A change of scenery - I enjoyed the chance to paddle the artificial white water course at the River Tees Barrage with the Macclesfield and District Canoe Club. A 300m course runs in a loop with many drops and wave features to practice my rather rusty white water skills. I'd not paddled and played in such conditions for nearly 30 years!
 |
| Punching through the bottom stopper |
The water level is maintained by four large Archimedes' screws that pump water back to the top. Alongside the screws is the ultimate luxury - a conveyor belt that takes paddlers back up to the start! This makes it possible to have continuous runs of the course without leaving your boat.
 |
| Approaching the conveyor belt, with the Archimedes' screws to the left |
 |
| riding the conveyor belt |
 |
| Playing in one of the waves |
 |
| I can still breakout! |
 |
| Dropping into an eddy alongside a "hole" |
 |
| playing in a small stopper |
I surfed and played in a number of the features, perhaps slightly gingerly. In the past (in the 80s!) I have played in such conditions and rolled regularly, but my confidence in my white water roll is not as solid as it used to be. Hopefully the Greenland rolling I am doing at Brereton Lake will re-tune my rolling so I'll be more confident next time.
Thanks to Alan Tonge for the photos.
1 comment:
Looks like great fun! And what a luxury with the conveyor belt! :)
Post a Comment