Just a little write up on my first time at HPP by Sammy Jackson

Over the last 6 years or so I’ve been to HPP for various reasons BCU conferences or watching friends compete in Slalom comps there to freestyle events and always looked at the water and thought wow that looks a lot of fun but more challenging from what I’m used to paddling on small grade 2 and coaching in a flat water lake.

But after all these years building it up in my head to be this big killer course only for the most experienced paddler the time had come to face my fears and see just how bad it really was J

Well what can I say it has got to be one of my best days paddling ever, looking at the course from the top of the bridge the first thing I saw was the inlet gate which is a smallish stopper and as I’m scared of stoppers this was not a good start in my head but from simply just paddling through it I was clear of it and relieved at the same time.

The next section of the course was slightly wider section of moving water which was great for me to get more confident on before moving off downstream to the bigger sections below, so we spent some time here doing some ferry’s and getting my edges and angles correct and breaking in and out trying not to use a bow rudder all the time but using just your body rotation and speed, angle and edge, although I found this hard at first trying to change a stroke that I’ve been using for a few years I soon began to understand the concept and it was much smoother and has a more solid feel to it whilst crossing the eddy lines ( which i have to say were a fastest and boililest ones I’ve ever been on so far)

Once I was crossing this section well we moved another step further down the course to my first real stopper again terror took over but after I was taught the correct way to approach the stopper and how to lock and load my paddle and pull through the cushion wave on the top I felt ready to give it a go, the first time my timing was all wrong due to fear so made it through ok but only just felt, it slowed me down no end but I was still upright and alive so all was good! After a few more go’s I was getting there and was not worried about it at all just enjoying the session so much. It also helped that for March the sun was shining and it was really hot and it felt refreshing to be getting splashed and cooled down after all the hard work paddling I was doing.

So then onto the next section of the course below from jumping out of my kayak and looking downstream again the terror once again took over at everything that was going on below wave after wave and stopper after stopper wow would I survive I asked myself, It was not the rolling or the capsizing that worried me really more the fact that if I did swim where would I end up and how far would I be washed down before being able to get myself out or be rescued? Worry I need not after lots more expert advice and demos I was ready to rock and roll and get back on the water,

I first watched my Son Harry paddle down through the biggest stopper on the course and into the next one and then safely break out it was my husband’s turn to have a go I was feeling still on the edge of shall I run it or walk round and get in below but for once in a long time I felt safe and I knew I was being looked after and if I didn’t do it today when would I get over my fear and do it, So Richard’s go had arrived and he got through the first big stopper fine only to get his exit a little bit off to one side and he was spun round and slammed into one of the omiflots there! Ouch I thought I’m not doing that!

So that was it decision time! Shall i shant i? It’s now or never I thought so let’s do it the feeling I was going to get afterwards when I arrived safely in the bottom eddy after running the 2 stoppers was the best feeling ever! I could hardly breathe with all the excitement and adrenaline that was going through me, But wow it was so worth it.

From then on I felt so much more confident the most i’d felt in years nothing could stop me now, We moved on down through the rest of the course and worked out way across sections of the flow over waves through stoppers and down drops it was the best feeling on earth and the more we did the more confident I felt so all of my paddling improved and I was getting in the eddies tighter and pushing just that little bit harder and when I was asked to lead on some of the course that was also a challenge but one I took up with enthusiasm off I went finding my own way and spotting my own eddies whilst everyone else followed me down.

At the very end of the course there was one last stopper called the washing machine I have to say I had a bit of a shock when I first went through this one wasn’t very visible from above so was not to good and on thinking to myself well this can’t be that bad I’ve paddling through the biggest one and I was fine so off I went, only to be slightly surprised when I got to the top of the drop and saw it wasn’t quite straight across the river but at a angle I paddled on the best I could and hoped for the best I came up the other side and felt myself get pulled backwards wow I’ve never paddled so hard to get out of it, But again there I was there safe and well and on the other side at last, and at the bottom of the course phew!

I went onto run this section two more times after understanding how no matter what angle a stopper is on the river you must always attack it straight on and once I understood that i was all go!

At the very end of our days training we did a confidence boost swim and i had to jump into the course above the washing machine stopper roll into a tight ball go through the stopper out the other side then try as hard as I could to swim out of the very fast flow and into the eddy wow exhausting is about all I can say about that but it was fun and so much so I had another go.

So to sum it all up at the start of the session before getting on the water had to be my scariest moment before paddling a new section of water turned out to be the best paddling experience ever and so much that I’ve already booked my session back up there again to get back on the water and attack those stoppers again!

Cant wait!

Sammy Jackson

Team CKT Paddler Sam Jackson Review on the Palm Surge Cag

When i was looking for a new winter cag I wanted to makes sure this time I got one with latex neck seals and arm seals as for the last few years ive been using a neo neck which was good but not completely dry, So i had a look around and opted for the new Palm Surge

Well i was not disappointed that’s for sure it’s the best cag I’ve had in a long time.

I am very impressed with The new Palm Surge, I got it in red which stands out well on the water and its much lighter weight than I expected compared to other brands I’ve owned in the past but so still super warm and so dry it’s unreal love the fact all the water just pearls off it when i roll.

The sleeves if anything are a bit longer than i would like but as it’s a unisex cag and I have a size large think they must be allowing for all these men out there that have longer arms that me, but apart from that its all good.

Like the fact I can tighten and loosen the outer neck seal too which has been good if it’s a colder day and good to slacken it off on a sunnier day.

I was also out late in the day whilst working last week and it turned a bit darker and I was impressed with the Reflective strips on the cag , nice to think that if ever got caught out on the river in the dark I would be seen on the water or even walking back along a road back to the truck so that was a added bonus too.

Wear wise I’ve used it around 15 times now on canoeing trips, flat water, sea kayaking, surfing and on white water and it has performed well is all these areas being very comfortable to wear and it’s also not restrictive at all so great for body rotation and rolling.

I would recommend this cag to anyone looking for a mid price range dry cag and for everyday use.

Sammy Jackson

First session with my AT2 Flexi’s

When I got the news that my paddles had arrived at Canoe Kayak Trader on Tuesday, I couldn’t wait to pick them up, and give them a try! Luckily, Alex asked me if I want to go paddling on Wednesday at Hpp, so obviously I said yes!

So after my clubs pool session, I went back with Alex, stopped at his house, so in the morning we could get up, and go straight to the boat centre and pick up my new blades, then headed on our way to Nottingham.

When we got there, we walked down the course, to see what had changed since the last time we’d been there, we saw a nice little wave just past second hole which look like it could be pretty fun, then headed back up to pay, and get changed.

Whilst the camera was being set up, I jumped on the water, to see what the paddles were like, took me a while to them, as they are quite a lot different to my old blades, as they have a foam core, which keeps them floating on the surface of the water more, and the oval grip, which helps you know which way the blade is, and helps to keep a grip of them, as you definitely wouldn’t want to lose them!

When I went down into inlet gate, I could just feel the difference, they felt so much better in the water, and stayed higher on the surface, which helped for control.

We basically had the course to ourselves when we got on, but we were told that later on, it was going to get busy, as it was student night, and the National Student Rodeo at the weekend, so everyone wanted to get some practise in, so we tried to make the most of it all whilst it was quite, and kept moving down the features, setting up the camera at each one, and getting some practise in, and getting used to the new paddles.

All in all, I couldn’t find any bad points about these paddles, there just generally a really good paddle to use, and I cannot wait to get back on the water with them!


See you on the water,

Pete

New boats in store to Demo

Over the last week CKT has some new arrivals to our demo fleet first of all we have the Loki

What pyranha say about there loki

The Loki is designed to revive the classic moves that we learned when we played the river the first time.

If you want smooth linked cartwheels, a smile on every eddyline and enjoy serious vertical time then this is the boat for you.

The Loki is loose and fast on river and ocean waves, vertical moves will be more controlled and more impressive than in a short boat and the Loki is great downriver, extra length means more speed making eddies and must make ferry glides easier and more controlled.

Second we have the Jackson Zen

What Jackson have to say about there Zen

The beginner will achieve confidence immediately as the stability of the Zen along with its supreme JK comfort and the ease of rolling will shorten the learning curve. With 3 sizes (small, medium and large) Jackson Kayak provides this kayak to any sized boater, making it the ideal kayak for schools and clubs.

Advanced boaters are going to look to the Zen as well for a big water boat of choice. Expect to see unbelievable footage from classic runs like the North Fork of the Payette next spring featuring team JK and the Zen.

And lastly we have the Jackson Fun runner

what Jackson have to say about there fun runner

If you want to river run easily, surf waves and holes in control, but want more speed, room, and ease of staying upright than other river running playboats, this is for you. A big step towards river running from the Fun, but still keeping the great surfing characteristics of the JK playboats, the Fun Runner is just that- A really Fun river Runner. Since it is nearly a foot longer than a fun, and nearly a foot shorter than most creekers it is positioned right in the middle for length, speed, and maneuverability. This boat is instruction and learning friendly, while it also performs beautifully for the most advanced paddlers. The Fun Runner is built from scratch from the ground up with a friendly planing hull and effective chines/edges, as well as a roomy foot area as part of a sleek low profile deck for surfing and keeping the boats weight to a minimum. The Fun Runner helps complete the river running category for Jackson Kayak in good form.

Keep an eye out for a team CKT review once we get a chance to get them on the water, or feel free to pop in and have demo them for yourself.

catch you on the water

Alex

Team CKT Jake Boswell Review of his new Peak UK Creeker Drysuit

Peak UK Creeker Drysuit 2012

I have recently picked up my new drysuit from Canoe Kayak Trader. I took it to the first Sunday of 2012 at the Nene Whitewater Centre. The temperature outside was bang on 0ºC so it was ideal testing conditions for the new suit!

The main difference between this suit and suits made by other companies is that the entrance zip is between the legs rather than over the back or under the arm, which in my view is the best feature of this suit. This means that when paddling it feels like you’re only paddling in a cag, so its ideal for freestyle and creeking when you need lots of maneuverability. Another bonus of having the zip where it is means that it reduces the chances of any water coming in through the zip. The zip is the main place where water can penetrate drysuits, so having it inside the cockpit of your boat means that with a spraydeck on there is very little chance of having any water inside your suit! As an added bonus having the zip between your legs means you don’t have to ask someone to zip you in!

The suit also works in conjunction with the Peak UK Creeker pads,. These fit perfectly into the suit due to purposely made pockets.

One thing to remember with this suit is that it is an all-in-one so you MUST wear some sort of boots or shoes over your feet to prevent putting holes in the suit!

I paddled on the course at Nene in my new Rockstar in the pour-over. I was throwing McNastys and Phonix’s like normal and didn’t feel any restrictions and not a trickle of water got into the suit. It kept me comfortable, warm and dry for all of my paddle.

Having ordered the suit only a few days before, Canoe Kayak Trader were very quick to get the drysuit in. They also stock a wide range of other drysuits and dry gear.
Here is a video of the Drysuit in action in the Pourover: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIdKjM8v8o4

Cheers

Jake Boswell

Team Paddler Pete Bridgeford review on the Palm Fuse Cag

Ok so I’ve had my Palm Fuse cag for quite a while now, and have been able to put it through its paces on different rivers, and in different weather conditions, so here’s what I think to it…
When I first got it, I was slightly unsure how water tight it would be, seeing as it doesn’t have a latex neck, instead it had Palm’s Advanced GlideSkin neoprene neck, which is brilliant for people who find latex uncomfortable or annoying to use on a regular basis, like me, and I’ve found that it holds the water out very well, which is probably what I like most about this cag! Just as water tight, yet more comfortable!

Another really good feature of this cag is that there are no underarm seams, which means it’s more flexible, and gives you much more movability, which is a must when trying to pull off your top freestyle moves, or reaching forward for that powerful boof stroke.
I’ve used my Fuse cag all through the winter, to temperatures so low that the water was starting to freeze as it left the river! And it still kept me nice and dry, which helped me try to keep warm!


See you on the water,

Pete