Enjoy the CDU newsletter
Published: Tue, 03/07/17
535
7th February 2017
Message Bank
This is going to be a small newsletter this week as I am
off to compete in the Australian Marathon Championships tomorrow
so I won't be here to send it off on Friday.
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I realised at the last Ascot Kayak Club meeting that I have
been an active member of Ascot Kayak Club for 39 years. Lots
of paddlers have come and gone in that time. My paddling started
a few years before joining Ascot when I bought a kayak, loaded
it up onto my roof rack and did a trip around Australia taking
it off everytime there was a good place to paddle. And there
were many.
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Two medical mates will battle the tides to
swim and kayak in the Wall-to-Wall Race for Research
To donate go to mycause.com.au and search
for wall-to-wall race for research
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Coming Up
The State Marathon Championships is coming
up but you don't have to be an elite paddler to enter. It's
just another good race and if you paddle a ski there is a
ski and Multisport class.
So why not give the race a go you will enjoy
it..
Marathon State Championships
March 25 @ 8:00 am - March 26 @ 5:00 pm
Swan River — Ascot Kayak Club
Stories
City Lights
2017
Because I was paddling in the Australian Marathon Championship
in 6 days time I decided to paddle in the team event this
year. I must admit I probably won't live it down as it didn't
feel right not to paddle the whole way. However better be
safe than sorry.
Again Alaine joined me in my double Epic ski. She has done
all the races except for two, and then I paddled with Adrian
Quick and another time with Warren Southwell. Having to do
only half the course this year was going to be a doddle for
me but Alaine had only paddled a few times in the last few
months and that wasn't far so it was going to be harder for
her. Our team members who were doing the second leg were Jason
Gardner and Fifi.
The route
Like most years it was
going to be hot around the 38 degrees. The worst part is always
waiting in the heat for the race to start but once on the
water it usually cools down. There were less paddlers in the
field this year, I think due to the Australian Sprint, Marathon
and Surf Championships taking place, but having less paddlers
didn't detract from the enjoyment of the race and the meal
afterwards. Doug Hodson, the main organiser gave us the briefing.
This year paddlers would keep to the west side of Heirrison
Island rather than go around it like we usually do. Apparently
a power boat race was scheduled for that side.
All ready to go at Riverton Bridge
We were to take off 5 minutes
after the first grid heading for the Narrows Bridge where
our team members Jason and Fifi would be ready to change over.
Dave Boldy counted us down and we were off. To my surprise
we were leading the way which has never happened before, well
not for me and Alaine. It was a proud moment. Had Alaine had
her Weeties today? By the time we turned and headed under
the water pipeline Rob Jarrad was beside us. Once upon a time
I used to beat Rob, then of course he got fitter and he started
beating me becoming so fast I didn't think I would ever beat
him again. Then over Christmas he went on holiday and I did
start to beat him. That was until last Saturday morning's
race that was. Rob was back in form. Now the challenge is
back on again.
The first grid line up
We started crossing the
shallows but because there was high tide there wasn't much
resistance. Rob was on our right with another ski paddler
behind him but his partner Chris was further back. I heard
him shout a little later and then he caught up paddling on
our left side. It was pretty good being the front pack next
to Chris and Rob. I did wonder however if they would eventually
make a move and try to get away from us but nothing happened
and we kept up.
It wasn't long before we were gaining on some on the paddlers
that went off 5 minutes before us. The heat was quite intense
but I sipped at my water every few minutes keeping my mouth
moist. Alaine didn't have same luxury as she still hasn't
been able to set her water bladder so she can drink whilst
paddling.
We were still neck and neck with Rob and Chris when we reached
Mount Henry Bridge and where we passed 3 teams from the previous
grid and gaining on several others. The water now started
to ruffle as the river widened and the water skiing boats
created waves. We then managed to catch the smallest of waves
and to my surprise pulled away from Chris and Rob. I knew
we had to keep the pressure on to keep ahead, which we did
as they slowed in the sloppy water and never caught up. As
we reached the Canning Bridge the three fastest doubles which
started 5 minutes behind us started passing. We had little
chance of keeping up with them.
Alaine stopped paddling for a few seconds to take a drink
whereas I had drank half a litre by now. Athough there wasn't
a lot of wind, the power craft motoring into the marina and
out in the wide river created waves and ruining the perfect
conditions. We now couldn't put all our power into our stroke
but we were still doing okay and still passing paddlers. Eventually
we saw the orange flashing light of the portage at the Narrows
and it was hard to believe our paddle was nearly over. We
had kept wide and out of the shallows to try to get some assistance
from the slight swell near the end but the waves from a couple
of ferries ruined any hope of that happening and instead the
waves they created made the last section a bit messy. With
about 1km to go I could see a double closer to shore which
we tried to race and it wasn't until we got close to the portage
that we realised it was Michael and Peter Liddle.
We pulled up the beach and Fifi grabbed our number and ran
back to Jason who was waiting at his ski. Within a minute
or two they were taking off into the sunset. It was hard to
believe that our race had come to an end as I felt fresh as
a daisy and I'm sure Alaine who had paddled very well could
also have kept going. Suddenly we were cheering other paddlers
on. It felt strange. I think next year I'm going to have to
paddle the entire race and then paddle back to the Narrows
to make up for what we didn't do this year. It appears we
did the 8th fastest time on this first leg.
We arrive
Jason and Fifi take off.
The eventual winner the K3 putting in
Jason and Fifi off to
a good start. Ann taking photos of her partner Ray and uncle
Ray Smith
The singles winner Dave
Worthy and Peter Gigengack ready to portage
Andrew Hewlett &
Sue Stott have passed Chris and Rob in the rougher section
Chris and Rob arrive
Paddlers were coming in,
some were quite slow doing the portage and certainly losing
time. I was surprised what effect the rougher water had on
Rob and Chris who were now quite a long way behind us. More
paddlers arrived and left. The sun was setting and the sky
was quite beautiful. The temperature was now just perfect
and it was one of those glorious Perth summer evenings.
Hugh Trivitt and Chris
Hollier don't have time to check out the sunset
Maya & Jane grab
their number from Ron and Aaron and race to the water
Two more teams speed
away
It was getting dark as the last of the paddlers cleared the
portage. All we had to do now was to load the ski on the car,
get changed and head to the finish and let Jason and Fifi
do all the work. We both felt a sense of freedom as well as
guilt for not doing the full race.
Once back at the club we enjoyed a cool drink and a great
curry meal. A little later the faster teams started to arrive
and our team of Jason and Fifi weren't that far behind. We
ended up having the 9th fastest time and first in the teams
event which we were stoked about. Jason however wasn't in
a good way. He was suffering with back pain and a seized shoulder.
Not a good time for it to happen as he rides his motorbike
to and around Tasmania in a week's time.
Some of the teams looked fine others looked really buggered
and pale. It's a race that anything can happen.
With lots of sponsors most
paddlers went home with something. Angela Trivitt won the
paddle raffle, a $400.00 all carbon paddle donated by Canoeing
Down Under.
Well it was another great
event that went like clockwork due to a great organising team
and the heaps of volunteers.
On reflection I probably won't get over the trauma of doing
half the race.
Fastest time Grant/Michael/Peter Pepper/Leahy/Kioutis
K3 2:18:39.2
Fastest double and 2nd place K2 2:23:41
Fastest mixed and 3rd place Bae/Kris Hooper/Plain 2:24:14.6
Fastest Singles David/Peter Worthy/Gigengack 2:37:49.9
Fastest Relay Teams Alaine/Terry/Fifi/Jason D/B/T/G 9th place
2:43:24.8
Results here
https://www.webscorer.com/racedetails?raceid=94337&did=101774.
Sea
Kayak
The Sea Kayak
Symposium 2017
Albany
Some of the sea kayak
group. They either want to go to the toilet or they are being
robbed!!
Preparing for a trip
Off they go
Race of the Week
Marathon State
Championships
March 25 @ 8:00 am - March 26 @ 5:00 pm
Event
« Marathon Nationals
Swan River — Ascot Kayak Club
marathonwa@gmail.com
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Canoeing WA
Unite on the Swan
April 9 @ 8:00 am
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Downwind Racing
Saturday 11 March
Ocean Warriors
The downwind gods have taken a summer
break and forced us to merge Race 6 & 7 of the Astute
Capital Summer Series into a mega End of Season finale . As
this is our last event we are inviting partners and families
afterwards to Sorrento SLSC for the post-race catch up - IOP
will be putting on free food . Looking at the long range weather
forecast conditions the chances of a good downwind race are
promising . Regardless of conditions, other than lightning
, we will be conducting Race 6 ! .
The course is our regular
Swanbourne to Sorrento run, in wave starts with self grading
into Aspiring, Experienced and Elite categories and starts
at 3pm. The usual safety kit will be required for participants.
PFD, leg leash are mandatory. We ask that you consider wearing
a bright fluoro green/pink/orange cap to help water safety
spot you out amongst the white tops !. Race rego from 2:00pm.
Please check in at least 30 minutes before the race to confirm
your attendance.
Registrations from the earlier attempts for Race 6 are carried
over. You can check you existing entry or enter online at
Webscorer or via the race link on our website event page to
enter. Use your membership number as the discount code if
you are a current member of IOP to get the discounted race
fee. Please note that the CWA membership rego system is not
linked to the webscorer race rego system. So if you register
with CWA and then go straight to the race rego, your discount
code will not be immediately available. PM us on Facebook
(@IndianOceanPaddlers) or email us at iopevents@canoe.org.au
if you have any issues.
The committee may change the course depending on the forecast
conditions closer to the day. Please check with Facebook or
our website event page for any updates to the event.
You can check out who's already entered at https://www.webscorer.com/registerlist?raceid=90718
Looking forward to doing it one more time before Summer truly
departs our shores, next Saturday . See you at Swanbourne
in front of the Surf club !.
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