Never Say Never: A Surfski Vacation in Cape Town to Remember Forever

New Jersey was, and still is, my home sweet paddling home… until recently: I yearned for an escape. For the past four years, I worked tirelessly on re-establishing first, the Toms River Paddling Race, then once, the D&R Canal Race, founding a limited liability company to promote paddlesports racing in New Jersey, and finally, yanking the collars of the administrators in Toms River Township to let me have a venue permit just one last year to make the Toms River Paddling Race survive its 50th Anniversary in 2023. Without having to worry about directing another event this summer, my paddling goals radically shifted from supporting other athletes to supporting myself. The moment had come for me to live the philosophy I often preach to my students: Never run from fear; instead, run after it until you’ve conquered it! Suddenly, a revolution formed in my thinking: why would I not go directly to the surfski capital of the world and get lessons from the great Mocke Paddling surfski school?