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5th July 2019 CDU Newsletter 622
At Bells - Avon Training
Photo Paddy PENFOLD of PENFOLD PHOTOGRAPHY
Whilst our local white water paddlers are enjoying the white water on the Avon, Murray and Blackwood, Paddle WAs Development Officer Christopher Greed is competing in Spain at the Freestyle World Championships.
He toned his white water skills whilst in England doing his last year of his university studies. Joining a local kayak club he did a lot of whitewater and pool sessions. Although Christopher was a good paddler before then, the year in England really increased his white water skills.
Having twin younger brothers who have paddled for Australia in Sprint and who are also good white water paddlers, he now joins them by representing Australia in paddling.
Not to be out done Lawrence the father of the 3 boys is also going to represent Australia in the Masters World Canoe Marathon in China in October. That only leaves Anita, their mum to put an Australian shirt on.
Christopher Greed at the
ICF Canoe Freestyle World Championships
Christopher on the big screen and getting ready for his run. Photos Lawrence Greed.
A few tricks during his competition run.
Christopher and Lawrence in a more relaxed mood before the competition.
Lawrence Greed enjoying his time watching his son compete and having a paddle in their spare time.
Hi Terry, It’s pretty hot over here in Spain, 43C although it’s cooler today. We did a 15km group white water trip yesterday on the amazing clear alpine water from Llvorsi to Sort. This area is the mecca for kayaking and rafting. I hired a freestyle boat for 20 euros. It was a radical latest design Gui-gui Prod Exo Helix, but a in large as that's all they had and it was a bit too big a volume for
me. I was thankful though when I hit the G3+ rapids and meaty stoppers! It’s been a while since I've paddled anything like that. There were big wave trains along the flatter sections, the boys were all doing cartwheels and loops over them, amazing to see this line of boats behind me at all angles. It reminded me of the Murchison Rapids.
Christopher is competing tonight in the second-last heat of Open Mens Kayak. Each heat is 5 boats and they have 45 seconds on the rapid feature, they have 2 runs in each heat. Each trick can only be done once to score and there are rule definitions on boat angles. Sometime it looks like a paddler is really cutting it up, and the score is small.
All the ICF organisers and top paddlers are pretty relaxed and friendly.
The ICF and town have built the rapid feature so it's there forever to use, and amazing amount of infrastructure has been put in place with cooperation.
Having a great time.
Cheers, Lawrence
Progressive Racing Group
Tuesday Night
Our Progressive Racing Group is growing. Whilst the Ascot Kayak Club intermediate training session only had 5 paddlers taking part last Tuesday, 15 PRG paddlers turned up for training. With the cool dark nights some paddlers are staying home though.
On Thursday, the wet day 8 paddlers turned up and only one other Ascot member was on the water.
Young Kylan continues to paddle a C1 and is determined to perfect it.
To Paddle the Murray River in Victoria
Guy Davies will soon be heading off to lake Hume to paddle the Murray River to Goolwa. He recently purchased a bit of gear & obtained some tips from me. He is looking forward to the adventure.
He will be taking his time and intends to paddle about 50 kms a day and get away from
the world & enjoy himself.
I paddled the entire river in 1990, 2500kms in a fast 21 days and I have always wanted to go back and paddle it at a slower pace. Hey Guy - Wait for me!!!
Guy Davies getting into some serious Murray River training.
Wild Water Racing on The Upper Swan
Stephen Coward in the Wild Water Race
Photo Paddy PENFOLD of PENFOLD PHOTOGRAPHY
Plenty of rain for Perth and the hills (more than 210mm for Perth metro) in June resulted in plenty of water for white water paddlers on Sunday, 30th, for our annual Upper Swan race. The post 1994 Mt Lawley average is
125mm! Walyunga wooden gauge read about 0.71m. (Alas, not so much rain in the Central Wheat Belt)
So, the more than forty participants eagerly awaited their take-off, one by one, at one minute intervals. Slowest first, except for Australian team member for the U23 World Championship, Kieran Simpson, who took off with the Number One bib. I was Number Two; how could he be slower than me, one of the “elders” of the WWK1 racing scene? He was out of sight by the time the minute interval had elapsed!
We had quite a variety of craft apart from wild water kayaks: the plastic Wavehopper, some skis, K1s and other plastic “Sundries”. All welcome!
Apart from Kieran we also had superstar paddler Jesse Phillips along in a sleek, possibly Czechoslovakian new design WWK1 befitting such a superstar paddler, a “Kick the Wave”.
All the worst obstacles were well under water along the course and some of the lower water tight turns in the treed section did not exist or could easily be avoided. Mind you, I am slow enough to have plenty of time to check out the best lines through the trees. Unexpected ‘boils’ and eddies proved to be a bit of a challenge at times for me and certainly for some paddlers who I passed on the side with their boats upside down (after they had passed me earlier - ha!).
Paddlers do appreciate having so many willing to help In the Wild Water Series: starters, timekeepers, sweep boat, today the Liddles for delicious and warming Minestrone and pumpkin soups for afters, all those willing to help with car shuffles, (even if out of their way) and the overall organiser, enthusiastic and innovative Kris Smith. Thanks to all!
Robyn Khorshid
Full Results here:
https://www.webscorer.com/racedetails?raceid=186630&did=206413
David Burdett paddling in the Wild Water Race.
Photo Paddy PENFOLD of PENFOLD PHOTOGRAPHY
Wouldn't it Be Better to Have the Skill or Have a More Stable Craft
Rather Than Swimming All The Time!!
The idea of paddling is being on top of your craft and not being in the water.
When I started paddling back in the 1970s you trained yourself to stay in a boat. Back then it was all kayaks which admittedly posed more of a problem to re-enter than the skis do today.
Most Avon Descent paddlers now no longer do the skills training like we used to do. Paddlers also use more unstable craft so they spend nearly as much time in the water than on the boat. I just don't see being in the water as fun.
I know paddlers want to get down the river as fast as they can but I have never understood why its come the norm that paddlers develop fitness and not skill and they just expect to fall out or off the craft when going down a rapid.
The chance of hurting yourself when swimming down a rapid is great and the first time I capsized and swam down a rapid and hit my bum I soon concentrated in developing skills so it would never happen again.
Many novice paddlers also choose the wrong craft for their ability by getting the most narrow craft as possible so to be able to gather good speed on the flat water. Of course once they get to the rough stuff they swim all the time. To prevent this paddle a more stable craft. If it's a ski paddle an Epic V7 or similar that has good stability and also has good speed. By keeping on your craft your trip down the Avon will be much faster and there won't be that fear of being battered or
trapped or spending time in hospital with an injury.
Capsizing before Bells Drop is not good. What if your legs get caught between rocks going down the rapid and you become wedged. And if you had your head under the water at the same time - it could be good bye!
Photo Paddy PENFOLD of PENFOLD PHOTOGRAPHY
The faster and more unstable the boat the chances of capsizing is great amongst the less experienced. It's very difficult to recover from a capsize in fast water. Your boat will probably get swept down the rapids with you bumping over the rocks after it.
Photo Paddy PENFOLD of PENFOLD PHOTOGRAPHY
When you survive a capsize and all is good then its cause for celebration. But wouldn't it be better not to be in the water? You can help yourself by developing skills and paddling a more stable boat.
Photo Paddy PENFOLD of PENFOLD PHOTOGRAPHY
The Epic V7 is a craft with good stability and good speed and you will find that paddling a craft like that or similar you will enjoy the thrill of the rapids much better.
If you are inexperience and are heading into white water or rough ocean paddling do yourself a favour and develop those skills and paddle a craft suited to your ability.
The Bettong
Grafton Paddle Sports
The Bettong kayak is designed to be the best combination of speed and handling. Using the proven Alchemist hull but with the sides angled out to leave a slim hull with a wider beam at the join.
This leaves the Bettong with a slim fast hull but with better secondary stability in adverse conditions.
Length 5.2 Metres Width 45 cm Cockpit : K1
David Brown paddles his new Bettong kayak for the first time.
I'm happy to say he loves it.
SunSmart Northam to Toodyay
14th July
Northam to Toodyay
There will be no entries on the day. If you have any queries or difficulties with your online registration please contact Christopher Greed at develop@paddlewa.asn.au
Registrations close midnight 11th July!
Race start: Broome Terrace, Northam
Race finish: Duidgee Park near Toodyay Bridge
Now who said Nikki was spoiled
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