Liffey Descent Participants Guide Sept 14th 2019

2019 is the 60th anniversary of the Liffey Descent, it would be great to have the biggest club entry once again.

It's never too early to be thinking about this event. Now is the time to choose your kayak and more importantly, who to paddle with!!

And of course, supporters are always welcome 


Phoenix Liffey Descent paddlers, here is my guide to this great event and social weekend. If you have any other words of wisdom, please let me know  

2019 Liffey Descent Online Entry Page

Click here for Fergus McCarthy's excellent video of LD

Great video of weir shoots by Darragh Burke

Click here for Canoeing Ireland's official Liffey Descent video


Liffey Descent Guide:

Liffey Descent Weir Guide. Laminate and duct tape to your kayak.

Paul Heff's Liffey Descent race guide with features (Click the blue dots for info)

If link doesn't work on smartphones cut and paste this link into your browser
https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=206484942425614834922.0004c86939008bd20b67c&msa=0&ll=53.333128,-6.477127&spn=0.111325,0.338173

Canoeing Ireland's official race course guide

Note: 2018 saw big changes to General Purpose Race Classes; Sea Kayaks, Gola Sprints, Deceptors, Fastwaves are no longer allowed in General Purpose. Get more information on all classes By Clicking Here.

You will be emailed an info pack, read and note phone numbers and protocols.

Race Headquarters; registration, pre & post-race camping, post-race party is all based at race finish, Garda Rowing Club (see my guide above for location GPS Co-ords - 53.346177,-6.321967).

Collect race pack and t-shirt at Garda Rowing Club on Friday evening. You can also purchase Liffey Descent hoodies, jackets etc and last minute items such as forgotten spray decks etc.  


Before the Race - What to Expect:

Check Race Pack (bib, race number stickers, food ticket etc.) is correct per your name on the list! Try to collect on Friday as Saturday morning is hectic before the start.

Attach race numbers to left of your (dry!) boat b4. Your race pack will include a voucher for food at the finish, make sure it is in your car at the finish or place in a ziploc bag and stuff it in your pocket.

Race HQ car-park is not large and will be mad busy on the morn, give yourself plenty of time during the shuttle, it's 45 minutes each way.....

You may be waiting for a time before starting, bring pre-race food/drink with you, there's usually freebies sports drinks, bars etc. but no shop.

Portaloo queues are long, toilet paper/baby-wipes, anti-bacterial gel advised.

After race is called (approx 1 hour before) you will have a 1 km paddle upstream to startline. That'll warm you up, but have a good stretch beforehand as you'll be in the boat a long time. Note: there is no place to get off at starting zone.

Clothing: Unless freezing, short sleeve rash-vest, neoprene shorts/trousers is enough, you'll be amazed how hot you'll get. This obviously depends on whether you're racing or not, I carry a splash cag just in case.

Starter call's each class in turn K2, K1, Racing Kayaks, General Purpose (GP's), and then Canadian Canoes. GP class has 100's of people so give your self space and don't be afraid to charge to top at the start, it is a race after all. If blocked by someone slower at any stage (especially in the jungle) shout "RACER COMING THROUGH" and paddle through, nicely though, you may need them for rescue later    

Celbridge Lake is a long plod, be careful not to enter mudflats on right, if everyone is taking long curving route by left bank there's a reason for it! Portage after lake takes 10 minutes mostly tarmac, then grass path to river. Tip: portage first, eat while waiting to get-on.

At finish give yourself a well deserved pat on the back. There is drinks, chocolate etc. for competitors. Showers in rowing club and food in marquee, you'll need the voucher, queues build fast after the race.


Logistics:

Travelling Saturday morning is straight forward but aim to be there 3 hours before start if shuttling to finish. Yes, really!! There are 800+ paddlers and traffic movement is very slow with boats being dropped off.

Cork Northbound to Straffan boat drop-off. (Turn off at Junction-7 M7 Northbound (53.252043,-6.580598) and follow National Road to Straffan (53.304268,-6.617076)

Shuttle to finish and back takes at least 90 mins. The bus from car park leaves early, (Canoe.ie for times & bookings) - seats are limited so organise shuttles well in advance.

Directions from Straffan get-on (53.304268,-6.617076) to Garda Rowing Club Finish (53.346177,-6.321967)

Use above co-ordinates to return to Straffan, and maybe have your snack/breakfast whilst waiting for start.


Best of luck, it won't be long coming..      

Paul Heff

Anyone for the Liffey Descent??

Myself and Mark Davis will be giving it another blast this year 🤞🤞

Lots of practice needed for Liffey Descent so get out there try different boats and Enter the race,
Lots of advice available to first timers
Contact anybody in the club who has done race for tips and have a good read of Paul heffs blog

Good luck

I'm thinking of entering in the k1 or similar.

Canoe time again!

I presume we'll be assembling a safety crew?

i'm toying with the idea of entering, however i will be inserting a RESCUE crew to cover a weir .. ! in the past few years, we have often provided a crew for Shackleton weir / Anna Livia ..

I would be interested; however, not sure if am of the required level yet. Can't roll but am working on this throughout the Summer. Have done a 3km race for varsities before.

Sent from Topic'it App

We're signed up (Maria McM)
Is there a post for boat lottery? We'd like to use the green two man canadian.

I'll do rescue

I going to do it in a dancer.

Sent from Topic'it App

Come on people, surely more people are interested in doing the Liffey Descent. Officially its a race but people have done it as a day trip/challenge!!  

Click here for our boat request thread in Upcoming Events section

I'll more than likely do it again this year.

.
Thread locked for comments because it is located in the PUBLIC FORUM.
Please use Liffey Descent Discussion Thread in Upcoming Events section.