Sunday, January 30, 2011

I have just received some great news...

Robie Robes are going to be helping me out this year and have provided me with some new Robie Robes to use when I am out and about training this year. I have already been using a Robie Robe for a year and find it a great product especially when getting of a river and changing in the outdoors.

Check out www.robierobes.com to find out more about how you can get your own Robie Robe.

Leeds Met University are sponsoring me with access to their swimming pool to train in during the cold winter and spring months as I prepare for the forthcoming World Championships.


CARNEGIE SPORTS PHYSIOTHERAPY CLINIC have just signed up to help me in my World Championship bid. The clinic has a team of top class physios that have a vast amount of experience in treating complex and sporting injuries who will be helping me stay fit and healthy as I train and prepare for the forthcoming world Championship Event.

London Boat Show Display Week - written by James 'Pringle' Bebbington

Late last year Rob Harris asked if I could come and be one of the kayakers to be part of the show team putting on daily displays at the London Boat Show. He said there'd be a wake board tow system with ramps, sliders, lighting, smoke machines & a huge TV screen so of course I jumped at the chance.

The team consisted of myself, Bren Orton, James Benns, Ben Aldred, Stu Parry, Claire O’hara & Ed smith as commentator.

Together with the organisers, lighting & sound team we put on hugely popular daily performances throughout the show that got the biggest cheers and applause out of any of the sports displays.

Our show aimed to show Freestyle Kayaking. Displaying the progression through all the moves on flat water before amping it up using the cable tow system first throwing moves off just bouncing on the flat as you got pulled along, then to spinning over the slider before going up to a straight jump over the kicker, a straight jump to airscrew off the landing then as our grand finale an airscrew off the kicker over 5 kayakers underneath the ramp!!! On the last couple days we even had time for a full on Jam session at the end...plenty of crashes :-)

Other demos at the pool were the kickass Wakeboard shows, Canoe Polo Champs, some SUP races and the opportunity to come and try various watersports including sailing, windsurfing, stand up paddle boarding and kayaking. It was a really great show to be at, so if you missed this one be sure to visit next year for an even greater display.

A really great week and some very positive exposure of Freestyle to an audience that would never normally get to see this kind of action from Kayaking.

A huge thanks to Rob Harris for organising the whole thing and the rest of the team for making it a good week.

Click on this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8YMxaQbZFE&feature=player_embedded to see a great video by Bren Orton which gives you a taste of what went on at the show.

Words by Pringle photos by Katya