THERE are more relaxing “habits” than battling the Avon Descent but the annual white water contest has kept Paul Ghort coming back for years.
“About 12 or 13 times, so it’s become a bit of a habit,” Ghort said. “The race gets easier as you do mentally prepare yourself, but physically it gets a bit harder as you’re getting a bit older but you also hope you’re getting a bit smarter.”
The two-day event has come a long way since its debut in 1973, when just 49 competitors took on the 134km course and there were no rules, officials or checkpoints.
Growing in popularity, about 800 entrants challenged the Avon and Swan rivers in a mix of paddle and power craft in 2008, with organisers expecting similar numbers this year on August 1 and 2.
Ghort (45) has had the job of being “the guy on the back” of a double surf-ski in about 90 per cent of his Avon contests, serving as “the engine house” of the duo.
“I enjoy it pretty much because I like the longer races; you know your competitors quite well, so it also becomes a tactical game on the day,” he said.
Ghort has figured in the top three double surf-ski competitors for the past decade and won the event with fellow paddler Brodie Baker two years ago.
Working as a commercial floorer by day, Ghort trains in the gym about five or six times each week to prepare for the gruelling event.
He said while day one of the event was often a longer stretch, as he had to get back into the groove of the course, moving through tea trees and fog on the second day proved the hardest.
“Mentally, what gets a lot of guys is the valley, and you just hope you’ve got enough in the tank for those last 30km of flat water,” he said.
Entries for the event close on Thursday July 9.
Visit www.avondescent.com.au.