PERTH DOWNWIND WEEK 2025

Is it a Downwind Camp or a race week?

You choose! We have taken so many people through this event for the past year 8 years and we are now making it more of a downwind camp trip. There are the race events you can do in the WA Race Week and we at Sydney Harbour Surf Club will have our downwind bus/trailer in Perth and we will be downwinding every day, twice a day.

You can do all the downwind runs with us each day where we focus on improving your downwind skills and you can also rest up for a day and get ready for one of the four race events in that week. Whether you are downwinding or racing we will make sure we get you and your equipment to the start of each day.

The iconic race on the last day the Perth Doctor Race is a must on your bucket list! The Doctor Race is regarded by many as the ultimate ocean paddling race. A crossing from the famous Rottnest Island to the stunning white sands of Sorrento Beach. The Doctor captures the ocean paddlers imagination as no other race can. Starting in the crystal blue waters of Rottnest, the paddler is soon into fast moving ocean chop, whipped up by the "Doctor Wind" the afternoon South West wind that prevails nearly every day in summer.    

Why is the Perth trip so good? 

Perth is a very windy place and the water is shallow all the way out to Rottnest island so it means there is small ocean swells and instead more wind waves and as surf ski paddlers we want wind waves to go faster.

There are a number of race events on during the WA Race week, however, see this more of a downwind camp week. Coach Luke Horder will be downwinding with you and showing you plenty of tips on and off the water to make you a more skillful downwind paddler. Luke will also conduct in hotel video screenings where he will break down ocean paddling to the group using videos he has captured over the years.

In just one week your ocean skills will improve dramatically while you have fun hanging out with the group for breakfast, lunch evening fun gatherings. The Rottnest Island paddle event will be the icing on the cake for the week.

We make it so easy! We drive our trailer and downwind bus over to Perth with your equipment and we organise all of your accommodation and team dinners. Luke Horder will be your coach for the week and Glen Horder will be driving everyone around to all the downwinds and race events.

You can choose from the 5 day or 9 day options below: 

9 Day option consists of:

- Fly in Friday 21st Nov

- Saturday 22km West Coast Downwinder

- Sunday 23rd Rest day

- Monday 24th downwind run with the SHSC crew

5 day option - fly in from the Tuesday 25th and do 3 race events out of the 4. 

- Tuesday 25th Nov either SHSC downwind or the (10km) 6pm twilight downwind event
- Wednesday 26th Nov 14km fun downwind run for SHSC Paddlers. 
- Thursday 27th Nov either SHSC downwind or the (10km) 6pm twilight event
- Friday 28th Nov 1km Dash for Cash Sprint races
- Saturday 29th Nov is the world famous Doctor Race (27km)
- Fly back to Sunday 30th Nov

We love to downwind and we will be downwinding everyday and every chance we get. Two downwinds in a day is perfect and if you don't feel like doing the race events and would rather downwind, then you can do that. We are there to have fun!

Listen to full itinerary here: 

Sydney Harbour Surf Club have the whole week sorted for you with accommodation (own apartment, or own room shared apartment) plus surf ski hire and transport to Perth and to all the race events with coach Luke Horder helping you throughout the whole trip. 

Whether you are traveling with us solo or with a friend our group fun is what makes the trip so good. Every breakfast, lunch and dinner is with our large team and we like to have fun with a few drinks each night to celebrate each day of downwinding.

- Flights roughly $650 return (you buy your own flights)
- Doctor Race Entry - price hasn’t been advertised yet
- Surf ski transport (either SHSC hire or Private Ski) to Perth and to all race events plus transport to Rottnest Island Race day $1225
- Waterfront accommodation in Fremantle- double bed own room/shared apartment $270 per night or own apartment $350 per night. Choose from the 5 or 9 night option.