Enjoy the CDU Newsletter
Published: Wed, 08/26/15
Issue
475
21st August 2014
Message Bank
Well 3 weeks have passed since the Avon Descent and less
paddlers have been on the river but they will soon be back
and getting ready for the summer season and for next year's
Avon. For those paddlers thinking about taking on the Avon
Descent next year for the first time, they should be taking
the opportunity and practising on the good flow of white water
we have at the moment. No telling what the river will be like
next year in the lead up to the Avon, so if you can get some
moving water practise in this year you will be more experienced
for next year.
I'm sure competitors in this years Avon will have loved the
water level and the event. Many paddlers however became very
cold and some suffered with hypothermia and couldn't go on.
When paddlers are inexperienced they fall off or out of their
craft more often than an experienced paddler, so after hitting
the cold water their core body temperature is lowered. If
this happens a few times hypothermia can set in. So if it
is your first Avon Descent first consider the type of craft
you are going to paddle. As a first timer it's best not to
buy the fastest craft because it is usually unstable and if
you don't have the skills you will spend a lot of time in
the water. So for a novice having better skills and good balance
will be the key to a better race. I don't paddle the fastest
most unstable craft because I want to feel in control of my
craft and not spend time swimming.
Wearing the right clothing is also important. I heard paddlers
comment on day one that they were cold and on day one there
was little white water. So being successful is not always
how fast you are on flat water, it is how you prepare yourself
for all eventualities.
We start our Saturday morning
training again on the 5th September and the Monday night crew
have already started so you don't have to train alone.
*********************************
At the end of the Avon Descent Race
the carnival atmosphere was really swinging at Bayswater and
the fun day seemed even bigger than other years. There were
a lot of free activities which attracted families in large
numbers. One family I met said their children enjoyed the
day of activities more than at the royal show. There were
even food stalls that catered for every taste. I love some
chips after the big race and I found some. The queues were
quite long so that was a good sign that the food stalls and
activities were well patronised. Belmont Shire and Swan Shire
also had family events which I was told were very successful
as well. So despite the low numbers in the event everybody
from the competitors to the families really enjoyed the weekend.
This years presentation included all categories thanks to
Canoe WA who were organising it this year. Also sponsors like
myself were asked to present the prizes which I think was
a first. Unfortunately some of the prize winners in the minor
classes hadn't realised they had won or hadn't realised they
were going to get a prize because some of the paddlers had
gone home. Hopefully next year paddlers will realise that.
So all in all the event couldn't have gone off any better.
I don't know what happened behind the scenes but from a competitor
point of view it all went off without a hitch and it certainly
seemed well organised. Talking to several of the Canoe WA
organisers at the end of the day they were so excited with
how the event went that they committed to organise it again
next year. Well done to the organising committee.
The Avon Descent still has a future and it's up to all of
us to help it along. Getting some motivated blood in the organising
ranks was a positive move. They have the know-how with social
media but it still needs people on the committee who have
experience with the event.
*********************************
Due to popular demand from my staff we are
closing earlier on Saturdays
New Saturday Closing Time
Please note that we will be
closing at 2.00pm on Saturday afternoons
starting in September.
****************************************
Avon Descent K1 Winners
Canoeing Down Under Sponsor of the K1 class.
Presenting the prizes. The winners Brendan Rice first, Matthew
Dean second and James Morfitt third.
****************************************
Lady paddler wanted
for a ladies Blackwood Marathon
Team.
Great bunch of ladies who are a little competitive but also
in it for fun!
The race is held on 31st October and is 8.5kms of the Blackwood
River near Bridgetown with moving water and a few small Rapids.
Contact Kt on 0439784936 or Tex on 0419702187 if you are interested.
Recommended by Sam Pilton who can't paddle for the team this
year."
****************************************
The New Whitewater Park in
New Zealand
I Think I Might Get Ready For the 2017 World
Masters Games in Auckland
There will be 4.5 metre controllable waterfall
which is the biggest in the world."
The $37.5m white water complex is being built
on land at Manukau's Vodafone Events Centre land and will
be used in the 2017 World Masters Games. See further down.
****************************************
The Geegelup Cup
The last of six (6) races for the 2015 Wild Water season
is scheduled to be contested on the Blackwood River, Bridgetown.
The race is open to boats which have no rudders or alternatively
have their rudders tied up. Also Sundries may participate;
ie boats with rudders or over 4.5m length, but are not eligible
for the Cup.
Date: Saturday 29th & 30th, Aug 2015
Venue: Blackwood River, Bridgetown
Teams race Saturday. Individual Race Sunday
See more details below.
****************************************
Join our facebook
https://www.facebook.com/canoeingdownunder
Training & Courses
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Stories
Avon
Descent 2015
Day 2.
A week earlier I was thinking that I
wouldn't have to get up so early on the Sunday morning because
of the shortened course but that thought was dashed with the
high water and going back to the normal course. So about 4.15am
after a good sleep I was out of bed, having breakfast and
off to pick up Pam and Olwyn at Guildford and we were on the
road by 5.15am.
There was no fog when we arrived at
Cobblers Pool but it was cool. Although it was dark it felt
as if it was going to be the perfect day with the water being
close to 0.7 at Walyunga Park and the day being clear of rain.
I was off at 7.07 on grid 15. Paddlers
started getting on the river in an orderly manner although
a paddler accidentally clipped the rear of another surf ski
as he was about to enter the water and the other guy got really
shitty. It was nothing, but he made a real song and dance
about it and I felt like pushing him in to cool down.
I was on the start line with Steve Cashion,
Peter Gigengack and a member of team 603. Peter said he would
let me go first and he would follow as I knew the way. That
suited me perfectly. I hit the first narrow gap in the trees
with the three others following. Within a few minutes I turned
off the main channel to the left and charged through a channel
of tea trees without incident and passing Sam who was hooked
up. In those first minutes we had passed a few paddlers who
took an alternative route. The river then opened up and it
was easy moving water for about 600 metres before we headed
into the next and final forest of tea trees. Everything was
going well until halfway through where two paddlers in front
were jammed and seemed to take forever to decide what to do.
We held back making sure we didn't bump them and eventually
they got off their skis and freed themselves. Meanwhile Neil
and Rosie were stuck in a right hand channel, with a boat
in front wedged as well, so they might be there for a while.
We were soon out in the open and heading
for Posselts Ford and the first rapid of the day. In lower
water a rock at the bottom of Posselts Ford can cause some
damage but with the good water level it was well covered.
Super Chute which capsizes lots of paddlers was next. I was
successful but three other paddlers floating around in front
of me weren't as lucky.
Ron McKenzie shares Super
Chute with a double plastic ski of Kiera Albertsen and Cimon
Albertsen and a single ski. Photo Steven Mills
Ray Campbell chases me
down Super Chute. Photo Steven Mills
T2 soon paddled passed me. I think he
had troubles at Super Chute, apparently a kayak hit him in
the ribs. The next few rapids were easy and although Narrow
Neck Rapid is not big, it has a good drop with a curly wave
that I always respect. It's funny but I take more care on
this rapid than any others. It's too early in the day to capsize.
Narrow Neck Rapid
When I reached Razorback 2 (named after
I saw wild pigs here when I was sketching the rapid) the paddler
in front took the left channel. I usually take the left channel
but today I thought I would take the right channel to see
which would be the quickest and the left side proved faster.
In lower water though rocks and trees at the end of the left
channel can be very tricky to get through.
Emu Falls was ahead and I could feel
a paddler or two behind me eager to pass so I quickened my
pace to get there before them. I paddled Scorpion's Tail and
thankfully there wasn't anyone that I could see in the Shredder
Rapid to mess me up or cause me to make a mistake. I cleared
it but then I faced the Washing Machine Rapid. The banks at
Emu's were lined with rescue crews. I concentrated on the
river and took the right channel and cleared it as well.
It was very pleasing to have Emu Rapid
behind me. If you capsize there everyone around the world
gets to know as photos are posted on the internet.
Phil Edwards in a WW
kayak taking the right channel. Phil was the first WW kayak.
Photo John O'Sullivan
Peter Pavlinovich takes
a different route to Phil. Photo John O'Sullivan
Emu Falls. When a WW
kayak gets in your way just go under it. Photo John O'Sullivan
Legs up as Clint McPhail and Leon Weston
say see you down the track to Malcolm Henning. Photo John
O'Sullivan
The next big rapid of concern was Bone
Breaker, although there were a few small ones to get through
before I reached it. As soon as I saw Bald Hill I knew Bone
Breaker was near. Reaching it a paddler in front of me took
a wide line on the approach and I thought he might mess up
on the main drop but he cleared the rapid and so did I. Raging
Thunder was only 100 metres away so I had to concentrate again
but it posed no problem. When I saw Sue Quick facing the wrong
way next to the bank I instantly became happier as I had passed
her. I had all the Saturday morning crew behind me, now Sue
was behind too. The trouble was she beat me yesterday so I
have to get home well in front of her to beat her overall.
Steve Cashion started making an appearance.
In the last two Avon's he was leap frogging me all the way
down the valley but today when he came alongside he said he
felt more confident just following me.
Before the rapid Accelerator, young
Kieran Simpson came along side. He is very good in white water
so I knew if he passed me he would stay in front at least
until we hit the flatwater. He said he had a hole in his kayak
and he was going to stop at Stronghills, the team changeover
point to fix it. That was good news for me, then I saw Sue
cruising behind and that wasn't as good news. There were now
three Wild Water kayaks about to paddle the Accelerator Rapid
together. Kieran led down the rapid, but I sensed he didn't
know the rapid as he got swept onto a rock shelf and was high
and dry when I paddled by.
I was back in the lead again and after
exiting the 200 metre section of whitewater I lifted my game
to reach Moondyne Rapid first. A ski was tangled in the tea
trees before the rapid but I was going a different route so
he didn't bother me. I knew it was about 0.7 at the park and
in my Avon River guide book I advise paddlers that the Chicken
Chute at Moondyne is best to paddle above 0.9. With that in
mind I still decided to take the Chicken Chute to see how
rocky it really was at that level. I pushed through a narrow
gap in some tea trees at the top and took the narrow channel.
The first part was very paddle-able, it was the last 10-15
metres where the rocks started to be exposed that was the
dangerous part. I threaded through the rocks, scraping a little
and left Moondyne Rapid with a big smile on my face. It's
alway good to know your different options.
I reached Easy Street with a paddler
in front in a faster kayak having passed me several times
before. Easy Street has three channels, the right one is easy
and safer in any water conditions but it's longer and shallower
in low water but still the safest way to take groups. The
centre channel used to be quite dangerous but a few of the
trees have gone and although it still has a fast flow and
a little tricky it is the most used and quicker than the Easy
Street right channel. Then there is the left channel I named
Devil's Den when I first wrote the book because it used to
have a mass of tea trees blocking the channel and was extremely
dangerous. I hadn't taken it for many years so I really didn't
know what it was like now. When I saw a paddler 100 metres
in front of me take the channel I was very interested to see
how he would go.
I took the middle channel, cleared the
next two rapids Side Winder and the Wall and entered the long
pool before Stronghills and the teams changeover. The paddler
who paddled into the Devil's Den passed me yet again so he
survived.
Team Paddlers at the changeover cheered
when I passed them. Jane was still there so it meant that
I had passed Erica somewhere along the way. So I was now in
front of all the paddlers I wanted to be in front of.
I think Steve was still behind me, and
there were others chasing me down and sometimes passing me,
for me to pass them again. There were few rapids to be afraid
of before reaching Deadly Mistake but many of the tea tree
rapids including Spaghetti Junction have changed over the
years. When I first mapped Spaghetti Junction it was one mass
of tea trees, now it was quiet open, fast flowing with lots
of great waves to make it a fun rapid.
When I reached Feral Cat Corner I was
interested to see if there would be any capsized paddlers
at the bottom. It's not a big rapid, but it is a fast narrow
'S' shaped rapid with the current getting faster and faster
on the way down. Nearing the bottom there is a huge eddy on
the left side with the main current flowing swiftly towards
and into the right bank. The key is to keep to the left of
the main current but not too left to hit the eddy which would
spin you around. Paddlers who don't know the rapid usually
follow the flow and get swept towards the bank and trees on
the right and many paddlers capsize. Today I didn't see a
capsized paddler but Jabin Herd was turned and facing upstream
so something must have happened. Jabin was teamed up with
Peter Gigengack who started off with me this morning so Peter
had beaten me to the teams changeover which wasn't surprising
as he was a much faster paddler than me. The question was
could Jabin turn his craft and pass me and take the lead again?
A kilometre before Deadly Mistake Michael
Liddle came along side. He said he had been trying to catch
me up all morning, he had passed his dad, his mum, his sister
and he was dying to pass me. He did pass me about 50 metres
before Deadly Mistake. I said my goodbyes and shouted out
to him, this was Deadly Mistake and it was a tricky one. I
don't know if he heard but he certainly found out it was tricky
as he hit one of the big rocks and rolled over.
Michael Liddle determined
to beat me. Photo JC
Michael was now splayed across the river
his ski momentarily jammed between two big boulders and the
boulders that I was going to go between. I only had seconds
to decide on another strategy, another route or I would be
the next one to go over. There were a number of exposed rocks
to the right of Michael with a very slim gap between then.
I focussed on the gap and headed straight for it. I don't
know if it was luck or good judgement but I slipped through
the gap just lightly scratching the kayak and headed off leaving
Michael swimming. Deadly Mistake is probably the most difficult
rapid in the valley to paddle correctly. Often if a paddler
is successful in missing the line of rocks they get caught
in the tea trees and rocks at the bottom. This rapid causes
many capsizes.
I entered the long pool and there was
only a small rapid Tea Strainer between Deadly Mistake and
the Back Hole. Tea Strainer is another rapid that has lost
most of it's trees. I usually use this long pool to eat a
bar, some rice or a chew but today I didn't want to stop for
a second, there were too many paddlers I'd passed who were
trying to catch up so I decided I would eat something when
I reached the Upper Swan Bridge.
Steve Cashion caught me again, he said
he hit a rock back at Deadly Mistake and his bow was a little
bent and fragile. There was no one ahead of us at Black Hole,
Spinning Moon, Heart Stopper, Scared Rabbit and the Lookout
Rapid so we had a good clear run.
I watched a paddler paddle down the
Fortress Rapid. He went far too right, but he got down. It's
times like this when I feel I should be doing more coaching.
I watch so many paddlers take the wrong line, most would have
no idea that the rapid could be done better.
I slipped to the left side of the big
rocks at Championships Rapid which was running well. It isn't
as exciting as the centre route although it causes a lot less
damage to the kayak if you can control your boat but it wasn't
excitement I was after today.
Steve was still behind me on the approach
to Syds Rapid. The rescue crews and spectators were watching
on. I didn't approach the main drop as neatly as I should
have done as I was watching the paddler in front. I went to
the right of a slightly exposed rock instead of the left which
got me a little closer to the right bank than I wanted to
be but it made little difference, I ended up going where I
wanted to go anyway. Halfway down the rapid the rocks lining
the main channel appeared to be a little out of place, but
I was probably in a dreaming state of mind, I just focussed
on the main current and followed it.
Steve Cashion keeps a
nice distance away as I paddle Syd's Drop
Peter Liddle being chased
by his daughter Baillee at Syds. Baillee beat Peter and was
the first women to finish in a plastic boat. Photo Ray Smith
I cleared Syd's Rapid and Dual Carriageway
and then Steve passed me by. He now knew his way so he must
have been confident to head off with me in his wake. We passed
through Walyunga and headed towards Bells with only Terminator
2 that could halt our progress but with the water level being
as high as it was, it was easier to paddle. I reached Bell's
Rapid with Tom O'Blak 50 metres behind me. Steve had already
gone down. Lawrence Greed was telling the crowd over the loudspeaker
that I was coming down. I was determined not to capsize as
many had before me and many did behind me. When someone is
giving you a big wrap, it's not the time to mess things up.
The eddy before the bridge forced me to do a quick back stroke
to line myself up for the main drop. I didn't do it as perfect
as I would have liked but it wasn't so bad either. Most paddlers
follow the current and either get spat straight onto the downstream
rock shelf or get caught in the big eddy on the left and have
to do a complete 360 turn. It's best to angle the boat to
the right as you go down and this will help you to be facing
in the right direction at the bottom of the rapid and prevent
you from being pushed towards the rock shelf or eddying out.
Bredan Rice and Matthew
Dean, 1st and 2nd position approaching Bells Drop. Photo JC
Andrew Hewlett doing
a roll after Devil's Slide. Photo JC
Demelza Wall and Timothy
Coward about to take a dip at Bells. Photo John O'Sullivan
Lining up Bells Drop
and getting ready to do a good paddle stroke on my left to
get a better exit. Photo John O'Sullivan
A better line going down
the drop avoids being swept into the rock shelf. Photo JC
Devil's Slide. Two ski paddlers and two
double kayaks taking a swim and a WWK1 sneaking away from
the bank after a capsize. Photo JC
With only four more small drops left
to paddle before hitting the flat water I took care to approach
and slip down Devil's Slide. This rapid is extremely tricky
which causes a lot of capsizes and from photographs many happened
today. I reached Dogs Breakfast which in low water is extremely
rocky but today it wasn't so bad but at the bottom Steve was
stuck on a rock ledge. I didn't mind as I passed him again,
reminiscent of the last two Avon Descents when he faltered
at Bells. Once I paddled the last rapid at Bolland's Bend
I felt free. I knew now there was nothing ahead to stop me
finishing.
I was alone once again but then a K3
with a leaky bow came by and then Steve passed again so did
Malcolm Percival in a K1 who has been leapfrogging me all
day. Steve was just in front when I reached the Upper Swan
Bridge, I stopped long enough to swap my paddle and for Pam
and Olly to throw me a banana and a small pack of rice onto
my spray deck. Within a few seconds I was off heading through
the Upper Swan tea trees eating a banana. I ate the rice once
I was in the open river. When I reached Amiens Crescent Steve
was stopped, I slipped by him and within 200 metres I was
out of the trees and in front of me I only had 26.5kms of
open flat water.
Olwyn waiting for me
at Upper Swan Bridge. How relaxing it looks. Photo Pam Riordan
Crowds of people were having picnics
along the river at various spots. I was lonely for a while
as there were no paddlers nearby then Steve eventually caught
up and when he passed again I jumped on his wash.
Having 20 odd kilometres of flat water
when you are tired can be very disheartening but it is on
this stretch of river that you have to keep paddling and only
think of finishing. I never stop on this section, I just keep
paddling in the hope that my competitors will get tired, get
hungry, get thirsty or get mentally frustrated and stop. Many
of my competitors behind me were faster than me on flat water
so the chances of them catching me if I stopped was very possible.
I had to wear them down, I had to hope their mental state
was such that they thought my lead was too much for them to
put in that extra effort.
Steve looked strong yet he kept stopping,
to stretch, to have a drink which allowed me to get ahead
but it wasn't long before he was passing me again and I was
back on his wash. Malcolm joined us again. We had passed him
somewhere back in the trees, now he was back with us. The
leaky K3 also passed a few times and they had to stop and
empty out every so often. When we reached Middle Swan Bridge
Steve was shouting out for water so I took off again. Last
year his wife was waiting closer to the bridge and I'm sure
she was there this year. I was pleased to be in front again
but it meant that I couldn't washride or use him to keep up
a good pace. Malcolm came by again and for a few minutes I
rode his wash but he was too fast for me in his K1.
At Reg Bond Park Pam and Olly were waiting
to give me something but I knew I couldn't stop and I didn't
need anything anyway. I plodded on hoping that a faster paddler
would come by and give me a lift but the odd one that did
was too fast. Eventually Steve caught up.
We could see Ray Campbell ahead after
West Swan Bridge. He was tiring and we were catching and by
the time we got to the pipeline at Bassendean where there
was a festival we had caught him. I started taking the lead
giving Steve a rest but that didn't last long, Ray livened
up and started paddling faster than me. I managed to keep
on his wash for a while but he found his second wind and was
off. Steve had fallen behind but after 2 or 3 kilometres he
was back again. He stopped a few times to drink or stretch
and I passed him again for him to pass me minutes later. We
moved passed Ascot Kayak Club and the festival at Garvey Park
together and although we were weary we only had 3 kilometres
to go and that was a great feeling.
I was thinking about becoming blood
brothers with Steve. We had been together all day today. He
followed me down the valley, I followed him on the flat. Last
year I was with him most of day two as well and in 2013 when
he was in a team we saw a lot of each other on day 2, although
I remember him flying passed me at Tonkin Highway Bridge leaving
me in his wake. Overall I beat him on both occasions so it
would be interesting to see who would win today. I felt Steve
deserved to as I had been wash hanging him on and off for
the last 20kms and although we started on the same grid this
morning I wasn't quite sure if he was faster yesterday.
Our pace quickened as we approached
the line, Steve being a nose in front as we crossed it. Looking
at the results later Steve finished up beating me overall
by 18 seconds. Although I beat him over the line on day one
he started a grid or two behind me so he was 18 seconds ahead
when we started day two. I was happy with the result but my
chance of beating Sue was shattered when she came in a few
minutes behind and beat me by 2 minutes 45 seconds overall.
In conclusion my 25th Avon Descent
was nearly perfect and I couldn't have asked for a better
result considering the training I had done. I was the 30th
single craft across the line, I was the 13th kayak, and 2nd
male in the WWK1 and the first paddler over 60 years. Although
I didn't train as much this year, and the fact that when I
do train my longest training run is usually around 5kms, unless
I'm in a race, I thought I did pretty well. Because of my
previous experience paddling long distances I knew I could
make the distance even if I didn't train as much but it was
very rewarding to have beaten everyone from our Saturday morning
training group, many who were much faster than me on flat
water.
Going into the race I knew I didn't have the speed but I had
the knowledge of the river and the experience which proved
crucial on day one in the T trees and day two in the Avon
Valley. I probably passed about 20 paddlers in the day one
t trees and caught up and passed paddlers that were 10 minutes
ahead of me going into the trees. On day two I passed many
paddlers in the first five minutes through the t trees and
although I didn't paddle like a world champion down the Avon
Valley Rapids, I was careful and didn't make any mistakes
so I hit the flatwater knowing that I had a near perfect run
with many of my opposition behind me. So next year if I'm
not on a big trip somewhere I will be 65 years old so I will
be faced with another milestone.
Many thanks to Pam and Olwyn for being
my support crew.
Paul Waters and Derek
Amy celebrate after coming 4th and 5th in the single plastic.
You don't have to be young to do well, you just have to be
committed. Paul and Derek started off paddling with the CDU
Saturday crew a few years ago. Photo John O'Sullivan
**************************
New Zealand's
Whitewater Park Halfway There
JAMES IRELAND
Whitewater rafting will soon be on our
doorstep.
The Wero Whitewater Park is half way
to being completed, despite the challenges that come with
winter weather.
Project manager Matt Lory says the weather
has been a hurdle but the construction is on track to be completed
by April 1, 2016.
"It's a big project, at the moment
we have about 40 construction staff on site.
"There's some really exciting things
here. We're building a 4.5 metre controllable waterfall which
is the biggest in the world."
The $37.5m complex is being built on
land at Manukau's Vodafone Events Centre land and will be
used in the 2017 World Masters Games.
The project is being built in five stages
with the whitewater rafting facility as stage one.
Stages 2 and 3 of the project will include
changing rooms, storage space, retail space, a Te Papa exhibition
about the human body, an art gallery, a cafe and classroom
spaces.
Stage 4 will be an interactive visual
display telling the story of the Maori journey from the Pacific
Islands to New Zealand and stage 5 will be an artist in residence
and gallery project.
Lory says the project team is using
as much natural material as possible.
"In the main pond, instead of putting
down a liner, we're using the clay that's already there. There's
only a 50mm thick slab of concrete on top of.
"That's one good thing about all
this rain, it lets us check how it's holding the water."
Vodafone Events Centre chief executive
Richard Jeffery? says local children will also get to use
the facility for free.
"Our corporate users will effectively
fund the local kids' admission to the park."
Internal affairs minister Peter Dunne
gave his seal of approval to the project when he visited the
site on August 20.
"I think this is just wonderful.
The proposal that was submitted was one of the best I've seen.
"I think this is going to be a
great thing for South Auckland, especially as it's so close
to the airport."
Go to manukaucourier.co.nz to see a
video about Wero's construction.
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specifically for commercial operators and to withstand the
high demands put on gear used in a commercial environment.
The tandem version of the famous Eco Bezhig allows you to
share the magic out on the water with a friend or family member.
Length // 565cm
Width // 77cm
Weight // 55kg
Max Load // 250kgs
STORAGE SPACE
Front hatch // 45L
Centre hatch // 96L
Rear hatch // 60L
New Eco Niizh COM recommended
retail $4200.00 each.
4 x used Eco
Niizh COM with paddles & heavy duty trailer $6900.00
Trailer carrys 6 boats
and has a box to carry paddles
Race of the Week
The Geegelup Cup
The last of six (6) races for the 2015
Wild Water season is scheduled to be contested on the Blackwood
River, Bridgetown.
The race is open to boats which have
no rudders or alternatively have their rudders tied up. Also
Sundries may participate; ie boats with rudders or over 4.5m
length, but are not eligible for the Cup.
Teams Race
Teams of 3 paddlers are grouped together
by the WWR committee. Typically a Male K1/ FemaleK1/ Plastic
(depending on numbers) and work efficiently as a team to get
to the finish. The team must finish together to record a time.
Date: Saturday 29th, Aug 2015
Venue: Blackwood River, Bridgetown
Registration: 12:30hrs to 1:30hrs (No
Registration after these times) Briefing: 1:40 pm
Start: 2:00 pm
*****************
Classic
Race
Date: Sunday 30th Aug 2015
Venue: Blackwood River, Bridgetown
Registration: 8:30 am to 9:30 am (No
registration after these times) Briefing: 9:40 am
Start: 10:00 am
Entry Fee:
Adults $25 / Juniors $15 for both Teams
and Classic races Adults $20 / Juniors $10 for either Teams
or Classic race Additional $10 for Insurance cover for non-CWA
members
Online registrations open until 28th
Aug at 8.00pm Or register on the day, for whole weekend.
For all inquiries, contact John O’Sullivan
0413 264 728 wildwaterwa@canoe.org.au
If you plan on competing in both events,
please register twice
WWR Avon-9
Bridgetown 2014-100
WWR Avon-1-2
Course details
Starting below the main bridge, the
course includes 10 rapids over 7 km. A short car shuffle is
required and no, you don’t require a support crew. Yes,
having a cheer squad is an advantage. There is good parking
at the get out point which is 600 meters downstream of the
finish line – providing an enjoyable warm down.
Practice Opportunities
For those DR paddlers wishing to improve
their racing lines or for participants who have not done the
course before, a few experienced volunteers will escort you
down the course on Saturday before the team race. Meet under
the bridge mid morning.
*************************
NANGA CHALLENGE
2015
When: Saturday 19 September, 2015
Event HQ: Baden Powell Campground, Lane Poole Reserve, Dwellingup,
Western Australia
Disciplines: River paddling in moving water including a couple
of small rapids.
mountain biking and cross-country run
Categories: Ironman/woman, pairs, teams
Our Sponsors: Canoeing Downunder, Crank'n Cycles, Water Wanderers,
Protective Case, Joondalup Sports Remedial Massage, Canoesonline,
Alarm Sytems WA, Protective Cases, BB Cycles & Ascot Riverside
Kiosk.
This years charity is Samaritans Crisis Line
Enter here: http://ascot.canoe.org.au/
2nd
Hand Car....that's right, it's a car not a boat!!
Alaine is selling her
daugther Emily's car.
2005 FORD FOCUS...ONLY 90,000KMS
$5,000 ONO
Neat and tidy car with
low kms, ideal for a 2nd car or a 'P' plater. Runs very well
and comfortable to drive. Please call Alaine on 0433 433 148
or email alaine@canoeingdownunder.com.au