Hello again,
Don't have much video or pictures yet but i'm sure I'll get some,
the gear is all going well, I put a small line of glue on the inside of the deck and seems to have worked. on with the blog;
Day 9:
Technique 1 hour 176/126, on the National Coures (from the bridge down, supposed to be easier of the 2) met 2 local paddlers, Boris a young up and coming paddler and Yann, club coach and a C1 paddler, Paddling the same boat as me ond a righty too, how lucky. I joined in on their 1/2 run session 6 runs for them 5 for me, Just watchin their first run, they paddling with them, not hard, just trying to get a feel for the water. The water is hard to paddle, difficult to keep on line and never keeping the boat flowing. By the 4th run had the top half sorted, bottom half not so good. Had my first roll of the trip and missed a gate in the process, but apart from that got all the gates. Arms sore after each section.
Forgot to mention how happy I am with the new NRS gear. The Hydroskin tops are great in the cold alpine water and the fit; the first top that fits a skinny body and long arms at the same time, excellent. I also got some Hydrosilk tops, perfect foe the short runs in the serious heat, while keeping the sun off. Then the light weight Hydroskin shorts are great in the weather too. The only downpoint; they don't make cagdecks, yet? I wonder if they might consider it, that wound be perfect. A big thanks to Bennett and all at NRS and also to everyone in I-CANOE.
Second Session:
Technique 5 x 1/3 runs 1 hour 161/116 International Course, above the bridge. Easy gate set up. Like creeking on a Grade 5+ on the first run,can't see past the horizon line and all the time looking out for rocks and stoppers, would be a nice river run. At first 'trying' to avoid the stoppers, then starting to take the more direct lines, towards the end of the session started nailing most of the moves. Paddled down through the bottom course when finished to 'cool down' but started picking gates and paddling hard through them. Eventually got off and was buzzing, just like when you get off at the end of a big river run. Got onto the lake but started to paddle the gates there too. 20 minutes after finishing the session above the bridge, I had to drag myself off the water. Probablly my easy courses, but loving it.
Walked the top course later on and it was funny looking at my original "lines" around the stoppers.
Day 10:
Technique 6 x 1/5 runs 1 Hour 10 min 162/121 Bridge down. Again 1st run not so good, when trying to avoid 1 stopper and cross behind it, not getting far enough over and rolling up through next stopper. As session went no getting mostly better, paddling hard, keeping boat moving and driving hard into eddies. Felt much better on the water in many ways.
Second Session:
Aerobic 150/124 255 mins. Easy paddle down through both courses, very like a river trip, playing on waves and dropping into stoppers. Used some gates but only paddled hard when playing. 2 runs 25 min on first, 10min easy walk back then another 20 min run. Very enjoyable.Boat has taken a few knocks and bumps but nothing at all serious.
Day 11:
Lactic; 30 on 30 off x 5 x 3, 25min 176/140. 3 gates set up where 1 good sized eddy on both sides. Start and finish at same point, crossing the flow 4 times. Same set up each time, have to get bach to start on about 30 seconds, Have 30 second rest then go again, flat out 5 times, then 5 minute easy paddle to rest and do the full set 3 times.Very hard when compared to the same session at home, each time I crossed the flow it seemed to try and push me down further. Felt like I wouldnt be able to keep it up a few times but had to dig deep because the more you get pushed down the eddy, the longer the run gets and the less rest you get. Did all runs between 30 and 34 seconds, very happy at the end and tired. Went for a long easy paddle up and down the lake to cool down.
Don't have much video or pictures yet but i'm sure I'll get some,
the gear is all going well, I put a small line of glue on the inside of the deck and seems to have worked. on with the blog;
Day 9:
Technique 1 hour 176/126, on the National Coures (from the bridge down, supposed to be easier of the 2) met 2 local paddlers, Boris a young up and coming paddler and Yann, club coach and a C1 paddler, Paddling the same boat as me ond a righty too, how lucky. I joined in on their 1/2 run session 6 runs for them 5 for me, Just watchin their first run, they paddling with them, not hard, just trying to get a feel for the water. The water is hard to paddle, difficult to keep on line and never keeping the boat flowing. By the 4th run had the top half sorted, bottom half not so good. Had my first roll of the trip and missed a gate in the process, but apart from that got all the gates. Arms sore after each section.
Forgot to mention how happy I am with the new NRS gear. The Hydroskin tops are great in the cold alpine water and the fit; the first top that fits a skinny body and long arms at the same time, excellent. I also got some Hydrosilk tops, perfect foe the short runs in the serious heat, while keeping the sun off. Then the light weight Hydroskin shorts are great in the weather too. The only downpoint; they don't make cagdecks, yet? I wonder if they might consider it, that wound be perfect. A big thanks to Bennett and all at NRS and also to everyone in I-CANOE.
Second Session:
Technique 5 x 1/3 runs 1 hour 161/116 International Course, above the bridge. Easy gate set up. Like creeking on a Grade 5+ on the first run,can't see past the horizon line and all the time looking out for rocks and stoppers, would be a nice river run. At first 'trying' to avoid the stoppers, then starting to take the more direct lines, towards the end of the session started nailing most of the moves. Paddled down through the bottom course when finished to 'cool down' but started picking gates and paddling hard through them. Eventually got off and was buzzing, just like when you get off at the end of a big river run. Got onto the lake but started to paddle the gates there too. 20 minutes after finishing the session above the bridge, I had to drag myself off the water. Probablly my easy courses, but loving it.
Walked the top course later on and it was funny looking at my original "lines" around the stoppers.
Day 10:
Technique 6 x 1/5 runs 1 Hour 10 min 162/121 Bridge down. Again 1st run not so good, when trying to avoid 1 stopper and cross behind it, not getting far enough over and rolling up through next stopper. As session went no getting mostly better, paddling hard, keeping boat moving and driving hard into eddies. Felt much better on the water in many ways.
Second Session:
Aerobic 150/124 255 mins. Easy paddle down through both courses, very like a river trip, playing on waves and dropping into stoppers. Used some gates but only paddled hard when playing. 2 runs 25 min on first, 10min easy walk back then another 20 min run. Very enjoyable.Boat has taken a few knocks and bumps but nothing at all serious.
Day 11:
Lactic; 30 on 30 off x 5 x 3, 25min 176/140. 3 gates set up where 1 good sized eddy on both sides. Start and finish at same point, crossing the flow 4 times. Same set up each time, have to get bach to start on about 30 seconds, Have 30 second rest then go again, flat out 5 times, then 5 minute easy paddle to rest and do the full set 3 times.Very hard when compared to the same session at home, each time I crossed the flow it seemed to try and push me down further. Felt like I wouldnt be able to keep it up a few times but had to dig deep because the more you get pushed down the eddy, the longer the run gets and the less rest you get. Did all runs between 30 and 34 seconds, very happy at the end and tired. Went for a long easy paddle up and down the lake to cool down.
Day 14: 1/3 runs x 4 38 mins 166/115. Arms feeling tired, will rest tomorrow Technique: short sections twice x 6 30 mins 164/115 on Moutiers course, much easier course but water still fast flowing.
Day 15: R+R Rest and Repair the boatWoke up at 7am to a strange noise outside getting louder. When I looked out I saw cattle with bells on being hearded along the quiet road I was on. Went back to sleep laughing. Repaired some damage to the tail of the boat and to the fittings which were starting to come loose. Again, huge thanks to Yann and the club in Bourg.
Week 3 Still some good and not so good sessions, overall I think I'm improving, hard to tell out here.Had a few easier days in L'Argentiere, along with the most enjoyable river trip I've done in years. Ran the Gyronde with Brian and the gang from Lacken Kayak Club. It was great to be with similar accents again, thanks for the company, and the sponsorship; free food is always greatly accepted.I paddled in a small regional race, all French divisions paddling together. I was slow, about 17 seconds slower than the winner but I was happy with 2 clean runs
Hello again.Arrived in Nottingham this week and the water looked slower and easier than when I was here last, and after a few sessions it felt slower and easier so the training in Bourg is paying off.Had a good week's training before a double Div. 1 race at the weekend.Saturday had a slow messy run and then a much faster clean run. I won by 0.29 of a second.Sunday had a slow clean run then a very fast run with a few mistakes, 2nd place by 1 second. Still inconsistent but improving, need more race experience.Another week training in Nottingham and then another Div. 1 double next weekend in Washburn. I need 1 more win to get promoted into Premier Division, hopefully before I go home.
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