Regional Go Paddlin' Day

Wow, this is up to date - this was today!

Dave Bateman - the Local Coaching Organiser for Birmingham organised a gentle paddle from Arley to Bewdley, and invited all the paddlers in the region. It was basically open to anyone, so I took the family along.

Rozie hadn't been in a kayak for ten years - like riding a bike apparantly!

Here's my boat complete with blonde kids as crew.

Leoni was very impressed with her day out, although she thought Dowles Brook was a bit scary, perhaps I shouldn't have told her about the crocodiles!

Sunshine and Sealions

OK, so this was a while ago now, but I left my camera there and only just got it back.

So in mid June, I had a few frantic emails asking if I could go do some training for sit on top guides in La Jolla, San Diego. We threw ideas around and suddenly on the Saturday, they said they wanted me there the following Monday! I managed to cover all the work I had on and reschedule some stuff and I was off!

First Job was a recce. Here's Jen showing me the Sealions - there are stacks of them around the caves, they look cute, but they are very noisy and smelly - and they get a bit stroppy sometimes. They have big teeth!

I like sealions - as you can tell from soppy grin -

So my task was to look at the way the guides take the tours around these caves, it can get a bit choppy in there - this is the Pacific Ocean after all! The caves are pretty spectacular, one fell in the week before I was there, makes the risk assessment a bit tricky!

I found a couple of problems with Sit On Tops in San Diego sunshine - first no-where cool to stash your refreshments - I know what your thinking that we shouldn't be drinking and paddling, but this is an American Light beer, which makes it OK apparently - when in Rome!

The second problem is it plays havoc with your tan lines!

CANI - Yes you can!

Last year I was invited to Northern Ireland to talk to CANI (Canoe Association of NI) about running L1s and L2s. I was there for a very short time - and unfortunately didn't see much of Belfast culture, I saw the CANI offices, a Mexican resturant and a Starbucks! I did however have a very productive meeting, and met some great people. One person who kept in touch was Hugo Dale, a L5 coach who is very keen to run more coaching courses in NI. This week he has been working with me running a Level 2 at Upton Warren and on the Severn for Birmingham, Walsall and Sutton Canoe Clubs. Here's a photo of Hugo and myself looking a little like Tweedle Dee and tweedle Dum! He liked my PEAK UK BA so much he went and bought one, and we had one of the guys on the course who works for CAT, so we got supplied with caps! More photos to follow soon!

Level 1 at Leamington

Just ran the first weekend of another Level 1 at Leamington at Leam Boat Centre

Sunshine all day Saturday and sunshine and showers the next day.

Here's young Pete, demoing the 'double pump'Flatwater freestyle, whatever next????Even on the Sunday the sun came out long enough for us to escape the hothouse for the great outdoor classroom!

L3 Refresher

There are a few people out there who still need to do a L3 assessment, I just came back from another glorious couple of days on the Dee, with two paddlers looking for a bit of a refresher before they go for assessment.

Bottom hole at Mile End Mill, Ken in the red boat, and some random paddler in the yellow one.This is Andy, just dropping down through the little rapid below the steam railway bridge - there's that guy again in the yellow kayak!Me, just above the top holeKen and Andy - two satisfied customers!!!

4 star at Llangollen

Yesterday I had a days work with Leo from Getafix.

The mighty Dee was almost 2 on the guage!


But the sun shone and three happy paddlers passed their 4 star White Water kayak assessments - I really enjoy my job!


Duncan, looking confident on Chain Bridge rapid Colin weighing up the ferry glideDuncan on the run in to Serpent's TailAlex, 'S' crosses on the Serpent's tailColin crosses the tail,Side surfin' the Bottom HoleKeep that bow up Alex!








What a very pleasant day, gotta love the Dee in the sunshine - quite looking forward to the weekend now!!!

Level 1

This weekend and last I've been busy running a Level 1 course for Rugby CC, with Stu Malcolmson


Six new Level 1 coaches, Stephen, Luke, Dave, Kath, Jen and Julie.