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EVENTS // Tekapo Throwdown 2008
The 2008 Tekapo Throwdown was held on the 1st and 2nd of November on the Tekapo Artificial White-Water course, drawing a record 58 entries from all over the south island.
Over the weekend event competitors competed in several events including a freestyle rodeo, slalom, pairs ball-race, and a unique timed rescue challenge.
Central Otago kayakers dominated the event, showing that kayaking is as strong as ever in south. Young paddlers Finn Butcher and Max Rayner performed well in both the Under 15 Mens freestyle and Slalom with Finn winning both of these divisions. While Dunstan High school student and NZ Junior Slalom squad member Nick Henderson won the Under 19 Mens Slalom.
In the Veterans Gordon Raynor won both the Slalom and Freestyle events, but he was pushed along by strong performances by Alan Hoffman and Roy Bailey of Wanaka.
While the weekend had a competitive edge, the focus was on getting as many paddlers out there on the water and trying ‘new and different’ disciplines and events within kayaking. The pairs ball-race is quickly becoming the ‘feature event’ of the Tekapo Throwdown as 22 pairs of racers and only one division. With the all in nature, and unique atmosphere the ball race enables both young and old paddlers to compete against each other on an ‘even playing field’ or should I say ‘river’?
This year a ‘mystery event’ had competitors wondering what they had got themselves into, all was revealed on Saturday afternoon as teams of four took part in a timed ‘rescue challenge’. While the event was timed, the aim of the challenge was to get groups working together and thinking about river safety. Many of the entrants in this event had never considered river-rescue techniques as an area of consideration, and the combination of boat and swimmer rescues proved to be an interesting spectacle. Highlights of this event included on of the ‘rescuers’ requiring the need to be rescued after getting himself in to difficulties towing another boat.
The Throwdown was great success and we would like to acknowledge the great support of PaddlerZone, Otago Polytechnic, Bliss-Stick Kayaks, Cumec Magazine and Feed The Rat.
A special thank you is also extended to Alan and Kirsty Hoffman of Wanaka for running the slalom event.
For more information on the Tekapo Throwdown and the NZ Freestyle Kayak Series visit www.nzfks.co.nz
Slalom Under 15 Men Finn Butcher
Under 19 Men Nick Henderson
Open Men Calum Brash
Veteran Men Gordon Raynor
Junior Women Jess Bailey
Open Women Ngaio Hart
Freestyle Under 15 Men Finn Butcher
Under 19 Men Tom Robb/Alexis Pare
Open Men Dylan Thomson
Veteran Men Gordon Raynor
Junior Women Anna Eade/Courtney Kerin
Open Women Ngaio Hart
Ball Race 1st Place Alexis Pare & Kane Wyatt
