Colliure France

At Easter I managed to escape from my training for 4 days in France with my Mum and her friend Mary.

It is difficult when training for major events to find time to spend quality time with friends and family.

It was great to spend some time away from it all just chilling and relaxing in the beautiful coastal town of Colliure.

New PeakUK Kit 2008

PeakUK have just presented the team with the New 2008 kit. It will be hard to miss the PeakUK team this summer in the new PeakUK Orange, Ocean and Berry Topdecks.

Check out the PeakUk 2008 range at http://www.peakuk.com/

New Squirt Boat… Downtime Asylum

Having paddled my Downtime Hellbender at the worlds last year. I am now training in my New Downtime Asylum.



This new boat is designed to achieve maximum mystery potential whilst still allowing the full range of freestyle moves.


Thanks to Downtime Dave for once again building a glittery, stylish boat and for customizing it for me.

Check out the Downtime collection at www.downtimekayaks.com

Claire O’Hara World Freestyle Kayaking Championship 2007 Video Release

A short video showing the highlights of Claire O’Hara squirt boating and freestyle performances at the World Freestyle Championships 2007.

Video Edited by Joe Bradley.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xPLURWoOhc

The Outdoor Show 2008, NEC, Birmingham

In March this years annual Outdoor Show took place at the NEC in Birmingham. I went with Leeds Metropolitan University, Carnegie Great Outdoors who stole the stage in the education areana with their new 20ft free standing climbing wall on its stand. Leeds Met University partner My Peak Potential, director Dave Bunting MBE opened up the show with the lead talk on the 2006 Army Everest West Ridge Exhibition.

I spent the majority of the weekend outside on the main Lake with members of the British Freestyle team delivering a programme of display events, come and try it sessions and a flat water freestyle competition organized by Major Sporty to promote the sport.

On the Sunday myself and team mate James Reeves, British Squirt Boating Champion were asked to talk as guest speakers on the VW Theatre stand on our experiences at the World Championships 2008. It was a great weekend at which we got chance to showcase our sport. We were joined by the GB Rafting team and Stand up paddle surf team.

Canoe Expo 2008

New for 2008 a specialist kayak and canoe exhibition. A great event with loads of people and lots to see. I spent the weekend helping out PeakUK and Mitchell Blades and shopping.

National Student Rodeo 2008

In true fashion the boating student community descended on Nottingham for the annual National Student Rodeo event.

This year the mass participation, with over 700 competitors and 800 party goers it became the site of the biggest ever freestyle kayaking event, in the World.

The fun, relaxed, safe environment in which the competition took place allowed paddlers of all ability to compete.

I worked with Emily Wall judging the main events under the watch full eye of event organizers from Leeds University Tim Trew and Nick.

The theme was pirates and helped along with its own pirate radio show the event was a huge success.