ENTRY 39

Heres a place to get your base layer clothing, Priced at 17$ from Korea, about £12 inc postage

Base layers

Update, 30/11/11 just had 3 items I ordered delivered today from this company, quality's good and shipping took a week, these are not winter thermals, their skin/base layers and the materials similar to Lycra 

Here's another one from Korea

Skin tops, base layers

ENTRY 38

ON BOARD VIDEO CAMERA

Ive been playing around with some on bard video cameras, one to use as a tool for evaluating paddle technique, either on board with the paddler or on an companying boat,  great too for showing  POV shots that you dont get from the bank filming.


Heres one I would recommend at the bottom end of the price range......................


Waterproof video camera

Priced at £39.99 and will take up to an 8GB sd card (not supplied) it will give up to 3 1/2 hrs recording time, very easy to use, it takes 2 x AA batteries, I would recommend using the 3000Mha rechargeable batteries to get the extended run life, standard alcaline batteries dont last long, I have tried it underwater and on the boat and has proved to remain watertight,
It comes complete with cd and download cables but is easier to remove the sd card and download through your card reader, there is also a selection of fixing attachments.
The unit is slightly larger than some but I liked the AA set up as the smaller ones had an internal power sauce which never lasted long.

Heres a couple of quick videos I did using the camera, plus a quick bit of editing just to make it a bit more fun (editing software link at the bottom)

Video pad editor (free 30 day trial)


Ive used quite a few video editing software packs but this one come out on top for user friendly and the tools available and twin audio track availability.....

Just down to your imagination to create something interesting to watch

Good luck.................

ENTRY 37

Ive managed to get myself behind with the Blog, hope to catch up with 2 race reports and what's been happening with the K2 training and the start of the winter series over the next few weeks.
There will be some reports covering race tactics and portaging, exercises off the water including an American company called MAXWORKOUT covering many areas from diet to circuit training and weights, use of the Garmin satellite watch, and a few more tips as you move up through the rankings.
I cover all our club boat repairs, working with carbon fibre and glass has been an offshoot from a previous hobby which has given me the skills to do the boat repairs so Ill be dedicating a few entries on how to do some of the repairs, from cockpit damage to nose damage and some of the more exotic repairs, Ill cover material sources and how to tackle the repairs yourself.
My last waterproof video camera managed to die after it became un-waterproof, new and better one is on its way so Ill be able to get some more footage as the season goes on.
Due to an accident at work and cracking my ribs I had 6 weeks of the water and missed the Hasler finals at Bedford, but I will give an entry covering the day


Happy Paddling

ENTRY 36 Medway Marathon Race 21/08/11

The Medway marathon starts at Maidstone (Kent) and Finishes at the Tonbridge canoe club, just over 18 miles and 9 portages.


For me this was a hard race, I knew it wouldn't be an easy one for me as this was the first race in the really wobbly boat, although I'm really comfy in the boat when I'm in calm waters out on my own, add a few boats and a bit of chop I'm not quite as comfy, although it is rare that she kicks me out, the first race in it hasnt been something to look forward too.


Leading up to this race I had got one of the summer colds which knocked me out of training for a while, then I made the classic mistake of over training to near the event, I got on the start line with aching arms and a back that was sore, lesson learnt on that one and if I had been wise I should have cross trained that week.


This race for me had the personnel goal of completing this race in the Supersonic and staying in it and a reasonable finish/time would be good enough.
My first dread was waiting for the start, I still don't like sitting stationary for too long a period, falling out on the start was defiantly a no no, out of sight would be better further up the river, a bit jittery on the nerves but managed to stay up for the off, option was to take it a little easier of the line and keep in the boat, the river was quite wide here so plenty of room, but didn't take long before the wash started to hit, 
it wasn't quite as bad as I thought it would be, still managed forward speed but the occasional support stroke was needed, speed was well below what I can do in that boat, the faster guys had got a few yards ahead and a smaller group was near to me, keeping with them wasn't too hard and was quite happy to set my sights to stay with them.
That worked for a while until I got to close to guy next to me and the front of my boat decided to veer towards him in the wash which nearly caught me out and had to put the brake on sharpish to avoid colliding, didn't help with the struggling of the wash from all the boats in front and a couple of large size motor home boats coming down the river,
I had been knocked another 20 yards off the small group, the support strokes were having to be more often, my back was screaming from over training and only about a mile covered, nerves and too much adrenalin wernt helping, took me at least another mile before I started to settle down, I was still able to keep pace with the smaller group and the main group about 60 mtr's ahead, guess it wasn't too bad as support strokes were about every 5 strokes.


hadn't bargained for how busy the river was with motor boats, nor the wash they created, was pleased I was coping with them reasonably well but the mind over matter bit wasn't working which kept me on edge a little too much,
Then to cap it a big paddle steamer type boat was approaching, oh gollocks, the bow wave was huge then I could see the wash ripples behind the boat, they looked more like tsunami's approaching one after the other, they hit the boat sideways which was uncomfortable, but I stayed in phew, was wishing Id stayed in bed I really had.  
The worst part of this race was being uncomfortable in my back from the start and not having the best mind set and having never been on this part of the river I never knew what to expect around each corner or no real judgement as to how far away from the next portage, must admit on the mental side Id let it slip. 

The run to the first portage was really dragging and just so uncomfortable with the wash from the bigger craft.
Rounding one corner fairly tight to the bank I hadn't spotted someone tucked behind the bushes fishing, at the last second I spotted the line going in the water, I shouted out but it was too late and the line went over my bow and got caught on my Garmin satalite watch taped to the cockpit rim, normally I cant even press the button on the watch without falling in, but manage to try and get the line off, didn't help the fisherman was keeping a tight line, the line cut clean through the strap, manage to free the line of the watch and pulled the line over, couldn't move off until Id come to the hook end, didn't want that in me, finally it came up and I threw it off to one side in discuss but in doing so it tipped me out, was surprised Id lasted that long, gollocks that water was cold, there wasn't much of a choice where to get the boat sorted, found a concrete wall with a big metal ring that looked the best choice, could just about stand on tip toe to get the boat emptied, but was a trapeze act to get back in the boat which put another couple of gallons back in the boat, but I was in and would have to carry the water to the next portage, I relaxed a little bit after that, by now I was totally on my own, but luckily I was'nt being caught by the group behind.
It was a long stint to that first portage, wet, cold and aching like hell, I felt like giving up, but my car was at the finish line so that wasn't an option.
All the first group of portages were quite spaced out, got to the 3rd portage and greatfull for the drink station to get a drink and 3 jelly babies, wished I hadn't eaten them as they were to repeat on me for the rest of the race, this was the portage where people can go the wrong way, there was only a small space to get back in after this lock, I was so hoping this was the right way, got round a tight corner and could see a boom stretching across the river and presumed this was another portage, mmmm no decent portage stage, wasnt sure, I did get out and saw the river some feet below with no easy route down, nope this didn't seem right, thankfully a women said "they went that way"  which was back where I had got out, the river winds back on its self and feels like youre doubling back on your self, getting back in the water 2 boats went past, at least I could do follow the leader, caught the first one fairly quickly and was gaining ground on the next one, the river had narrowed a little more and everything was a little more stable and I had settled myself and felt a little more drive in me, al be it I could not get that damm boat above 9.4kph, on the river back at home I constantly hit 11/12 kph cruising, a head wind didnt help and wasnt sure how much flow there was on the river as we were going up stream.  

I got to a point where I had lost count of how many locks I had done, getting nearer to the paddler in front but lost a load of ground at a portage as my arms were like lead and a little confusing as to what set of steps to take to get the other side, real down side of never having seen the portage before, got round the first corner after that and 2 large motor homes had just set off in between me and the paddler in from, I really didnt want this, the wash from both boats was a pain but I was pleased that I was coping with it far better than  the beginning, wash hanging motor boats was defiantly a bit trickier than another canoe, I was defiantly faster than them but the river had narrowed and to try and squeeze past was gona be suicidal especially as they hadn't seen me, wasnt prepared to play chicken lol.
I pulled right behind the first one in the prop wash which was more comfatable than in the main wash, once the river opened up it was fairly easy to pull past them, the next portage over and back in the water something wasnt right with the steering and, the tiller bar was like pushing a bag of cement either side, I must have knocked it on the portage, didnt help as it was now the windiest part of the river, just my luck.
A quick twist on the rudder to stop it catching and with the news there was only 3 more locks left I had a bit more energy, a young lady said at least youre still smiling.
Come across a stretch with a load more fishing rods poking over the bank, this time the middle of the river after the last time, finally the last lock and a stretch of the river I recognised from years ago in Tonbridge, round the last corner and a big sign that said "FINISH" what a welcome sight, thank god.

That was defiantly an eventful race personally for me but on reflection Ive got the first race out of the way in the wobbly boat and had coped with everything except the fishing line, managed a 7th and wasnt last, lessons learnt about over training at the last second, and a clearer picture as to what Ive got to work on in the future, achievements can come in big steps as I have managed in getting into the wobblier boat but most come at small steps, Ill look forward to doing this one again next year.


Next race is the Hasler finals on 2nd October in the K2 

ENTRY 35

I have found the balance ball quite helpful and a 5 min session can be fitted in easily, start of with one foot on the ground and gradually both feet and follow what they say on the video, when you're getting better add the paddling motions, to start with clear any breakable items out the way :-)

ENTRY 34 Bets are on

As the competition is heating up with a group of us at the club there's a £10 bet on for the first to get to division 4 and the winner gets to push the losers in whilst there wearing their budgie smugglers and filmed.


Just a note for Captain weasel one division ahead now and only one more to go, get your Budgie smugglers ready 

ENTRY 33 First K2 Win at Huntingdon 17th July

We've just had our last Eastern area Hasler race for this season before the Hasler finals at Bedford in October, as a club we won the overall event with loads of first places for team members.

Decided to have a crack at racing the K2 with club member John, were both about the same ability and both at the same stage with the wobblier boats, staying in them but not quite getting the power and speed out of them for a full blown race.
Me and John have crewed together once before for a short club race and 200mtr sprints, that was done in a bath tub K2 and considering we didn't do too bad and stayed in it, 
with the race approaching we needed something a little faster, but as with these boats faster also means wobblier with the addition of a second person wobbly can get wobblier sometimes.
John has his own K2 but I cant get on with it sitting in the back and prefer the front but we've also got on well in the club "Regina", so we put both of them to the test over a set distance and found we were faster by 10 seconds in the Regina and more comfortable so with decision made the Regina was the boat for the first race.


Race day:  weather was British summer with threats of rain, normal lol, as much as were both stable in the boat sitting around stationary on the start line is not our forte, didn't help there was quite a delay getting the races under-way, a quick scan around to see who else was in the division 6 teams, John pointed out a couple of known quick teams, perhaps finishing this race may be a good enough result.
Finally got on the start line and thankful to get moving, well for at least for 2 seconds as the crews either side of us seem to converge across our bow off the start line and with all the wash I found out how un-responsive the steering was in this K2, there was no choice but to back off which put us in the thick of the wash, I was finding it impossible to correct the steering and get it straight, the front of the boat seemed to be permanently under the water, John was the dedicated back seat driver as hes had experience at racing K2's, the instructions coming from the back were loud and clear but just couldn't get the steering under control until the wash had settled and got some clear water, with all the muck about we were still with the group with ease, John instructed to take the clear wide route around them which was starting to work but just as a canal boat came round the corner they all dived in front of us to avoid it and so went the steering again, but back on the clear water we took the lead quite easily, mmmmmm wasn't expecting this, we had one crew to our left hanging of our wash and couldn't shake them off, by this time we had settled down to a decent rythym, it was very noticeable that when the catch was as far forward as possible and the paddle in full depth how much more power was in each stroke. 
I was woken out of my trance for the first portage by John as I was ready to cut left for a corner and hadn't recognised the portage, mmmm I've been there before lol, we had been warned the portage was high and the weren't wrong, but must admit with 2 of you its easier with one out first then the other, this was a long portage compared to what we normally have, this is an area I normally like and can make up a lot of ground but running was not Johns fastest area, in the boat hes a V8 powerhouse, back in the other side again nice and high with no problems but we hadn't shaken off the other crew and there sticking like glue in the wash, I started to squeeze across to them but John reminded me they were a young girl crew, dammed quick ones too,
We still kept to lead but with the turn point ahead and with them on our left we felt it wasn't worth trying a possible suicide tight turn so we kept put wide which allowed them through on the inside but we also got tangle with some division 4 K1's on the turn, so by the time we got straight we had lost at least 50yds, we went past team mate Sophie and John was having a chat as we went past as if we were on a leisure cruise, had a chuckle at that, quick look behind and he WAS paddling lol, we pulled in the 50yds quite easily and were neck and neck coming back up to the portage, we had an option of going for the high portage or a cut away on the bank, John quickly decided the cut away and this time we had the advantage being on the left and planted the nose of the boat to the right hand side making it a little harder for the other crew, quick as a flash before we planted into the bank I'd lent back and brought both legs out of the cockpit and had my feet in the water and on my feet with the cockpit grabbed and was off, think I'd caught John out as the boat wasn't going forward as he was half in and half out on his side, with other crew getting out I just grabbed the boat and went, he had to follow but had put him on the wrong side for the entry back in, we'd taken water in and had to bail it before we got back in, off we went and had got away first, the ground made up was enough to stop them getting back on to our wash and we both realised that we had to start digging a lot deeper and concentrate hard, keeping up the encouragement to each other we were gaining on anything in front.

  
Past the start line and out to the final turn, my arms were starting to hurt now which wasn't helped by the first time using some new extra large wing paddles, John was in the same position with the top of his legs killing him and finding it hard to get comfortable, there was some confusion as to whether the first bridge was our turning point, we couldn't see anyone else turning there, I hesitated and Johns scream echoed under the bridge to keep going, that woke me up,
we had caught a small group of division 4 paddlers who made good use of our wash for the next mile, I could see the boat nose's either side of us in our wash, I had to be reminded a few times not to cut too close on the corners as they were there and it was easy to forget that there was someone else and a lot more boat behind me, it mad life difficult for John as his paddle was going under the K1's bow and in danger of pulling us over, the mile out from the start to the turn was getting narrower and busy with traffic returning from the last turn point, was a pain with the steering as it was unresponsive and very sluggish so keeping to the middle was the best option and others would just have to avoid us,
At the final turn it was perhaps on the narrowest part of the river with very little room, turning was not our strong point and we had no choice but to go as wide as possible, John told the K1 on our right that were were going wide for the turn, it seemed to take forever to turn and not helped by a K1 having difficulties getting round the turn, the second place team were only about 50 yds away from the turn after we completed, I knew that would open up after they had completed but by no means was the race in the bag yet, we got a little sloppy for a while, Johns legs were hurting even more now and tiredness was creeping in, with encouragement we picked it back up and dug as deep as we could, 1/4 mile to go, 500yds the 100 and over the line to take the win, couldn't believe we had our first win in the bag on our first race together, we were both over the moon with it and it such a relief to stop, the last 2 miles had really been a slog. 
Couldn't have done it without the V8 powerhouse John nor his back seat driving instructions to which I was greatfull for and needed, and we've now got the promotion to division 5, a great day and very enjoyable.


We've opted to do the Hasler final in October in K2 together to finish of the series, we've found a more comfortable and faster boat than what we used for the race and for me its got responsive steering, now I know what I'm up against and with the time available before the finals I'm sure we can produce another good result..............................cheers for the race John