Trip Report for the Melte:
Trip Size: 7
Access: Difficult; physically demanding get-in
Level: Low
A great run with two large waterfalls and several technical rapids. Also several portages. A very physically demanding trip due to the get-in and the reasonably challenging portages. Make sure you remember the route from the car park to the get-in!
For a fuller guide to the Mellte see here
Seb
Weekend Kayak Surfing trip - Suited to all abilties
Even if you've never been in a boat before you can learn to catch small waves near the beach whilst the old boys and girls show you their tricks 'out back' on the big surf! (This trip is naturally surf dependent)
We'll be camping very near to the beach, but don't worry there's a club house nearby that serves beer on tap in the warm!
A trip tailored to complete beginners. Ideal if you've never been in a boat before!!
- Learn to paddle in a straight line and other basic flatwater skills
- Try a 10ft seal launch off a rock into the water if you dare!
- Learn about river features and basic white water techniques
Meeting the union at 9.30am and Hiatt Baker at 9.45am
A trip tailored to complete beginners. Ideal if you've never been in a boat before!!
- Learn to paddle in a straight line and other basic flatwater skills
- Try a 10ft seal launch off a rock into the water if you dare!
- Learn about river features and basic white water techniques
Meeting the union at 9.30am and Hiatt Baker at 9.45am
A trip suited to beginners.
Meeting at the union at 9.30am and Hiatt Baker at 9.45am (unless your driver arranges to pick you up at another Hall of residence).
This week we are running a weekend trip down to Devon leaving Saturday morning and returning on Sunday. We will be paddling both days (water dependant!) and the rivers we aim to do will be suitable for all abilities. This will be a fantastic weekend with a chance to really get to know both old and new members (hey we'll be stuck in the middle of Dartmoor so we shall have to speak to each other!), do a bit of paddling and a bit of partying!
The plan is to meet at Stores at 9am Saturday morning, load up the vehicles and head down to Dartmoor to paddle the Lower Dart, this is a beautiful river that runs through the heart of Dartmoor. We have hired a minibus and van for the weekend so we will be traveling in style and if you're lucky Seb may introduce you to the hot and cold game!
We are staying in a bunkhouse on Dartmoor on the Saturday night (you will need to bring a sleeping bag) and will paddle another river on Sunday before returning back to Bristol (at around 7pm ish).
We will provide dinner on Saturday night and breakfast and lunch on Sunday, so all you need to bring is some lunch for Saturday and a few snacks (e.g. chocolate for the leaders hint hint!).
We will be having a party on the Saturday night so remember to bring lots of booze and feel free to dress up in any halloweeny type outfits! Andy has asked me if he can be in charge of alternative activities for the weekend when we're not paddling so we shall see what idea's he comes up with (just be wary if they start involving car parks!)
Cost will be £35 per person which includes all travel and equipment and food on Saturday night and Sunday. We will be signing up after the pool session on Thursday (before and during the 3 legged pub crawl no doubt!), but if you are really keen to go and can't make Thursday's session please e-mail me at 
So to summarise: Leaving Saturday 28th morning at 9am (9.30am Hiatt Baker pick up), returning Sunday 29th at around 7pm ish Food provided Saturday evening and Sunday breakfast and lunch. Bring lunch on Saturday and booze for Saturday night! Bring any canoeing kit you may have, lots of warm clothes (remember fleecy things and shoes to wear on the water) and a sleeping bag.
Any questions/queries please e-mail me or have a chat to any of the committee on Thursday.
See you soon,
Claire
Beginners trip to the Usk. All abilities welcome, this will be a different section to the section we did before. Cost will be the usual £10.
A slightly harder river - the ability to ferry glide and brace would be handy.
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Surf trip to Devon or Wales depending on where the best predicted surf is (at the moment predicted to be 5ft).
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A weekend surf trip to Cornwall to try and ride waves of all sizes. If you're feeling brazen you can try and paddle 'out back' to catch the big waves or stick closer to shore and catch the waves once they're a little smaller.
This is a weekend trip leaving on Friday evening and returning on Sunday. Accommodation in chalets.
Weekend trip continued
This is a weekend trip leaving on the Friday evening and returning on the Sunday. NSR is one of the largest kayaking events in the European calendar and is more about fun and frolics than serious competition (unless you're really good at playboating).
What is it?
It’s an annual event arranged by students for students which is outwardly a freestyle kayaking competition. Don’t let that put you off though, most people aren’t really too bothered about the competition (you always get a few people who take it seriously, but there’s an experts category for them). For most people, it’s an awesome opportunity for a weekend of paddling, drinking and socialising with loads of other like-minded students from other unis.
What’s going on there?
Other than the main freestyle competition, there’s lots of other stuff you can do on the water: numerous coaching sessions (including flatwater freestyle, squirt boating, wave moves and looping), there’s plenty of opportunity to use the Holme Pierpont whitewater course (where the event is held), there’s loads of demo boats available to try out for free, there’s also a Topo Duo racing competition and the king/queen of the wave competition (not going to explain it, but it’s very funny to watch).
There’s also parties on the Friday and Saturday nights. The theme for the Saturday night party is “Rodeo”, so get your cowboys hats and plastic guns at the ready.
When is it?
This year it’s from the 9th to the 11th of March.
Do I need to be any specific standard to go?
No, not really. The course recommends that everyone is 3* standard, but in reality as long as you can paddle in a straight line, stop and turn, you should be fine. A reliable roll is by no means a requirement (a large proportion of the people in the novice categories last year couldn’t roll). There’s people positioned down the course with throwlines for most of the time over the weekend, should you end up swimming.
Worst case, if you don’t feel you’re up to paddling (by all means have a chat to me or another committee member if you’re unsure), you don’t have to miss out on all the fun, because non-paddling tickets are available that give you access to watch the competition, camping pass, entry to both parties and a meal on Saturday night.
How much will it cost?
Cost for the whole weekend with entry to the main competition, camping, parties, a meal, a goody bag and fuel both ways will be £35.
If you just want to spectate, knock £3 off. If you’d like to enter extra evens (such as C1, squirt or Topo Duo), then add £2 per event.
There’s also a special offer available to sign up for a year of subscription to Kayak Session magazine for half price (£11), so let me know if you’d like that too.
That sounds awesome, where do I sign up?
Either email me to say you’d like to come or see me at a pool session. I’ve got to have all entries in by next Thurday (8th Feb), so if you’re interested, make sure you give me a shout before then.
NSR continues
Having had a week to recover from the carnage of the Fitz weekend, the beginners get to run another river. The Usk in South Wales this time.