How many Kayakers are there on here?

frying_pan_cat · 6 Apr 2011 at 16:52

Since we have this shiny new section I thought I'd start a thread to see how many kayakers we have on the boards.

I've just got into it this year at uni so haven't got my own boat yet but I'm on the lookout for a bargain. I mainly go white water paddling on the rivers around Dartmoor but there's the odd trip away. I also like to try (and fail) to do a bit of playboating in the pool sessions we have every week but since the playboat has been taken out and we have to put up with an I:3 instead it usually doesn't work too well.

So who else is into kayaking? Do you prefer white water, sea, slalom etc? And what do you usually paddle.

Amp34 · 6 Apr 2011 at 22:51

I was n the Plymouth Uni Canoe club for a year (assume you're in Plymouth?) Either way I hated the small boats they had... I could only fit in one of the ones they had.:/

frying_pan_cat · 6 Apr 2011 at 23:05

I'm at Exeter. We are the reverse actually in that most of the time the boats are too big for people, although we are slowly getting some smaller boats

AndyOcUK · 6 Apr 2011 at 23:39

Not been out for a good while (1st nipper arrived last year

)

Got a Necky Gliss and a Riot glide. Used to go to the Trweryn, Vrnwy gorge, Llangollen - will get back in the saddle at some point.

Playboater

frying_pan_cat · 7 Apr 2011 at 17:28

AndyOcUK said:
Not been out for a good while (1st nipper arrived last year )

Got a Necky Gliss and a Riot glide. Used to go to the Trweryn, Vrnwy gorge, Llangollen - will get back in the saddle at some point.

Playboater

I think there's a trip up to the Tryweryn planned for Exeter Uni next term. Quite looking forward to it, although last years trip had a dislocated shoulder apparently.

We don't seem to have much luck with trips to Wales, in Jan we had a trip there and had some **** slash the tyres of one of our cars :mad:

AndyOcUK · 7 Apr 2011 at 20:21

frying_pan_cat said:
I think there's a trip up to the Tryweryn planned for Exeter Uni next term. Quite looking forward to it, although last years trip had a dislocated shoulder apparently.

We don't seem to have much luck with trips to Wales, in Jan we had a trip there and had some **** slash the tyres of one of our cars

That would be a fisherman

And if you're going to the Treweryn, practice your rolling........you'll be doing quite a bit of it

Preferrably learn to hand roll

Its epic when the dam is on full release

frying_pan_cat · 7 Apr 2011 at 20:58

AndyOcUK said:
That would be a fisherman

And if you're going to the Treweryn, practice your rolling........you'll be doing quite a bit of it Preferrably learn to hand roll Its epic when the dam is on full release

It most certainly was a fisherman. The girls setting the shuttle saw the guy they reckon must have done it when they put the car there.

I can roll in the pool consistently in the pool but I need to get better at rolling on a river; I think I need to get some surfing sessions in before the trip to get my roll down. Should be fun though. Looking forward to it as all the rivers around here are officially closed for the summer

misterPK · 8 Apr 2011 at 20:15

Ooh a shiny new section, cool!

I've been kayaking properly for about a year now. I started off buying an inflatable one (stop laughing), enjoyed paddling it on the local canals and so I joined the local canoe club. I soon found out I'd bought the completely wrong kind of boat as white water was a lot more fun!

Two weeks ago I bought a Liquidlogic Hoss, and it is so much nicer than borrowing one of the club boats. Having that custom fit and a backrest that actually works makes such a difference! I gave it a proper test at the Nene centre last tuesday and despite only getting an hour or so on the water I came home with a grin on my face!

frying_pan_cat · 8 Apr 2011 at 20:38

I wish I could afford a boat but at the moment unless a cheap one comes along I can't really. It is such a difference to have one that fits; makes rolling so much easier.

I am on the lookout though so if anyone sees a bargain then post it here please

taB · 9 Apr 2011 at 15:58

Used to enjoy White Water stuff, find it a bit scary now though. Used to use all sorts of boats as I taught it (badly) many years ago.

Now I've just got a Dagger RPM that in the last few months has only been used to clear trees out of a pond and scare the dog.

Still, going past Fort William next month so I'll chuck myself off Right Angle Falls for old time's sake.

ReaVerUK · 10 Apr 2011 at 02:13

You can count me in as a kayaka

started of playboating many many moons ago (must be nearly 15 yrs now :eek:

) and have moved over to doing mainly slalom now although i'm far from competative

.

theNude · 18 Apr 2011 at 17:08

Love kayaking!

Dont own one yet sadly, but i really enjoyed it whilst in canada and australia so wish to get into it here, just moved to northampton from london and there appears to be a kayaking centre here with artificial rapids so will give that a try soon. Anyone been?

Jono · 19 Apr 2011 at 09:14

I was in Newcastle/Northumbria Canoe Club from 1999-2003, then one in Bristol in 2004. Since then I've not really done anything and it's annoying me. I'm currently based somewhere in North Yorkshire, work in York... so my nearest playspot is the Tees Barrage I guess. Then the river Swale/Ure/Tees/Tyne... I don't think I've been down any others around here.

My best trip was 2003 to the French Alps... but I also loved going up near Fort William to the Spean/Orchy/Arkaig/Etiv etc...

I would LOVE to get back into a club of sorts that does river trips/foreign doings... but does anyone know of a club that's not full of idiots around here?

Not going to mention names, but my most local club is populated and run entirely by idiots.

My weapon of choice? A Riot Disco.

misterPK · 19 Apr 2011 at 09:39

theDude said:
Love kayaking!

Dont own one yet sadly, but i really enjoyed it whilst in canada and australia so wish to get into it here, just moved to northampton from london and there appears to be a kayaking centre here with artificial rapids so will give that a try soon. Anyone been?

Yup, was there a couple of weeks ago and I'll be there next Tuesday too. It's not a massive course, but good for beginners/intermediates. There's plenty of features to stop and have a play on. There is a club based there as well I think, so that might be worth a look into.

~Mike~ · 24 Apr 2011 at 18:41

Novice kayaker here! Sometimes go kayaking from Christchurch to Mudeford with a friend who is an expert kayaker. Planning a trip on the River Wye sometime this year, should be good.

AndyOcUK · 24 Apr 2011 at 22:28

taB said:
Used to enjoy White Water stuff, find it a bit scary now though. Used to use all sorts of boats as I taught it (badly) many years ago.

Now I've just got a Dagger RPM that in the last few months has only been used to clear trees out of a pond and scare the dog.

Still, going past Fort William next month so I'll chuck myself off Right Angle Falls for old time's sake.

LOVED my RPM - one of the best surf boats ever and was a real help bringing my skills on on big white water - very forgiving boat but MENTAL when you want it to be....wished I'd never got rid

Nor · 27 Apr 2011 at 22:25

Love kayaking. Go out in all weathers, but it's just a much more enjoyable experience this time of year. Have a P&H touring kayak.

Jono · 29 Apr 2011 at 13:47

Anyone fancy meeting up at Tees Barrage some day(would need notice to get day off work)/evening/weekend?

Ben Harrison · 1 May 2011 at 12:53

Used to be really into kayaking (river running/playboating), but drifted away from it years ago and don't really have the means to get back into it yet - transport was always a bit of a hurdle, just getting to a good playspot/river. Mainly did our boating on the Tees (low force is a great run with some nice little falls!) and the Barrage.

How's the sport for popularity these days? Seems like it's not as growing or recognised as it was some years back.

The Badger · 1 May 2011 at 13:19

I used to teach kayaking and canoeing last year, been doing it for around 5-6years now. Loved it, but I did prefair canoeing.