Click here to view the embedded video.

(Official Event Video by Finn Burrows)

March this year has been the driest since 1953, the Thames slowly dropped and with it Hurley Weir dropped to 1 gate which is sadly not much fun for modern playboats. So with no rain forecasted we were left with the choice, either cancel the 4th Thames Valley Freestyle Birthday Rodeo or find a place to migrate the valley to. Thankfully we found refuge at Cardiff International White Water, who very kindly offered to help us out and even though they weren’t able to offer us exclusive use they we happy for us to arrange our events around the rafting and general public paddlers. So at 5 days notice we moved the event to CIWW and we were very glad to be able to keep it a free event! There were some initial concerns that Cardiff was too shallow to have a freestyle competition on. CIWW have been working very hard to improve the course recently – to make it deeper and make the playspots better, and after a few warm-up rides new paddlers to Cardiff were finding the course plenty deep enough and the play spot capable of almost every freestyle hole move.

This was to be my first visit to CIWW, we were incredibly lucky with the weather for the day which was fantastically sunny and warm all day! I arrived early to set up and was greeted with a warm reception by the staff who were exceptionally helpful with providing a room for registration and briefing and also to mark up the challenges for the extreme slalom with numbered slalom gates.

Within one hour of arriving everything was set up, we had music blasting on the island and paddlers were signing up to all the events. This day was to be a fun event, not too serious ICF-freestyle rules but free rules, everything goes, rewarding those who were perhaps of lesser ability but really stood-out for their class, giving maximum effort and really embracing the spirit of the event. We managed to collar any paddler who hadn’t planned in getting involved and got them bibbed up and soon they were enjoying taking part in something they normally would have assumed to be too inexperienced for.

We started the day with an extreme slalom, with two boof points to impress the judges and a new school and old school freestyle trick spot. There were various forms of boofs: paddle spin boofs, backwards boofs and anti-boofs and a nice selection of freestyle moves both young and old. Next we had the heats for the Palm Boater X racing a full lap of the course in groups of 4, starting half way down and charging to the bottom, travelling back up the travelator and racing to the start point whilst making a break out after the first drop.

Following on from that we had 3-move-freestyle which was a knock out comp geared at everybody’s personal skill level, at registration each paddler was asked to name 3 moves of various difficulty that they themselves thought they could pull off in competition. For some this meant pulling a loop where for the complete beginner it was simply getting on the feature in control. If the paddler succeeded in scoring their first round move, they moved on to the next round, if not they got another attempt to try and progress. It was really fantastic to see everyone having a go and even in the heat of competition the more experienced paddlers were helping the beginners, pointing out where was best to initiate their loops for example. For the expert paddlers their moves were chosen for them to make it an even bigger challenge. This meant we had a complete mix of abilities in the final.

We then brought back a competition which hadn’t been seen for many years – Tag Team Freestyle, sponsored by FlowFree. In teams of 4 they had 5 minutes on the feature and had to accumulate points by ‘tagging’ another member of their team by either high-fiving or tapping paddles. Points were also awarded for freestyle moves, again beginners could score as many points as the experts through impressive efforts or just generally making the judges laugh. This was thoroughly entertaining, with some impressive carnage in the hole and some interesting new freestyle combos. This event was won by the team from Liverpool University who certainly got in the spirit of things.

After this comp the course was temporarily stopped to allow the staff at CIWW to remove some of the omnifloats and then turn the course up to the full 12 cumecs to create the more powerful play-hole for the freestyle finals and boater X finals. We were extremely grateful to CIWW for giving us some extra pump time especially on the full 12 cumecs and everyone was very impressed with just how good the course became, with the freestyle hole proving to be a match for any feature in the UK.

We had two finals of 10 minutes for the freestyle. Judging was on variety, still with beginners scoring moves for pop-outs and loop attempts. The move of the competition was Dale Mears who styled a Felix to Space Godzila combo move, that was extremely high class. Matty Nicholas stole the show with Dale in second and Ryan Liquorish very impressive in third.

We then had the final of the Boater X with 12 paddlers charging around the course all at once, with Matty Nicholas taking the flag, but later to be disqualified for a jump-start. Youngster Charles Blyth was thus promoted to first, with James Metcalf a close second and Dale Mears coming in third.

Freestyle Slalom was jointly won by George Williams and Ed Harry, Will Eldred in second and James Metcalf in third.

Finally a fun freestyle competition wouldn’t be the same without a King-of-The-Wave event! The hole was quite feisty on 12 cumecs and meant there was some major carnage including Matty Nicholas and Flic Meares, who were the final two paddlers in last years’ King of the Wave at Hurley, both swimming with just moments to spare! Ed Harry was the last one in the hole on the buzzer.

Once the water was turned off and everyone had got changed, we all retired to the cafe at CIWW where we grabbed some curry and all sat down to enjoy the UK premiere of the new Rush Sturges film Frontier. After this we had prize-giving. Plenty of prizes were given out to those who had won events and also those who had impressed the most; either by getting stuck in, or doing very well for their experience level. One of the girls who I bullied into taking part who was on the winning team for Tag-Team, got into the final of the freestyle comp, and despite missing the eddy she paddled hard around the course to get back for the final few minutes. She won a Nookie Paddle Bag for her amazing efforts. Afterwards she said “I really enjoyed it, it really pushed me into things I would have normally chickened out of!”

We really want to encourage more people to get involved with the next event. It’s really not about how good you are, it’s all about getting stuck-in, enjoying the event and having a great time with friends old and new, and hopefully make a few people laugh and smile at the same time.

A massive shout-out to all the supports of the event: Palm Equipment Europe who donated some superb prizes and got fully involved sponsoring the Boater X, SquareRock for some equally as good prizes and Nookie, SystemX, White Water the Canoe Centre, Flow Free Coaching and Sue’s Canoes for all getting involved and supplying prizes and goodies. Thank you to Mandy Chan and Ryan Liquorish for helping out judging, special thanks to Gareth Harvey for supplying music and of course running the TVF website, and Finn Burrows from Palm who was official videographer and is putting together a video of the event.

Finally a massive thank you to Cardiff International White Water and all their staff for helping make the day happen and for being so welcoming.

See you all at the next event… did somebody mention a summer party?

Dave ‘Scout’ Wortley

Photos by: Michael Napier, Dale Mears, Liz Brookes and Miles Jones

Full Prize Winners…

Palm Boater X

DSQ Matty Nicholas – jump start
1st – Charles Blyth
2nd Jamie Metcalf
3rd Dale Mears

Freestyle 3 Move Comp with Variety Jam Session Final
1st – Matty Nicholas
2nd – Dale Mears
3rd – Ryan Regae Regae Fruitpastel Liquorish

Tag Team Freestyle
1st – Liverpool Uni
2nd – Team VE
3rd – Creek Boats/Flic’s Team

Freestyle Slalom
1st – George Williams/Ed Harry
2nd – Will Eldread
3rd – Jamie Metcalf

King of the Wave – Ed Harry

Other Noteable Efforts worthy of Prizes
Will Eldred
Ben colton
Hannah Draper
Myles Jackson
Louis Frost
Time Roper
Jack Gunter

Palm Boater X

DSQ Matty Nicholas – jump start

1st – Charles Blyth
2nd Jamie Metcalf
3rd Dale Mears

Freestyle 3 Move Comp with Variety Jam Session Final

1st – Matty Nicholas
2nd – Dale Mears
3rd – Ryan Regae Regae Fruitpastel Liquorish

Tag Team Freestyle

1st – Liverpool Uni
2nd – Team VE
3rd – Creek Boats/Flic’s Team

Freestyle Slalom

1st – George Williams/Ed Harry
2nd – Will Eldread
3rd – Jamie Metcalf

King of the Wave – Ed Harry

Other Noteable Efforts worthy of Prizes

Will Eldred
Ben colton
Hannah Draper
Myles Jackson
Louis Frost
Time Roper
jack Gunter

http://worldkayakblogs.com/dalemears

http://charles-blyth.blogspot.com/

When: Sunday June 20^th 2010, 10 to 16:00

Where: Whitewater The Canoe Centre, Shepperton marina, TW17 8NS

What: See the largest collection of Canoes, kayaks, sit-On-Tops, Inflatable canoe and kayaks. Try all the boat out, at our quiet river side location.

How to find the show:

Driving Directions: M25 Exit jctn 12. Then on to M3 exit jntn 1. At roundabout take the 6^th exit (lower Sunbury “local traffic”). Follow Green Lane to the river Thames, Turn right at river. Onto Fordbridge road, Go 1.5 miles, Felix Lane is on your left. Turn down Felix lane. Marina entrance is on your right. Post Code TW17 8NS:  Tel 01932 247 978

Parking & facilities:

The parking for this event is free; please arrive at the marina entrance where a parking attendant will show you where to park. Toilets are located in the marina complex and will be open all day.

What will be there to see?

Nearly all of the UK’s manufactures and importers of kayaks and canoes will be present with the majority of the boats they produce/bring into the county. Kit manufactures will also be present along with training and course provides. Our on site shop will also be open all day.

Can I get some instruction?

Yes! There will be qualified instructors on the water all day; there will also be several introduction to paddling course going on through out the day. Introduction to Paddle Sport. The emphasis is on safe practice, fun and enjoyment. You will cover Equipment, basic paddling, forwards and backwards, turning, stopping & journeying.
Click here for more information.

How do I take a boat for a paddle?

If you would like to take a boat for a paddle please do, this again is totally free.  Before you choose a boat to paddle report to “Show Control” here you will need to fill in a waver form and collect a number. Once you have done this you are free to paddle, simply take your numbered card to a manufacture, and choose the boat you would like, hand over your numbered card and go for a paddle. When you have finished paddling take your boat back to the manufacture you collected it from, they will give you your card back you are then free to go and start again! If you would like to save time and pre fill out the waver form you can download it HERE please bring a copy with you.

How Old?

The day is open to anyone, and we encourage all your family and friends to attend. If you would like to paddle and are under the age of 18 you will need guardian to keep an eye on you on the water.

Food and drink:

Addlestone Canoe Club will once again be on hand supplying hot and cold food & drinks. All served at a very reasonable price.

News: For up-to-date information please keep an eye on this page as well as the face book page http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=103733259662320&ref=mf

For any exciting developments.

Manufactures Confirmed:

Kayaks: Jackson Kayak, Pyranha, Venture Kayak, Dagger Kayaks, Eskimo, Perception Kayaks, Wave Sport, Valley Sea Kayaks, Big Dog Kayaks, Necky Kayaks, Robson, Liquid Logic

Open Canoe: Old Town Canoes, Venture Canoes, Mad River, Nova Craft Canoes, Robson, We no nah, Bell

Sit-On-Top: Perception, Islander, Feel Free, Ocean Kayak,

Inflatable’s: Gumotex

Squarerock – For providing prizes and Demo boats
Ophion – For providing a paddle as a prize
WWTCC – For providing many prizes
Pyranha – For sending down a box of goodies
Nookie – For posting out some kit and nookie condoms!
KayakoJacko – For providing the bibs for the event.

Finn, Mandy, Jo Meares for helping me sort out registering everyone.
Craig and Pikey for helping to Judge and score.
Mike for helping time-keeping, being really enthusiastic and helping with scoring.
Rob, Pikey, Mongo and Amy for taking photos with my camera.
Craig for bringing down Jackson Demo Boats.

And everyone who came down and got involved!

I hope everyone enjoyed the event, I had a brilliant day, and due to everyone being relaxed and helping out, it wasn’t stressful to run the event and even managed to get some time on the wave myself, really couldn’t have done this event without everyone’s help so big shout out to all the supporters, sponsors and helpers.

The sun was out, blue sky, a perfect 3 gate level for competition and fun. 50 people down at the weir during the day and a good few made it to the pub afterwards, lots of friends made and old acquaintances renewed, and after the tragic events of the week preceeding in Scotland, I really wanted this event to be even more about smiles and fun and just generally getting everyone on the water and enjoying themselves as a tribute to someone who never paddled without a smile on her face, and I’m humbled to say from the feedback from everyone I think we managed that.

I think 6 comps was a little bit too much to ask, especially expecting people to get big boats down to the weir as well so unfortunetly as we were running a bit late (mainly because we had more people than I expected, and a bit of general kayaking faff) I had to drop the Big Boat Comp. I hope the rest of the events were enough for everyone

The Old Gits comp featuring old-skool moves was won by Mally, best move being an old-skool paddle throw, glad your paddles are easy to spot! Freestyle pairs was thoroughly entertaining with some very impressive synchronised moves, especially from Sam and Pikey who managed a synchronised blunt and Helix, but the move that got the most points was a double kiss from Jo and Flic to the judge.

The Spin-to-win competition saw an interesting array of styles and techniques, from elegant clean spins to the brute force approach (Rob). Some notible efforts from Nicola, Robin and Jo meares, but the top 3 were in a notch above (might have to exclude sponsored paddlers from that next time).

The knock-out-comp was an interesting event, something I invented to try to level the competition and allow everyone to compete at their own level and stand a chance of winning. At registration each paddler was asked to name their 4 best moves, 1 that they could definetly do on the wave, 2 that they thought they could do and 1 which would challenge them. 4 moves, 4 rounds, you got 2 attempts to do the move to be able to move through to the next round. This lead to a lot of novices choosing basic moves like front surf and spining, and the more advanced (or cocky) paddlers putting blunts (or Helix if your name is Pikey!). This lead to a few suprise early exits and we saw a range of paddling abilites in the final round. Only 6 people managed all 4 moves they had named, and there was a short final to decide the winners, but in the end there was almost nothing between the top two and as the event was supposed to be fun and not about technical marking, we stopped it there and moved onto King of the Wave.

3 minutes of carnage on the wave saw 4 people on the wave in the final moments, then we were down to 2 with Matty paddleless holding onto Flic’s deck and trying not to get flushed off the wave but in the end Flic Triumphed to be Queen of the Wave!

At Prize giving we had some fantastic prizes courtsey of the above sponsors, Changing mats, dry bags, books, t-shirts, boardies, hats, key rings, condoms, stickers, roof bar protectors, an Ophion Paddle and paddle gloves (which keep your paddle dry )

The novice prize went to Louise for really impressing with her determination and really trying in the pairs and knock out comp. The special prize of the Ophion paddle went to a Junior paddler, Gabriel Metcalf for getting stuck in and not playing the safe option on the knock-out-comp and impressing with his determination and almost getting a Trick-woo in the last round.

I hope this event inspires others to go out and attempt to do something similar, it was pulled together in just 6 days, after a few emails a few post online with a nice glossy looking poster and a lot of support from the community. It would be great to see more like it and I’m sure the support will always be there, bring on the next event… Hurley BoaterX anyone?

Old Gits Comp
1st Jonathan Males
2nd Chuckey
=2nd Gordon Hoddinott
3rd Jacko

Freestyle Pairs
1st Felicity Meares and Jo Meares
2nd Josh and Sam
3rd Sam A and Pikey

Spin to Win
1st Sam A
2nd Rob Harris
3rd Matty Nicolas

Knock Out Comp
1st Sam Anderson
=1st Matty Nicolas
3rd Pikey
4th Rob Harris
=4th Nicola Beeby
5th Ben West

King/Queen of the Wave
1st Felicity Meares
2nd Matty Nicolas
3rd Dale Mears

King of the Rodeo
Gabriel Metcalf

Novice Award
Louise Royle

Photos – Dave ‘Scout’ Wortley, Rob Harris, Mongo, Pikey and Amy Bowditch.

Facebook Photos

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/album.php?aid=164056&id=507807426

Flickr few more than on facebook. (low res, if you want high resolution please PM me)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/30267298@N05/sets/72157623717638609/

If you want to use any of the photos on your blogs etc, please link back to the albumn they came from. I really welcome any feedback from the event and hope to run another one like it some time.

Scout

PS Matty Swam….

Details all found HERE!

Symonds Yat -15/16 May 2010

To celebrate thirty years making gear for paddlers, Palm Equipment invites you to come for a paddle at a new and unique event taking place this May.

Set on the stunning river Wye between England and Wales, Symonds Yat East will play host to a very special paddling weekend that will bring back the feel of the Grand River tours of the 1980’s.

“ Over the past thirty years we have helped families and friends, young and old onto the water, as well as supporting those at the leading edge of the sport.” explains Palm’s founder Andy Knight “This is what the 30 year anniversary Big Paddle event is all about, and we’d be delighted for paddlers from all branches of the sport to come along”.

Over the weekend Palm will be providing shuttles to several stretches of river, as well as a variety of unique guided paddle trips and of course as it’s a birthday party there will be free gifts for everyone! Amongst the activities on offer will be nature tours, multi sport challenges, free ‘have a go’ and demo boat trials, and coaching sessions from some of the best in the business. There may even be a return of the legendary Paddles Up!

The Big Paddle is a non-profit event to bring the paddling community together in celebration of our sport. All proceeds will be invested directly back into the paddlesport community, and Palm will make an extra donation to the rivers access cause for every paddler who attends.

No matter what paddlesport means to you, whether its fishing, bird watching, slalom, whitewater, stand-up-paddleboarding, or a new challenge altogether, this event will have something to offer.

The Big Paddle!

Well if that’s the case here at Whitewater we would like to help you, in your hour of chilly need.
Log yourself on to our on-line shop Then go Shop!
After you have chosen something, many things maybe?
Proceed to “Your Shopping Cart” at the bottom of this page there is a section called “Redeem a discount Coupon”
If you enter in here tvfspecial you will receive an extra 5% discount on top of the normal 10% you would normally receive.

This offer will expire on February the 1st 2010, but until then Happy New Year all, happy shopping, happy paddling, hope to see you on a river / weir somewhere soon. If you have any questions regarding this offer please give us a call on 01932 247 978.

Cheers for now
Pete

Whitewater the Canoe Centre
Shepperton Marina
Felix Lane
Sheppeton
Middlesex
TW17 8NS

Tel: 01932 247 978
Fax: 01932 241 368

Weekend of boating, coaching, competitions and celebration!

Boat demos – New Burn and Molan plus all the old favorites

Courses on the river run by top coaches for all abilities..only £25 per session.

Fluidskills will be doing some courses over the weekend Click Here

Caron Geal and Sara James will be running an Intermediate Ladies River Running course Click Here 07803610722
(We hope to announce other courses in the next couple of days.)

Mitchell Blades and Predator Headcams on site for testing and filming

Peak UK will be on site with a range of gear

Evening talks/films including ‘Adventures with Chris’ – a celebration of the life of Chris Wheeler, presented by Mark R and friends.

Competitions – Rodeo and Boater X, lots of different categories, juniors welcome plus pro and ancient boaters!

The Evening will see some talks, films, prizes and dancing (there may be some drinking as well).

More info here… http://www.pyranhafest.com/