Surfski Lessons with Ian Black
Have you ever wondered how the pros manage to navigate the 11.75 km of the famous Miller's Run in under 40 minutes? Whether you're a competent paddler eager to break that elusive sub-40 barrier or a newcomer who wants to discover the true joy of our sport, this is the perfect opportunity for you!
Join me for personalized lessons designed to equip you with the essential fundamentals of surfski paddling, focusing on innovative techniques to refine your skills. We'll not only cover the basics of paddling but also delve into effective training strategies and goal setting tailored to your individual needs.
Together, we’ll explore methods to monitor and measure your progress, ensuring you can see how far you've come on your paddling journey. Let's make your paddling goals a reality—sign up today and experience the excitement of surfski paddling like never before!
I am privileged to have been able to do several coaching sessions with Ian. What sets Ian’s coaching apart is that Ian has clearly spent a lot of time studying, practicing and mastering techniques that work and is able to clearly communicate and demonstrate these in his classes. My understanding of the fundamentals and intricacies of forward stroke has improved greatly due to Ian’s input. His practical tips and suggestions have help me implement this understanding into my technique. Highly recommended!!
I want to say a big thank you to Ian for giving me back my confidence in the ocean - I had not been in the water for over 12 years.Ian coached me on catching runs and guided me on the right lines to take when doing the famous Millers run.If you are wanting to get into paddling /do your first downwind or if you are an experienced paddle, Ian will transform your paddling to the next level.Not only did I learn so much, but had such a great time. I look forward to doing many more downwinds with Ian
I thoroughly enjoyed my sessions with Ian. He has the perfect combination of technical and downwind knowledge, which he is able to easily pass on to his students in a laid-back, fun way
Ian's world-class racing ability is matched by his ability to pass on his wide array of surf ski paddling knowledge to his students. I take lessons with him every time I'm in Cape Town and I will take them when he's in Hong Kong as well.
Ian is a superb paddling coach and mentor. He is an excellent instructor for Masters athletes and has extensive experience in different boat classes. He can modify instruction easily to accommodate the paddling technique to an individual’s physical limitations or injuries, which is crucial for many older athletes. He took the time to get to know me as an individual athlete and assess my current skills and goals, and then he tailored a lesson to those needs. He even went the extra step of sending me an extensive recap of our lesson replete with useful general advice as well as specific points that we covered. Moreover, he made himself available weeks to months later for additional questions. I came to the surfski as a Masters rower and former crew coach who wanted to cross disciplines. I have been around many watersport coaches, and Ian Black is truly an exceptional coach.
About Ian
Ian Black
ICF Accredited Coach
Ian Black began paddling kayaks in 1998 at the age of 14. Introduced through surf-lifesaving, Ian was surrounded by a legacy of highly skilled ocean masters who influenced and encouraged his competency on ocean-going craft. His paddling was further developed when he took up flatwater kayaking a few years later, competing in some of South Africa’s toughest flatwater and river events. Notably, Ian's first significant kayak race was the legendary 56 km Cape Point Challenge as a 17-year-old, an event in which he has now finished 16 times, earning gold medals for a top 10 finish in a single surfs on four occasions as well as a victory in the double ski category in 2024. Ian is also a two-time winner of the Blackburn Challenge in Gloucester, MA, further exemplifying his prowess and dedication to the sport.
Since 2017, Ian has been a proud member of the Stellar Kayaks Racing team, participating in numerous events worldwide, including two Ocean Racing World Championships. He has devoted countless hours to coaching both on the ocean and on flatwater, and he is an ICF certified Level 1 Sprint Kayak coach.
What sets Ian’s coaching apart is his recognition that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to paddling. He takes individual strengths and weaknesses into consideration, finding innovative ways to help each person grasp the relatively technical nuances of the paddle stroke in an easy-to-apply manner. Ian believes that consistent effort and attention to detail are critical to reform, and he emphasizes that being open to trying different techniques is key to improvement.Ian has been part of the Stellar Kayaks Racing team since 2017, taking part in numerous events world wide, including 2 x Ocean Racing World Championships. Ian has spent hours coaching both on the ocean and on flatwater and is an ICF certified Level 1 Sprint Kayak coach.
What sets Ian’s coaching apart is that he recognises and embraces the fact that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to paddling and takes into consideration the individual’s strengths and weaknesses while finding innovative ways to help the individual understand relatively technical nuances to the paddle stroke in an easy-to-apply manner. Ian believes that consistent effort and attention to detail is critical to reform and emphasises that being open to trying different techniques is key to improvement.
