Fitness Paddling in April (2006-2008)
I am returning back to my older articles through “Fitness Paddling a Year Ago” series. However, today, I offer a look at selected April posts over the recent 3 years.
2009 Rotten Egg Race – Results, Pictures, Handicap System
The 3rd Rotten Egg Race on March 22, 2009 gathered only two paddlers, Rob Bean and me, but we had a very intense fun and a great day on the river. We raced 9 miles upstream on the South Platte River from Kersey to Evans Riverside Park to meet the joint paddling club downriver trip.
3rd South Platte River Upstream “Rotten Egg” Race – March 22, 2009
Every year, in the middle of March, paddling clubs in northern Colorado organize a joint trip on the South Platte River from Evans to Kersey or further to Kuner as an opening of paddling season. During recent years I use to launch my boat around sunrise at Kersey and paddle upstream to Evans to meet downriver paddlers. In last two years I was joined by other paddlers and an informal race was created. Eric Nyre name it “Rotten Egg” race (a trophy for the last finisher?).
I needed about 4:30 hours to cover 9 miles upstream in a fast cruising mode in Sisson Nucleus 100 kayak or Spencer X-treme canoe. I paddled Thunderbolt-X kayak in the first two years of the race reaching Evans in 3:37 (2007) and 3:25 (2008 at ~850cfs). This year we expect much lower water: 400cfs at Kersey or even less. See river pictures from the March 15 paddling.
The race starts at 7am, March 22, 2009 at Kersey (highway 37 bridge – map). This is exactly sunrise time this year. Slower paddlers may start earlier.
Canoe & Kayak Racing Magazine First Issue On-Line
Dan Grubbs introduces a new on-line magazine, Canoe & Kayak Racing.
Canoe & Kayak Racing seeks to promote canoe and kayak racing with content designed to inform, educate and motivate beginners and experienced paddlers of all ages. Canoe & Kayak Racing covers a wide range of editorial and promotional content from tips and how to articles to race reports and feature stories.
As a bi-monthly publication distributed electronically via the Word Wide Web, Canoe & Kayak Racing will be posted on issuu.com where it can be accessed from any computer (full screen mode recommended).
Here are the highlights of this March/April edition of Canoe & Kayak Racing:
* Interview of the race director and a safety boat pilot of the Missouri River 340
* A racer profile of Richard Steppe, Texas racing guru
* A conversation with Ginsie Stauss and what she’s learned during 20 years of racing
* Coach’s Corner on workout routines using beats-per-minute rhythms
* A profile of the famous Des Plaines River Canoe Marathon
* Investigating, “Does training with an ergometer help the average joe?”
* U.S. Marathon trials set at 1996 Olympic paddling venue
I would consider this new magazine to be a part of the MR340 phenomenon. It reminds me Hull Speed published a few years ago in a paper form by Scott Whitney in California.
I hope Canoe & Kayak Racing will be successful. Well, I should better complete my contribution in time for the next issue …
Missouri River 340 – 3 Year Perspective by Katie Pfefferkorn
After the first MR340 at the age of 21, I initially thought it was a one-time deal. No need to do it again. Then I started thinking of the small changes I would make IF I were to do the race again… Someday.
Paddling, Training and Racing on the South Platte River
Like in recent year, I am running two informal races: 9 miles upstream and a month later, the 31 mile South Platte River Marathon.