Another evening session at Pinkston and the first night with a chill in the air. Fortunately there was a good proportion of dry suits or dry cags and again Graham turned up with only one wet suit sock and wetsuit shorts – leading to one quite chilly foot. The “how many pumps” decision was made – three, slightly more powerful than two pumps but deeper water.
We had 2 guest paddlers, with the SCA playboating session having been published with the wrong date and time. It did mean we got to see what a short (11″) open canoe looks like on Pinkston – pretty impressive in the right hands!
Being Ross McKillop’s first paddling visit he was taken under the wing/paddle of Graham (he had seen the course in use before- quite a good idea for any prospective Pinkston paddlers).
First run: after a briefing and watching some others he navigation the exit from the top pool and down the first two drops then followed by a live action roll – no preparation, no rehearsal, just did it! Then safely to the bottom to shouts of “again, again”
Second Run: Safely down the top drops then his boat caught on of the plastic “lego” blocks used to make the course. A valiant attempt at a roll but the blocks were on his “good side”. Safely out the boat and quick swim to the side to recover the boat and paddles.
Third Run: There is a old adage “the longer you spend looking at a rapid, the longer you spend stuck in it”. Ross had been at the top watching for a bit before setting off. The exit from the top pool can be tricky as the water from the pumps bubbles up before going out the exit gate. Ross’s boat didn’t make the exit and went against the side of the channel leading to a capsize. He managed to recover his boat and paddle and get himself safely to the side, with the traditional sly glance to check if anyone had seen!
Basin Session: A great action packed first time on the course, however Pinkston also has a really useful moving water basin where the skills for moving water (i.e. river, waves, and tides) can be learnt. We now had 45 minutes and spent the time wisely – learning a few key skills.
1. That in moving water so long as you are “loose” in your kayak then your body acts as a suspension meaning waves and current just pass you by.
2. Once in the current then it is easiest to point where you want to go before starting to accelerate. Image a tall Scottish Usain Bolt in a kayak sprinting in the wrong direction before then trying to turn sharply.
3. Strangers on the water are simply another potential hazard. The water in the basin forms a big circle and at one side the pumps suck some water through a metal grill to feed up to the white water course. One of our “guests” managed to drift alongside Ross and (accidentally) keep nudging Ross towards the grill. Going against the grill isn’t really hazardous but not my own first choice. Cue my admiration of Ross’s excellent roll and maneuvering back into the main basin.
All in all an eventful first session.Although nominally a “river” the amount of benefit for Ross’s sea paddling should be huge by a few P session. Some of the transferable skills include:
– Tide races and sea currents – moving into and out of currents are the same skills whether river or sea.
– Waves : being “loose” in the boat when seas get bigger is the key to being comfortable easier to practice at Pinkston….
– Rolling: when you need to roll on the sea you won’t be set up. This is almost impossible to practice unless the environment does the pushing in…e.g.Pinkston
The Wednesday nights are club sessions. If you don’t fancy the white water course yet then we offer a moving water basin only session price of £4. Normally there is also space in the flat water basin if anyone fancied paddling there too. More info on the calendar!
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