Saturday... through to Tuesday

Here's a quick montage of photo from the Foxton Loop trip....Foxton is the home of the "De Molen Windmill" and the New Zealand Famous "Foxton Fizz"to paddling with Peter Melling who finally received his SWAZI Spot prize from event 3....catching up with Graham Finch on his Waka Ama this Morning at Freyberg Beach...then catching up with heather and the crew from Adveture Wellington who are training for a Cook Strait Crossing in the coming months...then paddled with Tom Bowen on the way back to the Kupe Canoe Club sheds in Evans Bay. All this inbetween weaving in and out of a bunch of Wellington Rowing Club oars people training on a nice glassy Harbour.

Click on any photo to enlarge

Foxton Loop Race 2014...done and dusted.

We had a great day at the Foxton Loop Race on Saturday...after a drizzly start the weather settled down a bit and we had a consistent little 30 kmh to 35 kmh North Westerly wind.

The Long course was extended out by 1 km due to the narrowing of the river with weed at the previous turn point...Rueben recorded 19.1 km on his phone and the short course Lei clocked 8.67 km on her phone.

Karl Timu on the waka ama noted that he was hitting 12 kmh on the way to the buoy turn at Foxton then he dropped to 8km an hour on the way back home heading out of the loop.

While the high tide was at  .....and the event starts at  ...the full tide takes just over an hour to work it's way up river to the Foxton Township.

Sharlene did her second kayak race and now looks forward the the Whareama river race in January (over in the Wairarapa).....which she has put on her "to do list"

A great effort from paddlers from Wellington travelling through to support this event. To check out who went up to Foxton...who trained and who didn't check out the results and photos on the links below.

Thank you to the Ruahine White Water Club for putting this great event on for us for another year.

http://www.sportsground.co.nz/ruahinewhitewater/70959/5

https://www.flickr.com/photos/nuttykiwis/.

Check back in the next few days when we may have Dave McKnights video to view.

Events coming up

Oct 2 "Paddling Comnections" every Thursday 4.30 pm and 6pm...2 paddling groups Hataitai Beach, Evans Bay....social paddling fitness paddling till daylight savings ends. www.wellypaddlers.blogspot.co.nz

Oct 12 Ruamahanga River Race 31km and 19km (Teams also) www.wmsc.org.nz

Oct 18 Downwinder ONE Plimmerton Boating Club to Whitreia 6.5km short & 9km long course...(reverse course for Southerly) www.wellypaddlers.blogspot.co.nz

Nov 8 Whanganui River Challenge 13 km and 4 km www.wmtc.co.nz

Paddling choices

Big weekend ahead.

Foxton Loop Race tomorrow and we have 18km and 8 km options on the itinerary for all sit down paddlers.....and the original 8 km course for SUP's

Waka Ama, sea kayaks, stand up paddle boarders multisport kayaks, adventure racing doubles and surf ski paddlers will be travelling from Wellington in droves...both from Clubs and also many who don't belong to clubs...but are still passionate about their paddling.

Of course it's great opportunity to catch up with paddling mates from Wairarapa, Horowhenua, Manawatu Wanganui and maybe even New Plymouth and Hawkes Bay. In previous years the event has had around 40 to 80 paddlers on the water....but you never know from one year to the next who's prepared to travel to this one....not that it's a biggy the start is only 1hr 15 mins from the North Wellington suburbs.

Further a field if you'd like to head 7 hours North to Auckland (after Foxton) on Sunday you'll catch the Auckland Downwind Series event three.... it's roughly a 15 km downwind event.
A great event to have a crack at and though Aucklander's would love us all to travel up there to their events all the time....the reality is that they are bloody useless at reciprocating....still I love to be proved wrong....come down here to a Welly Paddlers event some day...we have plenty of them so through away your excuse books :-)

You'll find around 100 paddlers at the Downwind events.... many on surf skis... but a good splattering of waka ama and stand up paddle boarders.

The Series is run by www.pacificoceanpaddlers.com ..... Garth Spencer and Rachael Dodwell are behind the downwind events.

POP Facebook page is here https://www.facebook.com/groups/kiwioceanpaddlers/?ref=br_tf

So fill your boots go ahead and enter one.....or even both.

Fokkie a go, go

From Melanie Grant Ruahine White Water Club....Organisers of the 2014 Foxton Loop Race.

Hi All

Foxton Loop Race is on this Saturday with the normal 18 km race & 8 km Short Course & SUP Race.

As there has been requests for a shorter course option, we have added “NEW” short course of 8 kms. The new course is the same as that used by the SUP paddlers and is an easier option which will be classed as “open”. (No categories or prizes) but still eligible for spot prizes. 

Two more days to enter online and pay the $25.00 entry fee, Online entries will close on Wednesday. Race day entries will be taken from 9.45 - 10.15 at $30.00

Please enter online here - http://www.sportsground.co.nz/ruahinewhitewater/70959/

Would love to see & catch up with you again.

Cheers

Melz

www.rwwc.org.nz

Huge congrats Pete Sutton

Final event for the 2014 "Cold Kiwi Series 2014" shall we do something different when it come to prizes....We'll make it one step easier to buy a surf ski by putting most of the entry fee and a top up towards $1000 off a Think Kayak surf ski....this can sometimes be enough to get people across that financial line. 

We of course had to back this up with a few other prizes as well.

It's a one off and next year well go for 2 x vouchers for a top of the line waka ama or SUP paddle or a kayak paddle..... choice of which sport....and of course some other prizes.

All our events are self funding we don't go hunting for prizes... but always grateful if any one comes to the party like SWAZI did this year with 5 micro thermal tops. Huge thanks to Davey Hughes for coming forward with the tops...the paddlers really love them....and many are now SWAZI converts.

Here Pete Sutton is surprised....but beaming that he won this voucher.....he doesn't have to buy a Think Kayak surf ski.....he can sell or give the voucher to someone who does want one though. 

Congratulations Pete.

Click on any photo to enlarge

Weekend in Blenheim

Headed overseas in the weekend :-) to Blenheim. Leon Rossbotham is out from Hong Kong for two weeks and said yeah I'll be in on that trip. We took 7 surf skis across on top of the van....5 from the National demo fleet my own Ultimate and an Uno Max Ultimate that Nelson's Mark Washington pulled out from under our Auckland mates noses....man he's quick!

Above Mark Washington looking as happy as a sand boy with his new purchase.

Saturday we ran a Think Kayak demo session from the Blenheim Rowing Club on the Wairau River and Mark was pretty quickly in to grab his ski and take it out for it's first test run. 

The weather wasn't the brightest for the demo with rain and a cool southerly breezing through....but that didn't deter the locals with 12 people turning up in quick succession and pretty shortly there was a cue for a few of the skis.

Though the Uno Max was in hot demand as you'd expect the Big Eze and Eze were pretty busy....as were the Ion and the Evo II. 

The Marlborough Multisport and Triathlon Club are very active they run triathlon, biathlon and kayaking events and also have a keen base of regulars who support many of the events really well. In the last year or so they have taken to surf ski, and they have a group that gathers regularly to paddle and sip coffee afterwards.....as many of our group do after events in Wellington.

If anyone is passing through Marlborough at any stage conatct John Blackmore and he'll link you up on one of their regular paddle sessions.

Anyhow's here's some pics from the 3 hour demo session on the Saturday and the 20.5 km Twin Rivers race on the Sunday....which was 4 km on the Wairau River truning right into the Opawa River for the next 16km heading all the way through to the amphitheater into the Blenheim Township.

Click on any photo to enlarge

More Cold Kiwi Series Photos

Here are a selection of photos from Sharlene Camera....photography by Shayne Garrett.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.292057737664026.1073741833.281726235363843&type=1

On the Regional front:

Foxton Loop Race:

Start/Finish is at Foxton Beach, Manawatu River Estuary at the Manawatu Boating Club HQ.... it's a fantastic Clubhouse and showers are available!

18km and 8 km course options.

Sharlene is taking on the 8km on the surf ski!

Saturday September 28

Online entries through this site below.

http://www.sportsground.co.nz/ruahinewhitewater/70959/

Cost is $25 per paddler........after September 24..... a $5 late entry fee applies.

The "Cold Kiwi Series" Finale

Thank you to everyone who turned out today and your patience while both Sharlene and I sorted out the all the Spot prizes and also caught up with a few people to pass on tops info and general chit chat.

The event was based at the Marina at the bottom of Evans Bay right by State Highway 1 that runs right through to Wellington International Airport. We started from the spinning block sculpture by Cobham Drive heading 500 metres east to the first roundabout, there a buoy turn back to the start finish buoy then turning North and past the Marina breakwater then directly to Hataitai beach. Opposite the toilet block it was around the traditional Twilight series yellow mooring buoy with a 180 degree turn, then heading back south again, around the boat Te Kotuku (by the Main Boat Evans Bay ramp)  along the breakwater around the pole then back to the start finish buoy......aahh 1 lap done 2.25 km.

Short course x 2 laps
Long Course x 3 laps

The course was kept nice and tight and winter friendly, out of much of the breeze chop and coldness making it user friendly for the less experienced paddlers.....and great for us timekeepers and all the paddlers supporters as well, as we got to hunker down by the waterline out of the breeze and in the sun by Cobham Drive!

Thank you to Sharlene for all the baking, setting the buoys with Reuben, setting Shayne Garrett up with one of her three cameras and also paddling the short course.

Shayne Garrett awesome photos mate!

Thanks to Les Morris and everyone who helped pull the buoys back in.

Thank you to everyone who travelled from up the Kapiti Coast and also from the Wairarapa... petrol money spent.... much time in travelling much appreciated by us.....see you at the Ruamahanga River Race on October 12.

Here are the first bunch of photos from today....from Welly Paddlers Facebook page...I'll edit a 2nd set tomorrow and post them.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.291338851069248.1073741832.281726235363843&type=3&uploaded=34

The $1000 Major Spot prize of $1000 of a brand new Think Kayak surf ski went to Peter Sutton

Thanks to all paddlers, sponsors and supporters

Next weekend Twin Rivers Race in Blenheim....Cambridge to Hamilton River Race the week after that.......then Foxton Loop Race the weekend after that!...view details and website links on the event calendar top left hand side of the page.

We're running down wind events every month from October through to the Kapiti Mana Classic in January.

Oct 19 Plimmerton to Witireia
Nov 16 Paraparaumu to Pukerua Bay
Dec 21 Ngati Toa to Paekakariki
Jan 24/25 Kapiti Mana Classic event

All events are reversible, alternate courses/waterways will be used if conditions are rubbish.
We are after clean positive tail wind conditions for all events....side swells and side winds will be avoided
Open to surf skis, waka ama, sea kayaks, adventure racing doubles.....sorry no SUP's.....just been deleted 9/9/14.
Nov and Dec events are qualifying events for the Kapiti Mana Classic.....more details to follow.

Short course 5.5km

43:26 Paula Napier W1
47:35 Sharlene Winiata SS

Long Course 7.25km

44:21 Craig Jones MK
44:30 Jamie Saunders SS
47:05 Jack Manners SS
47:14 Tu Nui Men W6
47:31 Les Morris SS
48:10 Tom Oolders SS
49:03 Paddy Rimene W1
49:18 Blake Dyer SS
49:57 Tom Bowen/Toby Johnston AR double
50:04 Peter Melling SS
50:56 David Long SS
51:01 Dave McKnight SS
52:08 Barton Fletcher SS
52:48 Colin Crampton SS
53:07 Graham Daniel SS
53:20 Heather Kirkham SS
53:50 Karl Timu W1
54:14 Nicole Ranger/Matt Davies SK double
54:17 James Sadler W1
54:20 John Toomath SS
54:35 Rueben Hill SS
57:14 Emma Riseley SS
57:16 Sharon Henderson SS
59:04 Chris Fox W1 (women)
60:06 TuNui/Hikoikoi W6 (women)
60:16 Ed Cade MK
60:17 Trevor McDonald SK
61:15 Kate Nota SS
61:28 Zaniah Bettany SS
61:45 Grace Kingi SS
62:45 Lei Faletolu W1

All go for tomorrow

Likely Forecast for tomorrow is a 20kmh to 30kmh southerly wind, maybe some showers.... definitely fine closer to midday. 
We will base ourselves at the Marina by Cobham Drive access, from Evans Bay Parade. There is a very small beach area to launch from....keep this area clear for any W6 craft. 
There's plenty of room on the angled grass area in front of where we park....use this as a craft staging area....there's plenty of parking, venue wise it's warmer here and sheltered from any cooler Southerly breezes. 
We'll be down there before 8.15 am setting up.
We will have a long and a short course 6.5 km approx and 4.5km approx

Outlook for Sunday....

....one word...Fantastic. You're all going to be in for a real treat weather wise.....and a nice tidy bounty of Spot Prizes.

Sunday we will have fine sunny weather with a steadily decreasing Southerly throughout the day....
turning to a light Northerly in the Afternoon.

If this was the one event to get to this Season and considering the time of the year.....I'd shift my calendar to be at this one.....(even if we weren't running it)

The main spot prize is a voucher for $1000 off any Think Kayak surf ski from Fergs Kayaks. This is partially funded from all the entry money plus topped up by Welly Paddlers.

There will also be the regular spot from SWAZI and some merchandise and gear that Chester has sourced from overseas.

Come and join us on Sunday in Evans Bay for the 9.45 am start......(we'll be down there from 8.15am) you'll see all the waka ama, kayaks and surf skis lined up at the venue......which will either be at Hataitai Beach or the Marina by Cobham Drive...(access also off Evans Bay Parade)....We will be aiming for the best warm sheltered spot... for a clean start on the water.

Below is a quick article I put through to Sportzhub.

http://www.sportzhub.com/news/cold-kiwi-series-wellington2/

2nd update for this weekend

Update for Sunday's "Cold Kiwi Series" says fine weather and a Northerly developing.........but it's more than likely we'll have a southerly....if Monday's forecast jumps through on us. 

It's going to be in Evans Bay......either at the Marina by Cobham Drive.....or Hataitai Beach.

We'll post the final venue on Saturday morning at 9.45am.

The Event is on Sunday September 7.....and starts at 9.45am.........we'll be there from 8.15am.

Countdown to the last Cold Kiwi event

I guess everyone's enjoying this rather benign spell of weather in the lower North Island at the moment. With September 1st being the first day of Spring in the Southern hemisphere maybe we shouldn't be too surprised.

The last two Winter Series finales have been at Mana last year and the previous year at Petone so it's only fitting that this years is in the Wellington City suburbs.

Long range we're looking at a Southerly and if it's over 20 kmh an hour we'll start it at the Marina at the bottom of Cobham Drive access off Evans Bay Parade..........reasonably calm or a Northerly we'll be starting at Hataitai Beach.

Over the weekend we caught up with Ian Huntsman and Wendy Riach who recently won the Yukon 1000 kayak event great to catch up with them share some stories and Ian being a tinkerer with his gear enjoyed seeing what modifications or extra accessories we have with our Think Kayak surf skis this Season. We went for a nice easy paddle from Hataitai Beach around to the Lagoon, Fergs Kayaks, Oriental Parade and back, 4 skis out including Sharlene who had her first day of training ready to hit the 8km for the Foxton Loop at the end of the month.

Out on the Northern end of the harbour John Toomath and Karl Timu caught each other out early doing some secret training. Not everyone belongs to a Club so it's just awesome to see paddlers on the water and organising their own paddling meets/sessions.

I'll post another weather update on Wednesday.

The last two images were taken by John Toomath and Karl Timu respectively.

Click on any photo to enlarge

The