Surfski Clinic - Blackburn 2023
July 15th, 2023 - Pavilion Beach
Book Signing - BLACKBURN 2023
July 15th, 2023 - Pavilion Beach
Clinic and Book Signing with Oscar Chalupsky!
During the race Oscar will be holding a clinic at Pavilion Beach. The clinic will cover surfski technique and is aimed at new and improving surfski athletes of all skill levels
Oscar will also be signing his popular book “No Retreat, No Surrender” for all race attendees and guests starting at 11:30am. Copies of his book will be available to purchase.
Surfski Clinic Info
Location: Pavilion Beach, Gloucester, MA – Blackburn Challenge Finish Line
*** If you can’t make the Saturday clinic, Oscar may be available Friday and/or Sunday for private lessons ***
Clinic Structure
- 30 minutes introduction and theories. Land exercises.
- 30 minutes forward stroke broken down.
- 30 minutes waist deep water drills.
- 30 minutes remount, balance and drill explanation on the water.
- 30 minutes doing the drills and the exercises on the water with your surfski
Clinic Topics
Wing Paddles
- History of, and how the wing paddle works.
- How to decide your feather angle.
- How to choose your paddle length.
Paddle Technique
- How to do land exercises.
- How to improve balance with the brace stroke.
- The forward stroke for surfski.
- Breaking down the stroke in small parts of the body, hands, elbow, shoulders, core, and legs.
- How to improve your technique in waist deep water.
- How to remount in shallow water and deep water.
- Learn how to improve your balance and exercises.
- How to set up your surfski correctly.
- Analysis of each person’s brace and forward stroke.
Downwind Paddling
- Assessing the conditions basics of waves
- How to catch waves.
- Where to sit on the waves and why.
- How to turn a surfski.
- How to stay on top of the waves.
- How to link waves.
- How to see the best waves.
- How to race downwind.
- Most important things to remember when doing downwind races and paddles.
What to bring:
Your paddle, PFD, and clothing suitable for being outside and on/in the water.
Note: Blackburn finish line area logistics may make it difficult to bring your own surfski for the clinic, however Oscar will have a couple of Nelo 510 surfskis available for the group to use.
***This clinic is being hosted by the Cape Ann Rowing Club, no affiliation with FastPaddler LLC ***
Book Signing Info
No Retreat, No Surrender is an inspiring account of his life as a world-renowned surfski paddler, an innovator of ocean paddling craft, a successful businessman, husband and father, and an intrepid soldier declaring war on cancer.
The book chronicles Chalupsky’s journey from his humble beginnings in South Africa to his rise to the top of the international surfski circuit. He shares the lessons he has learned from winning on the world’s toughest races, as well as the challenges he has faced in his personal life.
In 2019, Chalupsky was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, an incurable bone marrow cancer. He was given six months to live. However, Chalupsky refused to give up. He continued to train and compete, and he has defied the odds by remaining cancer-free for over two years.
No Retreat, No Surrender is an uplifting story of grit, perseverance, talent, and attitude. It is a testament to the power of the human spirit to overcome even the most daunting challenges.
No Retreat, No Surrender is a powerful and inspiring book that will stay with you long after you finish reading it.
