"What is Wildwater Racing "
The aim is simple: to be the fastest racing downstream between two points on the river. Racer against the clock, alone on the river - you have to choose the fastest lines down the rapids and around the natural obstacles formed by rocks and trees. There are 2 types of races: the classic (between 12 and 25 minutes long) and the sprint (between 1 and 2 minutes long).
Full speed ahead, is the river a friend or enemy? A lot of Wildwater paddlers have already asked themselves this question regarding the river they will face. Yes, you have to be aggressive, to cut the water with your paddle, carve the bends.... but you have to be able to glide between the waves and over the drops/stoppers, to find a good rhythm between the currents and flows of the river with your paddle stroke; to keep the speed up and to accelerate the kayak after an error....
At the start of a race, you are thinking about only one thing: To be able to take the fastest lines and to use your bodies trained ability to its best,to the limit of physical endurance. The problem is that at 190 heart beats per minute (at your physical limit) it is hard to concentrate on the river and challenges facing you ... you enter what is known as the "Danger Zone"... you are not lucid anymore.
The Wildwater kayaks used by racers are quite unstable, designed purely for speed in rough water with no margin for errors. But if you are well trained, skilled and a little bit lucky it shouldn't be a problem and as you cross the finish line exhausted, you can reflect on a good result.
Wild Water Racing in Ireland takes place during the winter months to avail of the wet season (which to most people seems to last all year around). Wildwater Kayak Club has dominated the sport for a number of years now,especially in the kayak classes with Celbridge Paddlers being the other stronghold, mainly in the C1 and C2 classes where paddlers kneel down and use single bladed paddles.
WWKC Race Accounts and War Stories
Crocodile River Marathon, South Africa, 2002
Just after Straffan weir in the Liffey Descent is a section of river known as the "jungle". It is named so because of the low hanging trees, swirling currents and deceptive eddies that have been known to upset the odd canoeist over the years. Well, Ladies and Gentlemen, let me tell you, that is no jungle.......if you want to experience jungle in a canoe, go to Africa. More specifically go to South Africa and take part in the Crocodile River Marathon! Read More ...
Wildwater Racing Links:
Wild Water Racing in Ireland - site maintained by John Ringwood(WWKC):-
http://www.eeng.may.ie/~jringwood/wwracing/
Irish Wild Water Racing Team Webpage:-
http://www.wildwater-team.ht.st/
Junior Worlds 2009:-