Tilly at Keeners
6 07 2008Tilly Martin is one of tough little girl!
We have enjoyed paddling with Tilly throughout the winter and spring. She has competed at Chambly and Level 6 and now she is at Keeners for her second year and it is great to see how she has improved.
Here is here latest post from the keener bog:
My first week:
Hello this is Tilly, now keener for the second time. I am happy, I am pumped up, and I am ready. I arrived last weekend, and I just had a very good week, spent here on the Ottawa River with all of the keeners.
My first day, I ran the Middle Channel; seeing this channel with the water level higher than I had ever seen was crazy! The rapids I remembered as being small and moderately easy were now surprising me with big waves and very fun lines!
The second day, I ran the Main Channel. Now, THAT was big! The epic wave Buss Eater is in, and it is better than I could just imagine. We ran the rest of the river; and I got the biggest beat down I had in a long time; through the Death Ledge on the rapid Coliseum. It was definitely one of the scariest moments yet, but it was definitely reassuring to see the keeners immediately coming to my help, gathering my paddle and my boat and bringing me safely to shore so I could catch a breath. It was very comforting to realize that all the keeners will help you, give you advice, and make you laugh…
And today, I surfed Buss Eater!!! It was the coolest thing ever! It was bouncy, intimidating, scary but so thrilling and addictive; I just want to do it over and over again!
Here’s my favorite picture of my surf on Bussy:
With the encouragements of the keeners, the support of the coaches and the best waves on the river, getting up in the morning isn’t as hard as it should be, despite all the soar muscles and the comfort of your bed compared to the wet gear waiting for you to put on.
In conclusion, I am just so happy to be back at keeners, catching up with some old friends, meeting some new and just so exited to learn and paddle every day!
I’ll keep you knowing what I’ve been up too,
This is Tilly.
(This was typed Thursday, July 3rd)
Want to see more of what the keeners do? Check out the Keener Blogspot: http://www.okskeener.blogspot.com/
Tilly we are proud of you!
Rob, I was just on the ottawa this weekend, absolutely NO one there! Bussy had only about 4 guys paddling it at 2pm on a Sunday… parking lot at the top was empty. Wow. Middle is great big fluffy waves and a dream run. Nothing but blue skies and big waves. I was taking a first timer down. Taught her using a bastardized roll instructional technique … a combo of mine, Colin Kemp’s and EJs approach… going from brace to roll without talking about setup… works like a charm, my student on day 2 was rolling in boily whitewater on both sides… it was awesome! Keener program rocks… smiling faces make my day!