April 2026 club update
Twelve months ago, we opened the doors of the Paddle House at Muriel Henchman Park. Walk in today and you’d think we’d been operating out of there for twenty years, not twelve months. Quiet credit to the members who’ve turned the shed into what it is.
We’re into the second quarter of 2026. Mornings are cooling, which is no hardship: it stretches the day and opens up more water time. The wrinkle is sunrise is marching later, so we’re adjusting some weekly session times over the coming weeks. Some members need the earlier push-off for work, others would rather wait for first light. We’ll cover both. For the latest schedule, check the Sessions page.
Four new paddlers on the water
Say g’day to our most recent sign-ups when you see them at the shed:
- Trevor Norman
- Margaret Carpenter
- Owen Carpenter
- Michael Hennessey
That’s 68 members and counting, with a target of 100 by year’s end. If you’ve been thinking about giving surf ski a go, the $50 try-us pass covers your first 30 days, ski and PFD included, with an experienced paddler beside you the whole time.
March time trial
The monthly club time trial is a chance to paddle against your own last time, not each other. Conditions vary month to month so the numbers are indicative, but it’s a handy read on whether the training is sticking. Big thanks to Neil Lauder for running the stopwatch on a cold morning.
Standout of the month: Owen Carpenter’s debut at 59:15: proper effort for a first time out. And John McGloughlin once again reminds us why the Wednesday interval sessions are worth the 5:30am alarm.
| Paddler | Time |
|---|---|
| John McGloughlin | 40:27 |
| Gus Slattery | 43:20 |
| Craig Bradfield | 44:10 |
| Marco Renai | 45:15 |
| Mike Atkins | 45:15 |
| Chris Salmon | 45:45 |
| Paul Lathouras | 46:50 |
| Terry Wilson | 47:10 |
| Sue Beith | 48:30 |
| Murray Wilkinson | 52:26 |
| Owen Carpenter | 59:15 |
| Tracy (SUP) | 67:00 |
The next club time trials are 9 May, 6 June, and 4 July. Turn up, take your ski, beat your last time. All levels welcome.
Members representing the club
Chris Salmon, Kathmandu Coast to Coast, NZ. Chris finished the gruelling 2-day multisport event in 13 hours 29 minutes, claiming 4th in the Classic Category. An amazing feat and a genuine bucket-list tick.
Mark Barber, Makai Cup, Ulladulla. Mark lined up in the Makai Cup on the NSW south coast: two laps of an out-and-in course, 15km total, in a field of 189 paddlers. Mark finished well up the field in conditions that were not easy.
Quiet contributions
Neil Lauder has been steadily upgrading the shed, working through the racking and the shelving, and generally making the place easier to live in. The kind of work that doesn’t get noticed until you walk in and realise everything’s where it should be.
What’s coming up
Monthly Club Time Trials: 9 May, 6 June, 4 July. All levels: it’s against yourself, not the field.
Moreton Bay Classic (Paddle QLD), Saturday 16 May. If we get the numbers, we’ll hire a trailer and head up as a club for the day. Perfect away trip.
1770 to Pancake Creek Adventure, 19-22 June. Three days on water that doesn’t get paddled often, based out of the Town of 1770.
To register interest in any of these, reply to hello@gcpaddlesports.com.au.
New here?
If you’ve never paddled before, the easiest way in is the $50 try-us pass. Thirty days, ski and PFD included, an experienced paddler beside you the whole time. We launch from the Paddle House at Muriel Henchman Park, Main Beach, six mornings a week.