Natty Cordon
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Smiles  All  Round

2/5/2016

2 Comments

 
Canoe and Kayak Store, opened their door,
And started an event;
Ronnie's dream: to gather his team,
And party with intent.

The fair breeze blew, the white foam flew,
The paddlers began to rise;
'Though they were tired, they felt inspired,
With eyes upon the prize.

The team appeared all chilly eared,
But OzDz brought salvation;
Her wooly hats for river rats,
Were perfect for the occasion.

The trades came in, to help them win;
Wave Sport, Palm and more;
They were set up to help build-up,
Excitement on the shore.

The first event to  cause a dent,
In prides and boats combined;
The boater-cross, a shared ethos,
Of matter over mind.

Next the freestyle brought a smile,
To boaters and their crowd;
Loops and twirls from boys and girls,
Left Ronnie feeling proud.

He saw his dream was being seen,
Before his very eyes;
The real win was clear to him,
Smiles all round - his prize.
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Thanks to Bob Lewis, Hannah Rise Priest and Charlotte Ozzi Stevens for the photos.
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Tryweryn   Festing

30/7/2015

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I can thoroughly recommend the Tryweryn Fest to anyone considering the event for next year. Loads of events, reliable whitewater, shuttles, showers, food, and party time. What more could anyone want?
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I was proud to come in second place in the Extreme Boater X event, and to thoroughly lose the even more extreme cardboard boat race.

Super thanks to Wave Sport, AT Paddles, Canoe and Kayak Store, and Paddlers First for keeping me floating, propelled, warm, dry and merry throughout. Roll on next year!

Thank you to David Steen and Iain McConnell for photos.
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Three  Simple  Reasons  Why  Cardiff  International  Whitewater  Centre  Is  The  Place  To  Be

31/5/2015

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It’s not exactly the most glamorous of kayaking locations and you’re never going to win any gnar awards at Cardiff International Whitewater Centre (CIWW), but over the years I have grown to love it. Here are three simple reasons why it’s the place to be:

A rain dance just for Natty

Posted by Ronnie Rogan on Friday, 1 May 2015
Those of you who know Ronnie from the Cardiff branch of Canoe and Kayak Store, will know that sense of crushing devastation when you turn up at CIWW and Ronnie is nowhere to be seen. Ronnie is quite simply where the party’s at. Aside from giving superb kit advice, technical help, and providing a great range of demo boats and paddles, Ronnie is one of the most helpful and cheerful people you will meet. If you haven’t yet experienced the full effect of Ronnie Time, get over there and give it a go!


2. Practise  Territory

Whether you are an out-and-out playboater, a river runner or someone who likes to dip their toe into both disciplines, the timetabled, reliable and variable flows as CIWW have a lot to offer.

For those who are just starting to venture into the world of whitewater, the 4 cumecs sessions are a great opportunity to practise breaking in and out, ferry gliding, surfing waves and getting stuck in holes!

The 4 cumecs sessions are often followed by 8 cumecs sessions which allow aspiring dare devils to start to push the envelope a little more.  

For the seasoned playboater, the features for the 8 and 10 cumecs sessions are changed on a fairly regular basis so that you can practise a range of moves.  
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3. Anti-Dirtbagging

Dirtbagging from time to time will have its own attractions, but in the end, sometimes you just want to relax with a conveyor belt to carry you back to the top of the course, a lovely hot shower, a cup of coffee, and a bowl of hot soup in the café. I’m all for enjoying the wilderness, but if you’re going to paddle in a concrete river in the first place, then you may as well make the most of your urban location. 
So CIWW will never have the attraction and the cult following of the sacred Dart or the Fairly Glen, but it still has a lot to offer, irrespective of your paddling ability. Why not give it a go sometime, even if only for the Ronnie Time!
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SCOTTISH  SHENANIGANS

19/4/2015

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It's fair to say that we weren't blessed with fantastic levels on our spring trip to Scotland, but we made the most of it by getting up to no good!

Think of this as an instructional video on how to squeeze the most fun out of a river trip.
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Ignore  Your  Better Judgement 

19/10/2014

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In the rush to paddle in increasingly exotic locations, sometimes the British classics can be easily overlooked. 


The levels weren't amazing today. It would have been very easy to stay in bed when my alarm woke me up at some disgusting time, but I didn't. Against my own better judgement, I dragged my snotty, cold-ridden body out of bed and got ready for boating. Four slices of burnt toast, 10 minutes wafting the fire alarm and one squashed slug later (long story), I was out of the door and on my way to Dartmoor. 


What I didn't know when I reluctantly dragged myself out of bed, was that the day ahead would offer one of the best days of paddling that I had ever experienced. No it wasn't Scotland, the Alps, Chile or Norway, it was the Upper Dart at a modest level. I didn't push my limits and I didn't get an adrenaline rush, but I did get out on a beautiful river with a quality group of mates. I paddled, I smiled and I laughed. 


Sorry if I have gone a little mushy! All I'm trying to say is that next time I am lying in bed checking the levels at some disgusting time, I will ignore my better judgement with vigour. After all, who wouldn't be stoked if the day ahead could offer one of the best days of paddling that they had ever experienced?


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Playtime

18/8/2014

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When the sun's out, the rivers are empty, and Ronnie is at CIWW, there's nowhere that I'd rather be :-)
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A  New  Love  Afair  With  The  Mellte

12/5/2014

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Here is a quick edit from our Mellte mission at the weekend.

I have wanted to paddle this river for so long but never got around to it. I was a little worried that my high expectations would lead to disappointment but I couldn't have been more wrong. Such a fun little river. I can't wait to go back when the levels are a bit better.


Thank you to Wave Sport for all of their support.
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The   First   Signs   of   Summer

29/3/2014

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The hand-only-tan is developing nicely, and is a sure sign that summer is well and truly on its way.  I have only been to Hurley once before but I can see how this place could get addictive.
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Saltford    Session

18/3/2014

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Surprising amounts of fun can be had at Saltford weir when the levels are huuuuge. I was so stoked to get out in a playboat for the first time following my surgery. Bring on Hurley tomorrow :-)
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When  the  Rivers Won't Play, Kayak Surfing's the Way

28/12/2013

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In a vain attempt to work off some of the Christmas food and to break the constant cycle of eating, James and I headed off to Coney Beach, Porthcawl to mingle with the surfers.

British boating welcomed us home with 5-8ft surf and seemingly every weather condition known to man...

...A quality day's boating!
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