Well it's been a little quieter on the WA paddling scene this week. 
The Avon River is still high, and so high the Slalom Championships had to be cancelled to put back one week which will take place on Saturday.

The Canning Bridges Race is on the 11th September.

The Nanga Challenge and a Sprint Regatta are on the 18th & 19th September. 
Swan Canoe Club have a Moonlight Paddle on 10th September and an Upper Murray trip on the 18th September.

• C1 Training - high kneeling
  WA Slalom Champs
• What is a C1 - closed deck
• Progressive Racing Group
• WA Junior Sprinters
• Bonnie Handcoock
• Jessica Fox
• 2022 Paddle Australia Annual Awards
• Coming Events

C1 Training at Ascot Kayak Club

Garry has introduced a C1 program at the Ascot Kayak Club so if you are interested in C1, have a talk to Gary.

Garry in the white boat , Cameron green and Adam green and white.

Cameron is hoping to beat me at the next sprint regatta on the 18th September!!
He has no chance!!

Sprint Regatta
Champion Lake
18th September

WA Slalom Championships

Saturday 3rd September

Codie Pope having a little practise on the State Slalom Course at Walyunga.
 

Cody doing a tail stand at Pivot Rock.
 

A break-in. 
 

Cody loving the conditions.
 

The Walyunga Chute.
 

This is David from England. I call him David because I forgot his name. We met at the Ascot/Swan cafe last week and he is a slalom paddler. He wanted to have a paddle on the slalom course so I loaned him my slalom kayak to have a go.

He loved the Ascot set-up and was surprised to see slalom, wild water, marathon and sprint paddlers under the one roof and mixing together. 
Apparently the clubs in England are mostly one discipline clubs. His club isn't as grand as Ascot's but it is located on a piece of white water and all members are slalom paddlers.

He said slalom paddling in England is losing members and gaining few. Although they have lots of slalom events, they are all around the country so paddlers have to go away for the entire weekend. Fuel prices is making it difficult to travel far.
Like here in Australia he is worried about the sport and the decline in competitive members joining clubs.

Unfortunately he returned home to England on Wednesday so it missed the chance to take part in the WA Slalom Championships on Saturday.

What is a C1
(closed deck)

The paddler kneels in a closed cockpit canoe and paddles with a single bladed paddle.

The C1 paddler kneels on padded foam inside the cockpit. They sit on a foam block or platform with their legs and heels under and behind their bum. Most paddlers use straps which go across the knees. These straps secure and prevent the knees sliding forwards as well as ensuring that, like in a kayak, the C1 becomes an extension of their body.

I'm paddling a pretty old plastic C1. 

It is higher (more volume more room) then my slalom C1 so it allows my legs and feet, that sit behind my bum, to be more comfortable. Being heavier makes it slower in competition, and being higher in volume means that it is easier to hit the gates.
Photo Sharon Cobley.
 

Your bum sits on the pad, your legs and feet are behind your bum and your knees are locked under the straps.

C1 white water paddling is not for the faint hearted.
 

Note the paddler in this open canoe is sitting on a seat with his legs and feet under and behind his bum. Kneeling helps the paddler to get more power from the stroke and control of the canoe.

If you don't paddle in this position often it can be very uncomfortable and cause dead legs and no feeling in your feet.

The C1 gives the paddler much greater height above the boat, which means they have much greater reach with the paddle to create big powerful strokes. They can also reach further through the gate or into a breakout. Because the paddler is kneeling in the boat, all their body weight falls through the centreline of the boat and so a slalom C1 will spin much faster than a kayak. The C1 paddler can also pivot turn in spectacular fashion, sinking the entire back of the boat under the water with one powerful stroke. This is really stunning to watch in high-level competition. Forward paddling is tougher and requires more practice to execute well, than in a kayak. A 'J stroke' is used to help with steering. If a J stroke is not used the paddler would virtually go in circles. 
C1 is technically demanding and can take a little longer to learn than a kayak but the rewards of paddling one are huge. To avoid a little leg/feet pain at the start it's best to be supple or young, but with a little practise even when you are older, that goes away. 

I've used a cross-bow stroke to break into the current.
I am right handed and paddle on my right.
 

A paddler using a crow-bow stroke.
 

A C1 paddler either paddles naturally on the left or on the right of the boat. So when they paddle across on the opposite side of the boat they are said to be doing or being on the cross-bow. 
For the C1 paddler paddling in a slalom event it means that for a left handed C1 paddler it is easier to do a breakout on the left-hand side of the boat than the right. And visa versa for a right handed paddler. 
The course designer of a slalom event must ensure that a left or right handed C1 paddler have the same challenge and opportunity. All the breakouts on the left (using a bow draw) would favour a left handed C1 paddler and their run time would be quicker than a right handed C1 paddler, doing all the breakouts on a cross-bow draw.

Many of the more recent slalom paddlers though will change hands (switching) and use a bow draw rather than a cross bow draw if they think it will be more beneficial and faster on their turn. It can also put less stress on one arm. One of the main draw backs of switching though is the time it takes and if switching is not successful it could ruin their run. 

Jess Fox

Paddlers nowadays will switch, change sides from left to right (or versa-visa) rather than on one side, if they  think it will give them an advantage.

Progressive Racing Group

After a six week winter break we are back.

So why not join us on a Tuesday evening at Ascot Kayak Club at 5.00pm.

We have a handicapped race where the less experienced start first and the more experienced go later and all paddlers finish at about the same time.
It's go your own pace. 

The course is 3.8kms long, 3 laps. 
Newer paddlers can do 1 lap, 2 laps or 3 laps.  

It's a social event with a little energy exerted.

John Liso passing Julie McDonald near the finish.
 

Steph Bedden and Ash Towsend.
 

Chris Meadwell and Jon Caisley fighting it out.

WA Sprinters 
Noah Boldy and Samantha Lourey 
will make their international debuts this week as they race in the 2022 ICF Canoe Sprint Junior World Championships.
 

Dave Bolder caught up with his son Noah ahead of racing - his event the K4 500m Junior at the Olympic Regatta Centre, Szeged, Hungary.
 

Bonnie Handcock

around Australia

After 12,700 kilometres paddling her surf ski around mainland Australia, former ironwoman Bonnie Hancock says in hindsight, she "had no idea what was coming". What started at Mermaid Beach last December, has ended 254 days later.
 

While paddling 500 kilometres off the Great Australian Bight, Ms Hancock endured 17 days of six-metre swells, storms and freezing conditions. She suffered near hypothermia and sea sickness, resulting in her being hospitalised for dehydration and fatigue at Esperance.

"I lost eight kilos over two weeks, I kept no food down," she said.

"It was very touch and go ... it was very scary for me."

Ms Hancock said after eight months at sea, it was "a surreal feeling" to be back home on the Gold Coast.

"I've been out in the head winds in Far North Queensland and up in the Kimberley in the middle of the ocean and to be here safe on the Gold Coast shore is just fantastic," she said.

Beyond the physical triumph, Ms Hancock said the journey showed her a side of Australia she'd never seen.

"It makes you realise Australia is a beautiful country," she said.

"The islands are incredible ... those white sands of Ningaloo Reef, you can't get better than that."

"Now to be surrounded by family and friends I really couldn't ask for anything more." 

But now back on dry land, Ms Hancock plans to relax at her favourite cafe.

"Reading the paper and having some poached eggs, that is what I'm looking forward to," she said.
 

Ms Hancock said people could still donate to her charity effort. 
The Paddle of Aus was a fundraiser for Gotcha4life, a mental health charity which help Australians to establish meaning mateship, build emotional muscle and social connection.
 Donate here:

https://gotcha4life-fundraising.raisely.com/bonniehancock

Jessica Fox

She just keeps on winning
 

I didn't take any pictures of birds this week so I thought I would add this photo that I took on one of my trips in Canada.

NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR 
2022 PADDLE AUSTRALIA ANNUAL AWARDS

Paddle Australia is excited to announce that nominations for the 2022 Paddle Australia Awards are now open. 

The Annual Awards recognise and celebrate outstanding achievements and contributions of the paddling community across a 12 month period. 

The Awards also provide a platform to honour those who have contributed to the sport over a number of years, and an opportunity to reflect on the achievements and highlights of our community.

Members of the paddling community are able to provide nominations for contributions deserving recognition over the period 1 October 2021 – 30 September 2022.

The Paddle Australia Honours and Awards Panel will meet to determine the winners of the Awards in accordance with the Annual Awards Policy.

Award categories open for nomination

• Life Membership
• Paddler of the Year – Olympic / Paralympic
• Paddle of the Year – Non-Olympic / Non-Paralympic
• Paddler of the Year – Junior
• Paddler of the Year – Paracanoeist
• Paddler of the Year – Master
• Coach of the Year
• Team of the Year
• Technical Official of the Year

Additional award categories will be presented, however are not open for public nominations. For a full list of Awards, please refer to the Annual Awards Policy (click here)

To submit your nomination, please complete the form below before Monday 19 September 2022

Click here to complete the Paddle Australia Award Nomination form

Paddle WA AGM & Annual Awards

We are pleased to announce 2022 Paddle WA AGM will be held from 10am on Saturday 15th October at Ascot Kayak Club.

Further details and an agenda will be circulated in the coming months, and an RSVP form will soon be made available.

Canning Bridges Race

Sunday 11th September

Shelley Sailing Club, Watersby Crescent Shelley

Registrations are now open for the inaugural Canning Bridges Race 2022.

New course and race format and incorporating the first CRCC Championship race - open to all Club members and guests.

Choice of long course (12.5km), short (5.1km) or guppy (3km). All paddlecraft welcome.

Sunday 11th September. Check-in from 7.15am. Race start 8.15am.

Shelley Sailing Club, Watersby Crescent, Shelley.

Race details and registration here -

https://www.webscorer.com/register?raceid=287515

Also check our website -

https://canningriver.paddle.org.au/.../inaugural-canning.../

Nanga Challenge
17th September | Dwellingup, WA

AKC's popular adventure race, The Nanga Challenge, is back for 2022 and will be supporting The Stroke Foundation!

Paddle | MTB | Run

Two course options are available, the nice, or the nasty.
Competitors can compete solo, as a duo, in a team, or as a pair.

Find out more in the link below
Registrations close 11.59pm on Wednesday 14th September.