Dabulamanzi Canoe Club

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Dabulamanzi Canoe Club

• The Best Club in the Whole Dam Universe!

Dabs New Members Braai
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Dabulamanzi Canoe Club

• The Best Club in the Whole Dam Universe!

Dabs New Members Braai
Skid (Nick Warren)
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Dabs New Members Braai

• Welcome and Purpose of Talk
• Whos who?
• Boring Stuff (brief)
• Getting Started Stuff
• Finding Info
• Our Clubhouse
• Time-Trial Etiquette
• Training
• Different Disciplines
• Q A

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Dabs Committee
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Some Basics

• Introduction Letter
• Season is from 1 April to 31 March
• Fees
• Social vs. Racing Membership
• Juniors vs. Seniors
• Boat Racks
• Access Disks
• Office Hours
• Race Calendar
• http//www.dabulamanzi.co.za/cms/index.php?option
  com_wrapperItemid34

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Boring Stuff
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Boring Stuff
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Proficiency

• The system works as follows
• Complete the FLATWATER PROFICIENCY test at
  Emmarentia Dam or other pre-arranged location.
  Dabs Fee Juniors Free, Seniors R50. You will be
  issued with a Safety Booklet with your
  certificates inside (Additional R10 for Safety
  Booklet).
• You are now Flat Water proficient and will now be
  permitted to enter Flatwater races only. Get your
  first certificate signed by your safety officer.
• Complete three flatwater races or Time Trials
• Complete the RIVER PROFICIENCY test at
  pre-arranged location Dabs Fee Juniors R100,
  Seniors R100. Get your Safety Officer to sign
  your second certificate.
• You are now a B RATED PADDLER and will be
  permitted to take part in C-graded and B-graded
  river races only for the grading of a river,
• Complete six 'C' graded or B graded (or a
  combination of the two) river races and get your
  third certificate signed by your safety officer.
• You are now a 'A' RATED PADDLER. This allows you
  to enter A-graded river races.
• Complete three 'A' graded river races and get
  your fourth certificate signed by your safety
  officer.
• You are now an 'A' RATED PADDLER. WELL DONE !!
• You will keep an A or A rating for life.
  However if your membership lapses for more than
  two years and you are not yet A or A rated,
  your number is given away and all records are
  lost. You will have to start at a Flatwater
  proficiency test should you wish to begin racing
  again.
• See the Website for all the info
• http//www.dabulamanzi.co.za/cms/index.php?option
  com_contenttaskviewid35Itemid60

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Proficiency vs. Seeding

• In Short
• PROFICIENCY determines that you are competent to
  participate in a race of a certain difficulty /
  grading. (C / B / A / A)
• SEEDING is means that you race / compete at a
  certain level and will start major races in the
  same bunch as your seeding index. (Measured as a
  percentage of winners time)
• How the seeding system works
• http//www.canoesa.org.za/index.php?optioncom_con
  tenttaskviewid27Itemid17
• Major SA River Grading
• http//www.canoesa.org.za/index.php?optioncom_con
  tenttaskviewid25Itemid7

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Safety

• Safety is a critical aspect of the sport.
• Knowing what to expect and how to handle
• various situations is key.
• Trees, rocks, rapids, weirs, strainers, other
  paddlers all have their characteristics
• Lifejackets are compulsory on all sanctioned
  river races and some flatwater races.
• Safety taught by Bill and at tripping weekends.

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Communication

• Crucial as to what is happening
• Website
• E-Groups
• dabulamanzi-subscribe_at_yahoogroups.com
• gpkayak-subscribe_at_yahoogroups.com
• sakayak-subscribe_at_yahoogroups.com
• Please observe protocol.
• SMS
• Notice Board

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Website www.dabulamanzi.co.za
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Clubhouse

• Opening Times
• Thursday Time Trial
• Catering Monica Annie
• Functions
• Louise Shuter
• Security

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Time Trial Etiquette

• Start on time
• Rudders against the bank
• Dont creep the start
• No cutting buoys
• Please make way for faster boats lapping
• Dont hop onto the wave of a boat lapping you
• Singles dont ride the wave of a double
• Take the shortest line / most direct route
• Normally rotate at the clubhouse buoy (clockwise)
• Dont take things personally

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Training Etiquette

• Everyone is welcome
• Can do your own thing or hop onto a bunch
• Better to train at your level (or slightly above)
• Normally clockwise
• Saturday 2000s are the exception
• Rotate (anticlockwise) at bottom buoy
• Watch out for sprinters doing 500s (you have
  right of way)
• Have fun!

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Path to Fish / Duzi

• Why Fish / Duzi?
• Other Races (Drak / Ithala / Umko / Lowveld /
  Tracker)
• Need to be a racing member (not just social)
• Flatwater proficiency
• River proficiency
• Proficiency trips. Watch the website / emails
• Races

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Rivers

• Near
• Klip, Highveld Croc, Vaal / Suikerbos / Taaibos,
  Wilge
• Further
• Lowveld Croc, Elands
• Natal
• Duzi, Umzimkulu, Umkomaas, Bushmans, Ithala,
• Further afield
• Berg, Breede, Fish, Orange, Caledon

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Thank You