Jason Smith's The Ed

Lighting the FUSE - Testing, Testing, Testing

Been doing loads of testing recently. We've been putting the new Fuse from Wave Sport through its paces over the last few weeks. The Nookie Zone cag has been getting some river action. Wiggs has been doing a long-term test on the Pyranha Ammo. He’s been paddling it since early spring, so will have some interesting insights in to it's pros and cons. And finally the new thermal range from Palm has been keeping us warm, in between festering in a dry bag in the back of the CK wagon, out on the water. Full tests will be appearing in the mag in the next few issues.
For more info take a surf to:
www.wavesport.com
www.pyranha.com
www.nookie.co.uk
www.palmequipmenteurope.com

Posted by Jay

Bunch of Fairies

Back in North Wales this weekend just gone and managed to get the first proper river run of this winter season in on the classic Fairy Glen. After consulting with our 'River Advisor' Bledd Lloyd it was decided on a trip to the Lledr as it was looking like the only thing with water in it in North Wales. Cars were loaded and after a brief stop-off at the student-strewn field near Llangollen to pick up Ali's boat (It was the weekend of the Dee tour) we were off up the A5. On arrival we met Bledd and Tom and were chuffed to see that the Glen was running at a low, but runnable level. Well, Cheese and Bledd were chuffed I was suffering from a definite 'not creek boated since spring' case of the collywobbles. Still the Glen's a classic and after a good word with myself it was a quick change and we were off. There's no warm up on the Glen and it was straight in to the rapids. There was a fair bit of flailing going on as Black Dog, Ali and myself re-acquainted ourselves with our creek boats, but it was good heart pumping stuff. The first half of the run completed we hopped out to portage Fairy Falls, while Cheese, Bledd and Tom ran it. It's a serious drop, with even more serious consequences but they all nailed it with confidence. Back on the water it was time to concentrate hard for the last three drops. I enjoyed a distinct 'moment' on the first one, with a back-loop followed by a roll, a slam against the gorge wall followed by another roll. It was certainly a wake up call, but I came up and got the boat back on line to hit the crux of the drop. Phew! The next two drops I was on it and hit the lines well, but then it was all over and there was just the paddle out to the take out to go. In all my years boating that was my first run down the Glen and I couldn't have done it with a better bunch.
Cheers to Bledd, Cheese, Tom, Steveo, Wiggs and Mrs C for a top run!

For more info on Welsh rivers visit www.canoewales.com

Posted by Jason Smith

Sign Now Please!

Dear Paddler

The Welsh Canoeing Association (WCA) are currently lobbying the Welsh Assembly to introduce legislation which will confirm free access to the rivers of Wales. The power to introduce such legislation was transferred from Westminster to Cardiff last July,and we are currently in a position where Assembly members are seriously looking at the WCA proposals. If passed, canoeists will enjoy much the same rights on the rivers in Wales as currently exist in Scotland, and the pressure will greatly increase on Westminster to follow suit for English rivers. Getting this legislation passed in Wales therefore should be a priority for paddlers everywhere.

So how can you help?

Firstly, sign the WCA's petition at http://petitionthem.com/default.asp?sect=detail&pet=2856. It doesn't matter whether you live or indeed paddle in Wales or not. It will take about 30 seconds to complete.

Secondly, forward this email to other canoeists.

Thirdly, talk to non-paddling friends and relatives and ask them to sign the petition.

The Government of Wales Act (2006) requires the Assembly to act on
petitions received if an issue falls within their powers, so this
petition can make a difference if we get enough people to sign. It
worked in Scotland with the Land Reform Act, there is no reason it
can't work in Wales.

For more information please visit http://www.kayakingisnotacrime.org.uk

Many thanks

The Kayaking is not a Crime Team

--

Posted by Jay

Everest Revisited

To mark the premiere of the newly re-mastered Dudh Kosi - Relentless River of Everest movie it was off to Llangollen and the River Dee to meet up with CKuk's favourite living legend Dave Manby and other members of the original Canoeing Down Everest Team. It seemed only right that a spot of paddling was done before the evening's entertainment and Graham Mackereth, designer of the original Everest boats, joined Dave and Rob Hastings at the Serpent's Tail to take a blast in Pyranha's new expedition boat, also called the Everest. Just to show how far things have moved on Graham also brought along one of the original surviving boats that the team used on their epic Himalayan adventure. Despite the distinctly nippy temperatures Dave, Rob and Graham then showed that they’d lost none of their river skills with some silky smooth lines down the rapid. Later that evening the upstairs function room of the Bridgend Pub was packed with paddlers of all ages to enjoy a presentation of the film. Even in today's world of big expeditions and media the journey and adventure that Dr Mike Jones and his team undertook stands out as a truly pioneering moment in the history of our sport.

Check out issue 81 of CKUK for a full review of the film and keep an eye out for a forthcoming feature on the Everest Team. To order a copy of the film visit www.davemanby.com to check out the new Everest visit www.pyranha.com

Posted by Jason Smith

Mud, Sweat and Gears

Hit up the trails at Llangdegla Forest recently for a spot of biking fun. Pretty ironic as our whole group was made up of paddlers, and while we were on the hill the heavens opened and it chucked it down. It didn't stop us though and with a group containing Faye, Mark Lowe, Ally Campbell, Lizzy Bell, Bledd Lloyd and Lynsey Evans, among others, a good laugh was always on the cards. On a few of the trails a kayak might have been more use, it was so wet, but it was still loads of fun though and the black sections are just as good in the wet. It was fast and furious and special mention goes to Faye and Liz who were the only ones on bikes without disc brakes. In fact by half way down the section Faye had no brakes at all and did the lot pinned and committed... Knuckle whitening stuff. By the end of the ride we were caked in mud and in much need of a mug of something hot and steamy from the One Planet Cafe. While the rest of us ate cake and slowly started to defrost, Bledd and Lynsey, never ones to miss the possibility of some water, sped off to try and get a run in on the Fairy Glen on their way home. Hard as Nails!

Check out www.oneplanetadventure.co.uk for biking fun

Posted by Jay