It was funny, well I suppose that isn’t the right word but as Sue Pankhurst and I were watching the presentations at the recent Marathon Championships Sue commented that very few of the athletes knew the correct way to approach the podium. If they did know they weren’t doing it right. Sue was telling me that the athlete should approach the podium from the back
and mount and dismount the podium from that position. According to Sue athletes should also be wearing footwear.
Before now I hadn't given it any thought but as we watched we studied every athlete and only 2 or 3 out of a huge amount going up for medals did it to Sue's standard. They got a cheer from us and the others got the thumbs down. I must admit I didn’t know the etiquette either but I made sure after Sue’s advice that I did it properly when I went up. Sue
generally supports the slalom team and I got the impression the slalom paddlers have been told the proper way.
The champs were a real success but what was evident at this champs was the fact that most athletes going up for medals including me didn’t dress in state colours, although last year in Adelaide most did. It was cold this year when some of the medals were given out so most paddlers were wearing jackets and jumpers to keep warm and I also suppose
that some paddlers didn't expect to win medals.
The WA juniors were the best dressed this year and NSWs had their act together. They had a spare shirt so anyone who wasn’t wearing a NSWs state shirt was given the shirt to put on before going on the podium.
I’m not quite sure if WA has a state jacket for winter wearing but one might come in handy if the nationals are going to be held again when it’s cold.
Most of our state shirts are singlets although there are some long and short sleeve ones but they don’t have WA on the sleeve so when I and others wear a PFD when racing you can’t see the state name or the state emblem. So really I suppose we need a long sleeve shirt that bears WA on the sleeve as well.
Short Video of the Champs by Harry Langley here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlWr_gAJQRY&fbclid=IwAR0FLHstgtQA8ulHiNwXURr1eaOyjcUy8tdRBj2f6RFErQvy1d0K2zrFud8