Norway Part I - The Return

This trip had been a long time coming, It seam's an age since we first started talking about it. This trip for me, my first return to Norway in over 6 years, for some of the others in the group, an anual pilgramage and for two guy's, their first visit!

A frantic few days prior to the trip sorting out my brand new Burn - Thanks Pyranha and the day before we left a package arrived at my desk containing Nookie's brand new Assassin Drysuit. All geared up we were finally set...

You've got to make sure your boat's outfitting is sorted!

After packing and repacking the cars in two different cities around the UK we were set, well, almost? Half way to the ferry, Nat remembers he may need his Passport to leave the country, which he's left at home, Doh! Taking it to the wire we eventually board the ferry...

Obviously they dont know us very well, they let us on the Bridge

And let us drive [eeeks!]

And we get to check out the safety precautions!

Landing in Sweden, we made our way up through Norway on our way to the mighty Stor Ula getting a run down the Setninga, a session on the play section of the Sjoa and a high water run of the Amot en route

Arriving late we camp high up at the get in for the Stor Ula

The stunning walk in to the Stor Ula

The Team, R to L Me! G, Tres, Rich, Andy Unfortunately we are missing Nat as his recently broken leg mean he has to give this classic a miss - hopefully next time...

Take off from the cliff cushion wave

Tres, nailing the mini drop between the slides

Over shoulder view of the 2nd slide

Bosh!

Rich trying to find the pot of gold, final drop of the slides

Tres flying on the last drop of the Slides

G, moments before his celbratory hand roll

Nailing Ula No.1

The view up of the famous Ulla Falls

check back soon for instalment 2 - 24 hour sun...

Ben

Arghhhhhh

I've been running round like a headless chicken, and not really had much chance to catch up here on my Blog, and now's not going to be the time to do it! As in less than 12 hours I'll be on a ferry full of hairy ass truckers trudging across the North Sea on my way for some steep Stuff in Norway. 36 Hours of cheap wine & poker - bring it on!

So just to keep you amused until I get back heres some waterfally type action from adventures past...

Stomp It! Meltte

Sorry you'll need facebook for these

Norway

Uganda

A little late but The International Park and Sink Gathering

The International Mystery Gathering 2009, once again took place at the mighty Chassezac Seam. 15 minutes hike deep into a scenic gorge you find this...The Chassezac seam, The river flows around an island converging and dropping to the depths of the river bed, sending squirtists with it!

A bunch of Squirters from the UK and France descended [sorry about the Pun!] to the Ardeche region of france to test out their lung capacitiesUnfortunately the River bed had changed, so the seam wasnt offering unlimited rides [as seen here ]

Still the water was clear, the sun was out [mostly] and it still offered up 15 second plus ridesFull day sessions gave pleanty of chance just to chill out and watch the action, or join in and swim with the fish...

checkin out the seam

Funny little French car

hmmm Foliage

Typical Evening Fun, good wine and a swift hand of Sh*t Head

Going Down

Chilling with the fish

The mighty Chassezac

Off the water Activities

Adam D showing howit's done...

Day Dreaming of the deep

Ben

Theres Nothing Better Than A Devon Cream Tea!

Whilst the rest of the kayaking world made the annual Easter pilgrimage to Scotland, I stayed in the South. Unfortunately for me, for the first time in many many years there were tales filtering through of water in Fort Bill - Doh! [I've seen the photo's and I still think everyone was exagerating!]

So with 4 days off work, and some hard graft on the first of those, we made the plan's to head to the sea. It's dangerous business, just like the Gremilns, Devon has killer Seagull's you know...

They also have Vallies of big Rocks and Blue Skies

And of course the best Cream Tea's ever

Taking it easy ;o)

Ben

The Jekyll

The Jekyll is here!
My new Squirt boat has arrived, just in time for me to take it out to the International Squirt Gathering @ the mighty Chassezac seam in the south of France.

Design and Made in the UK, its a modern take on an Old Skool theme, designed to stay down but short enough to throw some shapes with the best of them. This si the short legged, ickle version, the Hyde, long legged, phat version will hope fully follow this summer. Check out the Downtime web site for more info and prices.

Check back soon for some shots of it in action...

Ben

It's All About Contrast...

When are things going to stop? I want to get off!

NSR and Paddlefest came and went in a blur, it was good to catch up with a load of people and friends new and old - even if catching up may have lasted till 5 am at the after party, party!

Check out http://www.nationalstudentrodeo.org.uk/ for the full low down.

Since then it's all passed in a contasting blur, from racking up some mileage on the road bike...

To hittng some sweet Black Run trails at Llandegla and DH freeride @ Cannock Chase...


Small time Pub Disco, for Muppets Stag Weekend [yes he's dressed as Daffyd off of Little Britian!]

To the mosh pits of Prodigy playing Voodoo People at Cardiff Arena

So on with the randomness, My Jekyll's now finished, so check back real soon for some lime green sparkle...

The Jekyll - 1st Look

For those that dont know, Dave at Downtime Kayaks asked me to design & shape a squirt boat for him. After months of hard work I've actually been able to get some shot's of the first demo boat. I've now had chance to float test it and it's definitely looking sinky! My maiden voyage will be Wednesday at the new referbed ditch in Notingham. Whilst i'm jumping aorund like a school boy, Dave is currently working hard to get this demo and my spangly carbon version finished [+ a few other projects] for this weekend's Paddle Fest and National Student Rodeo. If you want to check it out or have a play just come and find me around HPP this weekend...


Dave getting busy with the angle grinder

Lining everything up

Hmm tiny boat ;o)