Mark just edges out Tassies's Sam Norton.
How did you get started in ocean paddling?
I began paddling when I was 25 years old and have been paddling
for 13 years. My paddling career began with some mucking around on
a clubby ski and then became more serious, evolving into racing
both surf lifesaving skis and later sprint kayaks. In recent years
I have made the transition to ocean paddling. For me this
sport blends all the best things that paddling has to offer, and at
38 I can still feel my skills improving each year (even if my speed
doesn't!).
What is the appeal of the Go Natural Graeme Long
Memorial race?
The Graeme Long Memorial race is up there with the Doctor as one
of my favourites. I've raced it three times now and each time it
has delivered the essence of ocean paddling.
The race traverses a spectacular piece of Australia's southern
coastline from Urquart's Bluff through to the home of surfing in
Australia - Torquay. The course takes competitors past a number of
reefs, as well as the famous Bells beach.
The ocean in the south is unlike any other and has a totally
different feel to Australia's East Coast. Somehow it demands a
higher level of respect. One senses that the cold waters are more
changeable and less forgiving. Of course this is a large part of
the race's appeal.
How did you rate the competition at this year's
race?
Unfortunately this years' Graeme Long clashed with the Fenn Cup
in Sydney. This meant that some of the higher profile paddlers from
NSW and QLD who often come down for the race didn't turn up this
time. In fact, I think I was the only New South Welshman in
attendance. However as is the case with all significant races in
Australia, a few good athletes always pop up. This time I was
surprised to see Sam Norton at the start. Sam is a 22-year-old
Tasmanian who, while new to the ocean paddling circuit, recently
turned a lot of heads when he took a close third place at Sydney's
20 Beaches behind an on-form Clint Robinson (1st) and Tim Jacobs
(2nd). No doubt we will be seeing a good deal more of Sam.
In addition to Sam, the starters included some of Victoria's
best ski paddlers such as Mick Leverett (national marathon champ in
K1) and Tim Altman. Having recently spent some time training with
Mick, I knew he was in good form, but Sam was clearly the stand out
favourite.
Describe the Graeme Long course.
The Graeme Long is a fairly straightforward course with some
really interesting legs. Paddlers start close to the beach and then
take a line straight out to sea before turning a buoy to take the
course 26-kilometres up the coast. The race passes three points by
which competitors navigate: Roadknight (4kms), Addis (13kms) and
Point Danger (24kms). The first two points are fairly
straightforward and the final point is a little more precarious (as
I shall discuss).
Around the second point (Addis) paddlers turn a buoy and come
into the beach before rounding another buoy and out to sea to get
back on the original line. Along the way the course is littered
with reefs. When the swell is working, the reefs pitch the waves to
breaking point, providing terrific runs for the more adventurous
paddler (or danger points for the unwary).
The Graeme Long has turned on great downwind conditions
every year now, but it's not all smooth sailing. Can you describe
the conditions you were faced with this year?
Each of the three times I have raced this course, the wind has
blown from the south, with swell coming from the southwest. This
means the swell is running directly behind you, but the wind is
blowing left across your line, pushing you to the shore. This
really is a course that favours the experienced ocean paddler who
can take fuller advantage of the reefs and generally rougher
conditions that the Southern Ocean typically throws up.
You had a thrilling showdown with Sam Norton, with mere
seconds separating you at the finish line. Describe your race and
tactics you used to edge him out.
The race began predictably with Sam taking the lead out to the
first turning buoy, closely followed by myself and Mick. As we
passed the buoy, I quickly settled into the rhythm of chasing
swells out to sea and darting in to the shoreline on wind chop.
Within 500 metres or so I caught Sam and we paddled side by side,
switching too and fro on the swells in sync for a couple of
kilometres, then I pulled ahead a little on a deeper line with Sam
only a few meters behind.
By the time we reached Point Roadknight I had a narrow lead, but
after turning the point Sam put in an effort and linked up a series
of runs. It seemed that, within seconds, he had taken 150 meters. I
refocussed and tried not to be perturbed. I told myself that in
this kind of ocean (2.3-metre swell and around 15 knots of wind)
150 meters could be regathered relatively easily. While I knew Sam
was fast in the flatter conditions I tried to convince myself that,
out here, it was different and that I could stand a chance. I
focussed on staying relaxed and using the ocean as much as I
could.
Despite this, the gap stayed at 150 meters or so and may have
widened a little more by the time we reached Point Addis. When we
turned the inside buoys near the beach Sam turned first and paddled
straight towards me for a moment. I saw Sam's face and it looked
like he was working hard. I don't know Sam well and this could be
how he always looks, but I told myself he was hurting. This made me
feel better as I had been paddling hard, but comfortably, playing
safe around the reefs and keeping something for the later
stages.
Over the next stage I never lost sight of Sam and, a few
kilometres from Point Danger, I noticed that his stroke rate had
dropped and that the gap was closing. "Game on," I thought. I
picked up my effort and I felt surprisingly good.
I am not familiar with Point Danger having never really paddled
Torquay (apart from this race). In these conditions it is a mass of
white water a few hundred meters wide and long. The previous times
I have raced this course, I followed Dean Gardiner through the
breaking waves finding my way safely to the quieter water and the
finish on the other side. But Dean is a magician, and he can
navigate this kind of water like no other. Going it alone was going
to be more difficult.
Before the race, I asked Tim Altman, a local Torquay paddler, if
it was safe to paddle through the reef. He said something like,
"Yeah, the tide's coming in so you should be right, but I shouldn't
be saying that - just make sure you go the inside or outside line,
but definitely NOT the middle".
As we approached Point Danger, Sam and I levelled. The gap had
closed surprisingly quickly, and Sam told me later that he had come
unstuck on one of the reefs just before Point Danger. I had taken a
deeper, more conservative line and it had paid off.
As we levelled, Sam was on an inside line and I was around a
hundred meters wider. He looked over at me and I at him. We were
both wondering "do we or don't we". The reef was like a
football-field sized section of white water. If one went, we would
both have to go. Fortunately Sam held his line around the reef and
I told myself I could go wide also. I felt strong and ready for a
sprint finish so it seemed like the safe option. We had a bit of a
chat as our lines converged and then the sprint to the finish
began.
Fortunately I had just a bit more sprint than Sam and managed to
pull over a small wave as we came into the shallow water. I was on
my feet first and then it was all over. And there it was, my first
ocean race win at the ripe old age of 38. Who said you can't teach
an old dog new tricks?