Important Dates 2013
Entries Open: 19th May – 12.00pm online
Entries Close: 19th July – 5.00pm online
Power Craft Scrutineering: 21st July – Burswood Water Sports Centre
Practice Days (power craft): 27th & 28th July
Novice/Safety Briefing: 29th July – The RISE Function Centre (28 Eighth Avenue, Maylands)
Registration: 2nd August – Northam Swimming Pool
Paddle Craft Scrutineering: 2nd August – Northam Swimming Pool
Event: 3rd & 4th August 2013
2013 Grid Placement Seeding Guides:
CWA Paddle Challenge: 19th May
CWA Middle Swan Race: 30th June
CWA Northam to Toodyay Race: 14th July
Novice/Safety Briefing
A representative for each entry must attend a compulsory pre-race safety briefing at 7.00pm on Monday 29th July at The Rise Function Centre (28 Eighth Avenue, Maylands).
Evidence of attendance will be established. Competitors who have not attended a pre-race briefing will not be eligible to start the event.
Safety Competency Skills Assessment
Intending paddle competitors are required to provide evidence of competency to participate. Competency can be established through the following criteria:
- A. Recent Act-Belong-Commit Avon Descent experience – have completed (at least Day 1 of) Avon Descent within the previous 3 years.
- B. Evidence of current paddling fitness subject to NADA review and approval e.g.: other paddling events within previous 12 months of similar distance, e.g. (WA) The Doctor, Bay to Beach combined with Northam to Toodyay race (International) Fish Marathon, Liffey Descent.
- C. Completion of Act-Belong-Commit Avon Descent Safety Skills Assessment – for participants who cannot provide evidence of safety competency (valid 3 years). Avon Descent Safety Skills assessment can be gained through recommended paddle trainers.
Skills are assessed as follows:-
- Demonstrate defensive swimming techniques
- Identify the potential hazards when swimming in moving water
- Adopt the correct body position to minimise injury following craft capsize
- Demonstrate aggressive swimming techniques
- Demonstrate the ability to set a ferry angle in order to reach the bank or eddy
- Demonstrate breaking in and out of eddies in order to get to shore
- Identify and demonstrate techniques to actively free oneself from river hazards in simulations
- Demonstrate the ability to wade across a current of mid-thigh depth, alone and using support, in order to self-rescue
- Demonstrate craft re-entry
- Identify a variety of different re-entry techniques
- Elect a method of re-entry after consideration of physical ability, type of craft and situational variances.
Our Official Paddle Suppliers below are providers of Safety Competency Skills Assessments:
Canoeing Down Under
Phone: (08) 9378 1333
Email: terry@canoeingdownunder.com.au
Finn Kayaks (Epic Adventure Training)
Phone: 0407 474 659
Email: guy@epicadventure.com.au
Perth Canoe Works
Phone: (08) 9317 6663
Email: info@perthcanoeworks.com.au
Eligibility
The minimum age of competitors is seventeen years at the date of the Descent, excepting circumstances described in rule 128.
A competitor under the age of seventeen years but not less than sixteen years of age may enter the race in a paddle craft subject to the following conditions:
- A. Be a member of Canoeing Western Australia (Inc)or a member of a Surf Lifesaving Club;
- B. Have their completed entry form endorsed by a director or similar person of their association or club as applicable, or by an Australian Canoeing Award System qualified instructor or accredited ski coach as applicable;
- C. Have attained the age of sixteen years at the date of the Descent.
Intending power dinghy competitors must have current a PDRC Competition Licence.
Practice Days
Practice Day One is Saturday 27th July 2013 between 0800 and 1800 hours
Practice Day Two is Sunday 28th July 2013 between 0800 and 1800 hours
Participants must avoid travel in the upstream direction during practice. Participants may practice at Northam Weir and Extracts Weir in the timeframe allocated to the Class in which they have entered the Descent.
Participation in the Practice Days is the responsibility of the entrant and is undertaken at their own risk.
Power Craft
Power craft entrants may practice between 1200 and 1800 hours on Saturday 27th July and between 0800 and 1200 hours on Sunday 28th July.
Power craft entrants may practice ONLY in the following areas:
- Pool above Northam Weir to Posselts Ford
- Below Bells Rapid to Upper Swan Bridge no further south.
Power craft shall not be placed on the water upstream of Peel Terrace Bridge at the Northam Weir.
Paddle Craft
Paddle craft entrants must NOT practise between the hours of 1200 and 0800 on Saturday 27th July and 0800 to 1200 hours on Sunday 28th July in the above locations.
Registration
At least one member of each entry must register on Friday 2nd August 2013 at the Northam Swimming Pool. Competitors may not start until they are registered. Note: Competitors cannot be registered on Saturday 3rd August 2013. Registration and the Start Marshalling Area will be open between the hours of 0900 and 2100 on Friday 2nd August 2013.
Competitors will not be registered until their craft has passed scrutineering. Grid positions for day one will be posted at registration.
The Start
The day one start is at Northam and the start order is as follows:
Power Craft start at 8.00am
Paddle craft start 30 minute interval after the start of the last power craft grid (depending on water level, and determined by the Clerk of Course)
The day two start is at Cobbler Pool, Boral Quarries Campsite (campsite requests are made at time of entry) West Toodyay and the start order is as follows:
Paddle craft start at 7.00am
Power craft start at 12.00pm
There is an interval of 30 seconds between each Start Grid.
Craft and Equipment
PFD’s and Helmets
Competitors must wear a PFD and a helmet at all times when on the water during practice days and the event. The PFD must have sufficient buoyancy to float a 6 kg legalised lead weight and be in good condition. Particle-filled or inflatable PFDs are not permitted. A waterproof whistle must be attached to the PFD and is to be used to attract the attention of rescuers.
Each craft must have one helmet per competitor that shall be of a design and material that is safe and strong. The helmet shall provide solid protection to the forehead and temple region and must be an approved water sports / paddling helmet:
Novice Competitors must have a fluorescent stripe on their helmet which will be supplied at scrutineering.
Paddles
- Kayaks may have double bladed paddles
- Canoes must have single bladed paddles
- Replacement paddles are permitted
Power Craft
All craft, PFD’s helmets and other equipment must conform to PDRC regulations
Other Equipment
Emergency rations should be carried by each craft and include not less than 400g of high calorific food (i.e. glucose, chocolate, nuts etc) and a box of waterproof matches or cigarette lighter. Waterproof container should be used.
All equipment must be in good order and repair (buckles, straps etc). Particular attention should be paid to equipment that may be sun damaged.
Allowable replacement equipment (paddles, spare Race ID Numbers) should be carried by the support crews to avoid failing daily scrutineering if original equipment is lost or damaged.
Support Crews
Each team shall have a support crew of at least 1 adult person. The support crew vehicle shall display the number of the craft it is supporting and also attach the support crew sticker on the front windscreen (See rules 370-374 for more info)
