Enjoy the CDU Newsletter
Published: Fri, 03/11/16
498
4th March 2016
Message Bank
I was disappointed to get a call from a paddling club asking
for paddle bags to protect their new paddles that they bought
on-line from Europe. It's really heart wrenching for a shop
owner to hear such things but I know it happens all the time
and it's going to get worse. For nearly 20 years I have been
a sponsor of canoeing and I have given so much to canoeing
for nearly 40 years, so for me personally, it is very difficult
not to allow this to affect me. I would rather paddlers bought
from another kayak shop in WA than buy on-line overseas. It
also hurts when organisations that I given thousands of dollars
to, advertise and support European on-line paddle companys
as a race sponsor. What hope is there for the local paddling
shops like mine to stay in business when the promotion is
focussed away from the local shops!
I know it looks impressive to have lots of sponsorship names
on a race entry list but choose the sponsors carefully so
they don't conflict with the local shops. It seems in these
tough times when local paddling shops really need help and
can't afford to give away big prizes they are cast aside for
sponsors who will give race organisers something regardless
of the value or worth to the paddler.
Local kayak shops are struggling and sales began to drop
when Annaconda, BCF, Rays Outdoors and all the big outdoor
chains opened their doors. Then the internet sales hit even
harder, and now with Gumtree and all the Used Kayak sales
web sites flourishing, shops have little chance to compete.
But it doesn't really stop there, you also have paddlers on
facebook selling their gear or looking for gear. So are local
kayak shops doomed? If you do lose your local kayak shop you
will lose the personal service, the advice, the repairs and
the training.
*************************************
Although we finish our summer season of DR
training around the buoys, I have been running courses on
advanced flatwater skills on a Tuesday night in smaller whitewater
kayaks. The paddlers who have taken advantage of the sessions
are improving very quickly and will certainly be better paddlers
afterwards.
*************************************
It was a weekend full of paddling in all disciplines.
For 5 days the Australian Sprint Championships were being
held at Champion Lakes starring Australia's best sprint paddlers.
There was a slalom and coaching course with Ros Lawrence at
Collie. There was the Sea Kayak Symposium in Albany and there
was the City Lights Race in Perth. I'm sure there were several
social paddles going on as well.
This weekend we have the WA Marathon Championships
which all paddlers are invited to take part in.
It is being held at Sandy Beach Reserve, Bassendean
so CDU won't be having their fitness training this Saturday.
*************************************
Steve Bird...Olympics here
I come
Steve Bird has become the first Western Australian
to earn nomination for the Australian Olympic Team for #Rio2016
- Congratulations @steve_bird #WAIS #waiskayak #RoadToRio
#PerformanceDriven
Shootout, Mens K2 200m, for the olympic berth.
Phillips/Bird and Wallace and Tame. A very tight finish. Photo
John Hilton
Full Results here: https://regattas.canoe.org.au/?results=1123
*************************************
Collie Slalom Training Camp
Coaching session in progress (coaches Ros
Lawrence, Ben Pope and Zlatan Ibrahimbegovic) Photo Kate Vyvyan
*************************************
City Lights
Some of the faster paddlers
Peter Tomczak, Brett McDonald, Patrick Tullock, Martin Watson
and Mark Lawson and Peter Liddle giving it their all. Photo
John O'Sullivan
*************************************
Sea Kayak Symposium
Symposium sea kayakers near Gull Island east
of Albany. Photo Sue Harrington
The crew gathered at Shelter island, Muttonbird
beach.
A great paddle enjoyed by all with a good range of conditions
to keep all amused. Photo Tony Blake
*************************************
Bevan Dashwood Race
20 March 2016
Race the scenic route along the Canning River.
Enjoy the beautiful surrounds at Kent St Weir
There is a course for everyone;
Long Course 12km: Kent St Weir to Shelley Bridge, then to
Hester Park & back to Kent St Weir, portage at Kent St
Weir.
Short Course 6km: Kent St Weir to Shelley Bridge & return.
Slalom and Guppy Course: 3km
Sponsored by “Canoeing
Down Under”
Complete Registration Form Below – Entry Fees –
Includes Sausage Sizzle, Piece of Fruit & Drink –
Extra Food will be for sale on the day for non paddlers
Australian Canoeing Members Fees – Under 18’s $15,
Adults $20
Non-Australian Canoeing Members Fees – Under 18’s
$25, Adults $30
Race Number Allocation and Late Registrations are from 7:30am
– 8:15am
Race Starts 9.00am
Late Registrations on day of competition incurs a late fee
of $5
*************************************
Australian Canoeing has announced the 2016 National Teams
following the conclusion of the 2016 Sprint National Championships
at Champion Lakes in Perth.
The following national teams were announced:
Junior National Team
Under 23 National Team
Senior National Team
2016 Sprint Olympic Nominations announcement
2016 Paracanoe Team & Paralympic Nominations
Go here: http://canoe.org.au/2016/03/07/2016-canoe-sprint-teams-announced/
Training & Courses
CDU Fitness
Training will not take place this Saturday morning due to
the State Marathon Champs being held at Sandy Beach this week.
All go for next
week
Featured Products
Fusion
A great boat for paddlers
with bigger hips.
The New Fusion LR6 is a fusion of the proven long recreational
Time Traveller hull and Alchemist K1 style deck. The wide
cockpit is perfect for larger people.
What you get is a fast, stable and comfortable kayak that
will handle well in adverse conditions without being affected
too much by side winds.
Length 6 mtr. Width 54 cm Cockpit: Large sprint style. (46
cm wide)
Price: Kevlar Hull, Glass Deck $2825.00
****************************
Epic V14 Performance
R/R $3995.00 Special $2995.00 save $1000.00.
Performance model (Black Nose) 15.5kg.
Epic V14 Ultra Red Nose 12.3kg.
R/R Price $4995.00: Special $4500.00 save $495.00
****************************
Epic V10 Performance
sale
The black nose Performance model for $3495.00 rather than
$3995.00 save $500.00
****************************
Epic V10L Club
Old Version
$1900.00 save $1000.00
Stories
City lights
2016
Although Alaine had done very little
training this season, the longest paddle being 10kms she was
still willing (no arm twisting) to give the 30km City Lights
Race a go. Mind you she had butterflies in her stomach as
soon as we decided to give it a go and they were flying higher
on the day of the race.
The City Lights Race is one of those
races that things can go very well or things go to poo. Paddling
the right craft for the conditions and the ability of the
crews to paddle them can make or break a team. You never know
what the water conditions are going to be like on the Canning
River ski area and along the freeway. Only the best paddle
tippy K1s or K2s. We chose the Epic V10 double, it's pretty
quick, very comfortable and stable enough to take the worst
of conditions.
In a race like this though you have sickness, dead leg and
cramps for being in the craft for so long, anxiety, physical
tiredness, capsizes and a number of other things could happen.
Having a tiff with your paddling partner is another one. It
is a great race though.
Getting ready for the
race
Doug Hodson was the main organising
man and he had a great bunch of volunteers who help with registration,
check points and safety. Canoeing Down Under has been a sponsor
since it started 9 years ago and I have paddled every one
either in a canoe, a plastic double 515, a K2 and the V10
double. The V10 double is by far the best craft to do it in.
Alaine has only missed a couple.
Briefing
We were off 5 mins after
the first grid. I was surprised to see the K3s on our grid
as they usually fly. We lined up next to Darryl Long, Vlad
Vanek and Liam Quick in a K3 and Chris Watson and Rob Jarrett
in Epic Skis on the other side. When the starter said go,
Darryl, Liam and Vlad took off like rockets. After the fight
for open water after Shelly Bridge we somehow managed to get
beside the triple of Mark, Paul and Vince and the K3 of Grant,
Janet and Mark. Here we were a 64 year old man and a lady
who hadn't paddled more than 50 kms in the last two months
keeping up with two K3s with strapping fit paddlers in them.
We were doing very well and we didn't seem to be struggling
too much, but I didn't ask Alaine how she was going as I didn't
want to hear the truth.
Start of grid 2. Photo
Craig Metzke
Second grid. Photo Tess
Watson
Third grid take off.
Photo Craig Metzke
As we approached a sand spit and spit
post at the 4km mark Paul and Vince were telling Mark to go
to the left of the red spit post to avoid the shallows. As
they had trailing rudder, they could have cut the corner and
we then, wouldn't have been pushed over to the left. The decision
that Grant and his team in the other K3 made of cutting the
corner across the sandbar meant that they managed to get 10
or so metres ahead.
Chris Watson being chased
by 2 triples and us. Photo John O'Sullivan
The 'dream team' doing
some breathing exercises. Photo John O'Sullivan
So the K3 of Mark lost touch and the
extra speed they were putting on to catch up with them left
us struggling so we lost them. This took the wind out of our
sails and we just watched them slip away. We hit the ski zone
and power boats pulling skiers and tubes were zipping across
our path and ruffling the water. We were now catching up with
a few other teams that left earlier. Once under Mount Henry
bridge the ski area got busier but no sooner had we passed
the bridge Rob Jarrad capsized. He soon jumped back on but
we had passed him and Chris so that was good. A little further
Paul capsized on his V10 and his partner Chris in a kayak
could do little to help as he was trying to keep upright in
all the boat wash. We powered on towards Canning Bridge.
Darryl, Liam and Vlad
take on Peter Pavlinovich and Tony Best. The K3 won. Photo
John O'Sullivan
Josh Kippin, Matthew
Dean and Simon Roll and James Morfitt lead the way. Photo
John O'Sullivan
Skiers having great fun.
Photo Craig Metzke
The kayaks stream towards
Canning Bridge. Photo Tess Watson
We left about 10 minutes earlier than
we usually do and it seemed that there were more power boats
pulling skiers than usual so it was good to reach the Canning
Bridge checkpoint without being run over. Here three double
skis flew by us giving us no chance to hitch a lift of more
than 10 metres.
Several faster teams had been passing
us but then we saw the capsized K2 that Mark and Pete were
paddling. Luckily a rescue boat was picking them up. How lucky
were they to have a rescue boat so close as it would have
been a long swim otherwise. The big outrigger with an all-girl
team in, that started on the first grid was a little ahead
but we eventually passed them and started to chase down Bruce
and Warren who looked as if they were having a little more
trouble than we were in the ruffled water.
In the far distance we could see the
orange flashing light of the portage. I thought we might catch
up with Warren and Bruce before then but we never did. We
hit the sand, jumped out, lifted the ski and trotted around
the flags. The portage seemed shorter than other years but
it didn't matter, lights on, ski down, jump in and we were
off. Our ski was full of water but we opened the bailers and
it soon drained. We could see Mark's triple only 50 metres
away and Warren and Bruce were even closer so we were full
of hope. I say we but I wasn't quite sure what Alaine was
thinking. I was thinking lets catch them up and pass them.
Why are the leaders having
a break at the halfway stage? Photo Craig Metzke
The dynamic duo running
like the wind on the portage. Photo Tess Watson
Baillee and Bonnie getting
in at the portage. Photo Craig Metzke
Last year the sun had set and was nearly
dark as we passed under the Narrows Bridge but this year it
was quite light, probably because we started 10 minutes earlier
this year. We dug deep and it seemed that we were catching
Warren and Bruce, the outrigger relay team sailed on by. This
time they were all men and very fresh and they were flying.
We reached the ferry lane and for once we could see the ferries
because it was light and we were well out of their way. It
wasn't dark but the city lights were shining bright.
The dream team go for
gold. What a backdrop. Photo John O'Sullivan
Paul Antoni and Chris
Hollier reach the portage. Photo Craig Metzke
Erica and Jane at the
portage. Photo Craig Metzke
I thought we might have
a chance to catch up with Bruce and Warren before Heirisson
Island but as the light faded we must have done as well. T2
and John Hilton came out of the dark and passed us, so did
Rob Jarratt and Chris Watson who we had passed earlier.
We paddled the east side of the island
and Alaine started to get cramp in her calves. You have to
slow down, she said. I didn't like the sound of that as we
had a long way to go but I prayed that she didn't want to
stop.
Pete and Mark and Glen and Brad flew
by and apparently Glen and Brad caught up with T2 and John
at Ascot Waters and passed them. Bonnie and Baillee passed
next. I jumped on their wash for a few metres but I knew I
would wear Alaine out if we kept going. We watched the girls
paddle ahead and close to a red light that warned us where
the new stadium foot bridge pylons or groynes were going to
be.
It was now dark and the girls fled
ahead leaving us with only the flickering of kayak lights
to look at. Alaine who was in pain tried to get her snakes
out of her PFD to eat but she cramped up again and decided
to leave them be. I was a little worried that she was going
to say she had to stop and we would have to call for help
so I paddled on quietly occasionally muttering the words,
'are you okay'and hoping for a reply, 'yes I'm fine.
Opposite Maylands yacht club a fish
leaped into my footwell. It was pretty big one and when I
tried to pick it up it was too slippery to hold on to. I left
it in my wet well for a while but Alaine wanted it back in
the water so it didn't die. I tried picking it up again which
wasn't easy without stopping and we couldn't afford to stop
and lose time. This time it slipped and wriggled under my
bum so I was able to get a better hold on it and throw it
back in the water.
John Breed and Ann Harris came flying
by near the police building in Maylands. I wasn't wanting
them to catch up but they were a strong team and even if we
had been at our best, we wouldn't have been able to beat them.
We didn't give chase as Alaine was still fighting of cramps
and her wrist was causing some discomfort. I was even feeling
sorry for her and I was contemplating asking if she wanted
to retire but somehow I couldn't get those words out of my
mouth!
We were happy to reach Ascot Waters,
it meant we were less than 5kms from the finish line and I
knew now we would get home. We came up to the checkpoint.
I shouted out 213 and then realised we were 231. We paddled
through the cove alone thinking about last years and next
years race.
The timers enjoying the
balmy evening. Photo Jane Hilton
T2 and John Hilton reach
the finish. Photo Jane Hilton
It was a lonely paddle to the Tonkin highway bridge with very
familiar surrounds, then Maya and John came flying passed
us like a steam train. They were going very well and looking
fresh but we had to realise they were in a team so we didn't
give chase.
We crossed the line proud to have finished
another City Lights although Alaine was completely shattered
but to her credit she did so well to keep going with all the
pain she was in. We were 7 minutes slower than last year but
that didn't matter there is always next year.
Alaine did mention though that she wouldn't
be racing next year but this tough old cookie has said that
before so I'm sure we will be racing across that finish line
yet again.
The food was great, presentation was
great and we even got third in our class winning a bar of
chocolate, the perfect reward for putting in so much energy.
Matthew Dean and Josh
Kippin win the cup for the fastest time. Photo Jane Hilton
Race results here;
http://www.webscorer.com/racedetails?raceid=63826
Slalom
Training Camp
Slalom Training
Camp - Collie
Tarky Wall and Jack Choate
sharing a wave. Photo Kate Vyvyan
Brodie Crawford in C1.
Photo Kate Vyvyan
Race of the Week
Canoe Polo State
Champs at Lake Leschenaultia are back!
This event is open to all levels (with
different grades to cater beginners through to experienced
players).
If you'd like to compete, send your
expression of interest (or a full team list if you're super
organised) to Nikky Lee at nikky.lee@gmail.com
Date: Sunday 3 April
Time: 10-3pm (time may vary depending
on the number of teams participating).
Venue: Lake Leschenaultia
https://goo.gl/zg7AcI
If you'd like to make a weekend of it,
there will be a group of us heading up on Saturday 2 April
to camp overnight at the Lake.
We will also be running a training session
on Saturday afternoon followed by a BBQ dinner.
IMPORTANT: if you intend to camp, you
will need to book a campsite. To book, visit: http://www.mundaring.wa.gov.au/…/Pages/Camping_Bookings.aspx
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IOP Downwind Races
12 March 2016
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*************************************
Kalbarri Canoe
& Cray Carnival
Fri 3rd, Sat 4th & Sun 5th June
The annual Kalbarri Canoe & Cray
Carnival (CCC) for 2016 will be a 2 day, 3 night event this
year on Fri 3rd, Sat 4th & Sun 5th June - The West Australia
June Long Weekend.
2nd Hand Boats
Used Boats
Finn Multisport Kayak $1100.00
Cabo 2 person touring
sit-on. $1200.00
Good condition used in flatwater only
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For Sale Trailer
$550.00
Takes 11 kayaks
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CDU Saturday Training Times