Terry 0417 977 330

terry@canoeingdownunder.com.au

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Epic V10L Performance. Price $3995.00. Special $2500.00. One only

The V10L has all the winning features of the popular V10 with an optimized hull for paddlers 75 kg and under. The cockpit of the new V10L also accommodates shorter leg lengths than the V10. The “L” designation stands for lower volume for lighter paddlers.

Length: 6.15 m (20’2″)
Width: 44 cm
Depth: 30 cm
Capacity: Up to 80 kg optimal weight

On Special – Performance 15.5 Kg

Canning Classic Race

It wasn’t a good night and early morning for dogs as thunder claps were constant. It wouldn’t have be a good morning for paddlers if the lightning didn’t go away before the start of the Canning River Race. Being wet is one thing, being struck by lightning is another.  Arriving at the venue a brolly was needed to keep dry, but the rain soon stopped leaving us listen to the briefing and start the race quite dry. The weather however looked as if it had kept many paddlers away with only 50 paddlers booked in to race.

The plastic and slower skis were off first followed by all K1s and then K2s. At least we had enough room on the start line as the river is very wide. Although my starts are not the best part of my racing today with less boat wash I didn’t do too bad, eventually meeting up with Steve Bolger who started about 18 boats over. Steve killed me at the start of the Saturday morning 4km race so it gave me a little more confidence that I could keep up with him today. Saying that I worked really hard in those first few kilometres, all the time wondering when he was going to get away from me. Steve is nearly twice as big as me, with muscles bulging under his baggy shirt and if he didn’t work away I would have ‘Buckley’s Chance’ of keeping up with him. The pressure was on to keep up with him today but that wasn’t going to be easy especially in the shallows where my kayak bogged down and although I fought like a trooper I could still feel Steve slipping away. ​​​​​​​

Harriett Alexis and Ben Hoy were up with us for the first 500 metres but they dropped off which was good for me as less wash from other boats meant it was easier for me to wash-ride Steve. The conditions were good considering the stormy morning and nearly every race held on this stretch of water that I have raced in the last few years has always been low water and lots of shallows. Today I couldn’t complain.

Well I could complain as I felt that Steve was paddling too hard making me work even harder. He was definitely faster than me so hanging on for dear life was paramount. There were a few times though when we hit the shallows and I bogged down and got behind that I felt that I should give in and let Steve go, but somehow my determination took over from my defeatist attitude and I virtually killed myself trying to keep up.

Francis was ahead and we were gaining but in a way I was hoping we wouldn’t catch him because I had a better chance of keeping on Steve’s wash without him beside us. The worst thing for a paddler wash-riding is catching up with others or paddlers passing. The extra wash makes things harder and the increased pace that passing boats usually create can stretch your limit and I was already at my limit. Steve did mention at the end of yesterdays’ 4km race that he was getting tired at the end but we had now paddled 4kms this morning and he didn’t seem to be getting tired today.

After the narrow short cut channel in the swamp the water deepened and it was much easier to wash-ride. It was the first time I could really feel the benefit of the wash and be able to catch my breath.  The deeper water carried on to our turn point, a buoy at Kent street weir which pleased me. The turn was where I expected it being my best chance to pass Steve so I got ready for it. 

I lined up for a good turn ready to get on the inside of Steve and turn sharper but my underslung rudder hit a hidden tree branch and ruined my turn. Nevertheless I still managed to power out from the buoy and get back on Steve’s tail, which was a relief.

We eventually caught up with Matt Jones who started 2 minutes before us but he was paddling his plastic Epic V7. I thought it was going to be easy to pass him as his ski was much heavier but he hung on to Steve’s side-wash for dear life. We were probably doing 12kms an hour and Steve still couldn’t shake him. Eventually he dropped off Steve and then sat beside me. How can a V7 go so fast? ​​​​​​​

Darryl and Spencer past us in a K2 thankfully without splitting us up and a little later Hugh and Michael came by in an Epic double ski. The pace quickened and as four boats paddled under the Riverton Bridge we had to keep our paddles low to prevent hitting the water pipe. I thought my paddle was low enough, but it wasn’t, I smacked the pipe. Bugger.

As we left the bridge behind we also left Matt behind and I sprinted to get beside Steve which was a much better position to be in. Hugh and Michael sped ahead and we started chasing down Francis. We eventually caught him but he didn’t hang on for long, in fact he stopped. It seemed strange that we didn’t have Simon O’Sullivan paddling beside us as well. He was of similar speed and usually part of our group but for some reason he gave today’s race a miss. ​​​​​​​

Once out in better water I tried lifting my speed and took the lead but it didn’t last long as it seemed that Steve wanted to go faster and was challenging me so I had to drop back beside him again. We passed the start/finish line and headed downstream to the turn buoy and at that time Luke was sprinting over the finish line with Brett and John close behind.

I gave it another go taking the lead but it didn’t last too long Steve then put the pressure on and made it hard for me to keep there so I had to drop back again. We seemed to be heading off to the right side and away from the straight line to the turn buoy. I thought it must have been a tactic of Steve’s but his trailing rudder had lifted and only a small part of it was in the water so he was having difficulty in steering. I could see what had happened so we stopped and I hit the rudder down with my paddle and for a brief moment we were friends but then the fight was on again.

As we were approaching the turn buoy I was on his right side which meant I would have to do a bigger wider arch around the buoy and if Steve did a good turn and accelerated I would find it hard to keep up so when we were just metres away I dropped back behind him, turned sharply, paddled hard and positioned myself on his left side. 

Relieved to be next to him we now only had a 1km to go but a headwind and choppier water made paddling that little bit harder. It ruined a good rhythm nevertheless I had to make sure that I kept up. With 150 metres to go, we both put the power on. I crept ahead but Steve pulled me back. Steve got ahead and soon after we were neck and neck but his kayak was over a metre longer so in reality my body needed to be 1 metre ahead of his at the end to record a win. That certainly meant that I couldn’t be on his wash and I needed to sprint faster than he could in those last few metres.

We battled away and I had no idea where the finish line was as the finish line buoy on our left was hundreds of metres away and Steve’s body was blocking out the timers and finish spot on the bank to my right. I just kept paddling until I noticed that Steve had stopped. Whow what a fight.

We were so close it was hard to know who won but we both thought Steve had but later the results put us neck and neck with the same time. Steve did deserve to win though.

(It would be good in the future to have a finish buoy closer to shore to make it easier for paddlers to know where the finish line was.)

Just as we carried our kayaks back to the car the rain came down. Although we had finished there were several paddlers still out there getting wet. The young George Pankhurst & Jayden Hart were really pleased with their performance as they beat Peter and Jane Liddle who were pretty quick. The boys were slalom paddlers giving marathon a go.

It turned out being a great race and after a delicious hamburger it was time for the results to be read out and to wait to see if we would win anything from the amazing prize pool.

All paddlers had a chance to win a prize as there were lots of prizes, some worth $150.00 others $3.00 but most paddlers received two prizes including me. So it was good to be a sponsor of the event and get something back. I picked a bottle of wine and some chocolates.

Thanks to the organisers and volunteers it was a great event.

Results here:

http://canningriver.canoe.org.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2018/04/20180422-Canning-Classic-2018.pdf

We are so lucky in WA to have most of our races within 45 minutes of leaving home.

Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoo

Life span 

25–50 years.

Habitat and food

Eucalypt forests. Feeds on seeding Marri, Jarrah, Blackbutt, Karri, Sheoak and Snottygobble, also some ornamental eucalypts and introduced Cape Lilac.
​​​​​​​

Threats to the species

Destruction of forests, fires in spring breeding season, feral European honey bees, expansion of Australian Shelduck and Australian Wood Duck which takes over nesting hollows, also vehicle strikes.