Capel Descent - Post race
21/06/09 21:20
What a race! This race offered something that no other current paddle race in WA currently offers. A mix of river and ocean sections - each with their own challenges and setbacks.
Upon arriving at Peppermint Grove Beach late Saturday afternoon where Mick, Stu, Lisa, Nina and Conor were staying, I was greeted by the tailend of a recent cold front which brought massive downpours and gail force winds over the recent few days. The ocean was still boiling with a 3.5m swell which was furthered whipped up by the 30+ knot winds.
Well...Sunday morning was a new day and brought with it some relief for the paddlers that were about to embark on this inaugural paddle. The toughest decision that I had to make was to choose whether to paddle my Avon Cleaver X K1 or the Epic V10 - each had its advantages and disadvantages. The obvious advantages of the Epic V10 which would have made the paddle so much more enjoyable getting out through the break and paddling the ocean leg of the race, didn’t seem to tip the scales in my mind for the Cleaver, which would allow me to shoot the floodgate weir and work through some of the logs that were lurking just underwater upstream. This decision did of course mean that the challenge would be set for the ocean leg and aiming to get the Sprint K1 along the 8km ocean leg and back to the beach unscathed.
The start of the race didn’t go to plan with an early swim as I clipped a tree through some of the tighter sections. This allowed a number of the front grids to float past as I got back in the K1 and worked to catch up to Stu who had made some ground. We worked together to the river-mouth (the weir was great fun), and then the challenge of hitting the break and attempting to get through it unscathed. Well, it was unreal fun. The water was becoming increasingly chopped up as the seabreeze started to move in for the day. As we made our way down the coast aiming to stay upright, we formed a group with Stu and Matt Patricelli (Champion Lakes). The foot pump in the K1 couldn’t match the intake I was getting through a hole in the front of my spraydeck, and 2k from the turn I decided to paddle 200m back to the shore to empty out before I lost total control of a flooded K1. The entry to the beach was interesting as I attempted to correct a nosediving K1 with a Reo that any bodyboarder would have been happy with. On the way back out I was passed by James Duncan who was making light work of the small runs back to the finishline and his eventual victory in the open category. I was relieved to hit the turn, which also meant that I would be taking on less water on the way back with less water splashing over my deck.
The last turn to the beach was almost an eventful one as full course paddlers had to paddle side-on to the runs to make their way back to the beach. It was relieving hitting the sand with the K1 in one piece and a swim-free leg in the ocean. Well done to all paddlers for their efforts and support of the event. It was great to see so many Precision Paddling clients at the event having a great time with Stu, Mick, Mike, Conor, Sean, Nathan & Dihego enjoying the event.
Congratulations to the organisers for an extremely well run event for their first attempt. We are sure that the 120 odd entry number will be well-surpassed next year when more Perth paddlers get wind of this great race. Maybe the location would also serve as a great multisport venue???
Upon arriving at Peppermint Grove Beach late Saturday afternoon where Mick, Stu, Lisa, Nina and Conor were staying, I was greeted by the tailend of a recent cold front which brought massive downpours and gail force winds over the recent few days. The ocean was still boiling with a 3.5m swell which was furthered whipped up by the 30+ knot winds.
Well...Sunday morning was a new day and brought with it some relief for the paddlers that were about to embark on this inaugural paddle. The toughest decision that I had to make was to choose whether to paddle my Avon Cleaver X K1 or the Epic V10 - each had its advantages and disadvantages. The obvious advantages of the Epic V10 which would have made the paddle so much more enjoyable getting out through the break and paddling the ocean leg of the race, didn’t seem to tip the scales in my mind for the Cleaver, which would allow me to shoot the floodgate weir and work through some of the logs that were lurking just underwater upstream. This decision did of course mean that the challenge would be set for the ocean leg and aiming to get the Sprint K1 along the 8km ocean leg and back to the beach unscathed.
The start of the race didn’t go to plan with an early swim as I clipped a tree through some of the tighter sections. This allowed a number of the front grids to float past as I got back in the K1 and worked to catch up to Stu who had made some ground. We worked together to the river-mouth (the weir was great fun), and then the challenge of hitting the break and attempting to get through it unscathed. Well, it was unreal fun. The water was becoming increasingly chopped up as the seabreeze started to move in for the day. As we made our way down the coast aiming to stay upright, we formed a group with Stu and Matt Patricelli (Champion Lakes). The foot pump in the K1 couldn’t match the intake I was getting through a hole in the front of my spraydeck, and 2k from the turn I decided to paddle 200m back to the shore to empty out before I lost total control of a flooded K1. The entry to the beach was interesting as I attempted to correct a nosediving K1 with a Reo that any bodyboarder would have been happy with. On the way back out I was passed by James Duncan who was making light work of the small runs back to the finishline and his eventual victory in the open category. I was relieved to hit the turn, which also meant that I would be taking on less water on the way back with less water splashing over my deck.
The last turn to the beach was almost an eventful one as full course paddlers had to paddle side-on to the runs to make their way back to the beach. It was relieving hitting the sand with the K1 in one piece and a swim-free leg in the ocean. Well done to all paddlers for their efforts and support of the event. It was great to see so many Precision Paddling clients at the event having a great time with Stu, Mick, Mike, Conor, Sean, Nathan & Dihego enjoying the event.
Congratulations to the organisers for an extremely well run event for their first attempt. We are sure that the 120 odd entry number will be well-surpassed next year when more Perth paddlers get wind of this great race. Maybe the location would also serve as a great multisport venue???
