Well Trans Taupo is hardly a race for pretenders, for some it's race and for others it's all about the challenge the experience and the journey, more so than the time it takes to achieve this.
The Greater Wellington Region was well represented at this event will 26 paddlers (awesome work) out numbering everyone North of the Bombay Hills (22).
Lake Taupo, if you've ever been on it in a kayak when "the big black dog" comes across, is especially maniac as far as the chop goes and even though it got tough in spots on Saturday, it could have been worse.
This Year anyone who had illusions of grandeur of breaking into the 4 hour Club will have been sadly dissappointed, as only the really race prepared, brave or race hardened were able to achieve this goal.
Of course the Taupo event is not all about the 4 hour club it's more about all the participants, in a range of craft getting out there and taking up whatever challenge Lake Taupo dishes up on the day.
The Ideal Scenario for the South to North Course is to have a South Westerly on the day which is perfect. Saturday delivered a calm start to 10 - 15 knots and probably 20 knots which kicked in well and truly at 10.45 am and made Leg 3 fairly technical for most, on the homeward Journey.
Sharlene did a great job for me this weekend, so it was a shame I let her down with a withdrawl at the leg 2 transition, and the big DNF. Amongst her fine deeds of the weekend was finding a map of the underwater topography of the course around the lake. This came in very handy as I was able to surf some awesome waves using that information.
Of course the race result will show that I sucked in not completing the journey, but I'm also a great believer in doing your homework and reece work. Getting it all right on the day is the key to success, all the ducks weren't in the row this year, but there is always next year for payback. Also I'm sure that the Transition marshalls appreciated the use of our binoculars while Sharlene was there. Don't forget to check out the photo's.
I hope none of you guys suffered damage to your craft on any of the transitions in the shallow water, with the rocks in these areas a real hazard, in future I'm sure a buoy, well away from rocks will reduce damage to those with craft that value between $3,000 to $8000 and upwards.
I can tell you that anyone who entered this event was certainly the worse for wear by the end of it, judging by the looks on peoples faces, also from sitting for that long, the butt and legs just didn't feel like too good and there were a few wobbly on the old pins getting out at the finish.
Well done to the Wellington Region Competitors out there yesterday.
Colin Slater/Jerome Sheppard
Mike Tate
Shane Ross/Mark Rickard
Chester Burt
James Disney/Evan Hobson
Claudia Disney
Heather Kirkham/Kath Allan
Sandy Winterton
Glenn Muirhead/Marianne Archer
Patrick Rimene
Dave Rudge/Jill Westenra
Paki Rawiri
Grant Edwards/Carol Tweed
Agnes Arnold & Alan Clark
Glenn Warner/ Jo Holden
Chris Fox & Anita Taggart
You guys were awesome and it was great to see you all at the finish, looking really stuffed, except for Heather, Kath, Glenn and Jill they were all looking cool and smiling!
We hope to see all of you at Wellingtons biggest open water Paddle race on April 5.
It's easy as you just paddle along the shoreline, so multisport kayaks and adventure racing doubles are more than welcome.
We've just bought a double Fenn XT Ocean racing ski back from Trans Taupo, thanks to Simon McLaren, for bringing it down from Auckland for me.
I'm lining up a couple of guys to paddle it at "The Motorway Race" I'm sure they will move it along nicely.
Welly Paddlers presents
"The Motorway Race"
13 km
Petone from the Wellington Waterski Club (by the motorway) to The Interislander reclaimed land around the buoy and return.
Sunday April 4, 2010
10 am start sharp!
$5 singles
$8 doubles
$12 for 6's
Don't forget it's Easter weekend and the end of daylight saving that morning as well.
We should have well over 70 paddlers at this one, it's going to be a biggy...............but like all races it relies on participation, from you the paddlers to achieve this goal.
Spot prizes, heaps of them, all entry fee money goes into the Spot prize pool.
Results and photos of everyone on the website http://www.wellypaddlers.blogspot.com/ that night.
On March 31, I'll send out a race update and a weekend weather forecast, or just check the Metservice link on our website.
If you'd like to see how we do this check the website out now!
cheers,
Chester and Sharlene
No comments:
Post a Comment