Aire Waves: October 2006

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Aire Waves

Leeds Canoe Club Blog. We paddle... lots!
Airewaves used to be Leeds Canoe Club's magazine letting people know what the club was upto. Its quite hard work pulling together a publication letting people know what the club is doing and publishing dates in advance is always hard as things tend to change. Step forth the blog.. Push button publishing for the masses. So here is the idea a few people in the club take it in turns to write up trips and talk about things in the club.

Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Top tips from coaches

The pocket of your buoyancy aid is one of the most important items of kit you posses.

In here you can keep a selection of the following items.
Knife (to cut your self, or others free, from river strewn debris)
Carabina
Sling
Water proof paper
Pencil (that writes in zero gravity and wet conditions)
Small amount of electrical tape, wound around top of pencil (for use a dressing in case of emergencies)
Whistle
Training aids (one, two, and three star)
Chocolate (chocolate is not the only snack other snacks are available)
Skull cap (helps prevent hypothermia, when head gets submersed under freezing cold water)

If anyone finds any of this kit can they please return it to Nigel. He forgot to zip up his pocket, before attempting town falls.

# posted by MT @ Wednesday, October 18, 2006 0 comments

Tuesday, October 17, 2006
A beginners view of Llangollen

James split paddles here! What a weekend at Llangollen!! Everyone was so supportive and what excellent fun we had. Seriously fun introduction to white water.

The star of the weekend, for me, was Michelle my partner. She did not want to come, did not want to paddle and only agreed to come to protect me from myself. However, with everyone’s help particularly John Lucas (thanks) Michelle managed to paddle in a straight line and remain dry and upright the whole of Saturday – not something I can claim for myself.

For me, Saturday turned out to be a great day. My first roll up on a river – and in anger. Some could argue that there should be no need to roll particularly when it was a small drop but you all know how much I like swimming!!

Serpents Tail is amazing. Leaders took us towards it without first allowing us to inspect it. Normally, we would all get out, have a look, then decide how best to tackle it. However, for the newbies this was not the way – “it will be all right”, “it’s safe”. What that means is, it is scary to look at, and best encountered before fear sets in. Of course there is enough space to put a lot of safety on, so when you end up, upside down in or out of the boat there are people able to rescue. By the second run, all had experienced it and were afraid. 2/2 swims for me. In my defence, I did try to roll on my first attempt but aerated water = no purchase and I swam. Jonathan saved me with a perfect line (memo to self - owe him a pint).

The highlight of the spectacular Saturday Town Falls run was a pinned Andrew Hall lurking until Nigel Moore passed him and then riding over the top of Nige’s up-turned boat while Nige continued to feel it would be better to do the falls upside down. Everyone on the bridge went Ohh! in unison. Andrew just smiled and kept going or was that a smirk.

So, to the split paddles. Three weeks old carbon paddles, that it turns out were the only reason I was able to roll up on Saturday. First thing Sunday morning, Serpents tail. Having already swam once, I was eager!! for another go. Had agreed line I was to take having watched others and set off; to the left of the vee; straight over the wave; to the right of the haystack… Oops – that didn’t go right. Upside down against the rock with the wave bashing me against the wall. Not absolutely sure how my ‘roll up’ paddles were broken but guess they sacrificed themselves for me. Had to pull deck but was immediately washed backwards down small shoot with boat coming quickly after me. Decided to place myself between wall and boat to break the boats impact (not really but have bruise to prove that’s what happened). Curly threw a line – very welcome if only he had not thrown it clear over the gorge and it landed on the rock at the other side, three feet above my head. As I floated down stream, as if to add injury to insult, I spied the broken ends of my now split paddle teasingly sticking out of the water making their way down.

Andy lent me his splits, although top quality they were not my beloved (and now in two pieces) Carbon ‘roll up’ paddles, so much swimming to be had for the rest of the day. Final excitement of day was the better or more energy filled paddlers conquering Town falls. With only one swimmer (see Martins own blogg about himself).

I have gone on a bit but finally, I would just like to thank organisers Nige and Andy together with all the experienced coaches and paddlers who made this such a great weekend, but also to everyone who went – what a great bunch of people.

James Mckeeman

# posted by jh_dempsey @ Tuesday, October 17, 2006 0 comments

If your not getting wet your not doing it properly.

Five swims. Sounds like a high figure, from someone as good as I am, unexpected perhaps? The majority of these were purely to help make the beginners confident that swimming isn't just because your crap, sometimes its just unavoidable.

In order to help lesser paddlers understand I've attempted to break down some of my swims as a valuable learning experience, read it take note, apply to the rest of your paddling career.

First swim: in 18 inches of slow moving water.
What happened: Fell off a small surf wave, when a rock troll grabbed my paddle, pulled me over held my boat down. Granted its a rare occurrence but it does happen from time to time.

Second, Third and Forth from the serpents tail: First and only photographed run more than successfully, prooving that I did have the ability to do this and keep dry and that all following swims were just demonstrational
What happened: Following three were from the practice makes perfect learning regime. My white water skills have now moved me up a notch or two, I can know swim down grade 4 rapids.

Fifth: An awesome display of paddling abilities from my second run at town falls.
What happened: Several rolls and a vertical, aerial dismount, whilst keeping my head underwater. Beating Nigel and Andy's roll and splat from the day before hands down. A rare treat for the onlookers.

Watch and learn.

In my defense, I was in a small boat with insufficient lung capacity, helmet thickness, troll repellent or paddling ability.

# posted by MT @ Tuesday, October 17, 2006 0 comments

Llangollen weekend a beginners perspective.

Saturday, after paddling in the morning over some drops to warm up and let people get over the copious amounts of beer that was consumed Friday night. It's onto the Serpent's tail. Carrying to the put-in and I see the reason for carrying sponge padding as my boat starts cutting into my shoulder.

After some safety advice and splitting up into small groups it's time to get onto the water. John predicts that the beginners have a 50/50 chance of making it, a statistic that will prove to be very accurate for me at least. A gentle paddle over some rocks and I prepare to follow Martin's line over a drop, which instantly proves a bad idea as he goes over and rolls back up. Thankfully I avoid the same fate, as I've not yet learnt to roll it could have led to the first swim of my weekend. As we approach the Serpent's tail anticipation is building I still haven't seen the rapid so I have no idea what to expect and the reassurances that it'll be alright and the worst that'll happen is a swim only serve to worry me more.

Preparing for the first run and the last time my shiny new Lil' Joe will be seen without a nice selection of scratches and gouges. I see the signal to go and I get my first sight of the Serpent's tail. Everything seems to be going ok. I just have time to think this isn't so bad and my first swim of the day is here. First thought's on getting out, bugger and Again!!! So off I go down the rocks to retrieve my boat and carry it back to the top. This time I'm determined it's not gonna get me. Head down and paddling away I see the calmer waters ahead and a cheer goes up. I made it somehow, a big smile breaks out on my face and I raise my paddles in the air in celebration, foolishly as I'm not yet in the eddie. Thankfully the waters calm enough at this point to continue down to the next eddie without swimming.

Day 2 and this time we're straight up to the Serpent's tail to start the day. This time I'm a little worse for wear and obviously not fully awake, (Never mind smokers Snorers really should be forced to sleep outside where they have less chance of disturbing the rest of us), until that is the cold water at the Serpent's tail engulfs me, swim number two of the weekend. So I grab the line that's been thrown for me and after I've got my breath back off I go to get my boat for another run. Just like Saturday the second times the charm as I make it down in one piece proving to myself that yesterday wasn't just a fluke.

Thanks to all at Leeds canoe club for organising the weekend and all the good advice and safety put on, it was a great weekend.

Has to be mentioned just in case he doesn't write his own blog. Sympathies must go out to James who swam on day 2 on the serpent's tail. The call rang out, Boat... Paddles... only to be corrected with a call of Splits... One paddle enters two paddles leave, an expensive way to get a pair of splits.

Richard

# posted by MT @ Tuesday, October 17, 2006 0 comments

Monday, October 09, 2006
Canoe Polo div3 - 7 october

1st competition in div3 for the Leeds 'B' team this season. The team this time was Mick, Curly, Paul D, Gerry, Cat, Dave K, Simon S, Richard And the results were:
Leeds 0 -4 Leeds Uni
Leeds 0-3 Newcastle
Leeds 3-1 Glanford 'A' (goals from Curly, Mick, Paul)
Leeds 2-1 Glanford 'B' (goals from Simon S, Dave)
Leeds 2-1 Malton & Norton (goals from Curly & Paul)

# posted by andy @ Monday, October 09, 2006 0 comments

filthy lucre

Q1) How do you get two brand spanking crisp twenty pound notes through a slot a inch wide from 2 feet away.
ans) give them to Greg. He managed this on his first attempt, and left handed, and both thrown at the same time. Through a grate at the back of car.

Q2) How many people does it take to rescue two damp twenty pound notes for a grate near Scotch corner
ans) About 37, judging by the crowd that had gathered to watch Greg hammer the grate, use a crow bar on the grate, attach a wagon strap to the grate and line up all the crowd and pull together, still no use.

Q3) How do you heal the rift between anglers and Kayakers.
ans) Get one of the anglers to use his fishing rod as chopsticks and rescue wet cash from bottom of pit. Then pat him on the back, and offer him food.

Q4) Who could be a nominee for Dick of the year this year.
ans) Mr Gregory Parsons

# posted by MT @ Monday, October 09, 2006 0 comments

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