Intermediate 5 day course

Over the last 5 days we have been running our intermediate course. The weather has been incredibly changeable with winds from force 9-3. During the week we were able to explore the area around falmouth and the Lizard. Mike and Hugh were on the course and were great to have out on the water. I have put on just a few photos from the week to give you a taste of what the intermediate course is like.

Exploring the arches and caves around the Lizard

Pool rolling session on the tuesday night

Introduction to surf working on edging and support strokes

Surfing with the sheltering ships behind.

Maenporth sheltering from the wind

Changeable skys, what will the weather be like in 10 min time?

International Canoe Exibition NEC

Over the weekend we were at the NEC advertising our courses for the year. The show lasted 3 days and we talked to lots of people. It was also a great opportunity to catch up with friends within the industry.

We shared our stand with Nigel Dennis and Kari Tek. between us we are the three Sea Kayaking UK dealers for Great Britain. Nigel had on show an amazing penguin kayak. You can order any picture to be hand painted onto your kayak.

We had justine Curgenven signing her new DVD on our stand during the weekend. I think i must have seen the intro to her TITS 3 DVD over 500 times now!!

Introduction to Sea Kayaking

After the weekend of rough water the seas calmed off to give us the ideal conditions for a two day one on one intro course with Colin. It was great to see him develop his skills rapidly out on the water. I worked with him for the first day and then Jeff has taken over today. It really feels like summer here now but without the tourists. This is proberbly one of the best times of year.

Colin had never been in a kayak before and was keen to try somthing new. over the two days we covered all of the basic strokes and made a journey from Maenporth Beach to the Helford river. With wall to wall sun and calm seas, how can you not enjoy sea kayaking.

Thanks Colin it was good to work with you.

Incident Management

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Over the weekend we ran our first sea kayaking cornwall incident management course this year. We had absolutely perfect conditions, with beautiful skies and a good breeze. On the first day we worked out of Maenporth and found gullies and areas to work on rescue skills. Then on the second day we were able to find rougher conditions off towards st Mawes. Jeff ran the session while I took the opportunity to get some photographs in the amazing Cornish light.

(Maenporth rescue training)

(Tom getting stuck into surf take offs)
(Kevin in the thick of it at Fraggle Rock)

Sweetwater Symposium 2007

What a great symposium this turned out to be, a big thankyou to Russell and Jean for inviting us over. The week started with a coaches day out to the marine research fascility in Tampa.

Then on to BCU week and the days started early with yoga on the beach with Cheri and Turner, then straight into the clinics and coaching. This was a nice relaxed week with numerous activies taking place, always with the sun shining and with numerous wildlife encounters throughout the week.

The symposium was a great success and it was enjoyed by all, just before leaving Russell took several of us for a paddle up the Myaca river were we saw numerous Aligators and Turtles.
Amazing!!

Irish White Water

Last weekend I flew over to Dublin to go to the University College Dublin Canoe Club Ball. I had an amazing time and would like to thank all of the club for making me feel very welcome. The quality of the Wicklow rivers surprised me. On the first day we went down the river Dargle. Only a ten min drive from the city and you are on a classic grade 4 with a really nice drop at the top (above). After that we jumped onto the Annamoe to catch up with the club trip. It was great to see such a strong club in action.Everyone was up for giving it a go and what some of the freshers were putting themselves through was surprising. The vibe around the river, as people dropped over the Jacksons fall (above) was really lively. Everyone lent a hand without the need for being asked and everything worked like clockwork. Overnight the heavens opened and the rivers swelled. We then headed for the Upper Liffey which had some interesting stoppers to avoid.

Thanks to everyone for allowing me to paddle and drink with you. I had a great weekend. If anyone from the club wants to sample the SW England white water on the sea or rivers give me a shout.

Thanks Simon