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It's always difficult to go from a social or new paddler and get into racing without being disheartened due to the paddlers in the racing field being so quick. But now Ascot members have the opportunity to enjoy racing with other members who are also interested in taking up racing. Our first race was only a 1km race, then the next
a 1.5km race and this week a 2.4km race so paddlers are slowly getting used to racing longer distances and they seem to be enjoying it.
On Tuesday evening 13 paddlers took part in the session with 10 paddlers taking part last Thursday.
The sessions are 5.00pm to 6.30pm Tuesday & Thursday evenings
If you would you like to join the group.
Just give me a call on 0417977330 or email terry@canoeingdownunder.com.au
The AKC Progressive Racing Group.
Ascot members who haven't raced before get a taste of racing on
Tuesday and Thursday nights.
Five of these paddlers - Jo, Peter, Sarah, Angela and Phil did the same 2.4km course Tuesday and Thursday and their Thursday times improved by 27 seconds for Phil, 32 seconds for Angela, 47 seconds for Peter, 55 seconds for Sarah and an incredible 1 minute 24 seconds for Jo.
At the end of my first Marathon Race since July.
I'm about 2 minutes slower over 10kms than I was before my operation.
I have some catching up to do but I'm really happy with my progress.
I feel as if I never had the operation but it is a good excuse to use when I lose.
At the 10km Championships at Lake Leschenaultia. Photo John O'Sullivan.
Slalom Championships - Tasmania.
Friday marked the beginning of the national championships with all teams events taking place. The WA squad showed their strength early on, with Steven Lowther (AKC), Brodie Crawford (AKC) & Jack Choate (SCC) taking out the C1 Open Teams to win gold (pictured
above).
George Pankhurst (above) & Jayden Hart (below) taking part in the Australian Championships at Bradys Lake, Tasmania are two of our promising juniors. Over the last two years I have seen them practising on the Ascot Slalom Course, developing skills, rolls and just having fun. Photos: Kylie Wilson
It is the second week of the
Down River Training
around the buoys
It will run for 6 weeks.
Place: Claughton Reserve, Bayswater.
Time: 6.00am
Boat needed: Best to be in a Wild Water Kayak (DR) or a Wavehopper.
A Finn kayak or similar will be okay.
K1s with rudders are not suitable.
All paddlers welcome
For more details ring me on 0417977330
Another 20 paddlers were out at 6.00am this morning.
Results of this mornings time trial: https://www.webscorer.com/racedetails?raceid=166723
Young Tim Hyde made club history on Tuesday night by smashing the Canning River Canoe Club Tues night time trial record by 13 sec, posting 25min, 21sec time, to beat the previous record set by Brett McDonald "Paddler Brett" some 2 years ago. A huge achievement, with imperfect conditions, Tim mentioned he was burning throughout but
threw the kitchen sink at it and set a blistering pace for the first half into the wind..
Epic V14 Performance
Special
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.
Specifications:
Length: 6.4m (21’)
Width: 42.9 cm
Depth: 32cm
Weight 15.5kg
What a bargain - Usually $3990.00 Special
$1990.00
$2000.00 off.
Length: 6.45 m
Width: 45.0 cm
Depth: 33.0 cm
Weight 12.3kgs
Normally $4990.00 Special $4490.00
Lake Leschenaultia
It was not only the first race of the year it was my first major race since July. Since Christmas I had raced in 2 x 4km races, an 8km race and a 7.5km Ascot Race. By my reckoning I was now about 1 min 10 seconds slower in a 4km race than I was before my operation so that means in theory I will be 2 minutes slower in this race.
When I arrived the lake was looking stunning with virtually no wind but by the time I and Jose put the buoys out with my canoe the wind was starting to pick-up. We had to try to get the buoys out in position so it made a kilometer circuit.
Paddlers start to gather.
Paddlers milling around and getting ready to start.
Start buoy in the middle of picture.
Photo John O'Sullivan
The guppies raced first and then it was the oldies turn with the open and juniors being the first grid off. All other male K1s above 35 years were next but there was a false start for some reason. We regrouped and took off. Compared with everyone else I had a slow start and about 50 metres before the first turn I suddenly realized that Peter Martin and Doug
Hodson were just ahead. I couldn’t have that so I put more effort into my paddling and with a big spurt I managed to creep ahead of them just metres before the turn.
Up to the first turn. Photo John O'Sullivan
Ron who was the same age and my main competitor sprinted well and had a good start. So did Steve Stasiuk who I don’t think had beaten me before but he was ahead as well. I thought he must have gone off on the grid before but he hadn’t and although
he wasn’t too far ahead I was unable to catch him. (It must have been the Clint Robinson coaching course he did.)
Ron Clarke chased by Joe Dowse and being overtaken by John Carroll. Photo Lawrence Greed.
Round the top buoys. Photo John o'Sullivan.
It didn’t take long for Josh and a few other faster paddlers to lap me and not long after the faster paddlers on the skis said hello as they passed, Ramon being the first. By now the wind was getting stronger and on the last leg of the triangle, where we paddled across the wind it was pretty choppy and all the wash from the other boats made it
worse.
Three of the young guns had made a pack before the race to clear weed off each others rudders. As they did this I was able to keep up with them and at one stage I actually passed them which lasted for a few moments. They didn’t seem to be in a big hurry. Not sure if it was a ploy to rest or they just didn’t care who won the race but at some stage they
would have to paddle hard at the finish.
Steven Stasiuk (left) and Garth Civil and Leanne Smith in the double.
Like a herd of elephants the faster paddlers gain on me. Photo Peter Ward.
This year I had a garmin telling me how many laps I had done whilst last year I was counting the laps in my head and found out I couldn't count to ten, or should I say I couldn't remember how many laps I had had counted.
By the 5th lap and with Peter Martin and Doug lagging further behind I was feeling less threatened and even some of my competitors in the skis, like Chris Watson, Rob Jarrett and Steve Bolger hadn’t yet caught me. But Ron was still ahead.
It was only on the downwind section that I could only really put the effort in. And it was on this short section that it was good not to have any boats passing and mess up my good run but that was rare.
We circled for 10 times. Although Martin Watson had passed me earlier on the last 10th lap I started catching up with him and 100 metres before the finish line I had a chance to race him to the finish but unfortunately he was just too
strong and pipped me by a second but with the difference in the division starts he beat me by a minute.
Racing Martin Watson to the line. Martin started behind me and beat me by a minute. Photo Peter Ward.
Josh Kippin winner of the race. Photo John O'Sullivan
Results here:
https://www.webscorer.com/racedetails?raceid=166341&did=181037
Exodus Sea Kayak
ex-demo for sale
$990.00
This ex-demo Exodus has only been paddled a handful of times.
2 large compartments, a day hatch and rudder.
Specifications:
Length: 16' 10" / 513 cm
Width: 23" / 55 cm
Weight: 66 lbs. / 30 kg
This juvenile Kingfisher bumped into our front window and landed on the balcony. It was stunned for a few moments and soon 'came alive'. I put it down, it pecked me and then flew off like the wind landing in the big Marri tree opposite.
Young Ascot club members taking advantage of the summer holidays.
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