Last Saturday was the Youth Freestyle event on the Washburn River in Yorkshire. Check out the video above that me and Palms Junior star Bren Orton filmed and edited together to see what it was all about.
Its a great series of events for young paddlers of all abilities with the main aim of getting on the water having fun, getting top quality coaching and then doing some fun competitions. I’ve been at 3 YF events now and they have all been great days out showcasing an amazing array of talented young paddlers coming up in the Uk kayak scene. It looks to me like the future of British kayaking is in a very healthy condition.
The forecast wasn’t looking good for the weekend but when we got to the car park at 8:15 I had a pleasant surprise. The weather wasn’t brilliant but the surf was a couple of feet though messy.
After the briefing at about 9:30 the first heats started. I was entered in the Junior HP, Junior IC and the Open. Unfortunately the car park was up the hill from the beach so to get to the beach (or back to the car) one had to walk down (or up!) through quite deep sliding sand which was very hard work. So I tried to limit the number of times I needed to go up and down the path!
My first heat was a bit of a disaster. It was the open and for some reason I just couldn’t get on a good wave. The waves were pretty powerful but it was fairly easy to paddle out. Unsurprisingly, I placed last. The tide was right in and was ebbing when everything started so when my next heat started it was quite far out and the surf had dropped off quite a bit. This heat was important because if I wanted to get into the quarter finals I had to win the heat or place second to get in to the last chance heat. Sadly, I only just lost out with a third.
I now had to wait till late in the afternoon for the Junior IC and I had a good chance to watch all the other good surfers ripping it up.
When the time came for the Junior IC final the tide was right out and in some places it was dumping right onto the sand, a danger of breaking boats if one wasn’t careful! There was only a final as not enough people entered to need any heats before hand. I made a mistake and caught some waves that didn’t really have a shoulder to them so I didn’t score as high as I think I could have done. Though I had a few nice exit moves.
The rest of the heats had to wait for the next day (Sunday) as we were running out of time.
There was meal organized at a local pub, which was really nice just what one needed after a days surfing!
After the meal there was a prize giving for the classes that had run that day which included Junior IC, Ladies IC, Mens IC and Masters IC. I came 4th in the Junior IC with Aidan Brackenbury in 1st place after really ripping it up.
Next morning we all gathered at the beach for 9:30 and everything started. I went out for a free surf while the first heats were running as the Junior HP, which was all I was entered in that day, wasn’t on till about 11:30-12:00 as it was second from the end. The surf had picked up from the day before and now the weather had taken a turn for the better although the wind was still quite cold. My final at last arrived and the surf had dropped of again as the tide went out but there were still some nice waves coming through. The sea was now getting a bit crowded by all the surfers and body borders who were taking advantage of the nicer weather so one couldn’t surf as well as one wanted to. We had to look out for where the wave was taking us and several times I had to stop and get off the wave so I wouldn’t hit anyone. At the end I was happy with what I had done. Then I had to wait on tenderhooks for the prize giving.
At the prize giving I came 3rd in the Junior HP which I am happy with. Now I have to get lots of practice in for the next comp’ which is in two weeks time. The Results are below.
It’s been an ace time in Norway, we arrived by mid Summer, and enjoy fun in Valldal, and then the Sjoa River Festival, which is now run by Gene17. After which it was several weeks of Gene17 trips, and then a works outting to the North of Norway, see the following write ups on Simon Westgarth’s blog;
Things are going well in Sri Lanka! More first descents, waterfalls and slides!
Getting one the Goorook through the tea plantations
We left our base at Borderlands ready for our next exploration after going to the Perihara ‘Festival of Lights’.
This takes place in Kandy, where a huge procession of musicians, dancers, fire spinners and of course, 85 elephants in fairy lights! The major reason for the festival is to parade Buddha’s tooth. It is said that this tooth was pulled out and made Buddha cry, so signifies the start of the monsoon season in the North of the country.
Young fire spinners at the Perihala festival
The suggestion of more rain is just what we needed to top up the rivers in Sri Lanka, so we were in high spirits. Unfortunately, after scouting a few dry river beds, we were beginning to worry that Buddha wasn’t crying hard enough. This all changed the evening after we scouted the Goorook Oya river. It looked good to go from the road, and as we camped near the put in, the dark clouds gathered. It was only then that we realised the tent we’d borrowed from Borderlands was one that was marked for repair. Error.
We emerged in the morning soaked to the skin, but buzzing with anticipation. We wern’t dissapointed! Boofs, flares, grinds and cheers made this a birthday for Tom to remember and a river not to be missed if you ever find yourself in the wonderful country.
Clean slides in jungle settings
Tom enjoying his birthday first descent
This world class (probably) first descent was made even more special because for the first time in any of our paddling careers, it was a first descent with a team member from the host country. Thilack, born in the village of Kitugala near the Kelani river paddled his 3rd ever river with us. And nailed it!
Thilack celebrating after nailing a chunky waterfall (his first one!) on the Goorook Oya
Dam projects are becoming an increasing problem for us searching for new rivers to paddle. More than once we have arrived at one which looks from the maps to have a good catchment, good gradient, and good road access, but a mini hydro project has thwarted our plans.
One river we planned to paddle was the Kotmale Oya. Parts of it have previously been paddled by a group of Russians. This was before the massive dam project which is currently very near to completion. Fortunately we managed to get there before they completely stopped the flow. Who knows, this could be a last descent!
A mellow section of the Kokmole above St Claires falls
Boof central on the upper Kokmole
Now that's something everyone can enjoy!
Despite the long bush whack, getting on just below the impressive St Claires Falls was pretty cool, and the full 15km of class 4/5 made the section all the sweeter! This river just kept on giving!
One of the joys of sea kayaking is the opportunities it presents to view wildlife in its natural habitat. As kayakers we have a responsibility to develop a better understanding of the wildlife we encounter in order to minimise our impact.
There is a common misconception amongst us sea kayakers that we have less of an impact on wildlife than other (often bigger, faster and noisier) craft. In fact the opposite may well be nearer to the truth! In areas where there is heavy boat traffic wildlife does appear to become desensitised to it, this seems less evident in the case of kayaks, the following points may go some way to explaining why.
Predator
Most of us who have paddled with seals will have experienced them following our kayaks, sometimes for many miles. One theory behind this behaviour is that the profile of a sea kayak from the water is similar to that of a Shark or Orca, both of which predate on seals in UK waters. Seals have been observed to follow predators, keeping them in sight whilst staying away from the sharp end!
Stealthy approach / surprise
One of the advantages of wildlife watching from a kayak is the lack of engine noise; the flip side of this is that it is very easy to startle wildlife as there is little or no warning of our approach.
Get in closer
The fact that as kayakers we can get to areas which are inaccessible to other types of craft causes its own potential problems. We are able to approach wildlife which is usually hidden from human contact by its location and therefore likely to be less tolerant of our presence.
These issues are particularly relevant at certain times of year when marine wildlife is more sensitive to disturbance. Some of these key periods are outlined below:
Atlantic Grey Seal Pupping
Beginning of August – End of November
Atlantic Grey Seals visit the western coastline in their thousands during this time of year. The mothers give birth on beaches, ledges and in caves. The first 3 to 4 weeks of the pups’ lives are crucial to their survival. Disturbance during this time will often lead to them being abandoned before they have built up the fat reserves they need to fend for themselves.
Atlantic Grey Seal Malting
Seals also visit the coast in large numbers during early spring to malt. In order to malt they must raise their body temperature which they do by hauling themselves out onto rocks and ledges. If they feel threatened they will take to the water resulting in them cooling down and having to expend valuable energy getting back out. They will usually do this by stranding themselves on a dropping tide so a disturbance could lead to a long wait in the water.
General advice
1. Do not land on seal pupping beaches from August 1st to the end of November.
2. Avoid creeping up on seals or approaching seals bow on. They may perceive you as a predator.
3. Allow seals an escape route.
4. Do not disturb mothers nursing pups. Adult females often rest in the water about 10-30m from the shore and their pup – never paddle between the female and the pup.
5. For the sake of your safety and for the health of the seals themselves do not seek to swim with, touch or feed seals.
6. Limit observation time to 10 minutes then move on.
Sea bird breeding season
Beginning of March – End of July
Many species of sea birds visit the British coastline to raise their chicks during this time. Cliff nesting birds are particularly sensitive to disturbance; these include Guillemots, Razorbills and Kittiwakes. These smaller species are particularly at threat from predatory birds (Ravens, Peregrines, Skuas and Greater Black Backed Gulls) and can become an easy snack if driven off their nests or ledges.
Guillemots and Razorbills lay their eggs directly onto ledges rather than building a nest; if they are panicked eggs can easily be dislodged and lost.
Another common sight during this period is large “rafts” of birds on the water. Once their eggs have hatched parent birds will often rest on the water before returning to feed their young; if they feel threatened they may regurgitate the food intended for their chicks before flying away. This means that chicks miss out on valuable meals!
General advice
1. Plan trips carefully and with respect to any Agreed Site Specific Access Restrictions. They are in place to protect wildlife for future generations.
2. Observe bird’s reactions from a distance.
3. The following bird behaviour indicates preparedness to fly; head craning, head turning, head bobbing and wing flapping in situ. Do not proceed if you observe this as you will make them fly – never approach closer than 10m.
4. Auks (guillemots, razorbills) incubate eggs on their feet; if they fly off ledges in a panic their eggs are dislodged and destroyed.
5. On open water you may encounter ‘rafts’ of sea birds. Avoid causing disturbance to rafting birds as they may regurgitate food meant for their young / take flight during valuable resting time.
Cetaceans
Cetaceans (Whales, Dolphins and Porpoise) are present year round in British waters, although there are definite seasonal movements encounters are far more difficult to predict and can happen at any time of year.
General advice
1. On encountering cetaceans continue on your intended route as this will present predictable movements.
2. Allow groups of cetaceans to remain together.
3. Leave cetaceans with young alone.
4. Always allow cetaceans an escape route and avoid boxing them in.
5. Leave if you notice any signs of disturbance.
It is recommended that paddlers explore the marine environment in small groups both for safety, and to minimise wildlife disturbance / environmental impacts.
This article is based on my experiences paddling with wildlife off the coast of West Wales, wildlife encountered and seasonal trends will vary in other areas.
For more information on Pembrokeshire’s marine code agreement and seasonal access restrictions visit: www.pembrokeshiremarinecode.org.uk
Last weekend myself and Palm’s Bren Orton drove down to Broxbourne to the Lee Valley Whitewater Course to help out at the Youth Freestyle event. It was just a little one this time but great fun.
The Youth Freestyle Series actually started the year I was away living in Uganda and I remember that before I left it was noticeable that their were hardly any juniors moving up, then when I came back to the UK a year after the series first season I couldn’t believe the quantity and the quality of the many new freestyle kayakers that had come up. It has now produced some of the most talented Juniors the UK’s ever produced like Bren Orton, James Benn’s, James Weight and Matt Rodgers. Now there are many more new talented juniors coming up and following in their paths. Its really impressive to see, the organisers are doing a fantastic job.
I’ll be helping out coaching, judging and filming at all the events I’m around in the UK for including the Washburn one happening this Saturday!
Below is the video we shot of the Lee Valley event, Edit by Bren, Filming by me & Bren:-
The new whitewater course is incredible, you have two good freestyle spots on the Legacy Course and on the Olympic Course there are 2 or 3 really good spots and many good drops and features for river skills. The course is fast and steep, its really impressive what they’ve managed to create in an artificial environment!
Photos at Lee Valley below taken by:- Doug Blanks
If you’re a young kayaker wanting to get into freestyle, or even just wanting to get into whitewater check out the Youth Freestyle Series and if I’m around don’t hesitate to ask me for advice or help, I’m very happy to help you.
Hi all. We’re back in the UK and work has begun on the film we’re making of this summer’s Norwegian Odyssey.
It’s called Vaniljesaus (Pronounced Vanilla Jesus), and will be released online here on the Palm Blog within the next few weeks. For now here’s a sneak peek….
A group of 6 kayakers from the UK have been in Sri Lanka for just over a week now, & with only one day spent without taking our boats for an outing things are going well!
Not only are we exploring the rivers in the country, but we have also been working closely with the rafting and outdoor education company Borderlands to try and develop the kayaking scene in Sri Lanka. This has become of increasing importance with the news that Borderlands main rafting river, the Kelani, is to be dammed.
Sunset on the Kelani River
Our mission, since we’ve chosen to accept it, is to try and find a suitable river for Borderlands to move to. The first few days of our expedition were spent with Sri Lankan kayakers on rivers that had previously been run (if rarely!). The lower Sitawaka seems to have potential as a rafting run a step up from the current norm.
One of the bigger rapids on the Sitawaka
After discussions with a friend of Borderlands (called ‘Chunky’) we decided to head up to the rivers upper reaches.
Here, we found lots of smooth bedrock slides and even more boulder garden fun. The rivers can rise and fall fast here which has taken some time to get used to (think 2 foot rise and fall whilst on a dry day run, and water colour turning from clear to orange in a matter of minutes). August is the run off of the monsoon for the South West of the country (where the Central Highlands are), so there is alot of water about (a nightmare for drying out kit!). The rain showers are quite intense, but wierdly really localised. Much more so than expected.
A new sight in the valleyWill on a sweet rapid on one of the Sitawaka tribs
Will on a sweet rapid on one of the Sitawaka tribs
Entering a tricky drop at the top of the canyonThe kids in the village were super excited (now there's asurprise!)
Park and Huck, Sri Lanka style
Despite one pretty epic day getting stuck in the jungle after a long leech infested portage, everything has so far(!) been as efficient as could be hoped. Our big 4×4 truck and nails driver have been getting us everywhere we need! Cheers Mahesh!
One of the cleaner rapids before the portages started!
But things were a play park on the stretch we paddled on the second day
The Borderlands truck is a top paddle wagon!
We are currently back at Borderlanks base to help saftey kayak for a group of 100 who will be descending the Kelani river over then next weekend. Following that, we’ll be heading to the rivers near Kandy to explore the river drainages there.
Me & Katya have had our new Palm kit for a little while now, in all seriousness its the best gear i’ve ever used. Additionally Katya is an professional Artist so is very keen to push more beauty and style into the sport and as you might guess from my multi colored kayak I really want to stand out in my gear. The new Palm gear gives you the colours, cut and look to do that with all whilst functionally performing great too!
Below is a short video I made of Katya from one day after Worlds
Few photos of Katya in the Swirl (Purple) & Zenith (Lime)
