Im currently down in sunny Spain training for the European Kayak Freestyle Championships. The comp kicks off this wednesday and everyone has been working hard for the event.

We headed out here on the 7th of July and the team has been arriving on and off since then. We have 14 competitors on the Irish team competing in four seperate classes. The team ranges in age from 15 to 29.

The competition looks strong although there are lots who have yet to arrive.

We flew into Santiago De Compostela on the first night. What a class city. lots of old buildings and winding streets.

The comp is on in Ourense a lovely city in the middle of Galicia. The people are really great and we have been shown wonderful hospitality especially by Jose who runs a lovely restaurant called jps just beside rua Buenos Aires. We were stuck for accomodation on the first night and he rang a few places and drove us to a lovely hostel/guesthouse which we stayed in for the first week. It turned out himself and his wife had lived in Galway for 7 years and he was only too glad to return the hospitality he had when in Ireland.

We only got one day of rain and the temps have been from about 27-35. Sometimes its humid. Suffice it to say Im getting a tan albeit an uneven kayaker one!

The feature has been working on and off at various water levels. After the first week they build an eddy by putting a digger in the river very funny to watch!

By tomorrow most of the team will have arrived. Our final training slots are on monday and tuesday but we only get an hour and we have to share our slot with the French team. So tomorrow i plan on paddling as much as possible. We also know that there wo´nt be a release on sunday. The spanish certainly love their siestas especially on sundays. So thats my day of rest.

more news to follow

The second event of the season took place at Inchadonney Co. Cork and was a roaring success. The combined surf kayaking and waveski league is a welcome addition to the Irish kayaking calendar.

Having missed the first event I was looking forward to this one and although the surf was small I wasn’t disappointed and had a great weekend!

Leaving early on Saturday with Pencil in tow we met Mickey Barry in Cork city and headed towards west Cork. Let’s just say the journey was entertaining, you try keeping up with Mickey in a car!

With a quick stop in Garretstown it was clear that the surf would be small and clean I didn’t mind because the sun was out and it was looking like it was going to be a pleasant weekend.

Arriving in Inchadonney all the usual faces were there but the best thing to see was all the eager newcomers waiting to try proper surf kayaks and wave skis for the first time.

This event was not about competition but a come and try day for new comers and training and coaching session for the more experienced. Big up to Noel Maguire and Co for helping the novices and Morgan O Sullivan for handling the rest of us! I really learned a lot and it’s great to get some structured positive coaching!

The Saturday format for the novices included on and off the water training. They were using plastic kayaks and most were playboaters as well as a strong turn out from UCC canoe club. After both on the water sessions and a break for lunch the evening saw them try glass and composite boats as well as wave skis for the first time.

The more experienced group of ten divided into two and operated a tag team system of 15 minutes on and 15 minutes off the water. While one group was on the water the other group discussed their progress and decided which were the better runs and why. After the session everyone got individual feedback from Morgan and the group. This was very specific and positive and gave us all something to focus on for our next session. The coaching certainly helped and everyone improved on the first session.

After lunch there was a free-surf over near the point.

I hadn’t done much kayak surfing since Mundaka. One session in Cornwall in February being the exception and it was great to get back in the sea after a long stretch away. I’ve been doing a lot of playboating and freestyle training and needed to try something else for a change.

The Saturday night was great. A few of us headed to Clonakilty for the night and the crack was mighty, ask the boys why! A few pints and great music followed by a dodgy night club always brightens the spirits! Three of us were staying in the local hotel, and the resemblance to Fawlty towers from the inside was hilarious!

A lot of us had sore heads the next day. I was determined to get out even if the surf was small. I wanted to try some hp boats, I am planning on buying but not sure what I want yet.

First up was the Watertech Lucifer. I told Pencil I’d only be about half an hour, but I liked it so much he had trouble getting me to bring it back to the beach. I found it very comfortable, pretty stable and easy to turn. I’m definitely taking it for another spin; I’d also like to take the speedy for a spin pretty soon. The Watertech boats are so unbelievably light. They feel more like a playboat than other brands when you sit in them.

Next up was the Neutron, I also liked this one but for different reasons. It wasn’t as comfortable and didn’t turn as easily but it was certainly fast.

Not going to rush the decision going to try a few more boats before I spend any money.

The weekend ended with a raffle for the newcomers with prizes sponsored by Munster Dive and Canoe. Emilene Galvin walked away with the top prize of a new helmet.

We headed home after a long and sunny weekend. I really enjoyed the weekend and can’t wait for the next one in May!

well its finally over. Ths sun came out the hole was perfect and the rodeo was flood lit the night out was great crack the sun came out again for the boatercross and they turned on the water there was lots of racing and a fair amount of carnage. Grogan made my day. The commentry was epic out of Darcy.

Job done everyone happy and it was a roaring success. Roll on 2008!

ps big thanks to sponsors competitors and all the many helpers and partners in crime!