Surfski Podcasts

Four stops down... one to go! It's all coming to a head in Perth at the Shaw and Partners WA Race Week! There's been two races in the last 24 hours, but tomorrow, the main event arrives - the Doctor? But will the wind turn up too? Sam & Macca try to make sense of the charts, while breaking down all of the latest action in this incredible week. This…

The World Championships have been run and won... and they're victories we'll be talking about for a long time. Congratulations to Cory Hill and Jemma Smith on claiming the crowns! Sam & Macca are back to break down their races, and shine a light on those who went above and beyond, in the first of two instalments out of Perth. This episode of The Pa…

The live show is back! Sam & Macca were back on the mics in Perth at the 2023 ICF Ocean Racing World Championships, and we're so grateful for the crowd that turned out! An all-star cast assembled for the show, with 3-time Olympic Champion-turned-surfski paddler James Tomkins, the inaugural ICF women's World Champion Michelle Eray AND current title …

An extraordinary week of racing has come to a close, courtesy of two extraordinary performances. Sam & Macca are back to round out the week and analyse Cory Hill and Jemma Smith's stunning victories. Top 10's, categories, the Shaw and Partners WA Race Week point score, and even a bit of number crunching... it's all in here, after what has been an o…

It's heating up at the Shaw and Partners WA Race Week! Maybe even a bit too much. With the field defying heatwave conditions, and offshore winds, to produce a blistering 11.5km dash up the coast in the second stop of the world's richest event, Sam & Macca are back to chat through it all. This episode of The Paddler's Pod is powered by Vaikobi!…

It's been months of waiting... and months of training... but the Shaw and Partners WA Race Week is here! We'll be recording race recaps after each of the five stops, beginning today with the Fenn West Coast Downwinder. This episode of The Paddler's Pod is powered by Vaikobi!

It had to happen eventually, right? Macca made big steps in Hong Kong, and it's not just because of his podium finish at the Dragon Run. There's a full breakdown of the race, and what those victories will do for both Kira Bester and Cory Hill heading to Australia. Speaking of, the boys check in with the World's Fastest Paddler* and also the Interim…

With Macca in Hong Kong for the Dragon Run, there's only one man who could fill the void... the great Austin Kieffer! Sam & Austin talk through the impressive victories for Hank McGregor and Kira Bester at South Africa's iconic Pete Marlin, and also take a look at the return of this weekend's iconic Dragon Run! This episode of The Paddler's Pod is …

It's been circled for a long time, but the calendars have now turned over to the month of November... and the biggest few weeks of racing the sport has ever seen are now underway! Sam & Macca are back to breakdown Australia's 20 Beaches Ocean Classic, plus take a look at the Pete Marlin in South Africa. There's also a quick chat with an Olympic leg…

It's a cause for CELEBRATION! The Paddler's Pod is raising the bat, chalking up a half-century of episodes! So, after weeks spent trying to wrangle a convenient time to record, the boys are upbeat... and it's not the only milestone they're toasting. There's also a full breakdown of the Coolangatta Gold downwind race, and a few left-field laughs as …

Lights... Camera... Action! The paddler's are the actors, and all of the ocean is a stage... or, something like that. Things are picking up on social media and Sam & Macca are celebrating it! There's also racing in Europe to talk through on the road to Perth! This episode of The Paddler's Pod is powered by Vaikobi!…

Sam & Macca are reunited... and it feels good!! The boys have plenty to catch up on, like Macca's broken foot and Sam's run-in with crime. But, more importantly, there's also plenty happening in the surfski world! Gordan Harbrecht is firing, Hector Henot has returned, Danielle McKenzie continues to blow our minds, and Oscar Jones is on top of the p…

OK... maybe the last episode was a classic surfski false-start? THIS TIME The Paddler's Pod is back! Although we are missing one of our co-hosts. While Macca takes on huge surf somewhere off the grid in Indonesia, Sam is joined by the always brilliant Austin Kieffer to talk through The Gorge Downwind Championships! This episode of The Paddler's Pod…

... is this thing still on? Yes, I know... we can't believe it either! The Paddler's Pod is back! There's no shortage of things to chat about, so the boys start straight at the top: Cory Hill and Jemma Smith win at Molokai, Paddle Australia and the Australian Ocean Racing Series make amends, and Macca has a new boat! This episode of The Paddler's P…

In this podcast I check in with Brendan to review how the past 10 weeks of training have gone and what I need to focus on in the final four weeks leading up to the Gorge Downwind Champs. If you missed Podcast Episode 43, I would recommend checking it out, and don’t forget you can download the training plan there. But if you’re limited on time, you’…

In this episode of the Peak Paddle Performance Podcast, I reconnect with Dr Brendan O’Neill creator of the Vaaka Cadence Sensor. In 2019 Brendan graciously put together a 14 week cadence based training plan to prepare an intermediate level paddler for racing the 14 mile Gorge Downwind Champs. COVID disrupted everything, and I never got around to pu…

In this podcast I interview Giant Fish founder Scott Darling. Scott launched the initial Giant Fish collection of paddling shorts, pants, and tops in the summer of 2020. Right at the height of the Covid pandemic. Of course it wasn’t planned that way, but despite all the obstacles, the product spoke for itself, and quickly became a go to piece of ki…

The Paddler's Pod is certainly finishing the year with a BANG! It blew up online, now Sam & Macca give their take on the plan for the plan for the 2023 World Championships... and a warning - it comes with some passion. The boys also chat through 20 Beaches and the Cape Point Challenge before they ring in the new year. This episode of The Paddler's …

We’re back with our most frequent and popular podcast guest, the infamous Oscar Chalupsky. It’s always informative and exciting to catch up with Oscar and this podcast is not exception. If you haven’t read Oscar’s book, order it now, it is an absolute must read. If you’re like me, you won’t put it down until it is finished. I’ve known Oscar for 10 …

Sam & Macca have pulled themselves out of their coma and are back in front of the microphones to run through what was a huuuuuuuuge week of racing over in the West. We hear from our top three men and women of the Doctor, as the boys count down their five biggest Power Plays from the event.

It's been a long-held dream... but The Paddler's Pod has gone LIVE for the very first time! Sam & Macca took to the stage at the Shaw and Partners WA Race Week, backed by some pretty heavy-hitters. Jemma Smith, Cory Hill, Dean Gardiner and our patron Oscar Chalupsky all jump on stage with pretty hilarious results. A huge thank you to Shaw and Partn…

Yes, we've received your messages. And yes, Sam and Macca are stepping out of their bunker. The boys discuss The Great War on this latest episode of The Paddler's Pod, while also dissecting the rise of elite European paddling, Danielle McKenzie's move to Epic and Nick Notten's withdrawal from the Shaw and Partners WA Race Week. This episode of The …

Can you feel that, listeners? The temperature is changing, tensions are rising and Australia's biggest races are coming... no wonder everyone is on edge! Sam & Macca are back to sink their teeth into it, taking a look at where the world's leading paddlers are at approaching the Shaw and Partners WA Race Week. This episode of The Paddler's Pod is po…

On October 8th the Great Lakes paddling community suffered on incomprehensible loss when Nick Walton succumbed to hypothermia in a downwind race on Lake Michigan. Nick was a professional canoe racer and over the past couple of years had discovered a love for surfski racing. You can read his full obituary here I was a participant in the race and hav…

Well, that's cooked. It's been labelled "the loosest story" to hit The Paddler's Pod, which is fitting, because this is a loose episode. Sam & Macca chat surf etiquette, speaking with sharks, forgotten forces and the paddling world's 'sleeping giant'. Plus, another somewhat special announcement. This episode of The Paddler's Pod is powered by the S…

It's a very special episode of The Paddler's Pod to make a very special announcement. Actually, make that a few... as Shaw and Partners co-CEO Earl Evans and Oceanpaddler director Dean Gardiner join Sam to unveil a few more surprises around the WA Race Week. This episode of The Paddler's Pod is powered by Wash Rider!…

And just like that, it's all over! Still catching their breath after a gruelling race, Sam & Macca break down all of the action at the 2022 World Championships, including interviews with all of the Opens medalists. This episode of the podcast is powered by Vaikobi!

It's the ultimate example of last-minute preparations, but the World Championships are running in 24 hours, so Sam & Macca have finally got their act together to preview it! Conditions, course and top three predictions. It's late, but it's all there on The Paddler's Pod! This episode of The Paddler's Pod is powered by Wash Rider!…

Something different on this episode of The Paddler's Pod, with Macca turning from host into guest. He and Sam chat through the highs and lows of racing and how to pick yourself up after a disappointing result. The boys also cast their eye over the current Australian circuit after a stack of recent races, and yep, she's done it again... Bonnie Hanco…

Bonnie Hancock is back at home on the Gold Coast... and now, back at home on The Paddler's Pod. In an extended interview, Hancock reveals the hidden pain behind her 12,700 kilometre circumnavigation of Australia and the brutal injuries that came with it. We knew she was tough, but we didn't show she had to face challenges like this. The highs and t…

The boys are back down under and straight back to work after a huge trip to the Gorge. They're not alone - Oscar Chalupsky is an author, the WA Race Week has put up $260,000 and Sydney surfski paddlers have been given a safety serve... there's plenty doing! Sam also checked in with canoe marathon champion Andy Birkett and chatted about his transiti…

The first major international race since the COVID-19 pandemic began did not disappoint! The world's best paddlers were flying at the Gorge Downwind Championships, and somewhere amid all of the action, Sam & Macca were able to record a new episode. The boys completely breakdown the race and those who stood out, before chatting with one of the great…

The Paddler's Pod is coming to you LIVE from Hood River in the USA ahead of the Gorge Downwind Champs! International racing has returned and Sam and Macca are right there in the thick of it, breaking down the form guide ahead of the big race. One of the front-runners Ana Swetish drops by to provide a local perspective on the huge week.…

The boys are men of their word... well, this time at least, anyway. Get up to date with all of the latest talking points in the surfski world with this special episode, 'The Catch Up'.

The Paddler's Pod is BACK! And it has a bit of everything in this episode. The boys re-live the 'world's slowest drag race' that they shared at the Hells Gates 38, they break down the South African National Championships, Sam completely loses his mind in the longest rant the Pod has ever seen, before they're joined by the great Jasper Mocke! Jasper…

He has done just about everything there is to do in the world of surfski... and now, Hank McGregor can claim to be a guest on The Paddler's Pod! The all-time legend opens up about his future racing plans, driving ambitions, and the learning journey that turned him into a champion. Sam & Macca also break down all of the latest results from around th…

Well, five people asked... so Sam & Macca have delivered. The Paddler's Pod is stepping away from the world of downwind paddling for just one episode to break down all of the surfski action from the Australian Surf Lifesaving Titles. This episode of The Paddler's Pod is powered by Vaikobi!

This podcast was an experimental downwind jam session. The idea was to setup a Zoom call open to any and all paddlers to join and share their stories and experiences around downwind paddling. We got off to a rough start when the initial call was highjacked by hackers, but were able to regroup and have a great session. I was hopeful that we could sh…

He's soared to the top of surfski racing, but now Jackson Collins can lay claim to his biggest achievement to date... a guest spot of The Paddler's Pod! The Australian all-rounder chats with Sam & Macca about how paddling was his 'Plan B', his introduction to it, and... yep... even the 2019 Dash for Cash in Perth. It's possibly the best story ever …

Macca is BACK! Call off the search party, Mackenzie Hynard has come home to The Paddler's Pod and we are stoked about it. It's great timing, as there's some HUGE racing news to discuss with a star paddler switching manufacturers, another celebration of blokes being bested by a brilliant female paddler, as well as a really serious discussion about a…

It's hard to believe this is Austin Kieffer's first appearance on The Paddler's Pod, but nonetheless, he and Sam certainly make up for lost time. The American surfski star helps break down the future of the Molokai Challenge, the return of Sean Rice and receive an update from Bonnie Hancock on her Shaw and Partners Paddle Around Aus. Austin also sh…

Racing is back! But Macca is not. So Sam has wrangled in Australian sprint king Mitchell Trim to chat through the latest in the surfski world. The boys struggle to comprehend the downwind record smashed by Cape Town's Dale Robinson, discuss the cancellation of the Molokai Challenge and give their first-hand insights into the Bridge to Beach, won by…

It's our (soft) launch for 2022! Sam is joined by guest host Mackenzie Morgan in the podcast studio to talk through a huge start to the year. The Australian Ocean Racing Series begins, the World Championships are confirmed... and after two years, there's cause for optimism for international events! This episode of The Paddler's Pod is powered by Wa…

My guest on the podcast today is long time friend and paddler Rob Hartman. Rob is a husband and father of three girls. He works full time as a software developer, plays the Upright Bass as an accomplished jazz musician, and has long been one of the top masters paddlers in the US. In recent years Rob has competed primarily East of the Mississippi, w…

These two humans are just passion and knowledge. Passionate about mountains, Passionate about adventure and passionate about safety. They have tremendous knowledge on traversing mountains and planning for adventures. They absolutely sharing their experience and knowledge but in a way that makes the people they work with better. We sit and discuss t…

Our first Record holders join us in the studio for a banterful catch up and explaination of cracking out 219km paddle along the KZN coastline. Durban paddlers Quinton Rutherford and Brett Hadiaris set a new Guinness world record for the longest distance paddled in a double surfski in a twenty four hour period when they completed a brutal 219km padd…

My guest on this podcast is Matt Murphy. Matt is a Naval Architect and Ocean Engineer by trade, who grew up in and on the waters of Northeastern Canada. After school, Matt made his way to Houston, Texas where he currently lives with his wife and four kids. Matt has a very diverse paddling background spanning both racing and multi-week adventures. I…

There are many legends in the adventure community. Many!!! so Many... But let me tell you about one, Robert Le Brun.... He is the heart and soul of adventure. He can can race hard, he can lead, he can follow and he can support. He hasa sense of humour like non other and enjoys nothing more than pushing boundaries with great company on great adventu…

The Maqhwe Mfula - Heroes of the River. I had a dream- Host a race in the incredible Dusi Valley. A race that will showcase the beauty that is the valley of the 1000 hills. In our country, we have amazing race organisers and events and i wanted to be part of those legends. Hence the creation of the Maqhwe Mfula. The race was a multi sport race foll…

If you google the name Carla Van Huysteen, the athlete profile comes up with all the wins/podiums and medals at Xterra championships. what it does not tell you is that this little pocket rocket is brilliant at all the events. The famous words of any triathlete is "Life is too short for one sport" but it is Carla van Huyssteen’s who eats, breaths an…