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Canoeing Down Under Paddle
Challenge
Being the major sponsor of the Paddle Challenge I was
looking forward to the day. The Paddle Challenge is
one of the biggest kayaking events in WA with the Canoeing
Down Under John Sims Race being another.
John Breed and I at the start of the
race. John is a faster paddler than me so I was hoping
to do what Alaine does when she is paddling with me,
which is to have a relaxing time!
I was paddling with John Breed as Alaine's training
for such a long race has been lacking, or, was because
I felt I would go faster with John!! I couldn't tell
Alaine that though. It was only our second time paddling
together in a K2 and it showed as we warmed up and crossed
several boat washes. We were, what would be best describerd
as...a little wobbly.
As we lined up for the start our boat was quivering
and it wouldn't stop. It was just like an hypothermic
person shivering uncontrollable. Was it John just being
nervous or was it both of us! Should I have paddled
with Alaine as the kayak never quivers with her in it!
As it kept quivering I was concerned with all the washes
at the start. I can see we really should have paddled
together more often. We sat on the line for some time
wondering what was going on as it seemed forever. Then
a starter counted down and many of the paddlers took
off before the final gong. Even we noticed the siren
go after we had done a couple of paddle strokes.
The double kayaks and ski lining up
Our worst nightmare of the wash of 50 boats didn't
seem to eventuate straight away as most boats paddled
on the left side of the river. For several hundred metres
we had a clear run but then boats on both sides of us
started to come together. The wash had us wobbling and
our kayak doesn't steer too well in flat water, so in
the rough it was a beast without a leash and it wanted
to go in all directions. Neil Long and Susan Quick started
to come up beside us. That wasn't good as even Alaine
and I had beaten them in the last race and I had picked
old John so we could go faster, maybe I should go back
and change over!
We wobbled around for several hundred metres but then
we started to find some cleaner water and our pace quickened
leaving Neil and Sue behind. I breathed a sigh of relief,
we were starting to gel.
The fast guys were well ahead, three other K2s were
50 metres ahead and we caught up with 2 other K2s, one
being Dave Water and Paul McLaren, two good friends
who we were dying to beat. They wouldn't be happy if
we did.
At Ascot Kayak Club we were still three abreast with
a few of the club members cheering us on. We eased into
a rhythm and when we reached Sandy Beach and hit the
long straight I decided to take a gamble and move over
to the right side to get away from the wash of the boats
in front and the boats ahead. With the clean water we
were able to get into a much better rhythm and put the
power on. We were flying down the straight and feeling
great. The other two boats in our pack were struggling
to keep up and we we gaining on the other three boats
ahead. We put in extra power and started to pass the
three boats. It felt really good as we powered passed.
Now we were a pack of six, Spencer King and Steve Egger
were in there, another pair we wanted to beat. We took
the lead for a while but then some rougher water helped
Michael and Graham Godwin and two South Africans to
catch up and start to level with us.
The turn buoy was coming up and we were on the outside,
which was the wrong side so we knew the other two boats
were going to round the turn first and because our kayak
wasn't very good on turns I knew we would get left behind,
which we did. We ended up two to three lengths behind.
We powered on and caught up but then three of the fastest
single skis came along-side and the other two kayaks
managed to catch their wash and left us behind again.
I cursed, but that didn't help, they moved further away.
I prayed and that got better results as they dropped
off the single skis. Now we had a chance to catch them
again, but they were 20 or 30 metres ahead.
The fastest K2s crossing the line. Josh
and Darryl in the mix
John and I powered on getting closer and closer. It
was a good feeling watching them get closer but we were
certainly having to work for it. But I didn't mind,
I loved it and if we were going to have any chance of
beating them or keeping the others at bay behind us,
we had to work hard. Within a kilometre we were sitting
behind them after struggling to get over their wash.
We sat there until we had enough open water to pass.
We went wide to try to get around them and take off
but the others moved over onto our wash and we couldn't
shake them. From then on we were three boats locked
together, each trying to make a break, but without any
success. We did however manage to reach the turn buoy
near Ascot Waters first, but it didn't help as they
soon caught up.
Jason and T2 after finishing first in
the double ski
We were having a great tussle and I was still feeling
really good - maybe it was all that long distance training
I was doing. We approached the low walk bridge in Ascot
Waters in line. We all ducked to avoid taking our heads
off. This was the most dangerous part of the race and
one day we should approach the council to get it raised
so no-one kills themselves.
Back in open water there was nothing in it. The finish
line was only 400 metres away and all we had to do was
to paddle faster than the others. Within 15 metres from
the finish we were still close, then I heard a clash
of paddles (I smiled) as this gave us the opportunity
to sneak ahead of Michael and Graham although we were
still beaten by the other kayak.
John and I sneaking through. I think
we were the first over 55 but we are still waiting for
the official results
As we crossed the line our other rival Steve and Spencer
and Paul and Dave were somewhere behind, probably having
a picnic as it was a good sunny day!
Unfortunately the presentation didn't go very well
as for some reason the times were well out, so really
we left without knowing our true results. It was such
a glorious day but there were many unhappy paddlers
wanting to know what happened!
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