3 rider

Widemouth surf kayak competition

2010-04-25T20:04:00.005+01:00

This weekend saw the annual Shoreline Widemouth handicap surf kayak competition. Using a slightly different format to most competitions, surfers get to surf at least three rounds, with their results from previous rounds helping to determine their next round. Then after three rounds there is a semi and a final.

After the competition there are two sets of results, the overall results, based on the results of the finals, and the handicap results based on your finishing position less points based on your age and experience.

I got a first and two seconds, which was not quite enough to get me into the semi's, but it should leave me with an overall result of joint 11 ( I hope!).

The surf was small, it started small, and as the tide rose it got worse, not necessarily smaller, but it ended up with surfers pretty much riding the shore dump!

Yet another round up!

2010-04-19T21:42:00.003+01:00

Sorry readers, yet another 'round up'. This time we've got Squirt boating in the sun on the river Exe, Louise and I before and after our XC Mountain bike racing adventure at Haldon, and some old pictures of Paddling the Upper Dart at a good level!

Sunshine and squirt boats on the Exe

Louise feeling nervous before the fully sussed race at Haldon

Both of us feeling exhausted after the race

Check out the race results HERE

Somewhere on the Upper, After stopping to rescue a boat!

Euthanasia looking chunky!

A bit of Dartmoor sun and cycling

2010-04-13T18:12:00.003+01:00

Some more quick pictures, this time of me enjoying a bit of spring sunshine whilst biking on Dartmoor. The sky was blue the trails were dry, and the riding was awesome!

I'm trying (vaguely) to get ready for a Mountain bike race this week at Haldon. Fully Sussed are running a series of races, including some Thursday night evening races. I'll be giving it a go, its all just for fun!

Cornish Slabs

2010-03-29T22:45:00.002+01:00

Here's a few quick pictures of a Mutant killer Cornish slab that I took at the weekend.

Strangely there was no one riding it!

Sorry its been so long.

2010-03-17T21:34:00.006Z

Sorry its been so long, I feel like I've barely been able to spend any time in front of my computer recently! So here is a quick run down of what you've missed in the last three months.

Christmas; New year; A whistle stop tour of the UK; Mountain biking; Surfing; Kayaking the Dart; Kayaking the Severn bore; Kayaking the Walkham; A week in Scotland; A new Mountain bike; New Camera stuff; And plenty more!!

Here is a few pictures of just some of this stuff.

Climbing in the Scottish highlands

Cycling round Loch Rannoch

Fun in the snow Loch Morlich

A muddy cycle in Epping Forest

New Macro Camera gear

The Upper Dart

New Yak Team member, Extreme Frog!

Competing at Whitsands Bay surf kayak competition

Ewart Khan, warming up for the Walkham

Team AS/Yak surfin' it up!

On the Severn Bore - I'm the kayaker on the wave on the left of the picture

Waiting for the Severn Bore

Ewart Waiting for the Severn Bore

More fun from the weekend

2009-12-07T20:05:00.003Z

So after all the fun of Gene 17 APWE it was time to hit the water on Sunday. There had been loads of rain, and the rivers had all been huge early in the morning, but by the time I hit the river around lunch time the level had already dropped to a good, but still fairly high level.

I started off with some squirt boating with Dan W, Tom B and Hazel W. The seam at the Weburn/Dart confluence was awesome, although my squirting technique still needs much more practice. However I still got some epic, and scary downtime!

Then it was back to top wave for a quick surf session with Tim C, and Hazel, and any other passing paddler who wanted a quick surf!

Boat of choice?! Top wave over run by Jackson kayaks!

Tom B, Dan W and Hazel after some mystery move action at the Weburn/Dart confluence

Me getting my Squirt cool on!!!!! NOT!

Gene17 APWE 2009

2009-12-06T23:06:00.005Z

This weekend saw the annual Simon Westgarth Gene17 Adventure Paddlers Weekend. Saturday night saw three Presentations, Below and Beyond Machu Picchu, the B.U.K.E Kayak-Nam, and Olaf 'Big-O' Obsommer. The Presentations were then followed by the usual Raffle and prize give-away. Then to wrap the night up the dance floor was cleared, the lights were switched off, and the tunes were turned up to 11! The mighty Cheese opened things up with a blistering set, before DJ Redbelly got down, dirty and ravy with it!

Check out the pictures...

Above and beyond Machu Picchu

Kayak-Nam

Big O

Dave Carrol gives some free prizes away

The raffle gets underway

Cheesey provides some blistering tunes

DJ Redbelly gets the rave on

Simon Westgarth

The Party gets going

The party in full swing

A rich, full weekend

2009-11-16T21:05:00.005Z

What a great weekend; A rich, full weekend as I like to say. Over the weekend I managed four runs on the river Dart, each one in a different type of Boat. I started off on Saturday with a playboat run down the Dart Loop. The level was good, but just to low for Top wave to be Awesome, and just to high for Triple playwave to be ripping. Bit of a bummer, but good fun none the less. Then I switched to the squirt boat, for my first try at sinking at the 'Breathalizer' seam. I had a few 'so-so' mysteries, but I got my first taste for proper downtime, when I got sucked down into the depths! It really did take my breath away, but I can't wait to get in there again and get some more squirt boat action.
Then on Sunday I had an Upper Dart run with Tom and Andy, again a nice level, a fraction higher than when I ran it last week. Followed by a Loop run Tandem in the Open boat with Louise.
What a great weekend! Great weather, great water levels and great paddling!!

Great Autumn colours on the Loop

Tom and Andy Below Surprise Surprise

Andy, in the meat of Euthanasia

Dan and Andy testing new uses for creek boats!

More River Dart paddling.

2009-11-08T21:13:00.003Z

I've managed a couple of runs on the Dart in the last few days. I managed to squeeze in an Upper Dart run with Andy and Simon Westgarth. The levels was ok, but it could have been just a little bit higher. But we had fun, and there was enough water to make it worth while.

Early on the Upper Dart

Andy, Just after the first steep rapid on the Upper Dart

And then a few days later I managed two runs on the Dart Loop. Once tandem with my wife in our open canoe, and once in the playboat. The level was a bit higher, covering half the slab at newbridge, possible the highest we've run the Loop tandem. But it did mean that all the rapids were really good, and the play wave a Triple fall was great. I did surf the wave in the open boat as well, but it did end with a small out of boat experience, check the picture below! Can you tell me what I did wrong? Then Ewart, Andy, Tom B and I had a good run in the playboats, with all the usual antics!! Check out why we call Andy the Fat-Man!

Me, about to loose control, can you see what I did wrong?

Tom B in his squirt boat, on the triple play wave

The one and only Fat-Man

Queuing for a go on the play wave

A Quick round up. River Dart and Surfing

2009-11-07T21:22:00.006Z

It's been a bit busy here again, and I've only just gotten round to downloading pictures, let alone putting them on the web. So here is a quick round up of a few of things I've been doing.

I went to a surf kayaking competition at Westward Ho!, where I totally bombed out ending up joint 17th out of 21. The surf was a pretty good size, but not very clean, being pushed along by a steady on-shore wind.

An IC class paddler goes for a lip

Me in my first round

Walking down to the surf

Another IC class paddler going for it

Yet another IC class boat hitting the top

Sam the son of Satan, ripping in the HP final

I've also had a couple of trips on the Dart. Once in high water, getting two runs, and enjoying a spot of playboating, and a semi disastrous dawn raid with Ewart, where we both managed to forget different bits of kit, and ended up taking it in turns for a go on top wave!

Satu Westgarth enjoying topwave

Kate D spinning on topwave

A high water view of Triple drop

Jack R playing on the Dart loop

Ewart enjoying an early surf on a small top wave

Me, carving up topwave

Smooth and sunny Saunton surf.

2009-10-15T21:14:00.003+01:00

Surfing at this time of year is great, the waters warm, the swell is good (and getting better every week!) and the air temperature hasn't dropped much yet. I managed to get a magical session in at Saunton on Wednesday, the swell was 2-3ft, sometimes smaller, sometimes bigger, but there wasn't a breath of wind, and the sun was shinning and the sky blue!
I managed to snag a few great rides. And then after my joints could take no more, I got the big camera out and snapped a few pics. The Sun was super bright, shining straight at me, and glaring off the water. So all the pics were very silhouette, and monochrome, but hey, I like it!

The swell forecast looks small for the weekend, but huge mid week next week, so hopefully I'll get some more surf action in soon......

South West Canoe Show 2009

2009-10-04T18:07:00.003+01:00

Here is a quick round up from this years South West Canoe Show. While the weather forecast hadn't looked great, the day itself turned out to be fantastic, with only a few minuets of drizzle, and the odd gust of wind to spoil everyones fun. The sun shone, the sky was blue and everyone was happy!
Here's just a few pictures of what went on.....

Blue skies and sunshine

The Mighty Hog Roast

Menacing sky and a busy canal

Crowds enjoying the afternoon sun

The new Palm FX Vest

The new Palm Extrem

Some surf action, and some new fins?

2009-10-04T17:51:00.003+01:00

Another action round up. I've been trying to get out in the surf as often as possible. I've had a couple of Cornish sessions and a couple of North Devon sessions. The New Rush 7/2 is ripping in the surf!
After my little rock/fin incident I've set about re-shaping the remains of my fins and have made and started testing a new centre fin. So far the whole small side fin, larger center fin set up has been working really well, and the first prototype centre fin has worked well too. If all goes well I'll make some molds from these originals and try and make a few of them. I have a few other fins shape prototypes too, they just need re-fining and testing. Watch this space for more!

Fresh off the work bench, center fin prototype 1

The best looking surf boat ever??

The new fin set up after their first test

Cool new Yak Camo sticker

Hmmmm....... sparkly!

The Posse rolls out; Woodbury mountain biking

2009-09-07T19:17:00.003+01:00

Ewart managed to get together a pretty impressive Posse for a ride on Woodbury Common. 9 riders hit the trails led out by Tom K. Tom knows the trails on Woodbury like the back of his hand, and managed to link up all sorts of bits of trail to keep us going for 3 hours! covering just about every square inch of the common!

The posse, mid ride

Tom K hits Jimmy's gap

Tom KP falls foul of the roots, mind you he did only have a back brake!

Tom took us to some of his favourite test pieces, including this steep, rooty and slippery slope. Some riders managed to get down it cleanly, some had a few dabs, and some collided with trees, and fell down it instead!

The roots and trees gang up on Pete!

Mandy hitting up the jump combo

Ed C gets some air time

Ewart, flying, but hanging off the back as usual!

We also stopped for a quick session on a freshly re-dug jump/bombhole/step-up/step-down! despite being a bit of an odd combo it was very smooth to ride.

Kate, on a steep roll-in in the quarry

Then we set out through the gorse bushes, stopping for some fun in an old quarry, and for a chance to pick out a few prickles!

We eventually got back to the cars, three hours later, dirty, sweaty, scratched by gorse and brambles, sore, tidy but very happy!

Me, my surf kayak and some waves

2009-08-31T18:47:00.003+01:00

Here's a quick round of pictures of me in my new Valley Rush 7/2 surf kayak. Once again southerly winds meant a trip down to Haryln. The swell was much smaller this time, only 1-2ft, but still super clean. But being a bank holiday also meant that the surf was very busy.

The only problem was when I took off on a good sized wave, went left, got closed out and then ended up surfing over some rocks. OUCH!!! A few clonks and bangs later and I was back on the beach inspecting the damage. Lucky for me the fins took almost all of the damage. My right fin loosing large amounts of glass, my left fin, only lost a little glass, but split and delaminated, and my centre fin barely seems to have been touched. As for might boat it only has a handful of very minor surface scratches across the hull. Phew!

Moments after this I ended up going over some of the rocks in the foreground.....

Ouch!

Time to invest in some new fins. Then take the grinder to the old ones and make a smaller set out of them!

Harlyn surf, and my new boat

2009-08-27T17:47:00.004+01:00

I took my new Surf kayak out this morning for it's maiden voyage. Due to a strong wind from the south west I opted to head to Harlyn, to try and get some shelter. To get the best of the tide, and to avoid the worst of the crowds I set off while it was still dark, and hit the water before eight and at about mid tide. There were only 4 other guys in the water, and the surf was a good, 2-3ft.

The view from my cockpit

A boardie slots into a clean one

As the tide continued to push, the waves got busier, and the swell got bigger. What had started as a comfortable couple of feet soon turned into a 3-4ft, with the occasional bigger outside set that would race in at about the six foot mark and close out most of the bay! It kept me on my toes! Somehow I manged to get away with only the one working, possibly a new Harlyn record for me!

Classic Harlyn

A bigger set wave gives a boardie a good ride

As the tide hit the High mark I called it quits. My new Valley Rush 7/2 had acquitted itself well. I really noticed the extra stiffness and the speed it helped to generate, and the light weight meant that snapping off the top hadn't completely torn my stomach muscles to pieces! After a good session it now needs a bit more padding and more footrests. I also stopped to take a few pictures of the surfers ripping in the now quite sizeable waves. Harlyn gets a bit odd at high tide, but with a solid swell pumping it was going well.

My New Toy

2009-08-27T17:39:00.002+01:00

The newest, latest and shiniest toy in my arsenal arrived just the other day. I'm now the proud owner of a Valley Surf Kayaks Rush 7/2. I had this little beauty custom made for me. Its built in the lightest and stiffest, Vac bagged Carbon Kevlar lay up, with a foam core deck and hull for extra stiffness without extra weight. When built, the guys at Valley weighed it and reckoned the shell (no foam seat, or pillar) came to about 9.5 kg. That's seriously light!

All it needs now is a few bit of foam here and there to pad it out, and then it'll be time to hit the waves!

This months Round up

2009-07-26T12:17:00.005+01:00

I can't really believe that is been three weeks since I last posted anything. It's not because I've not had any news, I've been upto loads. But that is the problem, I've been doing so much that I've not had the time or energy in the evenings to post anything up.

So heres a quick photo round up of some of the things I've been upto this month.

Paddling the River Dart with Ewart, Liam and Kayleigh

Enjoying a dawn mission raid and after work mission in the surf at Sidmouth With Ed, Dan, Owen and Ewart

And Enjoying a great highwater day playing on Topwave and the Loop

As well as this lot I've also enjoyed a great evening messing about in the canal with Playboats, and a short weekend away in mid wales Mountain biking. It really has been all go here recently, more of the same please I say!

O.P. Trails

2009-07-07T21:33:00.006+01:00

I got the chance today to hit up some semi-secret somerset trails. Tom KP, Ewart and I headed into somerset to ride the OP Trails, that Ewart and Tom had been shown last week. After a bit of overnight rain the trails had been transformed from last weeks bone dry, lightning fast, to todays, soggy edged, greasy, DH on ice surface.

Tom threading his way through a greasy S bend

Ewart exiting the S bend

This made the riding 'interesting' to say the least. Many of the sections were slightly off camber with occasional roots, this became suddenly very tricky, and my decision not to put the DH tires back on and leave the skinnier AM/XC on my bike looked like the wrong choice! On my first few runs, my attempts to hurl my bike into a berm ended with crossed up handle bars and the bike still going straight on!

Me, about the air out of the bomb hole jump

The slippery conditions get the best of Tom

But after a few runs to get a feel for the slippy conditions we all slowly got the hang of it, with the speed slowly picking up. But then just when you were thinking you'd finally got a run wired, you suddenly wash out, or slip on a root and all of a sudden that great line and speed had gone! Oh well, it was great riding, and it made a change to be really challenged by the conditions.

Ewart airing into the bomb hole

Tom, mid flight, bomb hole jump

Sidmouth surf session

2009-07-01T22:56:00.003+01:00

Unless you've been living underground recently you can't have failed to notice that it's been hot, really hot! And hot weather means no whitewater, and quite often no surf. But Team AS watersports struck it lucky this week. We managed to get some surf (albeit very small surf) at Sidmouth this week, which meant that everyone was able to get out on the water after work and enjoy a good mess-around in the water. Check it out!

Me, on a micro-wave!

Ewart, back in the water, and enjoy the Valley Rush

Jemma, catching a 'big' wave!

Ewart, checking out my ski

Andy and Big Dan competing for a ripple!

Kayleigh, Mitch and Dan, chilling in the evening sun

Sunday Saunton Surf

2009-06-16T21:57:00.003+01:00

After what seems like ages without being in the surf, I got to Saunton on Sunday afternoon. I managed to get the afternoon pushing tide, after the worst of the crowds had gone home, and I managed to get some reasonably clean solid 4ft swell.
I also tried out my new Circle One Noir 3mm zipless summer wetsuit. My old summer 'suit was truly on it's last legs, with multiple repairs it was really starting to look it's age. My new suit is super comfy as well as super stretchy. The zipless entry is really easy to get in and out of, and despite getting a couple of good beat downs, it remained really dry, I didn't get any 'flushing' at all.

Hacking into a decent sized wave

Driving through a turn

Another good wave

Getting some air on the way out back

South Coast Fish Fest

2009-06-07T21:45:00.003+01:00

I've been out on the water along the South Coast a couple of times this week doing a spot of Kayak Fishing. On Friday night Ewart and I went down to Seaton on the Jurassic Coast. I didn't manage to get any pictures that time, we were too busy fishing, and it got too dark too quickly! However we headed home with enough Mackerel for a fish supper.

And then today Ewart and I went out again at Teignmouth. We flogged away for hours and hours, but only managed to get a meager trio of Mackerel. However Ewart caught the biggest Mackerel I've ever seen! But on the up side the sun was shining and the weather was great!

Launching from the beach at Teignmouth

Ewart and his monster mackerel

Sunshine and paddling, it's not all bad!

Ewart and our massive Mackerel haul!

Another weekly round up

2009-05-31T11:46:00.007+01:00

Another hectic week here, results in another weekly round up from the ongoing shenanigans of 3Rider.

Last weekend a nice day out at the beach, fun snorkeling, lumpy surf and a relaxing afternoon!

Lots of rain on Wednesday led to a fun quick trip down the Dart Loop with Andy and Ewart. Ewarts first time on moving water since his shoulder Op.

And Thursday night saw the 'Tour event' road cycling race in Exeter. 50 Pro road riders tearing round a 1.5km road circuit in the middle of Exeter for an hour.

Large and lumpy surf at my favourite Cornish spot

Getting on the dart loop on Wednesday

Andy having fun at Triple play wave

me, in a Liquid Logic Biscuit at Triple

Riders flying through the first corner out of the high street

And tearing down the hill at almost 40mph

A week on the North coast of Scotland

2009-05-17T21:53:00.006+01:00

We've just returned from a fantastic week on the North Coast of Scotland. We rented a cottage overlooking Armadale bay, in the centre of the North Coast, and literally a short stroll from the beach. We had a week of perfect weather, blazing sunshine and warm days and not a single Midge to be seen!
We enjoyed a range of great activities that the North of Scotland has to offer. We surfed at Armadale and Farr Bay, Mountain biked at Carbisdale and Balblair on the Kyle of Sutherland, fished from the rocks in front of our cottage, and visited a whiskey distillery of course!

Here is just a quick selection of the pictures we took during our week.

Me on the Black trail at Balblair

Candy mountain on the black route at Balblair

Riding a rock slab on the red route at Carbisdale

Louise on a rock slab on the Blue graded route at Carbisdale

Enjoying good surf, but howling off-shore wind at Farr Bay

Mini Head Dip at Farr Bay

Awesome ride!

Clean on calm waves at Armadale

Fishing from the rocks, in crystal clear water

Lots of small pollack!

The sun sinking into the sea, Sunset at 10.30!

Strolling down the beach at Armadale

Another wave rolls casually into Armadale bay

The view just outside our cottage

Not another footprint to be seen, perfection

Another weekly round-up

2009-05-07T22:03:00.006+01:00

Well another busy week means that I've not managed to Blog things as they've happened, so here's a quick pictoral run-down of the last 10 days action.

from top to bottom:

Squirtboating at the Mighty Pots

Mountain bike fun at the Mafia Trails

Sunny Surfing at Saunton

Tom 'Maverick' taking a break from sinking at the Pots

Yak paddling Gear, Southern sales Manager Pete Ford gets down to work at The Mafia Trails!

Yak Advert, featuring Me!

2009-04-27T21:15:00.002+01:00

Some time last year Team AS Watersports was involved in a photo shoot for Yak Paddling gear. We spent a pleasant and sunny day paddling around at Exmouth, and at the Might Pots. It was a great day out, a great chance to try lots of shiny new Yak gear.
And Yak then went and used a picture of me, walking up the beach with a sea kayak on my shoulder, for an advert that went out in a number of Magazines. You can now find the advert online HERE.
Click for a good laugh at me!

St. Ives Bay Kayak surf competition

2009-04-27T20:42:00.003+01:00

This weekend saw the St. Ives Bay Surf Kayak competition. Surf kayak competitions always have a fairly laid back vibe to them, and crowd is always fun loving and mellow, it was just a shame that the weather really played havoc with the whole thing.
We all rolled up at a car park at Gwithian, at the far end of the bay, very early on Saturday morning, to be greeted by a howling gale, and horizontal wind. The competition site was relocated to 'The Bluff', closer to St. Ives, in an attempt find some more shelter. However shelter wasn't really that forthcoming, and the wind was still howling across the beach at 25mph+.

The pictures don't do it justice, it was horrid out there!

The Competition pushed on Regardless, and the first heats headed out into the maelstrom. I was in heat 2. I totally failed to get out back, never quite able to get past the point where the 6ft-ish waves were dumping, every time I got close another big set would dump on me, throwing me around, and leaving me back inside again, struggling to get out once again. I caught one small, and incredibly bad wave, and ended up about half a mile down the beach, courtesy of the wind. The wind, blowing totally cross shore, was so strong and I was so exhausted after my 15mins of wave battling, that I didn't have the strength to carry my boat back up the beach!
After 4 heats the organisers realised that the conditions were just too bad to carry on, and so the whole thing was put on hold for about three and a half hours.

The only indication of the wind speed is the spray whipping off of the wave, and the number of windsurfers!

After the break the conditions were better, the wind was just as strong, but the swell size had halved, and was no longer dumping heavily. So things kicked off again. Having been knocked out of my first round heat, I got the chance to try again in the repercharge. Only the first placed paddler would go through and get a chance to compete in the second round. I finished second, behind a paddler who wasn't listed as being in my rep, but never mind. That was my competition over.
But with the wind still blowing paddlers all over the beach, and the rain lashing down I was almost relived to be out of the competition, and able to get changed, dry, warm and be able to head off home!
The windsurfers however were loving the conditions, tearing all over the bay, hitting massive aerials off of the waves, boosting straight over close-outs and pulling some totally sick flips!

All Quiet on the 3rider front?

2009-04-22T21:22:00.002+01:00

I haven't posted anything in a while, but that doesn't mean I've not been busy! while I haven't managed to get in the surf in about a month I have been Mountain biking several times, canoeing once and trying out my new squirt boat lots! But the big problem is I haven't really taken any pictures to blog. I've either been too busy riding my bike to be snapping pics, or forgetting my camera, or, unfortunately squirt boating isn't exactly photogenic! But here is a few pics that I have managed to get.

Louise ripping the trails at Nant-y-airan in mid Wales. go there it rocks!

Cath, trying out her new Mad River Reflection 15

Paddling on Exeter canal.

Me Squirting at the Pots.

This weeks surf

2009-03-20T19:32:00.003Z

I managed to get upto Saunton this week for some surf action. This week has been amazing, weather wise, and so I enjoyed a day of great 2-3ft surf with perfect off shores, and blazing sunshine! What a treat.

Clean lines, off shore wind and sunshine, pure bliss!

When the tide goes out you can't help but enjoy the wide views on the flat beach!

Another great set

My latest new toy

2009-03-15T21:05:00.003Z

For years I've wanted a squirt boat, after trying one out in the warm waters of the south of France. For those that don't know about squirt boats, here's a quick run down. Squirt boats are generally made to measure, with just enough volume to be neutrally buoyant when on the water. This means that they are fairly easy to do flat water tricks like cartwheels and pirouettes, but they can also be used to tap into all the energy in eddy lines to make what are known as mystery moves, where the entire kayak disappears underwater. About 8 years ago I had an enigma plastic squirt boat, but it wasn't the real thing, and I didn't use it much, so I sold it. A few chances to get a real squirt boat have passed me by, but I never took them. I first came across this boat about five years ago, when it had been lent to a friend, and I found it fitted me perfectly. But the owner wanted it back and off it went.

My new Bigfoot squirt boat

Then I got a message from my friend Small Robin telling me that there might be a squirt boat available, and when he told me where it was I realised that it was the boat I had tried 5 years before! When I contacted the owner he said he was happy to give it away if it meant that it was being used! So my Squirt Karma is off to a good start. Now I just need the clocks to change and the river Exe to drop so I can start some after work squirt paddling!

Me, five years ago Squirting at RDCP

Harlyn Surf action

2009-03-15T20:42:00.003Z

I managed to score some more Cornish surf gold this week. With a stiff looking southerly wind I headed to Harlyn to find some clean waves. Once again my efforts were rewarded. I arrived right around low tide, when the waves at Harlyn never look quite as good as they can. So I unpacked the Big Camera and Long lens and tried my best to take some good photos. I got some half decent results.

A small wave throws a lip

As I watched the surf started to get bigger, and the wind stronger, so I headed back to the van, got geared up and hit the water. The waves were classic Harlyn, jacking up fast, going hollow, and then racing away lightning fast, sectioning, or just closing out, all in water about three feet deep!

Another grinding hollow Harlyn wave

The waves kept me on my toes, and while I got my Arse handed to me a couple of times, I also got a couple of really good rides. It was also good to test out my new fins. For years I have just been using cheap plastic fins, that break regularly and flex all over the place. So I finally splashed out and got some good Glass fins. I really noticed the difference, they gave me loads more drive, and grip, which was good when I needed to gun along a wave to out run the section!

The mighty Rush 7'2", and my new fins

First and Last Loop paddle

2009-03-15T20:15:00.004Z

Last weekend I managed to get a first and last Dart loop paddle in. It wasn't my first Loop run this season, but it was Bens first Loop run ever. Ben is only Nine years old, and has been badgering his dad Rog to go and do the Loop for most of the winter. So after lots of practise on the lower Dart, and with water levels low but paddle able we set off.

Ben running a rapid before Triple Drop

So with me taking point, Ben following and Rog sweeping up the pieces we set off into the great unknown! Ben paddled really well, following my line perfectly down the rapids. Ben managed to give Rog and I one little heart stopping moment when he went straight for the only hole on Lovers Leap, but he bounced over the hole and carried on regardless!

Me, having some fun at Lovers Leap

The first problem for Ben came in the shape of the first drop of Triple Drop. Unfortunately a slight miss understanding about the line lead Ben to drop straight into the middle of the hole. A quick spot of un-intended rodeo action lead to a quick swim. But after emptying the boat Ben ran the rest of Triple drop without a hitch.

Rog and Ben below Triple Drop

Bens second and final hitch was provided courtesy of The Spin Dryer. Ben took a great diagonal line across the river and was about to punch into the river left eddy, when the spin dryer wave caught him and flipped him in. Another quick swim and Ben was back in his boat to finish off his run.

Passing under Holne Bridge, Ben completes his first Loop Descent

All in all not a bad run for a Nine year old on his first Loop trip. I was certainly impressed, and so was Rog, and Ben realised why Dad had been putting off the trip for so long! Ben can almost roll in a pool at the moment, so with the summer to practise he may well make a few more Loop trips next season!

Cross border surf raid

2009-02-24T21:22:00.003Z

I headed out for a little cross border surf raid today. I made the drive to my favourite little Cornish surf break. There is something I always find exciting about heading to Cornwall for some surf. Is it that the waves are always better, the sea always blue, and at my favourite spot always empty? I don't know, but once again my effort was rewarded. I had the waves all to myself, the water was indeed blue, and the waves were clean, steep and fast.

The mighty Rush 7'2" at my favourite Cornish surf spot

The waves were generally around 3-4ft but there were regular rouge sets of about 6ft to keep me on my toes. I had an interesting time punching through a couple of sets, that do or die moment when you don't quite know if your going to make it over the wave, or if the lip is going to land on your head!

A mid sized set peeling its way across the beach

After about 2 1/2hrs of shredding it all on my own, the tide was getting to the point where the surf gets a bit 'weird'. So I said my thank yous to the gods of surfing, and headed home, happy but exhausted.

Possibly the smallest surf ever?

2009-02-24T21:13:00.002Z

On Sunday I agreed to go for a surf at Sidmouth with Mitch, the boss at AS Watersports. The forecast looked favourable, but on arrival at the beach the waves that we found were tiny. But the weather was fantastic, blue skies, sunshine and warm. So after a stroll into town to get a quick bite to eat, I got geared up and got in the water. The waves may have only been a foot high, or less, but it was too nice a day not to get in and have a splash about. We also got to watch the local RLNI crew practising their boat to helicopter hand overs.

Mitch on a clean but tiny wave

The helicopter comes in low for another practise run

Me enjoying the sunshine

A Mafia afternoon

2009-02-15T21:28:00.003Z

Ewart, Sam and myself had a quick session at the mighty Mafia trails the other week, and extended the start of the Dual track, but also found that a couple of trees had fallen and blocked a number of the other trails. Ewart and friends were up there yesterday and cleared all of the trails, and tidied up our new dual track extension.
So a few of us headed to the trails today to have some fun on the dual track. The new extension to the dual track adds a new start ramp, pump bump and berm and means that you can rack up some real speed into the middle of the course.
The weather was great and so was the riding. Here's a few pictures I managed to grab along the way.

Big Dave tests out the new berm

Tom K, and Dave flying into the second berm

Dave over the Tabletop

Sam gets some air

Some 'Lost' pictures

2009-02-15T21:22:00.003Z

When I plugged the memory card from my cameras into the computer today I found some pictures that had been there for quite a while. But I thought I'd blog a couple of them anyway because they were nice looking pictures.

A snowy view over Exeter during our week of snow

Jemma and I getting on the Dart, when Mitch let us out of work for a quick paddle.

7'2" in the surf

2009-02-12T20:36:00.005Z

I finally managed to get my hands on the Valley Rush 7'2" surf kayak and some surf today. When I got in the water the conditions were great, a couple of foot and clean, not a breath of wind and as if that wasn't enough there were only two other guys out back. Result!

My first impressions of the boat were good. It paddled well and was comfy, but when I got it on a wave it was awesome! Being shorter than other kayaks and ski's than I've paddled I noticed that it was a bit harder to get onto waves sometimes, I had to wait till they were steeper and a bit more critical, but once going it was something else. Being shorter and wider in the tail than it's Rush stable mates, it felt looser and slashier, far more like my waveski.

When making cutbacks it drove really well, but was loose enough that you could just feel it drifting through the turns. But when it got back into the pocket the acceleration was great, firing you back down the line ready to cutback again!

But good things never last, all of a sudden the wind picked up, starting off cross shore, but soon becoming on shore. What had been great peeling waves suddenly became a big frothy foaming mess. After spend too much time and far to much energy battling through the whitewater and not enough time on the waves I decided to call it quits. The surf may have turned a bit messy but my impression of the Rush 7'2" remains perfectly clear, a great comfortable boat, easy to paddle and on a wave awesome, it drove hard when I wanted it, but slid, slashed and carved with ease when asked.

It really is the first surf kayak that performs more like my ski, and the first surf kayak that makes me really want to own one! I love my ski, but at this time of year being out in the cold on the ski is horrid. I think I may well be ordering one very soon.

My First Surf Kayak Comp: Bigbury

2009-01-25T21:27:00.008Z

I took part in my first ever Surf Kayak competition this weekend at Bigbury on the south Devon coast. The online forecast for surf and weather looked like it was going to be hard work, big messy swell and onshore winds. So I was pleasantly surprise to find small surf and not a breath of wind when I arrived at 8am for the sign in.

Me, in my first heat, trying to make something of the small surf.

I was drawn to surf in the first heat of the contest, and was up against the event organiser, and top surfer, James Hawker. It was going to be tough! The surf, while not being the raging mess I had expect was just as tricky to ride. The Tide was still dropping over a couple of odd sand bars and the waves were fickle, shallow, sucky and closing out often. (not that I'm making excuses!!!) I didn't come last in my heat, but I didn't place high enough to go through either. But that meant that I'd go into the repacharge and have a second chance to get into the quarter finals.

Andy H ripping one of the bigger river mouth waves

However when my rep' heat came up I discovered that I was up against Steve Chivers, a past British waveski champ and a great surfer. Hmmmm, didn't look my competitive surf debut was going to last long! The tide though had just turned and the surf was starting to look much better. But to make matters worse a surf school (a surf school in January!!!) had set themselves up right next to the competition. Meaning that if you got a good wave that went right, you then had to weave the bobbing surf school clients. I pulled off a couple of waves, not wanting to take out some of the surfers, Steve though let rip, busting some great top turns and cut backs right infront of them. And so that was that, I was out of the competition after only 30 minuets of surfing.

Me, in my Rep' heat, with some better looking waves

But that wasn't the end of my day. An integral part of the whole surf competition routine is helping out with the judging. And so I spent a lot of the rest of the day with a clip board in hand helping with the judging.

Steve C bustin' out infront of the surf school

The conditions picked up as the competition went on, although the wind picked up, so had the swell. As the tide came in the waves started to break over some of the sand bars, and then started to offer some great long rides up the river mouth. Some of the guys in the International class managed to get some really long rides.

A surfer enjoying a wave as the tide started to come in

Then as the tide came in more the waves started to break over the sand bars again and the surfers came back into the cove beside the car park again. The Semis were held in some great conditions, with bigger waves breaking quite a way out, or smaller but steeper and perfectly formed waves breaking on the inside. Unfortunately I don't have any pics of what were the best waves of the day, because I was too busy judging.

Event organiser James Hawker charging the river mouth in the IC Class

The Ladies and the Junior final were also unfortunate, just as their finals started the conditions deteriorated again, with the waves dumping and closing out and leaving the surfers with little option and few good waves to choose from.

Another surfer enjoying the improving conditions

The Mens High performance Final started as the sun started to set, but the waves had really given up any pretence of being good. Steve decided that it wasn't worth finishing off his day with such poor waves, and sat out to watch the other three fight it out for the honours.

Eventual winner Glyn

In the end Glyn Brackenbury from North Devon won both the mens High performance final aswell as the International class. And while I got knocked out early I was given an award for best newcomer, more inpart to helping out with the judging than my surfing! but at least I got something!

Andy H again, enjoying a bigger wave in the river mouth.

I have also got a load of video, once I've downloaded it and sort it out I'll try and post a few of the better clips.

Fridays Dart Fun

2009-01-23T17:18:00.004Z

Once again there was lots of rain forecast overnight, but this time I didn't have to work today, so I could spend more time on the river. Awesome!! The river wasn't quite as high as I had expected when I got to Newbridge, but it was still completely covering the slab, so it was all set for some playboat action.

Top wave was good, but not quite high enough to be really great yet, but it did mean that the eddy service was excellent. So I spent some time there before heading on down the rest of the loop. There were a few other smaller waves that were worth a quick surf, the wave below washing machine and a small wave above the crazy seal launch. The wave at the bottom of Triple drop was still a tad to high, surfable, but without a shoulder and quite flushy. Finally there is the wave after the spin drier.

Being on my own meant that I didn't have a shuttle, so I started walking back to Newbridge with my boat. Luckily though someone stopped and picked me up within 100m. So it was back on the river for a second run! The level had dropped a bit, but not too much. Top wave was still OK, but the wave at triple was much better. It still didn't have a great shoulder, but there was more of a shoulder than previously, and it was more retentive. Second time round I had to walk a bit further, but I managed to get a lift again, this time with Simon Westgarth.
What a great day on the river!

Dart Dawn Dash

2009-01-23T17:03:00.003Z

With the weather forecast showing lots of rain Wednesday night/Thursday morning Ewart and I made the decision to get up early Thursday for a dawn run on the Dart Loop, before having to head to work at 9am.
The Dartcom online rain gauge was showing almost 50mm of rain in the previous 12hrs on Thursday morning, and when we got to the river we found it flowing through the third arch, and lapping up the first wooden step from Newbridge car park. So without hanging around we got kitted up and hit the river as the skies started to get light. We had a good blast down the river, but it was all over too soon, and before we knew it we were stuck in traffic trying to get back into Exeter.

The river, lapping up the steps at Newbridge

Ewart looking serious, about to put on the river while it was still fairly dark

And we're done, now just got to run back for the car!

Day Two: the River Walkham

2009-01-18T22:00:00.004Z

We Paddled the Lower Walkham about a month ago and enjoyed it so much that we were keen to go and give it another go with a bit more water. Well we got the chance today. The overnight rain wasn't quite as heavy, and stopped earlier than we'd expected, meaning most Dartmoor rivers were paddleable, but already lower than we'd expected. However there was still a couple of inches more water than last time.

Clear skies, sunshine and water, perfection

We paddle the river with Ewart, Jemma and Andy. It was nice to have a little group of us on the river, and we had a great run down the Walkham. The Sun was shinning and the skies were clear, which was a great contrast to the low cloud and snow we'd encountered on the moor on the drive to the river!

Andy wins the pull a silly face contest!

The Extra couple of inches of water meant that where last time we'd hit the odd rock here and there, this time we floated through barely hitting any rocks. There was quite a few more inches of water in the Tavy when we got that far, but that just made the waves bigger and the rapids better!

Andy drops into the slot

The Surf wave just before the take out provided the usual vast amount of fun. Incredible considering how small a wave it really is!

Ewart boofs into the slot

Andy, enjoying endless surfing in a Pyranhe Z:one

Jemma and Louise chill while Ewart and Andy play

Synchronised shudder rudders from Ewart and Andy, stylish!

Dart Loop: Two runs, twice the fun!

2009-01-18T21:21:00.003Z

After our long, cold, dry spell it has finally been wet this week. I didn't manage to get out for a paddle during the week, so I thought I better make up for it with a day on the river on Saturday. So Louise and I headed to the river Dart to paddle the 'Loop' section. The Loop does seem to be the place to be these days if your an intermediate. The Car park was crammed full, and so was the river!

Me trying to get a cartwheel out of the Pyranha Z:one on top wave

Louise and I kitted up and hit the water Tandem in our Open Canoe for the first run of the day. There had been a lot of rain over night, but it had stopped before sunrise, so the river was now on the drop. But it was still at a great level when we got on. The Slab at Newbridge, the usual rule of thumb gauge, was covered, somewhere around 6ft on the old gauge. This meant that the rapids would be big and bouncy, and with the odd hole thrown in here and there for good measure!

Grrrr, it wasn't this busy a few years ago.......!

We had a great run down, after we'd blasted down to spitchwick corner to avoid the crowds! Lovers leap caught us out slightly, there were some big waves, and we took on a fair bit of water, then the hole in the middle got us and that was us swamped! Oh well, we paddled into an eddy river left after the island, emptied out, and then ferried across above splat rock.
Triple once again posed a swamping threat, but this time we got the line, despite me shouting 'left' when I meant right, and 'right' when I meant left. But luckily Louise knew what I meant!

Jack Russel enjoying top wave

After making use of the shuttle service back to Newbridge, I swapped Canoe for Kayak and headed back to the river. The level had dropped quite a bit, but there was still water on the slab, and flowing over the top corner. I had the shops Demo medium Pyranha Z:ONE and was keen to see what it would do. First stop Top Wave. The Z:one surfed well, as you'd expect from it length and shape, but it would also spin. It took a couple of attempts to get used to its extra length but once you'd got accustomed to it it was fine.
I also bumped into local paddler, coach, inspirational speaker, and all-round nice bloke, Jack Russel. So we set off together to run the rest of the river.

Jack hand surfing the wave at spin dryer

The Z:one was fast, quicker than any other whitewater boat I've paddled in a while, but then it is longer than any other whitewater boat I've paddled in a while! It was great to use the extra speed to zip about, ferrying, eddy to eddy with less effort. It run all the rapids on the loop with ease, and I even managed to pull one of the smoothest rock spins I've done in it!
On the Wave at triple three it surfed well, but it span better, once it had gone round about three quarters of a spin there was no stopping the momentum! I just let it get on with it, it was only when I got dizzy and dropped an edge that I flushed off!
And that was it, all to soon I was back on the shuttle bus. The river was starting to look to low to make me want to do a third run. But with more rain forecast overnight it was time to head back home ready for another day on the river!

Pridhamsleigh Cave

2009-01-18T21:01:00.002Z

Caving is one of those sports that I do quite enjoy, but I don't really go out of my way to pursue these days. There aren't many caves in Devon, and really only one that is easy to get into and good for taking groups into. That cave is Pridhamsleigh, just outside of Ashburton. As well as being the only cave in the area that gets used by groups, it is also one of the muddiest caves in the UK, as anyone who has been in it will tell you! A few years ago I was working as an Instructor and was in and out of Pridhamsleigh cave regularly. But since then I've only been back a couple of times. I got a call earlier this week inviting me to make a trip down the cave, and I couldn't refuse!

Some of the amazing marbled limestone to be found in the cave, here polished by thousands of passing bums!

There was meant to be a small group of us going, but somehow almost everyone else found an excuse to do something different! So it ended up just being me, my good friend Rog H and his extreme sport mad son Ben.

Ben making easy work of the maggots crawl

We had a great trip down to the lake at the very bottom of the cave, and were led all the way by Ben. We passed through a variety of chambers and passages with odd names, such as, 'the bishops bum', 'the coal chute' and 'the bottom-less pit'. Ben even went through the Maggots crawl, however only being 9 years old it wasn't much of a crawl for him!

Ben checks out the bottom-less pit

It was great to be back in Prid, and while I've been to most places in the cave, including some that are quite off the beaten track, there are still places I haven't been and want to go. But at a rate of one trip a year it might take me some time to visit them all!

Ben and Rog silhouetted at the top of the bottom-less pit

Back in the water, at last

2009-01-08T21:43:00.005Z

It feels like ages since I've been in the water, but I managed to get in a boat today, and enjoy some great waves at Saunton. The weather, if you haven't noticed recently, has been Baltic, with temperature well below freezing alot of the time. As we drove over the estuary on the way to the beach we were amazed to see ice in the water, and on the mud and sand banks. What an earth was I thinking of, going surfing??!!

The water felt really cold, but with hardly a breath of wind out of the water it wasn't too bad. I chose to try out one of the new Valley Surf Kayaks demo boats that we have, seeing as I didn't fancy being immersed in the water on a board or ski. I took out the Valley Rip, a great all round surf kayak, thats a bit more easy going than some of the more aggressive boats, like the Rush.

The Rip is a bit longer, has softer rails and features a pin tail. The extra length helps it paddle out and catch waves, the softer rails make it more forgiving when your top turn goes a bit wonky, and the pin tail creates great speed when on a wave.

The Rip is designed to be a softer and more easy going boat, and it certainly is. In the classic 2-3ft clean conditions is was a great cruiser, working its way down the line with smooth top and bottom turns. The longer tail was great for extra speed down the line, but it did mean that it wasn't the loosest surf boat if and when you wanted to put in a slash.

But if super high performance, airs, and radical cut backs isn't your thing, and you just want to be able to catch some waves, and lay down some surfing style then the Rip is definitely the boat for you.

All in all it was a great way to get back into a boat. While the weather was cold, the waves were great, and the crowds were low. I hope I can get back into the surf again soon, and try out one of the other Valley surf Kayaks.

Check out the Rip here: http://www.valleyseakayaks.com/rip.htm

The Lower Walkham

2008-12-16T22:22:00.003Z

Being at work on Saturday, I missed all the great river levels. But I managed to get out for a paddle on Sunday. Keen to try something different Ewart, Louise and I headed over to the far side of the moor to paddle the Lower Walkham, which also includes some of the Tavy as well. After driving round for quite some time trying to find the get out, because we'd all forgotten to bring a proper map, we finally got ourselves sorted left a car at the get out and got to the get on. The river was paddleable, but I wouldn't have wanted to try it with any less water.
It's a really fun little river, much smaller than the Dart, with numerous little rapids and drops which twist and turn through a wooded valley, and very little chance to catch your breath. Before you finally come to a solid little class 3 drop. Louise and I decided to give it a miss, tandem in the Canadian, but ran the rest of the little twisty rapid below. A few more rapids lead you down to the confluence with the Tavy. A couple of Bouncy class 2 rapids then lead you down to a great class 3 rapid, weaving between some large boulders and through a hole. Then some more bouncy class 2 brings you to a weir, Ewart ran it off a rock ledge on river right, but once again Louise and I decided that it just wasn't quite a Canadian Canoe line. Some last few rapids then lead you to a tiny little gauging weir, which produces a great surf wave. Cue lots of surfing and generally mucking about! And that's it. Its a great trip, if you fancy a class 3 river trip with a far more technical and river running feel than the loop, then the Lower Walkham could be for you.

The class 3 slot drop on the Walkham

Ewart surfing on the Tavy

Long arm shot, Louise cross deck ruddering while surfing

Louise and I surfing

Poser!

The Exe in flood.

2008-12-16T22:11:00.002Z

This week we had some torrential rain. My rain gauge in my garden recorded 36mm in 12 hours. With Massive amount of rain falling all over Devon all the rivers shot up. The river Exe reached some huge levels. Maybe not as high as its ever been, but certainly about as high as its been this year. I managed to grab a few pictures of Mill on the Exe on my way to work, and some of Trews Weir after I got to work.

The wave on head weir

The middle of Trews Weir

Insane crashing wave, mid river, Mill on the Exe

Puddletown woods

2008-12-16T21:55:00.003Z

Tom KP and myself managed to sneak over to Puddletown woods in Dorset last week for some Mountain biking fun. Despite being very wet there are alot of trails at Puddletown that drain well, meaning that we were able to enjoy a good varied mix of riding without ending up head to toe in clag! We rode most of our favourite trails, only having to avoid 'creepy hollow' which still manages to be wet weeks after any rain!

Tom drops into a classic sandy Puddletown trail

Me, airing the table on the 'BMX' trail

Tom, on the 'BMX' trail table

The only downside to the day out was just as we were riding down the last trail back to the van. About 400m from the van Toms bike let out a clunk as he rode through a bomb hole. The main pivot bolt on his rear suspension had sheared off at both ends. Bummer.

The remains of Toms main Pivot bolt.

Malawian adventure

2008-12-16T21:33:00.008Z

It had gotten round to that time again, and so I set off to Malawi to visit my Family. Heading out in November was a change for me, I'd only ever been early in the year, at the end of the rainy season. So it was a shock to see everything so dead and dry. But there had been approximately three months without significant rainfall. The temperature hit over 34C in the shade on several occasions! As well as seeing family, I checked out some waterfalls, went to a game reserve to try and spot wildlife and swam lots in the lake. Here's a few pictures of what I saw.

My Dad cooking marsh mallows on Acacia thorns at Vwaza reserve

Enjoying the sunset over lake Kazuni while cooking dinner, Vwaza reserve

A scorpion in my book, Eeeeek......

A Hippo enjoying the mud, Lake Kazuni, Vwaza reserve

Multi coloured Mbuna fish, lake Malawi

Rapids on the South Rukuru river

Mongwe falls, South Rukuru river

Fresh water crab, Lake Malawi

A Southern Tree Agama, a friends back garden!

The South Rukuru river below Rumphi, this year before the rainy season

The same location last year, after the rainy season

Low water Upper Dart

2008-11-04T22:49:00.005Z

Water levels have been up and down recently, and it was a gamble to know what to do this weekend. There had been some rain, but it seemed that it was a case of too little, and too early, by the time we'd got to the river it had all gone again. There wasn't enough water in the Erme, so Dan, Dom, Small Robin and myself headed to the Upper Dart, for a classic low water bump and scrape. Not the best conditions, but we had a laugh, and it was far better than not paddling.

His and Hers, Robin and Owen at Dartmeet in matching outfits!

Dan, 'Burning man' broad ledges

Robin dropping into Euthanasia

Dan sliding, sideways, into Euthanasia

Dom about to boof....

Dan in a bony low water Surprise Surprise

Robin gets his monkey on down Surprise Surprise

Catch up from the last 10 days.

2008-10-29T19:38:00.005Z

I've been a bit lax the last fortnight or so, and haven't blogged any of the things that I've been upto. So I've decided to roll it all into one photo blog, with the most recent at the top, and the oldest at the bottom. So here's a quick run down of what I've been doing; A great Sunday on the Erme and the Upper Dart with some nice water levels; A dawn raid on the Top Wave, with a great water level and the wave all to myself; And a day out to Cann woods near Plymouth mountain biking. Also squeezed somewhere in the middle of that lot was an afternoon at the jumps at Pines Ridge and then onto the Mafia trails, but I didn't get any pictures!

The Erme at a great water level with Small Robin, Dan, Andy and Leo

Leo about to drop into the Slot on the Erme

Dan on the Upper Dart

Andy, Arthur, Small and Dan below Euthanasia on the Upper Dart

Just starting to get light at Top wave

Slow Shutter shot of Top wave

Me and the 'goose flying at Cann woods

Spy shots: New Yak Paddling gear.

2008-10-19T11:11:00.006+01:00

I've got some great spy shots for you today. I was lucky enough to be involved in a photo shoot for the new range of Cags from Yak paddling gear that is about to be released. And I've managed to get hold of a few pictures to show everyone the great new stuff that they've got coming.

The whitewater lineup features a huge range of cags, from a great entry level cag with neo neck, all the way up to an awesome latex neck cag, that is chock full of great design features. All the cags feature new materials, that are more waterproof, more breathable, lighter, more flexible and far more comfortable to wear. They also feature details like neat colour coded splash proof zips, colour coded Velcro with hyperlon tabs, better latex seals than before, and more flexible neoprene seals, with a cunning spiral seam, that allows the neoprene to stretch all over with out being restricted by a straight seam. They also have a better cut, with articulated shoulders, arms and wrists for better movement, with less restriction, and no excess baggy material.
The top of the range whitewater cags also feature an all new four way stretch, waterproof, breathable, three layer fabric in a cool new colours, including the the Camouflage colour, or Yak-o-flage, as it's made from multi coloured yaks!

The top of the range 'camo' cag.

If your not sure about the 'camo' an alternative colour way is available

There is also a complete new range of recreational and touring cags. Also in new more waterproof, more breathable, lighter, more flexible and far more comfortable materials. They also sport the great features such as colour coded splash proof zips and colour coded Velcro with hyperlon tabs. The higher spec touring Cags also feature new latex seals, and the new cut, with articulated shoulders, arms and wrists for better movement, with less restriction.

new touring, and recreation cags

A full spectrum of new cags, coming soon!

The New Range of gear is expect in the shops in November. Check http://www.yak-paddling.com/ for more details and info on the whole range of Yak Gear that is available.

A Family Dart Trip, with the Hoppers

2008-10-12T21:09:00.005+01:00

Louise and I managed to get out on the River Dart this weekend with our friends the Hopper Family. Yes, I said family, Mum and Dad Heather and Roger, and the kids, Ben (9) Jodie (11, this week) and Isabel (13, next month). Roger and Jodie went in a canoe together, but everyone else took to the water on their own. We hit the river early, and the weather was amazing, wisps of mist hanging on the river and lingering under the trees, all light up by the amazing sunshine.

Louise in her Canoe

Heather in her Kayak

Ben Ripping it up in his kayak

The glorious morning weather

Roger and Jodie in Their Canoe

Jodie enjoying the sunshine

Isabel in her kayak

First Dart Trip of the Winter

2008-10-12T20:59:00.003+01:00

The South West Canoe Show is always planned to be on the first 'official' weekend of the Dart season. But previously there has not been any water in the river. This year however was different. The heavens opened over night, and then the sun came out. We spent a great day on the Dart enjoying awesome water levels and sunshine. The river was up the steps when we got on, and the river was a non stop wave train, with a few bigger rapids thrown in the mix.

Owen, floating well over the slab at Newbridge

Ewart, about the break in at Newbridge.

The Last drop at Triple, in big water.

South West Canoe Show 2008

2008-10-12T20:42:00.009+01:00

Just some quick snap shots from this years South West Canoe Show.

Not a bad turn out, considering the weather

Some of the New Yak Gear

The new Wavesport Diesels

The New Dagger Axiom

The Vast Valley Demo fleet

Some of the new Astral gear

The new Liquid Logic Biscuit

Some of the new Sweet gear, including the new Sweet cag

The new Pyranha Z:one

The New Pyranha Knarli

Stop Press: Breaking News.......

2008-10-12T20:34:00.003+01:00

STOP PRESS: BREAKING NEWS

AS WATERSPORTS STAFF SEEN SURFING A SIT-ON-TOP.

Ewart leaves the water after a tough surf session.

Sam, a friend of Ewarts, gets stuck into another wave

Ewart, surfing a sit-on "It's actually quite fun!"

Ewart Aylward, AS Watersports team leader, was recently seen surfing a sit-on-top at Exmouth. He is reported as saying "Its actually quite fun".

1 Week till the South West canoe Show 2008

2008-09-27T15:34:00.003+01:00

It's now only one week till this years South West Canoe Show.

So here is a quick run down of what you will be able to see at this years show; For the whitewater paddlers we have new boats from Pyranha, with the Kanarli and Z:One, Liquid Logic with the Biscuit and XP, Dagger with the Green boat and Axiom and Wavesport with the new Diesel range.

For the Sit on top paddler there will be new range of Tarpons from Wilderness Systems, the new Trident 13 fishing kayak from Ocean Kayak and new boats from Native Watercraft. For the Canoeists there will be new boats from Mad River Canoes to check out.

On the software front there is the complete new range of Yak waterproof cags, on display in the UK for the first time. The new range has something for the recreational paddlers, touring paddlers , and the whitewater paddlers alike. There will be a chance to see the new Sweet range of Helmets and the new Sweet gore-tex cag. Palm have some new gear, including some great new water shoes that look set to rival the mighty 5:10 boots.

And on-top of all this there will be all your favorite tried and tested gear from all our favorite manufactures; Palm; Dagger; Yak; Nookie; Typhoon; Sweet; IR; Astral; Pyranha; P+H; Venture Kayaks; Venture Canoes; Valley Sea Kayaks; Valley Surf Kayaks: Kirton Kayaks; Lettmann; Wavesport; Mad River Canoe; Wilderness Systems; Native Watercraft; Heritage; Ocean Kayak; Old Town; Perception; Exped; Ortlieb; Bending Branches; Pelican Canoes; Aquabound; Eckla.

Plus, as if that wasn't enough, also at the show will be local Colleges for those of you interested in becoming an instructor or coach and coaching and guiding companies like Gene 17; Canoe Control; Sea Kayak South West; Sea Sports South West and Haven Banks.

Don't forget there will be special Deals on Boats and Kit available for the show day only, and a whole range of package deals available on the day as well. For a sneak Preview of what's available check HERE. Plus all your favorite gear will be on sale from the stands and in the shop.

You can also demo a huge range of canoes, kayaks and sit on tops on the canal and river, beat the queue and download the boat demo registration form HERE.

And finally, there will be a BCU Club Forum held in the Exeter Canoe club, a 'Mexican roll' down the river Exe by Exeter School Kayak Club, a BCU White water race down the river Exe and the Hog Roast!

Hip Hop is not Dead!

2008-09-20T22:24:00.003+01:00

Hip Hop is Not Dead

New Camo Immersion Research Splash pants now available. Yes you too could look this stylish!!!

A quick bit of fishing.

2008-09-20T22:16:00.004+01:00

I managed to pop out for a bit of kayak fishing action yesterday. I went down to Exmouth and enjoyed the calm conditions, and the great sunset. I even managed to catch a few things! I caught the biggest sand eel I have ever seen, it took my biggest lure too. It was the best part of a foot long and wriggled and flapped like a mad man!! And I caught a great big mackerel, it was just a shame that it was only the one mackerel.

The Monster Sand eel!

Looking back towards the beach, over a calm sea.

The sea and the sky turning amazing colours.

What Team AS did next.

2008-09-20T22:04:00.004+01:00

Well after our 'Team' day out on the river last weekend we had to do something this weekend. And what could be better? SURF!!!!!

We headed up to Westward Ho! on the North devon coast and had a great afternoon messing about in the surf!

Ewart was trying out his new surf board, Kayleigh was practising her 'Pop' on a long board, Jemma (back with the team at last!) was splashing around on a body board, and I played with a wave ski, before swapping to a bit of swimming and photography before having a go on a longboard. Meanwhile, out back various kayakers in various surf boats and playboats we loving the waves as well. All in all a great day in the water!

What next?

Ewart practising his head stands

Me trying out Ewarts Longboard

Jemma lines up her body board for another wave

Kayleigh getting to her feet

Ewart finds a rare shoulder on an inside wave

Team AS hits the river.

2008-09-09T21:30:00.003+01:00

With all this rain around 'Team AS' finally did what we'd all been waiting for, and went for a Whitewater paddle. Ewart, Kayleigh, Sam, Liam and myself hit the water. It was very much a gentle warm up paddle, seeing as Ewart hadn't paddled Whitewater since his first shoulder injury, about 15 months ago, Kayleigh is still recovering from another shoulder injury and Sam hadn't been on whitewater in a while! So we headed off for a classic Grade 2 fest'.

The team, me, Kayleigh, Sam, Liam and Ewart

Just after the get on, and straight into the trees!

As you can see from the photos there were lots of trees to dodge, and the river never let up for a moment, continuous class two rapids straight from the get in until the get out. What a great trip!

Liam, Ewart and Sam catch their breath on a rare calmer moment

Kayleigh takes the lead

Hopefully it'll stay wet, with the exception of Saturday the 4th of October for the South West Canoe Show, and we'll get many more days on the river.

Allier Adventure: France 2008

2008-08-19T22:06:00.008+01:00

Well its that time of year again, time for the summer holiday. Last year we had such a great time canoeing in France that we decided that we'd do it again! Although we decided this year to take it easy and only paddle one river, the Allier, and spend more time chilling out, eating local food, and drinking cheap wine!

The rapid we walked, complete with pinned raft

The start of the grade 3(+) gorge, before the rain started

The Weather wasn't great this year, the first week was plagued by rain and thunder, but the second week was much better. We warmed up on a lower section of the river that was only grade 2 and everything seemed great. So we decided that we'd jump in at the deep end with our second day on the river, with some great tight and technical grade 3(+), all in the bottom of a steep and wild gorge. Which tandem in an open boat is an exciting experience! We walked one rapid early on, and we were glad as a raft then pinned itself for a couple of minuets, eventually flipping and sending all the clients down the shallow rocky rapid, Ouch!. The Rest of the run was super cool after that, running some drops, upto about 3 feet, and some long bouncy rapids. The weather though was the worst day of the holiday, quickly turning into non-stop rain, low clouds and thunder. By 2 in the afternoon mist was rising off of the water, because the air temperature had dropped below the water temp.

The longest rapid on the section, as seen from the train

Somewhere in the middle of the gorge

Our third day on the river was an absolute blinder, the longest section at 20km, through another wild section of gorge, with little sign of any other person for most of the day and with one rapid after another. The rapids were all Grade 2 with a couple of grade 3s to keep you on your toes. And with the barrage releasing an extra 2cumecs of water it made everything even better. The sun was blazing and we had a great day on the river.

One of the Grade 3 rapids on our last day on the river

Looking back up the valley on the cycle shuttle run!

Off of the river we enjoyed plenty of time lazing about our campsite reading books, some laid back drives through the great scenery to find view points, the 'tourist train' that runs right through all of the gorges, most of the time right next to the river, and of course enjoying all the local produce, wine, cheese, bread and fruit.

Enjoying the sun on our last day on the river

A hitch-hiker on the lower section of the river
There are still a couple of sections of the upper river that we haven't paddled, mainly because they are a little to tight and rocky of a tandem canoe, at grade 3(5) and 4(5), but maybe I'll return with my kayak at some point to tick them off. As for next year I'll have to find a new destination, time to break out the guide books!

South West Canoe Show 2008

2008-07-23T12:23:00.003+01:00

The South West Canoe Show 2008 may still be a few months away, but the wheels are already in motion for this years Biggest free canoe show.

Put it in your Diary now Saturday the 4th October 2008.

The Website is now up, and will be updated regularly so check it out.

My new Ride.

2008-07-17T21:54:00.004+01:00

The usual peace and tranquility here at 3rider towers has been rudely disturbed this week by the arrival of a loud new bouncing Bike.
I'm now the proud owner of a Mongoose Khyber Elite, with a few extra upgrades. I bought it second hand, but barely used. The previous owner, worked in a bike shop and had too many nice parts and other bikes to play with. The front forks have been barely used, because he changed them for something else, and it sports almost new camo Sunn MTX rims on Hope Pro2 hubs, and some carbon Avid juicy brakes. All in all not a bad little freeride bike for me. It features some lovely marzocchi 55 forks with 160mm travel up front, and a Marzocchi Roco R rear shock putting out something like 6.7" of travel at the rear.
I've only given it the one quick ride at Haldon so far, but it handled everything very well, and it made a great change from being rattled around on the Hardtail.

My new Mongoose Khyber

My Trusty DMR will now handle all the hardtail duties, like dirt jumping, and the odd bit of 4X stomping. It's a great bike and I love the way it rides, so I'll not be getting rid of it. It'll just live in its Moto Tyres and only come out i the dry!

My good old DMR Trailstar LT

And as for my third bike, my trusty old GT still keeps on going. I've ad it for around 10 years now. Now in fully rigid hack bike mode. It's been equipped with all the hand me downs, cast offs and junk parts out of the garage, and not a week goes by with out some part coming loose or falling off whilst in use. Frighteningly either the crank arms while going up hill, or any part of the brakes when trying to stop! But it gets me too and from work quickly, easily and it keeps my spanner skills ready.

My trusty, if scary GT hack Bike

I don't think I need another bike, I seem to have most bases covered now, and anyway, I don't think there's any space left in the garage.

Going green at The Mafia

2008-06-30T21:31:00.007+01:00

So, after hacking our way through the jungle that had set in on the top of the trails, there was only one thing to do: RIDE!
After sweeping all the trails they were rolling fast, with dry trails and just enough dirt in the corners to keep you on your toes.

Ewart on the Big Snake

Ewart sends Mother Bear

The big berm on the Main-line

Sam at the top of the Duel Track

Ewart and Sam on the Duel Track

Me at the top of the Duel track

Sam on the Main-line berm

Ewart fires up the see-saw

If you go down to the trails today.....

2008-06-30T21:15:00.004+01:00

....Your in for a big surprise!

Mainly because you couldn't find the trails through the 8 foot high bracken, brambles and stinging nettles.
So Sam, Ewart and I set about clearing the trails. Here's a few before and after shots for you.

The view outside the barns, above the main roll in

and below after clearing

Ewart checks the view from Goldielocks

Looking down the lead in to goldielocks

and below after some gardening

And looking down the trails from the top of goldielocks

and below before we cleared

A quick Trip to Decoy

2008-06-16T23:05:00.004+01:00

At work today we had to do a boat delivery to Decoy lake this evening. So Ewart and I thought we'd combine dropping off some boats with a quick spot of biking at Decoy Trails.
There are a few things worth checking out at Decoy, there is the Huge BMX track, there's the HUGE Dirt jumps, and tucked away there are some sneaky bandit run trails through the woods.

Ewart going for it on the bmx track

We started off looking for some of the hidden woodland trails. We found a few, they were all fairly short, but a good laugh with tight corners, slippery roots and poor visibility hacking through the deep under growth! But after a while the heat combined with the effort of pushing back up the hill took its toll, so we decided to check out the BMX track.

This berm was vast, and riding a high line was great fun!

The BMX track is stunning, having fairly recently been re-vamped and re-surfaced. Its a full on world class race track, with enormous berms, step-ups, step-downs, pump bumps and gaps. Even just trying to cruise round the whole track was tiring. Ewart challenged me to a race, but neither of us could make it past the half way mark!!! but we enjoyed sessioning some of the corners and pump bumps.

Ewart on a loose and slippery corner somewhere in the woods!

There is also an area of dirt jumps, the main line through the middle of the jumps is Vast. with lips that seemed to be at least 8 foot high and gaps the looked at least double that. However no one was riding them as they are prepping it for a jam in a couple of weeks, hopefully I'll be able to find the time to go along and watch.

New waterproof camera

2008-06-16T22:42:00.003+01:00

Hi There 3Rider fans, sorry its been ages since I last posted anything, I have been up to loads, just not taking any pictures, so I haven't had anything worthy of posting!
Life has a few ups and downs, and as some of you might remember I was burgled a few months back. But it's had a bit of an up side (all be it a rather small up!) but the insurance finally paid out, and we now have a cool new Olympus waterproof camera. I've been itching to give it a proper testing, and I finally got the chance this weekend.
With fuel fairly hard to find we took the short trip down to Ansteys Cove in Torbay. The sea was calm, blue and inviting. So Louise and I suited up and took the plunge.

Louise takes the plunge

The Beach below Ansteys Cove is now a bit of a no go zone. Some landslips above the beach a few years ago meant the closure of the beach, and with the council un-able to find the money the shore it up they have now removed the walk way that used to lead down onto the beach. Its still possible to scramble onto the beach at low tide, but as the tide comes in it becomes very hard to get off the beach!
But none of that is a problem if your wearing 5mm of neoprene, boots, gloves, fins and goggles! Just jump in and swim round!

Just some of the seaweeds to be seen

The water was very clear for the British coast and there was lots to see. Amazing coloured seaweeds, plenty of fish from tiny see through shoals of fry to big Wrasse, and the occasional stone crab.

A stone crab, this one was too small to be worth eating!

The more time I spend swimming around off beaches and coves in the southwest the more I enjoy it. The water may not be that warm but the sights on offer soon stop you worrying about temperature.

Looking out along the cove, The Long Traverse climbs across the wall above the sea, to Sanctuary wall and LQP

It's hot out there

2008-05-15T18:50:00.006+01:00

Whew, what a scorcher we had on Sunday. Tom KP, Phil KP, Ewart and I went for a mountain biking mission on what felt like the hottest day of the year!
We first headed off to Cann Woods on the out-skirts of Plymouth, somewhere we hadn't ridden in over a year. Unfortunately I had so much water in my back-pack that i couldn't fit the camera in, so no pictures. But I can tell you that the riding was great. Most of the trails seemed un-changed since our last visit, except that the jumps all seemed a bit bigger than before! In between melting in the extraordinary heat we had a great time riding some flowing trails, and an awesome off camber root fest!

Ewart on a gap jump over a stream on the cafe side at Haldon

Me on the same gap jump, before eating dirt!

Finally, after running out of water, we returned to the van for Ice-creams, loaded up and headed back to Haldon, outside Exeter. Rather than going to the 'regular' side of the hill at Haldon, we headed over to the 'below the radar' trails over on the cafe side of the hill. It was still too hot to ride hard, but we had fun riding some nice trails. I had two crashes, on the same gap jump, the first time was a laugh, but the second time left me limping and sore! After some good riding we finally called it a day and headed on home to try and re-hydrate ourselves!

Phil on a hip-jump lower down the hill at Haldon

Tom stylin' the same Hip

Cornish Waveski fun

2008-05-07T22:20:00.003+01:00

I managed to get away for a few days over the bank holiday weekend, and I managed to find some nice, small, clean, fun surf. I then managed to rip it up on my Waveski, check it out!

One of the larger waves of the day,

Cranking into another nice little wave

Attempting some kind of floater, top turn, re-entry thing!

Another small, but perfectly formed sucky wall

Another floater type thing, still not sure I've quite got it right tho!

The Mafia wheels keep turning

2008-04-16T22:01:00.005+01:00

Another night at the mafia trails, more racing the dual track, but generally a really laid back jam. People were hitting all the lines, some people going big on Daddy Bear, some of us hitting up Mummy Bear for the first time, others just rolling through the trails trying to get a feel for it all, and everyone enjoying more BBQ action! Spring has definitely sprung for us, roll on the summer and even lighter nights.

Sending Mummy bear for the first time is a great feeling

Whipping up daddy bear is where its at for others

Ewart, clean lines on Mummy bear

Adam, big lines on Daddy bear

Ollie, insane lines all over!

The Dual track berms were riding really well

Tom K on his super-light 'Mega Rig'

The bike shed lads were loving the dual course

Kicking up the dirt in the setting sun

Adam whipping the table

Mafia dual showdown

2008-04-11T20:42:00.009+01:00

After raking out our little dual track, up at the Mafia trails, last week, it's been ridden in really well. So there was only one thing left; Time for a Dual Track Showdown!
So a whole bunch of riders rocked up on Thursday for some elbows out, no holds barred racing, oh and some obligatory BBQ action!
After stuffing our faces on Sausage sarnies, chicken, salad, chili sauce and more it was time for some action. A simple start 'ramp' was positioned and soon two riders were thundering down the course. For Ultimate carnage the dual track features two bottle necks, where both riders are forced through a gap between two trees, it means that riders can change lines at that point, but in a close race it leads to all sorts of problems!
Bikes were crashed, chains were snapped, spokes were popped, new lines were created and lots of fun was had.
Check it out........

The first corner created most of the action

The inside line seemed was faster but it was close

Hmmmmm.......BBQ

Rob H shows a clean pair of heels

Tom K squeezes into the lead

Adam schooled everyone with his DH skills

Mark H tried to create as many short cuts as possible

Is Ewart falling off, or taking the hole-shot?

The setting sun through the trails and trees

Ewart, practicing his manuals through the pump bumps

Ewart on the 'big berm' on the main line

Rob H fast and smooth, as usual!

Ian blasting the Berm

Tom K berming it up

Rob H hitting up Daddy bears gap in the dark!

Combe Sydenham DH Track

2008-04-08T21:25:00.110+01:00

This Sunday a whole bunch of Exeter Bikers headed upto Combe Sydenham, on the edge of Exmoor, to ride the Mountain bike Downhill Track. Some of us for fun, others as practice for the forth coming downhill competion.
As you might have noticed, the weather wasn't as its finest on Sunday. The whole day alternated between bright sunshine and snow showers! But when the sun was out it was wonderful and spring like, and even when the snow was falling it was still quite pleasant!

Sunshine and bikes at the carpark

Getting our breath back at the top of the hill

The Track at Combe Sydenham is broken up into roughly three sections. The top section features some great riding. Starting from right at the top of the hill, you cut through some berms in the wood land, before breifly poping out from under the trees over a roller, then you plunge back under the trees, along a rooty and rocky section, before being fired onto the large fire track, there then follows three 'Bus stop' style sections, where you shoot up off of the fire road into the trees breifly, before dropping back onto the fire road.
The second section currently starts badly, a water pipe had burst and water was running down the first few berms turning them into a quagmire, but you could sneek around it, then it was a series of berms to a step down jump, followed by more berms that lead to the 'BIG' jump, a large fire road gap, some 20ft (+?) The big jump fired you out of the woods and into a field that features another load of jumps, two tabletops, a double and then a very close pair of doubles.
The third section started with you being fired back into the trees. The route was a bit vauge at this point, the area having been used recently for a motorbike enduro event. But a series of lumpy turns and steep drops eventually lead you to the bottom of the hill!

Tom K hits the 'BIG' fire road gap

Mark H gets some air on the second tabletop

Ewart clocks some air on the tabletop

We spent more time riding the first top section, the riding was lovely and the push back up wasn't too hard! Although we tried all of the track at some point. The 'BIG' jump was just too much for me, especially on my hardtail, and that then meant you didn't have masses of speed for the tabletop jumps, even going fast they didn't jump that well.

But overall it was a great day out. Hopefully we'll head back there again some time soon. It's a shame I didn't get any more, or better pictures, but I was too busy enjoying riding to get the camera out much!

Back at the mafia.

2008-03-24T21:16:00.005Z

O, the good old Mafia Trails, it was great to be back up there again today. Hopefully with the clocks changing next week, we'll be up there more often after work in the evenings. I can't wait for it!

Rob H working out a new, fast, line into the tabletop

Ewart, checks out the line

Tom KP boosts one over the table

Rob H gets whippy with it!

Todays mission was build and biking. We set about finishing off a shore line right at the very bottom of the land. The Line had been started by Tom KP, Andy and Ewart, but still didn't go any where. It started with a rising banked corner, before leveling off. The original idea had been to build some kind of step down to finish it, but we decided that you wouldn't be able to generate enough speed to make it work. So after a bit of head scratching we decided on a simple down ramp into a small jump to finish it.
Some time around then, part time Devonian, and (part time!) student Rob H turned up and we got on our bikes and got on with the important job of riding! Rob set about trying a different, and faster line into the table top jump, and the fun began.

Ewart on the opening corners of the dual track

The remains of another expensive chain

Then once that had been ticked off I set about laying out a Dual (duel!) track, some thing we'd all been thinking of for some time. Basically a dual track is two parallel trails, running right next to each other, with two riders riding head to head to get to the bottom. I sketched something out with a rake, and then we started to ride it to see if it worked properly. Within 5 minuets we were racing head to head! The track was a blinder. With limited space between the trees there were two sections where racers are forced into the same space, but also have the opportunity to change which line they're racing on. This caused some carnage, but also some great man-on-man, elbows out, death or glory racing!
Then to round off the day, I broke my chain trying to ride back up the hill to the van. (see it's true, bikes shouldn't be ridden up hill!!!!) and we finished off with a quick jump in the slowly growing foam pit.

Ewart and Tom racing the dual track

Rob, kicking up some dirt

Rob really had this line wired, fast, accurate and with the dirt flying!

Tom Trailing a toe through the dual track berms

Ewart test out the foam pit with a front flip, the outcome; we need more foam!

Oi, Slag!

2008-03-23T19:30:00.006Z

No no no, not that sort of slag! An industrial slag heap, made of old cinder, slag and crushed rock next to an old mine working, out on the moor. That's where Ewart and I went for a bit of biking today.
There were a couple of flat levels, with a some jumps and some steep slopes that dropped down the side of the hill. The jumps were small and not that great, but we had a lot of fun carving lines down the steep, loose, slag.
We got a bit carried away trying to see how much grit we could spray into the air, but it was a great laugh charging at a loose bank, laying the bike over and trying to carve as tight a turn as possible!

Carving out a line on the biggest, steepest and longest slope

About to change direction, this was a bit daunting at first, but it's actually not hard at all.

Direction changed, let the brakes off and go!!!

Ewart letting the back drift out and throwing some dirt!

Ewart, cresting the skyline and about to drop in

Ewart kicking up some dirt on a smaller bank

Skids are for kids......right?

Foot planted, both wheels drifting, about to fall off!

Ewart silhouetted, dirt flying

Ewart laying it over

A good day on the river, a bad day off the river.

2008-03-12T17:29:00.004Z

Well with the end of the Dart 'Season' approaching I thought I'd take advantage of this weeks good water levels to make the most of some playboating.
The river was rising quickly and topwave was changing rapidly. But it was all good fun. After getting my fill of surfing I headed off down the river, it was a good level but still some way short of BIG, and the tide line from the previous day was HUGE, about three steps up at newbridge. The wave at Triple was a bit to high to be really playful. But I had good fun trying to surf it. It was fast and surgey, changing from steep and with a shoulder, to flat and shoulder-less really fast. You couldn't just surf and set up to hit the shoulder, everytime I tried the shoulder vanished and I flushed off into the not so fun eddyline!

C arving back into the wave

Launching a blunt

Carving back the other way

Meanwhile though, some lowdown toe-rags were breaking into our house and stealing our stuff. They managed to sneak into the garden and 'let themselves in' through the back door. They then trashed the house and made off with my Laptop, all my film cameras, a digital video camera, MP3 players and most of our bank details and ID.

Suffice to say we are not happy bunnies. Hope fully the insurance will sort most of it out, but time will tell.
Remember don't make it easy for thieves to see what you've got and keep doors and windows locked.

Sidmouth video clip

2008-03-05T21:01:00.003Z

Just a quick video clip that Mitch managed to take yesterday morning.

Sidmouth dawn raid

2008-03-04T21:27:00.005Z

Once again the swell, tides and wind were all spot on again this morning for Ewart and I to have a pre-work dawn surfing mission at Sidmouth. It was bitterly cold, and when we first arrived we were bitterly disappointed, there didn't appear to be a wave worth surfing at all. So we wandered along the beach taking taking photos. Then Mitch arrived and started complaining that we weren't in the water. We were trying to point out that there weren't any waves worth riding, when we realised that in the 20 minuets that we'd been wandering along the beach the swell had picked, and it was time to get in the water.
We were not disappointed, perfectly formed, super clean, small waves were rolling in and the sun was starting to shine. What more could we want (apart from the morning off work!) I had great fun on the shops Demo Atlantic Ski, it's just such fun to paddle and surf, and Ewart realised that he'd made the right choice buying a longboard. Mitch even proved himself to be a demon camera man snapping some good pictures and video.

Sun rise at Sidmouth

The first rays catching the pebble beach

On the Demo Atlantic ski and loving it!

It wasn't big, but it was worth getting up for

Cruising down a little peeler

Ewart showing me his moves!

Ewart on a little wave

Mini Road Trip: The 3Bus heads north.

2008-03-04T20:52:00.007Z

Over the last week I've been on a bit of a mini road trip. With a van bursting at the seams, Louise and I headed north to See family in Hereford and Halifax and Friends in Swaledale.
We took gear to cover a vast range of activities and hit the road looking for adventure.....

First stop was Hereford, where we didn't really do much that could be called 'adventurous' but we did relax, take it easy, and more importantly eat lots!

Next we headed on to Halifax, stopping on the way for a quick bit of very cold bouldering at The Roaches. We had planned to do some mountain biking around Halifax, but the weather conspired against us, with winds so High that water was being blown out of the reservoirs that we'd been planning to bike past! So we spent more time taking it easy. It's a hard life sometimes.....

Then we headed onto Swaledale, the most northern of the Yorkshire dales, bordering with County Durham. On the way we stopped for a spot of caving, in the fantastically named Crackpot cave! At last it looked like we'd have some luck with the weather, so we headed out Rock climbing, taking in some routes at Windmore end and the Hoff in the upper Eden valley. However our weather luck didn't hold and the last day of our holiday was spent relaxing some more. I really must do this more often!

the 3bus in the dales

one finger and barely a toe, shame I was about to fall off!

I did however manage to stick this one on the big boulder in the Roaches enclosure

Lurking in 'the turnip field' Crackpot cave, swaledale

back in the daylight, outside Crackpot

Jon, finding his own way, windmore end

That looks like a nice line, I'll climb that bit....

Louise, seconding grassy crack, windmore end

Me following Jon's line

Jon, didn't fancy any of the routes in the guide, so he made up his own

No hassle, climbing at The Hoff

The incredible Hoff, a crazy little crag in a field!

Secret surf spot, but where is it?

2008-03-04T20:42:00.002Z

Some time last month I went exploring again, on my never ending quest to find quiet beaches and out of the way surf breaks.
I struck gold this time, although the swell wasn't right to fire up this little spot you could see the potential. It really was a mission to get there, with good navigation a must, and some fearless back lane driving; at times I had both wing mirrors in the hedge at once!
But I'm not going to spoil my fun and tell you where it is, I'm not even going to tell you which coast its on! But if you want to find it dig out your maps and go exploring, who knows maybe you'll find your own secret spot!

Don't do this to your kayak

2008-02-12T21:16:00.001Z

Do not allow an ordinary electrical light bulb to rest against your kayak whilst the bulb is switched on. If you do, it'll melt a hole through your lovely kayak, and then you'll have to fix it!

However if you have melted a hole in your boats, heres how to fix it.......

STEP 1:

Smooth off your unsightly hole, removing any melted plastic.

STEP 2:

Make a template and use it to cut out a piece of plastic to fill the hole, round the edges of your 'filler'.

STEP 3:

Weld your 'filler' into your hole using more plastic and a hot air gun.

STEP 4:

Smooth off welds.

STEP 5:

Take more care with light bulbs!

Puddletown woods

2008-02-12T20:40:00.000Z

Although the surf looked like it was going to be amazing this Sunday, I opted to head to Puddletown Woods with a whole bunch of bikers for a days riding.
It turned out to be a real stunner, 12 riders, warm, dry and sunny and of course the trails at Puddletown are awsome.
If you like a bit of mountain biking, and you like, jumps, downhill trails, 'shore and some amazing landscape all in one package then get your self to Puddletown woods it really has it all. I can't put it in words, so I'll leave you with a big bunch of pictures and some camera phone videos!

James goes big over a gap

Just some of the hardware out for the day

Time for TEA

James X-ing up

Ed, stylin' the BMX jump

Ewart gives it some

Ewart and Ian check out a MASSIVE step down

The step down from the side

Tom K on a steep drop in

Ed on a monster bomb hole

A Quick Dart blast (last week!)

2008-02-12T20:27:00.000Z

At the very start of this month I managed a quick solo blast down the Upper Dart. It was Very low (d'oh!) but I needed a paddling fix. Anyway heres a quick couple of pics just to prove how low it was.
Pictures..... Solo paddle........ hang on a min??!! My tame shuttle driver (my wife!) snapped a couple of shots!

Yes, it's low

Still low, still loving the Jefe

Draining the Exe

2008-01-29T20:38:00.000Z

The Environment Agency, and Exeter City Council have decided to lower the water level in the river Exe between Mill on the Exe and Trews Weir. The EA are doing this so they can check the pilings and steel shuttering around the river bank, as well as some water drainage outlet valves, meanwhile the City Council will be dredging Cricklepit creek.
They've dropped the river level by opening a sluice gate at Trews weir. This has dropped the river level by 2-3 feet. There is now no longer any water running over the weir. We'd kind of hoped that by some luck, the opening of the sluice might create a great playwave. However what it has created is a walled in hole of death! The tow back must be a minimum of fifteen feet, probably more like twenty feet! Plus when chatting to a bloke from the EA he also reckoned that the sluice was Anti-scour with lots of concrete blocks in the bottom. Definitely not a place to be!

The walled in hole of death

Trews weir with no water on it

More Harlyn Surf

2008-01-29T20:16:00.000Z

Sorry, no exciting surf pictures today, I was far to busy taking a pasting in the waves to get any. But we had a wonderful day at Harlyn. We headed up in Ewarts Truck, with his (hungover) house mate Phil.
The waves were quite bizarre, I've never really seen anything quite like it. The swell was rolling in fairly quickly, then jacking up superfast, sucking all the water off of the beach, then dumping hard and fast! You'd paddle into a wave, and just as you were taking off the bottom of the wave would drop out, leaving you looking at a four foot drop, into really shallow water, and then a thick lip would slam down onto the bottom. If you were lucky you'd have survived the drop and managed to get out infront of the wave before it closed out on your head, if you were unlucky you'd get nailed on the drop in, and then the lip would pound you into the seabed!
Ewart and Phil, both on boards, got some serious poundings by the waves, meanwhile I was on the waveski, and although I couldn't get driven into the sand, cos I was strapped to the board, I still got some heavy weight thrashings!
But on the upside, the weather was amazing. Clear blue skies, the sun blazing down and not a breath of wind.
Here's a couple of the pictures I did manage to get off of the water.

Ewart, Phil and the truck

Check out Ewarts new long board, and my art-tastic pic!

The amazing weather on the drive home