So after an amazing few weeks away in Europe I was back to work with the Brand New 2014 Burns awaiting my arrival,
First stop was Cranafest a weekend of paddling fun for everyone, with coaching workshops and competitions across about every discipline with the big expert Boater X finale to top it all off,
Hosted by Just Kayak in the quiet town of Buncrana co Donegal, a calm quaint river of the Crana sleeps, with a little help from the skies bringing rain and the release of the dam upstream the quiet river brings in a stunning grade 2-4 alongside a riverside park.
At the top of the site hosts the Claw a grade 4 double drop with sneaky holes to keep the very best on their toes further down theirs a series of small almost natural weir style drops, rock gardens and cushion waves leading down towards the sea.
The event kicks off with a meet and greet on the Friday night with people travelling from all over the county its a great opportunity to catch up with old friends,
The Saturday is alive with activity, sea kayak race, coaching workshops, beginner slalom, div 1 slalom, wwr, freestyle comp, the dagger dash, the wavesport big trick and importantly the raft race time trials,
I was lucky to spend some good time dialling in lines on the claw playing in the new Burn before switching back to the big shiva for that extra speed,
After a small window accident with the work van we headed back to the hotel to clean up before dinner and party,
THe sunday came as boater X day with beginner intermidiate and expert boater x all taking part its a fantastic experience for all. with top slalom paddlers, weekend warriors and ald fellas all competing against each other makes the event special,
The expert Boater x starts a few hundred yards upstream with a flat sprint into some small boulder gardens before lining up for the claw, with guaranteed carnage to keep the spectators happy
After Ciaron took his boater X win it was time to get back in the rafts for the rafter X final with 4 rafts attempting to navigate the lower stretch at the same time was always going to be some fun well done to the WWKC lads for taking the win.
Well done to Just kayak for putting on another super event we will see you again next year!
thanks to Eamonn and Maria for the great photos