First whitewater session of the year in Nottingham

January 2nd

In November and December I have been coaching some English kids every Thursday evening on Lee Valley's legacy course. That is how I met Noah (12 years old) and his dad Neil who kindly offered to take me with them to Nottingham. As Lee Valley Olympic course closed for Christmas and New year holidays I hadn't paddle any whitewater in two weeks time and I really enjoyed my first two whitewater sessions of the year in Nottingham.

Nottingham is not a big course but it is a great place to train as it has various features (holes, waves, drops, specific eddies...). In the morning, I paddled with Laura Blakeman (GBR) and Sarah Boudens (CAN). It was great to get the chance to train with other international K1W and it was a really goop session even though I wasn't paddling super well. In the afternoon I decided to do my favourite kind of training session. I ended up paddling for two and a half hours, having a good time doing a technical session and playing in every single hole and wave. It was a great session but I ended up with pretty bad blisters.

If the paddling went well I wasn't well organized at all. When packing my gears the night before leaving I realized that I had lost my poggies and booties so I went to Nottingham without it and my feet were very cold on the first session. Luckily, Sarah lend a pair of shoes until the end of my stay in the UK (Sarah - Thank you so mu

ch for keeping my feet warm). I also forgot a combo squirt-and-paddling jacket in the changing room when I left. Once again I was lucky that Matthew Lister could get it for me =).

Noah was paddling with GB squad so we didn't paddle together but we still had some nice talks in the car and it was a great pleasure to see him enjoying his desert =).

Noah enjoying his chocolate cake

Big Thanks to Noah and Neil, Laura and Sarah, and Matthew.

Arggg stupid blisters !