The wrong way up Tuesday, February 21, 2006

Sharp viewers may notice that my kayak is the wrong way up on this wave. Others may dare to suggest that this is my best side? So yeah, I got a bit of rolling practice in at the weekend - one on my strong side, and one on the side that makes me doubt just a little bit that I'll come straight back up!

Alun, Gemma, Barry and I went back to Penrhyn Mawr on Sunday to try to get more photos for a future edition of 'Paddle World' magazine. I'm not meant to give too much away in advance but I thought I'd share this with you because it makes me laugh! It brings back happy memories of playing with the glorious sea, surging down the face of a wave one minute and being engulfed by pounding white spray the next. I am smiling now as I re-live that moment when the wave behind me starts to surge and lift up the back of the kayak, I lean forward and dig in my blades - paddle, paddle, paddle, come on, come on, come on... then suddenly the wave steepens, the kayak starts to race down the face, I'm leaning right back now trying to stop the nose from burying. What exhillarating speed! Will I surf out of it with this smile intact, or will I bury the nose, stop dead in my tracks and have more rolling practice?.......not knowing is half the fun....!