Enjoy the CDU Newsletter
Published: Sat, 01/16/16
Issue
492
15th January 2016
Message Bank
Last week we started our early Friday morning summer DR training
around the buoys and 25 paddlers turned up at 6.00am. Yesterday
morning 27 paddlers were there, the biggest turn out that
we have had on a Friday morning. There were kayaks all over
the place from the expert to the total novice. For those paddlers
who want to increase their skills it is a fantastic and safe
way of getting better skills without being put off by rocky
rapids. It’s all about boat control and basic skills
that every paddler should know before taking to the whitewater.
Having no rudder on the kayak means that you can’t cheat,
leaving it up to your own skills to weave around the buoys.
Some paddlers get a little frustrated by the fact that they
can't control their kayak but it takes perseverance and practice
to feel really comfortable in the kayak. If you do get frustrated
remember that all the other paddlers who are better than you
were at the same level when they first started. Keep practising
and you will be up there with them.
Once every one is feeling comfortable with their paddling
we will have a series of evening races that are timed on a
Tuesday night which are great fun and you get to see how much
you have improved.
Kayaks best for these training sessions are kayaks without
rudders like; DR (WW) kayaks, Wavehoppers, Finn Kayaks without
rudders or general 4.5m touring kayaks.
Friday morning 6.00am. Venue Claughton Reserve, Bayswater.
No charge. More information 93781333
27 paddlers turned up for the 6.00am Friday
morning DR Training Around the Buoys
Mark Lawson and Peter Liddle practice to be
perfect
*************************************
I often get paddlers coming into the shop saying that they
can't get a new kayak until they have sold the one they have
or that my partner won't allow them to have more than two
kayaks around the house. Well I did a count of all my kayaks
and skis that I have hidden around my house and the number
was 97 and that's after selling a dozen of them in the last
two months. They are either the ones I paddle, (I had 21 boats
before I had the shop) demo boats or teaching boats and add
them to the 110 new boats I have in the shop you can say I
have a few kayaks and skis. And that's a small amount compared
with what I used to have. Many of the kayaks will have to
go though as I am moving into a new house with less space.
What a pity.
*************************************
10km Championships
Lake Leschenaultia
Trying hard to keep in front of Mark. He soon
passed me. Photo Lawrence Greed
************************************
Slalom Championships Tasmania
Australia's new Men's slalom K1 Champion WAs
Ben Pope in Tasmania
Demelza Wall at Tasmania
The WA Slalom Team in Tasmania
Training & Courses
Summer Kayak
DR Skills Sessions
Around the Bouys
(at 6.00am Claughton
Reserve, Bayswater. No charge)
Just bring a suitable kayak
**************************
Maya showing her skills
Featured Products
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********************************
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***********************************
NEW YEAR SALE
FANTASTIC OFFER
Epic V14
R/R $3995.00 Special $2995.00 save $1000.00.
Performance model (Black Nose) 15.5kg.
2 only
Epic V14 Ultra Red Nose 12.3kg.
R/R Price $4995.00: Special $4595.00 save $400.00
****************************
Epic V10 sale
The Club (Blue Nose 17.5kg) and Performance (Black Nose 15.5kgs)
models.
Buy a blue nose Club model for $2695.00 rather than $3195.00
save $500.00
or the black nose Performance model for $3495.00 rather than
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These specials valid until 31st January 2016 or until stocks
last.
Phone 93781333 and secure a bargain.
Stories
10km Championships
Lake Leschenaultia
Sunday, January 10
A change of venue from Champion Lakes to Lake Leschenaultia
had me wondering how it would go paddling ten kilometres on
a one kilometre circuit course. As I am moving house at the
end of the month I really should have been packing and getting
ready for the move but with it being a new race I just couldn't
resist in taking part.
We arrived at the peaceful lake to find
a smaller crowd than usual. It was probably a long drive for
some of the paddlers from the south. I had lent Jarrod Eaves
my V10 and gave him a lift on the condition he let me beat
him but with him having a Christmas break and doing quite
a bit of training I didn't think I had much of a chance. I
used to beat Jarrod but not anymore. Once new paddlers get
up to my speed, they then never seem to look back and get
better and better.
Whilst everyone was getting ready the
juniors were sent off first. For a spectator it was one of
the best venues to see the whole race and after the race the
juniors could go and play in the water or jump off the floating
jetty.
The juniors head off.
Photo Peter Ashby
Scarlett Florisson. Photo Peter Ashby
The kayak grid took off first followed
by the ski/multisport grid which I was in. I had a fairly
good start considering I'm not too good at sprinting off the
line but soon after the faster paddlers of the group started
to sprint ahead. Sometime later Chris Watson came flying through.
Chris is pretty fast so I was surprised he was lagging. He
must have got boxed in at the start or something. Once he
got a clear path and into a rhythm he was gone. Another paddler
I could beat last year was Mark Sedgwick but I don't know
what he has been eating in the last six months as he has been
getting faster and faster and was way in front with Chris.
Faster paddlers like Martin Watson, Thomas Rogan, Scott Lacklison
and Warren Southwell were leading our grid and I knew I would
never see them again unless they lapped me.
The K1s take off.
Photo Peter Ashby
The skis and multisport
boats take off. Photo Peter Ashby
Simon O'Sullivan managed to get a boat's
length ahead of me but considering I was only 6 seconds slower
than him at our Saturday 4.1km race on a plastic V7, I should
in theory be faster than him today as I was paddling a V10!
A hundred metres later it was time to see if I was faster
and overtake him, which I did.
I was pretty happy by the time I reached
the first turn buoys as I was ahead of John Van Maanen as
well. I know he is 4 years older but he is very quick for
a 69 year old. My first lap seemed to go very well although
I think the top K1 paddlers like Josh, Simon, Dean and James,
who started 2 minutes ahead of me lapped me before crossing
the start line for the first time. At this point I wasn't
too far from Jarrod but he soon started creeping away. I knew
if he beat me I would get a drumming from Jarrod on the drive
back home. Then the worst thing happened, John Van Maanen
pulled up beside me in his Time Bandit.
John and I having a duel.
John won. Photo Peter Ashby
He must have been wash hanging me for
a while and I hadn't noticed. I still thought I had a chance
as I beat him in the last race I paddled in a single, but
thinking back then I was paddling an Epic V14 rather than
a V10. John was keeping up a good pace and as I sat beside
him I was wishing that he would slow down but he didn't.
Josh leading the top
group with John and I moving out the way. Photo Peter Ashby
John over took me. Photo
Lawrence Greed
At the next corner he had
the inside line and being a bit stronger I had to fall back
behind him. I was struggling, but still able to keep on his
wash but as we started to go around the fourth set of buoys
I gave way to Bronwyn who was coming up fast on the inside
of me. Giving way was my downfall
as John kept his line and managed to shake me at the turn.
That wasn't so bad but then he got on Bronwyn's wash for a
while and I could see him slipping away at a rapid pace and
I couldn't do a thing about it. In 400 metres he must have
gained 150 metres.
I was a broken man paddling up to the top turn where I could
see Jarrod and John now out of my reach. I should have stayed
at home and done some packing but I couldn't give up because
I was still in front of Simon Walker, Alan Moreby and Simon
O'Sullivan and I didn't want them catching up.
Thomas Rogan, Scott Lackison,
Warren Southwell, Chris Watson and Mark Sedgwick. Photo Peter
Ashby
By now I was getting a little dizzy going around in circles
but every so often a musk duck would pop up from nowhere.
We don't see musk ducks on the Swan River so it was great
to see them here. Then there were the ducks that didn't mind
sharing their lake with 60 paddlers. It would have been great
to a see a dolphin or two but with the lake being land locked
and 50kms from the ocean there wasn't a slight chance of seeing
one. When I worked at Camballin in the Kimberley you could
catch a saw fish or a shark 170kms from the King Sound (the
ocean) so who knows what's lurking in Lake Leschenaultia!
By now I had really lost
count and I didn't have a GPS to tell me how many kilometres
I had done but I think I was on the 6th lap when Bonnie started
passing me. She had started 2 minutes behind so I figured
that she is now definitely a faster paddler than me. I rode
her wash to the next buoy trying to be positive about my paddling
future but then she took off leaving me behind. She was only
one minute behind Bronwyn Martin at the end of the race even
Michael Liddle and Michael Drok hadn't beaten her so I didn't
feel too bad. At least I beat her in the Avon Descent and
surely that is more important.
Bonnie flew by. Photo
Lawrence Greed
Zac Asby and Luke Egger.
Photo Peter Ashby
Michael Liddle and Joe
Dowse fighting it out. Joe won. Photo Lawrence Greed
Lawrence Greed was on the bank at the third buoy taking photos.
I could just imagine everyone trying to paddle with a perfect
style at that point but it was the roughest part of the course
due to a strong wind pushing waves down the course which hit
side on. Lawrence's son's Matthew and Nicholas who had their
16th birthday on January 1st were flying and had a quick chat
as they passed me.
16 year old Matthew Greed.
Photo Lawrence Greed
16 year old Nicholas
Greed. Photo Lawrence Greed
I was still guessing how many laps I
had done and I think the top paddlers Josh, Simon, James and
Mathew had passed me 3 times. It's hard to imagine paddling
that fast. Then as luck should have it Baillee Liddle started
passing me. This gave me a chance to do some wash riding on
another female which I did for a while. Then she got away
from me when Maya and Hugh came through on my left when we
were passing a buoy. You can imagine I wasn't that happy to
move aside especially as I lost her wash but I was mature
enough to get over it.
Mike Drok being overtaken
by the top paddlers. Photo Peter Asby
On the next lap and rounding the buoy where Lawrence was taking
photos Baillee was about 3 boats length ahead of me. The wind
waves hitting the ski broadside were a bit of a nuisance but
manageable in the V10 but the waves or something unsteadied
Baillee and I watched her capsize. She was only metres from
the shoreline so I kept going.
Baillee jumping ship.
Photo Lawrence Greed
By now I think I was getting
to the business end of the race although I still had no idea
how many laps were left. Thomas Rogan with Scott Lacklison
on his tail started passing me on the south westerly set of
buoys. They were flying and finished 8th and 9th with only
2 seconds between them. Then it was my turn to pass someone
so I picked on 76 year old Ray Smith. He looked happy and
content so I didn't stop and chat, just had a quick encouraging
word as I was passing and I just hoped that I can paddle as
well as him when I'm 76.
76 yer old Ray Smith.
Photo Lawrence Greed
I felt that Simon, Alan and Simon who were behind me were
gaining on me but I kept paddling my heart out and kept in
front. I was still a little confused to how many laps I had
paddled but when I saw the faster guys on my grid go over
the finish line I knew it was the last one so I powered across
the finish line.
So all in all it was a good race and a pretty good venue,
although having to get out the way to allow faster boats to
cut inside of me at a turn does ruin your own race. It should
be first to the buoy has the right of way.
Thanks to the race organisers and volunteers.
Josh Kippin the overall winner beat
Simon Roll by 1 min 6 seconds.
Mark Lawson was the fastest 55+ and 5th overall
Martin Watson was the first paddler over 60 and beat me by
7 minutes. I have a lot of training to do.
Thomas Rogan was the first ski.
Matthew Greed was the first 16+
Bronwyn Martin first female
Unfortunately Jarrod finished nearly 2 minutes ahead of me.
21 of the 50 paddlers were from the CDU Saturday morning group
Results here: https://www.webscorer.com/racedetails?raceid=59863&did=64621
Race of the Week
Sandy's Christmas
Hi there
I thought it was about time I did an update.
Recently I hit tough times due to monsoon weather and no doubt
the spin off of the cyclonic weather in the north of Australia.
In mid December I had crossed from Timor Leste back into Indonesia
and I paddled across past Lakor (where Oskar Speck was bound
and beaten badly). I got to a large area where the water disappears
fully at low tide and enjoyed staying on and visiting islands
of Metatun, Luang and Kelapa. Pulau Luang in particular was
a very friendly place. After that I started to cross to Sermata
but the weather had changed. I copped some big seas and one
nasty storm on my way around Sermata, so had to cancel my
plan to continue to Barbar Island. Instead I headed to a village
called Lelang where I had to wait a few days for the passenger
ferry to arrive. This was a nasty experience as the head of
the village was away and the man hosting me and supposedly
helping and advising me was an alcoholic. My birthday was
spent with some medical workers in that village and we ate
a black and gold fruit cake that I acquired in Dili. By Christmas
I was on the passenger ferry bound for Saumlaki. We got weathered
in, sheltering behind Barbar Island until the wind of over
30knots eased. There was a church service on the ship on Christmas
morning. Christmas dinner didn't happen, but I did jump ship
for an hour or so with some people I had met in Luang. We
ate rice, fish and eggs with a kind Muslim family in Letwurung.
I had a great time teaching English
for two hours at Ritabel, Kota Larat. The highlight was I
made up Aussie nick-names for all these kids by shortening
their names or adding an O to their name like we often do
in Australia. We had a good laugh together
(Just imagine how many people Sandy
has met and how many have been inspired by her epic trip)
By Boxing Day I arrived in Saumlaki
and got stuck there for two weeks waiting on my delayed food
drop.
Tomorrow (jan 9) I shall continue paddling and I am going
on the sheltered side of the island to reach Pulau Larat.
From there I think I am going to have to hop another ferry
to the Kei group of islands because the winds are the wrong
way for the crossing of over 100kms.
I have not been able to blog much because Maluku area has
very little phone signal, maybe I will find better internet
in Tual.
I am excited that Justine Curgenven (famous UK sea kayaker
and film maker) is planning to join me and paddle with me
a while in West Papua and Australian kayaker Dave Winkworth
will meet me in Vanimo in Papua New Guinea for the final leg
home.
Still there is around 9months to go.
Sandy
Race of the Week
2015/16 Marathon Series Race Dates
14th Febuary - Canning
River Race
12/13 March - State Champs
25/26/27 - National Champs QLD
24th April - Pinjarra-Ravenswood
29th May - Double Barkers
5th June - Perth Paddle 50
19th June - Middle Swan Race
*****************************
IOP Downwind
Races
30 January 2016
20 February 2016
12 March 2016
**************************************
WA Sea Kayak Symposium
4th March 2016 to 8th March 2016, Albany
Registrations close 26th OF FEBRUARY 2016
2nd Hand Boats
Ocean Kayak Prowler 13
fishing kayak ex demo. good condition $1090.00
********************
Saturday Morning Race Times