Bristol Canoe Club

This year’s official race has been postponed, but we are planning an unofficial regional ‘Inter-Club K2 Training Day’ and encourage all local and regional clubs to come along to have a 10 mile training paddle, stopping back at The Cottage pub for some lunch.

The Bristol Kayak Regatta has been postponed this year due to a clash of dates and is rescheduled for 2011.

More details to follow soon.

Polo dates for Winter 2010 are now available on the club calendar here.

Note that in each division, the club’s teams will play in 4 out of the 6 scheduled tournaments; the exact dates are still to be decided.

We’ve just come back from a great trip to Austria. Weather was mostly hot & sunny; plenty of water. We managed to do loads of paddling.

According to my notes, the various rivers / sections done were as follows (not all done by everyone!):

Rosanna, Sanna, S-Chanf Gorge, Lower Oetz, Imst Gorge, Sanna, Sanna, Inn Shoot, Landeck Gorge, Loisach, Rissbach,  Rissbach Gorge, Schuls Gorge, Giarsun Gorge, Shuls Gorge, Finstermunster Gorge, Sanna, Sanna, Landeck Gorge.

We went to Cardiff International White-water course again the other day – for the second time. http://www.ciww.com/

I have to say it was great fun. Its a bit severe at first, but just tell yourself that it is easy really, and then you can mellow into it. It’s still bloody knackering, though!

Definitely worth a go; if you haven’t been there yet, then you should try to go soon!

Please note that the beginner’s course starting in May is now fully booked. Apologies to anyone who has missed out. We have no plans to run another course soon.

Very many congratulations to Tris Turner who came 4th in this year’s Devizes to Westminster race on the Easter weekend. He was paddling with a friend from Fowey CC – John Edyvean.

Tris won the race in 2007, and came third in 2008.

The club has some active email lists. These use the yahoo mailing list system. Please note that all of these lists are restricted to people who are already members of Bristol Canoe Club. If you would like to join the club, please see our General Information and Contacts pages.

We have a list for general discussions within the club; this list’s home page on yahoo is here.

We have a separate list for discussions specifically related to polo; the polo list’s home page on yahoo is here.

We have another list for discussions among the club’s committee; the committee list’s home page on yahoo is here.

These email lists are restricted to club members.

New International System for Rating Rapids (Found somewhere on the web)

Someone asked an anonymous boater about his class IV comfort level and he answered something along the lines of “I’m comfortable that I can usually find an eddy to swim to.” Thus, the interviewer was inspired to offer this:

Class I, Easy. Fast moving water with riffles and small waves. Swimming is pleasant, shore easily reached. A nice break from paddling. Almost all gear and equipment is recovered. Boat is just slightly scratched.

Class II, Novice. Straightforward rapids with wide, clear channels which are evident without scouting. Swimming to eddies requires moderate effort. Climbing out of river may involve slippery rocks and shrub-induced lacerations. Paddle travels great distance downstream requiring lengthy walk. Something unimportant is missing. Boat hits submerged rock leaving visible dent on frame or new gash in plastic.

Class III, Intermediate. Rapids with moderate, irregular waves which may be difficult to avoid. Water is swallowed. Legs are ground repeatedly against sharp, pointy rocks. Several eddies are missed while swimming. Difficult decision to stay with boat results in moment of terror when swimmer realizes they are downstream of boat. Paddle is recirculated in small hole way upstream. All personal possessions are removed from boat and floated in different directions. Paddling partners run along river bank shouting helpful instructions. Boat is munched against large boulder hard enough to leave series of deep gouges. Sunglasses fall off.

Class IV, Advanced. Water is generally lots colder than Class III. Intense, powerful but predictable rapids requiring precise swimming in turbulent water. Swimming may require ‘must’ moves above dangerous hazards. Must moves are downgraded to ’strongly recommended’ after they are missed. Sensation of disbelief experienced while about to swim large drops. Frantic swimming towards shore is alternated with frantic swimming away from shore to avoid strainers. Rocks are clung to with death grip. Paddle is completely forgotten. One shoe is removed. Hydraulic pressure permanently removes waterproof box with all the really important stuff. Paddle partners running along stream look genuinely concerned while lofting throw ropes 20 feet behind swimmer. Paddle partners stare slackjawed and point in amazement at boat which is finally pinned by major feature. Climbing up river bank involves inverted tree. One of those spring loaded pins that attaches watch to wristband is missing. Contact lenses are moved to rear of eyeballs.

Class V, Expert. The water in this rapid is usually under 42 degrees F. Most gear is destroyed on rocks within minutes if not seconds. If the boat survives, it is need of about three days of repair. There is no swimming, only frantic movements to keep from becoming one with the rocks and to get a breath from time to time. Terror and panic set in as you realize your paddle partners don’t have a chance in heck of reaching you. You come to a true understanding of the terms maytagging and pinballing. That hole that looked like nothing when scouted, has a hydraulic that holds you under the water until your lungs are close to bursting. You come out only to realize you still have 75% of the rapid left to swim. Swim to the eddy? What #%^&*#* eddy!? This rapid usually lasts a mile or more. Hydraulic pressure within the first few seconds removes everything that can come off your body. This includes gloves, shoes, neoprene socks, sunglasses, hats, and clothing. The rocks take care of your fingers, toes, and ears. That £900.00 dry suit, well it might hold up to the rocks. Your paddles trash. If there is a strainer, well, just hope it is old and rotten so it breaks. Paddle partners on shore are frantically trying to run and keep up with you. Their horror is reflected in their faces as they stare at how you are being tossed around! They are hoping to remember how to do CPR. They also really hope the cooler with the beer is still intact. They are going to need a cold one by the time you get out! Climbing out of this happens after the rapid is over. You will probably need the help of a backboard, cervical collar and Z-rig. Even though you have broken bones, lacerations, puncture wounds, missing digits & ears, and a concussion, you won’t feel much pain because you will have severe hypothermia. Enjoy your stay in the hospital: with the time you take recovering, you won’t get another vacation for 3 years.

Class VI, World Class. Not recommended for swimming.

Some photos and write-up from a trip to the Grand Canyon in 2001.