So, after a few weeks off the water due to pulling my shoulder trying a reverse something or other roll, I thought with the last couple of day’s rain the weirs at Pershore might provide a new shape of wave for me to try out. We turn up at PRSC with want looks like a good number only to see half the group come up with feeble excuses and disappear to the pub!
The river is High! and the paddle up to Wyre weir shows us the wisdom of keeping out of the flow and gives us a chance to put into practice some eddy hopping and ferry glides.
Once at the weir we sit and stare, the small weir is anything but! and crossing the exit flow from the bigger weir ushers us quicker to the new canoe portage ramp. Time to get out and have a proper look. The inspection party decide it is possible provided you hit one of the two green tongues, although it might be a bit bouncy. Clive takes the first run in his “new” open boat, and he’s down without the usual wet ending. While Fitz and Adam go for the second tongue I follow in Clive wake, it’s over in a flash the boat simply glides over the initial and subsequent waves.
With everyone down the weir safety it’s time to have another look at the stopper, Adam goes in and makes it look very sticky but turns round and pulls himself out. Fitz is next up, In, a little paddle and he’s out, making it look easy. with Clive declining to get his new boat wet it looks like it’s my turn, Adam gives me another quick demo and I head in.
“Approach it slowly and then let the boat drop into the wave”, seconds later I’m in the stopper I hear people shouting “just relax into it” and my body and brain are trying to come to terms with the conundrum that is, relaxing but keeping good contact within my boat whilst sitting on wave that feels like a bucking bronco. So time to try and get out, paddle paddle, pull, oh I’m now heading backward into the wave again. Back paddle a few strokes so i can try and turn the boat to face the “easy” exit. That didn’t work and I’m heading to the green tongue this could be a bumpy exit, wait for it, … and paddle, two strokes and I hit the second wave sideways, where was my support stroke when i needed it! OK i’m upside down, keep my head tucked in, don’t want a repeat of Symonds Yat, I haven’t got a clue which way the waters going, But somehow I manage to roll, only to find Adam next to me and we’re already at the far back. A quick limb count and then it’s time to head home, an easy cruise in the flow.
Luke
So, after a few weeks off the water due to pulling my shoulder trying a reverse something or other roll, I thought with the last couple of day’s rain the weirs at Pershore might provide a new shape of wave for me to try out. We turn up at PRSC with want looks like a good number only to see half the group come up with feeble excuses and disappear to the pub!The river is High! and the paddle up to Wyre weir shows us the wisdom of keeping out of the flow and gives us a chance to put into practice some eddy hopping and ferry glides.Once at the weir we sit and stare, the small weir is anything but! and crossing the exit flow from the bigger weir ushers us quicker to the new canoe portage ramp. Time to get out and have a proper look. The inspection party decide it is possible provided you hit one of the two green tongues, although it might be a bit bouncy. Clive takes the first run in his “new” open boat, and he’s down without the usual wet ending. While Fitz and Adam go for the second tongue I follow in Clive wake, it’s over in a flash the boat simply glides over the initial and subsequent waves.With everyone down the weir safety it’s time to have another look at the stopper, Adam goes in and makes it look very sticky but turns round and pulls himself out. Fitz is next up, In, a little paddle and he’s out, making it look easy. with Clive declining to get his new boat wet it looks like it’s my turn, Adam gives me another quick demo and I head in.”Approach it slowly and then let the boat drop into the wave”, seconds later I’m in the stopper I hear people shouting “just relax into it” and my body and brain are trying to come to terms with the conundrum that is, relaxing but keeping good contact within my boat whilst sitting on wave that feels like a bucking bronco. So time to try and get out, paddle paddle, pull, oh I’m now heading backward into the wave again. Back paddle a few strokes so i can try and turn the boat to face the “easy” exit. That didn’t work and I’m heading to the green tongue this could be a bumpy exit, wait for it, … and paddle, two strokes and I hit the second wave sideways, where was my support stroke when i needed it! OK i’m upside down, keep my head tucked in, don’t want a repeat of Symonds Yat, I haven’t got a clue which way the waters going, But somehow I manage to roll, only to find Adam next to me and we’re already at the far back. A quick limb count and then it’s time to head home, an easy cruise in the flow.
Luke
