There are a few CRNZ Clubs who have submitted events for the second year running to form a Canoe Racing New Zealand 10 km series. It is ironic that the majority of these events are from enthusiastic clubs in the central and lower North Island who have strong memberships. From the Waitara, Wanganui, Mana and Hawkes Bay Clubs I have seen a few of their paddlers actually travelling around the Country to distance events which I believe is much needed to grow the kayak scene. It can't all be about sprint events and overseas world cup meets just because these events are funded can it? Improve the cross flow of this aspect of the sport and we will see a dramatic improvement to what we haven't seen happening over many years of individual success........and if you have local events support as many of them as you can........that helps heaps as well.
The next local event in Wellington (June 16) is event TWO of the Welly Paddlers Winter Series. Joern is hosting this event out at Ngati Toa Domain, Mana. Joern was actually the originator of this current Series, that started four years ago, then around 10 to 15 paddlers turned up to each event. Now we have anything from 30 to 80 paddlers turning up to the events....so paddlers keep up the good work and support your local events.
After the slow slog of a course at this years Motorway Classic due to the lower tides, I've set a date for the 2014 event so it's right on the full tide. I'm not making way from any events up North, we have to look after ourselves down here and grow our event scene and make it stronger that people want to train here fulltime rather than head for the bright lights elsewhere.
So the date is Sunday March 2014. We may not get too many people travelling down from other places to this event, but if we put on a good showing ourselves many will want to come to Wellington more regularly in the future.
It's important to support events further afield as well. In October 2013 I went to support an event I did in Warkworth 20 years ago, The Ocean Canoe Showdown which is part of the local Kowhai Festival. This year the event was Organised by Terry Newsome from ipaddle he also organises the "King of the Harbour." A great trip (a 9 hour drive one way) I had an average paddle in the end where my wheels fell off at the 2/3 distance...... but I came away with a nice looking orange and black Sharkskin thermal top as a spot prize from the prizegiving also caught up with some paddling mates of old.
This year my big road trip is down to Dunedin. I'm heading down there to one of the Otago Canoe and Kayak Club Winter Series events. It's a 21 km race from Pilots Bay (Portobello) to Vauxhaul.
To get there it's a 3.5 hour trip across to the South Island on the Ferry then an 8 hour drive to Dunedin. Sharlene's sister lives in Christchurch so we'll stop in to stay with her to break the trip up. With a bit of luck the 2013 NZ container of Think surf skis will have arrived by then and I'll have an Ion and Evo 2 surf skis to take down there to show the locals as well.
To view the above events just view the event calendar left of page.
The next local event in Wellington (June 16) is event TWO of the Welly Paddlers Winter Series. Joern is hosting this event out at Ngati Toa Domain, Mana. Joern was actually the originator of this current Series, that started four years ago, then around 10 to 15 paddlers turned up to each event. Now we have anything from 30 to 80 paddlers turning up to the events....so paddlers keep up the good work and support your local events.
After the slow slog of a course at this years Motorway Classic due to the lower tides, I've set a date for the 2014 event so it's right on the full tide. I'm not making way from any events up North, we have to look after ourselves down here and grow our event scene and make it stronger that people want to train here fulltime rather than head for the bright lights elsewhere.
So the date is Sunday March 2014. We may not get too many people travelling down from other places to this event, but if we put on a good showing ourselves many will want to come to Wellington more regularly in the future.
It's important to support events further afield as well. In October 2013 I went to support an event I did in Warkworth 20 years ago, The Ocean Canoe Showdown which is part of the local Kowhai Festival. This year the event was Organised by Terry Newsome from ipaddle he also organises the "King of the Harbour." A great trip (a 9 hour drive one way) I had an average paddle in the end where my wheels fell off at the 2/3 distance...... but I came away with a nice looking orange and black Sharkskin thermal top as a spot prize from the prizegiving also caught up with some paddling mates of old.
This year my big road trip is down to Dunedin. I'm heading down there to one of the Otago Canoe and Kayak Club Winter Series events. It's a 21 km race from Pilots Bay (Portobello) to Vauxhaul.
To get there it's a 3.5 hour trip across to the South Island on the Ferry then an 8 hour drive to Dunedin. Sharlene's sister lives in Christchurch so we'll stop in to stay with her to break the trip up. With a bit of luck the 2013 NZ container of Think surf skis will have arrived by then and I'll have an Ion and Evo 2 surf skis to take down there to show the locals as well.
To view the above events just view the event calendar left of page.
No comments:
Post a Comment