Adventure Race Paddling - New Zealand Kayak Magazine

is prepared to carry. These dark zones can be very strategic and can
have a big outcome on the racing.
In the 2002 Southern Traverse our team were forced to stop for nine
hours on the Wairau River bank in Marlborough, right beside the road.
With only 10 km to paddle the next morning and a big lead already,
the race win was ours but we needed to wait until daylight to complete
the paddle. We’d just got off the river wondering what we’d do when a
passing car spotted us and stopped, it turned out it was a cycling mate
of mine who lived locally. He asked if we needed anything. An hour later,
we were sitting around a fire, on mattresses, with blankets, drinks and
scoffing hot fish and chips.
For me the biggest challenge with the paddling in the sport is we
nearly always get different boats to paddle. Here at home we all have
our favoured craft and equipment, the stuff we like and are used to.
However, racing around the world we have to adapt to different craft
for every race and sometimes paddles too. Most of the time they are
doubles either inflatable or plastic. Some have rudders, some don’t.
Some are okay, some aren’t, I’ve never yet raced in a boat I’ve decided
to buy.
In the 23 years adventure racing has been going, Kiwi teams have
built a legacy on being exceptional boaters, with only South African and
Australian teams ever threatening to topple that title. There have been
a great number of international events won by New Zealand teams
who have forged leads with paddle in hand. From my observation, it’s
the Kiwis ability to quickly learn the behaviour and performance of the
different vessels supplied. Every race I see ultra fit and conditioned
paddlers not being able to utilise their power because the skill needed to
steer and manoeuvre the boat is lacking, resulting in more energy going
into basic steering and minimal energy going into forward gain.
Over 800 competitors will vie for places in the 31st Anniversary
Speight’s Coast to Coast race on February 8th and 9th 2013.
Will you be there?
Grade Two certification
and brush up courses run
through out the year.
Contact your nearest
Canoe & Kayak Centre
for details.
8 ISSUE SIXTY Seven • Christmas 2012 www.kayaknz.co.nz