www.adventureelements.com

Start of the summer

2008-05-19T05:17:00.000-07:00

Adventure Elements havn't updated their blog for a while so here is a quick run down of what we have been up to.

April saw us running a range of Sea kayaking Begineer and improver sessions from our new base in Menai Bridge. We are now operetaing out of Porth Daniel boat yard which gives us direct access to the menai straits and the use changing rooms and a watersports shop.

Sea Kayak Rescues Course

Myself and Gaz have been out to slovenia checking out this fantstic destination for courses we hope to run out there next May. Loads of quality white water with everything from grade 2 - 5. If you are interested in joining an improvers or intermediate white water course in slovenia next may please contact info@adventureelements.com .

I have also been to the Anglesey Sea Symposium at the beginning of May to run a range of workshops including introduction to moving water and crash and bash. A great week with over 140 people in attendance.

Improvers Sea Kayaking Weekend

With this nice weather upon us it has been great out on the water with groups. Last weekend Emyr, Peter and Janet enjoyed lovely weather on an introduction trip from Porthdafach on Anglesey.

Expedition Symposium

2008-02-26T06:41:00.000-08:00

This weekend I was working at the Plas Y Brenin expedition symposium. A great event with a range of talks, workshops and lectures for people interested in expedition paddling. All disciplines of paddling were represented, white water, sea and open boat.

Really good lectures by the likes of Deb Piniger, Loel Collins and Olly Sanders provided plenty of ideas and inspiration for all those at the event.

I ran afternoon workshops on expedition boat repairs which involved people having a go at repairing a range of different boats using a vareity of materials and solutions.

It was nice to see some familiar faces and have a chat over a few beers in the bar on the Saturday night.

Cheers to Pete for organising a really good weekend.

Kari Tek Roof Racks

2008-02-20T07:41:00.000-08:00

Adventure Elements can now load and carry sea kayaks for small groups with ease. Our new karitek roof rack can take up to four boats which means we don't have to drag the trailer everywhere when we are working with smaller groups.

Adventure Elements are a Kari Tek Dealer and can fit and supply karitek easy load roof racks as well as there full range of skegs and trolleys.

For a demo or for more information give us a call - 07986992254.

Canoexpo

2008-02-18T14:19:00.000-08:00

We have just returned from the 2008 Canoexpo in Coventry. A great weeknd where we got to catch up with a lot of old faces and meet some new ones. Loads of people came over for a chat and we hope to see some of you on the water in 2008.

A big thanks to brook bank for organsing the event which seemed really succesfull and I hope it will run again next year.

Thanks to everyone who came and had a chat with us about our courses, expeditions, repairs and for a general chin wag.

Dealership

2008-02-18T14:09:00.000-08:00

Adventure Elements are pleased to now offer the full range of Nookie and Delta kayaking equipment and clothing and the full range of Mitchell Blades kayak paddles.

Nookie is known for its well built hardwering kayak cags, BAs, thermals, throw bags and other equipment.

Mitchel Paddles are based in Chester are produce high quality top spec blades and paddles. They offer a range of sea, river and canoe paddles in a vareity of materials and styles.

Whats been happening

2008-02-18T14:02:00.000-08:00

Well its been a busy few weeks. There have been a few white water courses running and lots of prep for this sesons range of sea kayaking courses and expeditions including a trip to the west coast of scotland with Pete Jones in May.

Nice weather and beautiful clear skies have made for some fantastic days on the water and I am really looking foward to spring and the start of the busy period for us.

Israel

2008-01-16T00:43:00.000-08:00

Me and Pete have just returned from a two week trip to Israel running surf, whitewater and sea kayaking classes for Terra Santa Kayaks. The first few days were spent enjoying suprisingly good surf in nice warm water and sun. The guys getting to grips with bottom turns and diagonal runs.

I then moved north to the river Jordan for three days of white water coaching. A great river with the lower section being a fantastic continuous grade 3/4.

A few rest days were used to explore the country. A bit of a float in the dead sea, visit to Jerusalem and a night in the desert, all fantastic.

Thanks to Omer and Saggi and everyone at Terra Santa for all the houmous and for really looking after us.

For information about kayaking in Israel have a look at -

http://www.seakayak.co.il/

Kayak Repairs

2007-11-12T09:16:00.000-08:00

With winter nearly here a lot of people are bringing there boats in for repair, ready for next season. Adventure Elements offer a fast and relaible repair service. http://www.adventureelements.com/boat_repair.aspx Recenlty we have been doing a lot of work on peoples fiberglass sea kayaks repairing star cracks and fitting keel strips. We are now also a certified installer of Kari Tek Skeg Systems and Roof Racks.

Full Dates for our 2008 range of courses will also be published on the website very soon.

2007-10-28T12:00:00.000-07:00

For more information about the range of kayak courses offered by Adventure Elements please visit http://www.adventureelements.com/ .

Improvers Sea Kayaking

2007-10-27T09:04:00.000-07:00

Mark and Steve had a days improvers course on the Menai Straits. The morning was spent looking at boat handling skills in strong winds, edging and efficient fowards paddling. The group then paddled up the straits towards beaumaris. As the wind was starting to pick up the team stopped for lunch before turning to head back into wind back to menai bridge, this gave the group a good opportunity to practice there efficient fowards paddling.

We finished the day by looking at some moving water skills on the Swellies. The group tried their hand at ferry gliding and breaking in and out.

Instructor Training on Anglesey

2007-10-26T10:57:00.000-07:00

This week I have been working with a group form stubbers outdoor centre in Essex. A group of volunteer trainee instructors with mixed kayaking abilities. The first day we went to four mile bridge on Anglesey and looked at boat handling skills before going on a bit of a trip along the Cmyran Straits. The group finished of playing in the flow at the bridge and we looked at breaking in and out and ferry gliding. Nice weather meant that people didn't mind taking the odd swim.

The following day was on the sea at porthdafach. A nice little swell meant that rockhopping (kayaking in and out of rocks below cliffs) was quite exciting for the group and perfect for practicing alot of the strokes they had been taught. After rockhopping left out of porthdafach the group went back to the beach for lunch before going on a trip from Portdafach to Treardaur Bay. Nice weather and a good sea state made for an enjoyable day on the water.

Intro to Moving Water on the Dee

2007-10-26T10:39:00.000-07:00

This Monday we took the Bartlam family on a days white water paddling on the dee. A chilly start saw clive and sue take an early swim. After some coaching the pair started to look a bit more confident and in control of there open boat. The rest of the group were in kayaks and completed the river from Carrog to Eddy Lines in Llangollen. Considering the group had done little in kayaks they did incredibly well and managed to stay the right way up all the way down. The group got of the water exhausted but having had a good days kayaking

Skerries Trip

2007-10-10T11:47:00.000-07:00

Another great forcast made a trip out to the Skerries on the North Coast of Anglesey a good option for the Day. James and Phil Clegg left from Cemlyn on the Ebb tide. After a quick play in the tidal race at Harry Furloughs Rocks we dropped down onto the skerries for lunch.

Big tides meant there was some fun to be had playing in the races and overfalls around the island. A tight ferry glide took us back to Carmel head before paddling back up to Cemlyn. Blue skies all day made for a really enjoyable day on the water.

Introduction to Sea kayaking

2007-10-08T08:26:00.000-07:00

A fantastic weekends sea kayaking for Yvonne, Steve and John. With some of the best weather of the year and a fantastic sea state the group enjoyed two days of beautiful sea paddling on Anglesey.

Day one involved a paddle out to Ynys Dulas. Although a healthy distance for the begineers group the crossing to the island was rewarded with loads of seals coming up to the boats. A great time of year for seal spotting as many of the young pups are very inquisative and come up very close to the kayaks. The team enjoyed a relaxing lunch on the island, soaking up the sun before paddling back to moelfre to practice some capsizes and rescues.

Day two and the sky was bright and the sea flat. The group headed to Rhoscolyn to try there hand at some rock hopping (weaving in and out of the rocks close to the cliffs) on the way to Silver bay. After a few collisions with rocks the group started to get the hang of the different strokes required to manouvre the sea kayaks. On route back to the beach the group headed out to Rhoscolyn Beacon to see the seals. On the crossing back Steve and John had a go at rescuing each other after a capsize. Both did well at getting each other back in there boats.

All in all a great weekend with unseasonably good weather.