Enjoy the CDU Newsletter

Published: Wed, 08/01/18

2nd August 2018 CDU Newsletter 583

Terry 0417 977 330

terry@canoeingdownunder.com.au

https://canoeingdownunder.wordpress.com/ website

https://www.facebook.com/canoeingdownunder/ facebook

Good Luck to all those paddlers competing in this week ends
Avon Decent.

Let the river force be with you.

Not So Good News

In May I was on top of the world. I had won the 65 plus State Marathon Championships and the 65 plus Australian Championships and I was selected to compete for Australia in the World Masters Championships in Portugal.

I was also coming to the end of my 66^th year and in that year I had paddled 6600kms, (2800kms of that was paddling a heavy fully laden sea kayak across Canada) and I was feeling that nothing could stop me.

Unbeknown to my fit body and positive outlook on life something wasn’t going as well on the inside. A routine blood test indicated that I had high a PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) reading and the doctor recommended that I see a specialist as I may have Prostate Problems. I had no symptoms or indications that there was anything wrong, I felt so good and I still do.

The specialist sent me for a MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) which would give a better indication if I had cancer or not. After a weeks wait for the results the specialist indicated that the scans were not good and it was more likely than not that I had prostate cancer, but to determined how severe, I needed a prostate biopsy.

I was about to compete in the Avon Descent in a double 515 with Rob Jarrett so I thought it best to cancel my 27^th Avon as there were several more tests and other issues to come. The World Masters Marathon Championships and my trip to England with Jenny were also put on hold.

When I went for the biopsy it was my first time in a hospital so I wasn’t sure what to expect and if I was going to be nervous or not, but I was okay. In fact the hospital visit was quite relaxing, the staff, nurses and doctors were quite lovely and caring and I came out of the biopsy procedure feeling extremely calm, stress-free and quite happy.

I refrained from paddling for a few days and then when I felt it was the right time I had two paddle sessions before standing on a wooden stake in the river. (The stakes are used to tie branches and brush to which helps to stop erosion, but after a short time the branches and brush come adrift leaving just the timber stakes in the ground.) This stake had broken off leaving a sharp point sticking 5cm out of the sand. So now I couldn’t paddle for fear of infection and I could only hobble so I couldn’t walk anywhere.

It was another weeks’ wait for the biopsy results. I felt the news wasn’t going to be good but it was worse than I expected. I had grade 3 to 5 cancer in my prostate. I was hoping to have an operation to remove the prostate but I was warned that if the cancer has spread outside the prostate then that will be much, much worse and I couldn’t have the operation.

So what do you do when you know the road ahead is going to be a tough one! Well on the way home from being told I had cancer I took Jenny out for a meal. She has been with me for 41 years so it had to be the best and most memorable meal. I thought of Hungry Jacks, the ads are so convincing!! I hadn’t eaten a Hungry Jacks meal for years as I’m a pretty healthy eater but I thought lets go and see what we have been missing. Of course the burger didn’t taste too bad, the French fries though were too salty and Jenny couldn’t believe that I ordered a coke. I very rarely drink fizzy drinks because of all the sugar but I didn't really think it mattered too much at that moment! We will definitely go back to the Rose & Crown next time though.

So to determine if the cancer was contained or not I now had to have a PET scan (Position Emission Tomography) to see if the cancer has spread so on Tuesday morning I became radio-active and had the scans. Of course I am hoping it hasn’t spread but I am prepared for graver news. I’m not quite sure what the consequences will be and what I will have to go through if it has spread or even if anything can be done. It’s a mystery to me at the moment so I can only wait to hear.

I always wondered what other people would be thinking and feeling when they were told they had cancer. Now I know, but I took it quite well. I thought I would be scared of death but I don’t think I am. Of course I’m not there yet and I don’t really want to die, and lots of people have survived prostate cancer, so why worry.

I have had the best life ever. I started ticking my bucket list off at 19 years old and every year since then I have seen, achieved and done something special. So this is just another life experience and a bump in the road to negotiate so hopefully after an operation or whatever I have to go through I will be back on the water trying to win races, so watch out.

So for all you paddlers who can't beat me at the moment, I'm just giving you a chance to catch up. You better get out there and train.

So all I have to do now is sit back, go for a paddle or two, wait for the results and wonder what my future will bring. Hopefully I will know in a day or two.

**************************************************************

I have had no symptoms so if you are male over 50 years and you haven’t had a simple PSA blood test, do yourself a favour and visit the doctor.

https://www.cancer.gov/types/prostate/psa-fact-sheet#q3

http://www.prostate.org.au/

https://www.cancer.org.au/about-cancer/types-of-cancer/prostate-cancer.html

These are the guys I was originally going to compete against in the Avon Descent. Apart from the beautiful Fifi the other rough characters are Kiwis but don't put that against because they are a great bunch of people and I'm sad that I won't be going down the Avon and trying to beat them. However my yellow 515 will be piloted by Rob and Steve. So if they don't win they will be buying me more than a pint.

Chris, Steve (photographer) Tam, Rob, Jason and Fifi

Avon Descent Water Levels

Steve S taking on the Shredder (Emu Falls)

Kris Smith taking on the Washing Machine, Emu Falls

Geraint Maddison punches through the Washing Machine, Emu Falls

Murray River

Baden Powell Rapid

If you thought that the Avon River is high well the Murray River is doing okay as well.

I remember paddling this rapid when it was so high it was virtually flat and the rest of the river was in flood.

Matt Coutts paddles downs Baden Powell Rapid

video here:

https://www.facebook.com/matt.coutts.779/videos/153715465504835/

Have a look at this:

https://paddling.com/learn/whitewater-kayaker-hits-36-mph-in-rapids/?utm_source=paddling.com+subscriber+list&utm_campaign=e14e0d6549-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_08_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f2ead8a079-e14e0d6549-213217941&mc_cid=e14e0d6549&mc_eid=e77b67a3f8

Canoeing Down Under

Give-AWAY

Double Guppy

Canoeing Down Under is donating this Double Guppy worth $1550.00 to the junior Avon as a club prize.

Russell Wright's
40th Avon Descent

"I do indeed have a story to tell after forty years of Avon Descent history! Actually, my fortieth race would have been two years ago but a heart procedure, prostate cancer and two minor operations prevented me from competing in the last two Avons. After missing out on the first two races in the history of the Avon Descent, I signed up to compete in its third year and then I was hooked.

In reflection I realise that health, fitness and wellbeing coupled with goals and achievement play a major role in not only racing the Avon but lifestyle too. The extra ingredients of family, comradery and interaction of sport and social also contribute.

The Avon is a challenge and to ‘just finish’ is so rewarding but to share that feeling with a fellow competitor and or competitors is complete fulfillment. I have always competed in the double ski section, probably because in the early days the double ski was so competitive, prevalent and representative of the surf lifesaving movement of which I am a life member at Sorrento Surf Life Saving Club. Surf lifesaving and the Avon Descent really go hand in hand as shown by the history of the event. I call on fellow lifesavers to compete and enjoy the challenge.

To complete my fortieth Avon Descent my competitor colleagues have rallied to join me, Ron Clarke; 31 Avons, Dr Norm Miller; 27 Avons and Damien Kelly; 20 Avons and a special thankyou to Jerry (Jumbo) Knowles who has unfortunately passed away (a special North Cottesloe Life Saver and Avon man).

The Avon Descent is not just a race. It is an event and a challenge which can easily become a lifestyle involving family, mates, supporters, business colleagues and friends in a superb outdoor setting so why not do forty Avons?

In 2018 the Avon Descent will again challenge competitors with either a high, medium or low river but that is part of the excitement and preparation of equipment and fitness.

I am fortunate enough to have competed in several Avons at which the river had its highest water levels – and what a thrill!! All paddlers should get to experience that thrill.

Over the course of time I have experienced the ever-changing technology of crafts, from reinforced fibreglass to Kevlar and plastics, which have improved the durability of crafts but also the safety of competitors.

In conclusion a big thankyou to all volunteers and organisers over the whole 46 years. "

#TakeThePlunge #AvonDescent2018

Rusell, Ron, Norm and Damien

Epic V14
Performance Model

SAVE $2000.00

The V14 is designed to be the ultimate speed demon for small to mid sized water conditions. It’s faster than V10 and V12 with an even sleeker shape and narrower waterline.

Because the bow of the V14 is much narrower compared to the rest of the Epic ski line it helps the V14 knife through wind chop & small waves.

It is an amazing flat water ski, probably the faster ski on the market and equal speed as that of a fast K1.

If you are a proficient to experienced paddler you will love the V14 on flat water but you will need to be experienced paddler to paddle it on a rough ocean.

The V14 is not for novices.

Specifications:

Length: 6.4m (21’)
Width: 42.9 cm
Depth: 32cm
Weight 15.5kg

Only One Left - What a bargain - Usually $3990.00 Special $1990.00