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We've been sent a bunch of news by Aussies about paddling
down under... There's a lot going on with
some major races set to take place in the second half of the year. It seems that a large section of the Aussie
paddling takes place in the form of Surf Lifesaving Events, but Ocean Racing is
clearly taking off as series like the Gold Coast Desalination Project Winter
Series demonstrate.
 Currumbin Creek Paddlers
Currumbin Creek
Paddlers going from Strength to Strength
Paul Mauger's Currumbin Creek series is booming - the second
race of the Gold Coast Desalination Project Winter series saw no fewer than 63
paddlers turn out with paddling legends like Trent Robinson, Mick Waide, Dane
Sloss, Lats, Kurt Tutt, Guy Andrews and Jody Zerbst chasing eventual winner
Jacob Clear. Although the wind stayed
away on the day, there were some bumps to help the paddlers during the latter
stages of the 25km race.
Paddlers came from as far away as Sydney, Byron Bay and the
Sunshine Coast to take part in the race.
Full race report with photos up at: http://www.geocities.com/currumbinpaddlers/
Dolphin Ocean Classic
- 15th September 2007
Saturday 15th September sees the 8th
running of the Northcliffe Dolphin Ocean Classic. Hosted by Northcliffe Surf Life Saving Club,
Gold Coast, the event is offering Aus$40,000 in prizes as well as skis and
lifesaving boards.
The event is open to non-Surf Life Saving Club members, but
the ski events are restricted to spec skis only. "We have a 20km ski race, 10km ski race for
masters (40+) a 10km board race, 2km swim race and a 2km running race," said
Nick Crilly, the race organizer. "The
ski and board events are open to spec skis only," he added, "but hopefully next
year the event will be open to non-slsa members and ocean racing skis."
For more information, see: http://www.northcliffesurfclub.com.au/
2007 NSW Endurance
Championships - 22 September 2007
This event, for SLSA members only includes some 8 & 16km
ski races that I suspect would be restricted to spec skis. The event takes place at Collaroy SLSC.
For more information, see:
http://www.surflifesaving.com.au/SurfLife_CMS/SurfSports/EventCalendar/07Endurance.htm
Noosa Ocean Classic -
Saturday 22 Sept 2007
Hosted by the Noosa Heads Surf Life Saving Club on the Sunshine
Coast, Queensland, the Noosa Ocean Classic Race ("Ocean Racing at its best!") sees
an 18km Ocean Ski race.
More details at: http://www.noosasurfclub.com.au/noosa_ocean_classic.php
2007 NIB Coolangatta
Gold - 14 October 2007
The Coolangatta Gold is the biggie in Australian SLSA racing
- with Aus$65,000 in prize money (Aus$20,000 to the winning male team;
Aus$10,000 to the winning females).
The race, billed as Australia's "premier Ironman endurance
event", will be held on the Gold Coast on 14th October 2007.
The format sees teams competing in classic ironman style
with ski, swim, board and run legs.
Trivia: Guy Leach was the winner of the first event in 1984 -
and he came back and won it again in 1985.
He also won Molokai in 1991, one of the few people apart from Dean
Gardiner and Oscar Chalupsky to win the famous Hawaiian race.
For more information, see:
http://surfsports.slsa.com.au/default.aspx?s=fulleventpage&id=252
Sad news from Mackay,
Queensland
Greg Dorries, a 39 year old teacher and volunteer lifesaver
died after a suspected cardiac arrest during a training paddle at the Mackay harbor
on Thursday evening according to the Queensland Daily Mercury.
Fellow lifesavers tried unsuccessfully to resuscitate him
after he fell unconscious from his ski.
More details at: http://www.dailymercury.com.au/localnews/storydisplay.cfm?thesection=localnews&storyid=3746274
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