Bigger, better for ICC
Bigger, better for ICC
January 10, 2008
Section: Community, Sport
JOEL RITCHIE
IN the wake of some wild surf, Illawarra Canoe Club (ICC) is gearing up to host this weekend’s NSW Championships in Wollongong.
More than 100 paddlers are expected to converge on the Illawarra for the two-day event.
After massive swells hammered the state’s coast this past weekend, ICC president Nigel Edwards said the bigger the swells, the better for elite racers at the state championships.
“The bigger the waves and the stronger the winds, the faster the big guys will go,” he said.
Wollongong City, North Wollongong and Fairy Meadow Surf Life Saving Clubs have got behind the event by supplying six IRBs and two jet skis for rescues if any competitors find danger.
Saturday will feature the singles race, which features a 23km paddle from the Sea Cliff Bridge to Wollongong Harbour. The race will feature a rolling start with two 50-foot Sea Ray power crafts shadowing competitors.
Wollongong Lord Mayor Alex Darling will start the race at 2pm.
Along with $250 for the winner, the event will feature $250 spot prizes for the leaders at the 1km and 5km marks and a ‘lucky boat’ prize.
Among the favourites are Tim Jacobs, Tommy Woodriff and defending champion Dean Gardiner while ICC’s Cade Barnes and Ian Trimbell will lead the local charge.
At 10am Sunday the doubles race will be held from Wollongong Harbour to East Corrimal Point and back.
That race carries a $1000 winner’s purse supplied by Dean Gardiner from Oceanpaddler and will be followed by a presentation at the Five Islands Brewery.
ICC duo Ian Trimbell and Michael Locke will start as favourites on Sunday.
Winner’s of the men’s and women’s sections will then compete in New Zealand at the next round of the World Cup. The event will also be used as a promotional event for the Illawarra.
“Hopefully this event can be even bigger in 2009,” Edwards said.