Day 1 of my Developing White Water course at Lee Valley on the Legacy run.
The course is 4 weeks long, and every Saturday for 90 minutes.

I know what I should be doing but getting this boat to do that leaves a lot to be desired.
I'm hoping next week will be better as i have gone over the video so many times during editing
that it should now be ingrained into my brain, hopefully!

I'm wondering if it would be better with freeze frames for the on-screen captions, or used voice-overs
with freeze frames for next time, any thoughts, please?

There's one cut that I messed up and I couldn't be asked to rectify, I mean, at such a late stage (6hrs in)
picking up on it on the 4th final run-through, I'm done with it,  I'm hoping the viewer will blink and miss it ;)
or they would have had I not pointed the edit out in the video lol. Anyhoo, enough waffling, here's the finished video.

Action 4 - 1080/60 upscaled to 4k - RS

Dammit, i need to sort out some bad words still lol and the captions don't stay on-screen long enough, here goes another day encoding and uploading  

OK, its back up again but YT still doing its HQ fiddling still

Bashy Posted at 5-7 17:50
Dammit, i need to sort out some bad words still lol and the captions don't stay on-screen long enough, here goes another day encoding and uploading   

OK, its back up again but YT still doing its HQ fiddling still

What happened Bashy?   

Looks like you had an amazing day - brilliant

DAFlys Posted at 5-7 23:33
What happened Bashy?

It was a plss poor edit, when i read the captions back i don't need as long because i already knew what it said, for a new viewer it would take longer and some are still too short, plus i left some swearing in lol

Codgerzh2 Posted at 5-8 04:41
Looks like you had an amazing day - brilliant

Thanks and yeah, it was a great day, nice weather too, looks the same for this Saturday as well, so there's that  

Seems like sweep stroke is super important.  Nice job after the coach left to check on the guy that went into the water.  It seems that timing is really critical there also.  Keep at it Bashy I have faith you'll get better with each attempt and every practice.  No doubt that is not the easiest thing to do or everybody would be trying it.  

DowntownRDB Posted at 5-8 13:08
Seems like sweep stroke is super important.  Nice job after the coach left to check on the guy that went into the water.  It seems that timing is really critical there also.  Keep at it Bashy I have faith you'll get better with each attempt and every practice.  No doubt that is not the easiest thing to do or everybody would be trying it.

Thanks chap and yeah, the sweep is quite an important one to learn, and i thought i had a good one

I think what was killing the stroke for me was that my boat was already pointing at the bank, and all i could do was to stop it from turning downstream. Once I get the angle right when entering the flow (1pm'ish) then the sweep should work and then with me looking downstream it will turn and point the boat downstream. Angle and timing!

By rights, i should be able to get from one side to the other in 3 to 5 strokes and with no reactive strokes.

By the time matey took a swim, I'd done a good few runs up til then and I felt that there was a little improvement as the hour had progressed so by the time the coach left I felt a little more confident and without his eyes on me, I felt less pressure.

My only goal is to pass the assessment and to be able to paddle there when I want, 3 more lessons to go, as it stands, I'm not hopeful but with that said, they do not assess at the end of the course, I will have to waste another £40 in fuel +  just to go back for 10 to 20 mins for the assessment , that's another £10. The 25th is when i complete the course and that same day i am hoping to go to another WW center, its no where near as good, its half as wide and only class 2 at most but it can only help towards the assessment at Lee Valley

To be able to do the intro to white water, you only really need to have confidence in undoing the spray deck underwater and getting out of the boat safely. Heck, ya don't even need to know how to swim, with that said, if the coach didn't think you were experienced enough at the start of the course, they would tell you and put you on the preceding course.

Again, thanks, I'm sure it will fall into place, be it this year or in the next 5 lol

Sorry, i just want to point out one other thing, all of the videos i have watched say to do a sweep when exiting to the flow too so it had been something i had practised, but on the course they say not to do that, you drive across the eddy line and then do what you need to do to turn or stop. I have to change my mindset there as well

Bashy Posted at 5-8 06:17
It was a plss poor edit, when i read the captions back i don't need as long because i already knew what it said, for a new viewer it would take longer and some are still too short, plus i left some swearing in lol

oops.   

Looks hard bashy and a good job you can swim.

DAFlys Posted at 5-8 21:47
Looks hard bashy and a good job you can swim.

To be fair, i probably make it look harder than it is lol

Believe it or not, knowing how to swim is not a prerequisite, you have a PFD (buoyancy aid) and there are staff strategically placed with throw ropes or will jump in if you are in trouble. It is probably a lot safer than it looks

Bashy Posted at 5-8 22:09
To be fair, i probably make it look harder than it is lol

Believe it or not, knowing how to swim is not a prerequisite, you have a PFD (buoyancy aid) and there are staff strategically placed with throw ropes or will jump in if you are in trouble. It is probably a lot safer than it looks

I noticed the guy on the side with a hard hat,  I assume he's for safety?

DAFlys Posted at 5-8 23:43
I noticed the guy on the side with a hard hat,  I assume he's for safety?

Yes chap, I would say there's at least 4 for the 160m (1.6m drop) of the Legacy course, and maybe even more on the Olympic course, that's hella steep at 5.5m drop and 300m long

Bashy Posted at 5-8 23:50
Yes chap, I would say there's at least 4 for the 160m (1.6m drop) of the Legacy course, and maybe even more on the Olympic course, that's hella steep at 5.5m drop and 300m long

I guess thats what makes these courses so expensive.

DAFlys Posted at 5-8 23:59
I guess thats what makes these courses so expensive.

Yeah, true, corporate events go a long way to cover costs etc too

Bashy Posted at 5-8 20:00
Thanks chap and yeah, the sweep is quite an important one to learn, and i thought i had a good one

I think what was killing the stroke for me was that my boat was already pointing at the bank, and all i could do was to stop it from turning downstream. Once I get the angle right when entering the flow (1pm'ish) then the sweep should work and then with me looking downstream it will turn and point the boat downstream. Angle and timing!

Sounds like in your mind you have the process and techniques down quite well. Like I said, I'm confident you'll nail it.  

DowntownRDB Posted at 5-9 02:50
Sounds like in your mind you have the process and techniques down quite well. Like I said, I'm confident you'll nail it.

Yeah, it's the same with the roll, there are 5 steps and as long as you complete all 5, you should roll up

Thank you

Bashy Posted at 5-9 03:01
Yeah, it's the same with the roll, there are 5 steps and as long as you complete all 5, you should roll up

Thank you

I hope you have a fantastic day Bashy.  

Nice! Thanks for sharing. That looks like fun!

Looks like you were having fun. I felt quite exhausted myself by the end

Looks like a lot of fun Bashy

Gabriel Tallon Posted at 5-11 17:05
Nice! Thanks for sharing. That looks like fun!

I really is and a tad scary too

Blériot53 Posted at 5-12 03:57
Looks like you were having fun. I felt quite exhausted myself by the end

I was too, exhausted that is lol

A J Posted at 5-13 00:33
Looks like a lot of fun Bashy

Yeah, it is great fun

Bashy Posted at 5-15 17:58
I really is and a tad scary too

I'm not surprised

DowntownRDB Posted at 5-9 03:29
I hope you have a fantastic day Bashy.

A wee update...

I felt like i had improved even though i swam 3 times again, but then 2 of those were not my fault perse and also we had moved up the course so bigger drops, deffo had improved but i think that that is in part because i took my own yacht and whilts its the same boat it is older, a "Burn 2" and their boats are the "Burn 3", some subtle differences, a thinner cockpit entrance (at the front) on the newer boat and i don't get my big boots stuck behind the front pillar when trying to get out underwater. Not only that, their foot plate (rest) wobbles like hell, thats a put-off for sure especially when a beginner at this discipline.

Whilst those may sound like small excuses, I did feel a big difference when I got on the water in my boat, more confidence, more stable and safer knowing I could get out without trapping my foot for X seconds. Whilst it would be much easier using their boats, what with loading and unloading mine, less drag on the car for the 140-mile round trip, I will deffo be taking mine from now on

The 1st run, that was a copy of last weeks, i did it perfectly (in my eyes lol), certainly didn't mess it up like last week and i had to ask the coach how i can can closer to the eddy line, he didn't offer to tell me where i was going wrong, i had to blooming ask, thats that right, anyhoo, that 1st run was spot on but I forgot to turn on the bl00dy camera, still gutted about that, the rest of the same as last week runs whilst still better, were mediocre, but i know how to setup to start the run and that was my biggest flaw the 1st day.

I have a feeling that i will have to spend another £200 (plus £50 fuel x4) and take the course again because I feel I should be better than I am by now that the 1st day not been a waste. That said, I am nearly at the top of the course, and the coach said that for this Saturday coming, we can either go up or stay as we are and keep practising if we feel we need it, so will have to see, 2 more days left...

Bashy Posted at 5-15 17:59
Yeah, it is great fun

It's not too far from where I live in Enfield so may have to check it out mate

A J Posted at 5-15 22:03
It's not too far from where I live in Enfield so may have to check it out mate

If you've never kayaked before or have no experience going upside down and having to release the spray deck then I would highly recommend joining a local group 1st and get free (clubs charge a yearly membership fee around £30) advice, guidance etc and there are a few around the area, it will be much cheaper than having to start there at Lee Valley, you can mind but it will be more expensive i would have thought.

If you're already experienced in the above, then yeah 100% go for it

Bashy Posted at 5-15 22:28
If you've never kayaked before or have no experience going upside down and having to release the spray deck then I would highly recommend joining a local group 1st and get free (clubs charge a yearly membership fee around £30) advice, guidance etc and there are a few around the area, it will be much cheaper than having to start there at Lee Valley, you can mind but it will be more expensive i would have thought.

If you're already experienced in the above, then yeah 100% go for it

Thanks for the advice Bashy - local club seems the way forward then.

Bashy Posted at 5-15 17:59
I was too, exhausted that is lol

I hope it was fun, though

A J Posted at 5-15 22:32
Thanks for the advice Bashy - local club seems the way forward then.

For sure, not only that, they normally have an assortment of kit that you can try too, deffo the best way to go

Blériot53 Posted at 5-15 22:58
I hope it was fun, though

Yeah, definitely was.

Bashy Posted at 5-16 00:13
For sure, not only that, they normally have an assortment of kit that you can try too, deffo the best way to go

Cheers for the tips mate!

Bashy Posted at 5-16 00:14
Yeah, definitely was.

Bashy Posted at 5-15 18:31
A wee update...

I felt like i had improved even though i swam 3 times again, but then 2 of those were not my fault perse and also we had moved up the course so bigger drops, deffo had improved but i think that that is in part because i took my own yacht and whilts its the same boat it is older, a "Burn 2" and their boats are the "Burn 3", some subtle differences, a thinner cockpit entrance (at the front) on the newer boat and i don't get my big boots stuck behind the front pillar when trying to get out underwater. Not only that, their foot plate (rest) wobbles like hell, thats a put-off for sure especially when a beginner at this discipline.

Keep at it and keep your confidence level up.  I'm sure you'll master it.  Too bad the instructor wasn't more forthcoming with information to help you get better faster.  You shouldn't have had to ask, at least that is my opinion.

DowntownRDB Posted at 5-16 03:23
Keep at it and keep your confidence level up.  I'm sure you'll master it.  Too bad the instructor wasn't more forthcoming with information to help you get better faster.  You shouldn't have had to ask, at least that is my opinion.

100% agree with you, no way i should have had to ask, it was plainly obvious that i was struggling with that issue, I could have progressed further than where I'm at at the moment, so i feel a little cheated especially considering that i had to ask what i was doing wrong. In part, i do feel that the boat had some play in holding back my progression too but I will probably never know now as i wont be using that one again.

Thank you, just finding out where i went wrong and using my own albeit older boat boosted my confidence level. I know I have to work on a couple of points and its there that i feel i would have been a little further along, anyhoo, I just hope i can still progress enough to pass the assessment.

Bashy Posted at 5-16 17:53
100% agree with you, no way i should have had to ask, it was plainly obvious that i was struggling with that issue, I could have progressed further than where I'm at at the moment, so i feel a little cheated especially considering that i had to ask what i was doing wrong. In part, i do feel that the boat had some play in holding back my progression too but I will probably never know now as i wont be using that one again.

Thank you, just finding out where i went wrong and using my own albeit older boat boosted my confidence level. I know I have to work on a couple of points and its there that i feel i would have been a little further along, anyhoo, I just hope i can still progress enough to pass the assessment.

With regard to your boat - sometimes older is better.  Just keep your motivation up and you'll succeed.  

Looks like a fun day.

DowntownRDB Posted at 5-17 03:00
With regard to your boat - sometimes older is better.  Just keep your motivation up and you'll succeed.

Thanks chap