ADVENTURE RACING WITH TEAM NUTRITION Casio Coromandel Classic by Phil White The Casio Coromandel Classic is a multisport event that covers some of the best parts of the Coromandel in two days. It has been designed to enable any skill level to compete, yet provide a challenging race for the fastest teams and individuals. The first day starts from Thames with a 22 km mountain bike ride up the Kaueranga valley, then a scenic but technical 27 km run past the Pinnacles hut to the other side of the peninsula, a paddle from Coroglen to Cooks Beach, and a road bike to Tairua. The second day continues with a kayak up the Tairua estuary to the Pauanui turnoff, followed by a road bike to Whangamata, a run up the Wentworth valley and over the Wires track to the Maratoto valley, and a fast road bike back to Thames. This year in keeping with tradition, spectacular weather and light winds marked the end of winter and made for fast racing. The event is open to teams, including relay teams of 2, 3 or 4, and traverse teams who do the whole lot together. There are also individual competitors. Each stage (apart from the runs) is fairly short, and achievable for novice racers to experts and everything in between. This also makes it easy to push to the limit. The best two or three teams were stacked with expert runners, cyclists and kayakers. The kayakers included several of the best K1 paddlers in the North Island, along with sea kayakers and multisporters of varying ability. As with all such events, preparation of body and equipment make a huge difference to the outcome and enjoyment. Little things like tyre choice and tyre pressure for the mountain bike, aerobars on the road bike, position of food and drink for easy access in bunch rides, type of running shoes, the type and rate of fluid and food intake. It is good to learn from the experiences of others (good and bad). Perhaps the most interesting lessons came from the kayaking stages. With the large range of paddling ability, a correspondingly large range in kayak types was represented. Some had different kayaks on hand so they could choose the best one for each stage. The first kayak stage meanders down the mangrove-lined channels of Whitianga harbour for two thirds of its length (i.e. dead flat), making it ideal for tippy racing kayaks. Ideally, however you need a boat that is also suited to the last part, which goes between Whitianga and Cooks Beach, past large cliffs which reflect the swells. Accordingly, tippy racing kayaks are not ideal, and most people take a more stable boat for this stage. At least one person got it wrong, and had six swims along the way. The next day he took a more stable boat. There were a couple of K1 racing boats on this stage, and no, they didn’t swim. However, they were not necessarily the fastest option. One of the K1 paddlers caught up to a Total Eclipse (an intermediate level multisport boat), and then was surprised to see it hanging on his wash, and even more surprised when they took turns leading. Once they were out to sea, the Total Eclipse pulled away for good. The traverse teams could use double kayaks, some of which are both stable and fast. At the end of the first day, the results were posted, so everybody knew where they were relative to the other individuals and teams. On the second day, the kayak stage is a deep-water mass start from the Tairua wharf. This stage is entirely within the Tairua estuary, so it is all on flat water. This year, with the tide out, there wasn’t much water so there was the option (or necessity, depending on your route choice) of portaging across sand banks. The following fleet could observe and learn from the mistakes of the leading K1 paddlers. Many people stepped up to a lighter and faster boat for this stage, and with shallow water, portages, and an opposing current, it made a real difference. One traverse team went from a reasonably fast adventure racing double to a very fast K2. However, decisions such as when to get out of the boat and run (or walk), and which side of the channel to take were in the end almost as important as boat speed. The parade of multisporters and their caravan of support vehicles eventually made its way over the hill and back to Thames. Stories were swapped on the sunny lawns outside the boating club until it was time for the prizegiving, to be inspired, and to look forward to the warmer weather and the challenge of races to come. For more information see www.coromandelclassic.co.nz Team PRO4 Nutrition are an adventure racing team heading for the Southern Traverse in November. They entered the Coromandel Classic as a relay team of 3 for some speed work and a weekend of racing with other multisporters and adventure racers. They gratefully acknowledge the support they receive from PRO4, <strong>Canoe</strong> & <strong>Kayak</strong>, Scott, Polar and Vasque. Firebolt New innovative kayak with great speed and stability, for the intermediate/advanced paddler. Designers & Constructors of Multisport & Adventure Racing <strong>Kayak</strong>s Phone/Fax 06 374 6222 E-mail:- mike@ruahinekayaks.co.nz Website:-www.ruahinekayaks.co.nz 20 ISSUE THIRTYthree • 2005
Getting into Multisport <strong>Kayak</strong>ing? Ask anybody who has competed in a multisport race and they will say One or two weekends training Is just NOT ENOUGH!!! We believe our comprehensive Grade 2 Training & Certification is the best you can get. To gain the skills to confidently paddle on white water, you need between 3 and 8 weekends on the water with an instructor. PHONE NOW 2005 Multisport Package $795 * See page 28 for Waimakariri Familiarisation Trips 0800 529256 OR CALL IN TO YOUR LOCAL CANOE & KAYAK SHOP FOR MORE DETAILS AND COURSE DATES Official Sponsor ISSUE THIRTYthree • 2005 21
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