Last week we had the slalom and wild water team selections and all the paddlers were from Ascot Kayak Club. This week the sprint racing has been dominated by paddlers from Bayswater Paddlesports Club. However there were some Canning Canoe Club, Geographe Bay, Swan Canoe Club and Ascot members sneaking in and taking some of the limelight. In fact Canning Canoe Club with only 3 paddlers won 9 medals. The club said; how good is that.

Remember to get your entry in for the WA Marathon Champs taking part next weekend.

You don't have to a top paddle to take part.

Just come a long a support the event.

Next year we have the Australian Championships in Perth.

It's a big newsletter this week, I hope you can get through it.

• Junior Paddler of the Week
• Paddler of the Week
• Getting Ready for the State Marathon Champs
• Wild Water Team Selection
• Thailand Watersports & Slalom Course
• A Wild Ride with Andy Griffith
• Australian Canoe Sprint Championships
• Off to the Olympics
• Rod Fry Race
• Missouri River - Day 34 - Vietnam Vet Day & Storm
• Pelicans
• Who's Out There
• For Sale - Wavehopper - Epic Paddles
• Sea Kayak Festival
• Coming Events

Junior Paddler of the Week

Orlando Fonseca

Congratulations to 14 year old Orlando for an amazing achievement winning 6 Gold medals representing WA over in Penrith Sydney he has just competed in the Australian National Sprint Canoeing Championships over the last 5 days and achieving PB's, 6 gold, - k1 200, 500 and 1000 and k2 200 & 1000, k4 500.

As an Ascot Kayak Club member Orlando is a quiet achiever.

Paddler of the Week

Luke Egger

In the recent Australian Championships Luke won a silver in the 200m, came 5th in A final 500, medaled in the K2 and K4 as well as giving the guys in the Australian team on the national program a run for their money.

Luke made the under 23 junior worlds team going to Bulgaria.

Luke has been paddling for many years. I remember him as a young paddler taking on the long marathon courses when all other juniors paddled the short course. It didn't take him long to start beating adults and he was only 12 years old.

Luke Egger (right) with his mate and extremely good paddler Jeremy Alderson.

I will always remember Luke paddling the 2017 Australian Canoe Marathon in Sydney in the 16 boys. He was going really well and in equal lead and coming to a portage neck and neck with another paddler. Unfortunately Luke was prevented to get close to the pontoon and capsized and having to swim a few metres as it was deep water.

By the time he got onto the pontoon the other paddlers had already run the portage and were paddling away. Being 150 metres or more behind Luke paddled his way back to the front pack. It was an impressive catch-up. On the last lap he was duelling with three other paddlers and he was in a good position to win but his catch-up had taken too much out of him and ended up 3rd, only 4 seconds from 1st place. He was 15 and a year younger than the other boys.  

In 2019 16 year-old paddler Luke gained invaluable international experience as a member of the Australian team that competed at the 2019 Olympic Hopes canoe sprint regatta in Slovakia.

Luke was the only WA representative and had the opportunity to train and compete under the eye of sprint canoe legend – 2008 Olympic gold medallist Kenny Wallace – who travelled with the squad as lead coach.

The emerging WA talent paddled in four events in Bratislava, consisting of two individual races and two team boat races.

Across his series, he managed an A-Final, a B-Final and two semi-final berths. As a 16 year old his best result came via the U17 K1 200 race in which he posted a seventh place finish.

Getting Ready for the State Canoe Marathon 
& SUP Champs

Paddlers in all different boats and age groups will be entering the WA Canoe & SUP Marathon Champs coming up.

You don't have to be a top paddler to enter.

Josh Kippin and Stephan Weyers training for the marathon, state and national.

Portage time. Replicating the same distance at the WA & Australian Champs.

Enter Here:

State Championships:

https://www.webscorer.com/register?raceid=344602

Saturday, March 23rd & Sunday March 24th.

Why Not Go and Paddle at the

Australia Canoe Marathon and SUP Championships 

4 out of the 9 wild water paddlers selected are from WA.

Congratulations WA paddlers 
Genie Collin, Nina Mueller, Harry Langley and David Burdett.

Thailands Watersports Centre

If it's slalom, sprint, dragon boat or Stand Up Paddle Board 

this centre caters for all.

It hosts Asian and World Championships.

The Klong Bang Phai Whitewater Course is a thrilling water sports venue located in Rayong, Thailand.

• The Klong Bang Phai Whitewater Course is nestled within the compound of the Royal Thai Navy Rowing and Canoeing Training Centre.
   
• It serves as a training center for water sports athletes, primarily focusing on disciplines such as canoe-kayak sprint, rowing, and canoe slalom.
   
• In August 2023, the Rowing & Canoeing Association of Thailand (RCAT) inaugurated the Klong Phai Water Sport Training Center.
   
• This center was specifically designed to welcome 4,000 athletes from 20 countries across 5 continents during the 16th IDBF World Dragon Boat Racing Championships.
   
• Notably, this event marked the first time that Paradragon racing was included in the competition.
   
• The racing took place at the Klong Phai Water Sport Training Center in Rayong, which offers a spacious and secure environment for athletes and visitors.
   
• The grand opening ceremony occurred on August 7, 2023, at Jomtien Beach, Pattaya, Chonburi.

Overall, the Klong Bang Phai Whitewater Course stands as a testament to Thailand’s commitment to water sports excellence and international sporting events.

The artificial whitewater course is nestled in the compound of the 30-rai at the Royal Thai Navy Rowing and Canoeing Training Center. The facilities are designed to serve as a training center for water sports athletes; mainly the RCAT’s national teams of canoe – kayak sprint, rowing, and canoe slalom. There are also jogging and cycling tracks to serve the health-concerned neighboring community. Course length: 200 meters Water flow: 8 m3/sec Difficulties: Grade 2 - 3.

The Royal Thai Navy Rowing and Canoeing Training Center, Whitewater Course.

Check out these videos:

https://www.facebook.com/rcat.navy/videos/327682629835877

https://www.facebook.com/rcat.navy/videos/1205176083266249

When will West Australia get their White Water Course.

A Wild Ride with Andy Griffith

27th of March at 6.30pm at Swan Canoe Club 

Andrew Griffiths first joined the Swan Canoe Club in 1968, he is a past president with years of experience running big rivers and guiding on the Colorado.

In the 1970s Andy Griffith was one of Australia's best white water paddlers. In the 80s the fearless Andy moved to Colorado USA where all the white water and action sports were.

White water legend Andy will be giving a talk on Wednesday the 27th of March at 6.30pm at Swan Canoe Club on wilderness adventures in the Grand Canyon. All welcome.

Andrew reckons that anyone can paddle the Colorado (anyone with a bomb proof roll that is!)

Andrew will talk about his experience leading trips along the complete 450km of the river for 18 + days (either in a kayak or in a raft with day hikes on shore.)

He describes the trip as “floating through one of natures’ greatest miracles which has a profound effect on the soul.”

His wife Christine describes it as ‘life changing.’

Andrew will describe not only his experiences but also how you can arrange to go on one of these amazing wilderness trips.”

RSVP to elena@developmental.net.au

Andy Griffith paddling the slalom course on Brady's Lake in 1979 and representing WA at the Championships.

Nothing fazed Andy. He would tackle the most difficult rapid.

Paddling the Grand Canyon.

Australian Canoe Sprint Championships

Some of the WA team out for a warm up.

Ramon Andersson putting the young team through their paces.

K2 Womens.

K2 Mens.

K1 Womens.

 Canning Canoe Club is Happy

The National Sprint Canoeing Titles have been run and won (at Penrith) with CRCC paddlers Beau Jacob, Connor Jacob and Luke Egger representing our club.

CRCC won 9 medals with only 3 paddlers. How good is that.

As a result of his results, Luke Egger made the under 23 junior worlds team going to Bulgaria.

Connor Jacob made the Asia Pacific Team- (Contested at Penrith this year.)

Connor's results:

K1200m 2^nd, K1500m 2^nd, K1 1000m 2^nd, K2 200m 1^st, K2 500m 1^st, K2 1000m 1^st, Mixed K2 200m 3^rd, K4 500m 2^nd.

Beau Jacob:

K1 200m 3^rd, K1 500m 3^rd, K1 1000m 3^rd, K2 200m 2^nd, K2 500m 1^st, K2 1000m 2^nd, Mixed K2 200m 2^nd, K4 500m U14s 1st

Luke's results: 

Mixed K2 200m 1^st, K1 200m 2^nd, K2 200m 1^st, K1 500m 6^th, K2 500m 3rd.

Finn Caruana (Geographe Bay) & Connor Jacob (Canning CC)

Off to the Olympics

Australia's Olympic Team

includes WAs Yale Steinepreis below left.

The Rod Fry Race

Swan Canoe Club

Rod Fry (1964 – 1993) was a dominant force in C1 and C2 paddling in Western Australia for more than a decade.

His competitive achievements are numerous.

Perhaps those most well known are his three wins in C1 and five in C2 classes (with Lydia Formentin, Geoff Chambers and Ray Hall) in the Avon Descent. Rod’s records for the Mixed C2 and Men’s C2 in the Avon Descent still stand with Lydia and Ray.

In State and Wild Water championships he consistently came first and second.

At the National level, Rod was known for his successful partnerships with Lydia Formentin, winning both the Wild Water Open Mixed C2 and the Slalom Mixed C2 classes in 1983 and almost duplicating the feat in 1984. He had further successes in both Slalom and Wild Water events over the years, most recently in 1993, just two weeks before his tragic road accident.

Internationally, he competed in the World Marathon Championships in 1985 and in the World Wild Water Championships in 1989 and in 1991 when he came 27th in the C1 class.

Rod was a valued member of Swan Canoe Club for twelve years. He was a quiet achiever who will be remembered for his enthusiasm and encouragement of others, and his skill and dedication to C1 and C2 paddling.

Swan Canoe Club always have a lot of prizes and a feast of food at the end of the race. 

Photos Elena Lennox and Babett & Gordo.

It was a bit rough on the first leg and when big power boats came by.

John Hilton paddled his K1 so he was pretty confident.

Steve & Peter didn't quite beat Darryl & Francis. But beat Terry and Ashley!

Darren Pratt and Emma Raphael-Parker did the long course on a SUP. I felt for Emma as we passed her on the way back. It was rough, windy with lots of power boat wash.

Declan Hoare paddled the short course and that was still tough.

Peter Leaversuch and Allen Lindsay.

Peter won the singles race.

Results here

2024 Rod Fry | Race results | Webscorer

 Missouri River
Saturday 16th September. Day 34

Vietnam Veteran's Day and Storm on the Lake.

I had paddled roughly 2000kms on the Missouri River when I reached Pierre the capital of South Dakota. It was celebrating a Vietnam Veterans home coming (a little late some would say the war ended in 1975) and the place was abuzz. There were Vietnam Veteran welcome signs all over the place. Over 40,000 people had gathered in Pierre to celebrate the return of South Dakota’s Vietnam veterans. The festivities spanned two days and included various activities.

58,200 American soldiers were killed and approximately 27,000 South Dakota men and women had served their country during the Vietnam War, and 227 South Dakotans lost their lives in Vietnam. 

521 Australians died plus many from other countries. Australia deployed over 60,000 servicemen and women to the conflict in Vietnam between 1962 and 1975. 

After passing a nearby garden full of small flags with names of soldiers that had died in the Vietnam War I walked towards the city centre and found a hardware store and bought fuel for my stove. The store had a video playing about the Vietnam War with interviews of the soldiers so I stopped to watch it for a while. It was so sad to see what went on there. Even in the friendly towns they had to have steel mesh on the windows of the army buses to prevent people throwing grenades into them. I left the store with more appreciation of what the soldiers had to go through.

Passing a garden a nearby garden full of small flags with names of soldiers that had died in the Vietnam War 

The longest river in the USA.

Back on the main street the vets were driving small hot rods, old cars, motor bikes, big pickup trucks and riding on horses and driving horse carriages. It looked as if most of the vets were enjoying the recognition. Many of them were scarred for life, some physically, others emotionally. Not having experienced a war, I will never know the fear, and the pain they have been through.

I stopped at a super market and bought a few provisions, but I didn’t need much, only a few things to top up my supplies. I walked back to my kayak passing all the festivities, parades and all the welcome signs. The vets were really getting a welcome but it had been 31 years since the war.

Back at the kayak I sat down on the scenic waterfront and ate fresh buns, cheese, tomato and ham. How delicious. The weather was just gorgeous and there was a lot of activity in the park and band stand stage nearby. It looked as if the people there were readying for a concert or something.

Fresh fruit and cheese on fresh buns. Happy times.

I left the city of Pierre on a calm windless afternoon a little sad because I had left all the activity. A few hundred yards downstream I met a boat anchored in the middle of the river with people relaxing and drinking wine. I stopped to talk and they told me a fireworks display was about to take place. Odd I thought because it was still day light. “These are daylight fireworks,” they said. I was a little sceptical about there being such a thing as day light fireworks but they assured me that there were. We exchanged goodbyes and I left them drinking wine and eating delicacies with their feet up and really relaxing. For a moment I was quite envious. I was in for another hard day.

I moved on around a left hand bend with steep banks towering over on my right. The city was completely lost as a big island park on my left was covered with trees that blocked my view. When I reached the end, a creek opened up into a big bay and gave me views of the city and the Capitol building again. It was quite a sight but it didn’t last long as trees again soon blocked my view. Being only a couple of miles out of the city, it still felt quite remote.

Civilisation was now behind me and ahead a lonely river that would soon turn into a lake. I got into a nice paddling rhythm when moments later a frightening set of bangs echoed down the river. I instantly looked back and saw an array of daylight fireworks blasting off and lighting up the day time sky. The people were right, you could see fireworks in the day time, but they certainly weren’t as colourful as night time fireworks. It didn’t matter I was treated to a display that I have never seen before, so for a few moments I just sat there, in my kayak drifting with the current and taking it all in. When the smoke, white phosphorus plumes and the skies became quiet, the show was all over.

I started paddling again just as several aircraft that had been circling the city earlier, came together for an aircraft bypass display. It was quite moving, as I thought of the Vietnam Vets and what they had gone through. Hundreds were killed and thousands were injured physically and emotionally. At the parade there were several veterans in wheel chairs as well as many using crutches to get around. War is savage. When the aircraft disappeared the celebrations for me were over, it was back to paddling. I still had a thousand miles to paddle before I could celebrate truly, but I knew that I had been lucky throughout my life so far, as I hadn’t experience war.

Everything was looking good for a perfect day then unexpectedly a loud sonic boom rumbled behind me. I look back expecting another aircraft display, but I could see nothing but a heavy, black, fierce looking cloud drifting over the city. I paddled on glancing behind and watching the build up of a spectacular sky. Within minutes the city was in a thick haze as the huge set of thunder clouds towered over it. Moments later the buildings were lost as the heavy rain lashed the city. That will dampen the celebrations, I thought.

The eagles didn't mind the stormy weather.

The storm looked as if it was headed to the north-west, so I felt safe, and I didn’t have to worry. Within minutes though, the large black cloud full of heavy rain was headed my way. Now I was worried. I took off like a rocket trying to find a safe way to get to shore as there were a large number of tree stumps blocking my way. I looked behind again and I could see the storm bearing down on me at a very fast pace. The river had turned white as the wind waves coming down the river developed into thousands of big feisty white caps. The storm was after me.

With the help of the strong wind I was moving at an unbelievable speed, but I could see that I needed to get to shore even quicker to shelter. Normally that would be easy but with the tree stumps scattered along the shoreline for about 300 metres out into the lake, it wasn’t easy at all. They were dangerously positioned in my path, but I just had no choice to run the gauntlet and paddle between them before the storm hit me fully. It was a dangerous move and I only needed to be pushed sideways onto one and it would be curtains for me.

Suddenly the first part of the storm caught up and all hell broke loose. The wind gusted stronger as the rain pelted and the waves began to increase even bigger in size. It all happened within minutes. I just focussed on paddling the clearest, straightest path between the stumps towards a tiny beach on shore that I could see in the distance.

Big tree trunks that lined the lake had to be avoided in the storm.

The wind intensified further and I was forced to stop paddling to prevent my paddle from being whipped out of my hands. I even laid back in my kayak seat to create less wind resistance and to help keep the nose of the kayak from burying into the waves that I was surfing. As the wind waves pushed me along, I surfed, I used the rudder to steer and I was moving at a speed that I could never attain by mere paddling!

It was the fiercest and most frightening storm that I had encountered for years whilst on the water. It was impossible to fight, I just had to keep a low profile, keep the boat straight, let the wind blow me and hope for the best and pray that I would reach the beach before being capsized. If I was pushed sideways to the waves or hit a stump, I couldn’t imagine what would happen, but one thing I knew, it wouldn’t be pleasant!

I was joyous as I hit that tiny beach, it surely saved me. I jumped out of the kayak in not so perfect fashion, grabbed the front toggle and pulled the boat up a steep two metre bank and raced across some grass and quickly turned the kayak and faced it directly towards the oncoming storm, hoping it wouldn’t be whipped away with the wind. I was safe but what an experience!! I donned my raincoat, kneeled down next to the boat to avoid being blown away and just watched the storm as it passed over. I would hate to think what would have happened if I had been kilometres away from shore. The wide river was now one mass of breaking waves, it was an amazing sight.

Within 15 minutes of the main storm passing I was on the move again, the waves had dissipated to a safer height. It was still very rough but just paddle-able. Within 20 minutes another storm, not looking quite as big as the first, started to veer across towards me. With the wind increasing with every minute I thought enough was enough and decided to pull out when I saw a sheltered campsite. It wasn’t yet 5.00pm so I felt a little guilty to be stopping so early but it was the safest thing to do. I set up the tent beside some trees on the edge of a small meadow, which gave me good shelter. I had time to do some washing and hang a line in the trees and with the high winds the washing soon dried. I had cheese and tomato rolls for dinner. It was a cold, stormy and a very blustery night.

I was happy to get to shore after a wild ride.

Camped in the protection of some trees. It was cold though.

Sunday 17th September. Day 35

I could hear the wind whipping through the trees in the night and it was quite frightening. I couldn’t imagine what it was like on the lake. I woke up a few times and had such a weird dream.

I crawled out of the tent and it was cold under the shade of the trees and with the wind blowing through the tunnel of branches I had to keep rugged up or freeze. It was such a cold day, apparently it only reached 6ºC.

Although the lake looked calmer, once I got going the lake was even rougher. I was really fighting the elements and I mean that literally. There were tree stumps in the lake again to dodge. I was getting very wet, not just from the rain that came in heavy downpours but also from the large waves that pounded the boat and washed over the bow and stern. The wind blew a gale, and waves increased in size. The conditions made it hard for me to keep control of the kayak and it made paddling that much more difficult. When the really big waves rolled over the kayak the whole boat was literally underwater and the kayak would wallow and flounder with the weight of the water.

Conditions were bad, but they got worse when frightening strong wind gusts came rushing through making it virtually impossible to stop my paddle from being wrenched out of my hands. At these times I had little control of the boat and I was always praying that there were no tree stumps in my way. I paddled on a knife’s edge and pushed my luck and although I knew that I wasn’t infallible I just wanted to keep going, keep warm and keep on schedule, whilst taking as much care as it was possible.

Avoiding tree trunks in the storm was like playing Russian roulette.

Kilometre after kilometre the shore was lined with a large number of big floating trees that had been washed up, making landing in these trying conditions very difficult, if not impossible. There were irrigated fields, rolling hills and a deer, but it was far too difficult to take much notice of anything today. I was too concerned in keeping upright. As nightfall was edging closer, the wind got stronger, the temperature got colder and with the shoreline in my sight almost impossible to land on, it was with great relief when I saw a boat ramp in a small bay, free of trees. My spirits soared as I spotted my home for the night and a place that I would be safe.

It can be very demanding at times. Sometimes it shows.

Safe in the bay away from the wild weather. I had to have a rest day to let the storm pass over.

These three First Nation ladies arrived and brought me a present of popcorn in a huge flash cone box that was made on the Lower Brule Indian Reservation and 6 packs of chemically activated hand warmers. 

Enjoying popcorn, a beer and a Mountain House meal. 
Occasionally people I meet will give me beer, sometimes two, sometimes three and sometimes I'm feeling pretty good and paddle hard after 3.

Pelicans

Why don't we see pelican chicks on the river?

They usually nest on islands, like Penguin Island and by the time they leave the nest they have grown to be as big as their parents.

Australian Pelicans live and breed together in large colonies. They are able to breed at any time of the year but this is usually dependent on conditions like rainfall.

Pelicans are colonial nesters. Colony sizes in WA vary from a dozen pairs to more than 1000. They almost invariably nest on islands. Nests are little more than shallow scrapes on the ground, often lined with pieces of seaweed and discarded feathers. Two eggs are laid. Within a couple of weeks of hatching, the chicks gather in small mobs or ‘creches’.

Pelican chicks remain in a “pelican creche” until they are almost as big as an adult! During this period, they are fed by their parents. By the time they are ready to leave the creche and their natal site they have grown to be as big as their parents.

When the young pelicans are born they are featherless and blind. They get their food by putting their bills down their parents bill and eating the regurgitated food. Usually after one month the chick can leave the nest and join the other baby chicks, they are then cared for by the adults for another couple of months until they learn to fly.

Pelicans on a sand bar in Redcliffe.

Pelicans breeding on Pelican Island.

Photo Kris Metcher.

Baby pelicans.

Internet photos.

The young pelicans get as big as an adult before they leave the nest.

 Brown Jellyfish are appearing in big numbers on the Swan River. 
This is what I see on my SUP in Ashfield. 
They are believed to have been introduced into the river by merchant boats in the 19th century. 
Brown jellyfish are harmless.

Who's Out There

Thursday morning I think it was the Over 55 Canoe Club pass me by.

This morning, Friday the Over 45 Canoe Club were out in force. These were two of the four groups on the water. 

Over 45 Canoe Club.

Ascot Kayak Club and the Swan Cafe were busy this morning.

The SES practice and rescue day. How many can we fit in a boat.

Wavehopper

$250.00

Contact Terry 0417977330

Having to say goodbye to a few of my 50 some kayaks.

Epic Paddles

Small Mid Wing

Epic Small Mid Wing Paddle
Special

       Small Mid Club Carbon - $460 (usually $499.00)

• 737g
• Carbon fiber blade, Green oval shaft
• Fully adjustable length & feather
  
  Small Mid Full Carbon - $570.00 (usually $649.00)
•  680g
• Carbon fiber blade, Black 3K carbon oval shaft
• Fully adjustable length & feather

All Epic paddles include a silver bag with purchase. 

State Championships:

https://www.webscorer.com/register?raceid=344602