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The parents of the Autistic child who we did the fundraising
for were overwhelmed when I gave them the $4000.00 that we
raised in the last month. "You can't believe the difference
it is going to make. This will allow us to get more therapy
so we will see lots of improvement," they said.
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Texas Water Safari
Julie Morgan. For 2-3 years Julie and Colin
used to run the WA marathon races.
Colin and Julie are members of the Ascot Kayak
Club. They once lived in Texas and competed in the race a
few times while they were there. This year they returned to
do it again.
“The World’s Toughest Canoe Race”
“They don’t call the Texas Water Safari The World’s
Toughest Canoe Race’ for nothing. In addition to the
length, the challenges include whitewater rapids, multiple
portages, and the relentless, soul-sapping Texas heat. Competitors
have four days and four hours to paddle from San Marcos, in
the center of the state, to the shy little town of Seadrift
on the Gulf Coast. There is no prize money for the winners;
just Texas-size bragging rights for the finishers.”
Larry Rice, in July 2009 Canoe & Kayak Magazine
Colin and Julie near the start of the race
using canoe paddles
Julie and Colin using kayak paddles at the
end of the race
The Texas Water Safari is actually comprised
of several events including an information seminar, two short
races (one of which can be considered as a preliminary race)
and of course, the Safari itself – the 260 mile race
to Seadrift from the headwaters of the San Marcos River. The
Safari itself, billed as the "World's Toughest Boat Race",
is an annual race via the San Marcos and Guadalupe rivers,
from Aquarena Springs in the college town of San Marcos, to
the shrimping village of Seadrift on the Texas coastline,
a total distance of 260 miles. The first official race was
held in 1963, and is run annually on the second Saturday of
June.
The primary requirement is a boat powered only by human muscle.
Racers must take all food and equipment needed with them,
receiving only water and ice along the way.
Legend has it that in 1962, Frank Brown and Bill "Big
Willie" George decided to take their V-bottom boat, without
a motor, from San Marcos to Corpus Christi. They accomplished
their mission in about thirty days and decided that other
people should have the opportunity to experience the same
journey. So, in 1963 they set up the first Texas Water Safari.
Today the Safari is a long, tough, non-stop marathon canoe-racing
adventure, traversing 260 miles of challenging rivers and
bay. Many participants enter the race with no intention of
winning, but with the goal of joining the elite group of finishers
and earning the coveted Texas Water Safari finisher's patch.
Entrants must have all provisions, equipment, and items of
repair in their possession at the start of the race. Nothing
may be purchased by, or delivered to, a team during the race
except water and/or ice. Each team must have a team captain
(18 years old, or older) whose responsibility it is to follow
the team by vehicle (car, truck, or bicycle) to keep track
of their location and condition and to give them water and/or
ice. During the Safari, teams may not receive any assistance
of any kind, except verbal. Teams must be prepared to travel
day and night, nonstop, to be competitive but teams who occasionally
stop for sleep have been able to reach mandatory checkpoint
cutoff times and cross the finish line by the 100 hour deadline.
Are you tough? Are you looking for a race that tests your
limits? This is the race that could change your life and your
ideas about who you are and what you are capable of achieving!
The Texas Water Safari is held every June. See the TWS Race
Calendar for this year’s dates and deadlines for registration.
Unfortunately the race is not all white water
www.texaswatersafari.org
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World Marathon Fund Raiser
WA has 3 paddlers, Joshua Kippin, Coran Longwood
and Bronwyn Martin, travelling with the National Marathon
Team to Copenhagen in Denmark during September. To help
relieve some of the financial burden on their parents, we
are having a fund raising day on Sunday 18th August. It
will consist of races in K3s and K4s of either 450m or 1500m
events. We thank all the K3 owners that have offered their
craft for the day. Come along and have a try of these “so
much fun, fast but stable craft”. The more expert paddler
can have a go in the bit tricker K4. More details further
below.
Josh Kippin in training for the World Marathon
Championships, being pushed by James
Morfitt
Photo Vicki MacKenzie
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Racing Etiquette
It may be the end of the racing season but we
still have our minor races and the Avon Descent coming up.
After witnessing some dubious racing tactics at the weekend
race it has prompted me to write a little on racing etiquette.
We are all out to win and we all try to shake off our competitors
whenever we can but there is a limit to the way it is done.
In play we might cross the line and have fun, but in a real
race when everyone is trying to do his or her best, the play,
the argy-bargy against other paddlers shouldn't happen.
At the race on the weekend I was disappointed when I saw
a boat, who was wash hanging two other boats seemingly try
to bulldoze between the two boats ahead of it. The leading
boats were only a metre apart so when the nose of the boat
came between them they had no place to put their paddles,
so their paddles clashed against the intruders boats bow.
This also happened later to me when I was in the front of
the pack with Adrian. We had someone try to get between us
when there was lots of room either side of us. Of course our
paddles and boats clashed, I came to a virtual standstill
but luckily no one capsized or was hurt.
Not only is it bad sportsmanship to deliberately push into
other boats ahead of them but by clashing it could break or
damage expensive paddles or even capsize the paddler.
At the same race another paddler was capsized because he
was driven into the shore on a corner because he had no where
to go.
We all clash at some time, it is usually accidental, but
to do it deliberately in a race is not really regarded as
fair play.
So if you are wash hanging someone be respectful and do all
you can to avoid hitting the boat in front or beside you.
(Marathon Rules) 24 GROUP RACING AND OVERTAKING
When a canoe or kayak is overtaking another canoe or kayak,
it is the duty of the overtaking craft to keep clear of other
competitors at all times.
When a canoe or kayak is racing in a group of competitors
it is the duty of all the competitors in the group to keep
clear of other competitors at all times. This rule also applies
to any manoeuvring within the group and is applicable for
all parts of the course including the portage and turns.
There are many more rules but generally we all know what
is fair play.
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I heard the Walyunga to Bells,
race on 7th July has been CANCELLED
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Have you ever thought about
paddling or walking the Zuytdorp Cliffs
If so go here:
http://www.canoeingdownunder.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=108&Itemid=164
and here
http://www.canoeingdownunder.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=106&Itemid=154
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