London 2012 Olympics – Freestyle Demonstration!

During the London 2012 Olympics it’s not just been Slalom going on at the Lee Valley Whitewater centre…

Myself, Claire O’hara, Uganda’s Juma Kalikwani, Japan’s Motoko Ishida, New Zealand’s Courtney Kerin, and USA’s Dane Jackson have all been part of  team putting on freestyle kayaking displays between the slalom races.

The aim to show freestyle to as many people as possible, get more kids into it and try to raise the sports profile as a whole (and have a good time doing it).

We were on each day in the break betweens finals and medals, or after the heats, so you might have heard or seen glimpses of us on the BBC footage. Unfortunately, I took myself out of the action with a broken collarbone after the 2nd day, having stacked it skateboarding back to the hotel after our show. Hoping to be back on the water for World Cups.

I was using the new Dagger Jitsu proto as my Guigui was deemed to colourful by the Officials, but the Jitsu even it was plastic was actually a joy to use here at Lee Valley, I’m certainly excited to see how the production one turns out, I think Dagger may well have created something quite special.

Been here at the Olympics has been exciting, fascinating and  an overall great experience. We had such a fun time with our team. Watching the incredible performances of GB’s C2 crews, especially Tim and Etienne taking the Gold and Silver  yesterday was unforgettable. I’ve never been so gripped by an event.

It didn’t matter what nation was racing when someone was on a winning time everyone began to cheer them on regardless! That is what was so great about the crowds here! and they seemed to love Freestyle!

Getting to see how all the various slalom athletes put themselves together trying to show their best, cheering them on and feeling the electric atmosphere has been amazing. The opening ceremony was like nothing I’ve ever been to, I was very impressed.

In my mind the Olympics is about working hard in pursuit of a goal or dream, trying to show the best of yourself and encouraging/ inspiring others with your actions. I think this is exactly what we saw there after you’ve stripped away all the official BS and commercialism at it’s core it’s still a celebration or humanity and how great the World is!

Anyway, here are some more photos of our time showing off Freestyle Kayaking and keep an eye out for the others this afternoon as they put on the last show.

Pringle

P.S. Thanks to Claire, Sportscene and Terry Best for the additional photos…

Rapid Blocs – Palm to mould new whitewater course features

We have been quietly working together with the team from Engineering Paddler Designs (EPD) on an exciting project for a new system for adjustable features in artificial white water parks.

Bob Slee and Andy Laird testing the Rapid Bloc system at Teeside in July 

The project came about after our technical Director Bob Slee attended a meeting about the re-development of the Holme Pierrpont white water course in Nottingham and met Andy Laird who along with ex World Slalom Champion and modern day artificial course pioneer Scott Shipley, designed the Rapid Blocs™ system.

Going something along the lines of ‘you’ve got the brain and we’ve got the brawn’ the project has moved fast with the EPD guys bringing the hydrodynamic design knowledge and us delivering the moulding expertise required to make the blocks.

What makes the system unique in its method of location to the riverbed via shaped metal rails, which run lengthways down the water channel. The blocks fasten to this, which allows them to be positioned at any angle and also to be stacked to create a groyne. The use of High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) and their low rectangular shape combined with a four point attachment make them solid when located but equally easy to manoeuvre for alterations to course design – something the EPD team recognised as an important design and manufacture requirement from experience with other systems.

This forms one of a number of interesting departures for us here at Palm in the use of our rotomoulding oven for non-kayak related manufacture. We have already managed to re-cycle over 90% of our waste from boat manufacture, but schemes like this allow us to bring the second-generation use of the materials back into development of the sport, which is a real focus for us.

 

The rapid bloc system was launched at the recent European Slalom championships in Nottingham and showcased to competitors, coaches and officials from around the world including members of the International Olympic Delivery Committee responsible for the 2012 Olympic course in Lee Valley Park. Production units have now been fitted to the Teeside whitewater course which will be the first course to use this new system.

We’ll keep you posted on developments or, for more info check out the Rapid Bloc web site.

Paul Robertson