Well the Sprint Regatta on Saturday afternoon with the strong wind was challenging to say the least, but even more challenging for me as I was paddling a C1. Good sized waves were moving
along the course, which weren’t such a problem when paddling with or against them, but having to paddle across the waves really tested me to my limit.
Since I started paddling some 48 years ago I have always
tried to challenge myself, develop skills and give everything a go. It is because of the variety, the challenges and rewards of paddling that I have kept paddling for a good many years.
So have you thought about challenging yourself a little more than you do now? If you paddle
a stable ski on flat water, why don’t you have a go at paddling a racing kayak? With the Australian Marathon Championships coming up in Geelong at Easter and the Australian Sprints being in Perth, why not get in a kayak and give them a go.
If you are thinking about entering the
50th Avon Descent next year and you have limited skills, why not better them so you can keep in or on your boat instead of capsizing. It’s one thing to be fast on flat water, but if you don’t have the skill to tackle the rapids you will find the race more challenging than it should be.
Tonight (Friday) I am running a skills course in race boats at
Ascot Kayak Club at 5.15pm so if you would like to join in just come along. It’s aimed at the average racing paddler who would benefit from increasing their skill level.
I will be running other skills courses in different boats in the New Year. The first one will be
paddling Down River or Wavehopper Kayaks where I have 25 buoys put out on a section of flatwater which paddlers have to weave in and out of using what skills they have. After a few sessions you will find your skills will increase quickly, which then can be transferred to white water.
