It's good for the confidence of other paddlers to let them win!

Two weeks ago something inconceivable happened. Jane Liddle beat me in our Saturday morning race. She managed to get a good start and go with several other paddlers and I just couldn't catch up with them. Although Jane was paddling an Epic V10 and I was paddling a plastic PRS that didnt matter it was the first time that she had beaten me and she was a very happy lady. By the end of the week virtually every paddler in WA knew of her win and my loss. I tried hiding the fact but it didnt make any difference so I have had to confess.

The following Sunday I went out for a quiet paddle and met Patrick Tullock returning from his paddle. He was warming down and going at a very reduced speed but when he turned and paddled with me for a few kilometres even at his reduced warming down pace I was struggling to keep up. Could things get worse?

Last Saturday I managed to get in front of Jane and several paddlers that are usually close to me but on the last kilometre Bonnie started pulling beside me on her Epic V10L. I was pretty confident that she wouldn't get by but she did and managed to get to the last spit post turn on my inside, which wasn't a good thing. She took the turn wide to force me around the outside, but I dropped back and cut inside of her. For a few moments I was actually in front again but she didnt give up and we raced to the line neck and neck, but she beat me by a split second. AS you can imagine I was gutted. Bugger, another woman has beat me!

With Bonnie's recent engagement I am hoping that she will slow down so I don't get beaten again.

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

Thanks to Oscar

I just wanted to say thanks for suggesting the Oscar Chalupski coaching clinic when I dropped into the store for some paddle shorts. I contacted Walter to arrange a time and eagerly awaited the day to come along.

Monday came and I parked up at Sorrento. The westerly was in and there were set lines as far as the eye could see. A few minutes later the Big O rocked up and I got to meet one of the legends of the sport I love.

Our group of 6 hit the clubroom at the surf club and Oscar sat us down do go over the finer points of ski paddling and downwind.

After going over some drills and dispelling some myths we all hit the beach and took a turn in co-piloting the V10 double with the master. It was brilliant and Oscar was able to pick up any technique issues even when I seated behind him. I certainly picked up a few good points and have started implementing changes to my paddle technique and ocean reading. I will definitely be booking a session the next time he comes to town.

Thanks and regards
Steve

NEW TO CANOEING DOWN UNDER

VAIKOBI PADDLING GEAR

Vaikobi V Heat Paddling Short

V Heat Paddling Short, Colour: Carbon
V Heat Performance Fabric combined with V Superstretch airprene
Articulated cut designed for extreme comfort whilst sitting in your craft
Short leg for maximum comfort
Scooped back and low front design
Superior breathablity & moisture Management properties
SPF 50+

$70.00

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

Vaikobi V Heat Short Sleeve Top

V Heat Short Sleeve Top, Colour: Grey/Carbon, Blue/Grey
V Heat Performance Fabric allows for ease of movement
Superior breathability & moisture management
Mesh ventilation under arms

SPF 50+
Beat the sun to paddle harder for longer

RRP $60.00

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

A Great Christmas Present

The Avon River Guide

The Avon River Guide is a must for all paddlers entering the Avon Descent or paddling socially down the Avon River.

It not only has heaps of information, training tips, it also contains detailed maps of every rapid and has 353 colour photos of the rapids. Another Terry Bolland Production.

Cost: $ 40.00
Specs: A 4 size

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

Clear Rail Tape

Stop those paddle marks on you kayak or ski by applying rail tape

Clear rail SUP tape is a High Performance, very tough and durable Impact and Abrasion tape with high performance high strength Adhesive with excellent UV and High Temperature tolerances.

SIZE: 48mm wide x 3.6m long x 0.5mm thick.

Application tips, cut and trim Tape before removing Paper Liner.
Do Not touch Adhesive.
Apply to clean dry area.

$40.00

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

Epic Leg Strap

Be Safe

Attach the cord to the leg strap attachment point or foot strap, or any other secue fitting. Attach the wide velcro strap around your leg, usually below your knee.

Essential when venturing into heavy sea/wind conditions. Features a quick release for paddling in & out of the surf zone.

They are a requirement for ocean racing competitions

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

Ikaros Hand Smoke Flare - Orange

Don't paddle in the ocean without one

For day use only to raise alarm and pinpoint your position. Use only when potential rescuers are in sight. Burn time 60 seconds plus and visible for up to 4km (conditions dependant).

Handheld Orange: Smoke flare primarily for day use.

$32.00 each

Epic Down Winder

Dean Beament, Perth, Wednesday, 11 December 2013

Well another awesome Epic Downwinder has come and gone. I must admit that Rob and I were just a little concerned at around 7.00 am on Saturday morning as we lightly trained into a North West wind !!! Les Goodliffe and I, with raised eyebrows, kept discussing the eventual wind shift but I must admit I started to quietly freak about 10.00 am when there was no sign of the promised strong SW that had been forecast all week via "Seabreeze.com".

I should never have worried and just reminded myself we are lucky enough to live in "downwind central" !!

Firstly as we did mention at the race a very big thank you to our naming right sponsor in Epic Australia. Tony King CEO was again professional, engaging, and extremely approachable to anyone who had any questions for him. His face looked like the proverbial split watermelon at the end of the race and commented on how fantastic the run was. From my experience watching the Big O paddle away from me in the skates, the Epic skis are performing well here in Perth.

To Terry Bolland from Canoeing Down Under, and Mark Pierse from Home Builder APG, thank you for your support. It's wonderful to see sponsors like these and the kind contributions help to provide great prizes and assistance with water safety for the event. Again thanks to you.

Most of you maybe unaware that most of the IOP events, after entry payments, just break even and water safety is our largest cost. The Epic Downwinder puts us significantly behind in any sense of profitability due to the size of the event. However the IOP management firmly believe that this one event is well worth dipping into our bank reserves to run such a great race. I am sure that all of you that competed this year would agree.

Congratulations to all the winners from each category, especially our outright race champion Reece Baker who continues his dominance of this event having taken home the cash and trophy last year as well. I have watched Reece's paddling career with great interest through his kayak, ocean racing and surf life saving sprint achievements and it's difficult to find a more well rounded athlete and person. If any of the younger paddlers needed a mentor to look up to in their future endeavours then they need to look no further than Reece.

Every paddler who decided to brave the 23km odd course on Saturday achieved their own personal milestone, as we all do each year. Great to see some real internal races between mates, and the mud thrown at each other with a beer in hand after the event back at the bar at Sorrento Surf Club.

Our 'Home' at Sorrento Surf Club was again cemented this year as the club welcomed us with open arms and put every facet of their considerable resources at our disposal. Sorrento will always be our spiritual home and we look forward to a long association with this great Western Australian Surf Life Saving Club.

To the IOP volunteer crew that put this event together, I as president thank you on behalf of all competitors for organising and running the event. Believe me this is no easy task and requires a small army of dedicated people to conduct a race like this.

Next on the agenda is a relaxed Christmas paddle down the coast next weekend, well it will be relaxed until the gun goes up and the eyes role backwards as we all chase that first big skate. Come down enjoy the splash, put on your best Santa/Elves outfits and partake in a cold one at the finish. I think Rob has some team ideas thought up.

Great race, good mates, warm sun, cold beer and fantastic downwind conditions............. does life really get any better than this ???

See you all soon

Dean Beament
IOP President

You can review the race results online at http://www.webscorer.com/race?raceid=16322

EPIC DOWN WINDER - Singles

It was a day that down wind paddlers dream of, a day when the wind was going to be in the right direction for a good paddle down the coast.

The Epic Down Winder is the biggest sponsored race on the WA Down Wind calendar. $4000.00, and heaps of other prizes, like Epic paddles, boat stands, hats, flags, gift vouchers and more.

Epic Kayaks are regarded as the industry leader for quality and for a diverse range of craft. You only have to look at an Epic, even from a distance and you can see style and quality. Epic produce skis and kayaks for the beginner to the expert so it means that everyone can take part in all different competitions.

The race was starting at Port Beach, Fremantle. I arrived in plenty of time with a V10 for Tony from Epic Australia to paddle. There was a big crowd already there and more paddlers arriving, 150 paddlers were at the start. The beach was neatly littered with 150 single skis in two locations. The wind was blowing fresh and there were very few bathers on the beach to get in the way.

Down on the beach Oscar was being photographed by a Sunday Times photographer. Like all photographers he got Oscar doing some strange poses, but Oscar didn't seem to mind.

The briefing was given by Dean Beament and Rob Doherty under the Epic flags. Paddlers gathered around all holding their paddles vertically. They were all eager to get on the water as the conditions looked pretty good. Soon after, paddlers started their walk down to their boats, picked them up and entered the water.

Paddlers begin to get on the water

12 times Molakai winner Oscar Chalupski is one of the last to take to the water

The field is spread and when the flag is put down many don't seem to be on the start line

Two red buoys formed the start line. All paddlers but the odd one paddled over to the seaward buoy and as far away from the beach they could go. Rob was on a jet ski next to the seaward buoy. He had flags to prepare people for the start and then he waved the start flag. Many paddlers were well behind the line when the start flag was lowered. Paddlers raced away but it was difficult to see who was leading from such a long way off.

Most of the top paddlers were on the line

The leaders shot off like rockets.Many paddlers weren't near the start point so were way behind from the start. A few paddlers were even further back but there was one paddler that must have been so interested in his warm up he was at least 500 metres from the line when the others took off.

Within minutes the leaders are well ahead

When they all had gone I jumped into my vehicle and followed them down the coast. There were 3 paddlers up front and they were so close it was hard to know who would win. There was $2000.00 for the winner so there was a lot at stake. The cash had brought some big guns out of hiding and they were the ones ahead. Brendan Rice had been the top dog in the last few races but he was coming forth today, Reece Baker, Brendan Sarson, and eastern stater Michael Booth were in front of him.

There was little distance between the leaders. Left to right: Brendan Rice, Michael Booth, Reece Baker & Brendon Sarson. Oscar was just out of the shot

At city beach they had to round a marker so they came close to shore. They were using the ocean and the wind to their advantage and travelling at an amazing speed and it was exiciting to see. Brendan was close behind the big three and Oscar wasn't far behind him. They seemed to fly by.

The leaders seemed to be a long way in front of the rest of the group. Most of the paddlers were having fun skating down the wind waves but others were being toppled by them and were in the water and some having difficulty getting back on. When most of the paddlers passed City Beach I moved on further up the coast stopping at a point or two to watch them go by.

Some of the less experienced paddlers at City Beach

Reece Baker, 1st, 50 metres from the finish line

It was a 23km race but the top guys made short work of it. I managed to arrived at Sorrento a few minutes before Reece Baker's head started appearing above the white caps. Several metres behind was Michael Booth and then Brendon Sarson. They were closer than I could imagine after 23 kilometres of skating down the coast. Reece Baker rounded the red buoy about 50 metres from shore followed shortly by Michael and Brendon. Michael finished only 24 seconds behind and Brendon Sarson only 38 seconds behind Reece. It was a close call. Lagging a little, but still not that far away was Brendan Rice. Brendan has won many of the downwind events leading up to the Epic Downwinder but this time the other paddlers were just too good. Brendan was 1min 7 seconds behind Reece.

Oscar was next to arrive. For a 51 year old he did pretty well against world class athletes like Reece Baker. He was
1 min 44 secs behind Reece. Not bad for an old guy! There was a longer gap before the other paddlers started arriving. Next was Dean Beament, he was 4 mins 5 secs behind Reece. Adam Bloomfield, was next followed by Travis England, Nicholas Taylor, and Dan Humble bringing up 10th place. Fifty plus year old Shaun Rice was 11th making three 50 plus paddlers in the top 11 places. It seems there is still hope for us old guys.

Martin Robinson, was the first 60 year old coming 56th. There were 6, 60 year olds taking part and 37, 50 year olds so there is no reason to give up paddling when you reach 50, you are in your prime.

Rob Jenkinson chased by Walter Chalupski at the finish line

First lady, Ruth Highman at the finish line

Kim Bingham racing to the line

What a spin

A V8 comes in before many of the faster skis

The many skis on the beach soon have it looking somewhat crowded

When all paddlers were safely ashore and dried off, lots of paddlers made a beeline to the Sorrento Surf club bar for a feed and a drink or two. Unlike kayak clubs, surf clubs have bars which are probably a magnet for keeping paddlers socialising at the end of a race. As I knew many of the competitors there was plenty to talk about.

When presentation came up it was very professionally done which was really appreciated not only by the paddlers but also the sponsors who dip deeply into their pockets at a time when sales are at an all time low.

Thanks to the volunteers and oganisers for putting on such a great event.

Prizes
Open Male
1st - 5th $2000, $800, $500, $300, $100

Open Female
1st - 3rd $500, $200, $100

Under 21 1st 2nd, 3rd
Epic paddle (worth over $500)
Sponsors product prizes

Over 40 Male
1st - 3rd $500, $300, $100

0ver 40 Female
1st - 3rd Sponsors product prizes

0ver 50 Male
1st - 3rd $300, $200, $100

0ver 60 Male
1st - 3rd Sponsors product prizes

Door Prizes
2 x Epic paddles
2 x Canoeing Down Under vouchers
Lots of Sponsors products (hats, shirts etc) !

EPIC DOWN WINDER DOUBLES RACE

Just getting to the start line of the Epic doubles race was hard enough. Many paddlers capsized before they left the beach. Others like Darryl Long and Sue Quick got pushed towards the rocky groyne which was a bit nerve racking for me as it was my Epic double ski that they were using.

Darryl Long and Sue Quick paddling from shore in my Epic double ski.

They get thrown side ways by an incoming wave. The rudder gets bent after hitting the sandbar.

I watch on as they nearly clip the rock groyne

They get closer to the rocks and I wondering if my $4500.00 ski is going to come back to me without damage.
Should I be lending boats out?

Luckily they get away from the wall and out to sea, but as they had been pushed into the sand earlier the rudder got bent and they had no rudder control for the whole race!

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

Grand Prix 1- Sprint Racing

Zac Acott, Tuesday, 10 December 2013

Weather was unpredictable at the Grand Prix 1 at West Lakes, South Australia.
A Western Australian team of 17 athletes went over to South Australia to compete, coming away from the event with some great results.

In the U16’s, Anthony Carbone and Luke Morton picked up Gold and Silver consecutively for the K1 1000m, 500m, and 200m events.
Meanwhile in the U16 K2 events, Yale Steinepreis and Monique Carbone won Gold in the K2 1000m, 500m and 200m.

There were many medals won by WA athletes in the team events, with Todd Brewer collecting Gold medals in the K2 1000m, K2 200m and K4 500m, Daniel Bowker placed first in the K4 1000m and 500m and K2 500m, Jesse Phillips was a part of the winning K4 500m team, Alana Nicholls with Jamie Roberts collected Gold in the K2 200m, while Alana also won Gold in the K1 200m. U18 athletes Sam McTigue and Jorden Ringrose also won gold in the U18 K2 200m.

Congratulations to all athletes who competed over the weekend.

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

Jason Beachcroft has reached Esperence today.

Really nice paddle today Hopetoun to Munglinup Beach. No Albatross or Shearwaters today. A few Sea Lions and the first Sea Eagle that I've seen in some time.

Tuesday

In at Hopetoun solid day. Winds light SE / E all day. Sweet. Dolphins, Shearwaters, Gannets and Albatross. No Wolf Nipple Chips. A big bowl of pasta and now it's time to sleep. Jealous Darren Hocking and Susan M Wyer how does one score free Leonard Cohen tickets anyway?

Sunday

In at Bremer Bay. Sheltered and beautiful.

Saturday

At Beaufort Inlet / Mt Groper. Strong wind day resting up whilst it blows. Beautiful place. The SW of WA is really quite special. Reminds me South Victorian waters.

December 5

At Cheyne Beach a sweet day with favourable winds and choppy sea. Thanks to Ian, Gale, and Matthew Watkins for hosting me in Albany. Thanks also to members of the Albany Sea Kayak Club who visited.

December 3

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

10km State Championships
Proudly supporting beyondblue Add to my Calendar

Date/Time
29 Dec 2013 08:30 AM - 11:00 AM

Entries Close 22 Dec 2013
Event Location Champion Lakes
Registration - 8:30am to 9:15am
Open to everyone, not just the guns

Finn Kayak with Pod: $750.00
Australis Squid sit on: $350.00
Two Up Double open kayak: $600.00

Please call us about our used boats 9378 1333