This year, this group of octogenarians will continue to paddle competitively. So, why do that do it? Because they like to live life to the max.
IT SEEMS being aged 80 is not a milestone at which these gents give up the race.
In fact, the exact opposite is true for five members of the Manly Warringah Kayak Club.
They are all turning 80 this year and they still race every week, both in the Manly Warringah club and against paddlers from further afield.
The club is hosting a celebration for the octogenarians — the Big Birthday Bash — on Saturday night.
Fittingly, the guest list presently stands at 80.
Chewing the phat at the Narrabeen clubhouse of Manly Warringah Kayak Club.
The five birthday boys are David Tiller, Bill Martin, Len Turner, Warren Malloy and Dave Salter.
They have all been part of the DNA of the club since its inception.
Mr Turner was the founding president in 1984.
In addition, club member Brian Graber will turn 81 later in the year.
“The two main reasons we do it are for the physical activity and for the social aspect,” Mr Salter said.
A club spokesman described the men as “feisty” and “competitive” and that they enjoyed living life to the max.
Does it keep you young?
Dave Salter and Bill Martin
“Bloody oath it does,” Mr Salter, of Cromer, said.
“You’re mixing with young people all the time and there is nothing better to keep you young than that.
“Some our age are want to just complain about what’s going on.”
He said that while he and his peers were not immune to issues with shoulders and wrists and backs, they tended to work through the problems.
“For instance, I have an arthritic knee, which make me hobble around at times,” he said.
“But there’s no way we’re just going to sit around waiting to die.”
Mr Salter said his own son and daughter were travelling to attend the celebratory dinner — one from Wagga and one from the Blue Mountains.
“It’s an opportunity for them to meet the people I talk about all the time,” he said.
