Surfski Lessons with Ian Black
Have you ever wondered just how the "pro's" manage to squeeze the 11,75km of the famous Miller's Run into less than 40 minutes? Perhaps you are a competent paddler and are just outside of the sub 40 holy grail of the Miller's Run and need insight as to how to break that barrier, or perhaps you are new to paddling and want to experience just what it is that makes our sport so much fun?
Either way, we can make it happen!
My lessons are designed to equip you with the fundamentals of surfski paddling with a unique view on technique and methods to refine it.
We cover the basics of training and setting goals, as well as methods to monitor and measure your progress.
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 which influenced and encouraged his competency on ocean-going craft. His paddling was further developed when he took up flatwater kayaking a few years later, taking part in some of South Africa’s toughest flatwater and river events. Ian’s first significant kayak race was the fabled 56 km Cape Point Challenge as a 17 year old, an event which he has now finished 14 times, earning gold medals for a top 10 finish 4 times.
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.
