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I got really excited last Wednesday when I was told the Epic
container was arriving on Friday morning, but a phone call
on Friday morning soon spoiled the day. Instead of being dropped
off at the shop customs decided it needed to be X-rayed so
my joy was on hold.
We prepared ourselves for Monday morning instead but again,
no joy, then Tuesday morning and still no joy. For a moment
there we wondered if we would ever get it, but at 6.45am on
Wednesday morning, bingo, it arrived. It was good to have
a new shipment of Epics, but I had missed 5 mornings of being
on the river, and it felt like a lifetime.
This morning however I was able to go for a splash. After
the rain and the mist it was such a beautiful morning and
a reminder that winter is coming.
Cobwebs string from trees as the mist disappears
and the sun starts to shine
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The REUNION
It was the perfect day and the good thing about Australia,
there are so many perfect days. It was the reunion training
day and although we were missing several hundred paddlers
who we had trained, we still had 45 paddlers and some of those
faces were ones we hadn't seen for a while.
With 45 paddlers on the start line it was quite a spectacle
for a Saturday morning gathering. And as Thursday 25th was
ANZAC day some of our regular paddlers had turned it into
a long weekend and weren't there, There was a selection of
different craft but more than 95% were plastic. The group
we had gathered were probably the most active group of plastic
paddlers in WA and with most going in this year's Avon Descent,
so the training will help them do very well.
Today we were having a race of 4 kms or 8 kms. I was surprised
to see a few our keenest paddlers opt for the shorter course
because they were racing the following day. What a weak excuse
I told them. If you are going to compete in the Avon Descent
you have to paddle for two days. Best get used to it sooner
than later.
I usually paddle a PRS on a Saturday morning so as other
plastic paddlers have a chance of beating me but this morning
I decided to paddle my C1, but it did mean I would be at the
back of the field and it would be me trying to keep up.
I wanted to give all the other paddlers a
chance so I paddled my C1. To make it fairer I thought I had
better paddle it backwards in the race!
Alaine and Angela (thanks to Angela for helping out) were
on the jetty with the stop watch yet again. When everybody
was in place Alaine shouted go. 45 paddlers took off leaving
one big mass of confused boat wash which wasn't at all good
for me paddling with a single paddle. It was extremely hard
to get into a rhythm but at least I managed to keep ahead
of some paddlers.
With so many paddlers on the water I think the paddlers coming
from the other direction were wondering what was going on.
I just wished I had my camera as it looked good. The leaders
were Andrew Crothers in a Spirit PRS and Ben in his DR kayak
with Mark Lawson in his Finn Multisport a little further behind.
Steve was in the mix as well.
By the first turn I was just getting in my stride and I was
still keeping Bonnie and Hugh at bay. I think Hugh was wash
hanging me. On the second turn they were still behind and
as I was one of the paddlers doing the short course because
I had to do the demos, I peeled off at the jetty leaving Hugh
disappointed that he had lost my wash.
There were several small group battles going on. Derek was
outstanding on his PRS keeping up with Glen in his K1 and
Steve Coffee in a Time Bandit. Another duel was happening
with Ray, Mark, Chris, Nick and Laurent. Pete and Steve were
equal, Richard, Hugh and Jane fought tooth and nail. Neil,
Gary and Quintin were only separated by a second or two. Irish
John was in good form even after being on holiday for a few
weeks and seventy three year old Ray was having his private
tussle with Anne (well actually, he was encouraging Anne as
she had only wanted to do the short race)..
As all the long course competitors slugged it away for another
4 kms I counted the $5.00 race fees and worked out that there
was enough there to give three lucky paddlers $55.00 each.
Ben raced over the line a fraction of a second before Andrew.
It was a very close race and Andrew was racing the following
day. Andrew has always been pretty fast, but in the last two
years he has got a lot faster, taking up downwind paddling
and is doing very well. Andrew mixes and paddles with the
best. He is a great guy and the thing I love about him is
that he can paddle with the top guys one day but he continues
to drop down, on occasions to our Saturday morning training
and paddles with our less experienced paddlers.
Mark came over the line next and again you can't get a better
person to paddle with. Over the last 3 years he has come from
nowhere to be up there with some of the best in flat water
racing. Mark paddling an Endorfinn, also paddles a wave hopper,
a K1, a K2 and an Epic V12. I'm all for being good in every
type of boat.
When paddlers started to finish the beach was getting crowded.
There was a good atmosphere and it appeared that everyone
enjoyed the morning. Steve, Alaine and I certainly appreciated
seeing old faces again and the fact they made an effort to
make the morning more special than it usually is.
As 45 paddlers came onto the beach for the
cash prize draw it got pretty crowded.
As I was about to draw the tickets out of the hat Ray and
Anne came over the line to a big cheer from the crowd. How
good is it to see a 73 year old looking and performing like
a 50 year old. I just hope I get to 73 and I am as active.
With Andrew being an inspiration to all the group, Jane and
Bonnie being an inspiration to upcoming female paddlers and
Ray, well what an inspiration he is.
The crowd was gathered and the first name out of the hat
was Ray, then Laurent , then the last $55.00 cash prize went
to Richard who is a paddler new to racing.
*********************************************
WA's Josh Singleton
has been selected to represent Australia at the freestyle
championships.
A paddler developing his skills
Female paddlers have no fear
I met Josh way up in north Canada when I was paddling to
the Arctic Ocean from the Rocky mountains. I was doing a big
portage on a deserted track to get around some grade 5 rapids
when Josh and his friend Dave Gemmel, who was a local of the
area drive by and recognised me. It was such an amazing meeting
considering I was in the wilderness, I was walking on that
particular track and Josh was visiting the area for a week
to do some playboating with Dave.
WAs Josh Singleton with Canadian Dave Gemmel
in northern Canada
Northern Canada - Day 22 - Saturday 28th June
I woke up at 5.15am had a quick breakfast and quietly packed
things up ready for the big walk. 25kms seemed a long way
pushing a canoe, but I was still adamant that I was going
to do it.
It was soon hot and sunny and I tried using the tall trees
as shade but as the sun rose higher in the sky all the shade
vanished. I pulled the canoe and then pushed it trying to
take the strain off my muscles. I mainly pulled up the hills
and pushed downhill. After several kilometres my legs started
to feel the full effect of the work that I was putting in.
The day got hotter, and my feet began to burn on the stony
gravel road putting pressure on my tender feet. After walking
18kms I saw a car with two play-boats on top coming towards
me. I was keen to stop it just to talk to other kayakers,
but I let it speed by. Suddenly it stopped, with the dust
flying by it backed up and pulled up beside me. A guy jumped
out and amazingly it was a young man from Perth called Josh
Singleton. "I thought it was you and knowing some of
the unusual ventures that you have done in the past it had
to be," Josh said." When I noticed the Canoeing
Down Under logo on your cap, I was totally convinced.
Josh, who I had only met briefly a couple of times before
seeing him in Canada only lived a few kilometres away from
my home. He was visiting his friend Dave Gemmell, who lived
in the small town of Fort Smith, and he was there for a week
to do some playboating. The two met during Dave's three year
stay in Perth.
It was great to meet someone that I knew, if only slightly,
and Dave seemed to be a top guy as well. We talked for several
minutes, still hardly believing the chances of meeting up
like this in the middle of nowhere. As we chatted the boys
mentioned a 'Spit Roast Pork' night in town and said I should
come along. Dave also invited me to have a shower at his place
once I got into town. I gladly accepted the offer and later
that evening after finishes my 25km walk, they picked me up
from my camp at the river.
Freestyle kayaking on the Slave River Rapids,
Canada
Paddlers have 45 seconds to throw as many
moves as possible. Slave River Rapids, Canada.
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Josh from Western Australia has never participated at a World
Championship before and is excited at the opportunity to throw
down on such a large stage. Josh has had to train on beach
waves over the last year due to the lack of consistent features
and more recently has moved to Sydney to continue his training.
The 2013 ICF Freestyle Kayaking World Championships
are held on the Nantahala River in North Carolina, USA. The
team encompassing 9 athletes from all around Australia and
is the largest in history showing how far the sport has come
over the last few years. Freestyle is on a potential 8 year
path to the Olympics and the sport is growing exponentially
every year. Athletes have 45 seconds to throw as many moves
as possible with some moves propelling the paddler and the
boat up and out of the water in a cross between gymnastics
and kayaking.
The selection event for senior athletes was the freestyle
National Championships in Cairns. Junior athletes were selected
on this Saturday 20 April at the Junior National Freestyle
Championships at the Penrith Whitwater Stadium.
Junior athletes were lucky enough to benefit from the wisdom
of visiting dual World Champion, Claire O'Hara from the UK,
whose titles are held in freestyle and squirt boating.
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John Sims Race
this Sunday
Grid starts for the John Sims Race are on
the Ascot Kayak Club web site.
Check out briefing time
REGISTRATION
Each event participants must register their attendance at
the race registration desk, Ascot Kayak Club (refer to timetable
below).
If you are a non-CWA member you must present a completed
Trialist Insurance form.
TIMETABLE
MAIN RACE/SHORT COURSE
7.30 am Main Race & Short Course Registration Opens
8.30 am Registration Closes
8.45 am Race Briefing – All participants must be present
9.20 am Race Start
GUPPY/NOVICE JUNIOR RACE
Registration Opens
7.00 am Guppy Registration Opens
7.30 am Guppy Registration Closes
8.00 am Guppy Race Starts
********************************************
Ascot DR Buoys Race
Saturday 11th May
Location: Ascot Kayak Club
WW R1 Ascot Buoys Race
http://www.wildwaterwa.canoe.org.au/
Saturday 11.5.13 at Ascot Kayak Club, Fauntleroy Avenue, Ascot
Online registration 2.5.13 to 10.5.13.....8.00pm
http://www.webscorer.com/register?raceid=8342
Race registration/payment....................12.00 to 12.30pm
Race briefing.........................................12.45pm
Race start..............................................1.15pm
Payment on the day......$10 CWA....$20 non members (insurance)
The race categories are .....WWK1.....Wavehopper Short Plastic
Sundries (other non WW boats)
Age/ Gender categories (subject to entries)
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