2007 Jindabyne Multisport Classic

Well one major problem really, my lack of anything remotely resembling speed on a bike at the moment is my own problem and something I hoped would not let us down too much as a team. The major problem was we had no boat, thus I had to find a reasonably fast boat to hire or borrow. Fortunately I had heard a mountain bike friend Joe happened to own a Time Bandit. Time Bandits, made by Steve Muir at Grafton Paddle Sports are a damn fast and nice multisport boat. Heck I would like to own one, however Joe was not keen to sell (such a nice boat I can not blame him) however he very kindly loaned the Time Bandit to us for use in the race. All I had to do was pick it up and return it to his house... in Sydney. Ahh well it would be worth it for such a fun day out racing.

I got a few friends on board for the race also, when CORC president Anthony Burton decided to do the race and needed a paddler I rang up Dan Smith, CORC member, brilliant epic mountain bike ride setter and all that. Dan also happens to be a good paddler (by good I mean look at the results, you can see he was pretty much the fastest paddler in the race all day), so he was able to come on down and do some paddle and mtb legs for his team. Unfortunately Anthony was hit by a car shortly before the race and had to miss out.

I also knew Kevin and Steve were keen to race but had no runner or paddler, so I talked Danielle into racing with them, originally they would do a paddle each and their own speciality disciplines. However they got Chris on board as a good paddler and could mix it up a bit more, I also loaned them my surf ski I had purchased two weeks before the race to paddle on.

A whole heap of other friends were there in their own teams already too, Dave, Julie and Andrew in our category (mixed 4s). Libby, Michele, Sue and Judy in womens 4s, as was Sarah in her team. A fun day out was in the offing.

In the end we all really enjoyed the race once more. I crashed pretty badly on the final bike leg when my front wheel went over a tree branch I did not see across the fire trail and I lost traction. Helmet and Shoulder surfing at 30KMh fortunately only cost me a broken helmet and I was able to finish the leg alright.

For next year I am getting keener and keener on going solo (I think Randall is interested in doing that too). One suggestion I like the idea of is doing it AR style a bit like Tom and Al did, however as 4 individual solo entries or similar competing together the whole way through. One advantage here is 2 support crew could look after 4 solos (2 boats and 2 bikes on each car). However it would also be fun to simply hang out with 4 friends for the entire day while competing. Steve Barry and Dan Smith both seem interested in this idea so far too, probably others will be by this time next year.

Anyway thanks to Randall, Shanyn and Bruce for doing the race, I had a great time. It was despite my best efforts to be slow and pathetic the three of them got us up to second over all and first placed mixed team too.

fullsize The drop into the final gully of bike leg 1, it looks far worse than it is to ride. fullsize John and Celia eyeing off the gully. fullsize Ron riding the gully. fullsize Lina fullsize Adam fullsize Mira fullsize Celia brightening the gully with her ever present grin.... or something. fullsize Dave and Julie befoe the start on Sunday morning, Dave doing the first leg for the team. fullsize My Floozy sitting waiting for Chris to paddle it for their team. fullsize The solos getting started, still sort of dark. fullsize Shanyn ready to start the race off for us. fullsize Randall hanging out for the first kayak. fullsize Bruce looking cold (he did say you could not pay him to do the swim leg in the dark and cold) fullsize Me squinting in the dawn photo. fullsize Libby ready to do the first swim leg for her team of 4 women. fullsize The team swimmers starting off. fullsize Mark, Celia and Randall. fullsize Alex transitioning his solo swim to padle with Sal escorting him. fullsize Alex off and paddling.

fullsize Megs, Lucy and Sarah waiting for Fliss to finish the first swim for their team of 4 women. fullsize Shanyn swimming in to tag Randall. fullsize Michelle getting stuck into her fantastic solo effort for the day. fullsize Randall heading for the water having been tagged by a blurry Shanyn. fullsize Randall getting underway. fullsize And up to speed. fullsize I loved the look of all these boats out on the early morning lake. fullsize Bruce ready for the first run. fullsize Randall coming in from the first paddle, after just passing Alex and being chased by Dan who was closing in on him. fullsize Randall about to hit shore on the lovely looking lake Jindabyne pulling up next to a solo competitor, Alex and Dan still visible behind. fullsize Doesn't this just make you want to get up to Lake Jindabyne for a paddle? fullsize Bruce off and running on his first leg. fullsize Waiting around bike transition for my first leg, my bike in the foregrund. fullsize John waiting to do the leg. fullsize A team photo in Stinky Bay waiting for a swim to paddle transition. fullsize Shanyn motoring in to tag Randall, the water was less murky than in the first swim so on the whole a lot nicer to swim in. fullsize Randall rushing to the boat. fullsize Randall on his way in to tag me for the second bike leg, at this point he is in the overall lead. fullsize One last photo before putting my camera away. fullsize Another team photo, this time waiting for Randall to finish the final paddle so Shanyn can do the last run.

fullsize Shanyn keen to run. fullsize Randall paddled the Floozy for the last leg and still put in a great time. fullsize Getting over to the exit gate. fullsize Shanyn storming home to finish the race for us. fullsize Team photo, from left to right, Steve, Bruce, Randall, Shanyn. fullsize Dave finishing the race for his team, having caught me in the final bike leg I was fortunate Randall and Shanyn could get some time back up on their team in the following legs. fullsize Ben and Danielle at the finish. fullsize Third place mixed team, 4th overall, Steve (Swim), Chris (Paddle and mtb 2), Danielle (Run and Paddle 2), Kevin (mtb). fullsize Andrew and Julie running away to sit down while Dave gives the thankyou speech for their team (Second place mised team and third overall). fullsize Me (Steve) giving a short thanks speach for our team. (First placed mixed and second overall) fullsize Bruce and I with the team trophies. fullsize Sarah (either surprised or scared of winning the womens category), Megs and Fliss. fullsize And Lucy giving the thanks speech. fullsize Alina, DJ, Seb and Tom crossing the finish line having done all the legs with at least two team members competing together) dancing across the line. fullsize Lina finishing for her team. fullsize Alex after putting in a tough but incredibly impressive day out to finish solo. fullsize Alex on the right, Sal and the rest of his Support crew for the day. fullsize Michelle looking far too fresh to have just done such an incredible solo race out there. fullsize Still smiling/giggling and having fun.