Lowri Davies

I wrote this a few weeks ago, but for some reason it didn’t publish – but such a memorable experience can’t just be left unmentioned so here we are a little late…

I was once again lucky enough to spent Christmas snowboarding in Sun Peaks with the Laws family.

This year we were joined by the Sladden family and 80’s kayaking legend Fred Wondre.

The mothers of the two families had done a fantastic job of co-ordinating a joint Christmas dinner that would allow everyone still enjoy most of Christmas day out on the hills. For our part, we went exploring out the back of the resort and enjoyed stunning views and untouched powder.

By early afternoon, we were back home to news that the oven timer hadn’t worked and the turkey was yet to cook. No worries though, as Mummy Laws set to it. No sooner had she taken the turkey from the oven, when suddenly darkness descended and all power went out. The Sladdens arrived moments later with the news that the power cut was resort-wide. We donned our head-torches, while the younger Sladdens got out their flashlights.

The power cut lasted all evening and well into the night. We sent Will to cook the vegetables and gravy out on the gas BBQ in the sub-zero temperatures while I entertained the kids (or they entertained me?) with torch-lit Junior Monopoly. We ate our Christmas dinner by atmospheric candle-light, marvelling at what a tasty delight had been created without power. Then just when we thought things had got random enough, 66-year-old Fred suddenly stood upon his chair, leapt across the breakfast bar and produced two bizarre but tasty and extremely alcoholic desserts.

Boxing Day arrived with surprisingly little in the way of sore heads and we once again headed out onto the hills. We were keen to go back along the ridge we’d explored the day before and soon we had Chris and Peter eager for the adventure too. As we left the resort boundary, we noted that the avalanche danger had been increased from “slight” to “moderate”. The snow did have a bit more of a wind-crust than the day before and the deep powder proved to be hard work for the older gentlemen on longer, slimmer skiis. I think Peter summed up his feeling on the expedition with the phrase “For me I think the enjoyment will mainly be in retrospect”. Personally, knowing what to expect a little more, I found myself enjoying it much more.

By the 27th, it was time to go home – something that I would have been much more sad about had I have not been given a comfy bed and waited on hand and foot in Air Canada’s “executive class”.  Certainly a very pleasant way to travel, but not one I will be getting used to… I’m sure for my next flight I will be crammed into a bright orange seat having paid more to take my kayak and kit bag than for my own airfare!

I am extremely grateful to Jackie and Peter Laws for once again giving me a fantastic Christmas to remember…

And because no skiing holiday with me would be complete without this photo…

Luckily, we also caught Will sliding on his ass too…

For the past couple of weeks we’ve had consistent rain in North Wales which has kept the rivers at lovely levels, but last night’s rain was fairly epic. All across North Wales people woke to find rivers over their banks, towns flooded and roads closed. My Mum was unable to get work and my brother had to use a snorkel to get to Betws (sadly not a facemask and snorkel as I had presumed but the snorkel on his 4×4).

Here’s a few shots from around North Wales earlier today:

Pont-y-Pair aka Chip Shop Drop, Llugwy, Betws

Fun lookin’ boils downstream of Pont-y-Pair in Betws

The postcard image with a twist – Llanrwst

Mincer on the Llugwy

Miner’s Bridge!

More photos can be found in this FB album.

The water has receded a little this evening, but it is still in fields and across roads. Another band of rain is due to arrive tonight… Noah might not be the only one getting his boat out.

I have been back in the UK for 2 months now and have been keeping myself very busy. Here’s a bit of a photo-based summary of what I’ve been up to.

I arrived back just in time for Pyranhafest in the sunshine and was able to catch up with friends and compete in the fun freestyle. I was given a place in the men’s final and finished second to local junior hot-shot Brendan Orton.

After a month of low water and sunshine, the rain finally arrived in North Wales. I’ve been getting plenty of sneaky mid-week runs in:

Top drop on the Gamlan, 10 years since I first ran it in a Topo. Photo: Chris Eastabrook

Top drop on the Goedal. Photo: Tom Parker

Less than a month after the World Championships, it was time for the British Freestyle Championships and the first 2010 Team selection event!

Photo: Tom Laws

Photo: Tom Laws

A few weeks later and I was at another British Championships, this time for rafting. A gang of us female raft guides from the Tryweryn got together to enter on my 25th birthday weekend and had a superb time. We blitzed the ladies competition in all events and finished 3rd in the open over all. Cheers to all involved for a great weekend.

Team Rafture in action (you can tell by the smile that we’d already won this particular race). Photo: Tom Laws

As well as competitive rafting for the first time, I’ve been getting involved in lots of other disciplines and sports recently including several forays into squirt boating, some fun white water open boating down the Dee, bouncy trampolining and some very muddy mountain biking in Scotland. Fun times.

Photo: Tom Laws

Squirting in Nottingham – extra points for being colour co-ordinated! Photo: Emma Runciman

Sinking – but not how I’d planned! A deck blow gets me wet at selection. Photo: Peter Isaacs

Me and Mum covered in mud after a day on the bikes. Note to self: people who were sponsored for biking are probably still very good even after 10 years of not riding! Photo: Tom Laws

And just cos I like them, here’s a few more photos from the summer:

Upper Rauma. Photo: Dave Fairweather

My Mum watching the finals of the World Freestyle Champs in Thun. Photo: Lowri Davies

Erika and Nina watching me at Skjak. Photo: Tom Laws

But, it’s not all play, play, play. I’ve been busy with FlowFree coaching work and in my new part-time role as coach education co-ordinator for Canoe Wales too! Checkout www.flowfree.co.uk for more information on the coaching courses I offer.

So the World Freestyle Championships 2009 are now over; the wave, big screen, spectator stands, big air ramp and all the crowds have disappeared and I seem to be the last paddler left in Thun. There has already been awesome coverage of the event online, including live TV coverage on www.freecaster.tv and daily updates on websites such as Playak and Kayak Session so I won’t repeat all that. Instead I’d just like to add my personal experience of the biggest and most impressive freestyle kayaking competition I have been a part of.

Practice time on the wave was very limited: within timetabled team training slots we were only getting 4 or 5 rides a day, so everyone was keen to get time on the wave whenever possible. All through the night there would be a queue averaging 15 paddlers, or 15 minutes between rides. I enjoyed paddling the wave which although it could be flushy, allowed you to go for big moves such as helixes and donkey flips as long as you were selective about where and when to throw the move.

The ladies competition didn’t kick off until two days after the first men had competed, which felt rather odd. In the prelims we had 4 rides of 45 seconds on the wave and our best two ride scores were combined to rank us; the 20 riders scoring the highest would progress to the quarter finals the following day. As I peeled out of the eddy for my first ride, the wave greened out and flattened giving me no hope of even catching it. I tried not to let it bother me as there were two throw away rides, but I guess that or something else was not right as I flushed off before having a chance to even attempt to show the judges what I could do in all of my 4 rides! I knew immediately I would be taking no further part in the event, which was of course very disappointing but I was determined not to let it upset me too much – after all there is so much more to life! I had really enjoyed the training for the event that I had done on some fantastically fun waves and enjoyed the company of those I had paddled with. In the month prior to the event I felt I had learnt so much and really progressed my wave paddling.

I got off the water, walked over the bridge and straight into the stands to support one of my training partners, Satu Vanska-Westgarth in the next heat (stopping only for a couple of comforting hugs).  As results came in it was clear that I was certainly not the only female paddler that had fallen short of their potential (though mine was perhaps the most spectacular shortfall – never do things by halves!) and throughout that day and the next I saw many upset ladies. I understand how frustrating and upsetting it can be when you do not perform to your best after working hard towards something but I preferred to look on the bright side of the situation and enjoy the fact that I was now able to relax and really appreciate the World Championships experience: meet new people from all over the World, take part in all the fun events, support my friends and appreciate the spectacle of watching the best of our sport perform.

As the event came to a close, after an awe inspiring set of finals, I went for a paddle with a close friend who hadn’t yet had an opportunity to play on the wave. I had three amazing rides that surpassed even what I had been pulling off in training: air blunts, back stabs, helixes, more blunts and an air screw / donkey flip. Rides that would have seen me do well in the ladies final. Another competitor commented “Nice rides! I probably shouldn’t tell you this as it might upset you but you are nailing much better rides than most of the semi-finalists.” I smiled and thanked her. I was just stoked to be on the water with a good friend and able to show my Mum what I can do in these small plastic tubs I spend so much time in. A perfect end to the week.

I would like to express genuine gratitude to all the GB supporters, coaches and management who gave up their annual leave just to help the 20-odd paddlers from their home nation fulfil their potential on the World stage. As a team we have returned with three Gold medals and a silver, putting us second in the medal table once again. Be proud British paddlers, you should be.

Yesterday Emily Wall, Islay Crosby and myself went on a stealth mission to find a wave near Thun without queues. Little did we know that the journey there would be an adventure in itself! As we wound our way through the mountains in my van, we found ourselves at a toll booth; but this was no ordinary toll, this was to get our vehicle on a train which would take us through a tunnel under a mountain.

As the train entered the dark tunnel, we squealed like school girls and the nervous giggles didn’t stop for most of the ghost-train-like journey.

Once at the wave we found an empty eddy and although the wave wasn’t perfect we certainly appreciated the opportunity to have a paddle in a more chilled out environment, away from the queues.

Prior to arriving in Thun, I spent a lucky few days at Bremgarten before the crowds arrived. A few pics of my training buddies:

Dave Bainbridge

Islay Crosby, pinkies in the air…

Official training starts tomorrow. If you would like to keep up to date on what is happening here at the Worlds, keep an eye on the official website at  http://www.icf-thun2009.ch and the finals will even be streamed live on Freecaster (www.freecaster.tv) on Sep 6th.

If you are at a loose end over the week of 1st-6th, please come and support us! We have just found out that the French are bussing in supporters and they are LOUD! We need as many supporters as possible as it really makes a difference hearing people cheering for you during your event. Thun is a beautiful town set in dramatic snow capped mountains and there will be plenty to do and see here throughout the event, not just the kayaking… and of course the parties will be legendary. Flights can be found pretty cheap and the public transport this end is really easy.

I hope to see you here over the next 2 weeks, and if not I’ll see you on the water sometime soon…

For the past few weeks I have been getting as much time on various waves as possible in preparation for the World Freestyle Championsips which kick off in Thun in less than a week!

Between training days, and after an annoying shoulder tweek, I enjoyed some hiking across the spectacular Besseggen Ridge in Norway. Full album of photos here.

It then grew cold in Norway and the water levels dropped. It was time to drive south! As the only driver for my van, it took a few days, espeically as we went via Plattling but we are now in Bremgarten, Switzerland where the sun is shining and the wave is pretty good (well, at least for one move!). People are starting to arrive for the Worlds, which is cool but the wave in Thun will not work until Wednesday so it’s becoming a bit of a game to try and work out which playspots nearby are best to train on!

Right, I gotta get out of this noisy, smelly fast food joint and head back to the wave!

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

Yesterday was a wonderful day. The Nordic Freestyle Champs were held under brilliant sunshine here in Sjoa and between competing in heats and finals, I got my Masters degree results…and after 5 years of hard work and juggling commitments, I was delighted to discover I had got a First!

In the freestyle, there were more women competing than men – something I’ve never seen at any event before and really great to see. Spurred on by my good news, I bashed out some big loops to gain the silver medal; my second in less than a week.

That evening a band played, the beer flowed and I enjoyed some celebratory dancing. After all, its not often you get a first in academia and a second in your sport, all in one day!

Happy days

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.

Last week I was elected Aberystwyth University’s Sports Person of the Year, a great honour which makes me extremely proud. Usually all the awards go to traditional field sports but this year myself and the canoe club dominated:

• I won Sports Person of the Year : This is awarded to the individual who has excelled in their chosen field of sport and has enhanced the reputation of sport in Aberystwyth”
• I was nominated for the Gwyn Evans Shield : Awarded in memory of a former PE lecturer and club coach, the award recognises personal dedication, commitment and commendable sporting attitude towards achievement in sport
• I was awarded one of 18 College Colours (an award I also received last year) : Awarded for long service & loyalty to a club and/or university sport in general and/ or outstanding performance
• On top of all of that, the Canoe Club also won Most Improved Club, which fills me with just as much pride as the personal awards, my friends and I have put in so much time and effort over the last five years to make the club as inclusive, fun and active as possible. (We also won the “Spirit of PGL Award” at the National Student Rodeo this year)

More information on the Awards can be found on the Aberystwyth Guild Website.

I am awaiting official photos from the evening, but as my housemate is a photographer he took the above photo to make sure I have at least one nice one! Thanks to Rob Clark for the photo.