DW 2012

[barmy]

Ha, so the naughty lock keeper got his time zones mixed up. he seems adamant it was going to be 3am tide at Teddington.
Will have to redo the maths

I reckon most people will be aiming for the morning tide then.

[barmy]

T minus 6 months. Thought it was time to bounce this thread back to the top. Who's up for it this year?

[tiredandirritable]

I was beginning to wonder if anybody else was doing DW 2012

[BTK66]

Looking like we'll have at least 6 Southampton CC boats entered.

[barmy]

Well I have the intent but not the partner. Still seeking a senior doubles partner as my partner from last year doesnt think he will be up to it due to a back injury.

Did our last hasler together last weekend. nothing on the calender now untill the Luzmore in January.

[Hackworth]

Is the Ross Warland still running? That's a good one before the Watersides

[barmy]

Yep, just looked its on 27th november. might think about that one. depends if I have a partner by then.

[kvin]

We've started our DW training at Devizes - looks like we might do better than our 13 crews last year and a good mix of k1's k2's a c2 and maybe even a c1...(that'll be me huffing and puffing along at the back trying to sit on the k2's wash in a c1). The training schedule is already up to 9 miles including crofton and the tunnel this sunday (it's a bit brutal) and most of the canal done and on to the Thames by late November. Me I'm not doing crofton yet as I've only just got the c1 and can't face doing lots of portages until I've had a bit more practice.

[banburypaddler]

Ross Warland Canal Challenge is definitely running. All welcome.

[tiredandirritable]

Hi
Is there an website for the Ross Warland for more info re distance, cost, start times etc.
Cheers

[Mike_M]

http://banburycanoeclub.com/images/stories/ross%20warland%20canal%20challenge%202010.pdf

These details should be similar except for the date. Which will be 21st November

Regards

mike

[tiredandirritable]

Thank you very much for the link.

[BTK66]

Just a quick reminder to make sure that you choose a strong enough boat...

[Eliza Dolittle]

Just a quick reminder to make sure that you choose a strong enough boat...

Blair, that's teasing these poor innocent folk who are new to the DW. I know that picture shows the aftermath of your Liffey Descent...

[jimbo-hamble]

Love that pic old chap!! I still cant believe that that boat is back in one piece again.........

[BTK66]

and here's a short video of our new training boat. It probably won't hit the Liffey again but will see a lot of miles as a DW training boat on the Hamble.http://adventuresinpaddlingandit.blogspot.com/

[Mike_M]

On the 31st of July at the Richmond hasler kayak race, a paddler from Tonbridge, Will Carus, tragically lost his life. He was 17 years old and a rising star in the sport. Will had a passion for kayaking. He excelled as a division 4 marathon paddler and in boys B sprint. His unexpected loss at such a young age has left a hole in the Tonbridge team that can never quite be filled. Will was a fantastic young man who made friends easily. He will be remembered by all those fortunate enough to know him for his kind attitude and infectious smile.

The Guys at Tonbridge are entering a junior team for DW 2012 hoping to raise £5000 for Epilepsy Action in memory of Will. Below is a link to their fund raising page,

http://www.justgiving.com/TonCCDW12/

Regards

Mike.

[Mike Summersong]

Hi There to all fellow DW ers

Just a quick headsup - The Crofton Section of canal is currently empty ! Well at least 4 of the pounds are and the towpath is also closed. Apparently they are replacing some of the lock gates, this work should be finished in December so it shouldn't be too disruptive to training.

For further details here's a link

http://www.waterscape.com/canals-and-ri ... /stoppages

All the best

Mike

[jimbo-hamble]

lets hope they dont leave the tow path like a mud swamp.........

[jimbo-hamble]

Has anyone got any good sugestions on footwear for the DW? I used a pair of solomon trainers last year and the heel is a bit too big which made my feet roll around in the boat. what are you guys planning on using??

[hairybiker]

I shouldn't worry too much about a mud-swamp - we were through Dun Mill a couple of weeks ago and the portage now seems to incorporate a stile! Quite entertaining with a K2, it'll be even more fun on the Watersides!

[lennart]

about shoes this years topic has lost of info. or is there a separate topic I can remember e nice discission about it in march or so. is the problem the sole or the complete shoe. cutting the soles so that they fit in the boat , is used over here I can not see a reason why you should not cut the in the size you wnat. I loved my hockey shoes last year but is was warm and dry. so shoes had an easy time.

[jimbo-hamble]

That is just what we need a stile! why dont they put a set of monkey bars and a scramble net along the way just to make it that bit more demanding!!

I think I have sorted the trainers out; I'm going for a pair of cross country running spikes (less the spikes for obvious reasons). There is plenty of grip and they arent that big at the heel.

New thought: who is going to be using a pull bar in the front?? will the paddling gains outway the portaging pronblems??

[Mike_M]

Jimbo-Hamble

I have used cross country running spikes without the spikes and they work well. The Walsh PB trainers are also popular as they have very little heal.
I am currently using the Vibram five finger shoes which are the most comftable shoes I have ever worn in the boat, but they do not have much grip in muddy conditions.

My choice for DW would depend if was paddling in the frount or the back. If I was paddling in the back I would use Walsh PB trainers. If I was paddling in the front I would use the five fingers.

Regarding the pull bar I personally would not use a pull bar in the front for DW.

Regards

Mike

[barmy]

Do the 5 fingers have enough grip for muddy conditions in the DW and would they be warm enough bearing in mind it is early april this year and could be very cold.

I used a pair of kayak shoes bought from shepperton last year. they didnt get in the way, had anough grip and do not retain water if they get wet. problem is I dont think they have them anymore as I cant see them on the website and mine are so well used they are falling apart.

I am now looking for an alternative for this year.

[BTK66]

Went for a quick paddle on the K&A this afternoon. As mentioned Crofton is totally empty due to engineering works. Looks very different without any water. The good news is that Blake's Tunnel is still full!

[BTK66]

Oops. Meant the Bruce Tunnel in the Savernake Forest. I didn't realise that it's 200 years old (built in 1810). Apparently the local landowner wouldn't let them cut through his land so they had to build the 459m tunnel. Blake's lock is the last portage before hitting the Thames.

[jimbo-hamble]

I think I will stick with the running spikes (less the spikes) and pull bar for the watersides and see how things go......

[Eliza Dolittle]

I've just bought some cross country spikes (less spike) to wear as well. I dug out the shoes I used for the 2010DW yesterday. One pair are totally knackered and the other pair are nearly totally kanckered. I tried out the better pair in my K1 and they are too tight. I have an Elio Titan, which despite it's grand name is tiny. So I took the boat to the running store and they let me try on shoes in the boat for fit. I now have these http://www.upandrunning.co.uk/index.php?left=shoes&main=detail&pid=3248&topcatid=1 and would like to put on record that I bought them for comfort and fit and not the leopard skin print and gold details!

[hairybiker]

I've bought some Innov8 x-talon 190 that are a lightweight fell shoe. I have trimmed the rear studs and my heels are pretty much as close to the hull as they would be in anything except socks. Whilst they don't have much in the way of cushioning the studs act as shock absorbers on any hard stuff and they certainly seem to grip well on wet grass. The uppers drain well and I can just about get a pair of seal skinz underneath if it's very cold. Haven't had much mud to try them in yet but they look like they'll be a good as anything else I've tried.