Hi guys,

Been chatting to people (as I do) and wondering what the master plan for kayaking (in a fast nature) is?

Some ideas to get peoples opinions on different topics, and feel free to add your own ideas.

--Polo: should we try a one day polo competition with the locals entering beginner teams? Or just try the odd mornings training in the winter

--Time trials: more? or set up a training meet to get ready for the winter season? WW calendar on this forum.

--Wavehpper river trips? Should we try one or two? Lower bandon/ sullane?

--K-boating: Anyone interested in trying these boats?

And before anyone gets the wrong idea. I am just trying to gauge which direction in competition kayaking people are interested in. Doesn't matter if you have never tried any of the above. Post your thoughts. I plan to paddle a bit in the winter and if I think people are interested in joining me I will post the odd trip here.

No replies Ah well thats me off the hook.

I'd be interested in doing a few river trips in a wavehopper, eventually building up to taking part in some of the races.

If anyone is interested in Freestyle training days over the winter we now have 3 members of the national committee in Cork, so let us know and we'll arrange something.
Polo - much as I hate it if you were to have a mini competition some weekend you'd probably get people from UCC and CIT to enter a team, add in a couple of Phoenix teams and there ya go, sorted!

Muirs- even I would be interested in a freestyle day. Not sure my big boat would hold up. :-)

As for a river trip in a wavehopper. would be entertaining.

Ah well, if you don't swim you're not trying hard enough, isn't that it.

I'd be glad to provide some cheap entertainment (me swimming) if the instruction was forthcoming.

Having had a bit more time to think about this and all. I am just going to put a few suggestions up. Feel free to tear them apart, discuss or add to them. You don't have to know anything about competitions or even want to do them to post here.

Wavehoppers and K-boats:
One/ two sessions on the Lee to get comfortable and then a river trip or two leading to a WW race that is close by.
I would suggest if there is a few people interested in running a river then the first river trip alongside the club trip to the lower Bandon. Details on the official outings section.

Polo:
A weekend morning or two in the next month or two. And maybe a local derby of beginners teams in December (Intervarsities in Feb) with a minimal amount of coaching. Say a Sunday afternoon 4hrs, with 4-5 teams and a couple of games with a 15-20min 'coached' feedback session at the end so people can stay or leave for it.

Slalom:
Not my area. And no course within distance. Maybe await the Limerick competition in November.

Freestyle:
Muirs idea of a few heads meeting and running a session and seeing where it goes from there. Hopefully the club can get involved with the Cork Rodeo again next year.

Sea Kayaking:
Seems to be happy out with 2 races in the calendar and the informal sessions. It might be worth doing a loose plan from Feb to get people ready for the Ocean to City again. Start in the lower harbour and work up to doing the course in sections and in reverse to have people paddle fit after the winter of short river running.



It is easy enough to post thoughts and I am willing like the Time trials to pick some core dates and be there and run those dates and watch others add the flesh to the bones with other stuff. I have an interest in the WW/ K-boats and while I don't have a huge amount of time would happily add to the polo as well. Maintaining the race calendar thread is easy too. Anyone can add to it so we should have an excuse for not knowing when and where to race.



Development further than these short term plans are the preserve of the competitions officer and the rest of the committee. But without guidance on what people want and where to go, nothing can happen.

Well Kevin it looks like it will just be you and me out there paddling rivers (and the odd swim) in wavehoppers this winter.

ya iv been thinking about doing more of the wavehoppers this winter...

Would be interested in doing some more racing and swimming in wavehoppers this year. I think and this is just from my short experience in paddling in the club that there would be a good core of 6 to 10 paddlers who would like to race for fun and competively. This year i took part in a good couple of races thanks mainly to Dave for suggesting and pushing us out to attend.When we did travel generally the same faces attended but as the year went on the numbers grew and the Liffey descent showed the growing interest with 12 or 15 phoneix members paddling.
I think wavehopper river trips on the club trips would be a bit of fun, but you might have a poblem as the members who i raced with during the year will all be instructing or helping on club trips aswell.
I suppose one of the big problems with devloping anything is time, and as we all know our paddle time during any week is hard earned and we all try to make the most and get the most out of it.
From my point of view my preference is Whitewater and Surf, racing/sprint and marthon for fun if no rain or swell, would love to try freestyle.
Will fall in with any plans if available and can make it .