Closing of another chapter.

After 2 years and 9 months as Watersports Manager of Great Outdoors, Dublin I’ve decided that its time to move on,

Id like to publically thank everyone instore for firstly giving me the opportunity back in 2012 they came to me with a plan and that they wanted me to be a part. at the time it was a gamble on their behalf but over two years on the the gamble was rewarded with a thriving kayak business once more.

And Secondly, for putting up with me, whether it was the stores lads constantly shipping boats, or the web manager to help with products and promotions everyone in the store was always super helpful

Id like to thank Ken Costigan and Derek Moody the two directors in the company for the time and effort they have put into the business and the help they have given me.

The Great Outdoors is 40 years old next year and I now feel like part of the family, the managers and staff were open and friendly but were all actual outdoor people who understood what was needed because they did it. I want to wish the store and it management all the best for the next 40+ years.

So about me,

Simply sometimes a change is needed, I've spent the past few years contending with Dublin bus in and out of town on a daily commute and its mind numbing, I spend more time on the bus each day that I could be using to paddle or enjoy. The store change around and loosing the watersports store had a huge impact on me losing part of my personality with it.

all the time I spend on the road paddling theirs so many times I wonder why am I going back. money is surely not the motivation so its got to be about enjoyment and the spark. once the spark has been extinguished its time to move on. 

I've a few plans up my sleeve but for the most part I wont be too far away, Ireland is a small community and I'm still a paddler (an injured paddler but still a paddler)

My main plan is to get fit again, with surgery later in the year to repair a torn Labrum, before then I can get fitter to help speed the recovery process to get me pushing hard again.

I want to be back on the water again, coaching, guiding and doing the things I'm good at, I wont be walking away from Kayak retail completely by rekindling a relationship with Colm @ I-Canoe, now I won’t be the competition but an ally I'll still be able to point people in the right direction for the kit they need.

Alongside these the creation of a new website is a high priority. More info will come later on this project but its a new idea and plan not really currently facilitated in Ireland. but I need to learn more on websites which is delaying this.

and did I mention myself and Jen are getting a new Puppy…. I guess its another life change His names Marlon and he's had an accident and also needs to work on some rehabilitation

So lastly thanks to everyone who has supported me and Great Outdoors, Customers and friends, if you ever want some advice or a chat give me a shout.

See you on the river

Adrian

The Keen Effect II

After its successful first season in 2014, the KEEN Effect fan-activated grants program goes into its second year.

Dedicated to building stronger communities and a healthier planet, for 2015 the KEEN Effect II will award 10 grants of $10,000 to non-profits around the world supporting organizations that are inspiring responsible outdoor participation.

Take a look and if you have any groups or organisations in mind make sure you apply!

Werner 4 Piece Split Paddle Review

Split paddles have been an essential part of kit lists for years and the question is always asked what are the best splits??

I can conclude the Werner 4 piece split paddles are the best split paddles period.

If I could end the review there I would but I feel I need to give some more explanation.
Over the past month I've managed to travel about Europe both driving and flying, when one of my friends came to join the fun In Austria all I had were cranked paddles with her preferring straight shaft sticks I was left with lending her the splits. She was impressed and never once commented about them (which is always a good sign) They held up well and have since gone back into a boat for another while.

So then again a few weeks later as I flew into France with no paddle, having sold the splits to a friends canoe club earlier in the season I was leant them back to use on a creeking mission, always slightly apprehensive on using splits as a primary paddle off we went,

Having put the paddle together with simple push button joints I was already impressed with the stability and sturdiness of the paddle wondering how it would hold up.

Quite honestly it held up as well as any single piece paddle From the first stroke the only difference I noticed was the blade size and length, usually I use a 203cm 30degree Shogun so a 194cm glass Sherpa was always going to feel difference but a few strokes in and I was away, the blade felt smooth and clean catching the water as id expect from a solid paddle and zero instability on the joints,

The paddle comes predrilled to go 45 degrees left or right hand or zero degree, so I set it to right hand and off we went,
After 3 days and nearly 30km of paddling on some of France's steepest rivers at no point did I ever feel my paddle wasn't up to the task,

The carbon Shaft is stiff and strong the Glass blades offer just enough flex to take much of the pressure off of impact's and especially when rubbing down walls, The glass blades tend to wear down over time instead of chipping ofr cracking like many other materials.

If you want a paddle you can safely paddle off of any river of any grade this is your only option the light weight carbon shaft and glass blades mean when being carried its as light as it gets and once together you will notice no performance lost in your split paddle option.

Werner will build the 4pc to your personal preference but think of your group what's going to be most useful personally anyone could use a Sherpa as its the mid size option but the Powerhouse could be on the large size for some paddlers. So I use a Sherpa 194cm as my preferred split option as many of the guys I paddle with are much smaller than me.

This is definitely a tried and tested piece of kit which will be coming with me on every adventure.

They aren't the cheapest option but certainly in this case you pay for what you get.

Available from

Back to France

After a super weekend at Cranafest and an enjoyable evening in Dublin with Martina, I had more time booked off, as normal all my plans changed and was left with no plan, having been at Mick Reynolds in France the week before we had talked plans and rivers. I took a look at cheap flights and booked a last minute flight to La Rochelle grabbed a hire car and drive over to Micks where the adventure would really begin.
Arriving Monday evening just in time to check the levels and make a rough plan, the van was loaded the scooter shuttle in the back along with full expedition kit for any eventuality and a pair of lovely Dagger Nomad 8.1s a size smaller than I would have been accustomed to but beggars cant be choosers, luckily she was lime green to match my kit :-)
So Tuesday we awoke early to drive down to the Allier a 16km stretch varying from grade 2 -3 with a couple of 4/5s. During its entirety it never really let up. An enjoyable paddle, great to familiarise myself with the new boat,
This is an amazing stretch for a group or club giving something for everyone, smooth lines to read and run with S moves galore you could spend all day hitting flares and spins on all the rapids,

So that evening we made a plan by pure guess work and a little hope as well as some of Micks aspirations we picked the Number one river in the region the Fontaulière. Dropping 149m in 3km this is also the steepest river in the region.
We drove over to the river staying in Chateaux Traffic and awaking to a freezing morning with cold winds and just generally fairly miserable, with low motivation we set our shuttle, using the scooter and the van made for easy work. Kitted up and ready to go we descended down to the waters edge, the cold water and the chilling breeze kept us on our toes,
When we met the river we were welcomed with drop after drop,as the gradient fell away so did we, some smooth lines and some big moves this river was a great way to go. At the halfway point we found the big drop, Micks eyes lit up with that look that nothing was stopping him, having spent nearly 5 years without much gradient he was finally home! eyeing up this drop a stlick slot entry leading into a 10m vertical slide. Before hitting the kicker and ejecting away from the base on a huge plume of white water sending you up and out a spectacular drop. By this point the flamingo was flapping he was ready he was up. A slight wobble on the entry and the smile as he reached the lip before plummeting downwards at Mach 10 he hit the kicker and planted into the whitewater below grinning from ear to ear, Reynolds was back in the game!

My turn as he set the camera I hit the entry slot taking the wobble and driving hard to the line I was looking as the boat kicked up the rush of air as I hit the kicker I drove with my knees to get the bow high up into the air landing flat with the noise echoing around the canyon the line was beautiful (even if a little sore)

but at this point we had come to the right river, descending and dropping further down the valley with the gradient stacking up behind us from smooth chutes and cascades to cruising rapids, a little more water would of cleaned up a few of the lines but we were having fun, some pinball fun in the bottom drop and we were out.
The short shuttle made easy with pizza delivery boy Mick and we were away to find our next run,

This time heading south back towards Millau where I hurt myself all of those months ago we headed for the Haut Tarn another absolute French classic, dropping some 223m with most of the gradient in the first two thirds of the river. The levels were low but runnable with a quick text to the local boys to confirm it was on, dropping into the valley and the walls just seemed to lift, greeted by horizon line after horizon,  this river had us smiling from the off.
A short way in we were greeted by the biggest drop of the run a technical series of rapids coming around a left elbow of 90 degrees before swinging right onto a sliding kicker dropping maybe 15m from the top. The drop was on but the lead in was tight, Mick had his mind made up to portage the lead in and drop in above the chute as he took off down the flow he was but a passenger plugging hard below,
I was already sore and looking at the right hand stroke I was starting to walk, having seen crash dummy Reynolds forget to pull any stroke and realise the run was easier than the portage I booted up. Ferrying out onto the flake pulling a left stroke through to lift the nose as I hit the crux lifted the knees and sailed through the air, bow high, once again landing flat on another big drop, it looked and felt stunning but knowing I'm going to be sore tomorrow. Continuing downstream being met by horizon lines meant plenty of scouting, with some incredible cascades and rapids the river left a lot of flakes to run with sticky holes hiding keeping the bow high was essential. Another committing rapid opened up in front of us on inspection 4 drops with the crux the constriction style drop as the third down a a 8 foot channel where the water had to flow uphill to leave the pool causing a huge towback and recirculation,

on inspection Mick was out, but something on it felt good, to link the 4 drops in one series looked good, with Mick on camera and rescue I fired it, drop one right flake, drop two left flake, then charge at the third, on the green chute pull a right stroke to keep the bow high of the first wave and plant the left into the pile to keep it moving, the small nomad skipped and sailed straight through the drop not stopping to look back, as I reached the 4th drop I was far to excitable and forgot to pull the stroke so came through a little tail happy but wow what a line.
The river didn't let up throwing in  gradient behind big boulders some with consequence scouting was the order of the day.


Another big flare leading to just off vertical pour over made me think of champions killer, again I was paddling well and it was on, probably because the flare entry just looked soo sweet, it was worth the rest of the rapid, again the line went and stayed the nomad flying through with ease, at last I was back on my game, paddling with confidence. the bigger the water the better I got.

Mick was back in his element after so long off of big rivers, many would joke he cant paddle big rivers anyway too much water for him, but I can assure you all he held his own, safe and strong, knowing he had the line and would pick me up was a good feeling, his lines were improving as the trip went on shaking off the rust quickly to paddle these 3French Classics at last minutes notice.

As we eventually reached the dam to mark the get out after a full day on the water he was already planning the next adventure...... Jura
A short flight back to Dublin with a bank holiday weekend upon us time to load up and hit up this magical place called Kerry before my holiday ends.

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.

Road to recovery August 2014

After near on 8 weeks off the water from the end of June I've had to sit and wait its been absolutely killing me, not being in a boat. In 93 days on the water I missed just 2 days so technically in 100 days I missed 9 that's a pretty good ratio just so happened they were 9 days in the last 11.

So back to the water

Session 1 - 15/8/14 
I took the  XL Burn for a spin at the new sluice with no release. No matter how careful I want to be when I'm on my own I'm far too excitable, so in no release I had the boat front surfing and some lovely vertical pop outs not my best first day on the water.  But had loads of fun and realised what I love about paddling, the freedom and the belief. The confidence that will take me to bigger sunnier places. The shoulder felt good with emphasis put on shoulder position and rotation of the torso keeping the paddle blade in front of me was important.

• I noted that as I paddled like normal I had strength in the bottom pull of the stroke but have pain in the punch phase this could be addressed by locating the shoulder correctly before the stroke.

Session 2 - 19/8/14
This time the slalom boat came out after a sneaky hospital trip with a blocked ear from the last paddle I did, I decided it was better to keep my head dry. So took the slalom boat upstream really working on positioning and shoulder tension with every stroke. I was able to paddle virtually pain free upto Leixlip.  All by feeling as the shoulder wound through the stroke this time driving with top and lower hands consistently on the flat before dropping back down and into the sluice.  Front surfing and a sneaky pop out as well as some nice ferry moves looking at positioning and letting the flow do the work before some fast eddy turns down and a nice charge back up the eddies in turn and back to the feature. 

• Shoulder felt good during the session very careful about reaching and stayed on the back of the blade for eddy turns. Forwards feels strong.

Session 3 - 20/8/14
Slalom night at WWKC A paddle upstream kept me thinking about shoulder movement, slightly worried im rolling the shoulder out instead of holding it firm need to get time and do a video session on an ergo to really see what im doing. Paddled a smaller boat which i am able to push around on the flat. Feeling confident tried a set course and as I used a bow draw I let the tension off on the exit of the stroke which left me in a lot of pain again. Sat back for a while to feel what hurt and then stupidly attempted a timed run at the end. I cant not be competitive I love the idea of competition whether its against myself or the world. My only saving grace was I hit the first three gates great before realising I hadn't a clue of the course and pulled up. I had let the moment take me and at that point id done too much. The pain was their and I knew I shouldn't of. I know I  need to get some video work done and see what works. and need to get back to the physio next week to discuss the results. She told me last week to get back on the water but I need to slow every thing down I need to paddle with someone who will keep me on check and understands what I need to do and when to push me. Paddling alone is where I feel most natural but mean  I will always push myself far further than I should be right now.

• Ibruprofen and rest for a day and see how it feels

Session 4 - 22/8/14
A day off work resulted in a half day in work so after getting out decided it was time for paddle again no takers to join me which was disappointing so I decided to go to sluice on my own. Since being injured I've definitely missed paddling with people. Before I hurt myself I had a whole host of people to paddle with but now I seem to be resigned to paddling on my own much of the time. I hit sluice in the big burn.  Still sporting the safe Palm shorty cag in the event I get stuck again I don't want my cagdeck cut so with no release I hopped on. I had a good think about stopping and stretching but honestly I never bothered, I took a few strokes upstream with no pain thought about my positioning and headed down. In no water the current sluice creates a shallow V which is just about front surfable in the big boats with the ability to work up and over the cushion but a very tame feature. Smooth ferries using body control felt smooth I then continued to eddy hop down the eddies and back up I used combination of draws and bow rudders even the odd crossbow and felt fairly pain free. Once out onto the flat I tried simple strokes and the one that still gives me grief is a reverse stroke on my right the pushing away motion is sore. I remember that pain from before I went away as it was giving me grief in the double pump phase of the cartwheel.

• Off the water and feeling happy I'm back on the water. I'm eager to do more I can feel my body wants to be pushed asking me 'is that it?' And yes it is for the moment I need to walk pain free before I can run I don't want to rush this as I love to paddle and want to be strong again.

Session 5 - 25/8/14
With only 4 months to Christmas and 5 weeks until my European adventure back to the physio to see how I was doing with some improvements but still lots of pain its back to basics positioning. Today we looked at how I move in the boat and how that causes pain by using a weighted golf club we could mimic some of the work.

By starting with my seated posture and lifting from their the stroke starts much earlier. Time to get on a paddling machine and really do some work.
After the Physio appointment I took the big burn for a quick spin in no water at sluice.  Again with no one to paddle with I was just  putting into place what id just done and looking at my body positioning as I crossed the low flow, allowing the boat to do the work. The posture and seating position is an interesting one with complex creek boat seats try and drop you back into them where as you want to be on the front of the seat while using the abs and obliques from.the core to start the stroke. Some pain but just twinges tonight. Its difficult on my own to see what I'm doing, physio says the soreness and tension in my shoulder blades is correct but without a spotter its time to get inside and put in some work on a machine where I've a mirror to see what's happening.

Session 6 - 26/8/14

With some work going on at Sluice today to fix the main feature by parting the bottom of the course and unblocking the flow seemed like a great opportunity to go for a paddle, when  arrived their was a nice group out from WWKC plus a few others, the rejigged feature in a minimum flow allowed the Burn 3 XL to be surfed in the surfers right pocket and spun in the surfers left side. with so many people out I was able to slow down and relax their was a queue and I couldn't do too much,

• A really enjoyable session, the shoulder is starting to feel strong again with good pull and starting to use the backstroke to initiate spins with no real sign of pain. strength is coming back.

The feeling of flying, or the feeling of falling one of the two, that last stroke to pull through and let the boat release from its downward pull to accelerate away from the pool and into the clear water. Thats a feeling I miss as I look at photos from sickline last year and cant wait to be back. Paddling is about feeling the water and the flow and forms it takes that's what I think of that's what I dream of and that's where I want to be.

Session 7 - 31/8/14
A drive north to pick up a new ergo followed by a call from the walsh we headed to sluice with Bernie and Mairead today their was some tree cutting to be done. After a paddle upstream in the Slalom boats we started on the trees across the st catherines park footbridge to clear and make safe for the Junior Liffey Descent in the first week of September. As we were working the levels were rising so a few slips and falls left us swimming in the earlier shallow river. Once we were happy that we did what we could with hand saws we headed down. The level had now lifted to nearly 2 megs and the sluice was back. Surfing and cutting back in the slalom boat before plugging the nose for some vertical fun. This was the first time ive been on sluice with a sup of water and cutting in and out of the feature felt great. I still had pain but I was back in love the river was flowing and I was gliding, making use of the new deep eddys for some controlled tail squirts,

The feeling of water pushing the once static boat made for an enjoyable afternoon, with the new outlet wave formed at the bottom of the course the slalom boat was able to surf happily and controlled before spinning into some big vertical tail squirts just catching the floor as it came through.

This was a really nice session to be back on the water with friends.

• The feeling of water pushed me to try things im still not able for but the enjoyment and the love is back

Keen Clearwater CNX

Ive been lucky to have worked with Keen Footwear for a while now, this has put me in the position to be provided with some great looking footwear for use both on and off the water. Over the years ive had some great shoes my favourites have to be my A86s, a functional trainer which looks amazing.
As always there are styles I wouldn't pick. Unfortunately I was never a huge fan of the Newport, this is Keens flagship sandal and been the market leader for sometime.

So what happened I was traveling to a Europeans in 2012 when my new styles hadn't arrived in time to pack I was left taking the Newports.

After a week of paddling and using them I had changed my mind these were amazing, the support and protection of a shoe without the bulk or the smell.
I was sold, my only issue having big feet I felt the footbed was wide and I kept kicking myself.

Later that year I recieved my new clearwater CNX as I had grown to love the Newport I decided I would give these a real test both on and off the water to see how they faired,

Almost 2 years later and they are a permanent fixture when travelling. I even have the tanlines to prove it,

Whats so special you ask???

The Clearwaters now have the CNX sole a lighter more compact sole so its not so deep or as wide which solves my bulk problem of kicking myself, this also means they now fits into most boats I paddle and dries quickly afterwards, so whether its a quick paddle in the sea or climbing across a river, the sole offers the support and the grip to cope with the most tricky spots even when wet. When flexing the sole you notice the hidden effect to offer grip whilst stepping just when you need it,
Ive used these across most of Europe whether in the riverboat creeking in the sun or in the sea kayak swimming about, the Clearwater is no compromise. I took these to Croatia in 2013 where I would spend the day as a tourist before deciding it was too hot and hopping into the Adriatic for a swim before continuing my sightseeing, Croatia's harsh environment of rocks and sea really proved how good the Clearwaters were, never once failing or slipping.

More recently I travelled to King of the alps in Italy at one point I was climbing about the river with banners, most river shoes would find the polished granite of the river extremely challenging and sometimes impossible yet my sandals were safe and secure. Later in the week as we drove over into Austria we found ourselves having a snowball fight. This time I was running about the snow except for the cold I had grip and could move without fear.

Its an amazing feeling to have support and confidence in your footwear without the fear of slipping or falling is just great.
I highly recommend the Clearwaters as a sandal for both men and women which offers stability and support from the footbed combined with the soft powerful strapped upper to keep them on your feet without rubbing or chaffing, and then the solid grippy CNX sole to keep you right where you want to be
As always the colours just get better and better each year, certainly my favourite sandal without exception.
Thanks to Keen Footwear for supporting me and providing me with stylish secure footwear for all of my adventures.

Keen Footwear is also available to buy at