Well this year's Drak Challenge very definitely delivered a race with significant contrasting conditions; i.e. low, hot & technical for Saturday and full, cool & comfortable for Sunday. Both days' required different craft & river reading skills, with the vast majority of the record entry succeeding. However, for some, (28% I'm told) it wasn't such. What I did notice with mixed interest & concern, was the following:
time taken to extract oneself from the craft when beached on a rock, when there's significant traffic behind:
Invariably resulted in either another craft or more, colliding and compounding the problem, or the river flow somehow takes control and turns the craft, yes invariably the wrong way, resulting in either pinning you, &/or wrapping. Try always, if possible, when extracting form your craft, get out downstream, using your paddle as a support, the quickly control the craft, which is now unladen and will tend to take off.
not enough space/distance between craft in technical areas:
Self explanatory...noted so many craft knocking each other off line, resulting in capsizing, turning and in 2 cases wrap, with 1 being pinned.
practice, a bad one at that, in grabbing the craft cockpit, when capsized:
If capsized, try as quick as possible to get to the back/front and get the craft straight, facing downstream, with you at the back, cockpit upright. By grabbing the cockpit, you're turning the craft broadside to the current flow and risk a wrap or pinning. When this craft,be it a K1 or K2 is full of water, travelling downstream sideways, cockpits facing upstream, trust me, no matter how strong you think you are, whether you look like a young Charles Atlas, or how many roll-on biceps you have; be very, very assured, you are NOT going to pick that craft up &/or control it effectively in that situation.
no control of either the paddle &/or spray cover when capsized:
As quick as you can, once you've managed the control of your craft, (as noted above) put your paddle in your craft, and whilst hanging to one end of the craft, steering yourself downstream to a "safe zone"; e.g. an eddy, inside line/bend, pick your spray cover up and connect to your life jacket or tuck in to your waist; most makes have this device for ease of control in just these situations and yes, for portaging.
leaning the craft towards the problem:
Noted, especially on the Saturday with the low, technical conditions, so many paddlers leaning away from a rock, ledge or obstacle. What this does, is expose the cockpit rim and potential to fill and cause a wrap & entrapment scenario. Rather get into the practice of leaning in to the rock, ledge or obstacle; yes you might come away with a bruise, scrape and some damage; but the correct side of the craft hull is now more exposed, to which the water hydraulics and current flow actually assist your passage round the feature.
take the inside line:
More in line with Sunday's conditions, to which at nearly every obstacle/rapid, there was a favourable, less risky inside line option; which I'm sad to say, most didn't take, or failed to read the river signs; which yes, caused a high percentage of capsizes and for some, long, nasty swims.
protective gear:
Saturday, for me necessitated the wearing of helmets (voluntary) as a pre-cautionary...why, simply, so many rocks were exposed and yes, quite a few paddlers came away with injuries to their heads as a result. It's not compulsory, YET to wear helmets for all river races, be they C to A+ grade, (the latter yes) but I urge you all to consider wearing these, at every opportunity. As with the mandatory wearing of a life jacket, some time ago, start getting in the habit of taking a helmet with you to every race. On the life jacket issue, noted especially on the Sunday, in the bigger, faster water, swimmers trying to cope with life jackets that either don't support them (non buoyant) or slipping over their heads (not a correct fit, to big &/or not fitted/adjusted correctly).
With dusi fast approaching, take heed of all the above, because all will come into play, trust me; so be safe and when in doubt, get out, quickly. Oh yes, DO NOT STAND UP IN FAST FLOWING WATER.
Here's wishing you all safe, successful & enjoyable paddling for 2012. If you can, plan to attend a swift water course sooner, rather than later, it helps. Remember, look after your seconds, drivers and respective support crew; they're key & integral to your ejoyment & our sport's success.
Cheers
Rob Hill
CSA/KNCU Safety officer