Despite an extreme offshore berg wind warning, the first G-Bay Winter Paddling Series kicked off on Sunday June 2 in excellent conditions. A small field of surf-ski and stand-up paddle board (SUP) paddlers were set a safety-oriented 6km course, from the corner beach start past the Gordon’s Bay harbour, along the Gordon’s Bay cliffs to the Five Houses Rock as a turning point, and a return leg to the start, with the long course completing two laps and able to support any novice paddlers in need of assistance in the bumpy but almost windless onshore conditions. Junior, Bartho Visser, won the 12km ski long course overall, in a 1:02:43 pipping Anton Holtzhausen by three seconds with series convenor, Jamii Hamlin, coming third. Former Springbok canoeist, Donia Kamstra, won the ladies’ event in 1:07:58 with Kira Bester coming in second and taking the junior ladies’ event as well. Gary Pepler and Danie Nel contested the over 65 Bullets, with Pepler taking first and also receiving his permanent number #11 for a 100% attendance since the series was started in 2007/8.  Joshua Kruger won the short course SUP in 1:05:20 while in the surf-ski event, Paul Jacobs, won in 45:45 over Scott Hogg. Noleen Vermaak was the first woman home and third overall in 53:21 while Jurie Wessels took the Bullets podium. Race No2 takes place on Sunday June 30. For more information, visit the G-Bay Winter Series 2019 Facebook page, or contact Jamii Hamlin on 083 444 5955 or jamii@global.co.za Â