c&k#36-0 ss - Canoe & Kayak

Star-studded Coastbusters
by Ruth E. Henderson
Ponder this: What makes one event stand out from another
equally worthy and memorable event? In another decade
or the passing of another generation, how will Coastbusters
2006 be fondly remembered, and distinguished from others?
Dad used to say that the day he stopped looking at a good set of legs would
be the day he was dead. Well, call me sexist, call me peculiar, call me my
father’s daughter...
But with a bit of luck, in twenty five years, I’ll be old - and I reckon I’ll still be
able to picture and vividly remember Freya’s legs! Particularly when she was
upside down, head first in a kayak and the said legs were pointing skyward.
What awesome skill, antics, acrobatics and athletisim we were treated to on
the edge of Lake Pupuke! And not just from the ‘Lady in Black’.
Freya Hoffmeister, from Germany, was one of four ‘Greenland paddling guru’s’
we were privileged to have attend this years ‘Coastbusters’ held at Milford,
Auckland for the mostly dry events and at Sullivan’s Bay for Sunday’s on the
water Pod scenario’s.
All four ‘Greenland paddling guru’s’ were astonishing and performed
all weekend.
On the Friday night Greg Stamer told the story of Greenland Paddling from
the threat of its demise, through to its revival, popularity and the spread of
‘the movement’ throughout the world.
Then on the Saturday morning, Cheri Perry, took a workshop called ‘Yoga for
rollers’ teaching us not just to stretch our hamstrings but how to prepare for
some of the moves in rolling such as the balance brace, by ‘opening our
hearts’. In the afternoon, she and Freya gave an exclusive women’s only group,
tips on how to roll. They demonstrated, that is they rolled a kayak, ON A
CARPET! They called it “dry rolling”! It’s a pity that these words are now
over used but those girls really were ‘Awesome’ and ‘Amazing’. Most of all
they were inspiring, encouraging and very, very, very patient. After the Sunday
pod scenarios, they plus their partners stood for over two hours, up to their
hips or chests in water, teaching keen paddlers to roll. Over and over.
It was then that I got to watch Turner Wilson in action, up close. We all had
witnessed him demonstrating rolling, along with Cheri and Freya, on Lake
Pupuke, while Justine Curgenven, a British film maker and our Saturday night
keynote speaker, floated nearby capturing the action. In that instance he
stood out , not just because of his luxuriant beard, but because unlike Freya
in an Inuit kayak and Cheri in a low-slung hand crafted wooden boat, he
deliberately took a European styled boat, a EuroX. He showed that rolls (with
or without a paddle) and tricks such as paddling upside-down, could be
done irrespective of vessel.
At Sullivan’s Bay he proved not just to be a showman, but a brilliant teacher.
The picture of him breathing skills into young Billy Bowman, remains etched
into my mind. Both student and teacher were, so, so focused!
Yes, a long, long time from now the Greenland component is how I and many
others will remember Coastbusters 2006. It rocked and it most
certainly rolled!
To see what else Coastbusters offered and to find out about the next event
take a look at www.coastbusters.org.nz
Freya Hoffmeister - performs while Justine Curgenven takes pictures.
Cheri Perry - “dry-rolling” at a woman’s rolling workshop
28 ISSUE THIRTYsix • 2006