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However, most of the major events are relatively secure and paddlers can start making arrangements around the dates reflected.
The calendar is massively busy. There are a heap of races for all sorts of paddlers.
As usual, a huge pat on the back to our race organisers. The heroes of our sport.
There is only one omission from the calendar with respect to National Championships, and that is surf ski. The event is due to be held in the Western Cape. It will need to be before the middle of June. The surfski committee is still in sitting on this one.
For the first time ever, the World Marathon championships and the World Ocean Racing (surfski) championships will be held a week apart, in the same country, Portugal (about a 40 min drive apart).
This will give our national paddlers and our master paddlers the incredible opportunity of attending both events.
The aim is to set a record of 100 masters competitors.
The Fast Drak was held last week.
After a solid week of a very full river (I was there), the river gods put a stop to the flow and the organisers had to opt for a low level start at the trout hatcheries.
Notwithstanding the low river and the fact that the race was held in the middle of the holidays, there was an impressive turnout of top quality paddlers.
Bridgitte Hartley and David Evans bringing home the respective bacon.
The main Drak Challenge will be a thing of the past this time next month. Hopefully the abundance of rain that has been present in the system over the past few weeks (making life miserable for those who chose a camping holiday), will proliferate, and that we will be treated to a cracker.
Please remember the major component, around which the entire Drak weekend exists, being the annual Drak golf day. Start honing your skills early. "The Beast" ( Drak golf trophy) is an envied addition to the cabinet of any half way respectful paddler.
Between now and then, there are a number of exciting races in KZN, mostly around the Dusi build up.
Some housekeeping.
Nominations for the sprint world cup teams in Poland and Czech during May, close tomorrow.
No late nominations are ever accepted.
After Drak, the next big one will be the Dusi.
With the full dams and the predicted weather patterns over the next few weeks, everything is pointing towards an extremely enjoyable water level.
What a great way to kick the year off.
So!! Pack in that last mince pie and then get your feet off the couch and get busy.
Until next week.
Your SG
Copper
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A short, politically correct joke:
Taxiing down the tarmac, the jetliner abruptly stopped, turned around and returned to the gate. After an hour-long wait, it finally took off. A concerned passenger asked the flight attendant, "What was the problem?"
"The pilot was bothered by a noise he heard in the engine," explained the Flight Attendant, "and it took us a while to find a new pilot." |
