GT Condor DW2010: DW Kit

Getting your kit right for the DW makes a big difference to your race.

Here John B is wearing a good choice of kit for the DW. Starting at the top the headwear is very important. Most heat is lost through the head. Headwear can also protect the head from the sun.

The buoyancy aid is required in the DW rules. Not only is it required but provided insulation. On the senior doubles night stage this is important for keeping the body core warm.

The cag is an important piece of kit. Wind chill can adversely affect performance. The ideal cag is breathable and windproof.

Waterproofing is also a high priority. A dry cag or a semi dry are not such goo ideas. These have tighter seals and, usually, do not have the ventilation which is required for racing. Overheating during a race is not desired.

dry cags-

good for whitewater, not so good for DW

Here John S is wearing Reed Chillcheater leggings. These are good for cold conditions and are fairly water resistant. However, my preferred racing leggings are Ron Hill Tracksters during the day time stretches. These are fairly quick drying but are in no way water resistant. Waterproof and possible wind resistant over trousers are good to have in the support crew kit in cases of very cold weather.

Footwear is also important. Here John's shoes are a good choice. In the event of a swim it is best that they do not come off in the water and get lost. Shoes with grip are also important. The course can get very wet and slippy. My first DW shoes were hockey boots. These have studs but are very difficult to obtain now. Fell running shoes are a possibility so long as they have rubber studs and not metal (such as spikes) so they do not damage the boat. The ability to wear socks should be taken into account when sizing them. I used Sealskinz waterproof socks for my first DW. Neoprene socks are another option for keeping the feet warm but not dry.

Layering is the best way to keep warmth in the body. Cotton is not a good choice as it holds water and does not dry very quickly. This is a good way to lose body heat. Synthetic thermals are the best fabrics to wear. These perform better as they do not hold water as much as cottons, dry quicker and, in some cases, wick sweat away from the body.

The most efficient way is layer the thermals these can then be added and removed as required. It is advisable that the support crew carries more spares than necessary to cover for worst case scenarios.

base layer windproof base layer

My preference is a long sleeve base layer. Craft or Helly Hansen both produce good base layers. Craft is my first choice but this can only be determined through trial and trial. When I'm not wearing a cag or the weather is bad I use the Craft base layer with the Gore Wind Stopper. A little more expensive but I think it is more than worth it.

A similar layer, usually short sleeved, over the top of this is a good idea. The wind chill effect is worse when sweating. Therefore, another layer reduces this.

short sleeved 2^nd layer

During the DW cold hands can be a problem. There are several ways around this in a kayak. Canoeists have less choice, their best option is probably gloves.

I do not like paddling in neoprene gloves and prefer lycra. For kayaking I prefer not to wear gloves and my first choice to keep my hands warm are poggies

There are various types of poggies. My favourite and the easiest to use are the Marsport box poggies

These allow good, quick access without hindering paddling.

There are some pieces of paddle kit that are not a good idea for the DW.

Wetsuits- definitely not a good idea for the DW. A wetsuit will keep you warm to an extent but only once you get it wet. Over a length of time, such as the DW, your skin will not thank you for this. The compression of the legs and arms if the wetsuit has them is not a problem as such but movement will be restricted, a good paddle stoke will become harder and cramping may be a problem. If the wetsuit is not wet then body heat will be lost. If the wet suit becomes wet and then spends a long time out of the water heat loss may also occur.

Wetsuits are more suitable for surf and whitewater

Drysuits are a similar problem to dry cags but with legs. Less breathable with more sweat retention. After 125 miles this could be quite uncomfortable! Again, for whitewater but not the racing.