The Clarence Valley event provides a really stunning river paddle. This paddle will be very exciting for first timers in rapids and also safe enough for beginners to just “have a crack” & learn as they go. More proficient (older?) paddlers have opportunities to get ahead at rapids and try to fight off fitter younger paddlers as they fight back on the flats.
You can forget about all the stresses and routines of life and completely lose yourself in the adventure of this paddle. It is quite an isolated / remote / wilderness paddle – so you won’t see any roads until you reach the finish line.
This is the perfect opportunity for an ocean paddler to try their first rapids race.
There are deep pools followed by adrenaline producing shallow gravel races at each of the grade 1 and 2 rapids. This paddle is great even when river levels are low as its mainly the speed of the gravel races that change. In low river levels we sat in a couple of the rapids with no paddling and recorded 12 kph based on the flow of the rapids alone.
A gravel race is one of the least technical features where the river narrows and water shoots down faster without major large rocks or features to avoid. These Gravel races are fun to run because you simply aim the nose down into the moving water (aiming for the bumpiest [read fastest] water surface) and all will be fine. A couple of the rapids have easier slower and less obstructed lines as well as faster but riskier lines which will be marked for your ease come event weekend.
Hot tip! switch out that ocean rudder for something much smaller and preferably a trailing rudder. The Gravel races get around 3 to 4 inches deep in sections so its just smart to avoid the risk and fit a kick up rudder or similar. OR by an Old tk1, or racing k1 you can bash around a bit perhaps fit a light spray skirt to avoid splashes of water getting in. Other options could include a plastic ski like a spirit racing ski, PRS or Fury, or if you want a custom Ski for the Job Grafton Paddle sports has a few tried and true boats that have won events of this nature before.
This course can be completed as an individual or as a double.
Date: Sunday 30th May, 2021
Competitor options: Ultra (long) 20 km; Enduro (medium) 9 km; Taste/Junior 2 km
Registrations: Registration is online only. Registrations close 9:00 pm Thursday 27th May or when sold out.
Race Pack Pickup: Friday 28th May; Location TBA
You must attend in person to collect your race pack as you will need to sign an indemnity form. You will also need to nominate an emergency contact person (so make sure you have your phone handy if you’re not great at remembering phone numbers). Come along, hang out, talk bikes, paddling, training, nutrition, look at maps, and pick up some last minute Adventurethon merchandise. If you can’t make it to race pack pick up on Friday you can collect your pack from: Ultra start at Lillydale 8:00 am, Enduro start off Clarence Way 8:00 am, Taste/Junior start at Copmanhurst race 9:30 am.
Presentations: 12:00 noon at Rest Point Hotel, Copmanhurst.
All paddlers will receive their medallions at Presentations. 1st, 2nd and 3rd place for each category will be presented and all finishers will be invited to collect a finishers medallion.
The ULTRA mountain bike course is for the seasoned rider, one who just wants to get out and have a good crack at a great course, or one who just wants to ensure their fun in the hilly countryside. There will be sections of really unique and exciting riding (which makes for heaps of fun).
