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:
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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!
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2. Practise Territory
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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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