NEWS LETT VOLUME 5 ER ISSUE 2 S U M M E R 2 0 1 5 The success of this newsletter relies on contributions from YOU! If you've been on a trip, From the Editor in a race, or just have an opinion or some news you want to share, please send it to s I write this, the sun is shining, the [email protected] air is warm, and I'm just about to Articles should be short (between Ahead down to the Club for a cheeky 1 00 and 250 midweek paddle. words) and can be Even the Medway is warm – relatively – accompanied by a and the squeals from those doing capsize picture. The drills on the Beginner Sessions aren't quite as deadline for piercing as they were back in March! submissions for the I've had a pretty exciting few months next issue is 1 0th paddling since the last newsletter, mainly August, 201 5. because I finally bought a canoe. After years Mark Corti, Editor of scrounging boats from friends, borrowing [email protected] them from the Club, and (occasionally) putting The Daffodil Explorer being ushered through Radcot Lock on Maidstone Marathon the Thames 5% NT the Committee” item later in the newsletter. 1 OU 14th June We've a pretty packed issue this summer, ISC UB The Hasler Marathon is the biggest event so I hope you'll take the time to read through D CL in the Club's Racing Year, and relies on a the whole thing. A huge thank-you to all of OR RS huge number of volunteers to make it those who've contributed, either by putting F BE work. In recent years, it's been a fantastic pen to paper, agreeing to be interviewed, or EM event, with a barbecue, tea & coffee, and sending in photos – it's you who make the M lots of entries. If you're able to help with Club newsletter a success. I'm looking anything at all - timekeeping, marshalling, forward to seeing what we get next time! food & drinks, race admin - then please See you on the river! speak to anyone on the Committee, or mail [email protected]. Mark Corti (Please note the regular Club paddle will be moved to another venue on this day) Website & Newsletter Editor [email protected] my hand in my pocket to rent from the lovely people at Kent Canoes, I've finally stumped up and bought one of my own. The children have named her the Daffodil Explorer, and she's so far been paddled on the Thames (inexpertly) and the Medway (haphazardly), but we've plans for a busy summer of trips! It's been an exciting time at the Club also. The big event was the Open Day, which was only possible because of the help of a huge New House Farm, Kemsing Road number of people, but we've also had a very Wrotham, TN15 7BU successful Refresher Course and (by the time Tel: 01732 886688 this goes to press) the first couple of our 201 5 Open 10am - 5pm Tues - Sat Monthly Away trips - see the advert for future Late Night Opening Thursday trip dates. The new Committee has been www.kentcanoes.co.uk elected at the AGM, and we wish them the best of luck – more on this in the “News from Successful DW paddlers Leanne & Aaron tell us about what it takes to train for this very British race - later in this issue. Page 1 To subscribe to this newsletter or for more information about Maidstone Canoe Club, please visit http://www.maidstonecanoeclub.net/. The views expressed in this newsletter are those ofthe individual contributors and may not represent those ofthe Editor, or ofMaidstone Canoe Club. What'SUP! Stand-Up Paddleboarding is the fastest-growing sector ofpaddlesport. Looking like a cross between an old-school longboard, a sea kayak, and a Venetian gondola, these craft are becoming an ever- more-common sight on our waterways. We catch up with the Club's resident SUPer, Hannah Ramsay, to find out what it's all about. Mark: Why would you recommend that kayakers try stand-up paddleboarding? Hannah: It's a bit more of a challenge! It's just a totally different way of looking at the river, you can see a bit more – you can see over the hills and things, see much further. I find canoeing quite uncomfortable on my hips, just sitting down I struggle! I much prefer standing up. And it's another watersport – try something different! Also, it's a nice gentle way to get out on the water. It's fun, very sociable because everyone asks what you're doing – no-one quite understands why you stand up! It's great for getting talking to people, it's been good! It's also nice because you can sit someone on the front of it who hasn't Hannah with her LOCO Paddleboard, about to take the plunge. LOCO continue to support Hannah with her done it before, and just take them for paddling. http://www.loco-sup.com/ miles and come back. wriggling! It's quite a good workout on and off I went! Also I learned quite a lot Mark: What kind of distance can you your tummy, I definitely feel it there. Also from the racing, because you can watch cover on your regular board, on a in your lower back, especially if you get how different people paddle differently. reasonable day out? the technique right it's quite low-back It's amazing how many different Hannah: I did two hours the other week heavy. And obviously your arms as well techniques they use – some people bend from here, and got up to East Farleigh – but core and upper body are the main right forward, at 45 degrees to the water, lock and just beyond. It took me a good things. and it's like “how on earth do you do that two hours to get there, and forty-five Mark: You're the only SUPer at the Club. for fifteen miles?!”. Other people stand minutes to get back. So it's good if you're How do you improve your own up more and use more of a swing – it just going downstream, but anything windy it's technique? depends what works for you, really. I'm just a nightmare! Wind is quite difficult to Hannah: I get most of my stuff from the not very experienced in it, so I'm not very deal with, but as long as you don't mind a internet – YouTube is brilliant, there's good at giving very many techniques! challenge you can go as far as you like! loads of brilliant people to learn different Mark: Thanks for your time, and good Mark: What about stability? Would you techniques from. Titouan Puyo – he's luck in your race next week! say that most people would be able to brilliant to watch. Also I learned most of We're hoping to run a SUP come-and-try session one stand up on your regular touring board, or my stuff from the guys from Loco [a Sunday at the Club - keep an eye on the website for would they be falling in all the time to British paddleboard manufacturer, details! start with? www.loco-sup.com]. They set me up with By Mark Corti and Hannah Ramsay Hannah: It depends! I think people a couple of days-worth of training on it, who've tried racing kayaking have got an idea of how water feels, how to balance yourself. It's kind of a natural thing once you've progressed from sitting down in a kayak, you've got the balance to stand up in one. It kind of depends on how tall you are as well! If you're a very big, top- heavy person it's quite difficult, whereas if you're small like me and not very top- heavy then it's easier! It's just a case of giving it a go. You can start on your knees and then progress to standing, which is what most people recommend. But it's fairly easy to get going on, especially on the tourer because it's quite stable. Mark: Is it important to be quite strong in particular muscle groups? Hannah: I think it's important to have quite a good core, purely because you're holding yourself up and stopping yourself "Just one cornetto, give it to meeeee!". SUP racing is becoming more & more popular - opera optional. Page 2 To subscribe to this newsletter or for more information about Maidstone Canoe Club, please visit http://www.maidstonecanoeclub.net/. The views expressed in this newsletter are those ofthe individual contributors and may not represent those ofthe Editor, or ofMaidstone Canoe Club. Paddles with Girls Club Summer BBQ Gear Review: ­ the 2015 Ladies Joss Bay, 30th Jackson Zen Paddle Symposium August Always a favourite Club event, the he Zen is a great little boat, really weekend in North Wales, Summer Joss Bay Barbecue is this stable and forgiving for beginners year on August 30th. Meet from Twhile it is fast and precise for meeting lots of ladies and Akayaking, sounds perfect. 1 1 am. Everyone is welcome at this those of you who want to really play So myself and Niki Norman packed family event - just bring something your way down the river. our cars with kit and boats and headed to paddle, something to eat and The deck shape and the rocker mean it north.