Kayak Nelson
What is the Kayak Nelson?
Kayak Nelson intends to keep local paddles up to date with what’s happening across the Top of the South.
We will place the local kayak events and training times up on the Adventure Nelson News page and give you regular e-mails with dates and times of the next events.
The Nelson Harbour Classic Kayak Race on this Saturday 1st May 2010.
Sign on is 7.30am, first wave will leave at 8.00am. Note the change of start times.
There will be a handicapped start and first kayak home wins the Nelson Harbour Classic Kayak Race trophy. Handicap is based on known form and recent results.
You must wear a lifejacket, spray skirt(spray skirts will not apply to surf ski’s) and be able to self rescue. There is no support vessel on the course. Paddle a kayak to suit your skills.
The course is from the Nelson Marina down the Harbour to the sand spit at Tahuna Beach where you will portage across the spit before re-entering your kayak to paddle around Oyster Island and return to again portage across the sand spit before returning to the Marina Jetty where you started.
Monday Night Kayak Training – Nelson Marina boat ramp. Kayak training will start at 5.15pm, get across there as soon as you can. It will be based from the first hut on the Boulder Bank, oppisite the Marina or if it is too rough it will start at the town end of the marina. As it gets darker you will need a light and a paddle jacket would be useful.For more details Contact Andrew Martin 03-5480107
Nelson Kayak Champs – were held on 2nd April 2010: Grossi Point, Mapua, Below is the race report.
The best kayakers from all over the top of the south return each year in their quest to claim the title which only brings bragging rights of “the Nelson Kayak Champ”Every year they have turned up and left wondering what they need to do, to beat the 3 times champion, Marlborough winemaker Matt Thomson. Thompson hand return to defend his title, he can claim it as his title as no-one else had ever been more dominate around the course that takes kayakers from Grossi Point , behind Rabbit and Rough Islands then around Best Island before returning to the finish at Grossi Point. This year Nelson’s Andrew Martin was keen to lose the bridesmaid tag. Martin along with Thomson’s training partner Paul Bourgeois also from Marlborough, Adventure Racers Richard Ussher and Nathan Fa’avae with local veteran John Harris were all there to keep the pressure on Thomson and hoping local knowledge and hidden waterways could play a trump card.
The women’s race was only a 2 horse or filly affair between Jane Martin and Helen Chittenden.
An hour after the small but high quality field of 15 paddlers left Grossi Point the lead group or duo came into view at Hunter Brown reserve. Amongst the duo was Thomson (no surprise there) with Bourgeois tucked in behind, the next group back contained Martin and Fa’avae. As Thomson lined up the finish line and went to warp factor 8, Bourgeois moved out of his wake and aimed directly for the finish buoy in the Mapua channel. Once Thomson realized where he was Bourgeois had gained a boat length, Bourgeois later said the he had to try something as Matt could always out sprint him but would it be enough.?Seeing this from behind Fa’avae also chose the direct route that Bourgeois had taken. Thomson like a stunned title fighter went to warp factor 10 and charged at the line glancing across the channel at has apprentice, did he have enough? Luckily there was no need for a photo, just as well as I didn’t have a camera. Bourgeois took the win in a dramatic finish to claim the title and first ever win over Thomson by 7 seconds. Meanwhile the same scene was replaying as Martin and Fa’avae attacked the finish line for 3rd place. Martin was able to hold Fa’avae out to claim 3rd. Rounding out the top 5 was Richard Ussher.
Nelson Kayak Champ’s 2010 Results
| Skinny Boats | ||
| Paul Bourgeois | K1 | 1:08:48 |
| Matt Thomson | K1 | 1:08:55 |
| Andrew Martin | K1 | 1:12:41 |
| Nathan Fa’avae | Epic Ski | 1:12:50 |
| Richard Ussher | Sharp 6 | 1:15:45 |
| Sam Dillon | Sharp Ski | 1:16:45 |
| John Harris | Sharp 6.5 | 1:19:20 |
| Ed Steenbergen | Pinnacle | 1:21:25 |
| Matt Ellery | Sharp 6 | 1:22:07 |
| Ken Page | Sharp Ski | 1:22:56 |
| Women | ||
| Helen Chittenden | Sprinter | 1:35:00 |
| Jane Martin | Sharp 6 | 1:37:00 |
| Men’s Fat Boats | ||
| Trevor Hurley | Swallow | 1:37:00 |
| Doubles | ||
| Kathryn & Mark | Hypernova | 1:27:00 |
The known 2010 races are,
Nelson Harbour Classic – 1st May 2010: Nelson Marina, Sign on 8.00am.
Portage Kayak Race – May 2010: Saturday 15th May 2010. details on Marlborough Multisport Web site.
Beavertown Kayak Race - 7th August 2010:details on Marlborough Multisport Web site.
Twin Rivers – 16th September 2010:details on Marlborough Multisport Web site.
