The great thing I like about paddling is the fact that I can get on the water, paddle hard or relax and forget I live in the city. I love competition but I also love the enjoyment of paddling at my own pace, and be-able to stop and chat with other people because I’m not under the spell of a watch or a heart rate monitor. Although I have been paddling
continuously for 42 years I haven’t had the commitment or the skills to become a world or Olympic athlete, but I do have the drive to explore, to paddle long distances and to be proficient in several different types of craft. Because of the variety of my paddling I’ve enjoyed paddling so much that no other sport has taken me away from it.
Paddling is a way of keeping fit without jarring your body, it's fun, it’s safe as there is no chance of being run over by a car (as long as
you keep out of the way of speeding power boats) but one of the biggest rewards I get from paddling is mixing with my training buddies before and at the end of a session and have a dig, a joke, a laugh or a chat. There are lots of friendly people in paddling. If you have been to a Saturday morning training session or a race you will have experienced that. It’s good to have the fast paddlers mix with the slower and intermediate paddlers.
I think the most important part of my
paddling was learning all the different stokes and skills when I first started. They have stayed with me and have been an integral part of my paddling. Having them also gave me the confidence to tackle any type of craft and any type of water conditions and has helped when on an expedition or a white water river. Knowing that you have the skills opens new doors to where you can go paddling. Remember there are more paddling skills than the forward paddling stroke.
Having
lived in the Ashfield / Bassendean area for 40 years is like living in a country town. I decided back in 1977 that I needed to live within walking distance of the river and this area was the best and most affordable place to enjoy the river. The fact that my work was only 2 kms from my home and the river was within walking distance it couldn’t get any better. There have been no long drives and wasted time in traffic for me.
Having home, work and recreation within a 2-3km
triangle has been good for my mind, body and soul and I have loved every minute of it.
