French Alps White Water Kayaking

ICG has spent the last week in the French Alps, soaking up the sun, paddling some fantasic rivers and enjoying the quaint village of Vallouise. After the inital rumours of huge water levels and sustaining for weeks ahead, we found that our week in the Alps was a perfect level with almost all rivers to our disposal. Based up in the hills in the beautiful village of Vallouise, with full board accomodation, great food, and wine. Each day we headed to a different river to guide and develop performances. Our team was joined by the very talented Liz Scott, a great coach and awesome paddler. Many thanks to all our clients who joined us on this trip.

New boats arrive from 'Rockpool'

Our new boats arrived from Rockpool, so me and good friend, Nick Arding went out from Salcombe to put them through there paces. A very stable responsive boat that handled beautifully on the waves. Rescues seemed effortless and a really comfortable seating position.

Paddlesport Week

Spent the last 4 days coaching 3 students from Duchy College. Having four days we looked at the forecast and ensured we gave them a full experience ranging from surf kayaking on the South Coast, Sea Kayaking around Wembury and Plymouth Sound, and Canoe skills on theTamar including solo skills, sailing and poling.

A great 4 days with some really nice students.

Kayaking & Climbing Week

Spent the half term having a great few days with the children and enjoying the weather. Also found time to go out and play. Had an interesting paddle with good friend Nick Arding from Plymouth to Salcombe experiencing a rough sea state between Bolt Tail and Bolt Head, our boats being thrown around all over the place and a large swell. Managed to pop up to the North Coast to climb at Baggy Point in the blazing sun, such a great place to climb and surprisingly not many other climbers.

Climbing & Paddling Week

Had a fantastic week climbing and paddling with good friend Nick Arding. Making the most of the weather and tidal conditions, we came up with a cunning plan! Our first day we found ourselves at the Dewerstone climbing some classic routes such as Vala, Central Groove, Scimitar and Leviathan. The next day we left early to travel to Wales in search for Tusker Rock and paddled from Porthcawl towards Brigend, this was a great trip which had some strong tidal movements, overfalls and hidden (submerged islands).


Our next trip we had the pleasure of being accompained by Richard LB. We decided to paddle around Portland, planning is a must for this journey due to the confused and rapid tidal movements, a trip we would highly recommend, it is full of great rock hopping, caves, strong tidal movements and a look out for the seacat wake is a must.

Sea Kayak Coaching & Guiding

Having returned from Slovenia, I found myself back into my sea kayak, I spent 2 days coaching and guiding a client on the sea. Our first day found us looking at sea kayak handling, in the tidal flow of the Brunel Bridge at Saltash, going at the time the flow was at its quickest and with additonal wind influence it allowed us to have some fun and discovered what these craft can really do. Our next day was a complete contrast, paddling from Hope Cove to Burgh Island and returning, a great venue to consolidate handling skills amongst the rocks and use of skegs on the crossing of the bays.

Slovenia White Water Kayaking

This week was spent on the Soca river in Slovenia. With six clients and two coaches, myself and Gavin spent the five days guiding and coaching in the fabulous valley, the Soca offers some outstanding sections of river for developing confidence and brushing up on skills and making them more modern and dynamic. In luxury accommodation, based in Zaga, great food and wonderful weather, well for the first three days, what a perfect recipe for an outstanding trip.

Over the first three days we paddled all the class 2 and 3 sections of the river and enjoyed approximatley 50 cumecs each day, the rain then made its way to us from Italy and provided us with flood paddling conditions of 100+ cumecs.

A big thank you to all clients, making this trip enjoyable and fun.

Already from requests, we have dates planned for next year, 1st week in June 2011.