Winter Write up

The end to one of the hardest years of my life has finally come. I have done my final exams and have started putting the finishing touches on what seemed like a never ending thesis. Although college has demanded almost 60 hours a week, yeah more than a full-time real job, I have still done more paddling this season that I have before. With college coming first partying was put on the back burner and kayaking took on the role of making sure I didn’t lose my mind. This did mean that I got some really cool paddling sessions this season.

 

Matt from Wales

Ireland is not typically your go to destination for kayaking, we have all of Europe to our right and Africa a short cheap hop from most international hubs in order to keep us occupied. But as I couldn’t get the time to travel this year I made the best of what our little island has to offer, and depending on rain it can surprise you.

Adrian Shanahan

Dave Crerar

Freestyle was a number one priority this season and I spent a lot of time dialling in cleans at my local spot, which is a particularly weird feature. This meant putting on the Level 6 mitts and firing it up in the coldest temperatures I have ever experienced on the water. But its worth it when your training pays off and you get the pat on the back from friends or you see your new training rides coming together in competition.

Dave Crerar

Paddy Mc Govern

There is a lot of scrapey creeking to be done here at home, you gotta make the most of the rivers, really get your skills up, if you don’t use the river you can get bored easily. But just as we have to motivate ourselves to keep training on our small play features you can get some days when it all pays off. The last of this seasons rain fell last week and we got a  few runs done before it all drained away for the summer.

Nick Doran

Dave Crerar

It’s now time to get back on the road and kayak harder rivers and bigger waves. First stop is Ottawa to work for Wilderness tours in order to earn some cash, then BC and up to the hills for some snow. It’s always a very busy time when you are leaving home. Flights to be booked, visas to be sorted and gear to be ordered. It’s great having the help of such generous companies like Level 6, Squarerock/ Jackson, Werner, Predator and Teva who not only keep us looking good but also allow us to travel light.

 Ross Redmond

Dave Crerar

So only six more weeks getting the last words of my thesis written and earning some more euros before I start out on my biggest journey yet. Ill check back in soon. DC

Dave Crerar

Dave Crerar

Old Man River

Photo Cedits:

Nick Doran

Moe Kelleher

Dave Cerar

Ross Redmond

Sinead O'Donnel 

Francis O'Donel

Last weekend brought about my first day at work with kayaking.ie, it was great to be back on the water and even more fun to be sharing it with a group of new paddling mates.




We started off on Saturday, the sun was shining the waters on the Inny were perfect and it was the glorious temperature of 2 degrees celcius, yes that’s two above freezing, welcome home Davey boy.




Surfing, tail-squirts and spins were the order of the day for the first of Alex Stanley’s Freestyle Fundamentals courses. Well run, Moe Kelleher and I had our lesson plans all set and took to the water.






The group were great fun, advancing at every bit of criticism and enjoying the water even though it was Baltic. Despite the cold weather our group excelled and by the end of the weekend everyone was surfing and tail-squirting their way down the river.





Check out Kayaking.ie for more freestyle courses in the near future