Went up to Wanaka to paddle in the annual Chutha Classic Kayak race, a paddle from the Wanaka lake front across the lake to the start of the Clutha River and then downt he river to Maori Point near Tarras. A total distance of 59km. A good solid paddle, the river was flowing very fast and high at about 300cumecs which made for some big boils, swirls and wave trains. This was the first time i had been on moving water since Coast to Coast in Feb 2006!!! So really just a recce down to see how things are looking for the goldrush in March. The first part of the paddle across the lake was pretty much a solid crank into a light chop, playing chase as my boat is classified as cat1 and all paddlers in these started on a 23min handicap! Down the river there was a fast flow and even on the flats in this river you need to keep working as the biols and swirls are quite unpredictable on your paddle entry and strokes. The first noteable rapid to come to is the Pioneer rapids, a big long bouncing wave train that curves around a bit, I actually thought this was still to come and it weasn't until i found myself bouncing through some massive waves that i thought , oh shit i'm int eh wrong line of this one, 2 waves from the end and i stuffed up a stroke and tool a tumbe! tried for a roll but was heading for trees and other obstacles, quickly a throw rope from a jet boat and a tough tow to the side to empty out and carry on, carried on down the river playing a bit of chase on the 10min or so lost to the swim, Around the 'Devils Elbow and through 'Shitters Ditch' no worries, a few people taking the wrong lines through 'shiters Ditch' as there were some massive waves and a few swimmers getting plucked out as i passed through it no worries. Grind onto the end to fuinish the paddle in about 3hrs, not a confident and strong as i would have liked for today but gives me some things to focus on in my training over the next month or two.
Kayak 3hrs 59km
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