Tryweryn Booftastic times and Washburn Carnage!

Tryweryn and the Washburn:

So like all good paddling stories, it begun on Facebook, Thursday Evening: 'Hey mate, how are you? Living up near Manchester now, next time time your up N.Wales let me know and we should go boating....' Within 24 hrs I am sat in bunkhouse in Capel Curig chilling out with a nice bottle of Bishop's finger, talking of old fun times.

Some of you may have noticed the distinct lack of water at the moment... Therefore, our decision was simple, off to the mighty Big T, to run the Upper and Lower sections. Now recently, I have been doing some Slalom training, therefore with a mixture of slalom line challenges and boofing off everything, challenges were available to keep me happy and occupied.

Sadly, perhaps the most amazing boof, I have done in my paddling career was not captured and I now have to acknowledge that Simon effort seen below was the best captured on camera:

Sadly for Simon on the first day, he missed perhaps the best boof spot which me and Joe had fun on... (In my best Rush Sturges impression): 'You know man, as it explorers it will never be the same again, the energy in that group of people, it was just such an honour. The light and the water was just right. Truly one of the most special experiences of my life....' So Simon sadly despite getting the best boof picture, you missed that moment....

No, I am really not bitter that Helen missed the shot of me doing that... twice...

After a further bimble down we stopped for lunch as the picture shows below this is what happens when Paddlers get bored:

After the usual fun of Chapel falls, no swims in our group but some of the best comedy White Water Safety and Rescue I have ever seen we retired to the pub.

The second day was in much the same vein but I have to give it Helen, this shot of me is pretty epic and perhaps one of my favourites of me boating:

Various interesting lines occurred from across the group over the two days, but thanks to Helen again... Perhaps this one of me having 'type 2 fun' makes me smile the most. Just to be clear, I did not roll and successful escaped!

Part 2. Carnage on the Washburn:

So a return to the Washburn. Today was great fun and accompanied by the Manchester Canoe Club people we started having alot of fun. Spending the morning with Pete Knight of Peak Instruction fame, much hilarity ensued. Playing on taking different lines and taking different approaches to entering eddies provided much amusement. And the beginings of my self inflicted 'Trasher training'.

Mid morning it was clear other river users and members of our group were starting to get tired. This brought up a number of useful points-

1. When you run after a Swimmer on the bank take your throw line. This prevents me doing my best Linford Christie impression after your 'rescue' group.

2. When I have done my Linford Christie impression and reached you. Made you aware I am about to throw you a throwline, taking a breath, given you an amazing line. KEEP HOLD OF IT! Do not, Do not then let go when you think it is ok.... Only to be swept further down and Chris has to run and re collect throw line on the move...

3. If a member of your group has run the 'difficult section' earlier on and they are starting to show signs of obvious fatigue. Rather than let them get in there head and start letting the tension build which will almost certainly involve a swim, get them to blast down straight behind you and just go straight through it. Whilst I do not advocate running anything blind, this is hardly a situation in this case and ensure that your tired paddler does not take another energy sapping swim.

4. If you are a relative newbie, please unless its a paddle or swimmer do not try and rescue anyone. Get into the Eddy and stay there. This makes things alot easier from a group control and safety point of view as it allows any leader not to have to worry. As dealing with one person ok, two/three it starts getting interesting fast.

A very enjoyable day out yesterday and maybe not such a good idea to do the lots of silly rolling at the pool in the evening as I am now very tired, but hey ho, I can sleep when I am dead.

I return to God's Country this weekend for my birthday with an old friend who doubtless will tell me that the Grade Five is ok and I should just 'Do it...'

Canoe Training 10th March 2012

On 10th March 2012, Dean, John BT, Rich and myself all ventured out to start training for the 2star/3star awards for open canoe. Our friends Jason and James were paddling the Ouse for a charity paddle in memory of Kate Stainsby so seemed to be a fitting occasion to get the opens out have a paddle and cheers the boys on! The morning was beautiful, and the weatherman tells me that this is to continue throughout the day...awesome! We even have a predicted wind to contend with as the is a new pressure front on the way in - so all in all an ideal opportunity for training.

We ended up having three types of open canoe thanks to YCC and to Simon Hall for allowing us to use boats for the day, we had a solo PACK canoe, a 14ft and an 18ft Venture canoes, and two standard club paddles, a WW paddle, and then a wooden paddle which Simon kindly lent to us also - it made for a fantastic range for us to compare and contrast throughout the day which was amazing. We spent the day looking at skills mostly for the 2 star award and having a general bob along down the river! We paddled from Linton to York on the Ouse and it took us a fair while - after learning how to beat the wind, having a faff, having lunch, doing some skills etc, it took us about 6 hours. But it was a thoroughly enjoyable journey! As it transpired, the boys passed us on their paddle very fast so we only saw them for all of 30 seconds which was a shame!!

When we returned to the YCC boathouse, we stretched our legs, had tea and donuts before jumping straight into canoe rescue skills where Craig came to join us and helped out with the coaching of the rescue techniques. Hilarity ensued. The all-in scenario where all members had to get back in their boats with no planning, Dean managed to get into one side of the boat and then promptly fall out the other side several times leaving Craig and I on the bank crying with laughter. No video footage unfortunately - lesson learned there - ill be getting my video camera out next time!

Thanks to all who were involved for a fantastic fun day :) Here are a few videos for feedback and for everyone else to laugh at.... enjoy :)

Photos - Click here!

First task, sailing with whatever you can find in your canoe....not as effective as i think they imagined...(listen carefully when i burst out laughing for Dean singing Captain Pugwash!)


Second task, using the other canoe as a sail....


To adjust the trim of your boat....

To get a swimmer into your boat without tipping you all in!



Until next time... Rach :)

YCC pre party paddle - River Wharfe, Feb 2011

Wales Weekend

Chris, Matt, Sam, Jamie and I all jumped in our cars and met up in Bala this weekend just gone for a days paddling and an awesome time camping and drinking :) We travelled from all over, Jamie picked up Chris from Oxford coming from Portsmouth, Matt and Sam came from Manchester and I travelled from York. It had been such a long time since we all saw each one another, it was great to have a catch up on the friday evening! I was the last to arrive at about 8 or 9 pm, and immediately got on the water in my t shirt and pants (yes, i have no dignity left but its for paddling so never mind!) We camped at Ty Isaf outside of Bala, which i didnt realise has the River Dee running through it...! Brilliant! Next day spent at JJ's on the Dee, before heading to the Tryweryn to try and watch a spot of playboating and we all headed home... :) And of course the obligatory stop in Manchester for Lunch at the Woodstock :) :)

River Tees - High Force - Low Force 08/08/11

A so freakin sweet day on the river :) Uber low levels, but we did it anyway ... fun times and thanks to all who were there!! Even random Josh who we encountered!! (See video!)

This is Josh, a video posted by Sam Ellis on Youtube who filmed it on the day :) ....

Jamie's first outdoor climb!

So I made a fatal error when I arrived in Manchester. I took one of my best friends to a climbing wall. Four trips in two weeks and he has caught the bug big style! So wanting to give him as many different experiences as possible subscribing to good paddle coach theories I took him for an outdoor climb. Now the pictures you see show nice weather, when this was I do not know!

The weather was good and scottish which made with a good 40/50mph 'buffetting' wind made me feel at home. Lending Jamie my shoes and leading grit in the wet, with an inexperienced lead belayer and in trainers was definitely type 2 fun...!

However some solo's and three leads before the weather got too bad was great fun!

White Water grandprix

This...looks...awesome....I embedded this video which was uploaded by Tyler Bradt on the Dagger blogging page


2011 Whitewater Grand Prix from Tribe Rider on Vimeo.