English Symposium 2005

Nic Burne

BEYOND ADVANCED – OR THE LIMITATIONS OF A LITIGEOUS SOCIETY.

 

I am a trad boater at heart – I enjoy the freedom and versatility my big canoe offers over my kayak or specialist boat.  However, at times, I do like a challenge. I had hoped that the symposium would provide an opportunity to stretch my specialist open canoe experience and to benefit from some coaching as well. Having paddled with the “advanced” group at other symposia I am familiar with the refinements of paddling a smaller boat with one blade. I wanted to put these skills to the test on more advanced water.

 

The coaches were amenable to the idea of splitting the group and running a Grade 4 trip but were advised against it. The risks were too great. Risks, not of broken bones and bruised bums, of knocked knees and bashed boats, but of litigation if things went wrong! Also I cannot roll – but I am the one who suffers if I swim. Canoeing is a risk sport and I accept the risk. No court would support a claim for negligence by me, a middle-aged paddler with 30 years experience! If I cannot take responsibility for myself now I never will.

 

Absolving the Symposium of any responsibility for our well being, a kindred spirit and myself set off to the Kent with some kayak support we knew to be in the area.

It was one of the best days boating I have had in years. The river was at a perfect level, high but not in spate. This was not to be a rock bashing trip. My skills were indeed put to the test and I learnt fast just how much I could achieve. We did not inspect so reading the river had to be quick and correct. At the top of the gorge I saw the stopper curling diagonally from the left bank. My plan to hit it at 90^o and ride across the river bracing on the down stream side was, in theory, correct. In practice there was no water to brace on. I was so high above the hole I had no support. (Another lesson learnt the hard way!) The inevitable happened and I was over. Two attempts at rolling, though both failures, made me realise that I could manage a roll if I practiced. I had previously thought it was one skill too many for an increasingly stiff and inflexible body to cope with. As for the swim – an experience not suffered for many years now – it was fun! I got a perverse enjoyment in trying to self rescue and it certainly put me in the shoes of the less able paddlers I encourage to stretch their abilities, often with similarly wet results.

I was soon back in my Ocoee, regretting having missed so many waves in the gorge, but knowing that the challenge of the drops was ahead. I have not paddled drops before and my boofing skills are in development so I approached them with apprehension. I need not have worried. Both drops went fine and I did not even shut my eyes! I was upright and grinning from ear to ear and buzzing with excitement that I have not known for ages.

A great trip to end a memorable symposium. Thanks to Jon for encouraging me to push my comfort barrier and to the yakkers for picking up the pieces.

pictures from the trip