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Fighting for first place. Photo Rapid Ascent
It was a bit rough in the ocean causing many capsizes. Photo Rapid Ascent
Everyone wants to go fast in a race but choosing to paddle the fastest ski, which are very unstable is usually the worst thing you can do when racing in the ocean if you are not experienced.
The ocean is much different from flatwater so if you are not experienced choose
a more stable craft and you will go faster and have a better chance of staying on it and not swimming.
Three of the best skis for races like the Augusta Adventure Race for the less experienced are the Epic V8, the V8pro or the plastic Epic V7.
Remember you can't be fast if you are unstable. If you are unstable you will spend all your time trying to stay
upright or swimming.
Epic V8
Length: 5.48 m
Width: 54 cm
Depth: 33 cm
Capacity: 45 - 145 kg
Epic 16X kayak
Length: 4.88 m Width: 58.4 cm Depth: 29.2 cm Capacity:152 kg Storage
Capacity: Bow - 71.5 litres Dayhatch - 36 litres Stern - 67 litres
Janet collecting her Epic 16X
This is probably the best special you will ever have the chance to purchase but I only have one left.
A new Illusion Ski for $1200.00 is a
bargain. Don't miss this opportunity.
It's just amazing how much better a good lightweight paddle feels. The days have gone when you have to weight lift with every paddle stroke.
I swapped paddles the other day with another paddler and although it was a $250.00 paddle I couldn't believe how awful it felt. Not only was
it heavy it shuddered and twisted with every paddle stroke. I felt so unstable and like a beginner paddling my racing kayak.
If you don't have a lightweight paddle do yourself a favour and try one out. You will be amazed and you will wonder why you haven't used one before.
Give me a call and try out an Epic Paddle
Saturday Morning Training
Saturday Fitness
Although several paddlers took part in the Augusta Adventure Race there were still 34 paddlers taking part in the 4 plus km race. Olympian Jesse Phillips and his group joined in which saw some fast
racing.
Paddlers of all standards are invited to join the group. A kayak or ski above 4.5m is preferable. Most Saturdays there is a 4km race followed by other fitness training but once a month there is a 10km race.
Meet 7.00am - 7.15am Sandy Beach Reserve. Bassendean.
CDU Saturday Morning Training 2006
Canoeing Down Under has had Saturday morning training for 20 years. This is what it looked like in 2006. All plastic boats, no lightweight boats in sight.
So many paddlers over the years have enjoyed the training
Thursday Night Training at Ascot
Every Thursday night a group of Ascot paddlers race around a 2km circuit which includes Ron Courtney Island and a spit post near Sandy Beach.
Paddling around the spit post can get a bit tricky
I usually get left behind because I'm not as fast but it doesn't matter because I just take a shorter route so I can start off with them every lap.
The Falklands. Dawid Mocke
I am currently sailing on a ship in the Southern Ocean heading to South Georgia Island. We spent an amazing 6 days in the Falklands pioneering new surfski-kayak paddling routes and did the first recorded downwind paddle
across the Falklands Sound between West and East Falkland. We were here helping @lewispugh prepare for his upcoming swim in South Georgia (I’m here as head of water safety) - and to do as much paddling as possible.
The Falklands, despite being an archipelago of islands, is much bigger than one would think. It has vast countryside with rolling hills and reminded me of the Plains of Desolation in the Karoo. We explored 4 paddling routes while here
which were dictated mostly because of access points of entry and exit. Because of a minimal road network, big distances, cold temperatures and erratic weather, one actually hasn’t much choice of routes even though the paddling opportunities are endless.
The Falklands are either dry or wet; dusty or muddy. There is no in-between. And always cold, and always windy. To drive around there is only 1 option: 4x4. We rented 2 cars and did LOTS of driving on dodgy gravel roads. Once, we ventured off-road right to the top of a mountain, which was hectic as far as I was concerned but my Kiwi
driver said it was no problem (bloody All Blacks)! Well done @petergrantham.
We stayed 3 days in Stanley, or "Town", as called by the Falklanders. From here we did 3 paddles: one from Johnson’s Harbour to Green Patch, one from Saladero to Goose Green (a famous 1982 Falklands War Battle site) and a final one around Cape Pembroke in Stanley. We got very cold and wet at Green Patch, we got very lost at Goose Green and we got attacked by man-eating
kelp around Cape Pembroke (yes its true). We learnt a lot about paddling in the Falklands – about getting on and off the water in quick time; about using GPS way-points (critical) and avoiding kelp beds and having kick up rudders!
Paddling Cape Pembroke was probably the most dangerous because of limited landing spots. There are mine fields all around the Cape and only one beach that is clear, but for us to get to that beach, against 25-30knots of wind in 5° water, big swells, reefs and thick kelp was borderline
impossible.
From Stanley we moved to Port San Carlos – Race Point Farm, site of the Birtish SAS landing in 1982. There are war relics there, old sentry points on the hills and even the Harrier Jet airstrip. The country Falklanders are mostly sheep farmers with some cattle. They are
salt of the earth, hardworking and hospitable. We stayed with an amazing family – John and Michelle Jones – and I highly recommend anyone going to visit them. It’s remote, with untouched coastline and zero connectivity.
We spent 3 days here paddling and helping Lewis do swim training. It’s also the place where the distance between East and West Falkland is the shortest – 6kms land to land – so this is where we would do the
crossing.
The highlight was paddling across the Falkland Sound. What an adventure this was. We drove overland with our host to the beach opposite West Falkland. We then headed into the light wind for 6kms across the sound and stood on the other side. Then we turned and paddled
the 16km back to the farm. About an hour out we hit a massive outgoing tide and basically didn’t move for an hour! It was brutal, but we made it and thus achieved our objective!
The Falklands is an amazing place to visit and is a Surfski paddler’s paradise. I will definitely be back. Our next chapter begins in South Georgia where we conduct a test swim with @lewispugh and then the main swim the following day.
We are now in South Georgia and yesterday Lewis successfully did the swim in King Edward Cove or Grytviken. One kilometre in 19min 01sec in 2°C water! It was a good swim that went off as smoothly as we had hoped. Well done team and well-done Lewis! |
THE MOORE RIVER RACE
ALSO: MIXED K2 CHAMPIONSHIPS
(All encouraged to enter girl/boy mixed teams !)
RACE LOCATION:
Guilderton on coast 94km, 1hr 12mins North of Perth CBD
Start & Finish: Guilderton Boat Ramp.
NOTE REPORTS OF VERY SHALLOW
WATER,
RACE DAY SCHED:
Check-in: Sun 12 Nov 8:00 – 9:00 am
Briefing: 9:15 am
Race Start: 9.30 am
SAFETY, HAZARDS & POINTS OF NOTE:
There could be boat traffic anywhere on course.
Shallow water and obstacles [logs]
Championship classes will have medals awarded and will earn extra Paddler-of-Year Points.
Moore River Foreshore is a DOG FREE AREA
This is a good introductory race for new paddlers
Sun and heat:
Apply sun block, bring water
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:
Not racing ? Injured? Partner of a racer ? Want to find out what it is all about ? Consider volunteering.
PAIRS ENDURO RACE 19th November
This race is 13 kilometres. Find a partner with similar speed and endurance and come and test your wash-riding skills in this time trial race with a twist from Middle Swan Bridge around Ron Courtney Island and finishing
at Ascot Kayak club. Pairs to be sent off together at 1 minute intervals, from slowest to fastest. The idea is to work as a team, taking turns to wash ride each other for your best time.
RACE TIMETABLE
7.30 am Registration Opens
8:30 am Registration closes
8.40 am Briefing
9.00 am Race Start
Website:
2017 Paddle WA Christmas Party and Awards
The Paddle WA Christmas Party on Sunday November 26.
The event will run from 11am with a day of presentations, catch ups and of course annual awards.
These days are made by the people who attend them,
so we look forward to seeing you there.
Location: Swan Canoe Club
Statewide Oil Sunset Surfski Series Race 123rd NovemberPort Beach to City Beach
Dates for the 2017 Series.
Race 1 Thursday 23rd November 2017
Race 2 Thursday 30th
November 2017
Race 3 Friday 15th December 2017
Website: |
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