This morning I was up at Walyunga doing Avon Descent assessments and the students had a blast.
I have been really busy this week trying to get my Avon River Guide Book put on my blog (https://terrybolland.wordpress.com) so I should have it done and alive by Sunday. Fingers crossed.
Avon Descent Assessments.
Tashka having a ball below Walyunga drop.
The water level was just over 0.5m and at a fun level.
Billy had no fear and was like a kid in a candy shop and wasn't afraid to do moves higher than the assessment level.
Luke was getting in there and ferry gliding with confidence.
Luke and Billy had their share of demonstrating the capsize drill but Tashka was hoping to keep dry.
A few goes down the drop to break into the eddy below had them looking like professionals.
Nigel, Damien, Joe and Gordon.
Gary and Cameron trying to paddle together for the first time.
I was hoping for a capsized shot but it didn't happen, they stayed upright.
Northam to Toodyay Race.
shortened to
Katrine to Toodyay
Katrine Bridge
With two young ladies Kylie and Julie.
Photo Julie McDonald
Paddlers get ready.
The K2s are off.
Photo Julie McDonald.
The first line of K1s.
I and many others couldn't get on the front line.
Northam to Toodyay
With the current water levels being low I think most paddlers were hoping the 30 km race from Northam to Toodyay was going to be shortened. A day before the race our hopes were granted. The race would now start at Katrine Bridge
which turned out being about a 16km distance.
It was a fine morning and everyone was raring to go. 81 paddlers took to the water, the K3 and K2s going off first heading upstream to find a tree with a flag in it to turn around before heading downstream. The K1s were off next
and there were so many I and a few others couldn’t get on the front grid so when we took off we were instantly in the wash of the front pack. At the turn there was a bit of a scramble to get around but that’s usual when paddlers virtually come to a halt and everyone is racing for sheep stations. Andrew Hewlett was a few metres ahead and I could see that Steve Stasiuk was a little further so I was hoping to keep them in
my sights.
It was all flat water to Glen Avon Rapid and I managed to keep up with Andrew with a bit of wash riding thrown in. Nearing Glen Avon I could see some paddlers went over to portage and others went down the drop on the right side.
Paul Measey had passed me earlier, I beat him last year in our WW kayaks but he is much fitter this year. He paddled down the first drop in the centre of the river but it didn’t work like last year and he became stuck. I think seeing this Steve decided to portage but Andrew and I headed for the right side of the drop.
Andrew was a couple of metres in front and he slid down the drop just left of an exposed area so I followed and headed left over to the main drop. Halfway across I just manage to get in front of Paul who had now freed himself.
Andrew slid down the drop and I followed 2 metres to his left. I had no time and look to see which was the best route. After a couple of crunches from the rocks I was down.
It now meant that I had caught up with Nina and Jane who had portaged. It just showed that paddling the rapid was quicker as they were well ahead before the rapid. I then tried to keep up with them, but they were a little too fast
and left me behind. Andrew got away as well so I ended up being alone. Paul soon passed me and he sped off after them.
Garth Civil, Andy Heartcliffe & Paardekooper in the K3 give Brett McDonald and Peter Tomczac a run for their money.
Photo Julie McDonald.
Brett and Peter with Luke Dooley.
Photo Julie McDonald.
Brett and Peter with Luke Dooley on the right.
Luke got 2nd Place.
Peter and Brett were the first K2.
At Dumbarton Bridge there were a few spectators cheering people on. Marie was there waiting for Ramon. He started
behind me in a plastic ski and he hadn’t caught me so I was happy. There was a shallow section with two channels. Paul had spun around and was heading upstream when I saw him. I kept going threading myself around the shallow bars with the hope that Nina and Jane would get caught in the shallows or a rock bar so I could catch them up, but they were lighter than me so the chances of that were slim. My only hope of catching them was for me to run faster on the Extracts Weir Portage and for them to
portage slowly.
About 2.5kms from Dumbarton Bridge Paul caught me again. We were now out of the shallows and paddling deeper water that was held back by Extracts Weir. That was fortunate for me because I had enough speed to washride him, and we
seemed to be gaining a little on the others, they were still 4-500 metres ahead when we arrived at the weir.
Paul hit the bank first with me parked behind him. I managed to get out cleanly but Paul slipped giving me back the lead. I don’t do a lot of running nowadays, but I picked up my boat, climbed a slope and trotted along a track to a
place well down from the weir. I hadn’t lost much time and as I was getting in my kayak Andrew paddled by saying something like your crafty devil. He was well ahead before the weir and I wasn’t expecting to see him again, but apparently he had a difficult portage.
Andrew sped off so I jumped in not bothering to put my spraydeck on because of the little whitewater ahead and chased him. I could also see Peter Gigengack 2-3 hundred metres ahead but that was too far to catch him before the
finish. With Andrew ahead I could watch him paddle the shallows and go a different way if it looked better. Eventually I caught him but I had no hope of passing as the channels were narrow, shallow and twisty. We passed under Goomalling Road Bridge and then the Toodyay footbridge and when I saw the finish at Bolgart Bridge I tried passing him but I hadn’t quite allowed enough distance so he beat me by 1.3 seconds.
It was another enjoyable race, it would have been even better if I could have gone 2-3 minutes quicker and beat Nina but I was still happy with my effort.
Thanks to the organisers and volunteers.
Ramon Andersson and Anthony Clarke.
Photo Marie Andersson.
I'm all alone.
I started wearing a red helmet to help me go fast but it doesn't seem to help.
A Break-out is a manoeuvre that enables the paddler to
leave moving water and enter an eddy. Care must be taken when crossing the eddy line into the flat water of the eddy, as this is the most likely place paddlers capsize.
To ensure a perfect Break-out it is important to learn to identify eddies from a
distance, as this will provide time to set up the line necessary to drive the kayak into them.
Look downstream and locate the eddy, or the obstacle creating the eddy.
Angle the boat slightly across the current towards and well in advance of the eddy. As you move closer to the eddy, increase the
angle and aim your boat high in the eddy. Extra speed may be required to avoid being washed downstream.
Drive the kayak across the eddy line by executing a powerful Forward Sweep Stroke on the downstream side.
As the eddy grips the bow, lean into the turn and execute a Bow Draw (or in some cases a Low Brace Turn) on the upstream side. The Bow Draw must be executed in the
eddy.
It is important to change your lean as the boat enters
the eddy. The downstream edge of the boat should be raised to permit the boat to plane over the still water and prevent the boat from digging in, avoiding a possible capsize.
Start to angle your kayak towards the eddy.
Get ready to sweep on the left side.
Forward sweep to drive the kayak into the eddy.
Lean into the turn and execute a bow draw in the eddy. Please Note
For more unstable craft (long skis) or paddlers unfamiliar with the bow draw a Low Brace Turn can be used. It gives you more stability.
If your kayak is facing upstream in the eddy and you want to turn it around, gently ease the bow into the current and let the water push it downstream. You can use a Forward Sweep or Reverse Sweep to help the kayak turn.
If the kayak is facing downstream in the eddy and you want to turn it around, gently ease
the stern into the current and the water will push it downstream.
When turning, always work with the current and not against it.
Check out my chapter on white water instruction
here.
WWR #3 Lower Bells Race- Sunday 17th July Starting in pool below Dogs Breakfast Rapid, racing downstream to Amiens Crescent
Sunday 17th July
Check-in: 8:30am - 9:00am
Briefing: 9:15am
Race Start: 9:30am
WWR #4 Walyunga Races- Saturday 23rd July
Starting from the pool above the slalom course in Walyunga National Park, and racing downstream 400m to the bottom of the Walyunga Chute Rapid.
Check-in: 8:00am - 8:30am
Briefing: 8:45am
Race Start Single: 9:00am
Race Start Teams: 10:30am
Register through Just Go! Under "Events and Courses" search "Wildwater"
WALYUNGA TO MIDDLE SWAN This is the last Avon Descent Seeding Race!
Starting in the long pool from the top carpark, racing 23km downstream through the Walyunga Slalom Course, Bells Rapids, the lower Ti Trees and Amiens through to Middle Swan Reserve.
Competitors follow a winding river consisting of exposed rocks and Ti-trees with the added fun of rapids and a strong current.
Register through Just Go! Under "Events and Courses" search "Walyunga to Middleswan"
SUP Tonic Clean Up
KEEP OUR RIVERS CLEAN
KEEP OUR RIVERS CLEAN!
Save the date for our next River Clean up event on Sunday July 17th
Kayakers, families, walkers and walkers with dogs are all very much needed where stand up paddlers can’t access. We will need volunteers to assist with rubbish sorting so please get in touch if you can help.
Discounted Paddle board hire for experienced paddlers will be available. Boards will be equipped with bags, gloves and other implements to assist with rubbish collection. Click here to book.
These events are rewarding, educational and enjoyable. We’d love you to take part, meet some like minded people and have some fun along the way. The outcome is always an eyeopener, you’ll be amazed at the amount of litter we retrieve at each event and once seen – you can never unsee!
DETAILS
Date
Sunday 17th July 2022
Time
8.00 am – 11.00 am
Location
Claughton Reserve, Bayswater. (End of Katanning Street).
Look out for the SUP Tonic flag.
Go to: https://suptonic.com.au/keep-our-rivers-clean/
Avon Descent Scrutineering
Paddlers - lock Friday 29 July in your diaries for scrutineering!.
We will be holding scrutineering at Ascot Kayak Club from 3-7pm, & the Swan Cafe will have some yummy dinner options available too..
We’d appreciate if all paddlers could please ensure they attend scrutineering at @ascotkayakclub . We appreciate the commitment it takes to get there, but it is a critical step towards helping make #avondescent safe for all participants (penalties could apply for non-attendance).
Collie Water Release Release #3 is coming up soon on: Thursday 28th July to Sunday 31st July!
Help Perth Get A Whitewater Centre
Praying for rain? Wishing for white water?
Help us achieve year round white water in Perth and remove the need to constantly check the rain radar.
How can we make this a reality?
Firstly, we need to develop a comprehensive business case for the Perth Whitewater Centre, which can then be presented to local governments and stakeholders. Such a document is expensive to produce, so we are asking you for help via donations.
Donations over $2 are tax deductible and you can use the link below.
As club memberships are due soon, we have set up an easy way to donate via the JustGo membership page when you renew your membership. You can choose the donation amount, or to opt out.
Simple.
Find out more and to make a donation in the link below.
Thank you for your support.
More info here:
https://www.paddlewa.asn.au/blog/2022/05/06/help-make-the-perth-whitewater-centre-a-reality/
