Lowri Davies

Well, it’s been a busy month.

A couple more weeks of paddling some of the classic sections around Sjoa such as the Store Ula, Upper Jori, Bovra, Lora & of course plenty of runs of the Amot passed…

Photos courtesy of Gene 17 – see more on the Gene 17 Flickr account

…until it was time to fly back to the UK for a couple of days of FlowFree work and my University Graduation.

Photo: Tom Laws

Proving that no matter what the occation, chocolate milk is always appropriate. Photo: Rhian Davies

I returned to Norway just in time to compete in the Sweet Rumble: a 4-at-a-time boater-x down the steep, bouncy and little bit random Amot Gorge.  After winning my semi-final, I found myself lined up with Mariann Saether (NOR), Monica Gokey (USA) and Silvia (NOR). Mariann and Monica made it out infront after Silvia and I got caught up in a crashing hole at the bottom of the first rapid; but all is not over until each competitor has touched a banner in an eddy on river right of the last big rapid of the gorge. Throughout the event there had been unexpected twists right in this last rapid; with more than one person throwing away convincing leads by ending up in one hole or another – and our final was no different. Mariann got pushed off line and missed the eddy leaving Monica to take home the gold and a bumper cheque. Silvia and I battled up the eddy to take 2nd and3rd within milliseconds of eachother. The randomness and beatdown potential helped to make the event an excellent spectacle and probably the most fun race I’ve been in.

Photos: Tom Laws

Since then I’ve had a week of working for Gene 17 on the Norway Progressive course with high water levels, lovely people and tasty food. Again, lots of photos on the Gene 17 Flickr.

And now Skjak and Jurgens waves are working and I’ve returned to my playboat to prepare for the World Freestyle Championships which take place at the end of August in Swtizerland….

Practicing the pistol flip. Photo: Tom Laws