HPP Summer 2010

Finally got round to making the video from HPP during the summer :) Enjoy :D
"This is Freestyle Kayaking and this is our sport"

Paddlers:
James Benns,
Bren Orton,
James Weight,
Jack Gunter,
Charles Blyth,
George Younger,
Rhys Roberts,
Josh Wedgewood,
Craig Ayres

HPP Youth Freestyle

Went up to Nottingham from the 9-12th September which included visiting Nottingham uni on the Thursday. Managed to paddle Friday evening for a bit. Seemed the course had changed quite a bit, the inlet gate had been set up for the WWR on the Saturday so nothing was sticking! The 2nd Hole had been changed significantly and was back to the twin-waves it used to be; I much preferred the sticky beatdown we had for all of summer. Tardis however was nicer and slightly stickier. Unfortunately the course was closed all day Saturday for WWR which me and Rhys were safety boating for. Managed to paddle once the centre had closed but it started to get busy with everyone arriving for Youth Freestyle on the Sunday. The YF organisers had arranged a BBQ for the Saturday night on the campsite but off we went to the carvery where Benn's managed to get free pudding for chatting to the manager :) Saturday's antic's include my tent being put up a tree, Bren getting soaked in the car wash and Benn's chucking ice cream at people :)

Youth Freestyle on the Sunday was the last in the series so lots of youngens arrived early morning to get paddling. The day consisted various paddling workshops and the ball race in the morning which was won by myself and Sam who decided that the Duo was the best way to get the quickest time. Then onto the competitions in the afternoon with everyone doing a run on: Inlet Gate, 2nd Hole and Muncher.

After the freestyle comps it was time for the fun event whilst all the results were being compiled for the final results. This consisted of the unsponsored paddlers floating down the course to collect balls (more balls=more prizes), sponsored paddlers had to swim!! This was a great fun event!

This led to more jumping in, swimming and everyones boats being thrown down the course. Much to the un-amusement of the organisers although most loved it!

After all this it was time for prize giving with lots of prizes being given out from all of the events sponsors!!

I didn't do too well coming in at 18th in the Under 18's with 115 points but it was a great few days! And I can't wait till next year's events where I hope to be able to compete in more events!

YFS 2010 Series Results


Girls
1st - Gabby Bates
2nd - Rachel Bovill
3rd - Kim Aldred

12 & Under
1st - Jonathon Williams
2nd - James Cooper

15 & Under
1st - Bren Orton
2nd - James Benns
3rd - Josh Wedgewood

18 & Under
1st - James Weight
2nd - Rhys Roberts
3rd - Matt Rodgers

North Avon Canoe Club were crowned as the Club Champions 2010

HPP

Went down to HPP with the Bro's (and Callie) for a week and a half from the 24th July - 2nd August. I was doing one of Sam Ward's Freestyle Development Camps (http://www.loveitliveit.co.uk/trips/freestyle_development_camps.html). I learnt a lot during this week of coaching. The main moves I worked on with Sam were Front Loop, Back Loop, Space Godzilla, Helix and Cartwheels. I also did some work on my Right hand side roll getting this more efficient and making it easier to retain the feature. Also spent quite a bit of time working on competition rides and planning these in order to maximise points and making each relevant to the feature. My main moves for competition were Air Loop and Helix; for a Youth Freestyle competition we also worked on maximising non ICF scored moves such as enders, side surfs, roll in a hole etc.

The week's antics involved getting started on in Maccy D's, nearly exploding a gas cooker, getting evicted from the campsite, inappropriate phone calls and paddling the Regatta lake at 1 in the morning =)

It was a great fun week and I hope to be back up at HPP soon to practice these moves and learn some new ones! Will hopefully be there for the HPP Youth Freestyle competition if I can get a lift :)

Here is a quick preview of my paddling up at HPP:

Boulters Youth Freestyle

The Boulters weekend kicked off with the second British league event on the Saturday, 10th July. I was unable to attend as it was my 17th and wasn't really fit to be competing :) I did however go for the Youth Freestyle series on the Sunday. This was my first time at a Youth Freestyle event and also at Boulters. In the morning there were sessions run by the Junior GB team and Sam Ward working on both flatwater skills and moves in the feature preparing for the afternoons competitions. After lunch it was time for the competitions, James Weight came first in the under 18s and Brendan Orton in first for the under 15s. Full results will be posted once they have been released.

After competitions it was time for the special event organised by Rhys. It was a freestyle event with no boats allowed hucking yourself off the pourover in weird and wonderful ways.  Front and backflips soon got boring with new ideas such as human chains, synchronised moves and downtime being the main attraction.

All in all it was a great day!! Next Youth Freestyle event is the 15th August at the new whitewater course at Cardiff. I won't be at this event as I will be in sunny California at that time :) I should be around for the HPP event on the 12th September.

I am off on Saturday for a weeks coaching with Love It Live It's Sam Ward on one of his Freestyle Development Camps!!

Thanks to Kayakojacko, Pyranha and Squarerock for the organising of this event :D

Chertsey 10-06-10

Went down to a rather flushy Chertsey yesterday afternoon after my last 2010 exam with Mark.
Here's a quick vid: