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Hi ,
A real smorgasbord over the next couple of months for paddling enthusiasts, and we are already smack in the middle of it.
We have hardly finished basking in the glory of Andy's win at the World Games when we find that there is paddling stuff, of every description, happening all over the place.
On the weekend, we got to watch the spectacle that is the Sella Descent. The largest one day race in the world. With, by far the greatest spectatorship (estimated at over 300 000), and an after party that will put hairs on your elbows.
Our current SA K2 marathon champions, Clint Cook and Hamish Lovemore had a dream start, out of the Le Mans format, and took the lead into the first rapid. Some steering admin, coupled with the relentless pace of the leaders saw them slide back through the field, to finish in 9th position. Even Mads Pederson, the world marathon champion was found wanting and only managed a silver medal in the K1 division. The French crew of Urban and Candy put a spanner in the works of a usually Spanish dominated top step of the podium.
For those with an overly ripe nest egg, or wealthy ancestors, the Sella and the Liffey marathons are well worth the trip.
Staying with things international, we have a horde of paddlers about to leave, or have left, our shores in a very short space of time.
The smallest of SA teams flew the flag at the World Sprint Championships in Halifax, Canada last week. Mark Keeling and Esti Olivier represented us against the world's best and produced an impressive result each, with Esti making the A final in the women's K1 200m, and Mark managing a 5th place in the super competitive 5000 men's K1, taking a number of serious scalps in the process.
An interesting new format with elective portages on laps of the paddlers choice. If you missed the live streaming, go onto YouTube and have a look at the ridiculous speed averages that are kept up. One thing being blatantly apparent is the difference in skill level on the portages compared to the marathon paddlers.
Our men's U21 Canoe Polo team will be in Saint Omer, France this week for the ICF World Championships. The team of Joshua Smith, Daneel Van Wyk, James Truby, Luke Hoets, Kyle Hardy, Kyle Laxton and Kyle Buchler will take to the water in green and gold. One of our first international teams in a number of years. Having 3 Kyle's in a ball sport that requires passing may present a few challenges, but I am certain they have improvised. The standard of international canoe polo is ridiculously high and our lads are going to have to pull out all the stops if they have designs on being around in the later stages.
Another team putting the final touches to their preparation is the junior and U23 sprint team who will be jetting off to the World Championships in Szeged, Hungary, starting on the last day of this month.
One of the races of most interest for me will be when Hamish gets an opportunity to strut his stuff against the world's best U23's in the 5000m.
Only a week later we have a team representing SA at the SUP World Championships in Gdynia, Poland.
At the very same time, we will have a young team at the Olympic Hopes regatta, which is being held in Zemnik, Slovakia.
Just over 2 weeks after that, our marathon team leaves for the World Championships in Ponte de Lima, Portugal. The container with the team boats is already half way there.
Exactly a week after that, our surfski paddlers will be lining up, just 20kms from the marathon venue in Portugal, to see if we have maintained our standard against the Aussies over the covid period, at the ICF Ocean Racing Championships.
If the international scene looks hectic, our local calendar is hardly less impressive.
In the fairest Cape, the Breed season has kicked off. A number of exciting races on this beautiful river over the next few weeks, heading towards the main event early in September.
A couple of weeks after the Breede, Gauteng will host the premier race on their calendar, the Liebenbergsvlei "Clean Water Challenge". An excerpt from their newsletter follows:
'Entries for the Clean Water Challenge have officially opened to all paddlers, with a breath of fresh air, bringing new sponsors to the sport along with some ideas to the take the event, which was formally known as the Liebenbergsvlei Canoe Marathon, forward. Now officially titled, Clean Water Challenge - Liebenbergsvlei, the two-day race, to be held on September 17 and 18 is a must on the canoeing calendar.
The route will be paddled over the same section of the river as in 2019, with the organising committee tripping the rivers for updates and new sections from 2023. An added bonus for the event is that it will also play host to the SA Schools K1 River Championships for 2022 so a large school pupil participation is expected.
“The 2022 event will cover similar distances as in the past; 32km on Day 1 and 30km on Day 2,” said new Race Director, Brad Glasspoole, “however we are embarking on this journey with the vision of creating a brand which encompasses the community, along with the privilege of clean water, something which is key to the event’s and sport’s sustainability.”
Sponsors are key to success of any event and the Clean Water Challenge are fortunate to confirm Standard Bank as the events title sponsor, along with long-time paddling supporter, Euro Steel and aQuelle as the event’s new hydration partner. This bodes well for a paddler friendly race ensuring all the services and amenities required are available".
The Funky Pants will hardly have time to dry after that, and the majority of the active paddlers in the country will be heading off to Cradock for the Fish River Marathon.
Unfortunately, quite a number of the top paddlers will be absent from this year's Fish, as they will still be in Portugal, at the Ocean Racing World Championships.
Squeezed in between this plethora of fresh water races are a number of exciting surfski races and series.
So, get planning. Your paddling needs have been catered for. |
