Wales Kayaking and MTB

The first trip out for Richie's new toy was a success!

Richie rocking out his new pair of Crocs. Dan's new playboat also had a first outing on the Mighty T.

Saturday

After a steady drive over to Bala we managed to get on the river for 11am. A quick warm up run saw us back up the top for some more action. Plenty of people had come out for the day as none of the local rivers were running. Cafe wave was the favourite spot to stop and play on. Caving round the wave and managing a few flat spins. Lunch was up next, and Richie changed into his 88. Another run down after lunch and a lot of playing in the Cafe wave. Richie decided to ditch the creeker and join us again in his playboat. However as we were walking back up the course we noticed the water had been turned off! Asking one of the raft guides it turns out they mixed up the release times and were switching it back on. Half an hour later and with Adur Canoe Club following us we headed back down for another run. No real incidents although a slalom boat managed to get pinned on the ski jump. Finally got off the river at 6pm and headed to the campsite on the west coast of the lake in Bala. Tents pitched in record time, we headed back into Bala for dinner. 

Sunday

After an unsettled night, due to wind and rain we packed up and headed to Llandegla Trail Centre for the first time. 

Richie halfway round.

Richie and Dan. 

The nights rain made for an interesting and slippy ride. Dan had a little moment on the board walk loosing the back end under braking but managed to recover it. Llandegla's black trail was a hit with all three of us. The mix of fast downhill sections and lots of rolling jumps, table tops and doubles were amazing! Hopefully next time we ride it it'll be dry. Confidence was building in the wet conditions, and getting used to the jumps. Towards the tail end of one section however Dan had a little off after a jump. Protecting his bike he chose to slide down a sandy muddy bank. With me not too far behind I had to stop sharply so not to run over his front wheel. 

Blood runs thicker than water, Dan's leg after his little off.

All back in one piece, now just the three and a half hour drive home.

Ready for the Weekend in Wales

All packed for a weekend in Wales, kayaking and mountain biking!

Post Work Cycle Round Rutland Water

Big Dog Moriston River Race 2013

This is where it all started for FMO. Spawn from the banter post-race with Rob A's “Fear of Missing Out” wanting to know the results. We came up with the idea of creating a blog where all our exploits would be recorded for all these people unable to make it and to serve as a record for future reference.

The Saturday before RACE Day
After a long drive up on the Saturday we got to Invermoriston just before 6pm. We set up camp and headed back to the Lock Inn at Fort Augusts. Another impressive meal was severed with no left overs returned. We then headed back to camp for an early night before the race.

RACE DAY!

Practice Session
There was some confusion regarding times so we only managed to get a couple of runs down the full length of the course and session the cheese grater a couple more times. This already double the amount of times we've previously ran the river, although it was clear that it still wasn't enough!

Qualifying

Richard Meers
Richie was the first down out of the group. Two weeks previous he had semi-dislocated his left should again. His aim was to get down the course up right and in one piece. First run went well. His line off the waterfall put him back into the flow and not against the wall. Due to injury the pace on the flat was a little slower than the top boys, but still impressive considering the injury his was carrying. His second qualifying run was stead but unfortunately didn't get the lottery line on the top waterfall, slamming him into the wall. No rolls on both runs and finished qualifying a respectable 46th.

Dan

Words from Dan "Sat at the starting ramp ready for my first run, once my deck was on nerves had settled down a little. The red lights were on, 5-4-3-2-1- and off I went sliding down the ramp. I started at a steady pace towards the first waterfall. Unfortunately I landed facing the wrong direction and pointing towards the wall, from there on out it was a fight to try and make up time getting the lines right was key. Finishing the first run with a time of 03:31.08 and a final position of 44th. This wasn't good enough and knew I have to try hard to redeem myself. 

Second run came round fast I wasn't as nervous this time and concentrated on the job in hand. Had a really good start and landed the first waterfall drop really well and facing the correct way. Continued to charge hard, managed a good boof over Sticky Hole and hit the line I wanted for Cheese Grater. The run felt much faster and as I crossed the line I could see my time of 03:20.79, much much happier with this time! It was just the wait for the remainder of the runners to see where I had placed. After the last person was down I managed to claw my way up the table to 33rd, although 3 places off where I would have liked to finish not bad after a poor first run."

Alan Beecroft

My first qualifying run was a mixed bag. I got the lottery line off the first waterfall and ended up being pushed hard right. Boofed as hard as I could over Sticky Hole and charged hard to the Cheese Grater. Unfortunately on the Cheese Grater I got pushed left and spun on a rock half way down. The rest of the rapid was done backwards, however I still managed a time of 3:21.05. My second run was much better despite taking a roll on the Waterfall, Sticky Hole and Cheese Grater both spot on though I lost a little bit of time on the penultimate rapid hitting a rock river right. Both my times were good enough to Qualify 17th, meaning a quick run back to the top, with the help of Dan and Richie carrying my boat.

Alan B 17th and Dan G 33rd

Richard M 46th

THE FINAL

After 30 minutes rest I was back in the start blocks ready to give it my all. I choose to go a little more right of left off the top waterfall, luckily this paid off. I got pushed hard right in the pool again but was back in the main flow. From here to Sticky Hole I was paddling as fast and hard as possible but trying to keep something in the tank for the flat just after Sticky Hole. My boof over Sticky Hole felt amazing. As I landed you could feel the boat accelerate and plane through the boil. From here to the Cheese Grater was hard work. I went slightly too far right which put me over some shallow rocks but it did mean that I wouldn't miss the right line down Cheese Grater. I managed to get through Cheese Grater without any problems and down into the penultimate rapid without any issues. At this point I could hear the PA system saying “This is going to be a fast time” and the crowd cheering. With this in my mind I just had to stay upright through the last rapid and cross the finish line. Thankfully I did and posted a time of 3:09.86. Starting the final 17th meant there was still a lot more people to come but at that point I was first. After the last paddler had run the course I ended up a happy 8th.

Alan B 8th

After the race it was a steady paddle down to the Gun Club for a well-earned drink. That evening’s entertainment was down in Invermoriston Village Hall, where the awards were handed out. After 5 or 6 rounds we decided to walk the 3 miles back to the Gun Club as the shuttle bus was running till later on. After what seemed like ages we managed to thumb down a couple of lads on their way to Sky and got a lift to the Gun Club. Another drink down and off to bed ready for an early start packing up and driving nine and a half hours home.

Big Dog Moriston River Race 2013 Bibs

Substantial TV - Ep. 5 Teaser "The Holy Waters"

The boys are back, well soon! Here's their teaser for Ep. 5 "The Holy Water"

Substantial TV - Ep. 5 Teaser "The Holy Waters" from Substantial Media House on Vimeo.

Austria 2012 Trip Video

Finally got round to added the Final Cut of our first trip out to Austria back in July 2012. Severn Paddles spent two weeks paddling some of the best rivers in Austria and Switzerland.

Sunrise in Campertogno, Italy

Dan Green's time lapse of another beautiful start of a days kayaking in Val Sesia, Italy.