Lowri Davies

Welcome to Norway – Photo: Nick Horwood

In celebration of finishing Uni forever, I’ve buggered off to Norway. As the Newcastle ferry was cancelled last year, Nick Horwood, my van and I had to mission the drive from Dunkerque through France, Belgium,  Holland and Denmark to get a ferry to Norway. At the ferry port we were informed that with boats on the roof, we’d be charged over 400 euros to go in the lorry section; so our tetris skills were put to the test trying to fit 4 creek boats and 4 play boats into a van that is fitted out with a bed and kitchen units…

After an evening paddle on some sweet slides and an awesome wave in Evje we headed to Voss in anticipation of the Extremsportveko – a week of extreme sports contests and big parties. The sun shone brightly all week as the extreme sports enthusiasts threw themselves off cliffs, out of planes and off waterfalls – and we were no exceptions!

Church Drop on the “Play Run” of the Raundalselva – Photo: Nick Horwood

Rick Moxon on the Stondelva – Photo: Lowri Davies

Nick Horwood boofin’ the Strondelva – Photo: Lowri Davies

Myself running the S-bend rapid on the Upper Brandseth – Photo: Nick Horwood

Fun on the Upper Brandseth – Photo: Nick Horwood

By Thursday it was time for the Brandseth Downhill – an individual extreme kayak timetrial down a section of river with cool slides, drops and a 7 meter waterfall. There were crowds lining the bank, a live band playing and paragliders flying overhead – all pretty damn cool. The super hot weather had brought the river up making it a faster course with some fun lines. I found myself in second place after both heats and finals, which I was stoked about given the standard of the ladies competing and given I have spent the past few months sat at a computer completing my Masters!There are some cool videos and photos online – check out these videos for starters… Web TV and Fri Flyt – the results of all finalists are listed on that second link.

Last drop of the race section – Photo: Nick Horwood

My luck seemed to have run out by the following day though when Paula Volkmer, Rick Moxon, Nick Horwood and myself headed to the Money Drop section of the Strondelva. The river was high and Money Drop looked sweet. After watching Rick and Paula style it, I lined up for it in front of a crowd of slackliners who were trying (quite unsuccessfully) to walk across the gorge above the drop.

Dropping in to Money Drop – Photo: Nick Horwood

I dropped in on line, but after landing got violently flipped over and found myself doing cartwheel in the right side of the hole. At some point I rolled up long enough to see where I was and at some point I smacked my face with my paddle; before being flushed out under the undercut on river right. Unable to roll against the rock, I pulled my deck only to be shoved even further under the undercut rock. I was pushing off the bottom with my legs and just kept hitting my head on the rock shelf above, unable to get air. I was beginning to wonder if it had all gone horribly wrong when I finally popped up out of the back of the undercut, into a small eddy as the river bends round to the right. Gasping for air and covered in blood pouring from my nose I pulled myself up onto the rocks. Shocked spectators came running to see if I was OK while Rick and Paula collect my boat and paddles. My first proper swim in 6 years… it was bound not to be pleasant! And after a few blood-beard photos, it was time to get back in my boat.

After further high water adventures on the Upper Myrkdel, it was time for carnage of a different sort at the big final party…

Scenic views on the road to Sjoa – Photo: Nick Horwood

Yesterday we drove across some beautiful mountain passes to get to Sjoa, where the river is also very high. Today we had a blast on the play run, then chilled in the sun all afternoon before heading down a big and bouncy Amot gorge before dinner. It’s a hard life

Thanks to Nick, Rick, Paula and Matt for some cool paddling so far and chers to Nick for some sweet photos which can be found on my Flickr album. You can also follow my adventures in 140 character updates on Twitter.