October was a month full of highlights and celebration for Paddle Australia.
Our community came together on Saturday night to reflect on the last 12 months, recognise and celebrate our athletes and coaches, and honour the service of our incredible volunteers, officials and educators who continue to give selflessly to our sport at the Paddle Australia Awards Night. I invite you to read more about the evening and our winners here.
On behalf of Paddle Australia, I am honoured to recognise and pay tribute to Andrea McQuitty, our outgoing President and newest Life Member whose time with Paddle Australia has been significant in both length and impact. Read more about her extensive contribution which has been detailed here.
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
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Paddling Community Celebrates 2023 Paddle Australia Awards
Outstanding members of the paddle community took centre stage over the weekend at the 2023 Paddle Australia Awards, with a gala event on the Gold Coast celebrating their broad sporting and community achievements over the past 12 months.
Read more >>>
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Andrea McQuitty Steps Down as Paddle Australia President
The Annual General Meeting (AGM) over the weekend marked the end of an era for Paddle Australia (PA), with Andrea McQuitty stepping down from the PA Board after 11 years of service, seven of those leading the organisation as President and Chair.
Read more >>>
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Olympic Medalist Andrew Trim Appointed Paddle Australia President
Paddle Australia is pleased to announce the election of Andrew Trim as President following the AGM and first meeting of the new Board at the National Paddling Forum on the Gold Coast over the weekend.
Trim has served on the Paddle Australia Board since 2020, and will step into the role of President after serving as Vice President under Andrea McQuitty’s leadership.
Find out more >>>
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Next Stop Sydney on Olympic Legacy Tour as London Passes Flag for 2025 World Championships
The Australian Canoe Slalom team wrapped up their 2023 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships campaign with an impressive medal haul totalling two gold and one bronze, as well as seven top-10 places and three Olympic quotas for next years’ Paris Games.
The World Championships at the London 2012 Olympic venue also gave the Australians another reason to be excited, with the ICF flag officially passed from the London organisers to Paddle Australia, the hosts of the next event in October 2025. Read more >>>
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Paddle Australia Presents 2023/24 National Events Calendar
Paddle Australia is pleased to present the National Events Calendar for the 2023/24 paddling season.
The 2023 Paddle Australia SUP, SUP Foil and OC1 Mayor’s Ocean Cup will kick off the busy season, which also includes Olympic and Paralympic Selection events for Canoe Sprint, Paracanoe and Canoe Slalom for next year’s Paris Games.The full calendar for National Events is available through the Paddle Australia website. Find out more >>>
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AROUND THE AUSTRALIAN WATERWAYS
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WA Industry Paddle Day and Outdoors October Launch
Paddle WA were proud to partner with The WA Department of Local Government Sport and Culture (DLGSC) for their Industry Paddle Day at Kent Street Weir, Canning recently.
All the kayakers involved had a great time and it was a fantastic way to kick off Outdoors October. It was also great to see everyone out on the water and challenging themselves to give a new activity a go.
There is no better way to get outside and enjoy all the beauty that WA has to offer than from our beautiful waterways.
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2023 Australian Masters Games
Paddle SA (PSA) recently hosted the canoe/kayak program for this year's Australian Masters Games. The weather certainly presented some challenges, but participants enjoyed three fun filled, action packed days of paddling. It was also a great opportunity to showcase new facilities, and promote what PSA is all about.
In addition to local club members, PSA hosted visitors from around the country, plus international competitors from Poland and India, and extend their thanks to everyone who participated for their great spirit.
Paddle SA extends their special thanks to PSA President and paddle legend Jim Murphy OAM, for all his support and organisation skills on and off the water. They also extend a big thanks to their support network, especially Wayne, Peter and Libby who volunteered their time for the full journey to help make the event such a great success. Picture courtesy of PA Life Member Peter Carter OAM.
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Share your stories with us!
Whether it's about your club, your events, your discipline or favourite paddle trail...we'd love to hear from you! Send in your photos, videos or stories to be featured in Paddle Pulse.
Please contact us at membership@paddle.org.au
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Paddle Australia Implements Enhanced Child Safeguarding Measures
Following the introduction of the National Integrity Framework, the Paddle Australia (PA) Board adopted the Working With Children Check National Statement of Intent (Statement of Intent), following consultation and unanimous endorsement by each State Paddle Association (SPA).
The Statement of Intent signifies our sports’ commitment to strengthening child safety by seeking to create national alignment in relation to requirements around Working With Children Checks or equivalent (WWCC). Read more >>>
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Updated Integrity, Discipline and Grievances Policies
All members of our united paddling community are protected by, and bound by, Paddle Australia’s (PA) policies. PA has recently updated the following integrity, disciplinary and grievance policies to strengthen our defence against integrity threats and to ensure that paddling is a safe, fair and inclusive environment for all:
- National Integrity Framework
- Code of Behaviour Policy
- Personal Grievances Policy
Read more >>>
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Norton and Smith take out Surf Life Saving Australia's Shaw and Partners Financial Services Coolangatta Gold Downwind Paddle
Tom Norton and Jemma Smith have been crowned Shaw and Partners Financial Services Coolangatta Gold Downwind Paddle champions after an epic race on Saturday afternoon.
Competitors set off at Coolangatta Beach across the 15km course that took them south, before heading back up along the iconic Gold Coast coastline to finish back at Coolangatta. Read more >>>
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Aussies Represent at 2023 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Championships
The 2023 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Championships have come to a close in Columbus, USA, after a six day program saw four Australian paddlers gain valuable event experience against a world class field.
Father and son duo Peter and Jack Newland competed alongside Geelong local Fynn Mcleod in the Men’s Kayak Surface, with international debutant Gabriel Rodriguez competing in the junior division. Read more >>>
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Less than 50 Days to Go Until 2023 ICF Canoe Ocean Racing World Championships in Perth
Excitement is building as the global paddling community eagerly awaits the 2023 ICF Canoe Ocean Racing World Championships, set to take place in the picturesque coastal city of Perth, Australia.
With less than 50 days to go until the world’s most thrilling canoeing event kicks off, anticipation is reaching a fever pitch. From November 30th to December 3rd, Perth will transform into a haven for paddling enthusiasts, athletes, and spectators, providing a spectacular backdrop for the championship. Read more >>>
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Canoe Slalom Season Comes to a Stunning Close in Paris
The 2023 international Canoe Slalom season has come to stunning close in the Olympic host city of Paris, with the World Cup Final wrapping up on Sunday.
The final day of competition was highlighted with a bronze medal for Jessica Fox in the women’s Kayak Cross final. The bronze medal concluded a massive weekend for Fox which was highlighted by two gold medals (canoe and kayak), two overall World Cup crowns (canoe and kayak) and third in the overall Kayak Cross standings. Read more >>>
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Fantastic Fox finishes World Cup season with more Gold
Jess Fox has claimed back to back gold medals taking out the Women’s C1 crown at the ICF Slalom World Cup final in Paris overnight. The win secured Fox the overall C1 World Cup crown, at the same venue that will host the 2024 Paris Olympic Games in just under 300 days.
Fox is now the 2023 World Cup overall winner in both the C1 and K1, showing her consistency and resolve in what has been a huge year for the triple Olympian. Read more >>>
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Paddle Pathways | Get to know sprint kayaker Pierre van der Westhuyzen
Pierre van der Westhuyzen is the youngest member of the Australian men’s sprint kayaking team, but that doesn’t stop him from having his sights firmly set on the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
It’s a sport that has kept the 20-year-old busy for a number of years, but it was his big brother’s success that ignited the Olympic dream within him.
Read more >>>
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Paddle Pathways | Get to know dual Olympian Aly Bull
Growing up with her feet firmly planted in the Surf Life Saving world, it was not until Aly Bull saw her idol Naomi Flood compete at London 2012 that she believed her dream of competing at the Olympics could ever become reality.
With her initial sights set on the IronWoman Series, Bull began paddling at 16 years of age. She quickly found her groove, and was named the Under 17 Australian IronWoman Champion in 2012.
Read more >>>
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#MYPADDLEOZ - PHOTO OF THE MONTH
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That’s a wrap on the 2023 Paddle NSW Harbour Series with LTPN bringing home the club trophy for the second year running!
Photo thanks to @learntopaddlenow
Simply share your paddling videos, photos and stories across social media, tagging #MyPaddleOZ and @paddle_australia for the chance to be featured.
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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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