Hi all,
Two days to go until the Big Paddle event in Exeter on Sunday! The weather’s looking amazing, the river tours are filling up and we’re loading the van with cardboard for the cardboard canoe race!
So if you’re around in the South West of the UK this weekend and fancy a paddle, why not come along and join us on Sunday? Here are some images from last year’s Big Paddle at Symonds Yat to tempt you.
More information and last minute tickets: www.thebigpaddle.com
WHAT’S ON?
Guided Tours
Guided Tours. Not sure of the route but don’t want to resort to the map? Then why not join one of our free guided tours.
An experienced guide will lead you round the Big Five paddle, making sure you don’t get lost along the way!
10.00am Nature Tour
10.15am History Tour
10.30am Guided Tour
10.45am Nature Tour
11.00am History Tour
11.15am Guided Tour
Nature Tours
Although just outside the city, the Exe Big Paddle route offers some wonderful opportunities for sightings, including Otters, kingfishers a wide variety of ducks, wading birds, dippers, wagtails and more! Accompanied by a local expert groups of ten will head out to see what can be found.
Guided nature tours will run in two sessions. The first starts at 10.00am and the second at 10.45am. Places will be on a first come first served basis. Please register online. Booking will also be available on the day if spaces are still available. Participants will need to provide their own equipment.
Local History Tours
Like the natural habitat, the Big Paddle Route is historic and local experts will be on hand to guide groups of up to ten along the route highlighting points of interest and the stories and facts that go with them.
Guided history tours will run in two sessions. 10.15am and 11.00am. Places will be on a first come first served basis. Please register online. Booking will also be available on the day if spaces are still available. Participants will need to provide their own equipment.
Booking onto tours
Please indicate if you’d like to join one of our guided tours when you buy your tickets.
Cardboard Canoe Race
The grand finale of the Exe Big Paddle will be the Cardboard canoe race. The race will take place in the Quay outside the Piazza at 3:30 pm, but all participants must arrive for registration and craft inspection at 3:00 pm. Entrants into the race should be 16 or over, and helmets and PFDs must be worn. Staff will be on hand with materials should you wish to ‘build’ on the day. There are prizes for best boat design, best-dressed boat (including paddlers), and of course race winners! The Cardboard Canoe Race will be governed by a ‘gentleman’s agreement’.
Come and try it
Whether its for the first time, or just to do something a little
easier, we are hosting ever popular ‘Come and try it’ sessions
throughout the day.
Our team of instructors from Globe 360 are experts at getting you on
and off the water in a fun, safe and relaxed environment. Over the
years they have been responsible for thousands of paddlers first ‘have-
a-go’ experience and can proudly boast that many have become hooked
afterwards.
Sessions will be hosted on the canal side and will run from 9.30am to
3pm on a rolling basis, with water time between 10 and 20 minutes.
It’s not limited to one session either.
You don’t need to bring anything, apart from a smile; although there
is a possibility you could get a little damp, so a change of clothes
may be worthwhile. Non-swimmers are fine.
You will need to fill out a registration form and under 18′s will need
a parent or guardian present to sign for them. Minimum age is 5.
So what are you waiting for – get on and have a go!
For years Scottish paddlers dreamed of a summer paddling festival in Scotland. Perhaps centred on the dam-release hubs of the Rivers Garry and Moriston. The SCA Access Committee discussed it but little progress was made. In early 2005, as a fitting memorial to Andy Jackson the SCA Access officer, plans for a paddling extravaganza were hatched.
Since then, the event has grown to attract over 300 paddlers from all over the UK (and there were even two groups from Germany there this weekend!). Shuttle vehicles are put on, a party is organised and weekend access is negotiated for two classic dam released sections of scottish whitewater; the Moriston – 4(5), and the Garry – 3+. With loads of rain forcast it was clear that it wouldn’t just be dam releases on offer either, and paddlers found time to squeeze in classics such as the Falloch, Orchy, Coe, Spean and Etive as well.
We made the long drive north to let paddlers have a go in the new 2012 Dagger Mamba and preview a few of our 2012 Palm offerings. It was great to see the paddlers on the water as excited about the new gear as we are – and we even managed a cheaky sunset run on the Coe in perfect levels!
Thanks to everyone involved for a fantastic weekend, we’ll definitely be back!
If you live in the UK but haven’t boated in Scotland yet you’re missing out. The scenery is stunning, the whitewater is world-class and the Clacaig Inn serves a rather tasty haggis. If you’re looking to get a few days away paddling before Christmas and you’re not sure where to go, a little trip north of the border is thoroughly recommended.
Find out more about Scottish Paddling on UK Rivers Guidebook
Photos courtesy of Kev Winsor @ Paddle Photos
More info about the Wet West Paddle Fest
Find out the history of the event and the Andy Jackson Fund for Access in the event booklet
So its only a week now until the first weekend of “Paddle with Pringle Days” at HPP whitewater course in Nottingham.
If you want to fill some of the last spots read the details below and send me an email.
I have Spaces left for all sessions other than Saturday Afternoon.
Dates : 1st and 2nd October Cost:- £15 (although you get a £15voucher for Palm @ Brookbank) Duration: 2 hours
Session Times: 10am – 12pm & 2pm – 4pm)
Ability/ group size: No more than 4 people a session and must be 3 star standard / solid roll.
What you get:- Coaching from me for 2 hours, Palm/ Brookbank goodies and a £15 voucher redeemable at Brookbank for £15 off any item of Palm Gear.
Booking essential:- Pringalingding@gmail.com
Photos By Bren Orton
Katya took the Award for Best Trick Womens for her huge Airscrew at the WWGP event this Spring in Canada.
Simon Westgarth interviews Katya on the Palm stand on Day 3 of Kanumesse 2011.
At the Kanumesse Party Tribe’s Pat Camblin announced the winners of the Rider of the Year Awards see the whole video here:-
After the awards it was the Kanumesse Party see the Palm FB page for photos:-
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150287549866618.330505.186301431617&type=1
till next year,
Pringle & Katya
Team Palm/ Dagger’s Simon Westgarth shows us the new Dagger Mamba series at Kanumesse 2011.
The boat will be out soon in 3 sizes. Personally I can’t wait to get hold of the big one when it comes out!
Pringle
Available from Spring 2012 Palm have the new Aleutian suit. Below Barney Caulfield, product designer at Palm talks us over the new suit:-
Also going on today at Kanumesse Palm received their awards from Canoe Kayak Uk Magazine for
-Whitewater kayak of the year – Dagger Axiom
-Most Innovative Product of the year – Palm Extrem Buoyancy Aid
-Recreational Kayak of the year – Islander Calypso Sport
The Kanumesse 2011 show opened this morning, the Palm team spent the day showing off the new range of kit, meeting and talking with dealers and traders and in the evening were giving out snacks and free beer to visitors of the stand…
Me & Katya have been taking photos of whats going on and todays video target was the three new Dry/ Immersion suits in the range:- the Spark, new ladies Element & the touring Aleutian.
Here is the New ladies Element suit:-
The Spark edit is up in the post below more to come as we get through the footage 
Until then check out all our beautiful new kit!
Pringle
Palm’s Product Designer Barney Caulfield & Chief Tester Simon Westgarth talk over Palm’s new Freeride suit.
Coming out in Spring 2012…
Pringle
