It was Saturday 7th April 2012 and our last chance to paddle the Olympic Whitewater Course before it was closed to the public ahead of the Games. We made the most of it with everyone progressing from the grade 2 water of the smaller Legacy course to the full on grade 4 of the Olympic course.
While the water of these 2 courses looks and definitely sounds intimidating it is also safe. You just have to remind yourself of this fact from time to time with the help of well worn phrases such as “You’ll be fine” and the equally reassuring “What could possibly go wrong?”
Youth and experience were both well represented throughout the day. While the under 22′s played fearlessly on the waves and holes of the Olympic course Keith Miller pulled his first 2 loops on the Legacy. The author of this report can also confirm the fact that both courses look just as good from beneath the water as they do from above it.
The grin factor was also increased by the David and Goliath battle between Keith’s tiny Molan and a rather large raft. Keith was intent on playing in one of the many fine play waves and did not notice the 8 limbed behemoth approaching from downstream. After a brief argument over eddy space Keith was unceremoniously buffeted to the edge of the next drop from where he bravely battled back to safety and then up to the wave again. This LDCC paddler was not about to be pushed of his wave by an inflatable tub!
The day had it all: tiny boats battling rafts, proud parents, new moves, unintendos and some very tired but very happy paddlers. Looking forward to September when the course reopens.
Click here to view the photos.
Paddlers are:
Stephen Connolly red helmet red Jackson playboat
Tom Hopkins white helmet red Wavesport playboat
Will Hopkins black helmet orange Pyranha playboat
Keith Miller yellow helmet yellow/orange Pyranha Molan playboat
Martin Risebro red helmet green Dagger Mamba
