The Gang out for a play!

Tonight me (Craig) and the whole gang (Atty, Clegg, Ant, Little Tom, Big Tom, Jonny, Steph, Clair and Mike) were out in force tonight for some flat water play boating and a well deserved pint afterwards. The venue as usual in the summer evenings Halton weir, and me and the chaps even managed to get Little Tom some Air Time in his Shooting Star.....see the pics below!

Hand Surfing @ Halton

Tonight was another good evening for some playboating on Halton Rapids, and today I decided to do some work on my hand surfing skills.....and all went well, another great eveving on the water!

Me (Craig) hand surfing on the bottom wave at Halton

Flat water Playboating!

Today me (Craig) and Little Tom headed to local spot Halton (5 Mins away) for a bit of a flat water playboating. Good for working on those basic playboating skills and just working on your fitness. It was a real nice evening, however its not quite hot enough yet to spend half your time upside down without serious brain freeze.....still an ACE evening on the water.

Me (Craig) playing with the Bow Stall!



Little Tom rocking the Cartwheel.....nice!

A farewell paddle for Pilky!

Today me (Craig) and the guys Atty, Pilky, Dave, Jonny, Little Tom and Will headed out for a sunday morning paddle, again on the Leven as it is the only thing still running. The main reason to get out today is that Pilky is heading down to the south of France to work for the summer. We wanted to give him a good send off with a paddle, a pint and Sunday lunch at a local pub all good times. We made good use of the remaining water with Little Tom getting his first run of Backbarrow Weir so all good. Were all Hoping for rain this week so we can maybe hit the local becks.

Me (Craig) running Backbarrow Bridge



Little Tom running Backbarrow Weir

A good week of after work paddles!

Well as you've probably realised the Kent and the Leven feature a lot on this BLOG. This is because they are our local and reliable runs, when the rain comes we try to hit the the local steep becks but in between were happy with our regular runs down the Kent. This week has been a real good one for after work boating as you would be able to tell from the few previous posts, tonight was no exception me (Craig) and the chaps (Ant, Little Tom, Dave and Jon) headed up to the Kent but this time with a twist. Firstly Dave was out boating for the first time in months after heavy work commitments since before Christmas, and as for Jon this was his first run ever of the Kent so exciting times for him. It was a nice leisurely paddle and we even ended up getting off in the dark which was fun!

Jon just about to run Force Falls on the Kent

White Water Safety and Rescue course Day 2

Well Today was Day 2 of the WWSR course, and we were based on the River Leven. The day started with some swimmer rescues from weirs which was ace fun. Then we moved onto river leadership and moving water rescues. All the time useful skill were being taught and new techniques were being picked up. After these two days I would recommend that anyone who paddles on moving water attends one of these courses as they are great for you boating skills and knowledge. Our instructor was a chap called Ashley St.John-Claire and is an excellent instructor and coach. His buisness is called Outdoor Resources Ltd you can check out his website www.outdoor-resources.co.uk, If you are interested in these courses or any coaching courses for paddling its worth seeing what hes got running.

Well back home now and chilling after a tough two days, but hoping with the rain that's just started might manage another after work paddle tomorrow!

White Water Safety and Rescue course Day 1

Well today I (Craig) attended my first day of a WWSR course, this is for a few reasons because I want to progress my coaching qualifications, improve my kayaking skills and knowledge and mainly due to, feeling that I owe it to those around me, who boat with me on hard rivers on a daily basis in order to have the knowledge and skills to rescue them should they need it.
Today the course was based at Skelwith Force on the River Brathay in the Lake District. We had a lot of rain fall over night and all day and the river was at bursting point, this just made it all the better. We were using throw lines and learning new techniques, swimming down rapids and even tried a body surf in the wave. It was a great day on the water or should I say in the water, It was the most fun I've had on a river without being in my kayak.

The day was made all the better when at the end of day one of the course I met up with Ant and Pilky to get a run of the Troutbeck which had held its level all day, see the Troutbeck video. And then a run of the Kent at Super Huge levels which was amazing, big wave trains and super big holes. Have a look at the Kent video that ant made. Then got off the river in the dark to get home very tired but aware that another day tomorrow on the WWSR course, on the water but this time in a boat...even better!

A bad start ends well!

Today we started our day by heading over towards the Swale after having reliable information that the water levels were good and we could get a good run down it. However half way there we got the expected phone call no water! so me (Craig) and the guys (Atty, Ant, Pilky, Little Tom, Jonny and Rob) headed for the most reliable Lakeland run on a dry day...the Leven. This was running at a good level considering the lack of rain and we even managed a run of the infamous Backbarrow Weir that is said to be unrunable, which is not always the case. Although I have ran the weir before usually saving it for only the much lower levels, today we ran it with a good amount of water and I nailed the line so all good (take a look). We then headed for a cheeky run of the Kent that had held its levels well and we had some fun playing and generally being reckless on the way down...all good times! Have a look at the videos from the day on Ants new posh HD head cam....Leven Video and Kent Video

Now I must prepare for my white water safety and rescue course over the next two days, looking forward to it but gutted if it rains and I'm doing that instead of boating.

Pilky rocking Force Falls on the Kent



Me (Craig) on the lip of Force Falls

The local run get's another after work run...

As I said when I set up this new BLOG everytime I got out boating I would do a post to keep you guys in the know. Well today again with the good levels of water we've had recently I managed to get out boating after work on the local run the River Kent it was good to be out and I was joined by Ant and Little Tom. We had a nice run playing along the way and I even managed the right hand line on force falls with an ace booth. Lets hope for rain when we get out sunday...

Me (Craig) dropping into Gunpowder Rapid on the Kent

Easter Opening Hours

Easter Opening Hours

Friday.......10am - 4pm

Saturday...9:30am - 5:30pm

Sunday......Closed

Monday.....10am - 4pm

We will resume nomal opening hours from Tuesday......

Discount Evening not a success!

I had organised and arranged a discount evening at the Brookbank Lancaster shop, this was in an effort to get the local paddling community involved and back to the local paddling shop. Although we had a lot of interest the turn out did not represent this and unfortunatley we had hardly if anyone attend. This is very disapointing, but hey must go on and more important things to think about like when will it rain next and where to go boating!