CarlS
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4-Star training weekend 11/10 OctoberI booked a place on this course at the Tryweryn after picking up a leaflet during our last outing.
I arrived on Saturday morning and met the coach (Steve) and the other person on the course, there should have been three of us, but one had cancelled. We spent part of the morning looking at some of the theory of river leadership (C.L.A.P) and then jumped on the section just below the Chipper. As I launched my boat I suddenly felt very twitchy, I used my Redline and apart from a recent pool session I have not been in this boat very much, however, by the end of the weekend I was glad I had brought it.
The first session looked at techniques for breaking in and out, we then moved down the river and got out at the last eddy before the Graveyard. It was with some trepidation that I realised that the eddy that I had swam into on my last trip was in fact the one we finished in and the eddy that Steve and Andy had watched me from was the one before this. However we did this run several times and I was able to hit these eddys. As the day went on I was getting more used to the boat and we finished by running the Graveyard and the Ski-Jump.
On Sunday morning Steve said that we would run the lower section but we would warm up by jumping on at the International Wave (next to the classroom) and doing the parts of the upper section we had not done on Saturday. He suggested doing a move under the Bridge at Fedw'r Gog Falls which seemed to involve side surfing the wave above the stopper, hitting the eddy behind the rock river right. I asked if I could go for the eddy on the left instead. Steve said yes but I had a scarry moment as I felt the back of my boat being sucked into the stopper, hard paddling followed and I made the eddy.
We continued, running Chapel Mill on sight (Steve had earlier said it was not always a good idea to let novices see falls like this but give them a point to aim for). We continued down the river putting into practise the theory about leading that we had learnt. Bearing in mind what had happened at Chapel Mill I should have predicted what would happen at Bala Mill! My question about getting out and looking at the falls was met with what seemed like an evil grin and the comment 'take it slow and follow me', I easily made the eddy and ran the falls with no drama.
This was an excellent weekend and whilst I do not feel ready for assessment yet, I feel that I have made a significant leap forward. I think we would benefit from booking some of us on another training course like this. I am fairly keen to run the top section again ASAP so I don't forget what I have learnt.
Carl
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Steve T
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Thanks for this Carl, a useful post as I'd like to do the new 4* after I've done my L2 assessment.
Quite a few interesting points there. As for not letting novices scout the big bits - you've let them all know that now!
It's also true that if you're not running stuff of this grade regularly, then you do lose what you've learnt. I felt exactly that after I did the Intermediate WW course with Mick last year, and then didn't go to the Tryweryn again until last month. The beauty of the Tryweryn is that you don't need a big group to go and play so I'd be up for the odd trip there to keep up to speed.
In my experience, CT are not the cheapest but do run a good course, and seem to have good instructor:student ratios (We started with 1:4 last year, but like you were down to 1:2 by the end of the weekend!)
I look forward to your assessment (and to being led).
Steve
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CarlS
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It will be a while before I am ready for the assessment. The basic criteria is to make every eddy prior to the Graveyard with finesse and then lead the lower section with 100% confidence. I would like to do this course again with other club paddlers, it would work out at about £100 each . If anyone is interested let me know. Like Steve said, it is important to keep up the momentum and I am keen to go back to the Tryweryn ASAP.
Carl
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