Steve T
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Goals for 2009OK, so we are coming to the close of 2008, certainly the busiest year in the club since I joined five years ago. I was planning to write up a bit of a review of the year, which then got me thinking about setting some goals for 2009.
I’m sure many of us have things that we’d like to achieve in our paddling, and I’ve heard it said that if you tell someone else your new year’s resolutions you’re more likely to achieve them (peer pressure is a stronger incentive than willpower?)
So what would you like to do during next year, and how would you like to see the club develop? Share it with us and maybe we can come back to this thread in twelve months' time and see how we got on.
I’ll kick off:
I really should get my Level 2 coach assessment out of the way, since it’s over two years since I did the training and if I leave it much longer I’ll be into the expensive and complicated UKCC scheme.
Despite already having the “old” four-star, the “new” four-star river leader award is a useful one to have for the stuff we do in this club, so I’ve booked myself onto a training course in January for this, my goal would be to do this and then get assessed for the award sometime next year.
Strangely, I should also go back and do the two-star (new style, including canoes) so that I can assess awards once I've got my Level 2.
I have wanted to paddle the Liffey Descent for years, so maybe this is the year I’ll manage to talk enough members into it to make the trip to Dublin worthwhile, particularly since 2009 will be the 50th anniversary. Start planning now for the 5th September.
And of course I’d like to see an improvement in my paddling – nailing smaller & tighter eddies on the Tryweryn or maybe even managing to cartwheel (unlikely).
And for the club, I’d like to see us keeping our small, friendly and informal feel but continuing to attract newcomers who develop into keen, competent paddlers. Not much change really, but we really should try to hold an AGM sometime!
It would be good to paddle some new rivers too. Much as I enjoy trips to favourites like the Tryweryn or Washburn, it's good to get somewhere new
Who’s next?
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CarlS
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My list is similar to Steve's.
I have done the new 4-star training but would like to repeat the experience sometime prior to assessment. For those who are familiar with the Tryweryn, the personal paddling part of the assessment is to make all eddies confidently prior to the Graveyard and then lead the lower section. I will need the practise.
Like Steve I want to paddle a few new rivers and fancy a weekend away somewhere (Scotland?).
I need to complete the paperwork to get assessor accrediation.
I would like to paddle a sea kayak on the sea.
Paddle between the bridges on the Menai Straits.
For the club I would like to see more people paddling outdoors away from the Burrs.
Carl
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GrahamS
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I would like to stay a bit drier.
I would also be interested in doing the star training / badges.
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Mel Stoddart
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For me,
By the end of next year I would like to.
1. Be able to roll in moving water and get my 3*
2. Push myself on moving water so I fall in (hopefully not all the time) instead of chickening out of doing things which look slightly scary.
3. Go on a big river, get wiped out, get back in and do it properly.
As far as the club goes maybe a social night out or a weekend away paddling somewhere?
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Steve T
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| Graham wrote: | | I would like to stay a bit drier. |
| Mel wrote: | | Go on a big river, get wiped out ... |
Some goals are easier to achieve than others.
| Mel also wrote: | | Push myself on moving water so I fall in (hopefully not all the time) instead of chickening out of doing things which look slightly scary. |
I am guilty of that - I don't really like capsizing outside so don't really try much playboating because I know that I will have to roll up. I don't mind running bigger rapids because although I might capsize, it's a possibility not a probability.
I think that both a local-ish social event and a weekend away are good ideas.
For the weekend Carl has suggested Scotland. Personally I don't mind but I think it's important to arrange something for all levels of club paddler - the original plan behind this June's N. Wales weekend was sound (both flat- and white-water paddles on the Saturday, with a course on Sunday). Unfortunately it slightly fell apart. Let's pick a month soon and start thinking up ideas.
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Jon W
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Goals for me include:
1. Re-learning how to roll in the pool
2. Organising a sea kayaking weekend for sometime in 2009
3. Remembering to brace when having a bit of a wobble!
4. Remembering to hold onto my paddle after bailing out!
...and I guess just building up the experience of moving water.
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Husky
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Sort my roll
Move on too grade 4 and feel safe ( ish )
Go to the Alps Slovenia and WWPF
Be nice to all
Steve
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DaveS
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I reckon that I will be happy to paddle a few new rivers and not swim too often (need to get that roll sorted) this year!
Getting my three star would be cool too!!!!!
The way this year is going so far I will be lucky to get out very much
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Phil
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goals for 2009mine are
1) Learn to roll
2) Try and not feel so tense and relax more in my boat
3)Run some rivers to learn and get more experience
4) Id like to do the Liffey (but dont know if id be ready for it by then)
Phil
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LALA
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I want to feel confident doing my roll at any time.
Getting it right so i can roll when its not planned.
Also to learn how to do it the opposite way (i will try and do this on Wednesday).
I would also like to learn more skills and get better.
I would like to run as many rivers as possable with the club.
Kayaking is the best Sport i have EVER done! LUV IT!
Cant wait to get on the next river. Im up for anything on the rivers if Steve will let me.
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Steve T
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| Lisa wrote: | | if Steve will let me |
Carl's right, it's always me that gets told off 
Lisa / Phil - Don't worry too much about rolling, it's something that beginners often get hung up on, particularly if, like you, they start in the winter and spend a lot of time in the pool rather than outside. If you joined the club in May you wouldn't be looking to learn to roll until the winter pool sessions. Basic skills are far more important - keeping yourself out of trouble by good paddling technique and reading the water, and preventing capsizes with good supports. Rolling will follow on from that as you'll have a better feel for the boat.
You're right, kayaking is a fantastic sport with so many different aspects, I enjoyed Sunday's flat water run with the kids and novices, as much (but in a different way) as paddling white water. You're both coming on and taking it seriously enough to be running stuff like the Washburn and Ure later this year (if Carl lets you  !)
Steve
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CarlS
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No problem 'you'll be fine!*', of course I'll let you, just remember to forward any complaints to the club secretary. 
Carl
PS
*I'm sure there has already been a discussion about comments and catch phrases made by club members over the years, however:
'you'll be fine'
'watch out for that tree'
'I swam so you must have!' (this was pure logic rather that ego)
'I couldn't roll because my spraydeck came off'
'don't listen to me decide on your own line (said to a club member as he actually went down a weir the hardest way, after a certain club coach had told him which way to go)
I'm sure there are many others
Carl
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Steve T
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"It'll be obvious when you get there ..."
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Mel Stoddart
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"What's the worst that can happen?"
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Steve T
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I knew when I started this thread last year that I might live to regret it.
How did we all do? I’ll kick off:
| Quote: | | I really should get my Level 2 coach assessment out of the way …… |
OK, done that and passed. Just weeks before the three years since my training expired so no contingency there!
| Quote: | | … do this (“new” four star training) and then get assessed for the award sometime next year. |
Did the training in January, haven’t arranged an assessment but have done more river leading and feel slightly more in control than previously.
| Quote: | | … go back and do the two-star … |
I think I did this … Carl?
| Quote: | | … paddle the Liffey Descent … |
September was sea kayaking so I failed on this one, but looks like 2010 might be a goer.
| Quote: | | … see an improvement in my paddling … |
No comment.
| Quote: | | … maybe even managing to cartwheel (unlikely). |
I was right, very unlikely. I can make two ends on about one in ten attempts, and usually after saying “I still can’t cartwheel – watch me”.
| Quote: | | … keeping our small, friendly and informal feel but continuing to attract newcomers who develop into keen, competent paddlers. |
I think that still applies. The club gets better and better.
| Quote: | | … try to hold an AGM sometime! |
Against all the odds, possibly my biggest achievement of 2009 (?)
| Quote: | | … to paddle some new rivers … |
I paddled the Crake and Leven during my 4* training, apart from that the only new river was the North Tyne during the Tyne Tour. Although I have been sea kayaking for the first time (thanks Jon), paddled on Coniston and took Conor onto a canal in Ireland I’ve never been on before (last of the great adventurers, I am).
If that was a company appraisal against last year’s targets then I think that’s an average performance. It’s been a great year though, the club goes from strength to strength and is even more active than in 2008.
I’ll have to think about some 2010 goals now; cartwheeling won’t be one of them.
Steve
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CarlS
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With over a month to go, but without the likelihood of any major changes, like Steve I can review the year.:
| CarlS wrote: | My list is similar to Steve's.
I have done the new 4-star training but would like to repeat the experience sometime prior to assessment. For those who are familiar with the Tryweryn, the personal paddling part of the assessment is to make all eddies confidently prior to the Graveyard and then lead the lower section. I will need the practise.
Like Steve I want to paddle a few new rivers and fancy a weekend away somewhere (Scotland?).
I need to complete the paperwork to get assessor accreditation.
I would like to paddle a sea kayak on the sea.
Paddle between the bridges on the Menai Straits.
For the club I would like to see more people paddling outdoors away from the Burrs.
Carl |
I can tick most of these off, apart from the Menai Straits. My highlight of the year must be seeing how the club has grown and paddlers developing on the 'Carl Scale of competence'. From a personal paddling point of view, I think the sea kayaking must rank as one of the best, although at times it did seem a little scary. The safety course was also great fun, especially the part where we did the live bait rescue in Chapel Falls
The only new river I paddled was the Tyne, although I almost missed the highlight of this (Warden's Gorge), when I blinked, only joking, it wasn't that short, although I had expected it to be a bit longer. I made several contributions worthy of 'The Book' and have decided that I will no longer even attempt to try and be more diplomatic or engage brain before speaking, where would the fun in that be?
I had the great honor of being voted in as Club Chairman and will continue to lead in this role in much the same way as I do at work, I have often been told that everyone has to work much harder when I'm around! This comment can be taken in more than one way One of the best things about my new roll is that of delegation, i.e. when we get told off on the river, the man with the white hat takes charge or when coaching or river leading issues come up, our chief coach takes charge. I suppose that I may have to run an AGM one of these years, but I could always try and delegate this as well
2010 is the year of the clam and hopefully will be one in which we all get out and really develop as paddlers. In all honesty I don't think I will be able to make the Liffy, since when I put my serious head on, I do have to think about starting the new school year, I am not sure that attempting to teach a new intake of 11/12 year olds with a Guinness/Jamesons induced hangover and feeling knackered after paddling or travelling is a good idea, although why should the new term start off any different than any other Monday? As far as doing cartwheels are concerned, I have done one on the Tryweryn in my Redline at the end of the Ski Jump, although this was an accident. I will continue to try and develop my playboating but really want to push my river running grade, without running rapids or drops where a mistake would be a really bad thing.
I bought a creek boat this year and despite a rough start (was going on the Tyweryn a good idea for a first proper trip?), I am really starting to enjoy paddling it. I am not sure that this type of boat is going to develop my technique (I will do this in my playboat), but it will give me the confidence to do harder runs.
To set out my ambitions for 2010:
1) Get my four-star river leader
2) Go sea kayaking again
3) Make more eddies (or even eds).
4) Feel about the Upper Trywern in much the same way as I do the Burrs (although obviously with total respect and no complacency).
I believe that 2010 will be the start of something of an odyssey for the club with numbers growing and lots of paddling. I am looking forward to hearing some really good comments and memorable quotes, 'what are you doing Dave?' (Or was that 2001?) Happy paddling.
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Mel Stoddart
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These were my goals for this year,
| Quote: | By the end of next year I would like to.
1. Be able to roll in moving water and get my 3*
2. Push myself on moving water so I fall in (hopefully not all the time) instead of chickening out of doing things which look slightly scary.
3. Go on a big river, get wiped out, get back in and do it properly.
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Well..... maybe this should be posted on the confession box 
1. Not yet, but I think my braces are improving, and as Steve helpfully said on Wednesday; "There's more to paddling than rolling".
2. Not been out much this year with one thing and another, but can say that I have swam a few times on the last few trips 
3. Went on the Washburn, swam. Went on again, swam. Went on again, swam. They were all in different places so think I was improving.... or something like that....
Only one goal for next year - get out paddling more! Hopefully the paddling fairy will grant my xmas wish and I'll suddenly get the hang of it
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Steve T
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| Quote: | | the paddling fairy |
You might have to wait as I'm sure none of us are that way inclined (to use your own phrase: "paddling for the other side"). Unless you're talking about Mike fancying old boy scouts, or Graham's classic misjudgement of the friendship betwen two members.
(Context, whats that?)
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Dave W
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I vote Phil for Paddling Fairy he has to be good at something.
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Steve T
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Mel
You also predicted: | Mystic Mel wrote: | | As far as the club goes maybe a social night out or a weekend away paddling somewhere? |
Two out of two! Dave's Xmas meal and four weekend trips.
Steve
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Phil
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| Quote: | | I vote Phil for Paddling Fairy he has to be good at something |
I am swimming and tecnicolor drinking habits
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