Time Trials

At the heart of the Blast Paddlers project is our regular Time Trials. Our aim is to establish and run a world wide network of paddling groups who hold regular time trial races designed to allow paddlers to pitch themselves against the clock and each other.

The format of our time trials are kept nice and simple, and they are designed to add a fun yet challenging element to your regular paddling diary and training regime.

Time Trials are run to a standard format:

Each time trial is run to the same basic format, we keep to the same basic model so that where ever you might decide you want to race, you know how the whole process runs, from registration, to the event course and safety briefing, the handicapped start groups run to individual Blast handicaps, the finish, and the post event results presentations.

Each local Blast paddling group has it’s own theme, feel, and unique qualities, but they are each run to the common format so that the whole “blast” experience at each group is run to the same high quality standard.

Let’s look at the format of our time trials in a little more detail.

Depending on the local group, the time trials are run either weekly, fortnightly or monthly. Most are run on the weekend, mostly on Saturdays. Some are run mid week, and those run mid week usually run on a Wednesday evening.

The usual format of an event is something like the following, which is a real example of the weekly Saturday morning time trial run at Balmoral, in Sydney, Australia:

This week's event:

Event:           96th Balmoral Blast
Date:            Sat 23rd Apr, 2011
Entry Fee:       $5 per craft
Registration:    6:30 am - 6:55 am
Briefing:        7:05 am
Race Start:      7:15 am sharp ( please, don't be late! )
Race Close:      8:30 am
Location:        Southern end of Balmoral beach ( next to the sailing club )
Course:          10km race - Fairlight Chinamans Loop course
Format:          Time trial - run to Blast handicaps

Usually an email would be sent a few days prior to an event, with something similar to the above description, as well as a map of the local site with details of parking, the setup area, and any other useful information.

Of course each group also includes their own local updates, news, info, introductions to new paddlers, and anything else that might interest the local paddling crew.

So just what is the key difference between a Time Trial and a regular race?

The key thing that differentiates a time trial to a regular race, is that each paddler is given an individual starting “handicap”, that is, a time they start from when the clock starts.

Those who have just ..