45 replies to this topic

[Derf]

Anyone here into kayaking, if so got any favourite spots for playing / touring etc...

[Big Al]

You probably know this one already, Lake Pier @ Hamworthy. Easy launching and go all around the harbour from there. Thats where I launch from

[Derf]

I like lake pier (some of the guys from my club have launched from the pier itself on a high tide)... gone all round Arne and over to Brownsea from there (had a bit of a surf in the wake of the fast-cat as well)
keep meaning to paddle up to wareham as well.
Been looking here http://www.ukriversg...id=7&Itemid=107 just wondering if anyone on here has paddled any of them?

Edited by Derf, 14 February 2011 - 05:05 PM.

[Stumblebum]

I'm not but my OH is big time.

He's got a blog about places around the solent http://solentkayakpages.blogspot.com/

It's had over 25,500 hit so far!! (you'll need to scroll down the page)

[Derf]

I'd love to do a spot of sea kayaking... only got a WW boat at the mo (surfs like a dream on a slight swell though). Have taken it around poole harbour and played on the somewhat dismal surf reef at Boscombe.
When the weather becomes a bit more consistant, going to go for a paddle out to Old Harry Rocks.

[JayU]

I do a fair amount of paddling. Mainly white water. Favourite paddling location so far is the french alps last summer But you'll most likely find me in Wales quite a few weekends out of the year

Few photos of me doing silly stuff

[TallGuy]

Derf, have you contacted the Sgt and SNT PC I told you about? What they don't know about getting wet aint worth knowing.

[Derf]

there's a certain someone at my nick keeps promising to teach me to roll, but he's taken up paddle boarding now...
Can you PM me the details please TG?

Great pics JayU, hope to be at that level sometime! I'm off with my club down Tiverton way on Saturday for some easy grade 1 WW. Should be a little more fun than Blandford weir!

Edited by Derf, 16 February 2011 - 08:00 PM.

[Derf]

Woke up the other morning with the great idea of doing next years (2012) Devizes - Westminster race. Then decided to tell everyone about it and that I'd be doing it for charity so i can't now back out...

Anyone fancy helping me????

[JayU]

What does the race entail? Distance? Flat water?

J

[Derf]

www.dwrace.org.uk

It's 54 miles down the Kennet & Avon canal, then down the Thames to Teddington lock, then on the Tidal bit of the Thames down to westminster bridge.
125 miles in all and 77 portages. You have to time your arrival at Teddington to coincide with the outgoing tide though, as the tide comes in at 6mph... given that the top speed of a K1 is 4-5mph, if you get it wrong you end up going backwards!
K2's do it as a straight through race in one hit, K1's and juniors do it over 4 days

[Stumblebum]

Woke up the other morning with the great idea of doing next years (2012) Devizes - Westminster race. Then decided to tell everyone about it and that I'd be doing it for charity so i can't now back out...

Anyone fancy helping me????

MY OH has been dying to do it for years, in fact he was only talking about it the other day, moaning that he didn't have anyone to do it iwth.
I'm sure he would be interested in doing it with you

[Kellym82]

Did all the training for that back when I was 17, but due to other sporting commitments couldn't make the race! Loads of my friend from school did it though. It's really hard work, but apparently the best thing they have ever done paddling wise.

If you know the date etc. I would be interested in being part of the support crew.

[TallGuy]

Did you get any feedback from the contacts I gave you, and have you contacted Sports and Social?

[Derf]

TG: not yet, been a bit busy of late, but will get round to doing it.

The DW is ran annually over Easter weekend. Starts Good friday, the class I was thinking of entering (senior singles) is run over 4 days. Senior doubles is the apex class and run as a straight through race.
I've only got whitewater boats at the mo, and a 10 mile round trip down Poole Harbour and up the river Frome proved that my best WW boat would be far too slow and hard work. I'm looking at a sea kayak (for comfort) or using the ancient fibreglass thing currently tied to the fence in my back garden, for the 2012 race, I'm not too worried about the competitive aspect - finishing within the 4 days is the only result I'm looking at for the mo.

Initial plan is to use my WW boat / old fibreglass K1 for training / building up endurance, then around November time, I should know if I'm worthy of having a crack at the race. I'm not ruling out doing it as part of a doubles, but I haven't got a doubles boat and I would take up the offer from Stumblebum if the logistics of training etc can be overcome.

[Owen]

I have 1 star in kayaking...

That's right.. I can sit there, move forward and not fall out (flat!)

Just one night a week for a few week with school when I was there.... it was good fun anyway!

[Stumblebum]

I'll pass it on. ATM hes got nothing on his mind other than the Harley he's hoping to win on ebay!

[Ben.]

Can't beleive I missed this thread

I am a full time Senior Paddlesport (Canoe & Kayak) Coach for Newham Council and the 2012 Games. So yeah, I do a bit

[Derf]

Ben F.
You can meet me at westminster bridge with a bacon sarnie and cup of tea...

[Ben.]

haha !

Best of luck in the DW - It is a mega hard and long race that but so worth while

The key to a successful DW, believe it or not, is how you position your body to handle a long paddle stint.

[Kellym82]

Can't beleive I missed this thread

I am a full time Senior Paddlesport (Canoe & Kayak) Coach for Newham Council and the 2012 Games. So yeah, I do a bit

But I thought you weren't working at the moment? And who are you coaching for the games? You never mentioned that bit before! haha

[Ben.]

But I thought you weren't working at the moment? And who are you coaching for the games? You never mentioned that bit before! haha

My contact with Newham is still active but with no centre, I can't work.

I have coached two junior paddlers who have been selected to enter the Newham Olympics squad and also the BCU Olympic Development team.

Edit: Spelling

Edited by Ben F, 14 April 2011 - 02:50 PM.

[Kellym82]

My contact with Newham is still active but with no centre, I can't work.

I have coached two junior paddlers who have been selected to enter the Newham Olympics squad and also the BCU Olympic Development team.

Edit: Spelling

Meant to ask you about the centre actually... will message you later

Ooh what's the Newham Olympics squad?

[Ben.]

Meant to ask you about the centre actually... will message you later

Ooh what's the Newham Olympics squad?

Lead by past Olympic squads, the junior trainee paddlers get £24k for equipment and training to enter the Olympic team as a junior or senior.

[Kellym82]

Great opportunity there, good luck to your paddlers!

I should really get back into it... used to love it when I was working in outdoor ed but haven't done any paddling in ages.