After 4 years away, racing returned to the Ula Valley in Norway this weekend for the Ula Extreme Race 09. With perfect levels, 40 of Europe’s finest turned out to battle it out for the title.
Full report and results coming soon but in the meantime check out this video:
Whilst Nick was out hucking Double Drop on the Teigdal, I was at Palm photographer Tony Gilbert’s studio shooting our 2010 product range (to be launched at Kanumesse in September). Why we picked the hottest week of the year for the shoot is a good question, but we certainly pushed the breathability of the suits to their limits!
Perhaps a bit overdressed for 31ºC – getting my bead on in the hood.
Last week Team Palm paddlers Matt Tidy, Nick Horward, and Lowri Davies were in Voss for their annual extreme sports festival ‘Ekstremsportveko’
For one adrenaline fueled week long event, skydivers, BASE jumpers, skiers, bikers and kayakers from all over the world congregate in the small Norwegian town of Voss to go huge off cliffs, waterfalls, ramps and of course at the parties.
One of the highlights of the week is the Brandseth downhill, an individual sprint down a steep little river. This year the Brandseth had fantastic water levels, and the competition was fierce.
Amongst a big international field of competitors from Canada, US, Italy, Czech, Norway and UK, Nick, Matt and Lowri and Palm sponsored Andy Phillips and Mike Abbot slogged it out through the prelims with Lowri winning a place in the Ladies finals and finishing an overall 2nd (and taking home a big Norwegian Cheque!) and Mike, Matt and Andy winning a place in the Mens finals and places of 3rd, 9th and 11th respectively.
After the sprint, teams of 3 had it, on the full length of the Brandseth over about 3kms of steep rapids and slides, locals Mike Abbott, Andy Phillips and Allan Ellard won top honors yet again this year.
The best thing about being in Voss though is the surrounding rivers and we all took time away from the crowds to go big on the huge Norwegian white water and ‘Foss’ (waterfalls)
Full results are here http://www.ekstremsportveko.com/?page=16&news=262
Results and video are here http://www.friflyt.no/index.php?pagenr=12&articlenr=57157
The next big race is the Sjoa River Festival, also in Norway, from the 15-19th July. It looks set to be massive, hopefully we’ll see some of you there.
Pah!
We had a fairly new Dagger Approach returned for a check over this week after it fell off the car on the Motorway. Written off right?
Apparently not. When we checked the depth of the plastic in the most worn areas we found it was still thick enough to be classed as a first quality boat. It’s survived (albeit with a slightly battered sense of pride)!
A new security bar and it will be (almost) as good as new!
Check out the wear on the bolts!
A potential problem with working in the paddlesport industry is that you often don’t get as much time in a boat as you’d like. So when team paddlers Simon Westgarth, Matt Tidy and Nick Horwood invited me out for a week’s boating and photoshoot in Ticino, Italy, it seemed rude to say no!
Full report coming soon but for the meantime here’s a few shots from the major mission of the week – the Loana and its sidecreek, the Basso.
We were lucky to catch the Basso with plenty of water and were rewarded with a truly spectacular run. From the epic hike in, to the endless bedrock slides, to the horrendous portages – the whole river had the feel of a high Sierra Californian creek.
After a full day of sunburn, dehydration and 200m slides aplenty we finally reached the Cascada di Loana – the takeout. Matt chose to run the first fall and, after an exciting takeout just above the second ‘gutter drop’ (in the background of the second shot below) fired up the third as well!
I’d definitely recommend the run if you’re in the area and there’s water – but bring some decent shoes, there’s a lot of hiking!
There’s been a lot of talk over the last few years about whether freestyle is dead. I’ve just got back from a cracking weekend at the National Student Rodeo and I can assure you that if freestyle is dead, rodeo is fully alive and kicking!! Nearly 700 paddlers turned up at the newly developed Holme Pierrepont Slalom Course (for the third year running) possibly the biggest freestyle event ever.
Once again, despite the rain and wind the students showed everyone how to have a good time - Paddletwirls, jumping in and power flips were the order of the day. Paddy had the space themed party jumping till the early hours and, 3200 pints later, everyone got up to do it all again, this time in glorious sunshine! Colanders on heads, blue faces and dance-offs on the bank.. Team paddlers Ed Smith and Lowri Davies took the men’s and women’s titles and Leeds University won overall – winning the custom Dagger GT.
I’m sure there’ll be a lot of photos circulating once everyone’s recovered but here’s some to start it off.
Thanks to everyone from Leeds University Canoe Club and River Legacy for showing bringing rodeo back to its roots! Roll on NSR 2010! Check the NSR Facebook group and website during the week for more.
In other news, the new slalom course rocks! With more features and less flat between the drops it feels more like a real river than before. The Plughole’s back and there’s a couple of great new features. More soon…
Tim
The NSR prize boat came out and looks sweet, even if I say it myself! The NSR Prize Dagger GT
The National Student Rodeo (NSR) has been amalgamated with Paddlefest ’09 and it looks like it’s going to be a cracking weekend. Come along to Nottingham on the last weekend of March for probably the biggest kayaking festival this year!
Watch the video here
More: Paddlefest / National Student Rodeo
Dates: 28/29th March 09.
See you there,
Tim
We’ve just taken the National Student Rodeo’s top prize, a custom Dagger GT, out of the oven. It’s cooling down now and nearly ready to be outfitted. Check back tomorrow to see how it comes out!
Bristol’s parks were heaving this weekend with everyone from Clifton’s most smartly dressed women (hysterically sliding down hills on bin lids), to cross country skiers, enjoying the snow. Chief boat outfitter Neil looked pretty smug this morning with these pictures. Rightly so we reakon!
Bring on the snow melt!
Tim
With so much going on both on and off the water at Palm HQ, we’ve deceided to produce a monthly interactive PDF newsletter featuring the best from the blog, news from the team, new products, tips/advice and a chance to meet the faces behind Palm.
If you’ve got any tips or news you’d like us to feature leave a comment here and let us know.
