My life afloat

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This year saw the first Thames Valley Freestylers Birthday Rodeo taking place outside the Valley due to no water about at Hurley Weir. At first I was apprehensive about the decision to hold it at Cardiff but the weather man said sun and with a good crowd heading down I didn’t care less!

I arrived one of the first on the Saturday morning around 10am just as they were switching on the pumps for the course. All looked very concerning and first reactions were ouch this is going to be shallow! The course running at 9 cumecs.
I managed to get a quick session on the water before people started arriving with Ryan Liquorish and Charles Blyth. Although shallow in places the course was great fun, the conveyor belt being a plus point for me. We had chance to warm up a bit in the feature which was proving interesting as moves went at very different set ups to most usual holes. After hitting a huge Aerial McNasty things were looking up! I was confident I could put in a decent run.

All paddlers whether experienced or beginner then met for briefing and explanation of the rules then without much chance to get a breath it was on with the extreme slalom a series of boofs, new school/old school wave moves proving to be a fun little competition.
After this came the palm sponsored Boater-X with myself, Matty Nicholas and Charles Blyth all winning our heats were well up for the final on 12 cumecs!

The 3 trick rodeo then started, each paddler had to or was set 3 moves they had to pull in a knockout format, myself getting cartwheels, Loop and Mcnasty to put me in the final when the course was pumped up to 12 cumecs. I was due to be joined by Matty Nicholas, Charles Blyth, Sam anderson, Local george Williams, Finn Burrows and a few more I apologise for not mentioning.
Being a fun event Scout (Dave Wortley organiser) had arranged a tag team freestyle event which ended up being 4 to a side, 1 live paddler High five to switch. Myself, Matty, Miles Jones and Charles Blyth all paddled as a team to represent VE Paddles and what a great 10 minutes it was!

Anyway I can’t remember all of the results but here are a few, and some photos of the event! A cracking day out in the sun with good mates and good boating. big thanks to Gareth (TVF), Scout (Dave Wortley Organiser), Mandy Chan for helping run the event and of course to Cardiff international White water and all the sponsors of the event, Palm, Sue’s canoes, System X, Square rock, White water the canoe centre etc…… Anyway enjoy the photo update!

Rodeo Final
1st Matty Nicholas
2nd Dale Mears
3rd Ryan Liquorish

Palm Boater X
1st Charles Blyth
2nd James Metcalf
3rd Dale Mears

Tag Team Rodeo – Members of Liverpool Uni Canoe Club