|
GOOD LUCK TO
ALL AVON DESCENTERS
**********************************
When I woke up last Saturday morning and heard the rain and
wind, I was thankful that I was working in the shop all day
and keeping warm and dry rather than being on the river running
the Avon assessments. So it was good that T2 and Ben were
out on the water instead. Being younger, I was sure they wouldn't
feel the cold.
**********************************
Well it looks as if we are at least going to have enough
water to float down the Avon River this year which is good
news for all the paddlers who have entered the Avon Descent.
The thing about the Avon River you just never know what height
it will finish up at, on the day.
I have been told that there are a couple of trees down on
the approach and part way down Syds Rapid. Apparently the
second one part way down is quite dangerous and has caused
several capsizes. The oganisers know about them so hopefully
there will be a way around them and there will rescuers stationed
nearby on the day.
**********************************
By Friday I'm hoping my strained back will be better and
my man flu will have cleared up and I can get back into some
serious training for the weekend race. By the time the race
is over I should be fully fit and be at my best for Monday
night training.
**********************************
Monday morning I paddled my Avon kayak for the first time
since I paddled it back in the 2009 Avon Descent. It still
seems to float and it paddled okay once I got all the cobwebs
out, although I must admit it did feel a bit sluggish. Then
again it could have been me that was sluggish? So on my 3km
trial paddle I practiced a few turns, sprinted a few metres,
made sure my PFD and spraydeck fitted but soon after I was
too tired, so I had to go home to rest.
My Avon kayak is a Wild Water racer or DR as it is commonly
called. It is not the fastest craft on the river so I don't
think I'll be taking home any prize money, but it's not the
slowest either. Back in 1978 when I did my first Avon it would
have been the fastest craft on the river but a few things
have changed since then and now if you want to win you have
to paddle a very thin and unstable K1. I now like a bit of
stability so I'm happy with my Golden Girl.
My Golden Girl doesnt have a rudder so when paddling in the
white water, in all the swirls, currents and eddies I have
no rudder to help me steer. It has to be done by boat leans
and by boat and paddle placement. I can assure you it takes
a lot out of you when you don't have a rudder to help you
steer. Only mad paddlers paddle a DR kayak in the Avon as
it really works every muscle in your body. A DR kayak also
has a very small cockpit so getting in and out is very difficult
but hopefully I won't have to get out this year.
The Golden Girl - No not the paddler, the
kayak!
So when you see a paddler paddling a DR kayak or a plastic
Wavehopper remember because they don't have a rudder they
are effected by other boat's washes and because they have
very small cockpits paddlers can't just hop of the the kayak,
like a ski paddler can. So if you are a ski paddler and blocking
the way try your best to let a kayaker pass - it could be
me.
**********************************
Last Sunday after I paddled the T Trees in 0.6m
I met up with Doug Lacklinson who was being support crew for
his nephew Russell and son in law. Doug hasn't paddled for
15 years due to a back injury and hadn't seen him for many
years so it was really good to catch up. Back in the 1970s
Doug was one of the fastest K1 paddlers in WA. In the 1980
Avon Descent when we used to have to paddle as a team of two,
Doug and his partner John Broom were the first team over the
line. Steve Pilton and I I were close behind in third position,
one position down from 1979 when we came second. Doug is also
a relative of Scott and Glenn Lacklinson who train with us
on a Saturday morning so he has four relatives paddling and
supporting.
**********************************
Dave Worthy a paddler who joined the Ascot Kayak
Club around the same time as I did was also paddling the trees.
Dave is also paddling a Wild Water kayak and he is so good
he won't be far from the K1 leaders. So you won't have to
worry about getting in Dave's way because he will be too far
in front. His partner told me that this was his 30th Avon
Descent. Considering his first Descent was when he was 16
he hasn't missed many, a bit like Darryl Long who also paddled
his first one at 16, he has done 30.
I'm a lot older and I have only done 22 Avon
Descents (apparently only 13 other paddlers have done more)
but the years that I didn't do the Avon I was out there doing
longer expeditions.
**********************************
T2 and I paddled the T Trees Wednesday morning
in 0.85m near perfect conditions. On the drive up there it
was raining and although I was doing the speed limit of 100
I had a big truck up my back side eager to either ram me or
pass me. Thankfully an overtaking lane came up and he passed
me doing about 110kms. He then sat right up the backside of
another car for the next 30kms.
Just over an hour later, further along the road
a truck and a four wheel drive crashed and sadly, three people
were killed.
With the rain the gravel roads are quite slippery
so take care when driving this weekend.
**********************************
Help Promote Canoeing Down
Under
We have plenty of Canoeing Down Under stickers so if you
would like to put one on your kayak it would be much appreciated.
**********************************
ANOTHER EPIC
CONTAINER ARRIVING SOON
**********************************
Last weeks article on the Darter Story I forgot
to put the author's name on it.
It was written by Murray Corp.
********************************
I was told that they are looking for paddlers
to be in some media promotion shots at 7.00am Thursday morning,
tomorrow. So if you want to be part of a kayaking crowd the
Avon media launch will be at the Ascot Inn jetty around 7.00am
- 7.30am.
For more information seek out Darryl Long
********************************
Remember you need a whistle
on your PFD for Avon scrutinneering.
|
