Enjoy the CDU Newsletter
Published: Fri, 05/06/16
505
6th May 2016
Message Bank
ONE MORE TRADING WEEK AT THE
SHOP...
To say our goodbyes as a shop and to thank our customers
for their support we are having drinks and nibbles at the
store next Friday night (13th) from 5.30pm.
It's going to be a sad day when we close the shop. Canoeing
Down Under has been providing gear, instruction and training
for nearly 20 years. We have also been the Ascot Kayak Club
major sponsor for all those years as well as sponsoring hundreds
of other CWA paddling events including the Avon Descent. In
fact, we have given thousands and thousands of dollars away
and have always been there when someone has asked for sponsorship
or help.
CDU has also sponsored paddlers, particularly juniors who
have appreciated the financial help when they need it most.
Our training has helped hundreds, if not thousands of paddlers
to achieve their goal, be it in the Avon Descent, a local
race or just to be confidence on the river or in whitewater.
After all those years our Saturday morning training is still
one of the most popular training courses in WA and that's
thanks to Alaine, Steve Pilton, Sam Pilton, T2 (Terry Brooke),
and Guy Power.
CDU has has always run Avon Descent courses, as well as assessment
courses for the Avon Descent committee and the success of
those is due to instructors Steve, Sam, Pam Riordan, John
Dinucci, James Earl, T2, Josh Kippin, Guy Power, Steve Wellman
and Alaine.
Our shop hasn't been fancy but we have given lots of advice
and have cared about our customers making sure they got the
right purchase. We have given demos every Saturday morning
and for the first five years we did them every Saturday and
Sunday mornings.
We have fixed many a broken boat and paddles at a very reasonble
cost.
Unfortunately progress and the economical situation in WA
is catching up with us so before the internet sales swamp
us completely we felt it was time to change tack as to take
on another lease at another location was not very practical
for continued sales as with every move there is a heavy cost
in expense and the loss of customers.
All is not completely lost as I can still be contacted by
phone, email or through the website as I will still be selling
Epic skis and paddles, Grafton Paddle Sport boats and some
other brands that I will get in on request. My accessory stocks
and clothing will be minimized as I won't have a shop front.
My website will reflect my stocked items. I will still be
doing demos for Epic craft. The newsletter will continue to
keep you up to date with paddling in WA.
We close our doors for the final time on Saturday the 14th
of May. Then I will be working from home on an appointment
basis only.
My sister and a friend are here from the UK so Monday, Tuesday
and Wednesday of next week I will be away, although Alaine
will be here if you need to buy something we have on special.
It's going to be strange when we close as we are not going
to be seeing new faces or having great chats with our regular
customers. We will miss it.
After the 14th of May I can be contacted on 0472 720 243.
My email address will continue to be terry@canoeingdownunder.com.au.
My website will still be www.canoeingdownunder.com.au
**********************************
When we move we are going to have two solid desks that are
not needed, metal shelving units and several cupboards and
shelves that we will be trying to move on. So if you are in
need just let us know.
**********************************
CDU Closing Down Sale Extended
We have been able to extend our shop closing
date to Saturday 14th of May. This will give our customers
an extra few days to grab a bargain and for us to shed some
more stock as we will have very limited storage area when
we move out.
We are also selling most of our demo craft except for the
Epic skis which we will still be selling when we close the
store.
.
Tell your friends about these bargains and that we are closing
as a shop.
All PFD's apart from Vaikobi
and Kokatat 30% to 50% off.
All Clothing in stock 25% Off.
All spraydecks in stock 25% off
We have lots of large XL PFDS
and clothing at a really great price
For more specials go to: http://www.canoeingdownunder.com.au
**********************************
Only two more sessions left
for the Saturday morning training sessions
organised by CDU
Bring down your fast Skis on
Saturday 14th
The group last Saturday morning. Photo Jane
Dooley
There are 2 more Saturday morning fitness sessions before
we finish our group training. The money raised at our Saturday
morning training sessions will go to Perth paddler Sandy Robson
who is paddling from Germany to Australia. After months, years
on the high seas Sandy is coming to her final stage and the
money collected will help off-set some of her costs.
I hope that we can raise at least $1000.00. After such a remakable
journey she deserves to have our support on her last part
of her huge expedition.
Why not come down and help us achieve the $1000.00 target.
Only one more stage to go.
Rats eat holes in Sandy's dry bags, read further below
*******************************************
Genie Collins
Hi Terry!
I am currently at the airport waiting to board so I thought
I would send you a message.
Thanks for all the gear I have bought off you the past 8 years
and you and Alaine have always been lovely and welcoming.
I'll be competing at worlds in Banja Luka, Bosnia from the
1st to the 5th of June and will have world cups in Slovenia
and France after that. Then I'm starting university in Prague
on the 1st of October!
Hopefully I'll see everyone in January!
Genie
*******************************************
Training & Courses
Saturday Morning
Fitness Training
7.30am start on the dot
Sandy Beach Reserve, West Road, Bassendean
$5.00 for paddlers who have bought a boat from CDU
$10.00 for other paddlers
Don't forget your PFD
Fun, fitness and a great group of people.
Donations to go to Sandy Robson
*********************************
Mark, T2, Peter, Luke,
Kris and Alex loving the results. Luke beat Thomas by 2 seconds
in a time of 19.21. Mark and T2 with a time of 17.58 set a
new doubles time.
Featured Products
All other PFD's apart
from Vaikobi and Kokatat 30% to 50% off.
Stories
AKC John Sims
Race
It was more cloudy than usual, it was
even colder than usual but at least it wasn't raining. 142
paddlers had entered the John Sims Race, a little less than
usual but nevertheless a good number. I had been the sponsor
for this race for nearly 20 years and this year was most probably
the last as I am closing the shop in two weeks and working
from home with a limited amount of stock, mainly Epics and
Grafton boats.
I had entered in the DR class, I didn't
know what the 65 year record was but I thought I would give
it a shot. The trouble was I hadn't been seriously training
and Bevan Dashwood had entered who is always a struggle to
beat. Even if I beat the record John Breed would smash it
the following year.
The K2s get ready. Photo
Jane Dooley
The young K1 paddlers.
Photo Jane Dooley
We were mixed in with
the Multisport kayaks and plastic skis and were the last grid
to go. I had a reasonable start but the faster paddlers took
off ahead. Within 300 metres several boats came together and
it took me several seconds to become untangled. All the time
I was watching to see where Bevan was. I didn't want to lose
him. A few hundred metres further paddlers clashed again so
it wasn't the perfect start.
Bevan (in the yellow
shirt) was my main competitor. He's even older than me! 5
of the 7 boats in the photo were CDU boats. Photo Jane Dooley
Photo Jane Dooley
Rounding Sandy Beach corner
Chris Barker in his new Grafton Paddle Sports Fusion multisport
was beside me but as the group started to spread he tired
and I got in front of him. There were still a bunch of paddlers
fighting for top spot and while Bevan was level with me I
was happy. It came time though that I had to make a move and
try to leave Bevan behind but for a while I was locked in.
Then Vince Lanadi who was on the outside of the group started
to break away and this gave me my chance to gain a few metres
so I worked hard and went with him. I was hoping that Bevan
couldn't get across the pack and be left behind but I was
looking ahead rather than behind so I didn't know where he
was.
The wash from all the boats was creating
a bit of a nuisance for me as it was harder and tougher to
keep a straight course in a DR but Bevan had the same problem
so I couldn't really complain. I knew if I wanted the record
I would have to step up the pace so I put on a spurt and got
in front of Vince and beside John who was behind Matt who
was leading the pack. They were both in Epic V7s and paddling
very well but I needed to put on another spurt to get beside
Matt.
This created a bit of a problem because
now I had my chance to lead the group which would mean I wouldn't
get any wash assistance and tire easier but I would be ahead?
I took the lead but soon after at Fishermans Bend Vince started
to come up on my right with Bevan beside him. Oh shit I thought,
Bevan still had lots of life in him. I knew that meant trouble.
For a short time Vince moved ahead, I latched onto Bevan
and Matt latched onto me. A few hundred metres later Vince
had tired and Bevan was the lead boat. The trouble was Bevan
for some reason was heading to the left side of the river
and into the path of the paddlers returning from Barkers Bridge,
the turn-around point. And as Bevan kept moving to the left
further into on-coming traffic I tangled with Matt.
Bevan was now 2 boat lengths or more
ahead so I had to put in a big effort to get back onto his
wash as I just didn't want to lose him but it tired me. I
don't usually say a lot when I'm paddling but because I was
on Bevan's left and getting pushed further towards the oncoming
traffic I asked him to move over to the right. He didn't seem
to hear so I shouted louder.
As we approach Barkers Bridge Bevan
was a few centimetres ahead, so instead of trying to go around
the turn together and get tangled I let him get ahead and
do the turn first. I lost no time though as I did a better
turn and ended up leaving the bridge beside him so I was happy.
I knew now that it was going to be a tough race just to keep
with him and for the next few kilometres we were locked together,
well should I say I was locked to Bevan and every time I tried
to pass him I just couldn't keep the pace so I settled in.
I now realised the only way that I was going to beat him was
to hope that I could sprint faster at the end.
Luke who came down from
Kalbarri especially for the race came 2nd in the under 16
years only 1.47 behind Olympic Hopes paddler Matthew Greed
Nearing Sandy Beach I started to hear
all this splashing behind. For a moment I thought it was a
faster double who had capsized and was passing us. It turned
out to be all the other guys who we had passed, Matt, John,
Vince and another guy. This was not good as I knew if they
had the power to pass us Bevan just might get away on their
wash and then I would have to fight for my life.
About 300 metres from the finish line
I started putting on the power hoping that I had more in reserve
than Bevan. I started to ease in front of him and when I had
100 or so metres to go I just picked up the revs and paddled
my heart out. Shouts from the bank spurred me on and luckily
I was able to keep Bevan at bay and beat him by a boat's length.
I was overjoyed to have beaten him but I had a sense of guilt
because I had been wash hanging him some of the way so although
I had won I wasn't really the fastest paddler.
Me crossing the line
with Bevan just behind and Vince behind him. Photo Jane Dooley
Results here: https://www.webscorer.com/race?raceid=68234
*****************************
Rolling Time
The water was cold, it
was cloudy but I couldn't let Luke go home to Kalbarri without
teaching him to roll. It was a big ask though, could he concentrate
long enough in the cold river water to be successful or worse
still could I stand being in the cold water for too long.
I knew Luke only had about 15 or 20 minutes at the most to
get a roll before he would most likely become hypothermic
in that time so could he do it in that time?
Come on Luke get that
head in the water, it's not that cold!! You have to learn
the hip flick/knee lift!
Photos Jane Dooley
With little time to teach
him I was taking a few short cuts, as we had no time to be
doing too many lead up exercises or in depth explanations
as the water was up to my waist and cutting off the blood
supply to my lower extremities. After explaining the hip flick/knee
lift Luke tried a few attempts which got better with practice.
It was then time to attempt his first roll with me positioning
his paddle and guiding it into the right position and movement.
I stood by him on several attempts and with my assistance
it looked promising so then I let him have a go without my
assistance. Unfortunately it didn't go quite to plan. As most
people find out when they try rolling for the first time,
being under water and trying to figure out what to do with
their paddle is quite confusing and Luke was no different,
he looked confused. Adding the head pain and numbness created
by the cold water I was wondering if he could pull it off.
Luke was a quick learner
but his first few attempts were similar to everyone else's,
his paddle once I had let go of it just went in a direction
opposite to where it should have gone. After a few more failed
attempts I thought he might have to go home without being
successful so I changed tack and instead of getting him to
do a 360 roll I got him to do a 180 roll and go down the same
side that he would come up.
Set up
Beforehand we had been
practising a few high brace strokes so by doing the 180 roll
he was more familiar with the paddle position and motion and
on his first attempt he manage to right the kayak without
any assistance. It wasn't the perfect roll, his paddle was
too low, his head came up too soon and he didn't have a hip
flick/knee lift but it was a good start. He had another attempt
that was a little better, the next was better still and then
better still. I could see he was cold so I said if he did
a couple of real good ones we could stop. Luckily the next
ones were good so we stopped.
Good set up
Pretty good roll for
less than 15 minutes in the water. He just need a little more
practice on the finer details of rolling and he will be a
star.
In less than 15 minutes
he was rolling so now he could go home with a playboat I was
lending him. After looking at a few rolling videos and some
more practise in his swimming pool so I'm sure by the time
he comes back to Perth he will have mastered several other
rolls and be teaching me how it's done.
With so little time and with so much to teach Luke I jumped
in the kayak and refreshed his memory on the strokes I had
taught him on our white water session a few weeks ago. Then
our 20-25 minute session was over and it was back to the warmth.
**************************
To help Luke better his
paddling I have lent him a Finn Finnatic playboat and an Ultra
Epic V14
************************
A New Dolphin
Calf in the Area
I walked down to the river
on a still morning with a few cloud bands hardly visible as
the darkness of the night was turning to early morning. Usually
I bring along my camera but leaving the house I didn't think
it worth it today as it looked a litttle dark so what would
I see!
As I was putting in, I saw Ron (Ron
went through my Avon Descent course in 2001 but he's now gone
to the other side and taken up rowing) and his rowing partner
in a scull slightly downstream and across the other side of
the river. I paddled towards the club and met John Breed and
gang who were just finishing their 12 km paddle and it was
hardly light. I had a quick word with John who along with
his wife Helen are soon going on their yearly European 3 month
holiday. That's what you can do when you are retired.
I took off spearing out into the river
after Ron and partner as they passed hoping I could get on
their wash and have a natter. Ron said there were a bunch
of Dolphins coming around the island so I instantly turned
around and headed back to check them out. Training could wait.
I soon spotted Mum and baby at the end
of Ron Courtney Island roughing up the water as they chased
fish in the shallows. Another dolphin was about 50 metres
away. Mum and baby crossed over to the Ascot Kayak club and
started chasing fish there. I investigated closer and got
a much better view of the young one. Its finn was mostly white
with a slight kink in it. Like the Ospreys born on the island,
we should be able to watch the youngster grow up as the pod
passes by in the days to come.
The other parent joined forces and the
three of them were now beside me coming up for a breath and
then diving and chasing fish again. The little one was keeping
close to mum, its light body reflecting under water.
A dog walker on the Ashfield bank was
looking on as the dolphins came up beside me time and time
again. I could sense her jealousy wishing she could be over
here in a kayak to get a closer look. The dolphins fished
and then the pair swam very leisurely underneath my kayak.
Their bodies shimmered just below the surface despite the
dark murky water. They popped up on the other side to swim
bank towards the bank to fish again. Yet again they swam underneath
me and a few minutes later they slowly did it again. They
were in no hurry and didn't seem to mind my presence.
By now we were near Sandy Beach and
the walker was still following us and every time the dolphins
came up beside me an arms length away I felt privileged and
I suppose smug that someone on shore was watching it all unfold.
The little one was gorgeous, its little
white crooked finn shuddering along the surface like a white
tipped shark. There was less than a few centimetres between
mum and baby. I think mum was swimming slower than usual and
letting junior keep up. After watching them move under my
kayak one more time I let them head upstream after paddling
less than a kilometre. This is what I love about my training,
I just go with the flow. It's not that important to me to
have to paddle 10 kms at a fast pace.
For reasons unknown, the male started
half leaping out of the water, splashing down and a few metres
later doing it again. It probably couldn't be called a leap
but half its body was certainly showing.
The walker was now on the bank at Sandy
Beach so I went over to gloat and tell her she should be in
a kayak. She mentioned that she had just joined the Ascot
Kayak Club so she hopes to experience it one day. She said
that when the dolphin leapt out of the water she could see
its whole face looking at her. It was a magical moment.
I returned home in the morning sunlight
annoyed that I hadn't taken my camera but so happy to have
been able experienced the beginning of a the life of a young
dolphin. There will be another day to take photos.
***********************
Rats Eat Away
at Sandy's Dry Bags
Sandy has a rat problem
and they have been eating through her dry bags so I have sent
5 dry bags over to her to replace the ones no longer usable.
April 29, 2016 Sarmi, (-01.855183
, +138.750233) 32km
Sarmi Rats! in the morning I found that rats had chomped through
3 of my dry bags. I was not impressed! It was a slow paddle
against current to reach Sarmi, a perfect landing village
on a protected headland. On approach to the harbour I saw
people running along the village shores. I counted around
70. They were chasing me down. I had caught their eye as I
sailed in. Upon landing a squashing crowd of over 200 people
gathered and surrounded me. Some men helped keep them at bay
a little. They wouldn't stop taking photos with their mobile
phones. They followed me to the hotel and it was very hard
to get them to leave. I was feeling frazzled.
Sandy with her rat face
on.
Race of the Week
Wild Water Racing
Race #1 Ascot Buoys Race
Venue: Ascot Kayak Club
Date: Saturday 7th May
Rego time: 12:00 hrs - 12:45 hrs (no registration after these
times)
Fee: $10 for CWA members and $20 for non members (pay on the
day)
Briefing: 13:00hrs -13:15hrs
Start: 13:30hrs
Follow this link for online registrations, Webscorer WWR #1
***********************************
WA Slalom Race
#4 Ascot Kayak Club
Saturday 7th May 2016
Race Registration - 8.00am, Racing to Start 9:00am
Due to our short Racing schedule you can choose to enter in
a K1 or C1 category with 2 runs.
Race Co-ordinator - Ascot Slalom Group - Bring along a BBQ
for lunch
***********************************
Paddle Challenge
registrations now open
SUNDAY 15 MAY 2016
Location
AP Hinds Reserve Bayswater
WHAT TIME?
Registration kicks off at 7:30 - 8:45am. Which will be followed
by a race briefing.
First start will be off at 9:30am.
***********************************
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.
**********************
Peel Paddle
50
Sunday 5th June
The WA Marathon Committee has great
pleasure in announcing the Peel Paddle 50.
A 50km race where you get to test yourself either as a solo
or in a team of 3.
Race options
-Solo
-Doubles/Triples/K4's?
-Team of 3 singles (no doubles in teams race)
- Each leg of the team will be approx 16.5km
Where: Race HQ will be at Ravenswood,
opposite the Hotel at Mandurah Murray Vietnam Veterans Group
Club House
When: Rego from 7.30am Sunday 5th June
The Mandurah Murray Vietnam Veterans
will be opening up their club house and offering food and
drinks for sale.
Course:
Leg 1 - From Ravenswood downstream, around Cooleenup or Jeepamyeejip
Island (weather dependant, final course announced on the day)
return to Ravenswood
Leg 2 - Ravenswood to Pinjarra Weir
Leg 3 - Pinjarra Weir to Ravenswood
The traffic bridge at the team changeover
point will provide shelter if there is poor weather and the
river is approx 1-2 feet deep under the bridge with good access
for boats to get on the water.
More details will be released over the
coming weeks.
2nd Hand Boats
Mirage 520
Demo craft:
Near new used a dozen times on the river
Length: 5.2 m
Beam: 57.5m
19kg Kevlar
Usually $3300.00
Special $2600.00
*****************************
CDU Saturday Morning Race