Well I have had some good news - I got my camera back thanks to Julie picking it up from the airport when she left Adelaide. And thanks to the people who found it in the rental car and were honest enough to give it back. It save me $600.00.
I also received a letter from Paddle Australia saying that I have been selected to compete at the 2024 ICF Masters Canoe Marathon World Championships in Metkovic, Croatia.

I’m not sure if the 6 months of hormone treatment, (3 months to go), and 33 sessions of radiation, which I start to have on May 1^st will affect my performance, but I will see when I get there. I paddled in the World Champs last year after 33 sessions of radiation and I seemed to go okay, although I didn't get on the podium. That was because the other paddlers were just much better than me. 

Don't forget to come and support, Nina, Harry and David who are organising a fundraising event at Ascot on Anzac Day 5.00pm to help them get to Europe to take part in the World Wild Water Championships. See details below.

• Brady's Lake
• Paddler of the Week - Julie McDonald
• At the Clubs
• Australia Slalom Development Squad
• Para-paddlers going to 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris.
• Australian Canoe Marathon Championships
• Australian SUP Championships 
• SUP Paddle Loops at Ascot
• Shaka Hand Sign
• Coming Events
• Canning Classic
• Nina, Harry & David fundraising Team Boat Challenge
• John Sims Race

Bit of a hole there!!

WAs Hunter Florisson taking on the Cruncher Rapid, Brady's Lake, Tasmania.

A young paddler tackles rapids at Brady's Lake.

High flying at the National White Water Centre – Canolfan Dwr Gwyn Genedlaethol, Wales.

Some of the paddlers taking part in the Ascot PRG training when Julie joined the group. 
The Progressive Racing Group started with 15 paddlers, now it has 110 paddlers that take part at different times.

This was her first paddle on the Epic V8.

She never fell off and she suddenly became hooked on paddling.

Our group meets every month or so to have a feed and a get-together.

Julie being chased at the Canning Race.

Julie moved from a ski to a kayak and started to develop more skills and confidence.

She started practising portaging, although her portaging might need a little more practice!

It's just not the paddling Julie loves, it's also the people she paddles with and the encouragement she gets. 

Julie paddled her K1 at the 2024 Australian Canoe Marathon.

Julie claims a medal in the K1 and just didn't want to get off the podium.

You have to be in it to win it and Julie is not afraid to give it ago. 

Judy Darbyshire and Julie paddled doubles at the 2024 Australian Canoe Marathon coming second, so a silver medal.

Julie and Brett paddling mixed doubles at the 2024 Australian Canoe Marathon.

They won. In fact they win a lot of races when they paddle together.

Julie and Brett collecting their gold medal.

Since Julie started paddling she can enjoy a lot of happy times with her husband Brett.

Her life has changed.

She deserves to have fun as she is an amazing person.

At the Clubs 

As the sun sets the Progressive Racing Group paddlers at Ascot are paddling in a handicapped race.

Later some of the Ascot PRG members gather for pizza.

Photo Steph Smith.

Canning Canoe Club members at Kent Street Weir.

Canning Canoe Club winter location at sunset.

Photo Dave Gardiner.

Members of Swan Canoe Club return after a good paddle.

Photo John O'Sulivan.

As the sun goes down Swan Canoe Club members relax with wine, cheese and oysters!

Geographe Bay Paddling Club in Busselton race day.

The end of the day Port Geographe.

The Over 45 Canoe Club heading out for coffee starting from Sandy Beach, Bassendean and heading downstream towards Maylands. They have 3 choices of coffee shops, Swan Cafe at Ascot Kayak Club, The Oar House at Hinds Reserve, Garratt Road, Bayswater or The Peninsula Farm Cafe in Maylands.

Canoe Slalom 2024 National Development Squad

Paddle Australia is pleased to announce the canoe slalom athletes selected in the 2024 National Development Squad (NDS).

Designed to identify young paddlers with the potential to reach current and future national teams, the NDS provides opportunities for paddlers to learn and develop.

After a thorough process involving performance reviews from events such as the Age Nationals and Oceania Championships held earlier in the year, several athletes from a range of states have been selected.

Performance Pathways Lead for Canoe Slalom, Ros Lawrence said the athletes selected are a great group.

“Returning Tasmanian athletes Freja Boocock and Dan Andrews will lead the 12-strong group as they progress throughout the year,” said Lawrence.

“The state slalom hubs are doing fantastic work developing young paddlers and this group is well supported at home.

“I’m looking forward to seeing them develop over the year,” finished Lawrence.

Paddle Australia would like to congratulate the following athletes on their selection:

U14 

Maddie Boocock – TAS/Derwent Canoe Club

Isabella Florisson* – WA/Ascot Kayak Club

Munro MacQueen – TAS/Derwent Canoe Club

Toby Watkins – TAS/Derwent Canoe Club

Amelia Watson – VIC/Canoes Plus Racing Team

U15

Cooper Ault – VIC/Melbourne Canoe Club

Kate Delaney – NSW/Big River Canoe Club

Alex Redlich – VIC/Melbourne Canoe Club

U16

Dan Andrews – TAS/Derwent Canoe Club

Rhys Macrae* – WA/Ascot Kayak Club

Abigail Watson – VIC/Canoes Plus Racing Team

U17 

Freja Boocock – TAS/Derwent Canoe Club
 
WA young paddlers, Isabel Florisson and Rhys Macrea have been selected but (it's pending meeting state criteria). 

Congratulations to Curtis McGrath, Susan Seipel and Dylan Littlehales for their appointment to the Australian Paralympic Team in Para-canoe for the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. 

Australian Canoe Marathon & SUP Championships

Australia's top K1 paddlers.

WAs Josh Kippin takes the lead and finishes first in both the long course and the short course.

Rebecca Mann, leading is the powerhouse in women's paddling.

WAs Gary Balazs Nagy paddled 24 kms on one knee.

Gary won his race and will be going to the world championships in Croatia.

Gary runs through the portage feeding lane and his wife Andrea takes out an empty bottle and puts in a full drink bottle with precision.

For some reason Gary has been given a penalty so he has to go to the penalty box for 30 seconds. 
Apparently he and a few others missed a buoy. Some of the buoys were hard to see especially if the sun reflected off the water.

Stephan and Mitch going head to head. 

Stephan was 2nd in the under 23s long course 24 kms and Mitch third. Matthew Gates from NSWs won.

Mitchell beat Stephan in the short course.

16 year old Connor Jacob left paddled in the Under 18 events and won. 

Brett McDonald left having a great race coming second to Brett Greenwood centre.

You know when Josh doesn't jump out of his kayak something is wrong. Casey and Josh had a serious boat lean which caused Josh some serious leg problems and at times found it difficult to exit the kayak, but they still won. 
That's how good they are. There is no giving up.

The super team of Berglund and Bolland.

Dave won all 3 of his events.

Dave and I are heading to the World Masters in September.

Photo Carolyn Cooper.

Darryl Long hitting the straps.

Photo Doug Hodson.

14 year old Beau Jacob taking on the 16 year olds.

Photo Doug Hodson.

Kelby Murray, Derek Cross and Garth Civil (on the right.)

Photo Doug Hodson.

John Hilton chases Stuart Bryson.

Photo Doug Hodson.

Francis Nolan wins a bronze medal in K1.

Sadly Francis had a medical issue whilst paddling doubles with Darryl and ended up in hospital, but he is out of hospital and okay.

For a full list of results, 
click here: 2024 PACMSC Results_OCR.

SUPS at the Marathon Champs

The Technical Race

The SUP technical races combine elements of sprint, distance, several tight buoy turns and portages. These races typically range from 2 to 5 kilometers depending on the particular race.
The race can be won or lost on a good tight turn and to do a good tight turn most good paddlers will do a step-back turn, although others will do a cross-bow turn which is less effective, but a more stable turn.  

Derek moving around a buoy using sweep strokes as it isn't such a tight turn.

That's the first buoy.

Wait for me guys.

Darren is doing a step-back turn to get around a 360 buoy turn. With less of the board in the water it will spin around easily. However his balance will be compromised so there is a bigger chance for him to fall off. But he is good so he won't.

Out of the water into a portage.

Derek, Tashka and I giving chase, but I have no hope of catching up. 

A SUP Step-Back-Turn

A step-back turn requires you to step back on your paddleboard so your body will be shifted back over the tail of the board, making the tail to sink and the bow to rise, and this will enable you to turn or pivot quickly with the help of your paddle sweeping in an arch.
However after sprinting to the turn buoys you can be quite exhausted and a little rattled, so the step-back turn can be a risky manoeuvre, especially for paddlers with less confidence and skill.
This is where the cross-bow-draw turn can be a safer option. (Paddlers who paddle a single canoe or who have paddled at the front of a double canoe, also use cross-bow turns to do a very efficient turn.) 

How the professionals do a step-back-turn.

Derek & Darren.

The Cross-Bow-Draw-Turn provides a tight, efficient turn, (if done well,) without having to change feet position on your board or swap your hands over. There is no stepping-back and because of this the board remains more stable, however the turn is usually less effective than the step-back turn, but a safer option. 
Although I can do a step-back turn, at the moment I use a cross-bow-draw turn rather than a step-back turn because I have a dodgy left knee, which is not very co-operative when walking back and forth on a moving board under pressure.  
The Cross-Bow-Draw involves lifting the paddle over the board to your off-side and then planting it in the water away from the board, making sure the face of the blade is slightly angled facing the front of the board. To extend your reach twist your torso and shoulders to your off-side, put pulling pressure on the paddle and before the board hits the paddle take it out and continue a sweeping action on your on-side to help get a tighter turn.  

Start with a cross-bow-draw making sure the face of the blade is slightly angled facing the front of the board (above). Put pulling pressure on the paddle and before the board hits the paddle take it out, and if needed continue a doing a sweep stroke on your on-side to help get a tighter turn (below).

With practise you should be able to do a 360 turn. 

Back Home

Paddle Loops Ascot

WA SUP 

It's good when we don't have a kayak race on and SUP have an event on, because that means I can take part in SUP racing. 

WA Sup put on a social race, on a Sunday once a month at Ascot. You win if you pick the correct time that you finish. There is a 1km, 2km or 4km course depending on your standard. As it is more of a promotion, a get together, a social, it is a fun event. Although a few of us take it a bit more serious.

The 4km paddlers line up.

Photos Noni Wells. 

We are away.

Time to circulate and try different boards.

I was second because of being close to the time I nominated. 

I wanted that pineapple but Peter left and Darren and two others beat me over the line.

The Shaka Hand Sign

Darren, Tashka, Derek and me.

Photo Julie McDonald.

Over the years I have got to know the meaning of the one-finger sign but more recently I have been wondering why SUP paddlers do the finger-thumb sign when they are on the podium. 
Apparently it is called the shaka sign.
The story of the popular signal goes back to the roots of Hawaiian culture. Shaka brah!

The shaka sign, sometimes known as "hang loose" is a gesture with friendly intent often associated with Hawaii and surf culture. 

Residents of Hawaii use the shaka to convey the "Aloha Spirit", a concept of friendship, understanding, compassion, and solidarity among the various ethnic cultures that reside in Hawaii, lacking a direct semantic to literal translation. 

When the surf culture grew and spread through California and America during the 1960s, a new body gesture gained enthusiasts.

Surfers from Hawaii started saluting fellow wave riders and friends with an original hand sign.

Shaka is physically performed by extending the thumb and pinky fingers while holding the three middle fingers curled into the palm of the hand.

Surfers loved it, and before long, the original shaka from Hawaii had an alternative nickname: Hang Loose.

The surf sign prevailed and expanded into Europe, Oceania, Asia, and Africa; the shaka gesture was adopted by an increasing number of water sports enthusiasts, and the star system also started doing it.

But what's the real meaning of shaka? In fact, it can mean many positive things.

"Hi," "Thank You," "All Right," "See You," "Peace," "Goodbye," "Take Care," and "Chill Out" are some of the daily reasons for delivering shakas.

Register here:

https://www.webscorer.com/register?raceid=347531

David Burdett, Harry Langley and Nina Mueller have been selected for the Australian Wildwater Senior Team this year and are hosting a fundraiser event to help them get to this years international events held in Macedonia, Italy and Spain!

The team boat race will involve random selection of teams to race in doubles/K3/K4 (teams and start list will be announced a few days prior to race day).

Paddlers of all ages and experience are welcome!

Please arrive early to allow enough time to get your team boat sorted!

Race start will be 5:00pm

Course: 
Start/finish at the Ascot jetty heading upstream. 
3 x laps around the Sandy Beach buoy and Ron Courtney Island.

Enjoy a sausage sizzle & drink afterwards. 

There will also have a raffle so bring some cash if you would like to go into the draw to win some awesome goodies! Tickets will be $5 each.

$30 race entry (including sausage sizzle & drink) 
$10 sausage sizzle & drink only

We hope to see you there for a fun evening! 

Register via this link: 

https://www.webscorer.com/registerseries?pid=1...

Enter here:

https://www.webscorer.com/register?raceid=345828

1. Location: Ascot Kayak Club Fauntleroy Avenue Ascot WA
2. Race Day Schedule:
   1. Main & Short course check-in 7.00 to 7.45,
   2. Briefing 8.00,
   3. Race Start 8.30
   4. Guppies check-in 7.00 to 7.45
   5. Briefing 8.15,
   6. Start at 8.45 

Registration Details: All paddlers [including team boat participants] must register individually, pay and provide emergency contact info, team boats name partners and boat type.

Race categories will be constituted on age group/boat/gender with three racers required to make a category.

There is no registration on the day, except for guppies.  No charge for guppy paddlers.

If you want to be in the fastest grids 

please register in the OPEN category.

Para-adaptive, outrigger  and SUP class available.

Course Details:

1. Full course: 11.5km, AKC to Barkers Bridge and return,
2. Short Course: 8km, AKC to Guildford Bridge and return,
3. Guppies: 3.5km, Circuit close to Club

Mandurah Cut Run

16th Nov 24