Saturday Morning Fitness
7.15am Sandy Beach Reserve, Bassendean
Must wear a PFD

*********************************************************

Basic Skills Course
Sunday 8th December

This is a fun day kayaking and an opportunity to meet other people. The course covers:
Safety
forward and reverse paddling
emergency stop
sweep (turning)
draw strokes
basic support stroke
capsize drill

Cost: $90.00 with Craft. $70.00 with own Craft.

******************************************************

Oscar's Back in Town

Epic's Oscar Chalupsky is back in town from the 30th November. He will be running some flat water clinics on Saturday morning the 30th and Sunday morning the 1st as well as an ocean clinic on the Sunday afternoon. He will aslo be doing downwind coaching clinics on the afternoons of Monday the 2nd to Friday the 6th of December at 4:00pm at Sorrento, cost $130.00 for 3 hours of coaching.

For the weekend courses contact CDU 9378 1333

For the weekday 4.00pm courses contact Walter Chalupsky Ph 08 94483684, Fax 08 94483684. Mobile 0404997901. Walter is currently away for two weeks but you should be able to email him. Walter Chalupsky walterc@westnet.com.au

Oscar held some coaching clinics at the beginning of the year and they were well received. For paddlers wanting to improve their downwind ocean paddling skills the course would certainly be worth attending.

*********************************

November Ascot Club Races

Race starts at 6.00pm at Ascot

20th November - Race your Multisport Kayak
27th November - Relay - Pick a Partner

The Epic 18X

Leaving the Rocky Mountains, Canada

The Epic 18X is designed for intermediate to advanced paddlers and for those searching for a distinct edge in a high performance kayak. With a long waterline and a sleek, efficient shape, the Epic 18X allows paddlers to cover longer distances and do so with exceptional ease and speed. This makes it a good fast touring kayak or multisport racing kayak.

It features our Epic Track Master steering system and a large storage capacity for transporting camping gear on longer paddling trips or supplies for a day outing. New upgrades over the Endurance include a longer and narrower waterline, longer and wider cockpit, contoured deck cutaways for closer stroke, an adjustable seat and our new Track Master steering system.

I paddled the Epic 18 over 2500kms in Canada and it went extremely well.

Freya Hoffmeister paddled an Epic 18 Around Australia and South America.

Length: 5.48 m
Beam: 55.9 m
Weight: 18.6 kg

Epic 18x

If you want more stabilty the Epic 16 would be a great choice.

****************************

EPIC SPECIALS

We still have 2 V10 club skis and 2 V10Ls in the old version (fibreglass 18kgs) on special. They were $2750.00. Now on Special for $2250.00

1 x V10 Sport in Ultra (old version) normally $4500.00. Special $3800.00

****************************

Spirit Cross Trainer

The CrossTrainer (CTR) has been a very popular sit-on kayak/ski over the years and even today it one of the most paddled kayak. It is a great sit-on-kayak/ski for the beginner or experienced paddler. It has a good touring speed, but it is not as fast as the longer skis. It turns well and surfs pretty good on manageable waves. It is a good all round ski for the touring paddler.

Normally $990.00 Special Price: $799.00

****************************

Spirit Fun Ski

Why buy a Chinese made small ski off the internet when you can buy a West Australian quality kayak from us.

2.6m long

Special Price of $399.00 with Paddle

Pairs Enduro

Sponsored by Canoeing Down Under

We decided to paddle the canoe in the pairs Enduro but as we couldn't find anyone who would be as slow as us, we had to do a bit of sweet talking to race organisers who allowed us to race by ourselves.

Expecting to be the slowest boat on the course we were given the number one bib. That meant that we would probably watch a lot of paddlers pass us along the way. There were 39 teams of two so there was a good turn out and a lot of paddlers to watch fly by us.

It was going to be a hot day but the wind was going to be in our favour so that was very pleasing. The start was at Middle Swan Bridge which has good parking for lots of cars. We used to start further upstream but parking and getting in wasn't as good as there. Starting a Middle Swan also meant the race was shorter which was a bonus for us older paddlers.

Two paddlers who were not in the race were enjoying a swim and the opportunity to fly high from a rope swing. I suddenly felt young again though I didn't accept their challenge to give it a go, I would hate to damage my sensitive ageing body before the race.

Two paddlers (not in the race) take the leap. I remember when I used to do this!

Is he really walking on water?

Shannon Sime checking out his Epic K1 before the race. Shannon who used to paddle skis now loves paddling K1. And he is getting faster. Shannon teamed up with Darryl Long and came third place.

Lawrence Greed took on the job of organising the race so we were in capable hands. Canoeing Down Under were the sponsors yet again. Although sales are ridiculously slow at the moment, I find it hard not to sponsor races.

Registration line up

Alaine and I took to the start line. There was no-one on the line with us and the next set of boats were going to start 1 minute behind us which meant the 39th team still have 39 minutes to wait before they were off. We were paddling our Winona Minnesota canoe. Being a lot lighter than our other canoe we used to race, meant in theory that we should be faster. With Alaine being in the front I could make sure she kept paddling, which has always been a problem, although for me, it meant that I could rest without being noticed!

Paddlers slowly entering the water

A couple of kilometres into the race I turned around to see Helen Breed and Anne Warger in the distance behind. Being in kayaks I expected they would catch us by Marshall Park a distance of 4.2kms. We didn't have too much time to look at the birds, like we usually do, although it was hard to miss the white cockatoos near Sandalford Winery. I did notice however that Alaine seemed to be more focussed on the banks than the river ahead. I also noticed an occasional smile when she saw a dog having a good time on the river bank. Being a dog lover herself it made her happy to watch them play and she would shout greetings to dog owners along the way. I think she must have a little Italian in her because at one stage she stopped paddling and started using her arms to point at something she had spotted on the bank. We must have lost at least two seconds.

We reached Marshall Park and no-one had passed us except a power boat. We felt proud of the fact, but we didn't slacken off and with the wind at our backs most of the way it was the best paddling conditions you could ask for. It was fairly hot though, but acceptable.

Just before reaching Lilac Park and 5.5kms from the start our first pair started passing. It was Steve and Luke Egger. Luke is only 11 years old and it was the first race he had used his new Epic K1. He looked good in it too. Luke who is only knee high to a grass hopper had tested the Epic out a few weeks ago. Being small proved no disadvantage, he paddled it like an Olympic athlete. I wish I could have paddled like him at his age actually, when it comes to it, I wish I could have paddled like him at any age. He is going to be a very good paddler, so watch out.

I stopped paddling and tried to undo my camera to get a shot of Steve and Luke. I tried paddling and fiddling with my camera, and paddle again to make sure Alaine hadn't realised I wasn't working, but I eventually had to stop paddling to take a picture. When Alaine realised she was paddling by herself and we started spearing towards the left bank she soon wanted to know what I was doing. She said, "You do know it's a race". I didn't take any more pictures until the finish as I didn't want to get told off again.

Steve and Luke Egger pass us

We were soon back in rhythm and when cutting the Lilac Hill bend we found ourselves scraping over a underwater branch from a fallen tree. Our canoe went straight over it but my thoughts were for the ski paddlers behind us who might also cut the corner and break their rudder, but I heard nothing at the finish line. Shouts from Helen Moreby and others on the bank spurred us on. The wind was doing a great job in pushing us along and we were motoring.

We nearly reached Fishmarket Bend, about 7kms from the start before the next pair came along side. It was Wendy Drok and Rob Riggir. Rob was displaying his new moustache, being Movember several paddlers have a bit of hair above their top lip.

Two more teams passed us at Fishmarket Bend and at the Bassendean twin jetties where Rolf Harris used to swim, Arnold and Sharna started passing. The other teams who had passed us earlier still weren't that far ahead so we were pleased with our performance and it took Arnold and Sharna a bit of time to finally overtake us. The power boats helped as it slowed some of the other paddlers as they weaved across the river to take the wave head on but we had good stability so just took the waves as they came. The bigger waves though did slow us and Alaine did scream like a girl when a wave of water landed in her lap.

I think it was Steve Cashion and Simon Haywood who passed us next. When Steve passed it reminded me of the Avon Descent. It was here that he passed me in that race. He was in a team event so I remember not feeling so bad about him passing as he had only done half the race. A few power boats came along, one had already passed us 3 times. They smiled and chatted and seemed pretty pleased at seeing us again.

We soon passed my home and then Sandy Beach and Ascot Kayak Club wasn't far away but we had to go past the club around Ron Courtney Island to a spit post near the Tonkin Highway Bridge before heading back to Ascot.

Everything was going fine although several power boats were chopping up the water and I could see other teams creeping up behind. We turned around the spit post and the strong wind hit us in the face. Our pace suddenly slowed but only having 1.08 kms to go it didn't really matter.

A few more power boats were still going by and the wash from one capsized Sharna and I could see her swimming to the bank. Steve and Jason in front offered their help but she was nearly to the beach by that time. I heard later that Arnold also capsized while holding onto a tree branch waiting for Sharna to empty out.

A hundred metres from the finish line John Breed and Mike Leahy started to pass and we couldn't do anything to stop them. I was surprised though that they had been beaten by Pat Tulloch & Richard Molek. Pat a newcomer and Richard doesn't usually race any more. We kept the pressure on and finally finished with a time of 1.29.55. We stayed around the finish line watching other paddlers come over the line and encouraging them with words, "where have you been, we have been in for ages"

Rob Jarrett and Chris Watson. I used to beat them but no longer. Look at their muscles rippling.

Glen Stewart & John Carrol. 1st plastics.

Hugh Trivett & Doug Hodson

Simon and Rob Roll, father and son cross the line in forth place. They are two of WAs elite paddlers.

Alan Morbey and Steve Coffey cross the line.

It ended up that we weren't the last, in fact we beat 3 teams and we were only 21 seconds behind Bonnie McDougall & Craig Metzke, 23 seconds behind Simon O'Sullivan & Matt Cruickshank and 46 seconds behind Doug Hodson & Hugh Trivett and only 10 minutes behind the amazing team of Alan Morbey and Steve Coffey who were in Multisport kayaks.

The race was just over 14 kms so our time wasn't so bad and the winners Travis England & Andrew Crothers only beat us by 27 minutes.

For results go to: http://www.ascot.canoe.org.au/?Page=12758&MenuID=Results%2F13018%2F0%2F

K1 TV Challenge

Sponsored by Canoeing Down Under

WA Slalom Technical Committee, Tuesday, 12 November 2013

WA’s first canoe slalom race with full video coverage was held at Hester Park, Langford on Sunday November 10. Twenty five staff and students from the Central Institute of Technology Broadcasting course set up a mobile outside broadcasting unit and recorded a full coverage of the K1 TV Challenge.

The new event was formatted especially for TV with 2 qualifying runs and a final on the same day. Generous prize sponsorship from Terry Bolland of Canoeing Down Under gave the competitors extra incentive to do well.

First prize winner in the Men’s Open K1 class went Canoeing Down Under employee Ben Pope, with silver going to Kieran Simpson and bronze Tim Coward. The women’s open winner was 2011-13 Australian junior team member Georgia Rankin, with silver to Isabella Choate and bronze to Demelza Wall. The only age divisions for the day were in the Junior U14 class, with the men’s junior gold going to Louis Richardson, silver to Tarquin Wall, and bronze to Cameron Vogel. The women’s junior gold winner was Alexandria Choate with Sophie Burdett picking up the silver medal.

The different format added pressure to the paddlers in the final with women’s silver medal winner Isabella Choate saying, “It was scary, with all the people watching you and the camera crew there too.”

Coach Robin Sanders, who stepped into the commentary box with Avon Descent veteran Neil Long, said; “It is great to have an event like this, it gives the paddlers great practice in finals racing before they head to Penrith in January”.

Central Tech broadcast television course coordinator Peter Wharram said he was delighted with the coverage his students put together.

“I thought they did a wonderful job, I’m very happy with how the coverage looked. This is their last outside broadcast before graduating and they’re a terrific group.”

The Central students are hard at work this week editing the race into a long form program and short highlights packages for internet distribution.

TV crew, judges watch on as Ben Pope paddles away. Photo Charlie Collin

Another camera crew take pictures from another angle. Photo Charlie Collin

Ben, who works on Saturdays at CDU was the eventual winner. Ben hopes to be selected in the under 23 slalom team next year. Photo Charlie Collin

Central tech students monitor the event from the TV tent. Photo Charlie Collin

The ladies are just as skilful. Photo Charlie Collin

Demelza Wall is put through her paces. Photo Charlie Collin

Demelza makes it look easy. Slalom is one of the most skilful kayaking discipline. Not only do you have to be fast you have to pit your skills against the raging whitewater, which is absent in this occasion. Photo Charlie Collin

Bevan Dashwood paddles through the gate without hitting a pole. Photo Charlie Collin

The ladies - Isabella Choate silver, Georgia Rankin gold, and bronze to Demelza Wall. Photo Charlie Collin

The men - Kieran Simpson silver, Ben Pope gold and Tim Coward bronze. Photo Charlie Collin

The Juniors - Tarquin Wall silver, and bronze to Cameron Vogel. Louis Richardson won gold. Photo Charlie Collin

Ben and Georgia being interviewed for the world press. Photo Charlie Collin

K1 slalom race with the crew from Advanced Diploma Broadcast from Central Tech. Great day with some fast racing and excellent coverage. Well done to all involved. Thanks to; Peter Wharram and the crew from Central Tech for being professional on the day, all the paddlers for adopting the new format with enthusiasm, Margie Jeffery and the judges and compilers, Robin and Neil for stepping into the commentary box, and Terry Bolland from Canoeing Down Under for being a great sponsor.

*************************************

To Paddle to Black Point

G'day Terry

Had a bloody big shark swim under kayak off Black Point on Sunday.. Wish I wasn't wearing polarised sunglasses…. He wasn't interested in me, too busy chasing fish that were jumping out of water off to my right….

Sorry no pics of shark, by time I realized he had gone...

Paddled from Turner campsite on blackwood river, out of river mouth and across to black Point, Ate lunch in boat, then paddled back to campsite.

Didn't land, wanted to get used to spending long time in boat again. Paddled straight from river mouth to Black Point. Caught a couple of nice waves breaking beside point then paddled out a few hundred metres, ate pie from bakery. (Curry pie getting ready for Sri Lanka.).

86 kilometres in just under 12hrs... Finding the river mouth in the dark was fun.
Didn't get on the water till just after 8am as I had to wait on bakery to open.....

Cheers
Dave

Dave as the sun gets lower in the sky. Photos by Dave

The cliffs near Black Point

Black Point

One way to take a photo

It's getting dark must head home

Moore River

17 Nov 2013 08:00 AM
Entries close 13 Nov 2013
Also classed as the Mixed K2 Championships

Event Location Guilderton Boat Ramp
Other Information
Registration - 8:00am to 9:00am
Briefing - 9:15am
Long Course - 12.5km
Short/Junior Course - 7km
Novices/Guppy Coures

Go to
http://www.wa.canoe.org.au/event.asp?ID=16501&format=popup

***********************************

IOP Downwind Summer Series Round 4

Date/Time
16 Nov 2013

Entries Close 15 Nov 2013
Event Location Port Beach to City Beach
Contact name Rob Doherty Mobile 0417 926 853
Email address iop@canoe.org.au
Event website www.iop.canoe.org.au/default.asp?Page=24997

***********************************

Bay 2 Beach
Sunday 24 November 2013

Any online entry enquiries contact Zac Acott on 6364 3659 or develop.wa@canoe.org.au

***********************************
Mandurah Cut Run

30 Nov 2013
Entries Close 29 Nov 2013
Event Location Mandurah cut run
Contact name Gary Maughan
Phone 043 705 2986
Mobile 043 705 2986
Email address iop@canoe.org.au
Event website www.iop.canoe.org.au/default.asp?Page=24997

Sponsored by Canoeing Down Under

***********************************

Epic West Coast Downwinder 7th Dec

West Coast Downwinder 8th Dec

****************************************

Paddle Perth 100

15th December 2013.

Paddle Perth 100 is the latest addition to the Canoeing WA event calender.
This event is a 101km lap around Perth's waterways starting and finishing at Ascot Kayak Club.
Entries open 18 October 2013, with the event costing $75 per person.

The race is to be held on the 15th December 2013.
The race briefing is to be held at 5:00am on the 15th December 2013 to allow the first paddlers to leave the start line by 5:30am.

Finn Kayak with Pod: $750.00
Australis Squid sit on: $350.00
Finn Griffin: $400.00

Two Up Double open kayak: $600.00
Cobra Navigator; Great for fishing. $500.00

Please call us about our used boats 9378 1333