We awoke to find ourselves in the town of Bovec in the beautiful Julijske Alps. In the afternoon we did our first run on the river, taking the opportunity to warm up on a 20 minute section prior to the race course. The water was unlike anything I'd seen before with its characteristic and stunning aqua blue colour. The paddle to the race start proved to be a real pleasure with bouncy wave sections interspersed with flatter water, when the views could be appreciated. The race course proved to be a different kettle of fish with boily water and more aggressive waves which could knock your boat off line. There were also a number of gaps between rocks that needed a good line and firm control for a clean exit, whilst the slalom course at the end needed positive paddling to punch through some stoppers and avoid the numerous large scattered rocks and their cushion waves. This water caused some spills for those of us new to European rivers.

Throughout the three weeks we settled into a routine of twice a day river paddles preceded by morning yoga and stretching, plus regular massages. In between time was spent at the local pizza place, exploring the towns, messing about in the pool and resting. Paddling on powerful rivers is certainly more exhausting than the flat at home. At the end of the first week we raced at the first two World Cup races and were able to see the foreigners in action, and what is possible with full commitment and regular access to white water. With the end of the first week over, Sunday night gave us a chance to let our hair down in downtown Bovec. It also gave us a chance to socialise with some of the other teams (some of us more than others, Olly).

The cold light of Monday morning saw another long journey to the next race venue, Val Sesia, Italy. The side of the bus briefly saw a new colouring due to Steele's travel sickness (?), mucky pup. On arriving at Sesia we were united with the rest of the team who had come out a couple of days before. For the first few days the river was very low with a bulldozer digging channels to make the river navigable. However, as the week progressed the water rose to give more comfortable conditions. This gave a course of clear, clean water with rapids of varying characteristics, interspersed with pools that often contained rocks just below the surface.

There was still much amusement to be had off the water and it was always a good to be aware who was behind you as at any moment you may find your shorts around your ankles. It doesn't take much to keep a canoeist entertained (!). Trips into town also enabled us to take onboard quality Italian ice cream. The week ended with the Pre-Worlds and Senior/Junior European Champs. This enabled us seniors to watch the juniors, including our own Grant Anderson, and be encouraged by some of the talent of younger paddlers. By the time Sunday arrived the river had risen once more to give a big water feel for the team races and the sprints.

After another full week the remnants of the team moved onto the final destination of Karlovy Vary in the Czech Republic. This proved to be a more chilled out week. The river was dam released and was only open for practice on Thursday morning, so most paddling was done on the lake with the rest of the time being spent exploring the beautiful, cheap town. The races were heavily sponsored by a local water company, which meant large crowds and a carnival atmosphere for the races. Enthusiastic commentary and loud dance music at the start of the sprint race gave an even more pumped up atmosphere. Saturday's party was incredible with live music, free drink and a classy spread of food, but as we were racing on Sunday we left the more hard-core Europeans to drink the night away. Apparently those that did stay had a treat with a disco and strip show later.

The river was quite easy compared to the previous venues, though quite a bit longer than most athletes were used to; there were a couple of wavy sections at the top with lots of small chop through the middle section. The last couple of kilometres were in the town and between vertical concrete banks. This gave some interesting water features caused by weirs, with water being pushed against the bank. The course also included a 300m tunnel with lights inside! Sunday afternoon saw the start of the overnight drive back to the UK giving time to reflect on an enjoyable three weeks abroad and the lessons that have been learnt. The experience has certainly given me food for thought and highlighted areas to work on over the months before next year's selection races.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the drivers for their services, Theresa for the morning yoga and massages, Andy and Martin for all the support enabling us to get on with paddling, James for working on the publicity and the rest of the team for making it a memorable experience.

Richard Forbes

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Paddling in Slovenia on the River Soca was a pure pleasure and a fantastic venue for the first World Cup race of the season. Exactly the tonic that the team needed after a 900 mile minibus journey through Europe. High water due to snowmelt meant that what had been a rock dodge, following narrow channels and weaving tight lines between huge house sized rocks turned into a fast flowing, bouncy rollercoaster ride off enormous cushions and through boils. After a spring season of no white water or racing due to F&M, we were all glad to get on the crystal clear, deep blue waters of such a beautiful river, though it was something of a shock to most of us after so much flat-water training.

Lines were difficult to hold in the boils and some of the gaps between the boulders were still tight, with fast water flowing and surging randomly as we paddled, the gaps began to look very small! The experience of Jamie Christie showed as he paddled well in training, and the new 'pocket rocket' Martyn Steele, whose unusual combination of freestyle paddling and wild water racing meant he had skills and confidence to paddle well on the surging waters as well as the strength to pull through the waves.

Personally, I felt the lack of white water training during the spring was slightly too much for my already limited skill library and some of the gaps were just a bit too small, I had a viscious front ender at the 'House rock' which is as large and solid as the name suggests. Credit has to go to Double Dutch though, for the boat took it on the chin and despite experiencing around 25G of decceleration and a front end implosion, the boat was still watertight.

The river level was going up and down all week, reaching a high point on the Thursday before the race when the slalom site at the finish was a chunky and technical grade 4. All the team had enormous grins on their faces after some thrilling runs down the river. The speed of the water and the exhilaration of paddling such a fantastic course was what made all those cold winter days training in the wind and the snow at home worthwhile.

The various 'team virgins' were subjected to a baptism of fire on what was a difficult first international course, but the battling spirit of Rich Forbes cannot go unmentioned. Having received more thrashings, trashings, swims and boat damage at the hands of a relentless river than most of us would reasonably expect in a dozen lifetimes, the Solihull newcomer has much to teach us in terms of the cavalier attitude and unreasonable optimism that reinforces the stereotype of British eccentricity.

As race day approached the water was dropping almost by the hour, though still higher than normal, it became more technical than usual. The team raced well, though the strength and skills of the European teams never ceases to be impressive. The standard of international wild water racing is undoubtedly improving, Thomas Koelman, the current world champion has comparable speed to the top sprinters in the world over 5Km, even in a flatwater boat, and with clinical precision and white water confidence to boot, is nothing short of spectacular to watch. However, as team athletes we learned a lot from the racing through extensive video analysis and have fresh ideas and enthusiasm to take back to the UK and implement in the next year's training and preparation.

After another less than pleasurable trek across Italy we approached the slopes of the Monte Rosa and arrived at Varallo for the next leg of the Tour, the European Championships on the River Sesia. Here we met up with the other half of the team who had also had an epic journey from Britain over an alpine pass in a snowstorm, including a shunt from behind by an out of control boy racer in the snow. The Sesia is a small river that threads its way along a wide boulder strewn river valley. Last year the valley suffered the mother of all floods which levelled the whole channel, when the water subsided the previously deep channels and well defined lines were replaced by a very shallow and wide course that was in some place several hundred yards from it's original path! Consequently all the video scrutineering that had been done leading up to the trip went out the window at an early stage. The race course had to be abbreviated due to a rapid near the top of the course being impassable, so the race course that we learned was only around 9 minutes long. Credit is due to the FICK, though, because there were diggers in the river carving channels and making the river passable again. By Tuesday afternoon, the whole river was doable without hitting, though there were some vicious dark destroyers lurking, and some fairly steep rapids remained.

Again the river level went up and down during the week and training was made continually interesting by the changing lines and the different challenges that the river presented at different levels. We found a shallow channel 2/3 of the way down the course which cut off a long loop of racecourse and we suspected would be at least 20secs quicker. We spent an evening debating the morals and ethics of keeping such a finding secret, and whether the river may be high enough to use it, only to go back the following day to find that it had been fenced off! So I guess we were not the only ones to see it, and that removed any conscience grappling regarding the rights and wrong of using it (though I suspect if we had seen it, then most of the other teams had too).

Race day brought the river up slightly, and made it continuously choppy, with several technical, stoppery sections. The main rapid, named 'Ay Carumba!' (all the rapids were named after Simpsons characters) was a straight shoot down a very steep section of river. Care had to be taken on the exit to have a straight trajectory, since any slight bankward angle would be punished by a power breakout and a ramp up the bank (which I also did, and the boat still held together!).

The team all paddled well, but sadly one of the Kayak protagonists, Michael Mason damaged his shoulder and retired from the race after half way. Again the Europeans were dominant, demonstrating different facets of their ability on a different river.

The team race was the following day at 9.00 in the morning, and with 24 hours hard rain before the race, the level of the river was rising constantly. Team race morning and we decided not to practice due to time constraints, and confident that our training through the week would see us through. We did, however, stop to look at Ay Carumba before the race 'just to check the line' where we were confronted by the Czech team (World Champions) having a go at the rapid and getting reasonably well thrashed by it! This added to the excitement and the startline was a particularly nervous place to be. With the job of leading the Kayak team down the river, I was conscious of the need to pick fast lines, some of which may be different, the need to set a good pace, to hold the team together and keep good formation. The race went well and we have plenty to be positive about for the Worlds next year, though the C1 team were less lucky, the river claiming another shoulder, that of Dave Bradburn, at the same rapid.

The Italians were excellent hosts and with a spectacular opening ceremony, full TV coverage, hospitality, food and drinks provided and more merchandise than you can shake a stick at. There is plenty to look forward to next year when the World Championships are at the same venue, let alone the prospects of a full racecourse after further river modifications.

Back in Britain now, (as well as having a lot of boat repairing to do) I have been inspired by the competition, as I cannot fail to be by such phenomenal athletes and such an endearing atmosphere. We all have new aspects of paddling to improve upon for the races next year and the quest for the ultimate run continues. The path of the Wild Water racer may be a long and lonely one in Britain, but competitions like this and rivers like we saw in the last 2 weeks make it all worthwhile!
Thanks have to go out to Martin Streeter, the long suffering mens K1 coach, Andy Goodsell, Team Manager, John Tune and Pete Ford the drivers, Theresa Nesdale the masseur, James the Journo and all the supporters that were out there with the team and those back home!

Peter Keron

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