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white water rapid just 200m downstream. Our trim was wrong as Nick tended to sit at the back and is heavier than me causing the bow to lift (not ideal for this rapid). In the 200m run up we made sure we had discussed a plan of attack and how we planned to move the boat as a team, (at this point, I was completely out of my comfort zone). We approached the rapid, which had a technical right then left turn, with the downstream view obstructed by rocks which could easily spin us around if we got it wrong and force us to go down the rapid backwards.
Inevitably this is exactly what happened, with all of the weight in the back we did what could only be described as a wheelie as the bow rose, we half filled with water, I drove my weight forward and managed to keep the boat afloat. We put in a good turn
between us keeping our heads and quickly headed to the eddy at the bottom of the rapid, a very close run thing.
Canpaddle 17 was an excellent experience with a large variety of cap badges, representation from all 3 services and ranks ranging from Corporal to Colonel. The ability to paddle for 4 days down the same river is the reason Canada is used, with fantastic high altitude scenery ranging from open plane to huge mountain ranges, deep gorges and the constant smell of on-going large scale forest fires, which was a real risk and a consideration for the leaders decision making processes. The wildlife we saw included, eagles, bears and chipmunks. The West Alberta, Rocky Mountains rivers allowed us to wild camp with consistent white water along a 4 day 90km route and a 3 day 72km route, totalling 162km paddled over the whole 2 weeks.
SONG OF THE CANPADDLE:
A DECADE OF JOINT SERVICE OPEN CANOEING ODYSSEY
WO2 (QMSI) A Durrands RAPTC
The time is 1410hrs on the penultimate day of Ex CANPADDLE 2017. As I stand at the access point on the upper Kananaskis River, I look up to leaden skies and strengthening winds as a lone Osprey eagle circles above, seemingly impervious to the challenging landscape below. My gaze is averted to the twenty- six cubic metres per second of dammed release water (the upper Tryweryn is six) thundering over the infamous Widow Maker Falls. Below me is 2.5km of technical Grade 3 slalom course designed for kayaks and not for 16ft long Open Canoes. Suddenly my dry suit feels constrictive and uncomfortable; the confidence of the previous ten days 5* paddling begins to ebb, my heart rate increases and anxiety rises. I dig deep into my mental toolbox and remember the coping strategies based on reflective practice and imagery taught earlier in the concentration to overcome – In short, I’m being stretched before I even step into my boat.
All that now stands between me and successful completion of Joint Service Open Canoe Leader, 5 Star (O5L) is the next 3.5hrs of advanced white water paddling under the watchful scrutiny of Mr Jules Bernard, British Canoe Union Level 5 Coach. I leave the relative sanctuary of the first eddy and break sharply into the main flow, the point of no return has been reached, there’s no going back...
This year sees the 10th anniversary since the inception of Ex CANPADDLE in 2007 and I consider myself most fortunate to have experienced this concentration on several occasions, progressing through the Joint Service (JS) Open Canoeing pipe line. The first four iterations of CANPADDLE were conducted in Algonquin Park on the Eastern Seaboard of North America with a subtly different emphasis on experience / logbook enhancement contained within a 10-day expedition on the Petawawa River. Relocated to Trails End Camp (TEC) and refined in 2011 both by financial and operational necessity, the current format is leaner, more dynamic and better value for money in terms of developing JS Open Canoe leaders, specifically 4* & 5* in a unique and challenging environment that simply could not be replicated in the UK. The typical demographic that populates this concentration are an eclectic cohort and this year was no exception, with all three Services represented and a diverse range of rank, rate and cap badge. We were fortunate both this year and last; to have Comd ATG (A) on-board with his perspective of senior ‘command space’ thinking and what the immediate future may hold for concentrations such as this within the Joint Service Adventurous Training (JSAT) framework. Irrespective of Arm or Service, students and staff alike benefitted from his presence.
Interspersed with White Water Safety and Rescue (WWSR) training and flat water components of the respective course syllabuses,
two progressive expedition phases were conducted, firstly on the Kootenay River (grade 2/3) in British Columbia, followed by the much harder Red Deer (grade 3/4) in Alberta, ensuring the aspirant leaders were challenged appropriately at all levels. The unique elements of long river sections (more than 20km per day) and multiple unsupported wild camping requirements ensured that team work, interdependence and communication outcomes were brought to the fore in conjunction with the intended hard technical skills.
SIO Steve Eggleston of JSMTC (I Wing) must take great credit for shaping and moulding the CANPADDLE curriculum into what is it today. Worthy of note is the increased emphasis on reflective practice theoretical models employed both prior and post activity, in which the students gain a deeper overall understanding of experiences on a holistic level. Indeed, watching fellow students visibly ‘grow’ in stature throughout this concentration is quite possibly one of the most rewarding elements. Indicative of the strength of this year’s carefully chosen participants, Ex CANPADDLE 2017 yielded four new Open Canoe leaders (3 x O5L and 1 x O4L) with the remainder successfully completing 4* training in preparation for assessment further downstream (excuse the pun).
...As I break out of the final rapid I look across to my aspirant 5* students as they follow me in turn into the egress eddy. A feeling