Helo or Hello in English and not Welsh! Yes our annual week long surf trip has concluded for another year, and we are pleased to report it was an awesome success with almost perfect weather, surf and even a few river trips.

So let’s begin, firstly, we’d usually post about an amazing week in Newquay, but this year as you’ll know we ventured to North Wales and took the trip to Anglesey over the cornish coast. So it might of been new territory for us but luckily our knowledge of Welsh Rivers and ‘local tour guide’ Josh provided us the basis of where to get started, plus where is the adventure if there is no exploring?

The week did not even begin in Anglesey, after a bright 6am start from Lincoln on Friday to first stop was the Tryweryn river, both upper and lower. The first more experienced members paddled the first stretch at the upper, with a busy course and plenty of rafting it provided a vibrant stretch of the National White Water Centre for those paddling, and something to watch for those who were not. After an hour the rest of the team joined on the Lower section of the river, And with around 20 of us paddling it was going great, despite the rain all day! But as always a risk in paddle sports on of our members capsized and unfortunately was involved in an accident . Quick action from the committee, the first aider and help from the experienced members from Milton Keynes CC meant the situation was quickly under control and Kirsty  was soon off the water with the rest of the team as we provided first aid and got back to the centre and then onto A&E. We are happy to say it was a nothing serious and Kirsty sustained from no injuries, the doctors were happy to release her from A&E. Kirsty was fine about the situation and the last leg from Bangor to Holyhead to the bunkhouse began! Unfortunately these are the risks we face in Kayaking and as much risk control we can asses and put in place, these accidents happen. No one was to blame and the reaction from team and Kirsty was commended by the first aiders on site and the staff at the Hospital, plus Kirsty was keen to not let this spoil her week!

We arrived at Anglesey Outdoor Centre, unloaded, cooked and slept, after all it had been a long day!

After a Easter Sunday lazy morning, it was time to explore our surroundings, this began with the short drive to the most Eastern point on the island to South Stack! Being the most Easterly point on the island and right in the direction of the Irish Sea, the wind was certainly bracing and not a place you’d open an umbrella. The rest of the day included a tour of the Northern of the island, before we stoped at Bellench Bay beach on the West of the island. Hot doughnuts are not a good idea before a game of Beach Rugby by the way!

After a morning breakfast with some rough heads from ‘Sundays Nights Antics’. The team headed to Rhosneigr beach for the first day of surf kayaking. The blue skies with the low height of waves made this a perfect beginner beach to show those who’d not surf the ropes and those who’d had a while out get back into it! Almost everyone, including all the freshers got into a boat and into the water, the surf was going strong right until 3pm in which the last few stayed on before the allure of ’99’s  or hot coffee became too strong! A quick kick about on the beach, some kite flying (with no full body impact this time) wrapped up first day of surfing!

The second day of surfing allowed for more exploring of the various surf bays around the island, Cable Bay just past Rhosneigr was the first port of call, and while we arrived sharp to go, sun out, 10 minutes into surfing the weather changed very sour and resulted in much harder surf to paddle, and while some tried to conquer the challenge, the energy needed to keep up was not worth it and Tuesdays surfing ended early. The team packed up out of the rain and hail and let the weather pass in a cafe back in Rhosneigr. But spoiler alert, the weather stayed poor until the early evening and any chance of paddling again had passed.  But as with any British holiday, the weather cleared enough in the evening for a late night hike up Holy Mountain, the highest peak in Anglesey!

Wednesday came, and it was a early start for the team as 9am was the start time for our non-paddling adventure; high sea traversing, or cliff walking! Splitting into 2 groups this involved climbing along high sea cliffs at the start and then eventually a zip line down a cliff to the base of another to then climb back up, relax, we were attached to ropes to stop us falling. The other group took the boats back to Cable bay for some more surfing, after lunch the 2 groups swapped and then the evening arrived, the team ditched cooking for this evening as we’re treated to a 2 course meal on the on-site bar before a holiday tradition, punch night, began!

Our last full day arrived (after the hangovers cleared) and the trips day trip was to the North Welsh harbour town of Conwy, with its famous castle and walls the town had cobbled streets, harbourside ice cream, the country’s smallest house and fish and chips! The sun was out which made exploring the castle even more enjoyable considering the lack of roofs. The day closed and the team packed and cleared the bunkhouse ready for an early leave on Friday.

Cars loaded and kayaks strapped on the 9am leave time from the bunkhouse lead us back into North Wales for the last river paddle before heading back to Lincoln. The stop at the River Dee in the Dee Valley near Llangollen is a short strip of water but with the previous rainfall during the week and storm damage during the winter altered this stretch into a more challenging than normal, with even Serpents Tail un-runable for some due to the hole and sticky landings! The river finished at an even more challenging town falls in which resulted in some swims. The rocky end placed no dampened spirits and after some dinner in Wrexham the final leg home began.

After unloading the kit at the shed at 10pm the trip was over, and the post-trip blues kicked in!

This has only been a brief summary of our week away. If you’ve ever been on a trip as a member you know it’s the people which make these trips, and the high spirit, can do attitude, and enthusiasm of members, even during the worst times of the trip is what leads to the memories and moments you look back on. From heat of the moment bursts in The Logo Board game, to the spontaneous hike up Holy Mountain, It’s not like me to get personal in these posts but since this is one of the few trips I have left as a committee member, I’m so happy to look back on this trip and smile throughout, you’ve made it one of the most enjoyable times  in L.U.C.K and at University! But don’t worry if you did not go I still like you as much ahaha.

We’ll see you all soon for the last term!

If it’s not the wristband, the battered legs or the wet kit in my bathroom, it’s all been worth it for a fantastic weekend away at NSR 2016.

Ah yes, it’s NSR! The National Student Rodeo is the country’s, if not the world’s biggest student kayaking festival. Taking place in the first weekend of March at the National Watersports Centre in Nottingham. It’s a competition event but has an electric festival atmosphere so the best of both worlds! After taking a break out last year, this was our return to the event since 2014 and for many the first time coming.

NSR begins the Friday night! It was a rush from finishing days end at University to grab the kit from our shed and do the short trip over to Nottingham, set up the camp and swing past the supermarket to fill up on those ‘essentials’. The campsite like most festivals is a sea of tents, all from various universities including our neighbours for the weekend; Warrick and St. Andrews! NSR features a huge party tent with a fully fitted bar and a set up to rival the Engine shed. So it was no surprise we found ourselves in there for the rest of the evening, and also to escape the cold.

However it was not an late lie in for Team Lincoln, as our paddlers were on the first round of qualifications for both mens & womens at a nice an early time of 8am. This round was on the first set of 3 features of the white water course at HPP. At each feature (e.g a wave or eddy) judges scored each paddler based on skill & spirit (how much fun they were having). From this the men & women are separated into 3 different skill categories, Novice, Intermediate, and Expert.

With so many universities  and paddlers at NSR our first round of competition was over in the morning and was a chance to visit the various trade shows on the waterside, with demo boats and kit from all the big names in the sport. Meanwhile the festival spirit was boosted with the very own NSR radio, co-hosted by Alumni member and L.U.C.K founder Shifty. And of course nothing says NSR like a bunch of wet kayakers dancing to YMCA on a hill side.

As the afternoon approached results for which heat our team members qualified for:

Women’s: 

NOVICE: B. Park, K. Middleton, M. Biniam,  B. Marshall

Men’s:

NOVICE: J. Ost, A. Dearnley, O. James, J. Davies, J. Ridley, M. Edwards

INTERMEDIATE: W. Johnston, E. Woodrow, E. Morrison, D. Scarfe, T. Gravestock, J. Dixson.

The men’s intermediate heats (to qualify for the final) was later that afternoon, and after a mix up on the waterside both E. Morrison and W. Johnson competed in twice as much time as they needed to be, resulting in grueling half and hour of kayaking.

After them T. Gravestock took part in his heat followed by D. Scarfe, both pulled of good performances and soon the days paddling came to an end.

After ditching the kayaking gear and grabbing some hot food the team went to the party tent for the NSR Film Festival. This event is a chance for the various film-makers from across the teams to showcase there work. And another first from team Lincoln as we entered our film ‘LUCK over Judgement’ featuring footage from across the years paddling edited by our own Kit Sec and Media Production student Ted Gravestock. After the film festival another night of partying was in store!

The next morning was an Early start as the men’s novice heats took up the full morning bloc. J. Ost began paddling and was one of the first 2 in the heats! After scoring the most points in his heat it meant he held the top spot for a short but bliss amount of time! M. Edwards, A. Dearnley, O. James all then  paddled there heats throughout the morning.

During which results from yesterday’s Intermediate heats were published and W. Johnson had made it into the final and was up to paddle in the final in the afternoon! And speaking of getting into finals, the men’s Novice final results were in and M. Edwards, A. Dearnley and O. James all got into the final in the afternoon. Both finals had stella performances from the paddlers involved and even a trio surf from the team in the Novice final.

After the competitions finished and the final kit testing was done. The team assembled with the rest of NSR for the results of the weekend. And we are pleased we took 2 awards home! W. Johnson came third place overall in the Men’s Intermediate category and M. Edwards took first place in the Men’s Novice, meaning 2 wins for team Lincoln.

The short drive home and the weekend had come to close! A huge well done to Will and Michael who won prizes and thanks for the rest of the team for making the weekend!

Happy Paddling