The end of one year and the start of another!

By Nicola Beeby

Reflect on the year gone by and the one yet to come, where each moment is a step towards new horizons.

2009 was a pretty good year for me, and it finished on a high getting selected for the GB freestyle kayak team. This has been my goal for the last couple of years so I’m pretty stoked to finally have got there, now the hard work really begins! Unfortunately 2009 didn’t see many freestyle kayak comps in the UK, apart from the selection events and the Alpkit British Champs :o). Hope fully there will be more next year. The end of the year and I got back in a creek boat and remembered what boating was all about, long weekends away with a fantastic group of friends, lots of water and an awesome river, this was the Dart adventure paddlers weekend. It was really well organised and one of the best boating events I’ve been to, it really reminded me what it’s all about, and has motivated me to spend more time in my creek boat in 2010.

2010 has started with freezing weather and lots of snow, this might of put me off boating, but I’ve managed a few trips to HPP so far, and yes it was rather cold! But it had been a while since I’d been in my freestyle boat and even with the cold weather it was really good to get out. The other major thing to happen so far this year is I’ve joined a gym, I haven’t been to a gym for years but it should mean I’m able to train around work whilst it’s still dark in the evenings and so far it’s working.

I’ve got some trips planned for 2010 which I’m excited about; Boarding in France, European Championships in Austria, several weeks on the Ottawa, Canada, and I’m currently planning more.Boating aside 2009 saw me become a vegetarian, many thought I wouldn’t stick to it but somehow it’s just stuck and is one of the easiest things I’ve ever done!

Stand up paddleboards, canoes and paddling accessories
270cm / Reef
Delta
Inflatable all-purpose stand up paddleboard (SUP)
£329.99
320cm / Forest
Longshore
Inflatable touring stand up paddleboard (SUP)
£374.99

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412 cm / Forest
Oxbow
Inflatable 2-seater canoe
£749.99 or from £13 /month
Small / Black
Haven
Warm and weatherproof insulated changing robe for before and after swimming and activity
£129.99
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Element Wetsuit Vest [Womens]
Front zip wetsuit vest. Keep warm your way and easy to put on.
£86.99
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Element Wetsuit Jacket [Womens]
Front zip wetsuit jacket. Keep warm your way and easy to put on.
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Element Wetsuit Shorts [Womens]
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Element Wetsuit Pants [Womens]
Wetsuit pants. Keep warm your way and easy to put on.
£99.99
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Element Wetsuit Vest [Mens]
Front zip wetsuit vest. Keep warm your way and easy to put on.
£86.99
X-Small
Element Wetsuit Jacket [Mens]
Front zip wetsuit jacket. Keep warm your way and easy to put on.
£99.99
X-Small
Element Wetsuit Shorts [Mens]
Wetsuit shorts. Keep warm your way and easy to put on.
£74.99
X-Small
Element Wetsuit Pants [Mens]
Wetsuit pants. Keep warm your way and easy to put on.
£99.99

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