Latest News

16 Aug 2008	'Up a Creek With a Paddle' - Coaching in River Paddling
1 Aug 2008	Forth River Canoe Course restoration
10 Jul 2008	Southern Cup Slalom Series comes to Tas
23 Jun 2008	Tasmanian Wildwater Racers Shine in World Cup Finals
4 Jun 2008	Tasmanian Schools Whitewater Champs Results
25 May 2008	Updated Australian Canoeing Safety Guidelines
18 May 2008	2009 Australian Whitewater Championships - Book travel here now
5 May 2008	2009 Wildwater World Cup for Tasmania
11 Feb 2008	2009 Australian Whitewater Championships

Andrew Maynard - Cataract Gorge 'Up a Creek With a Paddle' - Coaching in River Paddling Andrea McQuitty, Saturday, 16 August 2008 A weekend of coaching in river paddling techniques. The very best whitewater paddlers in Tasmania can't wait to pass on their skills and knowledge at the third annual "Up a Creek With a Paddle" weekend of coaching in river paddling on September 27-28.  On offer this year... Saturday Refining river paddling skills on the Forth River, plastic boat slalom, river safety and equipment, personal video analysis Sunday Fisher River (Grade 3), coached river trip, intermediate level OR Lea River (Grade 4), coached river trip, advanced level only For more information and enrolments, follow the links below or contact Andrea at mcdeka@southcom.com.au     Other Links   'Up A Creek With a Paddle' flyer   Enrolment form and more information

Tasmanian Canoe Club new shed Forth River Canoe Course restoration Andrea McQuitty, Friday, 1 August 2008 Tasmanian Canoe Club's Forth River canoe course was decimated one year ago by a flood. Twelve months on, the course has been dramatically restored with new facilities in the form of a new shed, a rebuilt road, a safer rapid with improved features and a new picnic table. Central Coast Council and Sport and Recreation Tasmania have supported the construction of the new shed that will significantly improve the amenity of the course. Tasmanian Canoe Club new shed Tasmanian Canoe Club new shed Tasmanian Canoe Club new shed

Southern Cup Slalom Series comes to Tas Andrea McQuitty, Thursday, 10 July 2008 The Tasmanian Slalom Championships will again form part of the series. The Tasmanian Slalom Championships, on December 14 at the Upper Mersey, will again double as a round of the Southern Cup Slalom Series. For more information see the link below. Other Links   Southern Cup Slalom Series

Stew Bennett Tasmanian Wildwater Racers Shine in World Cup Finals Andrea McQuitty, Monday, 23 June 2008 Top results for Dan, Stew and Ben Tasmanian Wildwater paddlers shone in the World Cup finals in Lofer, Austria, this weekend, achieving what was possibly Australia's best set of overall results from a World Wildwater competition - four top 12 results. Dan Hall finished 4th in the World Cup Rapid Sprint Final in a close race. After first runs, the top six competitors were all within one second of each other. Dan moved from 5th after first runs into 4th place after second runs. This was a great effort from Dan after being plagued by ill health over the last month. He went on to finish 11th in the World Cup Classic Final the next day, proving his rare ability as an all-round competitor. Stewart Bennett continued his incedible rise through the World field, coming a stunning 9th in the World Cup Classic Final. In 2002, Stew finished 9th in the Junior Wildwater World Championships. He stopped training while he completed his university studies, and has only been back in serious training for 18 months. To finish in the top ten in his first year of international senior competition is a remarkable achievement. Ben Maynard completed his best year of international racing with a personal best 12th place in the World Cup Classic Final, as well a personal best 21st place in the World Cup Rapid Sprint Final. Ben finished with an overall World Cup Ranking of 12th. All looks good for top results at the 2009 Hydro Tasmania Wildwater World Cup in October next year! SUMMARY OF THE BEST RESULTS FROM 2008 4th  World Cup 3 Rapid Sprint Final, Lofer, Austria – Dan Hall   5th World Championships Classic Teams Race, Ivrea, Italy      – Mathew French, Ben Maynard, Stewart Bennett    8th World Championships Rapid Sprint Teams Race, Ivrea, Italy -          Dan Hall, Ben Maynard, Stewart Bennett   9th World Cup 4 Classic Final, Lofer Austria – Stewart Bennett   11th World Cup 4 Classic Final, Lofer Austria – Dan Hall   12th World Cup 4 Classic Final, Lofer Austria – Ben Maynard   14th World Cup 2 Classic, Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic – Stewart Bennett   16th World Cup 2 Classic, Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic – Ben Maynard   18th World Championships Classic, Ivrea, Italy – Mathew French   21st World Championships Classic, Ivrea, Italy – Stewart Bennett   21st World Cup 3 Rapid Sprint Final, Lofer, Austria – Ben Maynard   Other Links   World Cup Final Results

Tasmanian Schools Whitewater Champs Results Andrea McQuitty, Wednesday, 4 June 2008 Devonport High School won the Schools Trophy in the 2008 Tasmanian Schools Whitewater Championships, narrowly defeating The Friends School of Hobart. Top performances came from Jake Pearce and Ruby Hodgetts, both of Devonport High School, in the wildwater races while Elsa Gales and Andrew Eckhardt, of The Friends School dominated the slalom events. Huge improvements were seen in many paddlers in the six months since the last junior event. Other Links   Results

Updated Australian Canoeing Safety Guidelines Andrea McQuitty, Sunday, 25 May 2008 Australian Canoeing has updated it's Safety Guidelines for canoeing and kayaking activities on flatwater, the sea and whitewater. These guidelines cover accepted current practices and standards in risk management, equipment, conditions, qualifications and leadership. Other Links   AC Safety Guidelines

2009 Australian Whitewater Championships - Book travel here now Andrea McQuitty, Sunday, 18 May 2008 5% discount on Spirit of Tasmania booking made using our Aus Champs booking form The 2009 Australian Whitewater Championships, from Jan 4 -11 incorporates the: 2008 Australian Schools Slalom and Wildwater Championships 2009 Australian Slalom Championships 2009 Australian Wildwater Championships and national teams selection races THE PROGRAM The venues The 2008 Australian Schools Championships will be held on the Forth River, just 15 minutes drive from Devonport on Tasmania's north-west coast. The 2009 Australian Slalom and Wildwater Championships will be held on the Upper Mersey River, below Lake Rowallan. The Upper Mersey Course is just over one hours drive from the Forth River, and one and a half hours from Devonport. Both venues offer excellent paddling opportunities on natural courses, with water being supplied by Hydro Tasmania. MORE ABOUT THE VENUES Getting to Tasmania The Spirit of Tasmania sails from Melbourne to Devonport everyday, with twice a day sailings during peak times. The Spirit of Tasmania is offering a 5% discount on direct bookings made using the special 2009 Australian Whitewater Championships Booking Form, linked below. Launceston has the closest major airport to the race venues - just one and a half hours from both the Forth and Upper Mersey courses. All major domestic airlines fly into Launceston. Devonport also has an airport, five minutes drive away from the Spirit of Tasmania terminal. Planes flying into Devonport are too small to carry kayaks, however split travel arrangements using the ferry can work well. Book now for travel and accommodation as early January is peak tourist time in Tasmania. The Devomport Visitor Centre can assist with other travel and accommodation bookings Phone: 1800 649 514 or email tourism@devonport.tas.gov.au Arm River Camp, at the Upper Mersey, will not be available for accommodation, including camping, during the championships. For more information: General information : Andrea McQuitty mcdeka@southcom.com.au                                                                                                                                                                                       Wildwater information: Dave Gray  adavidgray@bigpond.com   Other Links   Spirit of Tasmania Booking Form   Spirit of Tasmania Fares   How to get from Forth to Upper Mersey - map and directions   Discover Tasmania   Accommodation and other travel - Devonport Travel Centre

Dan Hall and Ben Maynard - Brady's - Hydro Tasmania Wildwater World Cup 2009 venue 2009 Wildwater World Cup for Tasmania Andrea McQuitty, Monday, 5 May 2008 Hydro Tasmania is naming rights sponsor The Minister for Sport and Recreation, Michelle O'Byrne, announced on Friday, May 2, that Canoe Tasmania's bid to host the Wildwater World Cup in 2009 had been successful. The six race series will be held from October 20 - November 7 using the spectacular whitewater venues of northern and central Tasmania. Hydro Tasmania is the naming rights sponsor for the series, generously supplying controlled water releases for the races. The  Hydro Tasmania Wildwater World Cup 2009 will provide the opportunity to internationally market Tasmania's world-class whitewater and it's value as a tourist destination. It will also provide local athletes with a much dreamed of opportunity to compete on their home courses against the rest of the World's best paddlers. Ben Maynard - Cataract Gorge

Dan Hall 2009 Australian Whitewater Championships Monday, 11 February 2008 Schools Champs, Slalom and Wildwater national title races for Tasmania Canoe Tasmania will host the Australian Whitewater Championships from January 4 - 11, 2009. The championships will consist of the following events at the Forth and Upper Mersey Rivers: 2008 Australian Schools Whitewater Championships 2009 Australian Slalom Championships   2009 Australian Rapid Sprint Championships 2009 Australian Wildwater Championships The proposed program for the event can be found using the link below or the main menu button above. More information will be available soon. Other Links   Proposed Program