I’ve been hearing screams and sounds of laughter coming from the river over the last week. It was because Ascot Kayak Club has had a school holiday program and 31
paddlers plus the instructors have been having a ball. Headed by Peter Martin (who’s laughter and enthusiasm can be heard for kilometres and seems to be having as much fun as the students) the students are split up into 3 or 4 groups all doing different activities and overseen by Ascot members like Luke Dooley, Claire Pankhurst & family, David Burdett, the Florisson family, Sam Pilton and a few junior slalom
paddlers. *************************************** The Australian Marathon Championships is only a few weeks away and our paddlers have been training pretty hard. Take a look at the Thursday night session. Short portage video https://www.facebook.com/1575232312736393/videos/2049161288676824/
*************************************** It's getting to that stage where there is no point organising events in the ocean as most are getting cancelled half way through. With helicopters up in the air looking for sharks the possibility of not seeing one is pretty remote.
***************************************
The Adventure Travel Film Festival schedule is out now, get your tickets... Sandy Robson is one of the presenters speaking about her expedition -
Retracing Oskar Speck Expedition. Sat May 26th, 4.30-6pm at St Mathews Church in Guildford WA. Tickets are available online. There are many other excellent presenters and films: http://marshallarts.net.au/atff/?page_id=485
Every Saturday morning 20 - 35 paddlers gather at Sandy Beach Reserve, Bassendean for training.
Patrick Irwin likes to drive his highly tuned sports car when the weather is good. Who needs a roof rack when you have a windshield!
************************************ Come join the Sat AM Dash crew on Saturday 21st April for a unique insight into paddling Wild Water. Bring your DR's (DownRiver) or Avon boat and join in the local 4km race, prior to learning some invaluable Wild Water skills in the safety and comfort of a flat water session from Dave Worthy.
Skills and information
that will be covered include boat setup, paddler posture, boat control, capsize and safety considerations, self rescue and team safety... just to name a few.
Why not try your skills out and test a DR prior to the first race of season which follows a few weeks later on Saturday 12th May.
Make sure you keep your eyes peeled for a Swiftwater Rescue day course to be held in the near future
too! There you can learn correct rescue techniques, and test your rescue skills out amongst the Wild Water of the Avon River. It'll be like nothing you've done before!
Dave Worthy one of Australia's top Wild Water paddlers at the WA State Champs
Wild Water Sprint Video
Although not
currently on the race calendar here in WA... Wild Water Team Sprint races are generally between 200m to 600m in length, with all 3 paddlers having to cross the finish line within 10 secs of each other. This footage is courtesy of Rob McIntyre from the nationals at Eildon VIC
. In the video teams run through on the sprint course in Eildon.
Rob McIntyre, Kaylen Bassett
and Alex Mcintyre
https://www.facebook.com/robmcintyrekayak/videos/798831410312631/?fref=mentions
Annie Danko in the Avon Descent
Are you getting Ready for this years event!
The Epic V7 is perfect for the Avon Descent. Fast, stable, tough, manoverable and extremely comfy.
Don't forget this weeks Canning Classic
You can enter on the Day
Lots of prizes
School Holiday Program at Ascot Kayak Club
31 juniors take to the water - What a turnout
The young kids ready to go.
Luke Dooley takes a team of students for a paddle in a K2 whilst Peter Martin gets another group to play games.
The students were having a great time
Whilst WA white water paddlers paddle on flat water a group from Victoria (Canoes Plus Racing Team) are in Tasmania paddling slalom and wildwater and having a great time.
Tasmanian white water - lets hope it starts raining in WA
The new Epic 14X is the ideal choice for anyone looking for a comfortable, efficient, and responsive day-touring kayak that is as easy to manage on land as it is in water. The hull design builds off the success of our popular V5 surf-ski, with the full feature list of our longer touring kayaks like the 18X. There has
simply never been a smarter, better designed kayak in its class. Paddlers looking for stability and speed will love the 14X, and those seeking adventurous waters will be thrilled by its performance!
The 14X comes standard with the Smart Track rudder system and our proven, adjustable carbon foot-board/pedal system. 2 large hatches and a convenient day-hatch will carry everything you need for your next adventure. It also features our fully adjustable seat, deck lines for increased
storage and safety, and bow/stern carry handles.
Length: 14'5" (4.4m)
Width: 23.6" (60cm)
Depth: 13.4" (34cm)
Capacity: 330 lbs (150kg)
Performance 18kg
Ultra 15.4kgs
Annie Danko tours the city early morning
The new footbridge over the Swan River. Photo Annie Danko
Building works at Elizabeth Quay. Photo Annie Danko
Time to go home. Annie gets out in the mornings on her Epic V10 Sport
For anyone retired or a paddler who has days off there are several groups around Perth and Mandurah that go on social paddles. There is the over 45 group, the over 55 group, the Leisure Paddlers group, The Swan River Paddlers group and others.
This is
The Friday Group
I get to meet a lot of friendly paddlers and customers on the river. Photo Graeme Gurney
Another great day out on our lovely Swan River. In perfect conditions we had 12 paddlers on the water, launching from the Ascot Kayak Club. Joining us for a photo was
Terry Bolland who then paddled with us for the short trip to his house. With almost no breeze we paddled downstream, under the Tonkin Highway, under the Garrett Rd bridge then into the canal to Ascot Waters. We rounded the island and crossed the river, to land in the little cutting near Tranby House for coffee at the Peninsular Tea Rooms. Joining us were Geoff, Jim and Rod who had ridden their bikes ... they didn't want to miss out out on the coffee, cake and
chatter. But time waits for no one, and it was soon time to head for home. So it was back in boats, on the water, and paddling with a light breeze in our backs. It was only a short trip back to Ascot, where we washed, packed and racked, followed by another coffee.
Cheers, Graeme Gurney
Off for coffee and cake at the Peninsular Tea Rooms, Tranby. Photo Graeme Gurney
DOUBLE BARKERS RACE
also incorporating
LADIES/JNRS K4 CHAMPS
Sunday 29th April, Ascot Kayak Club
REGISTER
https://www.webscorer.com/register?raceid=132955
23k Marathon & Ladies & Juniors K4
Championships
Race Courses Long Course [23km]:
Ascot Kayak Club to Barkers Bridge [West Swan Rd], back round Ron Courtney Island, back up to Barkers Bridge, finish at Ascot Kayak Club Short Course [Approx. 13km.]:
Ascot Kayak Club to Barkers Bridge [West Swan Rd], finish at Ascot Kayak Club Guppy and Novice Course
[Approx 4.4km]:
Race Day Schedule:
Registration…………..7.30am
Briefing………….…….8.30am
Races Start…………...9.00am
Grid Intervals...............2mins
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