Sharlene is awesome!

I managed to talk Sharlene in to taking part in the last Twilight event of the Season......because the Kupe Canoe Club Series could do with some extra support from kayakers.

Over the past 2 months the support for this weekly series has been abysmal.

In the past when Shane Ross ran the events both sides of Christmas the

support used to be awesome, everyone paid the $5 entry fee then.
Free only to Mana and Kupe Club members.......... if we are to be honest with ourselves free entry to members is not working many in both clubs are simply not interested in supporting the event/club activities.......and hey Mana Organisers where were you when it came to supporting Kupe in the New Year????

Come on Club members if you are in a Club...... support the club at your clubs events or activities every two to three weeks at least, or else you are just using your Club as a storage facility. I also note that there are around 60 to 80 kayaks in the Kupe shed.

Unfortunately while the Mana Kayak Racing Club club puffed up the Twlight Series before Christmas and had great numbers, and were proporting close racing,  fun and excitement they never even bothered to post any results on their website for the last 5 weeks of the Series.......come on selling a race but don't give out results.....get real!

In Closing it was awesome seeing at least 20 paddlers on the water for the last Kupe Twilight event for the summer.... maybe it was the pizza and beer on offer. Big thanks to Sandy Winterton and the Kupe Club  members who took a turn to run "the event each week".

I note that people are put off by the word "Race"so next Season the approach should be weekly twilight events.........just like they run for twilight tennis etc..... purely social and I bet my bottom dollar more people will want to turn up each week.......the speedsters can still race off but it's not all about them :-)

Personally we all need to take a close look at ourselves and say "what are we doing to get ourselves along and encourage our mates to come along each week"..........and hey there are a number of you that can paddle each week regardless of how much or how little paddling you are doing currently......and also get away from work early if you start early!

Make an effort people....every local paddling event and the Kupe Canoe Club deserve better.....from us all.
I don't buy excuses, I'm old enough to see through all that.

Thank you Sharlene for showing us all what can be done if you have the will to get out and give it a go......you're the best xoxo

Photos from last night: photo credits to Sandy Winterton for the shots taken on the wharf.

This blog is an opinion piece, so please take the comments professionally (to improve this great water sports activity) not personally.

click on any photo to enlarge