How to get in and out of a boat with Ivan Lawler...

I have put together a video of the last Wadenhoe Challenge race of everyone who was there on Sunday (Wadenhoe Challenge Feb 5th 2012) -
Click the image below to watch in You Tube

Today I am extremely pleased to announce that Ultimate Kayaks have agreed to
come 'on-board' and sponsor me!

To do well in Quadrathlons, I need to get my kayaking up, so, I couldn't do any better than I did today, and that was to have the great opportunity to train with world champion marathon paddler, Ivan Lawler.  He is also the owner of Ultimate Kayaks.  After all the cold snowy weather we've have recently, looking out my window there is no snow on the ground, which is a massive relief....Anyway, after a 3 hour journey which should of only taken 1 and a half hours, I arrived.  I soon changed into my kit and I went on the water. Ivan wanted to see what he was dealing with. He sighed, rolled up his sleeves, and got to work!  We went back indoors, I got onto the ergo and another bit of kit, he gave me some amazingly good tips, advice and guidance.

Me and Ivan then went on the water; now he could actually see what I was like, close up. After paddling for a while, we pulled up to the side, he disappeared for a few minutes and came back with a different paddle. It was a wing paddle, slightly shorter, slightly different feathering and it was carbon!! (As it happens, incredibly, that is my favorite kind of material!!) Very quickly I felt at home with this paddle; a lot of people say that it takes ages to get used to it but I think I picked it up pretty quick. Ivan said he also saw a massive difference almost straight away. It was a good and informative session which left me knackered!

Hmm.... time for a spot of lunch. We went down to the, what Ivan says to be, the "best caffe in Weybridge" (the sort of cafe that had a double f, making it a caffe).  Home-made meatballs and Coke was just what I needed. Then, we zoomed back to the Canoe Club and cracked on with another session on the ergo (and on this other bit of kit that Ivan said was better for teaching some paddling techniques , I wish I could remember what it was called, I'll try and find out). This time we went into a bit more detail on the paddle entry, paddle exit and position of the body. After what was an already exhausting day, (just the car journey was bad enough!) we had one final session on the river. This time I was really looking forward to it, ready to try the wing paddle and new techniques. We concentrated on pushing through the legs and putting some proper power down with every stroke. Today was a great experience and if I learnt nothing else, it was how to get in and out of a boat - the proper way!!  Thank you Ivan, it was a great day!

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