3 STAR TRIPS & ACTIVITIES

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Lorena Ball
6 years ago
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Lower Tryweryn Weekend trip This is a classic grade 2 section of river from the National Whitewater Centre in Frongoc down to Bala.

The river can flow from 9 14 cumecs, so don t be fooled that it will be an easy ride down.

The river is open all year round when the water level is high enough and is dam fed. There is no access on the banks until you reach Bala, except for the portage around the drop.

You can walk along the bank and inspect most of the features, but this won t calm your nerves. The only way to relax is get on and paddle down from the top of the course.

1 Lower Tryweryn Weekend trip This is a classic grade 2 section of river from the National Whitewater Centre in Frongoc down to Bala. There is one grade 3 section at the very start and a grade 4 drop at Bala Falls that is easily portaged. A great river to cut your teeth on when the Wye, Nene and Derwent become too comfortable. The river can flow from 9 14 cumecs, so don t be fooled that it will be an easy ride down. At lower levels, submerged rocks and overhanging trees will be waiting to unbalance you and at higher levels, the sheer volume of water will keep you on your toes! The river is open all year round when the water level is high enough and is dam fed. There is no access on the banks until you reach Bala, except for the portage around the drop. Upper Tryweryn Day or weekend trip The upper section starts above the National Whitewater Centre and is grade 3/3+ to 4 at higher levels. You can walk along the bank and inspect most of the features, but this won t calm your nerves. The only way to relax is get on and paddle down from the top of the course. A short section of grade 2 river leads straight into the Graveyard, a long stretch of grade 3+ to 4 water, dropping down the mountainside through boulders (top picture). On downstream to Mrs Davis bridge, The Ski Jump (bottom picture), Café Wave, Fingers Rapids, the intimidating NRA wave and the grippy Chapel Falls. Egress here and walk or drive up for another run, this time with knowledge and courage in abundance. Even with a swim or roll, this run will make your face smile and your heart beat faster a cracking section of river with more challenges than the crystal maze!

River Dee, Llangollen Weekend This river is fed by the Canolfen Tryweryn and provides a good days entertainment.

After some rocky rapids next to the Railway Hotel, the river narrows down into a fast flowing, grade 3+ section called the Serpents Tail.

Also, look out for the sting in the tail. See picture below right for the result of getting it wrong!

There is a café, showers and Canoe shop on JJ s site. Afon Teifi - Weekend We stay at the Llandysul Paddlers Centre in South West Wales.

have a long mainly flat paddle, dodging the Fishing Bailiff to get to Henlan Falls (bottom right) which has a windy, narrow, fast flowing river

2 River Dee, Llangollen Weekend This river is fed by the Canolfen Tryweryn and provides a good days entertainment. The river starts as a good grade 2. After some rocky rapids next to the Railway Hotel, the river narrows down into a fast flowing, grade 3+ section called the Serpents Tail. This will keep your mind on the job in hand, picking the right line and keeping the boat facing the right direction and upright! Also, look out for the sting in the tail. See picture below right for the result of getting it wrong! A little further down river is JJ s, an enhanced ( pay & play ) section of white water with drops and chutes. There is a café, showers and Canoe shop on JJ s site. Afon Teifi - Weekend We stay at the Llandysul Paddlers Centre in South West Wales. The river is best next to the centre with some nice grade 2 rapids and a few grade 3 features, however, if you want to paddle the best bit you have a long mainly flat paddle, dodging the Fishing Bailiff to get to Henlan Falls (bottom right) which has a windy, narrow, fast flowing river which leads up to the start of the falls a steep ramp down into a boily section of white froth with strong currents that direct your boat straight at an undercut wall of rock that will trap the wary. Be strong, be determined you can get past! If not, abandon ship and look out for the throw rope it will be your best chance. A nice section of river, but a long old drive to get there!

River Usk and Upper Wye Weekend The Usk is a nice classic grade 2 river with all the normal submerged boulders

The Upper Wye is the same river as we paddle at Symonds Yat, however, it is near the source and much narrower

In good condition, it s a great stretch of river with almost continuous action, plus some great features.

drop. Both rivers have other sections to explore but you need to wear the right gear!

3 River Usk and Upper Wye Weekend The Usk is a nice classic grade 2 river with all the normal submerged boulders to scratch your boat, plus some exciting drops and chutes. See photos on left. The Upper Wye is the same river as we paddle at Symonds Yat, however, it is near the source and much narrower and drops down the mountains. In good condition, it s a great stretch of river with almost continuous action, plus some great features. The trip completes at Town Falls, Rhayader (below) with some zig-zag rapids under the bridge and a boof over a drop. Both rivers have other sections to explore but you need to wear the right gear! The Dart Loop Weekend Having mainly paddled this river in very low water, it was not my favourite until I tried it at higher levels. The submerged rocks were still there but mainly giving scratches rather than swims and generally enhanced the action. Mostly a classic grade 2 river with a splash of interesting grade 3 features, such as the Washing Machine, Lovers Leap, Spin Drier, Triple Falls and a few weirs and wave trains. Possible to paddle at least twice in a day depending on number of other paddlers using the river. This is a very popular river, only open October to March. There are more rivers to be explored in the area. Accommodation near Dawlish in 6man caravans with all mod-cons!

Lee Valley White Water Course We now have a great facility on our doorstep at the Lee Valley Whitewater Centre at Waltham Abbey.

To use the course on your own you need to take the centre assessment.

worth a visit, despite a bit of a trek up the M1.

germs! Whitewater Safety & Rescue The big boys version of the FS&RT taken on white water.

4 Lee Valley White Water Course We now have a great facility on our doorstep at the Lee Valley Whitewater Centre at Waltham Abbey. The centre boasts the Olympic Course (grade 4) and the Legacy Course (grade 3). The water is clean, facilities new and a challenging course. To use the course on your own you need to take the centre assessment. Holme Pierrepont White Water The HPPWW course is on the River Trent in Nottingham a challenging and exciting course using cheap old gravity to create a flow down the course and still worth a visit, despite a bit of a trek up the M1. Water quality is poor and Trent Tummy is a risk you take if you end up in the water, however, a can of coke drunk before and after your session apparently kills 99% of all known germs! Whitewater Safety & Rescue The big boys version of the FS&RT taken on white water. You will need to find a suitable course provider and travel to a distant river in Wales or Devon to take part. This is a weekend course and is action packed and full of information. There is plenty of water contact with rescue practice from boat and bank. Practice releasing your safety harness to lose the safety rope (top right), swim traverse a river on a fixed safety line, live bait rescues, throw line rescues, swimmer rescues (bottom left). This is for well practiced 3 Star paddlers you need to be able to paddle competently on whitewater. The training is a prerequisite for the 4 Star River Leader great course!

Other 3 Star disciplines & awards There is more to canoeing than whitewater kayaking alone.

You will need to find a course provider and again travel to some far flung river or coast to take

As a qualified coach, when you add the Moderate Water Endorsement, you can also teach students on

UKCC Level 1 Coaching course 4 days or 5 days incl.

at the minimum ability level to become a UKCC Level 1 Coach.

5 Other 3 Star disciplines & awards There is more to canoeing than whitewater kayaking alone. You can take the 3 Star award in Open Canoe, Surf, Sea Kayak and Touring. You will need to find a course provider and again travel to some far flung river or coast to take part, but generally the training is good fun and you can normally arrange to be tested for the award on the same weekend. 4 Star River Leader This award gives you the ability to lead your peers on whitewater grade 2/3. As a qualified coach, when you add the Moderate Water Endorsement, you can also teach students on white water. A great award but involves numerous training trips, assessments etc. UKCC Level 1 Coaching course 4 days or 5 days incl. FS&RT At 2* level, with an 8 hour First Aid course and Foundation Safety & Rescue Training, you are at the minimum ability level to become a UKCC Level 1 Coach. You need to be over 16 (over 18 to have unsupervised contact with your students). Kali River, India In addition to the above pre-requisites, we would recommend that you have plenty of experience under your belt and we would suggest that you do a brushup course with one of the coaches before committing to the training.

BCU Terms of Reference for Coaches and Leaders

BCU Terms of Reference for Coaches and Leaders Contents: Page 2 Introduction Terms of Reference for Coaches and Leaders Page 3 General purpose, Touring and White Water Kayaks Page 4 Open Canoes Page 5