Self help in the top eddy on the Legacy at Lee Valley. Full video • Lee Valley Legacy 29 6 24 Boat - Pyrahna Burn 2 Paddle - Werner Surge bent (cranked) shaft
Sadly I've noticed that most of the "nastier" comments are from across the pond, such a shame but then its no different to any other social network. I have let them through but only so that I could reply, so if anyone doesn't like a comment, please, let me know and I will remove it and the person.
Crazy really. The whole point of the legacy course is that it's there for beginner and intermediate paddlers and is accessible, with the Olympic there when you feel ready for it. I thought you handled this really well mate, and have seen people handle swims on the legacy far less gracefully. Good luck on the water 👊
If bank staff are expected to fish you out, did you see at least two people patrolling the inside of the loop wearing PFD's and carrying throw-lines? If not, the only help you can expect is from another paddler nearby that is proficient enough to help and so-inclined, which requires luck you did not have. If the water is out of your comfort zone, you always need to have a mate around in case you need help.
Hi, I can only remember 1 at the corner, but that's not to say there wasn't one further down though, oh hold on, I have just watched my 1st run in the full video and at that time there was only 1 bank staff to cover the whole course. Perhaps it's because there weren't many paddlers on the course for that session. As you can see from my videos, no water on the Legacy is out of my comfort zone, some drops hate me of course and made me somewhat anxious (not so much now) but I am comfortable in swimming in all sections. What is not good is that there is nothing at those blocks that aid self-extraction, i.e. no step and no lips/small protrusions like there are on all of the other blocks that I have swam at. I wasn't aware that the biggest drop was like this, it came as a surprise because it made self-extraction that much harder. I am all for helping oneself but if the means are not there how are we supposed to do so as per the declaration? Not to blow my own trumpet here but not everyone will know how to chimney climb, it is only because I used to rock climb that gave me the idea to do so. When I finally figured out that I had to chimney climb and managed to get out, the bank staff was still standing on the corner, i.e. they weren't busy helping someone else, I was peed off because it meant that they didn't or couldn't see me in that eddy and also, it meant the staff/instructor that paddled past me whilst I was standing in that eddy didn't raise the alarm either. My concern was and still is, what if I was a youngun and or injured or worse, does the declaration really absolve all or does having bank staff actually place some liability on the centre? I'm just spitballing, I am not saying it does or it doesn't, it's just a thought that has been in my head since then.
Isn't the whole point of the assessment at LV to make sure that you can self rescue, that's why they don't need bank staff on every feature, and if you were unconcious then you would float down, it isn't Class V
I paddle the Olympic at LV fairly regularly and i *hate* that eddy with a passion. There's very few redeeming features to it other than it's one of the eddys you can get when trying to make all the eddys in a single run. It looks like your know what you did wrong, keep up the paddling! You're doing great 👍🏻
Hi and thanks for the comment, one of my main faults its not being aggressive enough especially when im unsure and this was a prime example, I think t was the 1st or second time in that eddy too but at least I know what to expect in future, btw, I've not been in it since lol. Thanks again and safe paddling :)
Dude, there are A LOT of "experts" in these comments. You did great, mate. If you pay for a service, then there is a reasonable expectation that you will get aaid service. Looks like you did not get what you paid for. Also, do people just assume you'll be excellent at something without practice? Bunch of arse-hats. Keep going, mate.
Should you be paddling alone if you can’t get in and out of an eddy without swimming? Having a mate there to deadman you or at least help get your kit out would be good
This isnt a river, we pay in part for the staff to be bank side, you dont on a river hence not to paddle alone. The staff are there to help you and your boat, actually, every time I have gone to help get my boat out the staff have said no, they will do it, its a health and safety thing here int he UK anyway.
@@SubParPaddler yeah I know LV but regardless if you can’t look after yourself nor rely on the staff maybe paddling in a pair is a shout. Just a thought
Firstly, what gave you the idea that i was "worked up"? Secondly, I am new to White Water (as of September last year) and I only passed the LV assessment around a month or so ago. That said, I can easily self extract from all of the other eddies that i have ended up in because they all had the tiny little lip that your foot can get purchase on. My issue regarding this one is that there are no lips on those blocks as there are on the others, with that and it being one of the steeper drops makes this harder to climb out of. Now that i know how, it won't be as hard next time, so please, go easy on a noob.
This is a White Water centre, that has bank staff, also its not like a river where the banks are, a lot of the time, easier to get out of, this top eddy had no small lip on those blocks making it much more difficult than normal to get out. Did you actually see me depend on anyone in the video, anyone at all or did you actually see me help myself?
find a club nearby who run pool sessions and practice your roll, If you paddle the white water course where I paddle there are no staff on hand, the community will help you once or twice if theyre in a position to, but its not their job. rolling should really be automatic when you go over, practising in still water is a must.
HI, is that Northants Active? If so been there, didnt like it, not enough room :) I did pool sessions over the winter with my local club, but i am pretty much self taught with the roll, hence why i am not that good, I am going to practice over the summer on the lake at LV.
@SubParPaddler A bit further north than that, The tees barrage. see if you can get a mate to T rescue you while you practice for 5 minutes before each session. getting used to the cold water should help you keep your head when you get dunked for real.it's all about building up muscle memory so your 100% confident in it.
What a tragedy waiting to happen.....why not fix easy exit systems everywhere? Bizarre none of the other takers even glanced at our struggling paddler... Think I´ll just avoid Lee Valley
That would make more sense wouldnt it, I have wondered the same thing, even on the blocks that have the small lip, it would make life a bit easier. Please, dont let this put you off, all in all its a great, safe place to paddle, i think that because it was the first run of the day not all the staff were in as there usually is someone down at the large eddy and they can see right up into that top eddy,
Thank you, it could have ended badly, especially considering a young (13ys max) lad had gone over in that eddy too just as i was emptying my boat down at the steps, stll no staff on the bank at that time but he did have a coach with him and he did end up at the blocks in the next swim so it was a bit easier for him, thankfully.
Thanks for the words of encouragement, means a lot, considering I only started WW at LV last October and I can only get to LV once a week at most, I have to learn with what i have, but hey, you carry on putting newbies down if it makes you feel special!
I think it was only yhr 2nd time in that eddy, might even been the 1st time and being new to white water i didnt realise that i needed a fair bit of power ro paddle out into the flow, a mistake only a rookie could make :)
