Enjoy the CDU Newseltter
Published: Fri, 01/09/15
Issue
449
30th December 2014
Message Bank
With Christmas out the way we can now get on with some serious
paddling although, we did have the 10km Championships at Champion
Lakes between Christmas and New Year which was a good event.
On race day, the weather was hot but calmer than most years.
Alaine and I lost our 45 plus double mixed record to Darryl
Long and Sue Quick, but we grabbed the 55 plus record instead
with a time 2 minutes slower than our best but Alaine is getting
older! Talk about getting older, there are a heap of paddlers
over 55 years old doing extremely well. Every time I think
I might win something 5 other paddlers do a better time. Paddling
is certainly a sport that older people can get involved in.
Take 67 year old John Van Maanen he beat Alaine and I by a
second, Martin Watson is flying and he doesn't have any wings,
and Patrick Tullock is gliding just behind him. Several other
oldies did well but had no chance of catching Josh Kippin
who won.
**************************************
Down River Sessions - to be
a better paddler
I started the Down River/Wavehopper sessions this morning
and 20 paddlers turned up at 6.00am. Not bad for the first
session. It was good to see several new paddlers who haven't
paddled a kayak without a rudder before and it was good to
see other paddlers getting out of their wavehoppers and paddling
DR kayaks.
Paddling kayaks with out rudders and turning around buoys
will certainly improve your paddling skills and increase your
confidence and it's just good fun.
These early morning Friday sessions will go on for about
6 weeks. We will also have a series of Tuesday night races
starting as soon as the newcomers get into the swing of it.
We will also be moving into advanced flat water skills in
short boats as well this summer so there is no excuse to not
further your skills.
**************************************
There is a big weekend of paddling next weekend with a Down
Wind race sponsored by Canoeing Down Under on Saturday afternoon
and the Claisebrook Classic on Sunday morning.
Please note due to the Perth City not being as welcoming
as they should be, the Registration for the Claisebrook Classic
is now at Nelson Road at the back of Gloucester Park (not
Claisebrook inlet) see map below.
**************************************
City Beach to Sorrento Beach
17 January 2015 City Beach Sorrento Beach
3:30pm
Sponsored by Canoeing Down Under
******************************************
Claisebrook Classic
Sunday, January 18, 2015
Registration is at Nelson Road at the back
of Gloucester Park (not Claisebrook inlet)
Registration 7.15 to 8.00
Briefing 8.15
Race Start 9.00
Distances 13km….6.6km short course…3.6 Guppies
Enter here: https://www.webscorer.com/register?raceid=34837
************************************
Are Fisherman Destroying our
River Banks
Did you know there is no fine or law to stop fisherman moving
rocks from the rock protection walls which have been built
to stop erosion by the Swan River Trust. It cost thousands
of dollars to build these walls and once the lower rocks have
been moved or disturbed the rocks get scattered and eventually
the walls fall into disrepair. Not only are the fisherman
ruining the walls, they are collecting all the small crabs
etc that live under them to use as fish bait instead of allowing
them to be the food for the river habitat
Training & Courses
Saturday Morning
Fitness Training
Race Start 7.30am on
the dot!
PFD MUST be worn
Last Saturday session.
Christmas didn't dampen the enthusiasm of paddlers.
Often the guys training take down their own coffee and cakes
to have afterwards
*********************************
Flat Water
Down River Training 'Around the Buoys' is Back
Are you wanting to increase your paddling skills. These sessions
will help enormously. Improvement is guaranteed
The group this morning.
I was surprised to see
20 paddlers this morning for the first of our 6.00am DR training
Featured Products
What A Great
Touring Kayak
Epic GPX
The Epic GPX appeals to a broad range
of kayakers with its prefect blend of stability, light weight,
and optimal tracking.
The GPX is the ideal choice for anyone looking for a comfortable,
responsive day-touring kayak that is as easy to manage on
land as it is in water. This is a great kayak to paddle and
being lightweight it's just a dream kayak to own.
Available in three construction types weighing in at 17.5kg,
14kg or 12.5kgs, carrying a GPX to and from the water is a
joy. The GPX is outfitted with two bulkheads, front deck cutaways,
a large rear storage hatch, heavy-duty full deck lines and
outfitting, and an adjustable seat and adjustable backrest
designed to fit any paddler.
Colour: White
Length: 3.94 m (12'11")
Width: 63.5 cm (25.0")
Stern: 44.5 x 30.0 cm (17.5" x 12")
Depth: 28 cm (11.0" )
Capacity: 125 kg (275 lbs)
Cockpit: 90 x 46 cm (3.5.5" x 18.0")
Storage Capacities: Stern: 78 litres (20.6 gal)
Stories
Tri Series
Bay to Beach, Paddle
Challenge & Classic Paddle
After very disappointing competitor
numbers for last year’s Bay 2 Beach, Canoeing WA have
been considering ways of rejigging the event.
Canoeing WA will be rerunning the Bay
2 Beach on the 7 February 2015, this is a Saturday in order
to avoid the hundreds of parents and nippers at every beach
along the west coast on a Sunday morning, as in previous years
the event will finish at Cottesloe Beach.
The reason CWA is rerunning the event
so close to the 2014 Bay to Beach, is that we are making the
B2B the first of a three race series, which will incorporate
our two other existing events Paddle Challenge and the Classic
Paddle.
Any online entry inquiries contact Jason
Parker via email to develop.wa@canoe.org.au or Phone (08)
9285 8501
The first race of a three race series
is the B2B, we will be incorporating our two other existing
events Paddle Challenge and the Classic Paddle.
With this in mind the B2B will be run
in February, the Paddle Challenge (the official opening of
the Avon Descent) in May and the Classic Paddle in October.
With the tri series there will be no
presentations at the first two events (Bay 2 Beach and Paddle
Challenge) instead there will only be the tri series presentations
made at the Classic Paddle in October.
Our plan is that basically with the
first two events, there will be no food or presentations (water
and fruit will be available as soon as you get off the water),
you just get off the water and go home, with the results being
posted on-line as soon as possible after the events, the reasoning
behind this is that the early finishers have long waits after
they finish the event waiting for presentations etc.
Points will be awarded for each event
but you will only gain points towards the final prizes (presented
at the Classic Paddle), if you do all three races of the series.
When entering the event/s you will be
asked for your t shirt size, the tops will be available at
the Paddle Challenge held in May.
Also at the Classic Paddle there will
be spot prizes given out as well.
The more people that enter the tri-series
the better the prizes will be.
Three Race Dates. Bay 2 Beach to 7th
February 2015. Paddle Challenge will be 17th May 2015. Classic
Paddle will be the 4th October 2015
****************************************
I know Canoe WA is trying to bolster
the number of paddlers in the three main races that they organise
but I'm not quite sure if the new format will help do that.
The first race of the new TRI Series
is the Bay to Beach and it is now on a Saturday morning and
although most paddlers have the weekend off, I have to work
on Saturdays so that means I will miss the first race.
I'm not quite sure why they wouldn't
have a presentation for every race and then a special presentation
for the final race, even if its only reading out the results
because there are still a lot of paddlers who like to mingle,
talk about their race to others and stay and listen to the
results.Admittedly some paddlers go home for one reason or
another but there are many paddlers who will wait for the
presentation to see who has won. For the paddlers who have
won a category on the day, it's nice to be recognised on the
day.
The suggestion- 'you just get off the
water at the end of the race and go home' doesn't sound very
encouraging to do the race in the first place. Not all paddlers
go to win, many treat it as a social event and if there isn't
a reason to socalise at the end I think the race won't feel
as important.
Although it is a good idea to have
a race series, I feel that not every paddler will have the
right boat to paddle all three races. The Paddle Challenge
is a flat water race and many Avon Descent Paddlers will go
in it, whilst the other two races you need a sea kayak or
ski to paddle, as it is usually in rougher conditions. I could
see the Bay to Beach and the Paddle Classic (Perth to Fremantle)
working okay together but I can't see that the Paddle Challenge
really fits in.
I'm sure that paddlers paddling the
Paddle Challenge, which is a Avon Descent publicity race wouldn't
mind hanging around for a hamburger and a presentation. In
the years passed the hamburger line has been pretty long and
there has always been paddlers staying back. If you are trying
to bolster the Avon Descent numbers the Paddle Challenge should
be something special, rather than paddling and going home.
I also feel they are too many months
apart to make it feel like a race series.
Of course this is only my opinion and
many others of course might not agree however, feedback no
matter what, to Canoe WA is important so that they can gain
an idea of what paddlers are wanting.
****************************************
Sandy crossing
the border
Dear Terry
How are you? Happy new years to you all.
I have now reached Bangladesh - Myanmar Border. I cannot paddle
in to Myanmar as there is no crossing from Bangladesh, so
I am now attempting to get a permit for kayaking in Myeik
Archipelago, Myanmar. It will be a few weeks to find out.
The best part of Bangladesh was certainly the trip through
the tiger territory, the Sunderbans. This is remote Bangladesh
where the nature is so rugged that not many people are there.
It is hanging on the edge though as a recent oil spill severely
threatened the world heritage eco-system and development threatens
encroaching on this area in the future.
Bangladeshi people are warm and welcoming everywhere and my
local partners at SAFE Bangladesh have added to my experience
by meeting me at local island beaches, helping me manage in
crowds and found me hosted stays and foods. The funniest place
I slept was a tea shop which fitted me and kayak overnight
guarded by police on Sandwip Island. I also slept on a coastguard
pontoon one night where I was locked in the captains quarters
overnight because that room housed the weapons locker (warship
experience!!!).
Just after christmas I was centrefold kayak woman in the weekend
feature of the nationwide biggest Bangladesh newspaper (with
Canoeing Down Under stickers on the paddle - do I get prize
in your next competition for sticker placement?). I've always
wanted to be a centrefold (joking!). New Years had some technical
difficulties - in a Muslim country where alcohol is banned
and where the city told all parties must end by 8pm - I set
off my parachute flare off my hosts balcony at midnight (ya
can't do that in Australia). I bought the flares I have in
India as a possible scary noise for croc and tiger deterrant,
but they remain untested theory.
I am flying back to Kolkata
soon to pick up my folding kayak for the journey down through
Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia to Singapore. Then I get my
red plastic boat back again for Singapore to Australia (I
am shipping it Bangladesh to Singapore where it will be stored
there by one of my amazing trip supporters). 2015 Adventures
- bring it on!
P.S. I am desperately looking for more sponsors to help me...
your readers could possible help me continue my epic 5-year
journey by clicking on the donate button on my website - donations
of even 10 dollars would make an amazing difference to keep
me going. http://www.sandy-robson.com/
Thanks for Canoeing Down Under Support!
Sandy
************************************
Slalom & Downriver Juniors
The WA juniors have excelled
at the Australian Schools Slalom and Downriver Championships
with three Swan Canoe Club members winning Champion trophies
– out of a total of four. The Championships were held
from 4-6 January on the Goulburn River at Eildon in Victoria.
Isabella Choate was awarded Senior Girl
Champion, Kira Wall was awarded Junior Girl Champion (equal
with Georgie Tonkin of Victoria) and Louis Richardson was
awarded Junior Boy Champion. Senior Boy Champion was won by
Tristan Carter of Victoria.
This is the first time ever that WA
has won three out of the four possible champion trophies.
In 2000 Robin Jeffery won Junior Boy Champion and more recently
in 2012 Brodie Crawford won Senior Boy Champion and last year
Isabella Choate won Junior Girl Champion, but these are the
only three occasions in 14 years that WA has taken any of
these coveted trophies.
Coach Zlatan Ibrahimbegovic is justifiably
proud of their efforts.
The entire cohort of paddlers from WA
schools have been hauling in the medals.
Go here for results: http://wa.canoe.org.au/2015/01/08/australian-schools-slalom-and-downriver-championships/
Race of the Week
Be Active WA
State 10 km Championships
Sunday 28 Dec 2014. Perter Martin
It was going to be a warm day on Champion
Lakes as 80 paddlers gathered for the annual 10 km Championships.
The event is mainly aimed at the Single craft divided up by
Craft type then Age then Gender.
Racing in groups of similar craft allows
paddlers to see where they stand in the rankings. With quite
a few paddlers looking at National Marathons and the Australian
Team to go to Hungary the pace was going to be fast among
the leaders.
At briefing paddlers where congratulated
on their efforts to maintain an Active and Heathy Lifestyle
by participating in this event between the Christmas and New
Year festivities. Warnings where given regarding hydration
and sun safety while they are on the water in these summer
conditions.
The long course paddlers had 2 laps
of the main and warm up lake and a 1 km finishing lap while
the guppy paddlers did 2 shorter laps around Sports Island
and the finish lap. With 5 start grids going off at 2 mins
intervals the race was on.
First away was the Open K1s ( Men and
Women ) with the 35+ and 45+ classes to keep them company.
Second grid was the 55+ K1s, Masters ladies and the U16, U14
and U12 Junior K1s. Third grid was the very mixed group of
Doubles with the very competitive Multi Sport Kayak Class
as well as the two long plastics. Next away was the Ocean
Skis ( Open, 35+, 45+ & 55+ ). Last away was the 2 classes
of Guppy Kayaks with their on water escorts keeping them safe.
With a 2000m straight from the Start
Line, while dodging the lane buoys, paddlers had the chance
to determine who they were going to group up with and work
together or who to try and leave behind. Joshua K.(AKC) and
James M.(AKC) stayed together in the Open Mens with Shannon
S.(MOC) and Brett Mc.(CLBC) (35+) close behind ready to move
up if they faltered. Meanwhile Bronwyn M.(AKC) and Jamie R.(BPC)
had locked onto Mark L's (AKC)(45+) wash and was quite happy
to let him tow them around the course. Bronwyn shifted off
to pump her boat dry and fell a minute behind in half a lap.
Bailie L.(AKC) and Bonnie M.(AKC) are slowly closing the gap
on the more experienced paddlers.
Of the second start Nicholas G., Mathew
G. and Kye (all 14 & under, AKC) set out to break Alex
G. race record from 2010 but the task was beyond them. Pat
T.(55+)(AKC) stayed with them and as the group split up concentrated
on staying with Kye . the rest of the 55+ men spread out among
the Juniors. In the U16s, Christopher G.(AKC) took an early
lead but Michael S.(AKC) and Shania S.(BPC) caught him up
and no matter how many efforts he put in they kept reappearing
on his wash. In the Ladies Master class Jane L.(AKC) graciously
switched from OS1 to K1 to make up the class. Judy D.(AKC),
once the start had cleared started to pass paddler after paddler
till she worked her way up to a possible 3rd place in the
55+ men but leading the ladies home.
The Multi-Sport kayak start allowed
Martin W.(AKC) to take an early lead and the rest spread out
and came home at roughly one minute intervals. In the doubles
Sue Q. and Darryl L. (AKC) where easy winners. Apparently
a quick bit of coaching during the race allowed the Father
and son team of Peter & Luke (PP), to overtake father/grandfather,
Jan v.M.(AKC), in his MS1.
The Ocean skis also had a runway winner
in Justin F.(IOP) ( 35+) and Rohan E.(AKC) ( 45+).. Warren
S.(AKC) (55+) was the third ski home.
The junior members in the 2 Guppie Classes
enjoyed some close racing at different times. Tim H. (CRCC)
(u10) was the first boat home, 2 minutes clear of the next
one. Ryan B.(AKC) was the fastest U12 Oneli W.(CRCC) the first
of the girls home.
Our Thanks to Champion Lakes staff (
John ) for coming out and opening the facility up for us and
the use of their power craft to put the buoys out. Our loyal
band of Volunteers put in a great effort beforehand and on
the day to get the online registration done, Buoys and shelters
set up, All Paddlers Registered, Started, Times and awards
presented at the end. Special mention of Kann S. who came
along with his father and checked all off at the top mark.
Next event is Mara #3 - Claisebrook
Race on Sunday 18 January, 2015. Please lookout for the race
preview for assembly and briefing areas.
For further information please contact
the Marathon Committee at marathonwa@canoe.org.au
Peter Martin
Photo
of the Week
Last Sunday morning we paddled the canoe
and in 5 minutes and within 500 metres of the new home that
Jenny and I are having built, I took these pictures. Of course
there is a lot more bird life around the area but these are
the ones that were within 500m of where we will be living.
I haven't had time to
look this bird up so if you know what it is please let me
know. It was taken on Ron Courtney Island. 350 metres from
our new to be built house
Taken 100 metres from
our new to be built house
Taken 101 metres from
our new house
Taken 490 metres from
our new house
Taken 500 metres from
our new house
*******************************************
More fisherman disturbing
the rock shoreline
A horse having a swim
near the racecourse
2nd Hand Boats
17 January 2015
City Beach Sorrento Beach 3:30pm
Sponsored by Canoeing Down Under
18-Jan-15 Sunday
Marathon # 3 Claisebrook Race
******************
Bay 2 Beach to 7th February
2015.
******************
22-Feb-15 Sunday Marathon
# 4 Canning River Race
******************
01-Mar-15 Sunday City
Lights Long Distance Event
******************
07-Mar-15 Saturday State
Championships
******************
08-Mar-15 Sunday State
Championships
******************
15-Mar-15 Sunday Rod
Fry Memorial Race, Swan
******************
22-Mar-15 Sunday Bevan
Dashwood Dash, Canning
******************
Fourth Annual Sea Kayak
Symposium 2015
27th February - 7th March 2015
******************
03-Apr-15 Friday Marathon
Champs Canberra, Easter Weekend
******************
12-Apr-15 Sunday Canning
Classic
******************