Looking back, moving forwards.

Ruth, Upper Tees, Below Wynch Bridge

Austria. Ruth in Schules Gorge.

Sleningford Mill with quite a bit of water

River Nidd (Skip Bridge) c. 1992

Chris D, Barry S, and Wilf c. 1995

Upper Tees, The Dogs Leg. c. 1997

Wilf, Low Force. c. 1993

Tryweryn c.1993

Teesside WWC c.1995

HPP c. 1996

HPP c.1998

Linton Falls, R. Wharfe. c. 1998

Sanna, Austria. c. 1998



Ruth, River Sanna, Austria.


Wilf and Ruth

River Sanna
Austria

River Swale.

Ruth, top wave Teesside WWC

Sunday 15th Feb

Ruth and the kids off Swimming, so I got picked up by Priesty. A quick phone call to Cheeky Steve, he tells me the river has come up about 6 inches on yesterday. (What he did not say was that it was still coming up, and fast!)

Arrived at BC just after 10am. The river was brown and swirly. The lower section of the Tees is not a good place to be with people who can't roll yet, so a different venue needed to be found.

After a discussion, we ended up staying around BC and working on skills. As it turned out, this was a great opportunity for the three progressive paddlers to develop some refinment in their paddling skill.

Priesty did a sweet roll in a horrible swirly mess of an eddy, Jake was surfing like a pro, and Mandy managed to stop her knees knocking. (Hey, it's hard to edge your boat when your legs wont keep still!).

All in all, I had an ace morning, some great big bouncy bits, swirly eddies and friendly waves. A super learning environment, and one not often encounterted by paddlers at their level of development. The river rose continually, Abbey was very big when we had a look at 2.30pm I reckon Ken and Dave running the AWWSR course there would have had their hands ful!

Personal Skills on the Tees, Feb14th

Cold, not a bit. A full 8 degrees warmer than last weekend, the Tees was absolutely tropical at 4 degrees C today. It was also at a pleasent level offering some friendly and unintimidating waves for Alan (see pictures) to polish his style.

Same bit again tomorrow I think with ROCK.

ROCK - The first proper meeting.

We had a brilliant meeting , with a good number in attendance. A lot was discussed including membership terms and conditions, fees, equipment, health and safety, the activity programme and encouraging junior awards.

The latest Wilf gadget was unveiled, the WPT (still a bit secret) and members were in agereement about its usefullness.

Also the ROCK Stars programm for junior members was offcially launched, with Eleanor Biggs (and Paul Willett, a big kid) getting the first certificates.

I am especially proud of the ROCK Stars programme, it is a pool based series of encouragement awards focusing on structured progression. At the moment it is kayak based, however one of the junior members has been tasked with considering the wider concept.

ROCK Stars is an alternative to the BCU Paddlepower scheme, offering an even easier progression and more immidiate rewards. Important, I feel for our youngest members.

By 'eck, twas cold ont' Tees today.

Thanks Claire for your help with the weekend and showing me how to set up this blog.

We've had a busy weekend running 4 Star training. It was a tad chilly to say the least.I have never seen ice formed on the Tees quite like it. We litterally had to break in and out of the eddies!

Despite the cold, the group worked hard looking at river leadership and personal skills. There was some reluctance to play in stoppers by some, I have no idea why that was!