Kayaking is a Way to be Free

Brandon’s Kayaking Life

 

 Hi my name is Brandon  Hepburn, I paddle a Jackson  Star and I have been doing freestyle kayaking for 2 years.

 

Im 12 years old and I live in the United Kingdom at Hurley in Berkshire. My local white water is a mile down river and it is called Hurley Weir. Hurley has four gates.When it is on one gate its a simple wave but when it is on four gates it becomes hell in a cell. I’ve paddled when it’s on four gates where all the holes are quite retentive, but my favourite is three gates  because the side gates are great holes for all hole moves and the middle gate is a steep wave and it is wicked. The man who has trained me to get me where i am is Chris Burbage. He has taught me from paddling in a strate line to doing wicked moves like air blunting, looping , split weel and many more.my other favourite place to paddle is Nottingham at HPP. Both of these pictures are from HPP.

 

 

In the last two years I have pladdled at Sort in Spain , Tournon St Martin in  France, Llangollen and Tryweryn in Wales , the Nene , Teeside , Hurley , HPP , Hambleden Weir, Purley weir, River Derwent , Boulters , Putsborough Kayak surfing , and in the Alpkit competition at the Washburn in Yorkshire.

 

 

In 2007 I competed in UK Youth Freestyle Series coming 4th in under 13’s.This year I’m pushing myself to come in a top position and I won my first event at Teeside last weekend! I’m getting help from some great paddlers like Pikey, Doug Cooper, Claire O’Hara and my mate Arron Layton.

 

In the future before I’m 16 I want to be on GB Freestyle Team and I want to travel the world and paddle some great rivers with my mates. What I love about kayaking is a way to be free and chill with my mates and keep learning some big moves. One day i want to be world champ and hopefully design my own kayaks J.Some more pictures of me and mates

 

 

Me and mates having fun at Hurley and at other places JJJJJJJJJJJJJ