Organizer:
Jason Licuanan
Date/Time:
Date(s) - Saturday 24 June, 2023
All Day
canoeing
kayaking
rogaining
Paddy Paddlin’ ROW-gaine: by Salomé Hussein
That puntastic title is courtesy of Dylan Jones, of Valley Outdoor, and Finn Warren, Stu’s middle child. This event will maintain the collective goodwill and mildly inappropriate good humour of all the F.O.C.K.ers that have contributed. If other rogaines are made of sweat, tears, and leeches, this one is made of duct-tape, coloured pencil, chocolate eggs, and rainbow unicorn onesies. You should expect the map, the controls, and our notes to deviate from the classic rogaine.
The last boat-oriented event NSWRA ran was the 2019 Lake Macquarie event, which I remember fondly. The 2018-2022 strategic plan expresses the NSW rogaining association wanted incorporate more multi-sport activities, but one can imagine many reasons (mainly of the flammable and contagious variety) that this didn’t eventuate over the following months/years. We hope the learning and good outcomes from this event will encourage more like it.
Behold, the lesser known and mildly invasive Easter Unicorn, which lays her eggs in riverside cliff faces and sunken forests.
While the festival camping is around Bendeela, those familiar with that stretch of river know it to be the antithesis of a good rogaine map. There would have been precisely two route choices: upstream or downstream. We went a fair way from the festival itself to offer you not only more choice, but also some amazing wilderness, striking terrain, and the haunting atmosphere of sunken forests.
Because that pristine wilderness is worth keeping that way, this is a purely boat-based event. No disembarking unless you need to use one of the abundant campsite loos on the course.
This event will also have 1st North Sydney catering after the race concludes, which gives volunteers time to deal with the last interesting part of this rogaine. We’ll be manually tallying scores! No navlights here; we’re going old school punches. Hanging flags the day before will be the first time I’ve actually seen these in-person. I’m sure I’m not the only one who’ll appreciate the novelty.
Pictured are the Row-gaine setting assistants, Raph (11) and Finn (16) Warren. Sort of like having minions, only the minions are basically smaller versions of Felonious Gru.
Where?
The Festival of Canoe & Kayak (F.O.C.K) paddlegaine will take place within on the beautiful Shoalhaven River Catchment, near Nowra. More info here: https://www.thefock.com.au/
Sunken forests.
Dramatic cliffs.
SITUATION:
This is the Inaugural Paddy Paddlin’ ROW-gaine, a type of rogaine done via paddled boatcraft.
a. Teams from the Sydney-metro area will be competing with other, including the outdoor clubs from other universities. A maximum of two-hundred (200) boats will be at the race.
b. UTS OAC teams:
- We plan to create paddle teams consisting of two (2) or four (4) people.
- UTS OAC paddle teams will be scattered throughout the course, all teams will be navigating & paddling to control points throughout the event.
- Salome & Jason are the trip leaders & will be organising teams + carpooling arrangements.
ADVENTURE:
Our objective is to have fun as we paddle & navigate to as many control points as we can!
PRICE:
$80 per person if you have your own boats.
An additional $80 for each canoe (2 person) you hire.
EXECUTION:
a. General outline of how this event is intended to proceed:
- Carpool from Sydney to the Festival in Kangaroo Valley.
- Board bus to race start when your race wave is called.
- At the start you will be given a map and after planning your course you may start anytime within your 30 minute allotted window. (Staggered race start).
- Paddlegaine: Paddle & navigate to control points with your mates (try not to capsize!).
- Return gear.
- Post-race presentations, food, & celebrations.
- Carpool back to Sydney.
b. Your Tasks:
- Learn what a rogaine is: https://rogaine.asn.au/about/what-is-rogaining
- Sign up to the event on our UTS OAC website, let us know your paddle experience and team-mate preference.
- Jason and Salomé will help you build your team of two (2) or four (4).
- Think of a cool/funny team name.
- Coordinate with your teammates to enter online well BEFORE Friday, 16 June 2023: 2023 Paddlegaine – NSW Rogaining
- Watch YouTube videos about canoeing & navigation, some key words to look up
- Build your fitness! Practice your paddle-specific movements i.e. pulling movements & rotations of your mid-section. Be prepared to sit &/or kneel for the duration of the event.
- Plan your personal gear for the event – clothing, footwear, food, money, & water.
- Organise carpooling arrangements.
- Do your best, have fun, & look after your teammates!
ADMINISTRATION & LOGISTICS:
Equipment:
- Entry fee will cover canoe hire, personal flotation device (PFD), paddles, and catering.
- Dry bags can be obtained from the UTS OAC Q-store.
- Appropriate clothing & footwear. You may be exposed to the sun, cold weather, & wet conditions – pack accordingly. A change of clothes for after the event may also be prudent.
- Car – if you have one & are willing to drive, please let us know as we will be carpooling.
- Money for water, food, & sharing fuel costs.
Food & Water:
- Morning tea is provided.
- Post-event catering is included.
- BYO snacks as required.
- BYO water, if you intend to drink the river water bring appropriate purification devices &/or tablets. Make sure you have enough H2O for the whole day!
