Sternsquirt Paddlers' Blog

Sea kayaking in BC, July 2011

Sternsquirt Paddlers — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 22:36:48 +0000

Had an amazing time in BC this summer. I went on an organised expedidition padding around the Broughton Archipelago in north Vancouver Island. If you fancy going be sure to check out Spirit Of The West Adventures who were fabulous hosts – www.kayakingtours.com . Here are a couple of photos:

Humpback up close

More photos can be found on my Facebook page – http://www.facebook.com/edshaw – looking forward to getting back on some white water this autumn!

Ed.

Scotland, Easter 2011

Sternsquirt Paddlers — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 13:31:29 +0000

Despite an unusually sunny week in Scotland we managed two days on the water, the Falls of Lora and the Garry.

Next up, for me anyway, a weeks sea kayaking in BC!

Ed.

The Dart in November

Sternsquirt Paddlers — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 16:58:13 +0000

At last the rains have provided a bit of water in the South West’s rivers. Gup and Ed headed for a run on the Dart, using the Loop as the ideal stretch for Gup to try a demo boat. Brand spanking new it was too.

Gup gives the Diesel 80 a run for its money

Autumn colours surround Triple Drop

Gup surveys the damage to the Demo Diesel

Amazing what damage Triple Drop can cause a brand new boat!

Pyranha Fest 2010

Sternsquirt Paddlers — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 16:26:08 +0000

This year’s Pyranha Fest was a great laugh. Ben, Andy and Ed paddled and partied hard with The River Crew gang and lots of other lovely people.

Ben gets The Beard wet.

Ed on the Ski Jump

Dave from The River Crew says Cheese.

Cheers Pyranha, see you next year!

Pyranha Fest 2010

Sternsquirt Paddlers — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 11:12:14 +0000

Yep, it’s that time of year again – Pyranha Fest in Bala, North Wales, is this weekend.

Meanwhile, a couple of snaps from WWPF, which Andy and Ed thoroughly enjoyed!

Andy on the Garry

Camping by the Etive

WWPF coming up!

Sternsquirt Paddlers — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 09:11:01 +0000

I’m stil working on the Norway video, it’s going to be an epic disaster comprising footage from 2009 and 2010. This weekend sees the Spork and Dwarf head north for their first Wet West Paddle Fest in Fort William, photos to follow. Meanwhile here’s what we did this summer in Sjoa.

Waiting for the ferry at Dover

Fancy dress for the pimp and ho party

Big Man on the Upper Rauma

Dwarf running Mini Huka on the Rauma

Big Man and Spork enjoy a sunny run on the Sjoa

Time flies when you’re having paddling fun

Sternsquirt Paddlers — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 20:17:13 +0000

I can’t believe it has been nearly a year since our last blog update about our Norway adventure. In just a few days we are returning to take our revenge! Not a great deal of note has happened since the NORKS tour – Pyranha Fest in Bala last September was good, Andy paddled a big green ocean going liner down the Tryweryn.

Had he gone sideways through Fedwr Gog he probably would still be there now.

James did some old school popping out, classic.

The only other excitement came in the form of two tiny Jackson playboats joing our fleet, and having paddled them on the Dart and in the sea I can confirm them to be both terrifying, frustrating and great fun in equal measure. I think some playboat lessons will be in order to try and actually learn how to use them.

Surfing in Cornwall over New Year, brrr.

So the bags are packed, beer is hidden in every concievable orifice and we’re off back to Sjoa for the River Festival next week - we will try to update the blog with swim news as we go.

Norwegian Outdoor Recreational Kayaking Summer tour

Sternsquirt Paddlers — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 19:21:46 +0000

July saw us head for our first ever trip to Norway where we met up with Gene 17 for an awesome week of paddling and expensive beer. It was great to meet some really good paddlers and a bunch of nice folk from around the world and venture on rivers such as the Ula and the Sjoa. We would definitely recommend Gene17′s Progressive & Dynamic course for anyone wishing to improve their technique whilst getting an introduction to Norwegian white water.

French Ecrins Camping & Kayaking Annual River Swimming Expedition

Sternsquirt Paddlers — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 18:14:41 +0000

In June we took our annual pilgrimage to the French Alps.

The outward journey to the Alps went well – for the first hour. Then we lost our roofrack and boats on the M3.

Undeterred, reserve vehicles were brought in and the journey continued, late and at great extra cost.

Following a warm-up on the Lower Guisanne (and a first alpine swim for David) Dave and Catie caught us up following some gearbox trouble half way across France.

Almost successful runs of the Durance (another swim for David) and Onde followed before we headed to Chateau Queyras where we rafted, via ferrata’d and met up with fellow Brit paddlers Luke and Arthur.

After much deliberating and persuasion James and Dave joined our new paddling pals on a high Middle Guil.

Which went well up until the Staircase.

Which left James’ Jefe in a bit of a mess.

On the way home we stopped off at the Fournel for a warm down.

First paddle of 2009

Sternsquirt Paddlers — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 22:41:59 +0000

For the first time in what seems like, and to be fair has been, months – a river has been paddled.

A lovely weekend with beers, campfires and sunburn.

Videos - http://uk.youtube.com/SternsquirtPaddlers