Paddling Antarctica Be prepared! Speights Coast ... - Canoe & Kayak

Multisport
A Family Affair with the Delamares
Multisport can be a family affair. Rob Howarth found out how the
Delawres came to be competing.
In March 2007 Louise Delamare decided to enter the 2008
Speight’s Coast to Coast. Her Dad Dave and brother Ed
thought that Louise might need some moral support so
they entered that year as a team. In 2009 they all entered as
individuals and in 2010 they’ll be back for more. Rob Howarth
caught up with the Delamare family to find out more.
Dave Delamare – Age 63, Architect. 2009 Coast to Coast 2 Day
Individual – 17:56:44 2 nd Vintage Men
Louise Delamare – Age 33, Lawyer. 2009 Coast to Coast 2 day
Individual – 18:16:02
Ed Delamare – Age 30 – Architect 2009 – Longest Day – DNF – pulled
out on the kayak leg
What Attracted you to Multisport?
Dave: We have all got a background in running and cycling,
marathons, off road runs, that sort of thing. Louise was attracted
to the challenge of the Coast to Coast and being a close family
Ed, Rob &Louise
unit Ed and myself decided it would be good fun too.
Ed: Multisport is great because it is so varied, the scenery
is stunning and there is no real repetitive element in the race or
training for that matter.
How did you find the white water kayak training ?
Dave: It was really enjoyable and a challenge to learn a new
set of skills. At times it was very testing but that kept you on
your toes. I loved the satisfaction of completing a rapid on the
river!
Louise: I found it pretty daunting, but it is certainly great fun
once you get into the swing of things, you have to be prepared
to practise the things that your instructor teaches you though!
What did you learn from this year’s race?
Ed: Well I learnt heaps as I didn’t finish the longest day
event. I missed the cut off time near the end of the kayak
section. I took it too easy in the early part of the race (gear
problems on my bike didn’t help!) and with the river being so
low it was always going to be difficult to pick up the time on the
river. My training this year will be a lot more focused.
Dave: I got really bad cramp right at the beginning of the
run stage, Louise ran with me and helped me through it (thanks
Louise!). This year I’ll do more bunch riding and I’ll focus on my
nutrition to try and ensure that the cramps don’t happen again. I
probably need to push myself a bit harder in training too and do
some bike – run sessions.
Louise: I was lulled into a false sense of security this year and
I thought it would be easier second time round. I was wrong!
The weather caught me out too, it was really cold and I was
underdressed on the Saturday morning bike ride, it took me
ages to warm up in the kayak.
Will you be back in 2010 and if so what events will you do
along the way?
Louise: I’m in R&R mode at the moment so I’m not sure. My
boyfriend Spencer is going to enter though so if I don’t race I’ll
support him.
Ed: I have unfinished business! I’ll do The Coromandel Classic,
The Rodney Coast Challenge and the Motu Challenge in preparation.
Dave: Yes I’ll be back, I got Silver this year so I’ll be going for gold in
2010. I had the best kayak time for my age group this year but I need to
improve the run and the bike. I’ll compete in the same events as Ed in
preparation, it’s great doing stuff together as a family.
What are your favourite places to Train?
Louise: Locally we all train on the Okura bush track in Auckland for
running. Dad likes to train up at the family bach in northland and we do
quite a bit of cycling down country where the roads are a bit quieter. The
Mohaka is a great river to train on but nothing beats practising on the
course in January.
What is your favourite and most challenging part of the Coast to
Coast?
Dave: My favourite part of the course is the finish line, you have
a real sense of achievement and it’s a great atmosphere. The most
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