Canoe

Singapore World Marathon Champs report

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 10:16:55 +0100

I was warned by many people that the conditions would be hot in Singapore - well nothing could have prepared me for the heat. We arrived at 8 in the morning and it was already 32C with over 85% humidity. You break out in a sweat instantly and don't stop until you get back on the plane to South Africa!We arrived on the Monday and went straight to the course. The buildings are absolutely spectacular. It is unbelievable to paddle past such massive tall skyscrapers. The portage was across a floating ...

SA Surfski Champs 2011 - Richards Bay

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 09:15:37 +0100

After a month away from home racing in the USA and Portugal, I got home some 2 weeks ago to refocus on the next block. SA Champs the first of a number of local races to finish off a busy year. Driving up to Richards Bay on Friday evening I was confident I had go through some really good sessions in the time I had been home to be ready to race.Richards Bay is wild in every front. The town is in the bush basically with sharks, hippo’s and crocodiles all in the same section of water around the Z...

So far so good...

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 08:40:51 +0100

Well all I can say is - Mission Accomplished :-)This has been a fantastic month of racing and everything went according to plan - well almost! I raced four marathon races and won 3 events and only just missed winning the final event. The races on Shongweni Dam were fantastic preparation and I have gained huge experience.The main races were the KZN Marathon Championships and the SA Marathon Championships. My training went so well in the lead up to the KZN Champs and I peaked at exactly at the righ...

My shiny new "boat"

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 12:38:55 +0100

Well it has been a VERY cold month. I am now in the build up to the KZN and South African Marathon Champs at the end of the month. The big news is that my new marathon boat arrived at last from Plastex Poland. What a beautiful boat. Plastex used an emerald green glitter on the boat and as you can see from the photo, she is stunning. At 8kg's, the boat is exactly spot on for the international marathon specs and I can already feel the difference when racing. I was lucky enough to have Brandon van...

Michele’s Blog: Durban World Cup

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 10:55:53 +0100

Windguru couldn’t quite make up its mind as to how hard the wind would blow come Sunday, however it was certain of one thing: the surf coming in at La Mercy beach would be massive! I had woken up with a sore throat and blocked head on Saturday morning. In my final race prep paddle my heart rate was unusually high, and I slunk off the water and into bed for the rest of the day. I am learning (finally) that when your body gives you warning signs, you need to listen, and act on them. Lots of Vita...

Michele’s Blog – SA River Champion

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 10:52:46 +0100

I spent a week in June in the beautiful wine lands region of the Boland/Swartland area in the Western Cape. I managed to trip the ever-changing Berg River a number of times, and at all different river levels. It was amazing, as the change that occurred after the heavy rains of Wednesday and Thursday changed the river so much that I could hardly recognise where I was. Weirs that were big drops the day before, I paddled right over the top, oblivious that there was something below me! And tree block...

Practise makes perfect

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 09:17:45 +0100

Thank goodness my exams are all over - now I can focus on more important things like training It's been a hard month with cold weather and lots of long sessions on the road and in the boat. Getting up at 4:30 in the morning in the freezing cold is tough enough, but paddling and portaging in the dark with sleet and snow can lead to a major sense of humour failure! I know the Europeans would tell me to harden up, but this is Africa and its meant to be warm!My training is definitely on track and i...