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A few weeks ago I helped the Lowri and the FlowFree gang host the first of many of the revived WCA Freestyle Development weekenders in Llandysul. A great time was had by all despite terrible water levels, and the boundless enthusiasm of so many young and not so young paddlers was great to see! On the second day there was small competition through one of the rapids, with a chance to show off the skills they had been learning and developing from making eddies, busting tailies or going for the elusive Loop…. I took a load of photographs from that, which I have now got round to hosting. You can check them out, and also order prints at www.digibug.com/tlphotography

Youngest on the water, slickest into the eddies, James Cooper gets an end to impress the judges… 

Keep an eye on www.flowfree.co.uk for more info on the next weekender!

I’ve moved house, started a new course, and done lots of work, some play, and some photography.

Lining up for the Falls of Falloch, low water. Pic - Lowri Davies

Chris G heading for a faceplant. Classic waterfall fun.

Love my F4 L Series!

Chris Eastabrook runs the Gnorway Weir on the Ystrad.

1 - Ayasse, Val Aosta.

2 - Pont Cyfyng, Llugwy

3 - Bridge jump, Soana, Italy

4 - The Rocket, Fium Orbo, Corsica

5 - Fairy Falls, Conwy, Snowdonia (2 frames after the shot in the WCA planner!)

6 - The end of the secret valley, Sun Peaks, BC

7 - The Breaker, Aberglaslyn Gorge, Snowdonia

8 - Right Angle Falls, Etvie, Scotland

9 - Temporal Focus Graduation Drop, N Wales

10 - Fournel, French Alps

11 - Cwm Llan, North Wales

12 - Cwm Llan, Snowdonia

My new room has a squirt boat rack. Divine.

A week living on a small yacht in the Ionian sea, marvellous. As usual, conveyed mainly through photographs.

Day 1 - Somerset to Manchester to Plataria

Sunrise somewhere over France, Moon and Venus top left.

The boat, Arillas, proved to be excellent, in and out.

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You have to try squirt boating to understand why we just paddle round in circles until it gets dark before retiring to the local for a discussion about paddling round in circles. - An awesome video by Danny Young

Dan Westaway, the flowerpot man drops in for some time with the fish.  

I had a fantastic time in the Bristol Channel. Hampered by bad weather, we managed relatively little paddling, and I learned a lot.

- Sea kayaking is easy. You just avoid putting yourself in risky situations in the first place

- Seaguls are scary

- Tides are easy. They go one way, and then the other

- Sea paddlers generally conform to stereotypes

- Small village pubs occasionally have fights over Harry Potter

Day One - The Holms

We set off from Sand Bay, and pottered down to Steep Holm. The gate was locked, so we broke in, got caught, and had a cup of tea with our captors. Then we paddled to Flat Holm and were given a health and safety briefing in the bunk house. No one got scurvy.

Day Two - Failed Escape

We paddled back through a powerboat race, swapped some people about, and spectacularly failed to escape Weston Bay. We camped on Brean Down, hampered by the wind.

Day Three - Escape from Weston Bay

We eventually made it to Minehead in heavy wind and rain, by car. Weston bay is minging.

Day Four - Minehead to Porlock

We paddled against the wind for a couple of hours. The swell and tidal races made it a bit more exciting. We had a lovely evening in The Ship at Porlock Weir.

Day Five - Run Away!

With the bad weather continuing and showing no let up, we went home. Mark is still out there, holed up in his tent. Good luck!