Eddy Mead; Whitewater Kayaker

So before the Sickline my friend Simon Wyndham and I decided we wanted to make a short doc/film of my experience at the Sickline as a regular competitor. However Simon didn't want to shoot the film unless he got his hands on a good camera before we left, and it was starting to get close!

Luckily a few days before we were due to leave Simon managed to find one that took his fancy so it was all go! Throughout the week I had a camera shoved in my face at lots of awkward moments but Simon was getting some really amazing footage for us to use. Although we were getting lots of great footage we realized without a crew for Simon it was difficult to get the volume of footage that we needed to make the video purely about the Sickline. So what Simon decided to do was make it more of a profile video for myself so when we got home we set up an interview and shot some footage from my home in Cardiff and at CIWW.

We wanted to wait till I had a chance to paddle some Welsh rivers and get some footage of that but unfortunately after waiting for the opportunity, it didn't happen. So figuring we could be waiting for a long time, Simon released the final edit! Personally I love the edit, Simon did a fantastic job considering he had to deal with my ugly mug. So a big thank you to Simon and my Dad for carting camera gear around in Austria and putting in the time to put this clip together! And here it is.... Enjoy!

 https://vimeo.com/110261569

Adidas Sickline 2014

So I have finally found a little free time to write in my blog and share my experience of this years Adidas Sickline!

So the story starts with myself leaving Cardiff at the ass crack of dawn and picking up my Dad and Simon Wyndham in Ross-on-Wye, then heading straight to Dover for our ferry at midday. We then drove through the day and night taking 2 hour shifts. We smashed it out with 0 dramas and were in Oetz to watch the sunrise!

Water levels were lower this year which made the first walk up to the Wellerbrucke a lot less intimidating than it was last year! It all looked good to go and I was fired up to get some gear on and start training. We checked into our sweet apartment and headed to the river! We were really lucky all week with the weather having only 1 day of rain. Every morning on the lead up to the race I would walk up to the rapids, do a couple of laps of the qualification course then start lapping the full section, it was great fun and great training! I managed to get through the training period with only a couple of rolls and a surf in the TNT rapid.

Finally Thursday came around and it was time to register and have our first gathering for the event with awesome food and company!  I went to bed early that night in anticipation of the next morning! It was a beautiful sunny day again and butterflies started to set in as we headed to the race course. The first group of people were doing their qualification run and it was my turn next. I started warming up and getting ready to go!

Peeling out of that eddy is always nerve racking, everybody just wants a clean line through champions killer, it can be so unpredictable! Luckily on this run I did get a nice line through it and steamed ahead to the finish line.

Unfortunately this summer I had little time to work on my endurance (or even get in a boat much) so although I was fit and strong for the event my muscles were struggling to maintain speed on the flat section and this showed in my time (1:33) which put my about middle of the field, not a bad time but not what I needed. This put the pressure on for my next run, it HAD to be faster. We had lunch thanks to Jackson Kayak and headed back up to the course.

On my second run I flew through champions killer and the whole run felt faster, but alas it ended up being exactly the same time to the 100th of a second (which I thought slightly odd).  I finished in 61st place, 8 places ahead of last year and 13 places away from qualifying . It's always disappointing when events don't work out the way you wanted to but it showed me loud and clear where I was going wrong for next year.

Excepting my result I enjoyed the rest of the weekend with great weather and good times! I had a complimentary massage from the physio and the rest of the evenings and food were fantastic! The final was seriously exciting and it's awesome that Joe Morley managed to repeat and keep his title for GB.

I want to qualify next year, skill wise on the whitewater I believe I performed very well. Endurance wise and getting more power from my blades etc is what I need to work on for next year. The plan is to make more time and train with slalom/ sprint paddlers to gain the necessary techniques to be fast! Bring on next year and bring on the winter!

Thanks to Palm Equipment, Surflines and Beet-it for their support!

Garmin Virb Elite

So I recently managed to get my hands on the new Garmin Virb Elite camera! The market for durable mount anywhere cameras has largely been dominated by Gopro with no one else producing a camera quite as good, until now.

So here's the main features and positives of the Virb. The Garmin Virb Elite is waterproof up to one meter for 30 minutes but you also get given a waterproof casing which is much more waterproof so it's perfect for kayaking and any watersport. The camera and swivel 360 degrees on the mount and screws down into teeth on the mount so there is no slipping during big hits. It has an LCD screen on the back which you can see even with intense sun light so you can view what your filming, playback and adjust the settings. To record simply slide the record button forwards (even if the camera is not on) and to stop simply slide it back, simple and no fuss! The Virb also has a 3 hour battery life which is a vast improvement on other brands.

No camera is perfect but a few things that would make this camera better. It's quite heavy and the waterproof casing is very bulky but this isn't particularly an issue. Other than that I honestly can't think of things wrong with it. Garmin have produced a number of different mounts and wireless remote so you can get all the same gadgets as Gopro.

The other very cool thing about the camera is that it has GPS built in which displays you speed and a map on your video footage if desired. You can also connect it to a heart rate monitor, temperature etc the list goes on, very neat! Garmin have put together a video editing software which I was a little dubious toward trying but after giving it ago it is the most functional, straight forward editing software I have used, and it's completely free!

So guy's if your on the market for a new head cam don't just rush straight to a Gopro, check out a Virb! It retails at 350 quid which is very good for what your getting. Check out a little edit I put together using the camera and the new video editing software!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzK7lrc1Lwo

Palm Torrent Drysuit Review

After years of wearing wetsuit bottoms and cags, getting damp and cold in the winter I finally bit the bullet and splashed out on a drysuit. And I don't regret it one bit! Ideally I wanted the Stikine drysuit but being my first suit and being on a bit of a budget I went for the Torrent.

First impressions of the drysuit were that it looked fantastic and was super comfy when trying it on in the living room, but I knew it had to be tested on the water! With levels low I tested it out on a bimble down the Mill Falls section of the Usk in South Wales. Of course it turned out to be unseasonably hot and sunny, not exactly drysuit weather....

Nevertheless I got off the river dry as a bone and with a big grin! The first thing i noticed about the drysuit is how comfortable it is. It was extremely easy to get on and the latex seals and cuffs very easily slid on and adjusted. The zip has been designed so it wraps around the shoulder and reduces restriction, which it does perfectly. The suit also has a neoprene waist band which was great for when off the river and letting the suit hang around your waist.

The socks are now tougher with an XP 4-layering and without too much excess sock so no need to spend 5 minutes stuffing them into your water shoes. Whilst on the river the suit didn't restrict movement whatsoever, you wouldn't even know you were wearing it. I messed about trying lots of new moves and get pretty wet on the way down, when getting changed I was dry as a bone, maybe a little sweaty....

I really recommend this suit, it's had a lot of thought put into it's design. It's comfortable and functional, all the high wear points are reinforced and tough, it has great pocket access and a relief zip and all the seals and cuffs are comfortable and easily adjusted. All around a great drysuit which I look forward to using this coming winter season!

Here's a clip of me competing at the Moriston River Race in May using the suit!

https://vimeo.com/96683690

SO it begins...

It's been an insanely busy few months for me so blogging has unfortunately taken a back seat! At the end of May we moved to Cardiff and I now work as a freelance instructor and raft guide which has so far been amazing but full on.

So now the plans for the Adidas Sickline 2014 have begun! The accommodation is booked 500m from the course and the ferry will be booked shortly. It's come around really quickly, now less than 3 months! Training must now get more intense. I joined the gym as soon as we moved here and have been keeping fit, work is very physical so I have been staying in shape but I definitely need to turn it up a notch.

Working at the Whitewater center is great as in my downtime I can grab a boat and lap the course which is great training and a step up from the flat water training I had to do last year. It's been a crazy dry summer which has been really nice but at the same time there is nothing in the rivers so class 4/5 training is not an option at the moment.

So more running, gym sessions, cycling and plenty of time in a boat is on the menu for the next 10 weeks! I am feeling more confident this year as my skills have improved since last year, I have a faster boat and I had a great performance at the Moriston Race in May. Can't wait to get out there!

Moriston River Race 2014!

People travel far and wide for this event simply because there is no other like it in the UK! 600m of class 4/4+ quality whitewater is not only challenging, it's pretty knackering too! Our journey to the Moriston started in Littledean where I picked up Dan Rea-dickens and made our way to Liverpool to meet Andy Butler and Sal Montgomery. With bank holiday traffic were late leaving Liverpool and got to Callum Strongs house around 3am, bed time!

In the morning we hit the road and boated on the Findhorn gorge which was at a nice medium level. It was a new river for me and it was really fun with lots of big moves and punchy holes! After loading up again we made the final part of the journey to the campsite at the Moriston, we met with friends and I took an early night so I could be rested for the race.

Waking up to rain wasn't too motivating but none the less I slipped into my drysuit and got registered for the race and loaded my gear into the shuttle for practice runs! We got about two hours for practice so I squeezed in three runs as the walk back up was quite tiring. It was unusual as I had never paddled this river but I had studied Gopro footage of the course so I knew every feature and move as if I had already done it! My practice runs were on the whole pretty smooth and I felt confident for my runs.

We had our safety brief by the very entertaining James Flemming and people started launching off the ramp in 1 minute intervals, I was number 19 so it wasn't long before I was staring down the ramp trying to cool nerves. The most difficult part of the course is the first drop, it's a manky 10/15 footer with a shelf either side feeding most of the flow into the middle where it goes deep. A lot of people either get stalled out in the feature or get pushed river left into the wall which really slows you down.

My first run was pretty good, I came out of the drop pointing downstream, upright and with speed, result! The rest of the run was smooth except for the cheese grater rapid where I momentarily lost grip of my paddle in the bottom hole and got pushed down the left hand slot which maybe lost me a second or 2, overall I was happy. After getting out to check the results it became immediately clear that they were having issues with the timing as there were only 5 people on the table. Assuming they would work it out I watched over racers for an hour then walked up for my second run, still with no results.

Just before my second run I asked James (event organizer) if he could find out my time as a lot of others knew theirs. After radioing they confirmed I was clocked in at exactly 3 minutes (2 seconds faster than last years record). That was definitely good enough for the finals as long as I had a similar second run, I was confident!

My second run was a dream run, I have never performed so well in competition. All the drops went smooth and fast and I actually crossed the line at the same time as the competitor who went before me, I knew that was a fast time! But again, no results so I sat and watched. When the qualifiers finished the top 20 were announced and it was confirmed that they had big issues with the timing. My name was not called out and I was pretty gutted as people with a slower time than me went through.

I sucked it up, watched the finals and headed back to the campsite to get ready for dinner and the after party. I had a good night and the party was fun! Callum Strong took first place (well done mate!) and there were some cool awards. Monday was a long day, driving all the way from the Moriston to Herefordshire was a painful trip getting home at 11pm.

Since then the results have been posted and my first time of three minutes is not there but my second and fast run is. I clocked in at 2:49 (third fastest time of the day), adding this to my first run I would have been 7th going into the final, gutted! I am really disappointed I lost an opportunity to compete in the final but a positive thing I will take away from it is that I was really fast! My racing is definitely progressing and my Remix is definitely a fast boat! Thanks to James Flemming and Giles who organize the event and who I know are disappointed themselves with the timing system and dealt with it well considering the situation. I am looking forward to competing in this great race next year and hopefully with a better timing system ;)

Here's a short edit of my practice runs in the morning.

https://vimeo.com/96683690

Bring on the sunshine!

Spring has kicked off with some great weather and warm temperature, it's been great for training! The lighter evenings have helped a lot and I've really thrown myself into my training regime. I am starting to feel strong and ready to race!!

My sprint training is going great and my endurance is building so I should be ready for the Moriston race at the end of May. Running and weights are going well and I've been cycling to work as much as possible. So I am starting to feel like I did before Sickline.

Earlier in the week I decided to enter the Adidas Sickline again! Last year was so much fun and such a fantastic experience, I just had to go again! With a faster boat and more experience I feel that I can go into the event this year with more confidence!

I am moving to Cardiff next month and working at the whitewater center so I will be able to train a lot on whitewater which will be convenient and ideal! It's going to be an exciting year for sure!

MRR Training!

So over winter I have been keeping my training ticking over but not going all out as I haven't competed since Sickline so I like to just stay generally fit (and burn off all the xmas, new year treats!). I've been running a couple of times a week and lifting weights, cycling to work etc.

But with the Moriston River Race only a couple of months away it's time to knuckle down and make sure I'm ready! I am going to take a similar approach to training as I did with Sickline but focus big time on my upper body endurance. The Sickline was approximately a 1 minute to 1:20 sprint where as the Moriston is a little closer to 3-4 minute sprint with a lot of flatter patches on the run. Needless to say if you empty the tank in the 1st minute, your gonna lose!!

So the training plan for the next 2 months is as follows. Hill running minimum of three times a week, free weights and cross training also at least 3 times a week. Kayak sprints and paddling at high intensity for approx 4-5 minutes and cycling.

I've just received the brand new Pro Elite Beet It Bars which are amazing! It's the same dosage of Nitrate in a tasty little flapjack, perfect for topping up energy and giving you that all important dose of nitrate on race day! Again if your serious about sport you need to give these a shot.

I'm really looking forward to this race, it should be a lot of fun and a great way to kick off the racing season. Hopefully I'll get some good results in this year, just down to me again to put in the hard work!

Getting stylish on the Usk!

For two weeks I've had a brand new Palm torrent drysuit, Extrem spraydeck and Gopro 3 sat in my room. So I was desperate to get out on the water no matter what it was. A little rain was forecast for South Wales but this wasn't enough to bring any of the good stuff up! So I rallied together some mates and we headed out for some grade 3 fun on the River Usk.

The sun was shining and it was unseasonably warm! A little too warm for drysuits but was awesome to try it out. The Torrent suit looks fantastic, it has a stylish, flattering fit and is very easy to get in and out of. The back zip has been designed to go further around the shoulders too minimize restriction and this works well. I was very warm and very dry at the end of the run, result!

 
Although it wasn't much of a test for the Extrem spraydeck I can tell it's going to be a deck I can wear with confidence on the big stuff. Although impossible to get on first time and whilst dry, once wet it went on with ease but remained very tight and snug to the cockpit. The Gopro hero3 Silver is awesome, but I knew it would be so I won't blabber on about that ;) the quality photo's are evidence enough!

I wanted to work on a few stylish moves whilst on a lower grade and where there were a few descent features to work with. I wanted to work on my crossbow's and on the Evan Garcia inspired 'EG Lean'. I can happily catch eddys using a crossbow but wanted to try boofing, it didn't really work out so definitely work to be done there! My 'Lean' worked out pretty well though, getting most of my head wet whilst boofing through the falls. I have a attached a link to the clip of this attempt!

It was a great day in the sunshine trying out new kit and new moves with great friends! I feel good about my paddling at the moment and I am getting really fired up for the Moriston Race in May, bring it on!

https://vimeo.com/88467740

A week of boating!

Last week I took a week off work which conveniently had a lot of rain forecast! I hadn't done this much classic boating in one week since the Sickline! On the Saturday a large group of us headed to the Mellte which was at nice medium flows. Unfortunately off the first drop my gopro mount snapped and sank to the bottom never to be seen again, bugger! A few of the group were Mellte virgins so there were a few swims and a split chin! For me the rest of the run went really well with sweet lines, I'm loving the Remix!

                                                                                 Simon Wyndam paddling away from the first 15 footer.

On Tuesday the heavens opened again so me and Matt headed with 1 car to the Mellte again. When we left it was low on the gauge with rain coming in so we expected it to be at a medium level. Boy were we wrong... it was big and brown! Driving straight to the top we hiked in to the first drop. Matt had recently run the river at this level so he fired it up first was a pretty descent line. After some more scouting I fired it up and had a descent line, all good! The 30 footer was seriously fun at that level. It's more difficult to get the second boof as the water really piles over you and takes you deep, but pretty soft and cuddly however you get spat out! Matt hiked up to his new camera spot and I lapped it 4 times getting some sweet shots!

                                                                                                             Myself on the 15 footer, high water.

Fun bouncy water took us to the gorge. After portaging around one tree we had to duck under a huge one sat right on top of a hole with a recirculating eddy. Matt got through clean and I took a little surf in the eddy but got pushed out, exciting times! Slot and drop was a different beast at this level. The slot was washed out but behind it were two wave holes leading to the lip of the drop. There was also a large recirculating eddy on the right to also kill your speed, the hole at the bottom of the drop was pretty huge! The water then got pushed into a cliff with a big submerged tree in it. Matt was confident as he had done it at this level the previous week so he fired it up first. He got pulled into the eddy river right and had to breakout pretty much on the lip with no speed, he some how managed to punch through the hole but came out vertical. This didn't fill me with confidence and with only two of us there safety was minimal. Needless to say I wasn't feeling this one on the day and portaged.

                                                                                                            Myself on the 30 footer double drop.

We them portaged the 8 foot weir as at this level the towback was grim! The rest of the river went smooth with some chunky rapids leading to the take out. I then ran the shuttle (this sucked and I don't recommend it!). We headed to the middle Tawe and put on at a medium level, seriously fun slides and bouncy rapids with a few big holes to punch, major grin factor!

                                                                                           Boofing a sticky hole just below the 15 footer.

Wednesday levels dropped but the Wye was a still flooded. So Matt and I put on at Kerne Bridge and paddled down to Monmouth in about two hours! We also got a first descent through a field.

Saturday I headed back to the middle Tawe with a small crew. It was at lowish levels but still a lot of fun! This is quite a short run so we did two laps. On the first run we took a break to help another group pull some trees out of the first slide, this would have been nasty in high water!

On Sunday I had my Level 2 coaching assessment at Paul Junction, Gloucester. It was a beautiful clear day and the assessment went well and I passed, yay! So working this Summer is looking good!

Monday the rain came in late so I headed out for an anfternoon run of the Clydach. I hadn't done the Clydach before so was pretty excited to tick off a new river! After a few nice drops and holes we reached the 20 footer. This has a shallow lip and most if the flow pushes toward the right wall which would obviously hurt. Whilst scouting we walked past two Welsh Water employees that appeared to be pumping untreated sewage into the river right above the waterfall, the smell was pretty terrible! We both decided we didn't want to paddle in poo and unfortunately hiked out and checked out the Grwyne which was too low.

Tuesday I headed down to the Dart with Matt Price. We headed off early and arrived around 9, it was at a sweet medium level! We did two laps and both were seriously fun, sadly I had only done this section in low water. Big waves and holes, constantly changing your line, read and run awesomeness! Seriously classic river, very alpine in style. We took a bike to do the shuttle but didn't end up using it as both times very kind people offered to drive us to the top, thanks!

It was an amazing but unfortunately it was time to go back to work! I also signed on with Palm/Surlines this week and am looking forward to the arrival of some new gear! Good times with good company!

British Winter Time

Things have been fairly quiet lately so blog posts have been sparse! With plans forming for the year it is looking exciting. At the moment I have been focusing on my career as a kayaking instructor, so I have been attending courses and have two assessments in February which will allow me to be a much more employable instructor!

Last weekend I did my 4* training with Escape to Adventure, it was great! First day we had high water levels on the Dee and on the Sunday we had low levels on the upper Conwy, I learnt lots and found out pretty quickly that I was more than ready for assessment. So fingers crossed for February!

Things are also looking exciting on the racing front! With The Moriston race shortly posting there date for this year and entry opening on the 31st the first leg of the race is to actually get entered! This is a seriously popular event and will be fastest fingers on the mouse that will get a place. The Norway trip is looking likely for July, with a friend getting a job out there it's going to be fairly easy to fly out and boat! I've also been given the green light to hit the Sickline again, sweet!

With short funds, America will have to wait for this year! Training for the Moriston will begin this Spring, but I am still keeping on top of the workout regime! Regularly running, lifting weights and cycling. This is looking like an exciting year, full of change and surprises! Bring it on :)

Photo credit: Neil Furmidge