ceufad CYLCHGRAWN CANW CYMRU JOURNAL OF CANOE WALES
Issue 135 June 2018 £2.50
kayak
INTERVIEW SIAN SYKES PHOTO COMPETITION CANOE POLO NATIONAL CHAMPS FOUR DAYS ON THE DEE WELSH OPEN FREESTYLE
Location: Porth Wen, Anglesey
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editorial
t’s been great fun putting this issue together, it’s been a reminder of how diverse Welsh paddlesport is. From Welsh athletes competing in freestyle (p28) polo (p21), and slalom (p18) to promoting surf kayaking (p7), and snapping paddling photos (p27). We’re a nation of very active and enthusiastic paddlers. None more so than Sian Sykes, who recently paddledboarded around Wales, to raise money for charity and raise awareness of the plastic littering and polluting our waterways and seas. My interview with her really struck a chord – I’ve collected rubbish from beaches when I’ve been out sea kayaking, upped my recycling and cut down on single-use plastic, however, I know that unless I take a much more proactive stance I’m part of the problem rather than part of the solution. If I use plastic to wrap up my packed lunch I can’t point an accusatory finger at the owner of the plastic sandwich wrappers I found washed up at Porth Dafarch. I love our coastline, our countryside and our wildlife, and want to help protect it. So I’m taking inspiration from Sian and making the pledge to reduce my ‘plastic footprint‘ and try to become part of the solution. Plus, it gives me an excuse to go sea kayaking … a very enjoyable way to do a beach clean! Vicky Barlow Editor Ceufad Ed Ceufad
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@Ceufad
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Ceufad is the official magazine of Canoe Wales. It is produced by members & the views expressed are not necessarily those of Canoe Wales or the magazine’s editor. Ceufad is free to members of Canoe Wales. SUBSCRIPTIONS are available to non-members for £10 for 4 issues from Canoe Wales. ADVERTISING For advertising rates contact Vicky on: ceufad@canoe.wales SUBMISSIONS Articles are always welcomed & should be submitted as Word files, however, typed articles are also accepted. Images can be prints or tiff/jpeg/RAW files (preferably 300ppi). These will be returned. CONTACT ceufad@canoe.wales – 01678 521199 Ceufad, Canoe Wales, Bala, Gwynedd LL23 7NU Ceufad is produced quarterly in March, June, September and December. NEXT ISSUE: SEPTEMBER DEADLINE: 1ST AUGUST Ceufad welcomes all contributions but reserves the right to edit & condense to fill the space available. Design & layout: Vicky Barlow www.victoriabarlow.co.uk
7 Surf kayak development day
12 Multi-day on the Dee
contents
28 2018 Welsh Open Freestyle
21 Canoe Polo National Champs
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CANOE WALES NEWS
12 FOUR DAYS ON THE DEE
Updates and info from Canoe Wales
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CANOE WALES CALENDAR
18 WELSH SLALOM
Event and Course calendars
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CANOE WALES – WATERWAYS & ENVIRONMENT UPDATE
21 CANOE POLO NATIONAL CHAMPS
The cost of access?
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ST DAVID’S SURF KAYAK DEVELOPMENT DAY
Promoting surf kayaking
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IN THE FLOW
What’s new in the world of paddlesport
Welsh success in Nottingham Paddleboarding, plastic and circumnavigating Wales
27 PHOTO COMPETITION
Testing Whetman Equipment Sea Guide Towline
11 COMPETITION REPORT
Meet the Welsh Slalom Performance Team
22 INTERVIEW: SIAN SYKES
10 REVIEW
Enjoying a spring trip down the Dee
Celebrating Welsh success is polo and slalom
Canoe Wales Photo Comp gallery
28 2018 WELSH OPEN FREESTYLE
Throwing it down at CIWW
30 THE SWIM AND THE CHASE
Chris Brain shares some white water wisdom
Front cover: Paddler: Sian Sykes, circumnavigating Wales Photo: Chris Davies, Eastwood Media
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CANOE WALES CANOE WALES MEMBERSHIP IS CHANGING! From 1 May 2018, we started offering three categories of membership: On the Bank – for volunteers and officials who don’t paddle On the Water – for paddlers and coaches Club Associate – for paddlers who only paddle as part of organised club sessions You can find full details of the member benefits that each type of member will receive and the new fees and discounts available on our website www.canoewales.com Changes to membership What happens now As of 1 May, all current full members (basically anyone who has a Canoe Wales membership card) will automatically receive On the Water membership until their membership expires, at which point they can renew with whichever category is most appropriate for them. You will not receive a new membership card until you renew but your current membership card will still be valid for the rest of your membership period and will entitle you to all the same benefits as an On the Water member. What if I renewed before 1 May? Our existing rates and categories will apply until 1 May, but as explained above, your membership will be converted to an On the Water membership on 1 May. How will I renew? We’ll be launching a new online membership system called GoMembership in time for the new categories to take effect. Until then, you can continue to renew online via Tahdah (our current membership system) or by calling the office. As an existing member, before it’s time to renew we’ll send you information about how to access your new GoMembership account which will allow you to renew your membership and view your coaching qualifications, credentials and club membership information. If you have any questions or problems during this transition period, as always we’re here to help - you can contact us through the website or call the office and we’ll do our best to answer your question. We’re also working to expand these member benefits and increase the range of services, discounts and special offers available to members - and as new benefits get added.
REPORTING INCIDENTS ON OUR WATERWAYS In 2017, Canoe Wales started working with British Canoeing on the development of a UK-wide incident reporting system. This new incident reporting system is now in place and being used to track incidents taking place on waterways across the UK. This information will help us to improve safety and take action on issues that affect all paddlers. You can help by recording ALL incidents through the reporting system. This includes everything from accidents, injuries and ‘nearmisses’ to conflicts with other water users or hazards on a waterway – and it’s for all paddlers, not just Canoe Wales or British Canoeing members. To report an incident, just visit our website and select the option to Report an Incident on the ‘Resources and Guidance’ menu or access it directly via this link: https://www.canoewales.com/report-an-incident. Please remember that if an incident is likely to give rise to an insurance claim using your Canoe Wales insurance, that you also need to report it to our insurance agent, Jelf. You can find their contact information on our insurance page here: https://www.canoewales.com/ canoe-wales-insurance While we can’t promise to resolve all the issues that are raised, we do want to build-up a full picture of the problems that paddlers are facing across Wales, and we will do our best to help where we can.
CANOE WALES – OUR TEAM Jen Browning – General Manager MEMBER SERVICES TEAM Paul Marshall – Coaching Manager (Consultant) Val Ephraim – Administrative Officer Ellen Roberts – Finance Officer Steve Rayner – Waterways and Environment Officer (Consultant)
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PERFORMANCE TEAM Jonathan Davies – Talent Pathway Officer (North) Serena Williams – Talent Pathway Officer (South) Dan Golder – Talent Pathway Officer (South) Gareth Bryant -–Talent Pathway Officer (West) Tom Power – Head Coach (Slalom) Dan Goddard – Performance Coach (Slalom) Kevin Bowerbank – Head Coach (Sprint)
DIRECTORS David Wakeling – Interim Chairperson Andy Booth – Finance Director Sonja Jones Lowri Davies Jet Moore Paul Robertson Eryl Richards Russell Scaplehorn
CANOE WALES EVENTS CALENDAR 2018 16–17 June
Division 2, 3 & 4 Slalom Race
Bala Mill Falls
slalom@moldcanoeclub.co.uk
23 June
Roly Perkins Memorial Race
Daucleddau
Pembrokeshire Paddlers – robjohn35@aol.com
30 Jun – 1 July
Younguns Freestyle
Tryweryn
www.younggunsfreestyle.co.uk
30 Jun – 1 July
Mawddach PaddleFest
Barmouth
www.mawddachpaddlefest.org
9–10 July
NRW Festival
Tryweryn
www.nationalwhitewatercentre.co.uk
14–15 July
Division 2, 3 & 4 Slalom
Bala Mill Falls
slalom@moldcanoeclub.co.uk
21–22 July
Tryweryn Festival 2018
Tryweryn
www.tfest.wales
2–5 Aug
Llandysul River Festival and Division 2,3 and 4 Slalom Race
Llandysul
www.llandysul-paddlers.org.uk
22–23 Sept
Division 2 / Open and Pan Celtic Slalom
Chapel Falls
slalom@moldcanoeclub.co.uk
29–30 Sept
Prem & Welsh Pan Celtic Slalom
Graveyard
slalom@moldcanoeclub.co.uk
6–7 Oct
Division 1 Slalom Race
Llandysul
Llandysul Padders – lpslalom@aol.com
27–28 Oct
Teifi Tour
Llandysul
www.llandysul-paddlers.org.uk
COURSE CALENDAR 2018 28 Jun
BC Stand Up Paddleboarding Support Module
Cardiff International White Water www.ciww.com
30 Jun – 1 Jul
BC Raft Guide (Stadium)
Cardiff International White Water www.ciww.com
6–8 July
BC River Raft Guide Training Course
National White Water Centre www.nationalwhitewatercentre.co.uk
26 Jul
BC Stand Up Paddleboarding Support Module
Cardiff International White Water www.ciww.com
25–26 Aug
BC White Water Safety & Rescue
National White Water Centre www.nationalwhitewatercentre.co.uk
30 Aug
BC Stand Up Paddleboarding Support Module
Cardiff International White Water www.ciww.com
7–9 Sep
BC River Raft Guide Training Course
National White Water Centre www.nationalwhitewatercentre.co.uk
8–9 Sep
BC Raft Guide (Stadium)
Cardiff International White Water www.ciww.com
27 Sep
BC Stand Up Paddleboarding Support Module
Cardiff International White Water www.ciww.com
20–21 Oct
BC White Water Safety & Rescue
National White Water Centre www.nationalwhitewatercentre.co.uk
30 Oct
BC Stand Up Paddleboarding Support Module
Cardiff International White Water www.ciww.com
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WATERWAYS & ENVIRONMENT UPDATE
THE COST OF ACCESS? Paying for access is a taboo subject for many paddlers. But in today’s climate of austerity, when public and business finances are stretched to the limit, is it still reasonable for us to expect ‘something for nothing’? Canoe Wales recognises that there can be a cost to landowners in providing and maintaining access and facilities used by paddlers (including car parks and toilets). It may sometimes be appropriate for them to charge a fee for paddlers to access water and/or use facilities. However it’s our belief that such fees should always be fair, reasonable and proportionate to the costs incurred in providing and maintaining access and facilities. When is it OK (and not OK) to pay for access ‘on’ the water? •
On ‘private’ lakes, reservoirs and canals (where there is no right of public access). These are always owned by somebody, whether a private individual, a company or a public body – and the owner is at liberty to charge a fee for paddling on their water. Current examples are ‘launch fees’ at Bala Lake and Llangorse Lake and the Dŵr Cymru / Welsh Water ‘Reservoir Passport Scheme’ for organised groups in the Brecon Beacons.
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On tidal waters (including the coast and estuaries up to the high-water level – but not regulated harbours). There is a Public Right of Navigation on all tidal waters, so no charge is payable. However, at many beaches and other coastal access points car parking and other facilities maybe charged. This may also include private facilities, such as pontoons or jetties, used to access the water.
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On ‘regulated’ rivers, canals and harbours (where public access is governed by Acts of Parliament). These may require a licence fee, such as the English rivers regulated by the Environment Agency (Thames, Medway and East Anglian) and all canals and rivers regulated by the Canal & Rivers Trust. Your Canoe Wales Membership includes the licence fee for most of these. Other regulated waters, including the Wye below Hay and the Severn above Stourport, do not currently require a licence.
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Along non-tidal rivers. Canoe Wales understands that there is evidence suggesting a Public Right of Navigation on all physically-navigable rivers in Wales, so it is not appropriate for landowners to require permission or to charge paddlers for travelling along rivers. However, it may sometimes be OK for them to charge for access to or from rivers across their land and/or for using their facilities.
Attempt to introduce a ‘Paddle Permit’ on the Wye between Glasbury and Hay The owner of Llanthomas Fishery, halfway between Glasbury and Hay, introduced on 1 April (no joke!) a £3 ‘paddle permit’ for all paddlers passing through his fishery. He claims that “security staff may be employed to periodically check permits and that unpaid fees may be recovered via legal means” and “image capture technology will be used throughout the stretch” (and we understand that he has recently been taking photographs of paddlers passing through). Members of the British Canoeing Access
Advisory Group have recently published ‘conclusive’ historical evidence of a Public Right of Navigation on the Wye above Hay; and we understand that the ‘owner’ holds only the fishing rights, not the land itself. Canoe Wales therefore believes that he has no legal basis for claiming trespass against paddlers and that it is not appropriate for paddlers to pay for exercising their right to travel along the river through his fishery. We are liaising with local stakeholders to try to reach an amicable resolution to this issue.
What about access ‘to and from’ the water? A Public Right of Navigation does not include the right to cross land to gain access to or from a river, nor the right to “occupy” sections of river. Therefore, while Canoe Wales will not encourage unnecessary charging, we believe that it may sometimes be appropriate to pay to cross land and/or use facilities while accessing waters in Wales – even those where access ‘on’ the water is free – so long as fees are
fair, reasonable and proportionate to the costs incurred in providing and maintaining access and facilities. Current well-known examples of this are the launch points on the Dee at Glyndyfrdwy and the Wye at Symonds Yat; and the National White Water Centre at Canolfan Tryweryn.
Canolfan Tryweryn is operated by a wholly-owned subsidiary of Canoe Wales with the primary purpose of providing opportunities for paddlesport on the River Tryweryn. The costs of maintaining the facility at Canolfan Tryweryn for the benefit of paddlers must be recovered, or it would simply cease to exist. We believe the most appropriate way to do this is to charge paddlers a fee, not for using the river, but for making use of our land to access the river and making use of the facilities that support this (including car parks, changing rooms, toilets and occasional shuttle transport). We do not believe it is necessary to impose a similar charge on other users of our land or facilities, who visit
us for reasons incidental to our primary purpose but whom we welcome nonetheless (to walk in our woods, eat in our café, or enjoy watching the white-water action). We are aware that some paddlers consider this policy (and the general concept of “launch fees”) to be equivalent to “paying for use of the river” and to therefore contravene our position in campaigning for greater access to Welsh rivers. However, we believe that most paddlers will appreciate our approach as being both appropriate and welcome in offering easy access to a popular, world-class, white water river, while being wholly consistent with our wider policies on access.
Steve Rayner, Canoe Wales Waterways & Environment Officer, waterways@canoewales.com
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K A Y A K F R U S AY
S D ’ T D I N V E ST DA EVELOPM H
D
aving spent much of my winter confined to the swimming pool, coaching alongside Haverfordwest Kayak Club, we set ourself the with task of developing what the juniors had been working on so hard through the cold months. On the 22nd April, once the harsh winter finally eased off, we headed to the beach. Pembrokeshire being a prime location for surf we organised a Surf Kayak Development day at Whitesands; with the aim of promoting the sport and encouraging a new burst of life. Ride Surf Kayaks and the Welsh Surf Kayak Team were kind enough to provide us with a fleet of specialised kayaks, which helped make this event a success. We were able to provide all who attended a real experience of surfing in a wide variety of boats. Once we had all the logistics set in place, we started the day with a quick all round introduction and then the grand plan. My aim for the day was to give everyone a great first time experience; hoping to really inspire them by giving a bit of background knowledge to the sport, my achievements, where it has taken me, and where it could take them. The conditions were kind to us, providing the day with 1–2ft surf on the beach with light onshore winds and a rising tide – perfect conditions for a first time session! The only complaint would be the lack of sunshine that was around previously in the week! After we were all kitted up and ready to go, we split down into groups of similar ability.
aul Article: P
Bramble
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Each group was then allocated their coaches where a safety briefing took place; providing them with all the essential information, including a bit of local knowledge. Within each group the underlying objective was to get everyone comfortable in the environment they were in by setting a number of tasks and activities. It wasn’t long before we could see the confidence building, alongside with some spectacular wipe outs! By the end of our first session everyone had managed to get up and surfing a green wave, which we then celebrated with a hot chocolate on the beach. The second part of the day was to get everyone trying out the different surf specific crafts, giving them the opportunity to really feel the difference in a variety of boats. Which was a big eye opener for people coming from paddling a general purpose kayak. Once everyone was well and truly surfed out we headed back to the car park for some hotdogs and a bit of a fun prize giving. The sun showed itself just in time to have some quick group photos! This day was a great success – it was fantastic to see so many happy, inspired paddlers. We will be running many more throughout the year. Just a final big thank you to everyone who helped make this day possible – Ride Surf Kayaks, Dragon Activity Guides, Welsh Surf Kayak Team, Haverfordwest Kayak Club, and finally all of the coaches that gave up their time for free.
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in the flow
IN THE FLOW SEA KAYAKING GUIDE TO PEMBROKESHIRE & CEREDIGION – SECOND EDITION An excellent guide to some of Wales best sea paddling. From thrilling tidal races to serene estuary paddles, this well-informed guide is now updated in its second edition, offering a superb tool for those planning day or longer trips. Giving excellent account of access and egress points, local facilities, tidal predictions and of course some of the fantastic nature and landmarks you’ll likely encounter. Authors: Raymond Griffiths, Susan Griffiths, Nigel Robinson Monddi Dimond Press www. seakayakguides.co.uk/media/publications/
PEMBROKESHIRE MARINE CODE
MAWDDACH PADDLEFEST, BARMOUTH
A free fold-out leaflet highlighting areas around the Pembrokeshire coast sensitive for wildlife. With many unspoilt areas featuring breeding grounds for species including seals and marine birds, the marine codes lets you understand areas in Pembrokeshire where you should paddle carefully and avoid (particularly landing) at certain times. A great little guide to raise general awareness.
30th June – 1st July In aid of Hope House and local good causes. • 6-man Rafted Canoe Race now open to teams from outside the Barmouth Area • Guided Paddle on both days due to popular demand • SUP, Kayak & Celtic Rowing “Have-aGo” • Canoe/Kayak Marathon • Harbourside Stalls • Something for all the family with all the facilities of a seaside resort For details and Entry Forms visit: www.mawddachpaddlefest.org
Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum: www.pembrokeshirecoastalforum.org.uk
LLANDYSUL RIVER FESTIVAL AND TRAINING CAMP, 2–5 AUGUST This 4-day training camp is aimed at developing canoeing skills with an introduction to moving water. It’s open to all abilities with flat water sessions taking place throughout the four days. On Saturday there are Div 2 (river), Div 3 (river), and Div 4 (lake) races. On Sunday there are various fun events including surf kayaking, coasteering, rock climbing, river swims, freestyle kayaking and white water rafting. Each evening there will be activities such as BBQs, white water rafting, river swims, rock climbing, nature walks, etc. The cost includes all food, camping, evening entertainment, coaching, equipment and entry to the competition. Costs: FULL TICKET: £60 for the 4 days including, camping, food and coaching. PER DAY: £15 per day including, camping, food and coaching. JUST CAMP / SPECTATE: £4 per night just for camping. JUST CAMP / SPECTATE / FOOD: £10 per day including camping and food. Please contact Gareth Bryant if you require any further information. 01559363209
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IN THE FLOW
in the flow
ROLY PERKINS MEMORIAL RACE – SATURDAY 24TH JUNE 2018 AT 3PM Our annual kayak/canoe race for the Roly Perkins Memorial Cup will, as last year, be held on the Daucleddau. The race will be approximately 5 km long and will start at the Cleddau Reach Car Park, Warrior Way, Pembroke Dock SA72 6UJ. Entrants will race up Cosheston Pill and return to Cleddau Reach. • Official entrants (male and female) aged 11 to 16 years. • Younger entrants allowed if accompanied by a responsible adult and with the agreement of the organisers. • General-purpose plastic kayaks or sit-on-tops only to be used. • Trophies and prizes for winner, first female, first sit on top and youngest competitor to finish, plus many other prizes. • All competitors receive a certificate and medal. • Also “Open” (no age limit!) Canadian race – maximum of three crew. Some boats available for loan. • Safety cover provided. • Entry fee £3.00 per person For entry forms, map and info please contact: Rob John on 01646 687662 or 07587 006040 E-mail: robjohn35@aol.com All paddlers welcome and paddle at their own risk.
SAVE THE BLUE HEART OF EUROPE The Balkans Peninsula is home to the last truly wild river systems in Europe. In a land largely untouched by modern industry lies a little-known paradise. Within forested mountains still inhabited by lynx, wolves and bear, live small communities whose lives are inextricably linked to the rivers they live alongside. This paradise is under threat, these last great free flowing rivers of Europe will be lost in our lifetime unless we act. Nearly 3000 new hydroschemes are planned for this area with 188 already in construction. These dams break the connectivity of these life-bringing rivers, destroy biodiversity and displace communities. To learn more about the area and the impact these dams will have check out: http://blueheart.patagonia.com http://balkanrivers.net/en http://www.balkanriverstour.com TAKE ACTION NOW Tell the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), European Investment Bank (EIB), and the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation (IFC) they must halt their Balkan hydropower investments before the last wild rivers in Europe are irreversibly destroyed. Sign The Petition: https://blueheart.patagonia.com/take-action
PEMBROKESHIRE WILDLIFE FACTSHEET – WATERPROOF EDITION A handy ring bound booklet printed on waterproof paper, giving you a great guide to the flora and fauna you can find in Pembrokeshire. On and off the water guides to marine, bird and plant life describing habitat, breeding and food sources. Also has a great section on the geology of the coastline. Pembrokeshire Outdoor Charter Group: www.pembrokeshirecoastalforum.org.uk
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REVIEW
Whetman Equipment Sea Guide Towline Review: Dave Brown This waist mounted towline system, designed by Steve Whetman is aimed primarily at Sea Kayak Guides, Leaders and Coaches. He has other designs that suit other towing purposes and paddlers. This particular model is made in the Czech Republic and assembled in Devon. It is a 14m main towline and has an integral short contact towline system. The main 14m long towline is on the left of the system and the short, tight contact tow is on the right when the bag is worn at the back with the waist release on the front. This enabled a simple operational narrative to be incorporated when asking trainee leaders if they would like to use it, ‘Left is long, and right is tight’. It seemed to work for the most part. Deployment of either of the systems is easy, in so much as the large, chunky, durable zip is opened by the toggle attached and then the connector is clipped to the boat. No different to other systems, other than it works and it works well. The towline tested had 19mm yellow floating tape, which deployed easily and repacked easily. The tape is connected to a stainless steel ring and shock absorbency is provided by a length of elasticated webbing anchored to a central pivotal point in the bag, again with a stainless steel ring. This centralised point is connected directly to the main belt that is running through the bag. Practically, the line can be halved easily, down to 7m, should the need arise. The contact tow is very short, but of a practical ideal length; again, webbing was used on the model reviewed and this is also connected to the centralised point in the bag. This line however, exits the bag underneath through the drain hole, thus negating the need to unzip the bag and saving time in time critical rescues requiring the need for an immediate contact tow. The towline has two hard floats, and combined with the floating tape itself, provide a very buoyant package that can easily be seen if doing pick up tows following a release. The generously sized bag is made of extremely durable and waterproof material similar to that of the rubberized canvas that adorns the sides of lorries, increasing the overall buoyancy further and aiding repacking
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following a deployment. Repacking is easily achieved when the belt is slackened off slightly so that it sits forward of the bottom of the buoyancy aid front. The clever and unique design and cut of the bag means that it will naturally stay open when the bag is unzipped whilst packing and in deployed use. The belt is easy to use and comfortable being made of 50mm webbing with an easy to operate cam buckle and release toggle. It can be adjusted to fit centrally and to fit a variety of waist sizes, even down as small as my waist of 27 inches! Steve has recently published on-line, a video of some of his towlines being tested under load in a somewhat unique fashion; worth checking out. In use the towline has been incredibly easy to use in a variety of waters including whilst running tide race and coaching clients on courses taking place in advanced water conditions. It has been handed to clients and coaches alike without direct instruction, and all have found it easy to use, deploy and repack. The bag is best left with a little slack in the waist belt so that it sits out the back of the buoyancy aid rather than under it. This worked for the buoyancy aid that I was wearing (Palm Kaikoura) and was similar to feedback from clients, coaches and leaders that I asked to use it with their buoyancy aids. There are a number of options available from Whetman, in relation to the finished product you can ask for. The line can be 14mm floating tape or it can be floating rope, and the connectors can be stainless steel and or can be DMM snap-gate karabiners. Obviously, both will require some maintenance following use in salt water by initially washing in hot water. Steve provides comprehensive information on the care and maintenance of the connectors on his website and is very open to feedback and questions from the end user. SEA GUIDE TOWLINE by Steve Whetman. Available from www.whetmanequipment.com Price: £89.95
youth olympics
COMPETITION REPORT Gold for Lili Bryant at the Youth Olympic Games Qualification event Four junior paddlers represented Great Britain at the Youth Olympic Games World Qualification event, which took place in Castelldefels, Barcelona in April. Welsh athlete Lili Bryant dominated the K1W Obstacle Slalom, taking the gold medal. The Youth Olympic Games (YOG) provides an opportunity for young athletes to gain multi-sport event experience, with athletes competing in both Canoe Sprint and Canoe Slalom, and aid their development into senior athletes capable of medal winning success at future Olympic Games. These athletes were competing to qualify nation spots to race at the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina in October 2018. Only the top six athletes from each continent qualify. Congratulations to all athletes who competed!
Team GB competing in Barcelona
Canoe Polo National Championships
polo
Welsh teams fought hard at the Canoe Polo National Championships which were held at the National Water Sports Centre, Nottingham in April. 37 teams from across the country competed in the Championships and battled it out for the remaining space in the European Club Championships, which will be held at Nottingham in September. Dragon finished second in the Open Championship division, the best result by a welsh men’s/open team in many years. Aberfan finished third in the Ladies Division, and Bridgend took third in the Youth Division. A full compeititon report is on p21.
Canoe National Polo Champs
extreme slalom
Welsh success at British Canoe Extreme Slalom Selection Event The inaugural British Canoeing Extreme Slalom competition, in conjunction with Lee Valley White Water Centre, took place last weekend, with 5 Welsh athletes putting in stellar performances. Paddlers from a range of disciplines, including 5 Welsh athletes, took to the water as they looked to secure their spot on the British team for the Senior World Championship & World Cup Extreme Canoe Slalom Team and the U23 & Junior World Championship Extreme Canoe Slalom Team. Adventure kayaker, David Bain, who was part of the team who made the world’s first attempt on the Baliem River last year, stamped his authority on the men’s event, winning all three of the men’s races. He was awarded maximum points for the time trial and both extreme slalom races ahead of Etienne Chappell (Seren Dŵr) who took the second spot. Etienne Chappell also qualifies for the Junior and U23 World Championships where he will be joined by Elliott Goddard (Seren Dŵr) and Callum Maceachen respectively.
British Canoeing Extreme Slalom
Lizzie Neave, dominated the women’s event, also took three wins from three to secure her place on the team ahead of Gabrielle Ridge (Llandysul). Gabrielle Ridge also bagged her place on the U23 team along with Cara Lee (Bala). Emily Davies (Bala) took 3rd in U23 and 4th in Senior, making her reserve for GB team.
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Article: John Lengthorn
So last October it was suggested that we pencil in a multiday trip somewhere in Scotland for the end of March. Plan A was a trip down the Orchy into Loch Awe then down the River Awe into Loch Etive. We’d need a crack team to consider taking on the Middle Orchy but they couldn’t make it so that left Ian, Andy, John and me!
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As the time approached we scared ourselves silly watching videos of the Middle Orchy and the consensus was that it was unlikely we’d attempt it unless the river was low enough. Being over on the west side we’d also agreed that a backup plan could be the River Dee if conditions in the west were not good. A couple of days before the trip the forecast on the west was for several days of heavy rain so attentions turned to the Dee. The forecast was much better, with heavy rain the day and night we would arrive, followed by a clear weather window for 4 days. The river was already up from what looked like snowmelt the day before so there would be no shortage of water.
DAY 1 After spending the night in vehicles at Linn O’Dee we ran the shuttle to Aberdeen in the morning, leaving Andy to stand guard with the boats and kit. We’d meet Ian at Aberdeen (he had spent the night at a Travel Lodge much to John’s disgust) and he would bring us back to Linn O’Dee where we’d all start. On the way back we stopped at Invercauld Bridge to check the river, which was pretty high so there were no doubts it would be an exciting run down. When we set off it was 1.3 on the gauge. It wasn’t long before we reached the first rapid and got our first action of the day. It looked a little different to when we were last here in 2015! We spent some time looking at and discussing lines before deciding it did go. Andy and I ran it as a pair
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and although it didn’t quite go as we’d discussed we got to the bottom dry. The river continued through some pretty stunning scenery, with the occasional portage, and it wasn’t long before we spotted a small horizon line in the distance with spray in the air. The next rapid awaited. We got out well above and walked down to inspect. Despite paddling the river a few years ago I really couldn’t remember this being anything of significance but today we all agreed it was a portage. It had “swamp” written all over it! Fortunately the bank on the right lent itself to dragging the boats around so it was a fairly quick portage. After a pretty intense start things began to calm down and we were able to begin to appreciate what a special place this is to paddle. However, time was getting on and we knew we might also have Invercauld Bridge to contend with. Fortunately we found a nice camp spot upstream of the bridge and decided that one could wait for day 2!
DAY 2 Saturday morning and we awoke to the sun trying hard to penetrate our woodland campsite. It had been a good move to camp above Invercauld Bridge as it was immediately obvious that the level had dropped significantly overnight, and the intimidating river we’d viewed from the bridge yesterday was looking far more inviting. After a very leisurely breakfast we set off with no
particular plan in mind in terms of how far we’d travel that day. The last time I was here we clocked up 66km on our second day but this trip was to be a much more leisurely affair. We paddled down to our first brew stop, where we basked in the Scottish winter sun – not what we expecting at all! So far, so dry, although the wave train at Brunel’s Balmoral Bridge did lead to a bit of bailing afterwards. After a gruelling day thoughts turned to finding a camp and Ian was happy to delegate this task. We settled on a nice spot downriver of the bridge at Campus O’May.
DAY 3 Once again we awoke to the sun shining across the river onto our campsite. The clocks had gone back so this morning’s start was a later one than usual but no one seemed to be in any hurry to get down this lovely river any quicker than needed. The level had continued to drop but there was still plenty of water to help us continue our journey down. Today we’d have at least two feature rapids at Dinnet Bridge and Potarch Bridge. Both Dinnet and Potarch were at good levels so not too much rock dodging was required, just a bit of bailing at the end We had been looking for campsites at around 5pm each day, to ensure we had a couple of hours
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daylight in camp each evening. As we were planning on finishing the trip the next day we also wanted to ensure we were within range of reaching Aberdeen. Cairnton was getting closer, which would be the last main rapid of the trip so we decided to make camp and leave Cairnton for the morning. I slipped up here; no one thought to point out that we had an extra hour of daylight with the clocks changing!
DAY 4 This was to be our final day on the river and our luck with the weather window seemed to be holding out as we set off for Cairnton in the morning sun. The last
time we were here Cairnton was one big bouncy continuous wave train but with the river continuing to drop there was a fairly straightforward line down. Cairnton is the last major rapid of the trip but just above Banchory there was another bouncy section with a magnetic hole at the bottom, which is worth noting. What was also interesting was that a play feature from the last trip, above Banchory Bridge, was nowhere to be seen. Presumably washed away a few years ago in the floods. The final playspot at Banchory Hotel provided a bit of fun but as we still had to get down to Aberdeen we didn’t stay long and headed off. I think for future trips to the Dee, Banchory will probably be the finishing point. After the final lunch stop and a change of clothes and we were ready for the last leg down to Aberdeen. We reached our destination and the journey’s end by 4.30pm. 45 minutes later we were loaded and on the road south. This was another great trip down this most excellent river. The Dee continues to be my favourite of the big Scottish 4 and for those who enjoy some white water touring this is a great multi-day trip. Big thanks to Ian, John and Andy for the great company and banter.
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Live for White Water?
Coaching at NWWC 2018 Courses BC WHITE WATER SAFETY & RESCUE 23–24 June 25–26 August 20–21 October
£160 pp £160 pp £160 pp
BC ADVANCED WHITE WATER SAFETY & RESCUE
Available on request
£160 pp
RESCUE 3 – WHITEWATER RESCUE TECHNICIAN PRO Available on request
£290 pp
RESCUE 3 – ADVANCED WHITEWATER RESCUE TECHNICIAN Available on request
£390 pp
OUTDOOR-SPECIFIC FIRST AID AT WORK (24HR) Available on request
£180 pp
BC RIVER RAFT GUIDE TRAINING 6–8 July 7–9 September
£185 pp £185 pp
If you can’t see a suitable date then give us a call.
OTHER COURSES
We run other courses in both Kayak and Canoe, including Moderate and Advanced Water Leader Training and Assessment. We also offer White Water and Advanced White Water Coach Training and Assessment.
PRIVATE COACHING COURSES
If you’ve got something in mind which you’d like to learn or you’d like a day’s guiding on the river, we can organise a day for you, whether on the Tryweryn or further afield. Please contact us to discuss your requirements. 1 to 1 coaching: 1 coach to 2 participants: 1 coach to 3 participants: 1 coach to 4 participants:
£180 per person, per day £90 per person, per day £70 per person, per day £60 per person, per day
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Booking office: 01678 521083 Email: info@nationalwhitewatercentre.co.uk Website: www.nationalwhitewatercentre.co.uk/courses
WELSH SLALOM PERFORMANCE TEAM Lili Bryant
Catrin Schroder
Etienne Chappell
Age: 15
Age: 14
Age: 16
Club: Llandysul Paddlers
Club: Llandysul Paddlers
Club: Seren Dwr
Memorable moment: Winning the gold medal race at the Youth Olympic Qualifier race in Barcelona.
Memorable moment: Getting promoted to the Premier division last October.
Memorable moment: Getting Team GB in 2017 when I was
Favourite sporting quote: A trophy carries dust. Memories last forever.
Favourite sporting quote: Just do it.
Favourite sporting quote: Life Richard Lee.
How did you start: My Dad runs a canoe centre in Llandysul and bought me my first boat when I was 3.
How did you start: I went to the Llandysul river festival with the 1st Lampeter Scouts in 2014 and I really enjoyed it, and got promoted to division 3.
Current bib ranking: 11
Current bib ranking: 56
Current bib ranking: 16 Prem
Why do you do it: I love the social side of Canoe slalom.
Why do you do it: I love the sport as well as the social experiences involved with slalom.
Why do you do it: For the fun
Favourite site: Augsburg in Germany
How did you start: With my p Canoe Club in Newport
Sporting idol: Megan Hamer Evans because she has done really well as Welsh Paddler and now on the GB Squad paddling all over the world.
Favourite site: Lee Valley
Favourite site: Anywhere with better.
Sporting idol: Jess Fox because she has had great success from a young age, and is successful in two disciplines.
Sporting idol: Aniol Serrasolse paddler. He’s living the life!
James Cooper
William Coney
Emily Davies
Age: 20
Age: 20
Age: 20
Club: Seren Dwr
Club: Llandysul Paddlers /Seren Dwr
Club: Bala
Memorable moment: Winning a Bronze medal in the team event at the Junior European Championships.
Memorable moment: Junior European Championships 2014 in Skopje, Macedonia.
Favourite sporting quote: If you have everything under control, you’re not moving fast enough – Mario Andretti
Favourite sporting quote: Harder you train the luckier you get.
Memorable moment: The clic being scared of white water t confidence on it to paddle an
How did you start: Started canoeing at the age of 7 with my Dad and joined a local club. Around 13 while paddling at CIWW Nigel Midgley invited me along to a slalom session at a Seren Dwr session and from there I’ve slowly progressed through the rankings with Canoe Wales.
How did you start: Through my secondary school. Nigel Midley was trying to create a group of paddlers in the area, my brother got into it pretty fast and I followed not long after. Current bib ranking: 6
Current bib ranking: 7
Current bib ranking: 6
Why do you do it: There are so many variables that need to be improved and controlled; to adapted to. So, there’s always a new way of doing things and ways to improve.
Why do you do it: It’s fun!!!!! training and competition.
Favourite site: Bratislava
Sporting idol: I don’t have a s in sport. All the athletes that their sport have made sacrific and it is possible, believed, had highs and lows. If it was easy everyone would be there!
Why do you do it: To stand on the podium whether nationally in a premier race or internationally at the World or European championships. Favourite site: Probably Prague, it’s an amazing course that’s great for training and also an amazing city so close. Sporting idol: Eric Jackson
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Sporting idol: Alexander Slavkovsky – Multiple European champ, looks to always be enjoying himself and has a good life balance (family, hiking, skiing, climbing).
Favourite sporting quote: The will be doubts, there will be m there are no limits!!
How did you start: Through m age.
Favourite site: Bala , Canolfan
Article: Jonathan Davies
Carwyn Lavis
Jess Rayner
Age: 18
Age: 17
Club: Brecon CC
Club: Brecon
Memorable moment: Winning the J16 Welsh Champs
Memorable moment: Promotion to Premier Division at Washburn 2016
Favourite sporting quote: He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life – Muhammad Ali.
e’s not fair get over it –
parents at Croesyceiliog
Why do you do it: It’s fun! It’s part of my life.
Current bib ranking: 51
Favourite site: Lee Valley – clean, challenging water with lots of variety
Favourite site: Lee Valley. Sporting idol: Anthony Joshua because of the passion he has for his sport and how he shows that there is no success without hard work and determination. But most importantly he always stays humble.
K1M
Fin Yates-Jones
n and excitement of it.
Age: 16
h big white water. Bigger the
Club: Llandysul Paddlers Memorable moment: Taking the win at Grandtully Div 1 while being covered in chicken pox.
es. Extreme white water
ck I had in my head from to respecting it and having nd play!!
ere will be obstacles, there mistakes, but with hard work,
my Dad from a very young
! The buzz you get from
n Tryweryn
specific athlete I look up to have made it to the top of ces, proved they can do it
Current bib ranking: 25
How did you start: Through Brecon Canoe Club. Why do you do it: Because I love the adrenaline of the white water and the feeling I get from competitions.
g selected for Junior K1M only 15
How did you start: Through my family and local club
Favourite sporting quote: To be outstanding – get comfortable with being uncomfortable.
Gabrielle (Gabi) Ridge Age: 21 Club: Llandysul Paddlers Memorable moment: Becoming a Silver Medallist in Kayak Women’s Teams at the 2017 U23 World Championships. Favourite sporting quote: A river cuts through rock, not because of it power, but because of its persistence. It isn’t a sporting quote, but it always reminds me to continue working hard to achieve what you want.
How did you start: My Dad was a bus driver and drove Llandysul Paddlers on their annual French trip. When he came back he took me and my brother to try paddling. Current bib ranking: Prem K1M 46 Why do you do it: I do it because I love it, I enjoy all aspects; training, competitng, travelling and meeting awesome people. Favourite site: Augsburg, Germany Sporting idol: Anthony Joshua, undefeated.
How did you start: I started in Llandysul one summer with my older sister, and continued to paddle when she needed company on the water whilst recovering from major back surgery. Current bib ranking: 6 Why do you do it: Because there is no feeling like using the water to propel yourself down a slalom course. You can also never achieve a perfect run, but there is nothing wrong in trying! Favourite site: Bourg-Saint-Maurice. It’s the first big course I paddled, and it was incredible to see myself develop on it when we came back each year. Flooding changes it most years but it will always be amazing to paddle in the shadow of the mountains. Sporting idol: The kids. Although I have sporting figures that I look up to, I am constantly in awe of the enthusiasm the young paddlers bring to the river and the amount I learn from them. There are more lessons to be learnt in gratitude and motivation from them than anyone in the top of their sport.
To be at the top of your game in canoe slalom, you will need the following: Drive to improve every day Discipline Competitiveness Self-confidence Aggression Focus Commitment Good time management Determination A high tolerance to pain And on top of all of this, you will need to: Train up to twice a day, 6 days a week A total of up to 17 hours per week The performance team will be competing and training over the summer in Germany, Slovenia, Slovakia, Austria and the Czech Republic.
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CANOE POLO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS The British National Championships took place at the Canoe Polo home venue pitches (HPP) in glorious sunshine. The National Champs run slightly differently to most standalone tournaments, instead of divisions of competition based on a perceived standard all clubs enter the same league. This affords div 3 teams the opportunity to play against the top sides in the country! An Open, Women’s and Youth league were run with the winning team in the Open and Women’s league set to gain a qualification spot for the European club championships (to be held at the same venue September 8th/9th). In the Youth league, Ulster were on a mission to retain their title and were pushed to the wire in a high scoring end to end final with Viking. Ulster managed to pull away in the final minutes and hold out for the victory. In the Women’s league with FOA (Friends of Allonby) not defending their 2017 title Meridian were the favourites having come runner-up in the Winter National league. In a round robin format, they were challenged by Aberfan and the Red Lions and came through on the right side of tight results to secure the Women’s title. In the Open League the first few games led to some entertaining fixtures! A particular highlight was seeing the Aberfan side – a mixture of youth and more seniors players – score twice against our winter national league champions Kingston. At the end of the competition, there were some fierce encounters with the ECC spot up for grabs. FOA avenged their winter league loss to Kingston by putting them out in the semi-final and Dragon’s defence edged them past Pennine. Youth trumped experience in the final with FOA pulling away to a 4:0 win. Apart from the weather catching quite a few paddlers short of sunscreen, it was a fantastic weekend. The National Championships and it’s 46 years of history is firmly back on the Calendar!
Words: David McBay Photos: British Canoe Polo
RESULTS National Championships Open Division 1st. Friends of Allonby X 2nd. Dragon 3rd. Pennine A National Championships Ladies Division 1st. Meridian W 2nd. Red Lions 3rd. Aberfan W National Championships Youth Division 1st. Ulster U18 A 2nd. Viking Youth 3rd. Bridgend
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INTERVIEW
S AN SYKES In May this year Sian Sykes completed a 60-day, 1000km paddleboard circumnavigation of Wales. She paddled solo and self-supported, and into the jaws of the Beast from East. Given the time of year and the conditions this was an impressive achievement, however, it wasn’t just about the journey. As Sian puts it, it was ‘an expedition with a mission’; she wanted to use the trip to raise awareness of the plastic pollution in our rivers, canals and seas, and to raise funds for the RNLI, Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) and North Wales Wildlife Trust. This sounded like quite an undertaking, so Ceufad caught up with her to find out more
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Photo: Ian Finch
Firstly, congratulations on a successful trip, it must be strange to be back to the daily routine? I do miss the ‘feral’ nature and simplicity of expedition life, but I’ve been on lots of mini adventures since I’ve finished the trip, plus I’m out paddleboarding most days for work, so the daily routine is very enjoyable!
Photo: Chris Davies, Eastwood Media
It must be great working in the sport you love – you set up Psyched Paddleboarding on Anglesey 4 years ago – how did that come about? I left North Wales for a career in London, and worked in advertising for about 15 years, working 18-hour days. I really missed the sea, the mountains ... the outdoors … but never really thought about making a career out of it. Suddenly I slammed on the brakes, left London and came home to change career and to start my own business. I gained my International Mountain Leaders award and set up a trekking and mountaineering business. Trekking and mountaineering? Not paddleboarding? No, I was setting up my business and hadn’t even tried paddleboarding, then some friends invited me to join them on a journey across England by canal and river. That’s how I discovered paddleboarding and I loved it. In fact, I enjoyed it so much that I changed my whole business and got re-qualified as a paddleboarding instructor. Since then my business has gone from strength to strength and I believe it’s because I’m so passionate about paddleboarding. Is it the only paddlesport you’ve tried? No, I’ve been known to dabble with canoeing and sea kayaking, however, I much prefer paddleboarding as the board is lighter, you don’t have to worry with stressing with rolls and besides I love the bird’s eye view you get from the SUP, you feel you are walking on water and there’s a real connection.
Photo: Ian Finch
Photo: Chris Davies, Eastwood Media
What made you decide to circumnavigate Wales? I love the whole going-for-a-journey, planning it and adapting to expedition life ... I’d done a lot of land-based expeditions in the UK and overseas, so it seemed natural to do it on a paddleboard. After the cross-England trip, I did the 3 lakes challenge unsupported, and then Anglesey. I really enjoyed it and I wanted to do something bigger, and not just a greater personal challenge, but something with an aim. Where I live on Anglesey my nearest beach is Newborough and I’m forever seeing plastic washed up. If you live, work or play on the coast and sea you see it all the time. A frightening 8 million bits of plastic enters the sea every day, and I think there is a disconnect between the plastic litter by roads, rivers and canals and how it ends up in the sea. Sadly 80% of marine litter is from land base sources and I wanted to highlight this and make the connection with the sea. Wales was perfect because my journey would connect the rivers, sea, canals, and roads. My whole trip highlighted the issue; the majority of what I saw was single-use plastic
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Photo: Chris Davies, Eastwood Media
And your whole trip was single-use plastic free? How hard was that to achieve? It takes a bit of planning and determination, but it is achievable. I managed to get a lot of my food supplies from a supermarket called Unicorn in Chorlton near Manchester, as all their packaging is biodegradable. Porridge I got bulk from Suma in a big paper bag, which I decanted into exped portions. I used Nalgene bottles to contain my breakfast and snacks supplies - the bottles are durable and re-usable. For evening meals I got in contact with a company called Outdoor Food who specialise in exped food. I told them my dietary requirements (I’m a vegan and I don’t eat wheat), which they could do. And then I told them that it needed to be single-use plastic free as well … Amazingly enough they were piloting biodegradable packaging! So they supported me for the expedition and I was one of the first people to trial their packaging. My toiletries were from Lush and Georganics. I had a bamboo toothbrush and toothpaste in a glass jar. Shampoo in a bar. Deodorant in a bar. My suncream … I didn’t manage to find any before I started out that wasn’t in plastic, so I was really fried by the time I got to Penarth! Fortunately I managed to hunt some down that was in a tin. But I had to make a compromise – it came with beeswax, so wasn’t vegan, however, I’d rather compromise on the beeswax than the plastic, and this tin was my saviour! So it is possible, you just have to think alternatively.
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Did you meet a lot of people and paddlers along the way? There was a lot of interest in my trip, whether it was because I was paddling solo or a female paddler, or because of what I was trying to achieve raising awareness and funds, I don’t know. One of the aims was to inspire people, and a lot of people I met along the way said they were going to make a change. Some of them said they didn’t recycle at all but were now going to start. Others said that they wouldn’t use plastic to wrap up their sandwiches, or they would use a shampoo bar rather than in a plastic bottle. Which is what I set out to achieve! I also met some fishermen who offered to give me a tow when I told them what I was doing but I politely declined their kind offer. I met John who runs a funeral directors in Bridgenorth and he offered to look after my board for the night once I got off the water and offered the use of their shower and have a cup of tea, which I so needed. And some paddleboarders who came out to meet me in Mumbles and offered me a lift, accommodation and a shower! Which was so kind of them. The acts of kindness and support throughout the trip were amazing. The whole trip was better than I thought it would be.
What was the most challenging aspect? Ha ha – from a female point of view – going for a pee when you’re in a drysuit in the middle of the sea! In the end I switched to a 2 piece - sadly the weather wasn’t hot enough for a bikini! The other challenge was surf landing and launching. Especially because you’ve got such a heavy board. When you arrive and see surfers you know you’re going to go for a swim. You time it with the sets, strap everything down, put your helmet on ... and then your board flips, and it takes all your effort to flip it back over and drag it up the beach. And you know the chances are you’ll have to repeat the performance the next morning. So, no epics? No. I’d planned it all, prepared and listened to my gut instincts. I paddled for 37 days with sadly 23 days off the water. I am pleased I didn’t have any incidents, I wanted it to be a positive experience rather than calling out the RNLI! Were you anticipating that much time off the water? I knew there would be a lot – the rivers, canals and roads would be fine, but the sea … as a paddleboarder you are really affected by Mother Nature with the wind, and wind against tide, so I knew I wouldn’t be able to paddle every day on the sea. At one point I was trying to get onto the Severn estuary from Sharpness but I had 5 days off the water because the wind was going in the wrong direction and gusting 45mph. I had to time it so I had the wind in the right direction, at the right strength.
Photo: Ian Finch
Photo: Chris Davies, Eastwood Media
Photo: Ian Finch
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Speaking of the conditions … March is an ‘unusual’ time for that kind of exped? Why then? You’re not the first person to ask that – everyone thought I was mad!! Especially when the Beast from the East hit. I was hoping to set off on St David’s day from Anglesey, because that’s where I live, but the wind strength and swell size were so changeable that I had to go inland and start from Connah’s Quay. Unfortunately the best time for the expedition was also the busiest time of year for my business. I did leave it as late as I could, which was March and April.
Photo: Ian Finch
What did you do on those off-water days? Oh, I kept the purpose of the expedition going. I’d do beach cleans and litter picks. Give educational talks to school groups. Visit the RNLI bases, the National Coastwatch Institution and the Wildlife Trust. Get intel from the coastguard and RNLI. Rehydrate and stretch! So I used the time pretty effectively! Not the usual sitting looking out of your tent waiting for the conditions to change? No, when the conditions were right I’d get on the water and I’d beast it, paddling up to 13 hours a day. And because I’d looked after myself on the off-water days I could really motor through. Photo: Ian Finch
So there might there be another trip on the horizon? Yes, I’m planning a few, however, even with my business running really well, But I’d like to go to Alaska, Greenland, Patagonia … it’s just fitting it in with work and other responsibilities but I’m itching for more great adventures on my SUP.
Photo: Ian Finch
It sounds likes you achieved your aim, and inspired a lot of people. What as paddlers can we do to make a difference? Make a pledge to reduce at least one single-use item – ideally single-use plastic bottles as that’s what I found the most of on our waterways. And have a look at what you use daily – shower gel, toothpaste, toothbrush, disposable coffee cups … can you make a switch? A small change like that can make a big difference. As paddlers we love our waterways and coastline, and we often see plastic waste first hand. I met a great canoe club on the Montgomery canal – they’ve adopted a section of the canal and their paddlers do a regular litter pick. If more clubs, groups and organisations did this it have a really positive impact on our rivers and sea. It’s all about people power – we can make a difference! Sian runs Psyched Paddleboarding, an North Walesbased business specialising in SUP experiences. She provides SUP lessons, introduction to SUP, SUP safety & awareness skills course, as well as guided journeys such as SUP & hike, SUP safari, night SUP, SUP micro adventures and SUP holidays. For more details check out: www.psychedpaddleboarding.com
Photo: Ian Finch
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CANOE WALES
photo comp
Earlier this year Canoe Wales launched their Photo Competition. Here are a some of the entries!
Jessica Elliott TVP’s new kit arrives - just a bit TOO chilly to try them out! Llandysul Paddler’s Lake
David Evans Tranquility Llyn Geirionydd
Roger Chandler Sept 2016, a day off with super conditions with Barry Shaw Penrhyn Mawr, Anglesey
Melanie Aspell Start of a 5k trial, which are run monthly across the winter CIWW, Cardiff
Colin Martin “Hang in there – you’re getting close.” Kingswood Colomendy Centre, near Mold
Lorenzo Cutts Div 3/4 canoe slalom race Plas y Brenin
Serena Bethan Williams Sunset session with the sprint paddlers Barry Docks
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This year’s Welsh Open Freestyle was part of Paddlefest, an extravaganza of Paddlesport held at Cardiff International White Water Centre which showcased a selection of the wide and varied disciplines our sport has to offer. There was a 10k SUP race, Ducky Derby, and Boater X to name but a few. There were trade stands aplenty from many of the manufacturers, with demo boats to try out, live music, a BBQ, and unusually for a bank holiday weekend, glorious sunshine and unseasonably warm temperatures. With the event now in its 3rd year, entries continue to grow, and with over 50 paddlers preregistering, the competition was set to be hotly contested. This year’s event was held on the Vicarious feature, and was open to all abilities with the emphasis on having fun, and as such the competition was split into Novice and Open sessions which incorporated a Jam session, followed by some coaching, and then for the Elite paddlers they were scored in accordance with the ICF scoring. The number of young paddlers participating in this event clearly demonstrates the growing appeal of freestyle, and the skill levels on show from the younger paddlers bodes well for the future of the discipline. Developing the skills of the freestyle stars of the future is part of the GB Freestyle 4 year plan (check out the GB Freestyle website for more information on this). Setting the temperature early on, the Novice event got off to a marvelous start with some strong performances from the local juniors, with Sennah Nader-Humphries winning the Girls, and Oliver Bunn the Boys competition. Meanwhile the Novice Senior event was won by Kate Bent and Simon Bent respectively. With the temperature rising and driven on by the beat of the live music, the skill level stepped up a notch for the Open event, with the Junior Open event being won with a spectacular display from Toby Marlow (Men) and Jennifer Leal (Women), and no less impressive paddling in Senior, from Adam Biggs, and Masters by Lee Parry.
The massed crowds, drawn by the promise of sunshine and impressive displays of paddling skills were not disappointed. With anticipation levels rising almost as much as the temperatures, it was time for the Elite paddlers to strut their stuff. Some seriously impressive routines and combinations were on show, as they polished their performances in readiness for the upcoming GB selection event at HPP on 19th May. The Elite titles were won by Ottilie Robinson-Shaw (Women), Harry Price (Men), and Asha Gurung (Juniors). This year saw a big rise in the number of paddlers competing in C1 category, and big respect to Ottilie Robinson-Shaw, Harry Price and Matt Stephenson for competing in both K1 and C1 disciplines. Adding to victory in K1 men, the overall win in C1 went to Harry Price. The Welsh Open event also provided an opportunity for the Armed Forces to hold their Freestyle Championships, where standards were no less impressive, with wins for Adam Biggs (Men Senior), Stephen Robinson (Men Master), and Kate Bent (Women Senior). The competition was as fierce as the weather was hot, however, there was also plenty of opportunity for fun and frivolity, there were even some spot prizes awarded for ‘old skool’ and crazy moves, such as surfing in the feature with deck off and feet outside the boat, or attempting to stand up in the boat! The event is sure to last long in the memories of paddlers and spectators alike; whether they are reminiscing about the unseasonable bank holiday sunshine, or the spectacular Freestyle kayaking on display. Here’s to the next event! A big thanks to all who supported the event; especially the team at CIWW, and Canoe & Kayak Store, GB Freestyle, Surf Plugs, Palm, Pyranha, and to Ronnie for sorting the medals.
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Article: Justin Bunn
2018
WELSH OPEN FREESTYLE @ CARDIFF INTERNATIONAL WHITE WATER
THE SWIM and
THE CHASE Article: Chris Brain
If you go paddling, two things are inevitably going to happen at some point‌
1 You will swim! 2 Someone else will swim! In many paddling situations, this may not be a problem and is just part of getting out and having fun on the water. However, knowing what to do if you swim is a really important part of staying safe and being able to rescue a boat (or assist) is also super helpful. It goes without saying that regardless of whether we are the swimmer or the rescuer that our own safety is top priority.
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THE SWIM A self-rescue is probably your quickest and best rescue, and having the mindset that you need to actually save yourself will potentially avoid long swims and bumps and bruises. Too often I see swimmers adopting a “victim” mentality and wait to be rescued by their team when a proactive approach and a bit of effort in the water would get them to the bank (and safety) much sooner. As paddlers we should be dressing with a “clean” profile, which means that when we swim we have minimal parts of our kit that can catch on anything that might be in the water. Some parts of our kit that present a snagging hazard when we swim, such as a kayaker’s spraydeck cannot be realistically avoided. However we can make sure that slings and karabiners are zipped and stored out of the way, your knife is stowed away inside your PFD (instead of protruding on the outside) and watches can be kept under cag sleeves or in a pocket. As soon as we have exited our boat we need to act quickly to get ourselves to safety. We can swim on our back with our feet downstream in a defensive position, keeping all of our body to the surface as much as we can. If we ever try and stand up in moving water, we are putting ourselves at risk of entrapment. By keeping our body (feet, bum, hands, everything!) up by the surface of the water we reduce this risk and we should only try and put our feet down when we are in calm/still water by the bank. If we swim with our feet downstream it means we can use our legs as shock absorbers if we need to and fend off rocks or obstacles. When we swim in moving water we generally spend a little more time in our defensive position (as opposed to an aggressive position on our front). This is because it uses less energy and allows us to adjust our location in the river, saving ourselves for our final burst of speed when we get on our front and charge for the eddy to get to safety. When we are swimming on our back our angle to the flow is very important, exactly as it is when we are in our boat. If we want to move to the left or the right, we need to change our body’s angle to the flow (just was we would do in a canoe or kayak) and we move in a way which resembles a ferry glide. Changing our angle to the flow means that any movement of the legs or arms will be helping us to get to our destination rather than just fighting against the flow. I try to imagine an arrow pointing straight out of the top of my head and shoulders and I point that arrow towards where I want to be, this will change my body’s angle in the flow and will help me move around the river. We should be spotting where we want to end up downstream as soon as possible and working ourselves towards that. As we are nearing our target
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eddy where we want to stop, we will need a burst of momentum to get us across the eddyline and into the calm water. To do this we roll onto our front and adopt an aggressive swimming position. This position looks very similar to front crawl that you might do in a swimming pool, but we still focus on keeping our body (including our hands) up near the surface of the water. Once again, our angle is absolutely critical to our success and we shouldn’t be afraid to swim directly across the eddyline, pointing the arrow coming from our head and shoulders towards our goal. It is important that in this situation we don’t actually swim headfirst downstream as we will have nothing to absorb any impact from head-on collisions with rocks. I am often asked if rolling over the eddyline will help us to cross it, but I personally find that a good angle of entry and carrying momentum is far more effective at getting us across the turbulent water, and for many rolling over the eddyline can become disorientating. Try both in a safe situation and make up your own mind what works for you. If you are swimming towards a stopper, your best course of action would be to avoid it! If you can swim to an eddy before the stopper, or swim down the green flow or over a wave instead, that is almost certainly the better option. Other paddlers on the water (or bank-based rescuers) may well be able to give you some guidance on where to swim and may be shouting instructions and pointing where they want you to go.
Sometimes swimming through the stopper is inevitable, so as you approach make sure that you are on your back with your feet downstream, ensuring that you are on the surface of the water so that you minimise the risk of feet/hands being caught as you go over the drop. As you float over the drop bring your feet up to reduce the chance of them being caught if you go deep in the water as you drop down into it. Some people like to bring their hands/ arms to their face at this point too, which can be particularly useful to protect your face if there is debris in the drop or if you are following your boat into there! All being well you will have caught the deeper green water and will quickly be downstream of the recirculation. Making your body a star shape when you resurface can also help you catch the water heading downstream too If you have not cleared the recirculation these first few second can be critical in your mission to get out of the towback. Swim hard … swim like you really mean it, you might have resurfaced just on the edge of the recirculation and only need a little bit of extra effort to escape the water heading back towards the seam of the stopper. I find that the most effective/experienced swimmers have practiced regularly in safe environments and combine defensive and aggressive techniques seamlessly to help them move around the river. They use waves, features and the fast/slow water to help them reach their goal just as they would do in their kayak or canoe.
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Photo: Paul Smith
THE CHASE When a paddler takes a swim, it is important that we work as a team to complete the jobs that need to be done. The same rules apply as before and we must make our own safety our priority before we assist with a rescue. However, in this situation it is realistic that we might multi-task, checking our own safety, keeping our eyes on the swimmer (who is rescuing themselves), rescuing the boat and communicating with the team throughout. During a boat rescue our timing is very important, we shouldn’t be afraid to wait until the right moment to rescue. This might mean that we stand off at the start and don’t dive straight in or that we take a break part way through and keep our distance. This helps to ensure that we don’t end up in a sticky position because we have collided with the boat, got ourselves stuck on a rock or have followed the boat into a sticky stopper. We should be spotting the eddy we want the boat to end up in as early as possible and be working towards that, being realistic about where the boat might be able to be held until it can be emptied. The swimmer’s job should be to self-rescue by swimming to the side as this will be far quicker than holding onto someone else’s boat and being dragged into an eddy. Allowing a swimmer to get hold of your boat in moving water also puts you at risk too as your boat will handle very differently and if the swimmer is panicked, they can potentially pull you into the water. Assuming that the swimmer still has a paddle in their hands, they should throw it to the side or towards one of their rescuers, trying to swim with it can be awkward and clumsy and will most likely slow them down meaning that they take a longer swim than is necessary.
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I think one of the most important roles during a rescue is having a supporting paddler moving slightly downstream of the rest of the team. This paddler is most likely not going to be hands-on with recovering the boat/paddle/swimmer but will warn of upcoming hazards, give direction and be ready to support if required. The rest of the team will work to recovery the boat and paddle and if needs be give assistance to the swimmer. Ideally, we will have different people rescuing paddles and the boat, remember this is a challenging environment and it is easy for things to go wrong if we try and complicate it too much. I find that the best way for a boat-based rescuer to rescue a paddle is to simply throw it to the side (into an eddy or on the bank) or to throw it on and catch up with it. If we put it in our hands with the paddle we are already using and try and “double up” we can make it harder to paddle and we will struggle with the complex movements we usually can do with ease. Some paddlers can “double up” easily when rescuing a paddle, but this comes from practice and a range of experience. (Of course, if you are paddling a canoe or have one in the group, they make excellent paddle carriers during rescues!) I find that the simplest way of rescuing a boat in moving water is to turn it the right way round and to push it. Our kayaks/canoes are designed to be the right way round and they move much better like this (even when full of water). If possible during the process of turning the boat over I will try and empty a bit of water out to make it a bit lighter and then I will position myself behind it and push towards the eddy. This does usually require multiple pushes but is far less complex and risky than involving a sling or using a towing method. If it is hard to get a hand to the boat, then “bulldozing” the boat can be used, but from
experience I’ve found that this isn’t as quick as pushing by hand. Once out on the side, the swimmer should ideally be making their way down the bank to assist in the recovery of their boat. However, we must be realistic about our expectations of what they will be capable of doing, remembering that they will be exhausted from all the swimming (and potentially trying to roll too). If we expect our swimmer to start sprinting down an uneven bank at top speed, they could risk injury or even falling in the river again!
PRACTICE The best way to get better at swimming and rescues is to practice in safe environments where a mistake wouldn’t be an issue. If we take the time to rehearse our strategy and to experiment with some of the different options we might use, then when we come to do it for real, we will be slick! A huge thank you goes to Bex Pope, Chris Horsey, Ben Press and Geoff Brain for their help with the swimming!
CHRIS BRAIN Chris has been kayaking, canoeing and coaching for the last 15 years and runs his own business Chris Brain Coaching, delivering paddlesport coaching, safety and rescue courses, and REC First aid training. Chris would like to thank Pyranha kayaks, Palm Equipment, VE Paddles, Red Paddle co, and Go Kayaking for their continued support. chris@chrisbraincoaching.com www.chrisbraincoaching.com
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WHERE
National White Water Centre
FRIDAY 19:00
Frongoch, Bala, Gwynedd, LL23 7NU
Bar open Quiz Talk
SATURDAY
BUY TICKETS
TFEST.WALES
9:30 13:00 15:00 17:00 19:30 20:30 22:00
NRS Extreme Race Pyranha King of the Wave Palm Throwbag Olympics NWWC Team Raft Race Food in the main tent Talks, pics and films Party
SUNDAY
Half-day coaching workshops with Plas-y-Brenin*£20 Extra Fee