Three Weeks Ago it looked as if the Avon River was going to be mighty low but how things can change as the water levels rise and is now predicted to be pretty high.

It should be good spectator viewing at Bells Rapid on Sunday.
 

• Avon Descent Weekend
• Our Avon Descent Team
• Seven Days 7 x 5 Kilometre Time Trials
• Noemie Fox
• Paddler of the Week - Darryl Long 
• The Yukon River Descent - The Yukon River Quest Race
• Coming Events

Coming Events

• 10th - 11th August 2024 - Avon Decent
• 17th & 18th August 2024 - WA Wild Water Championships
• 7th September 2024 - Nanga Challenge
• 16-17th September - World Masters Canoe Marathon 
• 19th - 22nd September - World Canoe Marathon
  12th October 2024 - WA Ocean Racing Championships
   

The Avon Descent

This Weekend

Paddling down the Washing Machine Rapid in not so high water.

Bells Rapid.

A great vantage point for spectators.

Our Avon Descent Team

Because I head to Croatia for the World Canoe Masters Marathon 3 weeks after the Avon Descent I have decided not to injure myself on the Avon Rapids and join a team instead of doing it solo.

I know I have teased paddlers about going in a team in the past, saying that doing it in a team is not really doing the Avon Descent but this year I have to eat my words and I'm ready for your banter.

See you there.

Geraint Maddison. 
Day 1 section 4 (t trees). 
Day 2 section 2 (Harts Farm to Bells Rapid).

Tashka Goswell. 
Day 1 section 2 (Katrine Bridge to Toodyay).

Day 2 section 1 (Day 2 start to Harts Farm).

 Jill Roberts.

Day 1 section 3 (Toodyay to Wetherall).

Day 2 section 3 (Bells to Middle Swan Bridge).

Me

Day 1 section 1 (Northam to Katrine Bridge).

Day 2 section 4 (Middle Swan Bridge to the Finish).

SUP Paddling

7 days - 7 x 5 kilometre time trials on a Stand Up Board.

Do you ever get the urge just to do something slightly different in your week.

On the first of the month I decided to do a 5km time trial on my SUP, then I thought I should do it the next day, then the next day and the next day and it went on for 7 days.

My best time was on my 4th day with a time of 36.05. It was also the best conditions, the tide was running but there was no wind. 

The time trials are up and back, so there is no favour in tide or wind. The wind is certainly the most annoying, as with too much wind it's nearly impossible to make headway.

With the Avon Descent on this weekend I should really check out my kayak.

7 days - 7 x 5 km time trials on a SUP.

Plus 11kms each day in a kayak.

Plus a few minutes in the gym.

Plus 3 km dog walk each morning.

On Monday morning I took on my 5^th day of paddling a 5 kilometre time trial on a SUP (Stand Up Board). (I did 7 days altogether). 

Thirty minutes after finishing that time trial I was paddling 9kms in a double Nelo K2 with Nishani Jacob. We have only paddled 3 times before but as we were teaming up to paddle together in the World Masters Marathon Championships in Croatia so we needed to get used to paddling an unstable K2. As we were unable to rent a K2 that we are used to, we are more likely to have to paddle a K2 that will be pretty unstable.

I then did a short gym session and went home to do a 3km dog walk. 

That evening I paddled another 9kms with Mark Gibbons who now lives in Hong Kong. Twenty 25 years ago he lived in WA and I taught him how to paddle and he was part of my training group back then.

Coran, Jamila and Mark.

Mark was here to visit his parents as well as booking in his daughter Jamila to get some kayak technique lessons.

Whilst Jamila spent time with coach Coran Longwood Mark and I went for a paddle and caught up with a lot of news and chatter.

I love meeting people from the past and getting to know what they have been up to in the time we hadn’t seen each other. I was surprised when Mark told me that it was because of me that he started paddling and doing marathon sessions on a bike and that I inspire him. (On Saturday night I met Laurent Palmero on the water and he said the same.) (A paddler I didn’t know at scrutineering on Friday also said the same.)

So it’s good to know that my enthusiasm and my newsletter has inspired a few people to get out there and give physical exercise a go. 

I was shattered and had nightmares when Doug beat me by .01 of a second in a club race.

It happened again 4 weeks ago, but by a bigger margin.

I'm hoping that it was because of my cancer treatment and that it will never happen again.

 Noemie Fox 

is the 
OLYMPIC CHAMPION

The joy of winning and all that hard work.

Can you imagine how she is feeling?

Darryl Long

Paddler of the Week

Back in 1980 Darryl Long as a young 17 year old joined the Ascot Kayak Club. His brother Neil had joined the club first. 

Before Darryl and his brother Neil could drive they used to leave their kayaks at my home in Ashfield (150 metres from the river) so I saw a lot of them and I soon relised how keen they were. 

When I was training for the 24 hour Canoeathon in 1980 Darryl tagged along behind me. We used to paddle to Guildford Bridge and return to Ascot several times a night. In 1979 I paddled 220kms in 24 hours and in 1980 Darryl paddled 202kms and won the junior title.

When Darryl was 18, I was chasing him and I have only beaten him in a race twice since then.
The first year of his paddling I introduced Neil and Darryl and a few other juniors to white water and they developed their skills quickly.

It didn’t take long for Darryl and Neil to be very good paddlers with Darryl winning his first Avon Descent in 1981 as a 18 year old, then he won another and then another, in fact Darryl has won the Avon Descent in a single 13 times and 3 times in a double kayak. He also competed in a power boat.
 
Darryl as a Wild Water paddler has competed internationally 4 times.
He has also competed in the Fish River Marathon, South Africa.
He is a white water paddler, an ocean paddler, a marathon paddler, has been a slalom paddler and has been on many white water river trips.

In 1990, Darryl was the winner of the Ian Diffen Sports Star Award.
Darryl is an Avon Descent Legend and in the WA Hall of Fame.

Darryl Long at the Ron Fry Race.

He won the Avon Descent 13 times in singles 

and 3 times in doubles.

Darryl is an Avon Descent Legend and in the WA Hall of Fame.

Over the last 24 years Darryl has competed in hundreds of races.

The Ascot Kayak Club Blackwood Marathon Dream Team.

Steve Pilton (Cyclist), John Broom (Swimmer), Darryl (Paddler), Vicky Long (Horse Rider) and me (Runner).

Neil, Phil & Darryl.

WA was a powerhouse in Wild Water Racing back in the 80s & 90s.

Darryl, Piers Goodman, Neil Long and Keron Hepworth.

Darryl at Bells Rapid.

Darryl and John Hilton and the 2011 Australian Marathon Champs.

They will be paddling together in the Avon Descent this year.

Josh Kippin, Darryl and me.

Darryl and Josh Kippin at the Avon Descent portaging Extracts Weir.

Darryl & Josh at Championships Rapid.

Darryl dropping down a South African Weir.

A very rare sight. Darryl was paddling a ski in South Africa!

Darryl at Bells Rapid.

The Yukon River Descent

The Yukon River Quest Race

It was amazing we had finished the race and it was just before midnight. Despite it being late at night the local ferry was still carrying cars across the river. There were no bridges here. A few people were waiting on shore. Joe’s partner Tracy helped him from his kayak. At least being in a canoe we could wiggle around and keep the circulation going. We lifted our canoe from the water and the scrutineers immediately wanted to check our safety gear. “Did it really matter now I thought,” We were safe, let us enjoy the moment.
In the final results, we had crossed the line in 6th place overall (collecting $700.00 for our effort) and 4th in the canoe section, only 20 seconds behind Joe in 5th place and 33 minutes behind Francois Latour & Roy Jean in overall 4th place.
To our surprise we ended up being the second fastest canoe team on that last leg. We were only 41 minutes behind the record holders and super team of Bruce Barton and Steve Landick from the USA. Considering that we carried our tent, sleeping bags and other necessary gear to camp out, and the fact that we didn't know the river and had only trained together for two hours back in Perth, and five days in Canada before the race, we didn’t do too badly. And when we found out what legends Steve and Bruce were, we felt even prouder.

Just before midnight and in 49 hours 27 minutes and 15 seconds we crossed the finish line.

Now we had to find somewhere to sleep.

We milled around at the finish wondering where we would sleep that night. The night was light and the smoke haze added to the surreal nature of the scene. People were cheering from the bank and every shout echoed across town. The camp site was on the other side of the river but we had no transport to get there. It was 1.30am and a grassed area opposite the main line of shops was looking good, but we were told camping wasn’t allowed on it. Joe’s partner Tracy came to the rescue by suggesting that they would drive to find some accommodation and come back for us. Being so late or should I say so early in the morning I wasn’t at all confident that anyone would be up at this time of night.
A big part of me didn’t want to sleep but stay up and watch the other competitors arrive, though I knew I had to go to bed sometime. When Tracy returned she’d found some accommodation 1.5kms down the road. We jammed all our gear into the back of her car and sped away.
The room had a double bed and two singles, a shower and toilet. Joe handed us a beer to celebrate our achievement and even Ed, who is a non-drinker, swilled it down. What a beautiful taste it was at 2.00am in the morning. With all the excitement over we could now sleep and dream, we had only slept for one hour in last sixty hours. I laid my head on the pillow and floated away……

Picnic area along the river front.

Saturday 26^th June 2004

We were up at 8.00am feeling refreshed and ready to start a day without paddling. As the accommodation was booked up we had to move out. Tracey kindly drove us to the Bunkhouse in the town centre where we were able to secure a very small room just big enough to get us both in. As soon as we dropped our packs we walked to Klondike Kate’s, which was famous for good food. We had a huge but cheap fried breakfast with some of the other competitors. It was great to catch up with the other paddlers and talk about the race; there was a lot to talk about, especially with Joe who had nearly become our blood brother. The British team were eating at another table with all their film crew. We had been duelling with them at the early stages, so I couldn’t resist having a chat to them when breakfast was over. With all the talk, time had slipped by and by the time we left Klondike Kate’s in an over excited mood, it was nearly lunch time.

We walked around town and then to the finish line where paddlers, looking like death warmed up, were still getting off the water. One crew had rigged up speakers in their canoe and were playing music on the way down, which must have been a blast.

The day was warm and the air hazy with smoke. Although Dawson was very touristy it was a unique town as it had retained the character and charm of all its buildings. If it wasn’t for the cars you could mistake it for a Hollywood cowboy movie set. I loved the atmosphere.

The Bunkhouse.

One of the streets.

It was good chatting to some of the competitors after the race.

By 7.30pm exhausted paddlers were still finishing the race twenty hours after we had arrived. We had almost forgotten the pain of paddling and were relaxing at a restaurant close to the finish line with beer in hand, eating the best fish, chips and salad that I had tasted for a long time. As a crew stumbled by us, their hands covered in blisters, their bodies bent like bananas I felt their anguish, suffering and pain. So, not to get too sentimental I ordered another beer, Ed a coke, and we tucked into our beautiful fish meal, just relishing our own few hours of rest.

At 11.15pm after taking 72 hours and 45 minutes, 70 year old Ed Jager, paddling a double kayak with his son Jim, arrived at the finish line. It was quite an emotional scene as I watched Ed, his two sons and friends greet each other. I thought to myself I just hope that I am as fit as he is when I reach that age. His other son, Jeff, and partner had capsized at Five Finger Rapid and decided to pull out. Many crews including two British teams got no further than the first stop at Carmacks and even one of the best kayakers pulled out long before that. I was in bed and sound asleep when the last canoe team of John Little and Bill Butler arrived at 5.47am Sunday morning taking 79 hours 17 minutes. They were in 35th position, and although they were the last team to paddle over the line, 16 other teams never made it.

23 hours after we came in 70 year old Ed Jager and his son was getting close to Dawson.

I remember thinking I hope I'm paddling so good when I am 70 years old.

Ed and his son arrive.

Ed and his son. enjoying a beer.

Sunday 27th June 2004

By Sunday morning most of the weary paddlers who had finished the race were now relaxing or dead to the world. A barbeque presentation was held around the finish line just before lunch. It was good to see the record holders and winners, Bruce Barton and Steve Landick, still there for the presentation and receive their winner’s cheque of three thousand dollars.

Bruce has been in canoe and kayak racing for thirty five years and in 1976 and 1980 was in the US Olympic Team. He is also a kayak winner of Le Classique race in Quebec. Steven paddled 28,000 miles in a canoe in 1980-3, what a feat! He is also the Unlimited and Solo record holder of Texas Water Safari. They are both the record holders of the Yukon River Quest. Until they stepped forward to receive the cheque I had no idea who they were, they looked too normal. I regret not taking the opportunity to talk with them but being a little shy, the opportunity was lost.

The prizes were given out in an overall position – canoe, kayak or double kayak, it didn’t matter what class you were in. Our fourth canoe position didn’t receive a prize but for our sixth overall position we received $700.00 between us which just paid for our entry fee. It was good to have been the second fastest canoe on the last leg, which meant that we were either getting better the further we went or the other crews were tiring.

Prize or no prize it was such an amazing event, one that I will never forget and one that I will probably return to one day! If you’re looking for a challenge this is a great one to consider.

Paddlers gather for presentation.

Getting to know some of the paddlers.

Winners Bruce Barton (Olympian) and Steve Landick (long distance champion).

Ed and I. 

4th canoe, 6th overall.

Soon after presentation most of the competitors were headed home, our race canoe was put on a trailer and gone and our sturdy expedition canoe had been transported from Whitehorse and stored outside our accommodation waiting to continue its trip. Seeing everyone leave was quite a sad moment; the race had been such an extraordinary experience, and one I didn’t really want to let go of so soon.

The day was hot, the smoke haze was still around and tourists were flitting in and out of the tourist shops, so we joined them looking for those last bits and pieces that we might want to take on our adventure downstream. By afternoon’s end we were sitting by the river eating ice creams and writing on postcards. The reality was, tomorrow we would be moving on back into the wilderness.

This time it was really our last night in a bed. The night started off a bit stuffy and a mosquito kept buzzing around my head, I kept trying to frighten it away with my underpants, which were being used to block out the light but somehow this repellent didn’t work!

Ed's son, a friend and Ed.

In 2006 Ed drove me from Salt Lake City to the start of the Missouri River. He also came to check on me after 2000kms and he and his wife Sue drove to St Louis to see me finish, to collect my kayak and take it back to his home to sell.

In 2008 Ed and his wife Sue drove from Salt Lake City and picked Tony Chounding and I up at Vancouver to drive us and our canoe to Jasper where we started our 4000km trip to the Arctic Ocean. 

Monday 28th June 2004. Dawson. 

As soon as I was awake I got up to shower and then walked to the public phone to ring Jenny.  I then met Ed at Klondike Kate’s café for another cheap breakfast. The specials board said, two eggs, bacon, home- made fries and toast for $4.99. You couldn’t beat that price in this tourist town. We didn’t hang around after we had eaten though as all the competitors we’d befriended had left. Their journey had finished and our real journey was about to begin. Besides, I also needed to send an email at an internet café and be out of our accommodation by 11.00am. It took me over an hour to type my article and when I tried to hurry, my concentration slipped. This was only the second time that I had used an internet café and I really wasn’t confident with what I was doing.

I was late back to the bunkhouse but it didn’t matter, Ed had moved all my gear out of our room.  He was on the grass outside, sorting things next to our canoe. Behind him was an old large traditional canoe, big enough for ten paddlers, just waiting for someone to give it some attention. It was an inspiring sight, and I would have loved to have known and been part of its history.

We had bought the majority of our food from Whitehorse but we needed to top it up in Dawson, especially fruit, vegetables and bread. We thought Dawson would have little choice and be a lot more expensive. It was more expensive but surprisingly the selection was good. Fortunately the supermarket was only a short distance away. We left our gear spread around our canoe and for the last time searched the shelves of the supermarket for more food, knowing that if we didn’t buy it here it would be hard to get it on our remote journey. 

I wrote a few postcards and posted them before carrying our gear across the road to the river, a distance of 150 metres. It wasn’t an easy task, especially when we climbed down a steep, slippery gravel embankment that intersected our route. Apart from the bears this was probably the most dangerous part of our journey!!

After the race we had to get our gear and food for five to six weeks and load it into the canoe to get us to the end of the river and the ocean.

Our drums, crates and dry bags, full of five weeks supply of food, personal items and camping gear, were laid out on the ground next to the canoe. With so much gear and food we didn’t know whether it would all fit in; it had when we paddled from the lakes on the first part of our journey, but then we only carried one week’s supply, now we had five weeks. Luckily with a little bit of pushing and shoving it all squeezed in.

About 3.00pm we dragged and pushed our extremely heavy canoe into the Yukon River. It sat low in the water but it was well balanced. The clear water, which was coming from the Klondike River, a little up-stream from this point, was extremely cold. It was so perfect it would have been great to paddle in it for the entire length of the Yukon. But it wasn’t to be, within a few hundred metres this 15 metre wide channel of crystal clear water that ran along the edge of the mighty milky glacial Yukon River, blended into one and became murky.

We were away - to the end of the river......

Coming Events

• 10th - 11th August 2024 - Avon Decent
• 17th & 18th August 2024 - WA Wild Water Championships
• 7th September 2024 - Nanga Challenge
• 16-17th September - World Masters Canoe Marathon 
• 19th - 22nd September - World Canoe Marathon
  12th October 2024 - WA Ocean Racing Championships

Enter here:-

https://www.webscorer.com/register?raceid=358344