Wildwater State Championships to make their way to Bridgetown this weekend

The Blackwood River will have enthusiastic wild-water paddlers racing down as the Geegeelup Cup and Wildwater State Championships make their way to Bridgetown at the weekend. It forms part of the 2024 WildWater WA Racing Series, with a practice on Friday and competition runs on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday will consist of team races where competitors must remain in a uniform formation with their teammates, while Sunday will feature individual racers competing for the quickest times to gain points for the overall State Wildwater Championship titles. The races will start at the Blackwood River Park and finish at the Blackwood River Access Ramp, with several locations available for spectating. Organiser Kris Smith said the wild-water racers had been racing on flat water for most of the season, due to the low water levels. “Overall, every year’s different because we rely on the water level,” he said. “This year has had a different lead-up, and there hadn’t been a lot of water until the last month, so a lot of people had to do their racing on flat water. “Now decent water has come, we haven’t had as much of a lead-up for warming up, but we have had some decent water in the last week. “We will have good water — we always have reasonable water down in Bridgetown and people will be prepared for it, especially after the Avon (Descent).” Mr Smith said paddlers gained stamina but were unable to be challenged in their technical skills due to the lack of rough water. “With flatter water, you’re building endurance because you’re paddling shorter than normal water and there’s more resistance,” he said. “But you’re not challenged with your skills and more rougher and bigger water means balance and technique skills are challenged, which with a little water, they can do.” Luke Dooley was named the overall male winner and Nina Mueller took the title of overall female winner in last year’s Geegeelup Cup.