The English Rafting Committee are committed to growing the sport of Raft Racing, and over the years the social races put together to include and encourage people within the sport have been growing in popularity. Last years’ race in Llandysul was a great example of the British Raft Race Series, but more recently in May we had a Rafting Extravaganza in Matlock, Derby on the River Derwent. Development within our sport is really important to us, we want people to love Raft Racing as much as we do, and better teams who race frequently in the UK will only improve the standard of racing and ensure this great sport grows and continues!
The GB Women showing full commitment to their Slalom
The Junior Team putting some effort in!!
There were 9 Teams racing over the weekend all of whom brought support crews and groupies! It was a fantastic social event with loads of networking, swapping of training ideas and general sweaty rafting
Officially it was the Youth and Junior selection weekend to decide the young teams eligible to go to New Zealand, but everyone wanted the chance to race and we really love seeing the development of our sport, so we got together and put on an event. After all who is going to carry the baton once we are all too old?!!!
Being in time is really important! – so is smiling at the camera Rosie!!!
Yes this is what it looks like…we got beaten at the head to head…none of our chimps were happy with THAT race!!!
The Red Rose Girls line up for the slalom moves.
Team Oarsome are so good they only need 4 people and a dog!!!
GB Rafting, The Next Generation?
We held a full event over the 2 days and also gave teams time for training. Deb Cook and Hoopla from the ERC also did a spot of coaching here and there. Highlights of the weekend included en-mass warm ups in the sunshine led by GB Women’s very own Miss Rosie Cripps, Bracket the rafting dog and some Kick Ass racing!
Is it a Yoga convention?
Yes, this actually was part of the warm up. Inspired.
Thankfully Health and Safety were taking the day off :)
The girl who was making it all possible, the more we stretched, ROSIE CRIPPS!
Bracket the rafting dog…reducing everyone to wobbly knees, very very cute.
Well Done to the Youth and the Junior Teams who showed their skills and are now eligible to go to New Zealand!!
The GB Juniors Team. Well done Boys.
Well done to the GB Youth Team!
But a HUGE THANKYOU must go to Hoopla and Deb for putting so much time and effort into organising the event, becasue without their commitment these things just woudn’t go ahead. As usual there were no photos of Deb…I think she is camera shy, but here is a stunning one of Hoops. Model agencies contact the email address below.
Hoopla doing Blue Steel?
And Palm, you have excelled yourselves with the gear this year. The new Palm FX Bouyancy Aid is amazing and we can’t wait to represent at The World Champs 2013!!!
Thanks Palm!! We look so smart we just can’t stop smiling!
And a teaser for the next blog coming very soon from our Training Camp in the Alps…
SUNSHINE!!!
If you want to get a team together and join in please contact Deb Cook at britishraftracing@rocketmail.com
This winter I made my annual pilgrimage to Africa to surf some of the biggest and best waves in the world.
As always I had an awesome time and you can see some of the footage from my trip in the FX promo video below. Unfortunately in my infinite wisdom in deciding to save my money and not buy anti malarial tablets, I unfortunately caught Malaria, collapsed and broke my hand. This weigh laid me a bit with my progression in kayaking as I couldn’t get out on the water or train properly, So with thanks from a friend I cut short my trip to Africa and flew back to the Uk to get fixed up
It was a pretty miserable time, England was covered in snow, I couldn’t paddle due to my hand and selection was fast approaching.
Anyway long story short, my hand healed, selection was postponed, I made the team in the first available position and will be competing at the World championships later this year.
Selection is always a hard time for me as I have to back of on performing combos and focus on strict run plans. Luckily this only fuels my desire to create new moves afterwards, here’s a couple of moves I’ve been working on.
The GoPro Mountain Games are the nation’s largest celebration of mountain sport, lifestyle and music featuring top professional and amateur athletes from around the world. The environmentally-friendly adventure sporting event hosts approximately 3,500 outdoor athletes, along with an estimated 45,000 spectators.
Yesterday the GoPro games kicked off with the Bud Light Lime Steep Creek up in Redcliff. We had a beautiful day with sunshine and juicy water levels. The race format was different than previous years as an extra run was added. All the racers have two runs and only the top 3 women and top 5 men made it through to the finals for a final run.
At 10am the chicks started the race, with me being the very first racer on the course. We had a great high flow, which made the steep course even more full on. I had a couple of little mistakes in my first run, but made it safe to the finish. Despite spinning around at the top flat part of the course I had an awesome second run, dialing in my lines and scored the fastest women’s run of the day, 1.58.91.
Usually this is the final result of the race, but this year we were half way and had one more final lap to go. Nathalie was off first and had a solid run, not making many mistakes. One of the most solid chicks paddlers around Adriene Levknecht, had an unlucky run as she got pushed off line and was surfing a hole for quite a while.
In the men’s Mike Dawson managed to pick up another back-to-back win in, winning the Mountain Games for the 4th time. His fiercest competition Dane Jackson had a very unlucky first run taking a swim at, leap of faith, the bottom drop of the course. Bryan Kirk and Nick Troutman finished up the top 3.
- Photo’s by James Dawson
For complete result, click here (pdf). For more information on the GoPro Mountain Games go to www.gopromountaingames.com.
By nine thirty in the morning a small grassy hollow had been transformed to a travelling canoeists camp and a fire pit was under construction. The scene was perfect, the sun was out, the water was clear and crystal and the Mad River canoes pulled up with tarpaulin shelters creating some shade. Jules Burnard of Voyageur coaching was ready for the days activities and all around him other Palm Team coaches prepared their equipment for the wide range of workshops they were running.
The shore line of Llyn Padarn soon became a multi-coloured mass of kayaks, canoes, sit-on-tops and inflatables as families, friends and clubs all took to the water in the demo boats from Palm. With the lads from Plas-y-Brenin on hand to give a few pointers to those who’d not been paddling before, the Big Paddle Llanberis was quickly in full swing.
Outside the Palm Store the Paddle Plugs, Canoe Wales and Llanberris Mountain Rescue teams were busy setting some times on the Ergo Challenge and then challenging others to beat them. Surprise surprise one of the raft guides from Canolfan Tryweryn took home the best time over a two hundred metre dash.
Back down by the waterside, near lunch time, paddlers were taking a rest from trying boats or coming back from sessions. Marshmallows were being roasted on the Bushcraft fire but for those wanting something a little more hearty, Tŷ Newydd Organics were cooking up a some tasty treats. The Harlequin paddler took his turn sitting in his boat raising his hands for help and trying to catch the ropes from the Throwline Challenge contestants.
The sun was now brilliant in the sky and as groups headed back out for sea kayak workshops with Olly Sanders or skills sessions with Chris Eastabrook and Lowri Davies. The strange mountain of cardboard that had been built began to move as construction began for the grand cardboard canoe race.
By mid afternoon the armada of boats were cleared from the inlet, and marker buoys were set out. A motley crew of home made kayaks and canoes lined up for the finale. With names like Undersea Voyageur, Fragility and Sea Serpent the racers lined up for a Le Mans start. Three .. Two … One … Go – off they went into the water. Sitting, kneeling and in some cases swimming straight away the home spun boats set off. Pit crews and fans cheered them on and the racing was fierce until the boats still afloat finally touched the shoreline again and winners were crowned.
And then it was over, as happy paddlers headed up to the shop to take advantage of the sale and say their goodbyes the site quietened down. The trailers of boats were loaded up and the bushcraft fire dwindled and was put out. The Big Paddle Tour stop number one was over.
Last weekend I went to the North West of Russia to region called Kareliya, next to border with Finland. One of the best russian playspots is located here in the little rural villige of Tivdia. The region itself is beautiful, few people, untouched nature, clean rivers, lakes, waterfalls, white nights.
This is last years perfect flow – Tivdia wave at it’s best.
Photo: Mikhail Burov
Cows and dogs run free in the village, bears and wolfs run free in forests. Locals are friendly and offer you fresh milk, cheese, fish and banya(russian sauna). You can camp free wherever you like or rent a room in local wooden houses for 3-4euro/night. I love this feeling of peace and freedom you get here – far from big roads, cities, internet and shops. If you want to get some taste of russia but not ready to go deep (all the way to Caucasian mountains, Altai or Baykal regions) this is the place to go – you can even drive on your own car from europe (100km from Finland).
Photo: Артур Лепманис
Photo: Геннадий Соколов
Photo: Артур Лепманис
The wave itself is natural, so water levels are unpredictable, they depend on amount of snowmelt and speed of melting in spring. But for the whole of May and June you’re almost guaranteed to find something to surf.
Sometimes, when all conditions come together it can be an epic green wave with just the right amount of foam on top. There are eddies from both sides as well, to use right one you need a rope.
Russian freestylers come hunting the water every year, coming from 1st May till end of June on weekends and for a few weeks from all of western Russia (Moscow is 1100km away) and even further. For the last 2 years kayakers from Finland have been coming too.
This time the level was a little bit lower then perfect, but still provided a decent wave! The weather made up for the water. It was sunny 19 hours a day and in other 5 hours it was a beautiful sunset/sunrise (you get white nights here so sun never goes completely).
Foam pile was big, so you could do some hole moves. But wave tricks still worked. High speed and occasional pulse keep you on edge.
Competition this year was very interesting, i can proudly say – level of russian paddlers rising with each season. Organisers did a very good job providing very pleasant atmosphere, live music (band came and played for us in the middle of nowhere), a few less serious disciplines and party competitions, no entry fee and even prize money – first time as far as i remember russian freestyle competitions!
In fact organisation was so good, they were running earlier for the womens finals and i almost missed my rides as i was still changing as a result finished only 3rd after winning prelims. Will be smarter next time.
I very recommend this event for European paddlers to visit. You will see the other world, different parties, experience russian banya, food&nature, and of course people and relationships here not like in Europe too. Cheap flights now going to St. Petersburg (500km away) or Moscow, where you can jump in someones kayak bus or car. I will answer your questions about visa, it’s easy enough.
At the moment I am finished with all my selection events and going deep in to training for the Worlds with intention to participate in as many competition before US as possible.
Katya
Photo: Mikhail Burov
Photo: Mikhail Burov
Photo: Геннадий Соколов
Photo: Геннадий Соколов
Photo: Геннадий Соколов
Photo: Grigory Ergin
Photo: Артур Лепманис
Photo: Mikhail Burov
Photo: Mikhail Burov
Photo: Mikhail Burov
Photo: Геннадий Соколов
Photo: Геннадий Соколов
Photo: Геннадий Соколов
Ancient Russian device for boiling water. Called Samovar, still very useful in 21st Century
I just completed an epic voyage from New Zealand to Norway. Epic because between Jordie and myself we had 1 kayak, 1 mountain bike, 3 BIG bags, 2 backpacks, and 2 longboards… Imagine flying with all of that! Just to make the journey a bit more interesting we brought an additional kayak from New Zealand to drop off in Coloma for a friend, had a ten day stopover in California, and a 2 day stopover in London where we had to haul our excessive amount of gear from Heathrow to Gatwick then get on another plane to Bergen, Norway, catch a bus from the airport to Bergen city centre (which was difficult because the first few bus drivers refused to take a kayak onboard). We were then were picked up by the awesome crew from Voss Rafting and driven to Voss. Phewph! Big ups to all the amazing people who helped us out along the way, especially Sara who drove through London traffic for about 3 hours to pick us up and drive us to Gatwick airport!!!
Anyway, amongst all the chaos, I managed to get in one day of sliding down California granite. Heres some photos.
Jamie and I on Autobahn. The one rule of this rapid is no scouting.
California playground
Blue angel from the top of the teacups all the way through to the bottom of Skyscraper, yeboi!
Christy taking on Plastic Surgery
Boof boof slide
When in Rome, do as the Romans do, when in California… Drive a big truck!
The first date of the Palm Big Paddle tour is getting closer, and we’ve got a real treat, in the form of FREE (that’s right!) workshops and clinics from some of the UK’s finest coaches and most talented paddlers. Click here to find out more about the event, and to guarantee your space on a workshop by booking ahead. Check out the Activities here:
Dr Chris’s Kayaking Clinic
Reach for the sky!
Do you want some expert individual advice on your paddling? Some tips and technique specific to your needs?
Available only at the Big Paddle events, Level 5 coach Chris Eastabrook is offering free 1 on 1 clinics to analyse your paddling, and give you the advice you need to improve. Book now to avoid disappointment!
Bushcraft skills from Voyageur Coaching
Learn how to live off the land
This is a bushcraft skills course form Jules Burnard at Voyageur Coaching. Expect expert instruction on some of the forgotten and more traditional skills of shelter building, fire lighting, and cooking on open fires, together with the safe use and care of various tools used.
Beyond the basics – Progress your paddling!
It’s all smiles at Flow Free Coaching!
Have you got the hang of the basics? Or maybe you’re stuck in a paddling rut? Level 5 Coach Lowri Davies will give you the solid grounding and advice you need to progress your paddling further, whether you want to up your game to whitewater, or simply gain the confidence to explore the waterways of the UK at your own pace.
Sea Kayak Essentials with Olly Sanders
Man of the Sea Olly Sanders
There is no way to experience the beauty and wildlife of the UK’s coast quite like taking a sea kayak. Level 5 coach Olly Sanders is on hand to give you the skills, technique, and advice you need to get out and explore the coast.
As well as these amazing opportunities for free coaching, there will be tours, games, and of course the Cardboard Canoe Race.
This weekend I hopped over to Czech to a small spot in the city of Pilzen for a fun, relaxed, freestyle competition.
It was really good to go to a competition and it have such a good atmosphere around it, friendly people and good weather!
The hole itself was very unusual and quite difficult to set up it, the Czech paddlers definitely have had to learn some unusual techniques to paddle here so it took quite a while for the paddlers who hadn’t been here before to get the hang of how to throw moves here at all
The event was more about socialising, (the punk music was a bit dubious though), playing around in the hole, pushing each other on and paddling for the fun of it. That said in the finals the gloves came off as we all had a good fight to the finish.
I thought either myself or Martin Koll won with Jan spindler somewhere near also. In such a tricky spot its hard to tell what the judges think, so we were all waiting hard to see the scores as it was always going to be close.
This time Jan Spindler won, Martin 2nd & me 3rd. Congrats to Jan!
Here is a short not very edited, selection of the best moves from the finals:
Thank you to all the paddlers, locals and organisers for putting on such a good event and making me feel so welcome to Czech!
Next event is the Lienz rodeo in Austria on the 8th of June, more from me then.
Hello all, we’ve just returned from the Tryweryn Festival in beautiful North Wales. With races of all kinds, freestyle, demo boats, and even a cardboard canoe race, there was plenty to get involved with, and plenty of entertainment for spectators too.
Palm Paddler Lowri Davies narrowly avoids a clobbering in the 8-Ball race.
Seppi Strohmeier enjoying the Sunday Sunshine
The Jitsu 5.5 was popular with the next generation of freestyle paddlers…
A sure crowd favourite was the Dagger 8-Ball race, in which competitors race head to head down the rapids, 4 at a time. The twist in formula is the dedicated team of disruptors, armed with inflatable kayaks, who’s job it is to block, barge, and bludgeon the racers, and generally entertain the crowd.
The formula made for some tactical racing, in which some made it through unharmed, and others felt the full force of an inflatable Orca.
Local coach Andy Turton gets 8-balled by a delighted Bleddyn.
The other racing highlight of Saturday’s line up was the Cardboard canoe race. Here at Palm We’re a big fan of carboard canoe racing , and entered into the spirit of things with a high performance cardboard whitewater racing machine. Although it did not perform entirely as designed, the event was great fun for all, and We’re already working on some revised designs for the upcoming Big Paddle Events …
Nick’s cardboard canoe, performing largely as expected.
Palm’s own Nick Horwood leads the pack in the extreme slalom..
Sunday Bought with it the first ever BCU extreme slalom, as well as a gloriously sunny freestyle event. Judged in an open ‘jam session’ style, the freestyle event was a real crowd pleaser, featuring a range of moves, old-skool and new. Prizes were awarded Carl Mitchell for commitment and enthusiasm, Lowri for bribing the judges (honest at least), and Eddie Mead for the biggest moves overall.
Lowri showing of her lovely Blue Fx and Element Suit combo.
A Big Loop in the Jitsu 6.1
The Shudder Rudder should never be underestimated.
Seppi and Lowri heading downriver, only blue and green allowed!
All in all another great fun event at the Tryweryn, thanks to the organisers for making it happen, and we look forward to more fun next year!
In the Nearer future however, The Palm Big Paddle Tour is rapidly approaching!
With the first event taking place at Surflines Shop in Llanberis on the 2nd June, we’ve got lots of fun activities lined up, from tours and workshops to the cardboard canoe race!
Find out more, and book your place on a free workshop with Team Palm at www.thebigpaddle.com.
The first competition of the season dawned as one of the best days we have had in Cornwall for a long time. Not much wind and the sun was coming out and I hadn’t packed any sun cream! The surf was small as has been common with this competition but was reasonably nice. After the sign in and the brief in which I found out that the heats were to be 13 minutes long. I saw that I was on the last heat so I had time to catch up with friends and to have some breakfast! I wandered around watching the surfing for a while as well and then it was my turn to judge which gave me an idea of how things were looking.
My heat came and I was hoping to do quite well but unfortunately I was trying out some smaller thruster fins and I wasn’t ready for the difference they made! I lost the tail a couple of time but the difference they made when I slashed was amazing. It started to all come together towards the end of the heat but I only managed to get a 3rd place. Everyone were shuffled around in their heats according to where they placed in their previous heats. I was on again about half way through the second round so I stayed in my kit and judged a heat.
The tide had come in by the time my next heat arrived and the surf had got better and I really enjoyed my heat in which I managed a large lip move but unfortunately I didn’t land it fully. I did well though and came 1st which I was really pleased about! I stayed in that heat because I won my last one while the other people in my heat were replaced and so I had a while to wait before my next heat. I again stayed in my kit as it was wet and I don’t like getting into wet kit! My next heat again I did well in and came 1st. Which was great although it wasn’t good enough to get in the mens semi final as I needed to have had two 1sts and a 2nd instead of the two 1sts and a 3rd that I got. I was pleased with my result though, a good start to the year! After the mens final and the prize giving for that and the handicap event we packed up and moved off to the campsite where we were staying the night. We set up our tents had a shower and then headed down to the village where we had a meal booked at an inn with all the competitors.
Unfortunately the inn didn’t open the restaurant on time so we had to wait around and I was getting very hungry! At last we went in and at least there was a lot of food that we could help ourselves to! We didn’t stay long after the meal as we wanted to get an early night in preparation for the next day. We heard though that several people carried on partying till quite late as it was someone’s birthday.
Sunday dawned nice again but it was colder and cloudier than the day before. We got down to the beach and signed in and I was on one of the earlier heats in the mens long. I didn’t do very well although I thought the surf was quite enjoyable. It was a reasonable size but one had to be careful which wave one took as a lot of them were closing out. I got third place in that heat. I went through to the reps because of that placing so I had another heat to look forward to towards the end of the day. Next I had the two junior finals. The junior short was first and the tide had come in a bit so the waves weren’t as dumpy as they had been earlier. I got on the water but unfortunately had to wait several minutes as someone was late turning up which was annoying. I had several good waves but I had no idea of how I had done compared to everyone else.
A few heats later I was in the junior long final. Unfortunately in my first heat of the day I had broken my boat. I had tried to pan-am and had got too steep and nosed dived straight into the sand and split my boat along the seam either side of the nose. It was still surfable but it was taking in water so I didn’t do as well as I could have done but I got several good waves and I was happy with what I had done. I was getting a bit tired by the time my next heat the mens long rep came along. I thought I might not give everything into each wave as I usually do and let someone else go through to the semi final but as soon as I was on the water competition mode switched on and I gave it everything! I had what I think were my best waves of the competition and won that heat which meant I was through to the semi final. I had a heat or twos rest and then I was on in the semi. I had some nice waves but the tide had come in close and it was a bit messy and was closing out. Never the less I did reasonably well coming 4th out of 5. This wasn’t good enough to go through to the final so I was able to get changed and warm. I hung around watching the final and then they set everything up so the prize giving could commence when everyone was changed and ready. It was an interesting prize giving, several people had already set off home. I got a 2nd place in both Junior categories. I was happy with this but of course I would have preferred to have come 1st! Anyway for the first competition of the season I felt I had done reasonably well and I had a good time which is always the main thing! Next competition is the Cornish Open which is being held at Godrevy, it’s one of my local breaks so I don’t have to get up very early which is nice! Till then, Good Bye!
