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

Cork Rodeo 2010

Saturday saw this years Cork Rodeo at the Cork Sluice on the Lee.

I made the long journey down with both C1 and OC1, picking Niall and the Irish Freestyle PA on the way.

Unfortunately there was no release for the event, so instead of the usual thrashy and aptly named "hole of death" we had a much more relaxed affair.

There were 3 C1s competing, with Jack Phelan from Waterford having his first outing. I spent most of my runs trying to get a Space Godzilla just so I would beat Niall as Phonics Monkeys weren't sticking in the hole. I almost got one, but was a bit too scrappy to count. Due to the lack of power we resorted to silly moves like paddle spins and rail grabs, and even the odd shudder rudder.

I competed in the OC1 in the same heats as the mens sport so I could have a break between my runs. The feature didnt have enough power to cartwheel, so I had to resort to spins and enders. I went for some air and flamboyance at the end by paddling into the feature standing in the boat and leaping out - crowd pleasing to the end.

Liffey Descent 2010

Saturday saw the 51st Liffey Descent.

For the 3rd year, Sonya and myself headed to Dublin to race in the Touring Canadian Doubles class.

Unlike previous years we have competed, Saturday morning was very very wet - with the first rain in months. Despite this moods were still high in the car park in Straffan.

 Luckily the rain stopped about 10 minutes before we were to get on the water and start the paddle up to the start line.

After much waiting around the race finally started, and before long the final group, the open boats were allowed to go.

First up was Straffan Weir - just after the start. Last year we got a decent line on river right, and this year I was amazed that somehow Sonya brought us down a line so far right I looked longingly at the stopper we had completely missed. No bailing required, great start and on with the Jungle.

We carried on, making up a few places until the portage, where as usual we make up a number of places from having the wheels ready for running, and wading through the ditch at the end to avoid the queue to get back on.

This year we decided to run the Sluice instead of the chicken line, and I believe we may have got some air at the bottom as our boat went at about 60 degrees up the wave and over the back of it.

Wrens nest was our only slip this year - literally - as I simply fell out of the boat halfway down the weir due to the amount of edge on the boat on my offside. We quickly gathered ourselves, and boat and headed to the last big weir or Palmerstown. This year we nailed the perfect line, and swung around the wave to avoid getting nay water in the boat.

The finish in sight - we spot Niall in his C1 WWR (which we discover later had 14 holes and a bend in it) and we push for the finish.

We came across the line in just over 3hours, in 12th place and the 1st mixed crew to finish - success - roll on next year

Upper Bann 17-July-2010

Following all the recent rain a group of us from LCP met up with some Donegal refugees for a run on the Bann from Banbridge to Gilford.

The river level was enough for a decent run down, although it was a lot lower than we were expecting with the recent heavy rain.

There were a lot of spots suitable for playing on the full length of the river, and one where we had a huge party wave - which was great fun.

 
Normally when doing this run, we would get out at Tullylish, however recently CANI has been trying to get paddlers to continue to Gilford where there is a better get-out and a carpark.

This, however resulted in a very long flat-water paddle - taking at least 30mins with only 2 additional weirs. This proved to be a major problem in the C1 and by the end I was struggling to move.

Despite the extra flat paddle at the end a good day out was had by all.

Thanks to Catriona Woods from DCC for the pics.

CANI Clubfest 2010

This weekend saw the inaugural CANI Clubfest at the Share Centre in Enniskillen - with most clubs in NI meeting up for a weekend of paddling and fun.

We arrived on the Friday night, and after setting up camp and getting dinner myself and Niall headed to the water for a spot of late squirt boating.

The water was weirdly warm- although unfortunately it was about 5inches too shallow, and you hit the bottom just before getting vertical - but it was fun.

Saturday saw all 100+ paddlers make the 5mile paddle from Crom back to the Share Centre. This was done in a variety of boats, mostly sea kayaks and open boats, but a few river runners and even a playboat.

I paddled one of the CANI sea kayaks, and I'm not sure if it was due to lack of padding on the seat, or the alien sitting down position, but I soon suffered from cramp in my legs.
Not to be deterred - I got my hands on a canoe paddle, some knee pads, and I soon had a C1 sea kayak.

This proved to be a great idea, I was more comfortable, ans paddling as fast, if not faster than the same boat being paddled sitting down. Definitely something I need to do properly in the future.

We stopped for lunch just past the halfway point where the canoe paddled was liberated by its rightful owner, so i was back to sitting down.

On Sunday morning each club was to run a taster session of a certain discipline for other people to try. Myself and Niall helped Rodger Hamilton from CANI run a freestyle session. This was a bit tricky due to a shortage of suitable boats, I only had a C1 with me and Niall only had a squirt, but we managed to get suitable boats and fun was had.

It was after these sessions that things descended into chaos. I got my hands on a waveski - which after trying to tailsquirt a few times we tried to fit as many people on it at once as we could. After much trying we discovered 3 people could sit on it for a few seconds before falling in.

The weekend was a great success - roll on next year


Photos courtesy of Navarat Turner and Derek Stephenson

Austria Day 4

Today I get up early to compete. I am the first person to compete and open the competition in the OC-1 class. I am able to borrow a boat from Philippe from Germany, a Robson CU-Fly. I have never paddled one of these before, and was initially a bit nervous and apprehensive, but all the Irish team have turned out to support me. Soon all the nerves go and I drop into the feature. The boat handles very nicely, and luckily is very easy to roll. I am very happy with my run, and whilst I didn't make the cut for the finals, I am now 6th in Europe!

Next up were the junior men. Neil and Daniel don't have great runs, but Eoin Keyes pulled off a big air loop, and all the other moves he had been practising and finished 8th, moving into Fridays semi-final.

Next were the womens pre-lims. Unfortunately none of them made the cut for the semis either.

The final category of the day was the C1. I am in the first heat and I go into it feeling a lot more comfortable following this mornings session. I am very happy with my performance today following how I have been faring all week, finishing in 16th.

Since I didn't make it past prelims, the pressure is now off, so I can work on stuff in the hole for the next few days in between the rest of the competition.

Up tomorrow is the Mens K1.