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There are three overall categories as listed below. Within each category there are the ‘competitive categories’. These are based on type of craft (in the case of Single & Double Water Craft) and gender (male, female and mixed in the case of the Team Categories). For judging and prize purposes, to be recognized as a ‘competitive category’ there must be a minimum of three ‘competitive category types’ participating. (E.g. three women paddling outriggers, three mixed gender teams of 3 etc.)
Category #1: Single & Double Water Craft
You provide your own craft, paddles and PFDs and paddle the whole course.
Authorised water craft:
There must be at least 3 entrants per category for the category to be recognised.
Please contact Diane diane@arocsport.com.au if you wish to enter the event and your craft is not part of the above list. In particular, if you are paddling an outrigger canoe OC3, OC4 or OC6, or you want to relay the course on a SUP board (x2 or x4 relay options), we'd be happy to have you, just let us know you're coming!
Category #2: Team of 3
Teams paddle the whole course. Hire of a three seater kayak, three paddles and three life vests is provided in the entry fee.
Category #3: Relay Team of 4-12
Each team member paddles a minimum of one stage with paddlers changing at Transition Areas. It is each team’s decision who paddles which stage. Hire of a three seater kayak, three paddles and three life vests is provided in the entry fee.
Lifestart Kayak for Kids Challenge Cup
Awarded to the Relay Team that achieves the highest point score gained overall in two criteria: Fundraising: 1 point will be allotted for every complete $100 raised by a team (fundraising amounts will be judged on amount received either online or offline by midnight, 28 March 2009)
Course Completion Time: 1 point will be allotted for every 10 minute unit under 3 hours (180 minutes) it takes to complete the course.
The winning team will have the right to display the cup for a period of twelve months. In the case of a tie, the team that raises the most income will be the winner. In the case of there being both a points and a fundraising amount tie, the Lifestart Kayak for Kids Challenge Cup will be awarded jointly.
Competitive Category Prizes
There is over $5,000 worth of prizes from Solution paddling gear, Vibram FiveFingers and Dagger.
Winners in each category will be awarded prizes.
There must be at least 3 entrants per category for the category to be recognised.
Fundraising Prizes
There will also be prizes for the best individual fundraiser and best fundraising team. To be in the run, go to the Everyday Hero website and create your team page to start raising funds for Lifestart <click here> (NOTE: Fundraising for Kayak for Kids runs until Friday 30 April 2010. The fundraising prizes will be awarded for monies raised up to Saturday 27 March.)
Rules: You must be present (or have a representative present) at the presentation to pick up your prize. Prizes will not be mailed out after the event.
Click here to read Event Rules.
Lifestart Kayak for Kids is a paddling event open to anyone, whether they are experienced paddlers or complete beginners, whether they are adults or children. We want the experience to be as enjoyable as possible for the participants and the safety of participants is paramount.
The kayaks provided to participating teams are ToyZ Voyager III kayaks that are very sturdy and almost impossible to overturn. It is highly unlikely that a participant would fall out of one of these kayaks, provided they were paddling responsibly. Even if a participant did fall out, their life vest (Personal Flotation Device) would keep them afloat for the short time it would take for assistance to arrive.
The entire Kayak for Kids course is monitored by a water safety network to cover any potential hazard on the course. This network is made up of organizations such as Manly Boat and Kayak Centre, Manly Sailability, Manly 16ft Sailing Club, paddlers from PaddleNSW, the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Association, the NSW Fire Brigade, the Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol and Surf Life Saving Clubs. These volunteers monitor the course in a range of motorized craft and kayaks.
The goal of this safety network is to monitor the progress of the race which includes also indicating the direction for paddlers to follow and keep them away from potentially hazardous points if the weather conditions require it. Finally, they will warn paddlers of other boat traffic, especially ferries and large crafts. Organisers are also in contact with NSW Maritime Authority and will monitor the safety conditions on the Harbour leading up to the event and on the day.
AROC Sport is covered by its own Public Liability Insurance. This does not cover personal injury or ambulance for competitors. We recommend you get your own personal accident and ambulance insurance.
Each person participating in the event will be required to sign an indemnity form. Please print it off and bring it with you to registration.
Indemnity Form for solo paddlers <download PDF>
Indemnity Form for team paddlers <download PDF>
Registration will take place at Blues Point Reserve, North Sydney.
Bring-Your-Own Boat
At registration you will need to bring a signed BYO indemnity form and your own life jacket / PFD.
You will receive a numbered bib which must be worn on top of all clothing/PFD. You must return your bib at the end of the event. Any unreturned bib will be charged $50.
You will also receive a sitcker with your boat number to stick top of your boat.
Your race number will also be marked on your left arm with a marker.
You must then go through scrutineering to determine what category your boat will be part of.
Paddlers in a sit-in boat (ie. with cockpit) must wear a Type II Personal Flotation Device (PFD) or life jacket at all times while on the water. For participants paddling their own sit-on-top boats or surf skis, wearing a PFD or life jacket is not compulsory but strongly recommended.
Teams Challenge
At registration you will need to bring the Teams indemnity form signed by the 3 people paddling the first leg of the event. Team members paddling other legs will be required to hand in a signed indemnity form at the transition area at the start of each leg.
Any last minute team changes can also be notified at registration or at the start of the relevant leg. To expedite the registration process though, we ask you to please update your team's details online as much as possible one week at least prior to the event.
At the start registration, Teams Challengers will receive 3 race bibs. These race bibs must be worn over the top of your PFD. You will need to change over your race bibs when you change paddlers at a transition area. Your number will also be marked on your left arm with a marker.
For Teams Challenge entries you will also be issued with one 3-person kayak, 3 PFDs (personal flotation devices) and 3 paddles. Your team is responsible for this equipment during the event (whether you choose to use it or not) and all items must be returned at the finish of the event. Any non-returned equipment will be charged to your team captain. Any member of the team may choose to use their own life jacket/PFD and/or paddle. Teams Challenge participants must use the kayaks provided. Anyone paddling a 3-person sit-on-top provided kayak must wear a PFD.
Bring-Your-Own Boat
Bring-Your-Own Boat participants (ie. singles and doubles) need to ensure they call out their race number and that their race number is checked off by race officials as they pass through each transition area. Bring-Your-Own Boat paddlers must pass between the shore and the buoy at the transition area, but do not need to get out of their boat.
Teams Challenge
At the transition areas, team members swapping over must first check-in with officials and hand in a signed indemnity form. Teams must bring their boat to shore and change over within the designated area.
Where teams are not changing paddlers at a transition area they do not need to land the kayak. Call out your race/bib number as you pass between the shore and the buoy at the transition area. Make sure an official has checked your team off.
Transition Areas will open at the following times:
| Transition Area | Registration opens | First teams arrive |
| TA1 - Little Sirius Cove, Mosman Bay | 8:30AM | 9:30AM |
| TA2 - Clifton Gardens, Chowder Bay | 9:00AM | 10:00AM |
| TA3 - Balmoral Beach (Southern end) | 9:30AM | 10:20AM |
Please note that the Spit Bridge will be open for boats (and thus temporarily closed to car traffic) at 8.30AM, 10AM and 11.30AM.
The finish line will be at Clontarf Beach. You will leave your kayak (and the AROC paddles for the Teams Challengers) on the beach and run/walk through the finish arch up the beach. Your finish time will be recorded at this point.
Team Challengers must return then their race bibs, PFDs as instructed by the event officials. Bring-Your-Own Boat paddlers can leave their boats in the secured kayak area until they are ready to load them onto their car. They must return their race bibs in the appropriate bins.
Everyone can then pick up their race bags and their vouchers for food. There will also be complimentary fruit and coffee for participants. There will be some activities at the Event hub, so stick around to greet fellow participants and wait for the award ceremony!
Bring drinking water or electrolytes to rehydrate while paddling to prevent heat exhaustion and dehydration.
Protect yourself from the sun: wear a hat, sun glasses and sunscreen. The sun is reflected on the water surface and more dangerous than on the beach even!
If you are prone to rashes -especially under the arms from the paddling motion-, bring some Vaseline or Body Glide along with you to prevent chaffing.
Wearing gloves can help prevent blisters if you are prone to them.
Wear clothes and shoes that can be wet: even if you don’t go in the water, spraying will happen! Leave your valuables with someone on shore, or make sure they are protected in waterproof bags (dry bags) or double Zip-Locks.
To minimise muscle pains, stretch before and after you paddle: your back will thank you for it!
Train, train, train: it’s not enough to be fit! Paddling uses very specific muscle groups that are seldom used in day-to-day life. The best way to train is to go out there and paddle! Do it in the morning before work as a workout, or make a family outing of it on weekends! Check out the training section above for deals with kayak outfitters and training groups.
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