October Travelling

The trip started with a work trip to Nuremberg for Paddlexpo the yearly European Kayak trade show to check out the latest and greatest and to see what we can do for the next year, as I was on holiday I decided to drive out this year with boats, bikes and about any other toy that would fit in the van,

Paddlexpo is a great opportunity to meet up with friends from different brands who we may  not have seen during the year as well as new acquaintances really makes the show a great place to start my trip.

After a busy start to the season to then be hampered by a shoulder injury, its given me a lot if time to reflect on what I'm doing and where I'm going,
Firstly I'm an awful patient, like any active person I'm the physios nightmare, they give a little and we take a mile then wonder why recovery is delayed.

From the moment I got injured I had my sights set on competing at this years Sickline event, since last years event I know I can be competitive, I just need to be fit, So id planned a holiday around the event bringing friends with me to paddle and share the experience, unfortunately in the weeks leading up to the event I knew myself I wasn't getting stronger and still in a great deal of pain I've hardly sat in a boat and holding a set of blades made me hurt, I had been teasing myself with the prospect,

On arriving in Austria and the beautiful Oetz valley as I looked at the course and pictured the moves I knew honestly that I was not able for it, in the days leading up to the event I took it easy paddling the lower and upper stretches of the amazing valley just testing the water and the shoulder knowing I had a lot to do before I was ready to start pushing, after a couple of days on the water I felt I was smooth and comfortable the boat was paddling well and I was confident on the water, having not been on a river since I was Last in the Oetz the beginning of June I was just happy to be out, unfortunately after paddling I noticed a lot of inflammation and soreness. So at registration I made the decision not to risk racing and didn't take my race number, for me this was a tough call and one I was worried I may regret.
As the competition kicked off I was sad not to be a part of this years race but it was fantastic to see the young lads, Cian, Conor and David holding their own against some if the best whitewater paddlers on the planet.

The lads paddled without fear showing no nerves to push their own performances to the highest level
If I had raced would I of beaten them? ?........
Mentally - I know the course, I know my ability and I know my strengths.
Physically - Not a hope! I cant pull a right stroke confidently and rolling or bracing leaves me in huge amounts of pain.
I can look at the event now knowing I made the right decision, Personally I had nothing to prove, a couple of years ago id of paddled regardless, but I guess a sign of growing up, what's more important, the fame of that 90 seconds or the next 12 months of paddling?
Its important that paddlers understand their own abilities and limitations as a good coach can understand their athletes strengths and weaknesses, the motivation to get back up after a fall is it to prove to themselves or others around them? Its important to do things for the right reasons.
Sickline was once again a spectacle with some of the fastest paddlers pushing hard with the slightest mistakes punishing them for valuable seconds.
Personally its a chance to paddle and catch up with friends from around the world who descend on the valley each year,

It was great to have a great crew of Irish paddlers at the event this year, having the craic and causing trouble like usual! A great bunch that really was a pleasure to spend time with.
After the event many paddlers headed away soon after but a few stayed behind, as I was on holiday I really had no plans with many of my plans already changed in the previous few weeks, I decided to stay where the water was, paddling and biking with friends, exploring areas of the region we hadn't come across before and enjoying the time away.

The Oetz Valley really does have so much to offer the paddling in the region is top class, having paddled there this year in both Summer (high) flows and the autumn lower level theirs just so much to keep you amused, from technical creeking to big water fun and some big holes in between the Oetz will keep the best paddlers on their toes.

Aside from the paddling the valley homes some amazing bike routes running high into the mountains from easy road rides to technical single track, higher up is the glacier one of the largest around so if skiing is your thing this place is made for it, as well the climbing the paragliding, they don't do things by halves with routes marked and set up for ease of use and maximum time taking part, just over 2hours from Munich leaves you astonished in what you will find this is definitely one of my favourite spots to be.

During the week I was lucky that Jenny decided to hang around (some peer pressure) which meant some really nice chilled paddling on the upper and the vent sections, taking in the views and cruising down the rivers before heading back to the qualification course and slalom course to push the boat around.

After a night at the aqua dome relaxing and chilling it was time to depart the valley but not before a couple of laps on the Wellebrucke, by now, a week after the event, I was confident I was strong enough to paddle the course without further hurting myself. Some nice lines really got the new 9R running, a superfast boat and a joy to paddle, keep her straight and smooth and she will reward you with speed and lift.
After paddling it was time to say goodbye and head off to Switzerland to meet the lads and deliver a boat.

 

A couple of days rest in St Gallen left me feeling much better the shoulder looked normal and the soreness had died down so I decided to head back over to Oetz to milk the last of the water, not knowing the next time id see water I decided I should make the most of it, just running laps on the Wellebrucke to really test out the boat before meeting Luca in Innsbruck for a few beers and to plan for 2015.
Another day in St Gallen and it was time to start for the ferry, calling in with Great Outdoors Team Paddler Mick Reynolds at his new place in France, drinking wine and talking waterfalls long into the night.
After a look at some local waves it was time to hit the ferry back from Cherbourg into Ireland before starting the drive up to Cranafest for the weekend.

Kit List 2014

So as most people are aware I have at my disposal just about any kit I want, This is obviously for many a lucky position to be in but at the end of the day the reason I have the Kit is because I need to sell it, (sometimes I have to actually make money) So its important I trust the equipment I sell. If I wouldn't use it I wont sell it theirs a simple philosophy, Every item in store I would personally use and trust it to fit a customer for its purpose.
I am currently paddling everyday in a variety of different boats but looking forward for this season I'm heading away to King of the Alps in Italy this weekend and come to the stage of sorting out what am I going to take,
So here's a rundown of some of my favourite pieces of kit this year and what I'm taking with me to Italy.
Starting from the top, Helmet, This season I'm back in Sweet Protection lids, My preferred choice is my Strutter with a funky green/black paint job but for when things get steep I've got the Rocker and when things get serious (Or Twat are out rafting) I've got the Rocker full face,

Sweet protection make the best helmets period. I don't thing theirs too many arguments here, they are comfy, solid and take the impact saving your head. Personally I love the strutter as I feel it gives me the most freedom and field of view. Throw on a nose clip and custom Walshy Way ear plugs and were ready to roll.
Next up shell wear, Last year I used my Spark suit pretty much the whole year, I loved the suit so much I sold it and got another, Its an ideal suit, soft and light, very breathable and maintenance free. Did I mention the colour Lime green goes with everything!

So this year I'm at a conundrum The nice guys and girls at Palm Equipment HQ kindly built me a lovely Fuse CagDeck, Taking the popular Fuse jacket, and the solid Impact deck and combining the two for low bulk and freedom of movement, I also got them to add a latex neck for those cold days on the water and the result is absolutely amazing, probably me favourite piece of kit this year!

But for the rivers I'm torn between my spark suit and my other fuse jacket combined with Ion Bibs. Honestly I'm so torn because of the colour options, both pieces of kit will work amazingly but the Sherbet and aqua Fuse jacket goes perfectly with my New FXR.
The FXr is an amazing river vest taken from the FX PFD with a upgrade, Condura outer, guide belt and did I mention the colour, Sherbet again this season is going to be bright! 
The increased buoyancy of the FXr and the huge pocket makes the vest suitable for extreme racers freestylers and coaches alike this vest has resigned my super safe Amp to the sale rail!
With both the Spark and the Fuse jackets they both lack reinforcing as on the atom so I like to wear elbow pads over the top, last year I picked up a set of the Sweet Protection elbow pads and found them incredibly comfy, nice and soft giving loads of movement and protection to both the suit and my arms and looked great.
The Impact Deck from Palm  with its tough Kevlar protection and grippy yet super soft latex makes for a solid deck with an Oring seal uptop to stop flushing and keep you really dry this is one of the best upgrades to the palm catologue over recent years some of the decks have been pretty bad but the new lineup is solid and works a treat!

Down below I picked up a set of the new Horizon shorts Palms fleece lined wonders these are super comfy but I think for the chilly alps I'm going to stick with my old faithful Gradient shorts, though I've been using the Kaituna pants in the slalom boat and really liked them a lot. a lot closer fitting but lack the protection of the nylon outer of the horizon and gradients.

Underneath I'm heading into a second season of using Icebreaker though during the winter I did mix in a few Helly Hansen Merino thermals but for travelling Icebreaker is the boss, for this season I'm sticking with the crewe long sleeves but adding a crewe short sleeve to the mix in case I decide to pull out the Zenith cag for a few days!
In the footwear department I'm still pushing on with my Keen Gorge Boots, comfy and reliable these things are solid in the toughest conditions, I've seen a prototype for 2015 of the new Gorge-Us boot so keep your eves open for something new,

Hardware for this year and I'm still loving my Werner's, The 203cm Shoguns for creeking and 197 Shoguns for play though thinking of switching to double diamonds for play as they hold less water making the release much smoother, but Werner Werner Werner…… that's all
Boats for this year is always a tough question, this time last year I had NEVER paddled a Mamba, now you rarely see me without it! I'm torn between the XL Burn 3 and the big Mamba both super boats but for King of the Alps the predictability of the Mamba is coming with me. but watch this space more time out in the Burn 3 and it could be an easy change,

For freestyle I picked up a Gui Gui earlier this year and really don't know how I ever lived without one, so much so I've really lit a spark back for freestyle something I gave up last year but now seriously thinking about getting back on the horse and heading to World Cup 1, Seriously looking at the Helixer GuiGuis newest design. I was never truly convinced of the merits of carbon until now, if I'm not in the carbon boat it has to be the Jed from Pyranha the super fast hull just wants to launch, its so much fun to paddle, (just needs another inch in the feet)

The new wheels, Most people have now seen my new paddle van on the road, now sign written and cruising, loaded and ready to boat,

Thanks to Eamon Cummins for the shots

Why Canoe?

So a few years ago we ran a video comp by the same name, during those videos were a mix of freestyle and whitewater kayaking vids from a selection of Irish paddlers, showcasing the fun and enjoyment they had on the water, but over the past few years some of these paddlers are still pushing hard while others may have fallen from the horse,

some see kayaking as a young mans game but with paddlers like Eric EJ Jackson still paddling and competing at the top of his game at a tender 50 years old and closer to home Confident paddlers like Bernard Walsh a late starter in the kayak game but still loving every second and really pushing his own ability,

So why do we paddle?

People can paddle for many different reasons whether as a child pushed into a kids camp where they will learn the basics or joining a club set up to offer development training to bring along their skills, Or an adult who wants to try something new and exciting kayaking is a game for everyone without prejudice.

But the real question always unfold in how to hang onto new members, to hang onto these people you must first understand their motivations for participating,

was it

-to make friends

- to learn a new skill

-enjoyment

-fitness

- lose weight

- peer pressure

- relationship

-monetary

- Parent Pressure

the options are almost unlimited, as a guide the majority of people participate in outdoor recreation for a couple of key reasons

Enjoyment/fun People do things because they enjoy it!

and because friends participate by paddling with peers and friends it can only help you have a better time on the water.

with this in mind the way to hang onto people is to offer fun sessions and get people talking to each other.

I personally paddle almost every day and I paddle for very much the same reasons, I enjoy being out on the water, if im not enjoying it I shouldn't be their. and for friends I have a lot of friends who paddle and I met most of them by paddling, its a social sport being able to bounce off each other and trust in each other to help you out when the time comes, whether its the drive out to a river, surf or a playspot travel with friends makes the drive much more enjoyable.and by chatting after the session of monster swims epic rides or just enjoying a great day chat about the day and see how everyone felt, when everything goes right that warm feeling inside is unbeatable, when things go wrong you have people their to look upto and who can help you improve.

Paddling every day takes its toll on both the body and your mental capacity,

Your body needs days off by pushing too hard you will be tired, once tired you are prone to the occasional silly mistake which will probably leave you upside down. Variety is the spice of life shorter sessions in a variety of different disciplines / boats or conditions will keep things fresh whilst being able to transfer skill across the board,

Every good paddler can hop into any boat whether a K1 or a Freestyle boat, They wont be the best but the other skills they know will transfer giving them a good initial level of ability.

With the light evenings arriving its really time to get out in the boat as a beginner its time to find a course or a club as an instructor you need to lose the bad habits ready to teach all the newbies and as a paddler its time to get out and enjoy the water once again.

So before you head out just take a second a think why you paddle and look at what you can achieve.

Choosing a Playboat

So its popping up time after time what is the right playboat for you!?
Play boats are not a new thing years ago boats got smaller and slicier when it was one boat for all your paddling and if you hit something hard ankle injury was expected, Nowadays most people will get into a bigger boat to learn their craft, a safer option which isn't usually as aggressive but for those people learning in what you think is an old boat a few years ago that was probably classed as a playboat!
Modern day freestyle kayaks are designed to open up the vertical realm, with lots of volume around the knees but still slicey enough, The hull of the boat is the money end this is what makes or breaks a boat is it too fast to slow, too wide too much rocker more on this later…
This question could be answered one of a thousand ways but I'm going to break it down into an easyish step by step guide which hopefully gives you all loads to think about. 
What's your aims?
So first things first, why are you buying a freestyle kayak?
Is it a fashion accessory is it because everyone has one?
Are you looking for a bit of fun to surf those local waves or a bit of fun on flat water or are you hoping to be the next freestyle master, Either way think about what you want to get out of the boat if your looking to be competitive you should definitely look for something more modern, boat designs have followed the trend of what the worlds best paddlers are able to perform (and also every freestyle paddler hates to be beaten by someone in an old design!) if your looking for fun and to try something new the second hand market becomes your oyster!
Budget
So how much are you looking to spend will usually dictate how new a boat you should be looking at. But don't get bogged down theirs older designs out their which are still super competition and exceptionally fun to paddle.
When buying a boat its really important to try them first especially if you have no idea, most sellers are happy to give you a go in their boat, otherwise next time your in an eddy ask someone! most paddlers will give up their boat for you to have a go.
Any sponsored paddlers you spot definitely ask them! the reason they are sponsored is because they are good paddlers and love to show off their new shiny kit, most of them will give you a very honest review of their own boat and the others available on the market, especially if your in an older design many team paddlers love the opportunity to get back into something old and really throw it around again!
 
Comfort
We talk about comfort in play boating terms as a whole range of things,
Play boats should never be comfy!……. LIES!
A modern freestyle boat is an extension of your body its designed to go where you do, Yes its a different seating position much wider and a different foot position which does take time to adjust to but if something is sooooo tight and uncomfortable you wont spend the time in the boat to learn anything you'll always be thinking of getting out and that your feet hurt too much!
When you buy a freestyle boat theirs usually a big bag of padding this usually gets tossed aside and forgotten its important to hang onto this and use the padding to give yourself a customised fit, any good kayak shop will help you out with this, everyone is different so you need to spend some time turning your very standard kayak into a customised glove to fit you,
 
Here's a video I made a while back on boat outfitting for some hints and tips

Outfitting a Kayak

When your demoing a boat its always difficult to get a great fit some people spend more time outfitting than they do paddling but realistically when testing a boat try and get the right points of contact first to give you a good idea of what the boat is capable of,
Feet, Knees/Thighs, Bum, Hips and Backrest if you an get a reasonable fit by using extra foam you can fine tune the setup once its yours.
Look at the shapes of the boats many of the older slicier boats are not as good for people with big feet as the ends get very narrow very quick think about comfort and sit into a few boats, with the right outfitting even the smallest boats can be comfy.
Think about footwear generally your gorge boots and canyoneers are not designed to fit in a freestyle boat a thinner river shoe or neoprene sock is a better option giving you protection and leaving you space inside the kayak so not to be too tight.
so this goes hand in hand when outfitting the boat wear the footwear your likely to use as it WILL make a difference
Weight Ranges
All boats are released in different sizes and weights most of these can be found on the shops and manufacturers website, otherwise hit up Google for some stats,
The weigh ranges given are realistically a guide, take them with a pinch of salt many stats are put together pre-production and not really updated, if your looking at a boat you ideally want to be in the mid to upper end of the weight range, being too light for a boat will make it harder to initiate and throw around but make it better for river running, but being well over the weight range will mean the boat spends more time underwater, the rails will sit lower making it more unstable,
again take advice from people who have used the boats and try them out, weight sits hand in hand with trim of the boat, tall people often suffer with being tall and pushing the seat back making the boat react tail happy, look at different designs realistically its best to keep the seat as close to centre as possible as it allows the boat to spin around the central point in a well balanced way. most guys on a wave like to shift the seat back a little to keep the nose high and stop it from pearling (catching) this is great but remember when your in a hole and you cant initiate the nose because the weights too far back.
I'm relatively tall yet i always paddle the boat with the seat central before moving it to see how it reacts.
The weight range of a boat is something which is usually down to personal experience again deciding where your paddling will have a role to play.
Hull Design
The hull or underside of the boat dictates many things as this is the section of the boat mainly in the water its often the bit which gets neglected when buying a boat.
First off check for cracks, dents and other damage. a damaged hull is always difficult to repair so check for damage and large gouges.
Don't get too precious, boats will get scratched its just a matter of time, they are designed to bounce!
So what does the hull do? this is your launch pad to the world this will dictate your speed your manoeuvrability and your stability, As a simple guide look at the rails and the sidewalls the sharper the rails the more aggressive the boat will be and the squarer the sidewalls the harder a boat will be to roll. Where as something with softer rails wont be as aggressive on a wave and round sidewalls will allow the boat to roll easier. A classic example is the Pyranha Jed this is a very aggressive boat absolutely insane on a wave as its sharp rails allow it to carve and accelerate really easy but try and paddle it on a river and you'll spend most the time low bracing as the trippy rails are still their where as something like the Jitsu from Dagger is much more rounded making it less trippy but still super fun.
The hull design conversation could go on all day, best thing to do is talk to people at your local spot and ask them which boats work well as this is where you will do most of your paddling getting a boat to suit the feature will help,
Where are you Paddling
Ok I just touched on this but its important to buy a boat for what you actually are doing and not where you aspire to be theirs no point buying a full carbon boat if your just learning the double pump, likewise buy something you can paddle many boats are better suited to holes or waves this comes back to hull shape, look at what others are paddling and ask advice you'll soon see what works in your local spot.
Volume
This is another aspect of weight ranges, take them with a pinch of salt the volume of a boat is simply how big is is inside and measured on either litres or gallons with the ever changing position of where they put the volume its not essential, your better to look at the weight range as it should give a truer identification of what weight that size paddles best for.
Colour
This is the number one feature of an boat! make sure you like the colour! no really pick something that matches your kit and your style if you like the boat you'll enjoy paddling it!
Really though their is some truth in different colours shrink to different sizes but realistically this is down to MM here of their and nothing to worry about.
Demos
Try the boat in a fun safe environment don't drop onto Gower for your first time in a brand new boat you have no idea about or take it sea surfing where you'll end up getting beaten up, Take it to a nice feature with good eddy access and a pool to roll in or even better a swimming pool or lake (depending on the temperature) and just get used to how the boat reacts and moves, practice rolling and falling in make sure your happy with the boat before scaring yourself.
Boats to look at
So as a beginner to intermediate freestyle paddler with good kayaking proficiency looking to buy a freestyle kayak to have a bit of fun and a change from the rivers here's a few models which are great with some of my own opinions next to them, some people agree some don't but here's boats I've tried,

Wavesport EZ	Fun Slicey boat cartwheels for days but old design without much pop
Dagger GForce	One of the best Intro boats out their does everything a modern boat does at a fraction of the price.
Jackson Star Series 07-09	An excellent intro boat slicey and fun
Jackson Star Series 10-12	Probably the boat that moved the market these are coming up second hand snap them up a simply amazing boat paddled by world champions and friends all over the world
Jackson Rockstar 2012	This boat was built for the Plattling worlds in 2011 a really good boat in a hole, starting to come down in price but still a top boat
Pyranha Molan	Very narrow boat works well at Gower but a little unstable in a hole
Pyranha Jed	A very aggressive boat you will only get the best out of it if your an accomplished paddler
Dagger Kingpin	another excellent boat to learn in and should be nice and cheap these days
Dagger Gride	a playboat with a little extra volume still very playful and surfs well very cheap to pick up
Pyranha Prozone	The slicey brother of the inazone, if cartwheeling is your thing this machine will spin you around
Dagger Jitsu	The latest from Dagger still very easy to paddle but high priced
Wavesport Project	A great boat with good credentials works well all over the world a great design and easy to paddle
Wavesport Project X	a great boat that just faltered in the market fun to paddle great to surf but a little aggressive at times
Wavesport Mobias	The latest boat from the wavesport guys ultra competitive but big pricing
Squirt Boats	Really open up the vertical world with the emphasis on technique but not great for in features

Girls
Ok its really important that the girls especially look to get something small and light enough they can firstly carry and move about but then throw around once on the water, think carefully and look to most of the small boats first, many of them are now prototyped and work out much better than getting into a padded out medium.
 


 
Where to buy
Ok heres the Bias bit always check out your local kayak stores theirs a great one in Dublin city Centre everyone should check out

Great Outdoors - www.greatoutdoors.ie
Trade in and 2nd hand boats on Great Outdoors Facebook Page

Otherwise I-Canoe also have a good selection.

Canoe and kayaks for sale in Ireland Facebook group is another great spot to pick up second hand boats.
 

Video dump

So with lots of water about the last week heres a few videos of the fun

 

First up we found this delightful set of stairs at the get out of the lower Oetz onto the Inn so what else to do but slide on down – Neil Slevin, Dave Holden and Dave Horkan.

Stairs

 

Next up we found a dribble of water still running down the Glen mac so with the new burn in tow we took the opportunity for a bounce down the river

Glen Mac

With the levels dropping we were back to the old favourite of the Avonmore with Jenny and Vicky and three lovely Pyranha boats off we went, A nice level with lots of eddies and fun to be had.

Avonmore Pyranha

So with the rain falling we were off to the jewel in the crown one of Irelands most fun rivers with Neil Slevin and Neal Kelly from the Kayaking company, Bernard, Cian and Odhran it was glens time, A classic run with some beautiful moves, boof city, clean lines and good company.

Clare Glens

Hunting the Wren

With the dry summer of Ireland our paddlers have had to make do with what we have heres another great example of what happens when we run out of water.

Thanks Bernard Walsh

 

Hunting the Wren

Junior Paddlefest 2013

Paddlefest Promo

 

20th – 22nd September – Hidden Valley Campsite, Rathdrum Co Wicklow

ORIGINS OF PADDLEFEST

Whilst still messing around in competition boats, I decided to try downriver racing boats, even competing in a Lower Liffey ranking race,

didn’t place anywhere but, great fun. Whilst I was dabbling with the

Wavehopper at the time, which was the only WWR boat that I could get my hands on or afford, the realisation of the skill that I had drawn from other elements of the sport became very apparent. This is where the original thinking behind Paddlefest began.

At this time I had also taken on Open Boating and the old saying of ‘half the paddle and twice the man’ is true in open boating, brute force and

ignorance will get you nowhere fast you have to use the flow so much more to steer those beautiful boats. When you paddle one of these craft in a straight line, the angle of attack of the blade shaft is reminisce of amarathon stroke, yet when you want to turn you really have to get your sweeps like in a river boat.A friend of mine introduced me to Sea kayaking and it was like a kick back to my school years. They handle like Marathon Boats and Down river racers. You have to edge the same, the stroke is the same. Happy days.Marathon paddling on the open sea! Big waves like in a river! Sustained adrenaline, the constant changing scenery, wildlife, caves, I am so there! You put all of these adaptive and honed skills that you have learnt fromall the aspects of kayaking and canoeing, put them in a washing machine and turn it on, full spin. The result is the physical torque and power of the Freestyle discipline, 0 to 100kph in three seconds. Thankfully for me I had a little bit of knowledge and muscle memory from the other disciplines,and so when I got into the washing machine and went for a spin, I survived, a little bruised, colour faded but all in one piece. Whilst learning

to cartwheel I heard the expression ‘double pump’ I asked for

clarification on this and was told that it is how you use your feet to

transfer the energy from the paddle pushing the hull. I thought to myself,this is nothing new to me, I do this all the time on the horizontal plane

when I’m in my river boat, a skill which I took from my marathon days.

The concept of Paddlefest is to try and expose young paddlers to the disciplines, and to try and impinge on them the diversity of the sport but,also how all of the aspects of the sport are interconnected and help the mover all to tweak, tune and hone certain skills in isolation and then bring them back to their chosen area. Remember, from a recreational stance,the more honed your skill and strokes, the more enjoyable the experience. From a competitive stance, the difference between first and second place, winning the sprint at the start of a match, making that splitwheel could be as little as a 100th of a second or having a more effective stroke. This extra edge can be achieved by diversifying your training and honing a skill that you can practice in isolation in another discipline. ‘The proof is in the pudding’.

In 2004, I began to get involved with the juniors in Wild Water Kayak Club through the pool sessions. At that time working with John Healy, we ran pool sessions right through the winter months right up to March 2005.During those sessions the emphasis was on basic strokes. It didn’t matter

so much if the stroke worked properly, just once it was technically sound.From March, the students worked with coaches like Martin McCarthy,Colm Ryan and Adrian Barber, all respected coaches in their disciplines.The students were exposed to all aspects of the sport over the summer months. They where exposed to boating and surfing too and all of this combined has laid the foundation for the next generation of Athletes.You only have to look at some of our national team members across the competitive spectrum. They are members of WWKC, the pathway works. Around 2007 I was introduced to Lar Burke, who had taken over from John Healy as the junior officer in WWKC. The juniors were heading away on the annual junior weekend away, and if memory serves me right, they were heading surfing in Sligo. The following year, Lar was arranging the weekend away and having knowledge of the Hidden Valley site in Wicklow, I suggested that he try there for a change. I was there for the weekend and following a marathon river trip with Canadians and riverboats, seven hours in total, I began to think.Following that weekend, the concept of Paddlefest began to form in my mind, drawing from years of experience and seeing how this would be beneficial to the juniors, I approached Lar with the Paddlefest concept.From the early days we knew that this was bigger than us both, it was bigger than WWKC, and this would have great benefits for all juniors from all clubs. Whilst Lar undertook the Administration side and I looked after the operational side of things, the success or failure would depend on the input of the many volunteers that so kindly gave up their freetime,.Paddlefest is bigger than two people, it is bigger than one club,Paddlefest is a combination of a lot of factors and people coming together to help develop the sport, to learn from each other in a controlled and safe fashion and to take things to a new level. The ramifications of Paddlefest will leave a legacy on the paddlers of the future, it is up to you to continue the legacy.The benefits of cross training between disciplines is of vital importance to the overall development of the sport of canoeing and to the paddler as a whole. Failure to acknowledge this will result in a lot of paddlers failing toachieve their maximum potential and development.

Herein lies the Origin of Paddlefest

Written by Paul Donnelly

Boat Testing 101

Having working in and around kayak shops for a number of years now including some great boat deals with various brands I've always had people asking me which boat to buy. Obviously as any sponsored paddler number one reason they are sponsored is to sell boats, But on the flipside that paddler is also been sponsored because they know a thing or two about paddlesport,
If you can pull an unbiased view from the paddler then its generally a good voice to hear
Below is a review written by me from my own thoughts of what I've seen, peoples views will differ and I'm not saying this is the definitive, just a personal opinion.
With all boats number one thing to do is demo the boats, most good kayak shops have a collection of demo boats, these are to be tried and tested in a reasonable environment, these are not boats to borrow until you have cash or boat to break as you yours is still shiny. Shops do actually have to pay for boats and they are actually not cheap. For Dublin based shops the usual testing grounds -Liffey -Boyne -Avonmore are acceptable, shops don't like to hear of epic adventures on the source of the Liffey or Dargle when their demos are concerned.
Boats should always be returned clean and in as close condition as possible as when you took it, usual rules would always apply, You bend it you mend it, or You break it you buy it.
When you get the opportunity in a different boat the major points to consider,
Fit
Do you fit in the boat?
Are you falling about inside?
Foot / seat positioning and comfort
Size
Can you engage the edges?
Are you lost in the boat?
Where does the boat sit in the water?             
Nose/tail heavy – Balance with kit
Hull ShapeFlat bottom or round hulled
Rails or not?
This is probably the most interesting of subjects for Irish Paddling, for those paddling in Ireland will know the nature of Irish rivers grade 1-3 generally wider and flatter but as you lift the grades the majority of Irish rivers turn into tight, steep, rocky runs, unlike the bigger volume alpine style of holes and wave trains through large boulders safely under the water. Irish creeks show every rock poking through the surface ready to trip or bounce you.
Boats which have historically sold well in Ireland
Dagger Mamba
Pyranha Burn
Dagger Nomad
Wavesport Habitat
Bliss stick Mystic.
Why have these boats sold so well?
Because they work!
The Jackson Villain S could be added as a late  contender to the list.
The majority of these boats are flat hulled river runners with plenty of volume, the Mystic and Habitat are still very creeky but have enough rail to hold a line the only round hulled boat would be the Nomad,
I feel the Nomad is now a classic and still works as a steep creeker with plenty of volume but slightly shorter than the newer boats making it far more manoeuvrable.
The flat hull offers a solid stable platform to plan your lines from with nice rails to provide a secondary stability to keep the boat riding high while hanging onto a line, then back in the easy stuff you can cruise about the river eddy hopping and ferrying to your hearts content.
The rounded hull allows good stability at any angle like sitting on a soccer ball. On big volume slides and drops the round hull eliminates the rail tripping for super smooth transfers.
Unfortunately some of the bigger round hulled creekers struggle in tight technical Irish Rock Gardens, with lots of volume they just want to bounce through anything you can throw at it but lacking that rail which helps manoeuvre the boat quickly in tight situations. You sometime end up as a pinball bouncing from rock to rock instead of smooth lines
All boats should be purchased for the majority of your paddling and not your single aspiration to run Niagara.
Buy something you can use and enjoy every week of the year, we all paddle to enjoy it.
Boat review time
After a nice few weeks way I had the opportunity to try a few different boats throughout Europe.
A some of you may have read my Large Shiva got stuck in Dublin airport for a few days resulting in a lend of a Jackson Karma Medium from Colm Healy @I-Canoe
I have for a while now been paddling 90 gallon plus boats in the big Villain and then the big Shiva so stepping back to a medium always gave me a sinking feeling. But I was pleasantly surprised. I loved my big villain one of the best boats I had paddled big, safe  and strong,  when I started the new job I had to give up the Jackson as my everyday boat so I was relishing the opportunity to at last try the Karma,
As a boat the Karma was like being back at home the same outfitting and seating arrangements I had been used to for a long time through three generations of All Star then the Rockstars, villains, fun runners,  through 9 Jackson boats previously. On the water the karma was responsive but I found nose heavy after some alterations with the seat she was running nose high in the safe responsive package I had always known, some people hate the outfitting but I love it, taking one fairly big impact, (I was running a slide on my head at the time, not my finest moment) she held strong and safe with no slipping of the ropes a roll in the bottom pool and I was off again..
A super boat, nice and quick in a straight line but responsive.

Jumping back into the round hull of the shiva – (once it arrived from the grasps of Aer Lingus) with the extra volume we could take on any drop, a super safe boat which wants to run the big stuff, skipping smoothly away from the foaming mess at the bottom, unfortunately she does the same skipping fast and true on a big drop as she does in a 3ft drop which without the rail usually ends up charging into which ever rock is in front of you. For tight technical creeking I found the Large Shiva just that bit too big.
For top to bottom, of any easy Irish run the shiva will storm in without slowing. But realistically its a big volume Norway boat, steep big volume the shiva will fly through.
The Shiva comes equipped with the standard Connect 30 with plastic pillars and heavy footrest I did a bit of boat lightening a few weeks ago to drop the weight down
Take a look Here - http://www.paddle4play.blogspot.ie/2013/05/pyranha-shiva-takes-diet.html
So the lightened outfitting held up perfectly, no issues at all the connect outfitting provides great control and security with comfy seat and secure backrest, I padded out the hip pads and shes ready to go, providing a secure comfy fit with good volume and space
I did actually try the Medium and was surprised it was much more manoverable and felt snug without all the excess volume, I think the large is just a little too wide with the knee position still very close not giving you the control to push it over.
For my second trip away after some chatting to friends I took a shiny 2012 Mamba 8.6 with the contour ergo play seat for a spin,
Having never paddled a Mamba previously.......... Ever!
I was in for a treat!

The big mamba was easy to adjust and make it fit me comfortably I left the seat central as straight from the factory, I inserted the extra seat pad and added hip pads and I was ready for the water. ive still to put in the foam heel blocks but these simply velcro in,
One thing with adjusting a boat is to fit it out with what your going to paddle in – if your using creek boots fit the boat while wearing them! it does make a huge difference,
heres some boat outfitting in playboats but gives an idea how to get a snug fit - http://www.paddle4play.blogspot.ie/2012/08/outfitting-kayak.html
So the Mamba,  like being back in a familiar friend, something I instantly felt safe and at home in. The seating was secure and comfy with the new leg lifter offering a snug fit to hold the legs up into the thigh braces.
First time on the water, the Passer in Merano Italy, A cruisey run down from the football pitches to the canoe club, alpine style read and run, waves and holes, with some weir style drops the boat moved around the river well, reacting safely on edge, carving and spining with ease. The big mamba at 89 gallons was as manoeuvrable as a much smaller river runner the flat bottem allowed the boat to plane and carve with the rounded nose and tail offering a great creeking shape, The Mambas first real test was the grade 5 + gorge just above the canoe club, which after a fantastic line utilising Graemes upside down boat the Mamba sailed through,
Check out more about this trip here - http://www.paddle4play.blogspot.ie/2013/06/king-of-alps.html
Racing the mamba was fast and furious with good hull speed and length it stayed on line and in speed, we have seen @Eoin Rheinisch  Paddling the large Mamba at this years Wacko taking the win.

So back to the boat, creeking in the Mamba is an absolute joy to behold, the boat is responsive and stable the mamba gives you a platform to push your limits, I felt I could put the boat anywhere on the river and really trust it to go where I wanted it, the boat wouldn't hold me back, On the Urnasch in Switzerland the Mamba enjoyed Boofs, Flares, drops and tight technical creeking on both slides and drops the Mamba performed well – Even a bit of hole surfing.
Check out the video -

Mamba on the Urnasch

Il definately be paddling the mamba some more this year, I cant wait to try it back in Ireland on familiar waters.
In short, get out their and try some boats!

Pyranha Shiva takes a diet,

 

So with an Alps trip coming up fast I took some time today to put together my kit ready to head out to Italy,

Firstly thanks to all my equipment Sponsors, Keen Europe, Great Outdoors, Palm Equipment, Pyranha Kayaks X-1 Audio and Werner Paddles, I'm looking forward to testing the kit out in Europe over the next few weeks.

My Pyranha Large Shiva has been my weapon of choice so far this season and really looking forward to getting it away on pushier water,

The Shiva is a round hulled creeker designed to be super safe and ride over everything this is not my usual paddling style preferring a hard railed river boat to cruise around the river, but for 2013 the Shiva is quick for racing which was one of my aims to go faster.

With racing and travelling in mind the Shiva is a pretty solid boat which weighed in at a hefty 25.3 KG

Having previously lightened a Bliss Stick Mystic (Check it out here) I knew what needed to be done, unsure of what could come out I set to work with the help of My Colm Healy from I-Canoe who had great pleasure in drilling my boat

Firstly I stripped the boat down to get a rough shell weight, with the shell weighing in at about 19kg this boat was always going to be heavier than the mystic.

So Starting with the footrest out came the Pyranha footrest weighing in at 1.8kg,

By removing the back plate and rebending and attaching the metal arms brings the footrest weight down to just 0.6kg a healthy saving, sorry I forgot to take photos. but basically the big lump behind has been removed.

Next up it was time to remove the rear pillar once the seat is removed give the foam a knock and out she falls, pillar weighted 0.6kg and managed to trim it down to just 0.3kg

Waffling out the non essential plastic is a great way of saving weight we used this method before on the mystic seat so this time I did it on all non essential plastic starting with the hull stiffener then the seat and lastly the front pillar, obviously be aware of where you are taking plastic from, make sure the parts are still rigid and wont just buckle.

So after much chopping and moving the Shiva diet brought her down to a slightly more respectable 21.6kg saving 3.7 kg

Once again I took some time to weigh a couple of other boats for comparison purposes,

Pyranha	Shiva Large (standard)	25.3 kg
Pyranha	Shiva Large (Lightened)	21.6 kg
Wavesport	Recon 83	24.9 kg
Dagger	Mamba 8.6	24.2 kg
Zet	Director	22.0 kg

I'm heading away for a few weeks paddling in Italy il update let you know how she paddles.