W1 Winter paddle Series and Marathon Champs

Hi Everybody,

I've just been talking to Jörn (pronounced Jern) about the Winter Paddle Series he's running, and thought those of you who don't know him would like to know who he is.................... and where he's come from.

Jörn lives out at Whitby and has been living in NZ for 7 years, has a partner, Tania.
From Berlin originally, Jörn use to paddle C1 sprint in Germany, he took up Outrigger Canoe/Waka Ama/Va'a paddling in New Zealand 5 years ago and this is his second year running the winter Paddle Series.

The Series is there for W1 paddlers.......................... but also includes Paddlers using other craft, such as Surf skis and kayaks, the event distances are around 9 km and the races are run roughly every 3 weeks.

Jörn works for the Ministry of Transport................. and one of his hobbies is that he'd like to see better Governance and communication within our Sports....................so that's why he is not only paddling but has become involved in the administration side.

Jörn is on Hoe Tonga, the Regional body for Waka Ama in Wellington so he advertises the race through the www.hoetonga.co.nz website which is now updated every week.

You will see Jörn out on the water on either his all black (razor sharp) Poe Rava W1 or an Orange and white Polaris W1

The Series races are:

May 23
June 13
July 4
July 25
Aug 15*
Sept 5

*Welly Paddlers will fill in and run this race for Jörn while he is soaking up the sun it up in Germany through August.

As soon as I see any updates from the Hoe Tonga paddlers at the World Champs................. or anyone has info to send through I'll post them on the website www.wellypaddlers.blogspot.com or you can go to www.wakaama.co.nz to see the latest info about all the New Zealand Teams compteing in New Caledonia.

I'm heading down to the Marathon Kayak Champs (flatwater) down in Blenheim this Saturday, along with about 6 to 12 other paddlers from both the Welly Paddlers and Mana Kayak Racing Clubs.

The course is a 6 km circuit course (Wairau River) with a portage every lap.................when you're priviliged (or old like me) you only have to do 4 laps............... the Open and U23 Men do 5 laps................. Open and U23 Women do 4 laps.

Feel free to mock me on Monday if I get beaten by any of the women (-:

I'll get some results and photos up on the website by Monday evening.

Chester