Competitors wait for the start of the 2010 Norwich Canoe Marathon, which acted as the latest leg in the regional Hasler series and as assessment races for the Great Britain team.
More than 150 competitors took to the water on Whitlingham Broad to contest 18 separate disciplines as Norwich Canoe Club faced up to their regional rivals in the Hasler series.
Some of the disciplines pit young against old, with competitors grouped by their previous times rather than age or sex, although most of the tougher classes were populated by younger paddlers.
Norwich Canoe Club, who won the national Hasler series finals in 2009, finished this home race with 230 points, just two more than rivals Leighton Buzzard.
Racing heats up at the turning buoys, with crews competing to beat their rivals to the inside line - here three boats from Norwich do their best not to get in each others way.
The blue canoe of Dyson and Ali Pendle had the better racing line coming away from the buoy, with the husband and wife team going on to win the top K2 class.
If the turns look tough then try portaging, which requires competitors to carry themselves and their boats overland over various distances, with the top classes required to portage over 800m.
A smooth transition from water to land is essential to achieve a good time, and provides some exciting moments for spectators as crews jostle for the right line and the best point to re-enter the water.
Whitlingham Great Broad is just over a mile in length, with paddlers competing over lapped courses varying in length from as little as 4km to as much as 30km.
What are these?
E-mail this to a friend 
Bookmark with:
What are these?