Thank you. Yes, In the month before this another 3 skis were bitten and, believe it or not, the day after this incident, in approx the same area, a young woman paddler (expert level, 18yrs old) was bitten in her thigh and dragged out of her ski ! And approx one month ago about 4 surfers were bitten by a small seal while partaking in a competition. In the last month it has been confirmed that seals in the area have tested positive for rabies so it is presumed that such behaviour can be attributed to this factor.

@@ForbesRichard Thanks

Alive and well and still paddling 👊

🙏

thanks for checking out the channel ! If you liked those swells, then how about these ones ? : ruclips.net/video/O6yv4m5UePU/видео.html

hi Rudi, It was super to meet you and thanks for checking out the channel. Gimme a shout when you plan to ride next so we can get our Stumpers to meet each other ! (076 716 8891)

hi Noel, where are you based ? Am also happy to talk to you about this. Pls WhatsApp me on +27 (0) 76 716 8891.

thanks David. It does not appear as though you have any large bodies of water near you ?

Dead right (the Law of Undulation !)

@@ForbesRichard Well I've made a start to getting into a ski, I bought a new to me beginner ski. Looking forward to setting it up and getting wet.

@@gadgetman_nz4092 Nice ! Looking fwd to seeing you on your first run 👊

Thanks Russel.

hi Tom, I use a "regular" paddle made by Orka Paddles (local) www.orkapaddles.com/orka-products/paddles/ (mine is the Inner Pro) length: 183cm with an approx 15 degree feather (that is the first mark on the shaft away from a zero degree feather) I am 6ft1inch. When I first started I used a 187cm length but found that when I shortened it, there was a considerable improvement in my acceleration and stability control. I have tried the Epic Elliptical shaft paddle but could not use it as it triggered my shoulder injury condition (subluxing bicep tendons in both shoulders). What is interesting about this is the fact that different paddle designs result in different load patterns/distributions on your arms and shoulders. In one of my videos Oscar noted that he can see that my feather setting results in an imbalance so clearly I still need to get some coaching on this and fine tuning my feathering. (Oscar advocates zero feather)

@@ForbesRichard Thank you! I’m surprised at the short paddle. I’m 6’ tall with longish arms and (at 66) just started “performance” paddling in a fast sea kayak in June. The experts here in the US advocated a 215 cm paddle (it varies 210-220) which, during my first month, I shortened to 210. It’s an Epic mid-wing. Based on Oscar I started with zero feather. But I noted your hands are very close to the end of the shaft so I guessed you had a shorter paddle. I’m following you with interest as I see you progress and learn and (perhaps most importantly) just paddle. I learned a lot in my first couple months but I have a lifetime of learning in front of me. 🫡

Tom, I sprouted 1.83 without checking but my instinct (prompted by your last note) is that I have got it wrong. I will check today and revert.

yep, I got it wrong. I did not have a tape measure with me but the paddle is quite a bit taller than I am so I suspect that it is set a 212 and that the 3cm reduction that I referred to was from 215 down.

@@ForbesRichard Interesting. I just started performance paddling a couple months ago with a 210-220 mid-wing and based on my early training I keep it at 210 with zero feather. I’m 6’ tall, 66 years old, male, with medium-long arms. But I’m sure my paddle and settings will change as I (hopefully!) improve technically. This site and several others helped me get off to a good start. I’m also paddling a “fast sea kayak” which also affects paddle dynamics, although I retrofitted one of Aussie Mark Sundin’s “Big Foot” foot braces so I could get better leg drive (rather than using side pegs). But surfskis put you in a slightly different position and possibly different height off the water, so that matters, too. One of the best things I did early was to mark where my hands go with a rubber o-ring and cover it with thin silicone tape-something I learned from videos. That reference o-ring really helps me keep my hands in the right place. I placed mine so I either paddle with it inside or outside my little fingers. At some point I’m going to get “real” coaching to fix obvious problems but for now I’m just trying to put in a couple hours of lake paddling every other day and attending to good technique and water feel. Keep up the great work, your site is a true motivation for me to keep progressing! 🫡

Thanks Mal 🤣 ! My PLB is the personal equivalent of a boat's EPIRB.

Yep, I think for most of us, just the ideas of being off ski in deep water is highly intimidating.

It is one of the factors that saved me 2.5 yrs ago. I was in a no cell phone signal area in 35-40kts that had swung offshore creating a haystack minefield. It was the orange and white flashes of my spinning ski (on my longer than average leash) that caught the attention of a 9 yr old on the shore. His Dad called the NSRI. Eventually he was patched into the rescue craft captain to guide them to us.

@@ForbesRichard That must have been terrifying for you. I hope that that young one is reminded every now and again of what they achieved that day.

@@billgardyne7328 Bill, I got to meet him and his Dad a few days later. What an incredible kid ! At age 9 he had already established his own cell phone repair business (all skills learnt on RUclips). You have reminded me that I still plan to do a video that covers that rescue (featuring him and his Dad) as well as my subsequent realisation that the greatest danger in surfskiing is in fact one's mind set. The title will be something to the effect of "Psychology and Culture can Kill You"

@@billgardyne7328 and I forgot to mention that I gave him (Alex Rumbell) one of my watches (not an expensive) on as a reminder of the value of time symbolising the huge contribution he made to the extension of my time/life on this planet