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instead. in /data04/c5932385/public_html/wp-includes/functions.php on line 5418That photo was taken just a few weeks ago in France, but organising Canoefest 2015 has pretty much taken over my life since then. Fortunately, we’re finally about to gather to showcase and celebrate the many ways in which little boats allow us to satisfy our natural curiosity and release our spirit of adventure.
Our immediate horizons at Canoefest will mostly be shaped by a stream in woodland, or a mountain lake, or a gentle, lowland river – but we’ll be using a variety of workshops and day trips in massively different inland (mountain and forest) and tidal (estuary and tiderace) environments to connect our gentle pottering from our doorsteps with the diverse possibilities opened up when we venture beyond.
Whilst perhaps united by an emotional connection with wild places, we’ll be living proof that this means so many different things to different canoeists. Some will link even quiet-water streams and ponds with crossing watersheds in remote headwaters, or with exploring steep mountain creeks. Others may view their backyard waters as the gateway to lowland touring on our longest rivers – or even to adventure sailing on our more capricious coastlines.
Broader possibilities give us context, as they resonate from afar no matter where we are. Even on the ponds and streams we’ll be highlighting the diversity of those contexts. Elsewhere, we have pioneering workshops demonstrating just how “to canoe” can mean so many different things to so many people – perhaps paving the way for a broader appreciation in years to come.
Before long we’ll be moving on to securing the legacy. We’ll be taking what comes out of the gathering and ensuring it makes a difference. We’ll be presenting our diverse approaches and craft in ways that challenge and inspire. First, though, we need to gather – and for once (for me) in the UK.
Closer to home than usual? Yes – but echoing a passion we find infusing events as diverse as Kringelfieber and the successive Carinthian Canoe Base Tours – or even the Open Canoe Festival on the Drôme, from which we’ve just returned – and which Justine Curgenven also celebrated, in even more diverse ways, in her superb “This is Canoeing” collection.
]]>On Monday 4th, the Canoefest team will be based at Llangollen Outdoors – formerly known as Mile End Mill.
Highlights will include:
Half-day coaching is available at 1:4 levels for £15 / morning (10am-1pm) or afternoon (2pm-5pm).
This is all in addition to Monday‘s “core” activities – which are as follows:
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A week today, Canoefest 2015 will be well and truly under way – so it’s time for an update!
Minor glitches with the system have been ironed out, and bookings and membership renewals have been flooding in – commonly mixing a little of the Core Programme with a few of the Highlight Workshops.
Some key changes you may need to know about – starting with FOOD
Amending choices is easy – just get in touch!
First up – we’ve a few new additions to the team – including Ian Purkis
Also new is “Trad” on the Tryweryn – we can’t leave the C-Boaters to have all the fun!
New Trip on Saturday Afternoon
This has been in the back of our minds all along – and now it’s confirmed. We’re looking at a very leisurely tour from either Dolben Hall or St Asaph (nearby) to Rhyl – right past the imposing grandeur of Rhuddlan Castle!
More core-programme workshops
Core Programme workshop options will be on a first-come, first served basis, bookable during the weekend – but will be revised each day in response to demand.
To express an interest, see Gary Rice or Alan Mellor once you’ve reached Dolben Hall
That’s about all for now… except to point out that booking continues on the new website: www.opencanoe.info but get in touch via bookings@canoefest.info if you’d like to know more!
]]>On Saturday 2nd May we’ve got Ian Purkis offering a half-day taster of what we’re hoping to add into the regular OCA calendar as entire weekends centred on Leave No Trace training – all especially developed by canoeists, for canoeists!
This 3 hour taster-session will look at things like:
For more idea of what looks like becoming a distinctively British approach to Leave No Trace see The Seven Principles – or go and find Ian over the weekend!
]]>On Saturday 2nd May, Matt Mandrell and others from the Canoefest team will be available to take “Trad” Boaters onto the lower Tryweryn.
Expect quite flexible arrangements, with scope to be guided and/or coached.
This can be independently of the C-Boating with Kelvin Horner and Friends – or mixed in with the dudes in little boats. We’ll send a team of experienced coaches over to work out details!
Click HERE for the booking form
**** And Matt’ Canoefest Team entry ****
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Updating as a coach has never looked so good!
With Dave Kohn-Hollins heading up the team, and several workshops which are not craft-specific our 2015 update can cater for kayak coaches as well as for canoeists.
Anyone just wanting to update can also attend one day of workshops without registering for Canoefest.
Four full-day sessions have been put on specifically with Coaches in mind:
In addition, we have four half-day coach-update sessions:
To update for 3 years a coach will generally have to do at least a full day and should cover
Note: we may be able to use other workshops from the Canoefest Programme to update you as a coach: get in touch via update@canoefest.info to see how we can best meet your needs!
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On Monday 4th May, Veteran expedition canoeist and leading coach Jules Burnard of Voyageur Canoeing will be running a full day on Upstream Travel on the River Dee (Llangollen area).
This will NOT be a series of set-piece workshops in a short stretch of river: the idea is to travel in a meaningful manner and draw on Jules’ extensive experience of doing exactly that in a wide range of environments.
This days should cater for a range of abilities, from strong intermediate canoeists (solo or tandem) through to leaders and coaches looking to operate in such environments.
Click HERE for the booking form
**** And Jules’ Canoefest Team entry ****
]]>No-one’s going to miss Alex at Llyn Brenig on Saturday 2nd May: he’ll be the looking after this:
**** And Alex’s Canoefest Team entry ****
]]>Over the Bank Holiday weekend, Dave Kohn-Hollins of will be offering two workshops we’d like to develop into regularly-offered Open Canoe Association modules – and if you sign up to these you get a chance to shape what develops!
On Sunday 3rd Dave’s offering:
Mythbusting in Safety and Rescue
A subject where fact and opinion are often confused with each other, Safety and Rescue is a vital area of the sport. Dave helps you differentiate between solid fact and overblown guff, shooting sacred cows with abandon along the way.
On Monday 4th, Dave’s offering:
Does Leadership Exist – a conundrum
Dave-Hollins asks the question and challenges your perception of river leadership, giving you food for thought and new tools on the way.
Click HERE for the booking form
**** And Dave’s Canoefest Team entry ****
]]>Over the weekend of 2nd-3rd May Canoefest 2015 has a base on Lynn Brenig – a great place to harness the wind!
Advice and guidance will be available all weekend for those on the Core Programme – and Sunday afternoon we’ve got an intensive workshop – available on the booking form.
If you’re an experienced canoe sailor you might also be interested in joining one of two tours:
Those interested in coastal adventure sailing may also be interested in a few of the coastal canoeing courses:
Queries to bookings@canoefest.info – and ASAP if you have specific interests!
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