Coaching at Canolfan Tryweryn

Friday 29th August I was woken up in the morning by a knock on the door and in half hour we were on the road.

We met Leo at the Tryweryn Whitewater Centre at 9. We spent half the morning practicing our techniques for breaking in and out we even had to try it with our eyes shut! Then we moved up to the NRA wave and I swam straight away.

A couple of minutes later i had an empty boat and and i was back up the rapid to try again. Will went first and this time it was his turn to swim having followed Leo's advice i cut further out and leaned forward to punch through the wave. Victory! We then continued to go through chapel falls no swimmers on this one. We eddied out and went up the centre for lunch.

In the afternoon we ran the lower Tryweryn, we followed the rapids down and nearing the bottom i was begining to feel tired. Leo then told us to follow him with and to try to keep river right after the first drop. I was last down again, at the bottom Leo said "Well done, thats Bala mill falls", we got to the take out and drove back up to the top. We said goodbye to Leo and left with grins on our tired faces.

I write this as I sit at home after another weekend at the Tryweryn two weeks later and realise how much Leo's coaching has helped my paddling. Thanks for your coaching and for boosting our confidence!

Harry Carr