APRIL 2022 EDITION
 

It was great to see our community back together again as events and competitions continued to return throughout April.

After two years of interruptions and cancellations, Paddle Australia proudly worked with our State Paddle Associations (SPAs) and the Discipline Technical Committees to bring the 2022 PA Canoe Slalom Championships, 2022 PA Canoe Polo Championships and 2022 PA Canoe Marathon Championships to life this month.

It was fantastic to see so many new and familiar faces competing across the country and representing their states and clubs in these three national events. Our sincere thanks as always to the many volunteers involved in bring these and other events to life.

Click here to read the full update from Paddle Australia CEO Phil Jones

As always, to keep up-to-date, stay tuned to paddle.org.au and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Yours in Paddling,
Paddle Australia
SPOTLIGHT NEWS
Paddle Australia and AOCRA working together to achieve better outcomes for a United Paddling Community

The Australian Outrigger Canoe Racing Association (AOCRA) and Paddle Australia (PA) are excited to be collaborating to develop a plan that will deliver better outcomes for all paddlers across the country. 

The plan will leverage existing synergies between the two organisations to realise new opportunities that will achieve genuine value for respective members and clubs in the paddling community. 

Both organisations have targeted several initiatives that will commence immediately, designed to create value for all paddlers. Read more >>>

Sport Australia Community Coaching General Principles Course

Sport Australia has recently released a new and exciting Essential Skills Course. This course replaces the Sport Australia Community Coaching General Principles course. 

The Community Coaching – Essential Skills Course helps coaches create fun, safe and inclusive environments for participants. This free online course includes 8 modules and takes around 3 hours to complete.

It has been designed so coaches can learn at their own pace and complete modules anytime, anywhere, on any device. This course has replaced the General Principles Course. Paddle Australia will continue to use this new innovative program as a Co-requisite to its Introduction to Coaching Course.

AROUND THE WATERWAYS
Adelaide Canoe Club - Backstairs Passage Crossing (Kangaroo Island)

The Adelaide Canoe Club (ACC) paddling calendar continues to provide plenty of options for Club members, with regular weekly coastal paddles but also more challenging adventures such as Backstairs Passage and a crossing to Kangaroo Island.
 
In late March tides presented a good opportunity to tackle Backstairs Passage for a weekend paddle from Cape Jervis to Antechamber Bay, aimed at demonstrating splitting of the tide to achieve the most efficient crossing. Seven Club members participated in the trip led by Phil Doddridge. This was also a highlight for four members of the group, achieving their first crossing at this location. Find out more >>>

MEMBER UPDATES

National Paddling Forum

Paddle Australia is excited to once again be hosting the National Paddling Forum, the first face to face national meetings since November 2019. The Forum provides a much missed opportunity for PA and SPA staff, the PA and SPA Boards and relevant committees to gather in person to discuss the future of paddling in Australia.   

There is a wide range of topics being covered at the Forum in May including current strategic priorities; new developments in community coaching; a new National Volunteer Strategy; and important information on a new policy framework that will be effective from 1 July 2022. All members of our united paddling community are welcome to join in online for the Plenary Session that will cover these and other topics on Saturday 7th May from 9.00am – 1:00pm AEST.   

Click here to register for the event.  You will then be sent a link to access the meeting closer to the date.

Paddle On Foundation

The Paddle On Foundation was established in May 2020 by Paddle Australia and the six State Paddle Associations to provide support to paddlers who have been adversely financially affected by COVID-19.  As the impacts of COVID-19 continue to ripple through the community, this original purpose remains in place.  The application criteria has recently been expanded to also support paddlers who have been adversely financially impacted by fire, flood or other natural disaster.

Need financial assistance or want to support a fellow paddler in need? Find out more >>>

Update to JustGo's Terms and Policies

Following the rebrand from GoMembership to JustGo, all users will soon be asked to accept JustGo's revised User Terms of Use and Privacy Notice. On your next login after May 1, you will be prompted to review and accept the revised terms. 

The revised policies are available via the following link, Click here >>>
Member Feedback Survey Winners Announced

Paddle Australia and our six State Paddle Associations would like to thank everyone who took the time to complete the Member Feedback Survey. The responses provided will allow us to better understand the needs of our members and the wider paddling community now and into the future.  Once we have analysed and summarised the results, a report will be shared with clubs, members and the broader united paddling community.

Congratulations to our winners:

  • NSW/ACT - Kim, Wagga Bidgee Canoe Club
  • QLD - Jake, Sunshine Coast Paddlesports Club
  • SA - Wayne, Adelaide Canoe Club
  • TAS - Nathan, Tasmanian Canoe Club
  • VIC - Les, Shepparton Canoe Club
  • WA - Isabella, Ascot Kayak Club
*Each winner will receive either a free 2022/23 Paddle Australia/State Paddle Association Membership or a $50 VISA gift card
AUSTRALIAN TEAMS
Five athletes selected to the 2022 Australian Canoe Wildwater Teams with World Championships on the horizon

Paddle Australia (PA) is pleased to announce the five athletes who have been selected to the Senior, U23 and Junior 2022 Australian Canoe Wildwater Teams.

Young talents David Burdett and Harry Langley have been selected to both the U23 and Senior teams, with veteran Richard McMinn rounding up the World Championships Team that will compete at the 2022 ICF Wildwater Canoeing World Championships in Treignac, France from 3-6 June.  

Ella Lawson and Huxley Luntungan were selected to the Australian Junior Team. Read more >>>

Paddle Australia announces Australian Canoe Freestyle Team for 2022
 

Paddle Australia is pleased to announce the 12-strong squad that will compete at the 2022 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Championships to be held in Nottingham, UK from the 27th of June to the 2nd of July 2022.

The Australian team selected for the event includes veteran Richard Cass and 23-year-old Christopher Greed, who both return to the World Championships after representing Australia at the last edition held in Spain in 2019. 

Reigning Australian Canoe Freestyle National Champion Jack Newland will also be donning the green and gold in Nottingham. Read more >>>

Paddle Australia confirms Canoe Sprint and Para Canoe Teams for 2022

Paddle Australia (PA) is pleased to confirm the Australian Canoe Sprint and Para Canoe teams for 2022.

Earlier this year, PA announced the 21 athletes who had been selected to the Senior, Paracanoe and U23 teams for 2022. An additional group of athletes were given an opportunity to qualify through an invitational race off, which was held in mid-April.

Following this, Noah Havard (NSW) and Pierre van der Westhuyzen (QLD) have now been selected to the team which will compete on the 2022 ICF Canoe Sprint World Cup circuit and at the 2022 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships. Read more >>>

Paralympian John Maclean joins Australian Paracanoe Team

Dual Paralympian John Maclean has been named as part of the Australian Paracanoe Team ahead of the 2022 international season. Maclean has represented his country at Olympic and Paralympic games, winner of a Silver medal rowing in Beijing in 2008. He has competed in over seven different sporting disciplines including triathlon, long distance swimming, rowing, paddling, wheelchair racing, hand-cycling and basketball.  Read more >>>

DISCIPLINE UPDATES
Historic gold for ACT at Canoe Polo Australian Championships

The Paddle Australia 2022 Canoe Polo Championships were held over the weekend at the West Lakes Regatta Centre in Adelaide. It was the first time since 2019 that the Australian canoe polo community were able to all come together for a weekend of polo action.

More than 90 competitors across all age groups from South Australia, Queensland, ACT and New South Wales congregated in Adelaide, with the Open, Mixed and Under-18 divisions battling for the national title. In a repeat of the 2019 Nationals, it was Queensland who took home the State Trophy for the best performing state team at the championships. Read more >>>

Australian Canoe Marathon Champions crowned on the Gold Coast

The highly anticipated Paddle Australia 2022 Canoe Marathon Championships were held on the Gold Coast last weekend. It was the first canoe marathon national championships since 2019, after the last two editions were canceled during the height of the COVID pandemic.

Through windy and rainy conditions, the event saw athletes from the Under-10 category through to the 70+ category converge on Coomera Lake for the three day event. Read more >>>

National Canoe Slalom Champions crowned at Bradys Lake

After a turbulent start to the year due to weather, some of Australia’s top canoe slalom athletes have made their return to racing at the Paddle Australia 2022 Canoe Slalom Championships at Bradys Lake, Tasmania.

With flooding and poor water quality limiting athletes’ ability to train and compete at the Penrith Whitewater Stadium, there was much enthusiasm for the return to racing at Bradys Lake as athletes put it all on the line for a national crown. Read more >>>

Recent flood events in Greater Sydney force Paddle Australia to relocate the 2022 PA Canoe Sprint Championships to Adelaide

Paddle Australia has made the decision to relocate the 2022 Canoe Sprint Championships from the Sydney International Regatta Centre (SIRC) in Penrith to West Lakes, in Adelaide, SA. The dates of the event will remain the same, with competition held from Wednesday, 18 May to Sunday, 22 May.

Paddle Australia took the decision to relocate the event from the SIRC in response to the devastating effects of the multiple flooding events that affected the Greater Sydney area in recent months, which resulted in significant damage to the SIRC venue and infrastructure. Read more >>>

TIPS & TRICKS
Paddle Smart

Paddle Smart has been designed for all paddlers: from those who are new to paddle sports to those that are already hooked on this great lifelong activity.

Paddle within your limits – and that includes your craft, your experience, the conditions on the day and your level of skills. Be realistic about your fitness and capabilities and save strength for the return journey. Find more >>>
#MYPADDLEOZ PHOTO OF THE MONTH
Now THIS is the type of 'workplace training and assessment' we can get around - it's all part of the #MyPaddleOz experience!

Where and how have you been paddling lately? Be sure to hashtag #MyPaddleOz and tag @paddleaus to be featured on our channels as we celebrate all Aussie paddlers.

PHOTO: Tracy Gibson / @trace.mysteps

So... How Did We Go?
 
What do you think of this newsletter? What would you like to see in future editions?

All comments and feedback are welcome and will help us to make sure that we're providing the updates that you care about most!

We would also love to hear about what paddlers are getting up to! Send in your photos, videos or stories to be featured in Paddle Pulse.

Please contact us at info@paddle.org.au.
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