Sluice Fun Rodeo 2010

Saturday saw the return of the Sluice Fun rodeo. As the name suggests, this is fun.

The competition is run on a jam format, meaning a flush isn't the end of your competition, and you get to compete against people and not a scoresheet.

The feature was quite flushy, and as such proved difficult to stick moves in the C1. I still managed a few more basic moves, but couldn't stick loops or pirouettes.

There was also an old school rodeo, in which I paddled a Perception Gyramax C1. This was fun, for as long as it lasted. Unfortunately the straps in the boat were terrible and popped as soon as I capsized. With no other outfitting I only managed 1 or 2 successful rolls - but I did get a nice big ender for my troubles.

The day ended with a no-spray decks boatercross. I ended up getting blocked by everyone - for some reason they weren't happy with me paddling a 4meter long boat in a race against playboats.

EDIT: Just found a picture of the gyramax getting sucked under just before a popout

Annacloy - Saturday 02-Oct-2010

Finally - after a few months of car problems and no rain both come good at once.

I headed to run the Annacloy in Co. Down with Piggin Paddlers. The lever had come down from the previous day when there was lots of rain - but it was still a very high level.

I was paddling in the Spanish Fly, my first proper river run in it. It was good to experience the way the handling changes with varying levels of water in the middle of rapids. It turns very quick, and so I was trying to hit difficult eddies. I had a close call on the grade 3 bit, when I was trying to ferry across a diagonal stopper to hit a micro-eddy on the far side, when the back of the boat caught and i swamped. Hitting the wall with the eddy, I bounced out and carried on down the river, almost capsizing going over a wave due to the water sloshing in the boat - I realy love my low brace in this boat.

There were a few good spots to play on here, mostly carving and spins. There was one hole where I some how got some downtime - in a Spanish Fly!! The boat was sucked into the hole and it wasn't until the water was halfway up my chest when I popped free.

It was a good day out, and I am a lot more confident now to run harder stuff in the boat, it is so responsive in white-water. Roll on the winter