====== Saint-Martin/Sint Maarten (French/Netherlands) Surfski ======
{{:locales:st_martin:stmaarten.jpg?direct&550x301|stmaarten.jpg}}
There are surfskis on Sint Maarten. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9pVC96Akwo|Photo video Kim Sha Surfski Specials]]
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===== Saint-Martin =====
Saint Martin is a Caribbean island with a French part on the northern end (Saint-Martin) and a Dutch part on the south end (Sint Maarten). "SXM" is sometimes used to refer to the island as a whole. Wikipedia: "The northern French part comprises the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collectivity_of_Saint_Martin|Collectivity of Saint Martin]] and is an [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overseas_collectivity|overseas collectivity]] of France. The southern Dutch part comprises [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sint_Maarten|Sint Maarten]] and is one of [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_the_Netherlands#Constituent_countries|four constituent countries]] that form the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Even though the island is an overseas possession of two [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union|European Union]] member states, only the French part of the island is part of the EU." Notice that "Saint Martin" without a hyphen refers to the whole island, while "Saint-Martin" with a hyphen refers to the French northern part.
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==== Downwinds ====
* **Grand Case, St Martin - Plum Bay, St Martin (AC Run) **14 km [[https://downwindable.com/ac-run|Downwindable.com]]
* **Gustavia Harbour (St Barts) - Captain Oliver's Marina (St Martin)** 25 km Channel Crossing between islands (Old Soualiga Run) [[https://downwindable.com/soualiga-st-martin-run|Downwindable.com]]
* …
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==== Video ====
* [[https://www.youtube.com/@itpersonne/videos|Youtube Channel]] (for paddler who travels and paddles in a number of locales) videos show that there are a number of Nelo 510s and Carbonology Sport surfskis residing on the island.
* …
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===== Sint Maarten =====
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==== Downwinds ====
* **Philipsburg - Mullet Bay (The Mullet Run)** 12 km [[https://downwindable.com/the-mullet-run|Downwindable.com]]
* **Isle Fourche - Kim Sha Beach (Sint Maarten)** 23 km Channel Crossing between islands (New Soualiga Run) [[https://downwindable.com/newpage7997d896|Downwindable.com]]
* **Kim Sha - Pelican ** (Out and Back) ~1km one way [[https://youtu.be/Q52HPDJGMjM|video]]
* …
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==== Conditions ====
* [[https://www.caribbeanpaddling.com/sint-maarten/weather|Sint Maarten Wind & Weather]]
* [[:caribbean_islands#resources|Caribbean Weather]]
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==== Sales/Rentals ====
* [[https://isleblue.co/st-martin/experiences/st-martin-kayak-rental|Isle Blue Kayak Rentals]] advertises Epic surfski rental
* Sint Maarten Surfski [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9pVC96Akwo|Kim Sha Video]] Rentals??
* [[https://www.facebook.com/groups/395803743862021/user/100025291302297/|Surfski SXM]] Rentals
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==== Races ====
[[:races:race_calendars|Worldwide Race Calender Page]]
* 2009 Border (east) to Border (west) (Oyster Pond - Cope Bay) approx 19 km [[https://youtu.be/5zfpPC_-CNg|video]]
* [[http://paddlesxm.com/soualiga-challenge.php|Souliga Challenge]] discontinued in 2016, revived 2019, current status??
* 2025 - they ran race again. Check with [[https://www.facebook.com/groups/395803743862021/user/100025291302297/|Surfski SXM]] (facebook) for notices or possibly [[https://www.facebook.com/Defiskayak2013|Défis Kayak]] (facebook) on Guadeloupe
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==== Resources ====
* [[https://www.instagram.com/fika.sxm/?locale=zh_tw&hl=ar|FIKA SXM]] - (instagram) Friendly Island Kayak and Canoe Association
* [[http://paddlesxm.com/|PaddleSXM]] use the contact link to ask questions?
* [[https://www.facebook.com/groups/20354328883/|Learn 2 Paddle Facebook]] run by the same folks as PaddleSXM? Does have more recent online activity…
* [[https://www.canoeicf.com/federation/sint-maarten-canoe-federation|Sint Maarten ICF Canoe Federation]]
* …
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===== Other Caribbean Islands =====
* [[:caribbean_islands|Caribbean Islands]]
* …
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{{:locales:st_martin:stmartin_nelo510s.jpg?direct&600x268|stmartin_nelo510s.jpg}}
**Nelo 510s in St. Martin**, photo from [[https://youtu.be/Bq4vjZsQchw|2024 video]] (these skis are all privately owned or belong to the FIKA surfski club)