Coastal Spirit Wales | Anglesey | Sea Kayaking - Surf and tide race courses
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Rhoscolyn, Anglesey, North Wales Sea Kayaking | Surf and tide
With the strong currents, tide races and overfalls around Anglesey, plus according to the Met Office Anglesey is also the 7th windiest location in the UK. Coastal Spirits Surf and Tide
Ability and Level
Each of the courses has a maximum group size of four people, with the ability level of each individual from top-end Intermediate to advanced paddlers. When the first person books, this will tend to dictate the balance of the course. Either way, others are informed, so all have an understanding of the course level.
Background and Content
This type, of course, was more traditionally offered on a sea kayak symposium and for groups from Europe and Scandinavia, keen to get into the dynamic rough water.
Core content and training tends to involve aspects of the four elements below, and individuals want and needs :
Effective tidal planning - what conditions do we want, based on the forecast? If a tide race is suitable, then when do we want to arrive, after or before maximum? Could we get surf at this point and why?
Boat handling skills - keeping momentum and remaining dynamic, when committed, effective braces, power transfer and explosive energy.
A tactical approach - the strokes, actions and procedure that must be taken to achieve the chosen goal and to have a plan B, C and so on ...
Performance psychology – understanding our 'chimp' (the chimp paradox is worth a read), the concept of 'flow' and working around 'winning is in the mind' are a couple of useful ideas and approaches. I'll look at briefly the Chimp Paradox below and will pick up on the other two theories on another blog.
The Chimp Paradox
Written by Steve Peters, who was a consultant with British cycling and is now a performance coach advisor to Olympian's and elite athletes. He holds a medical degree and also trained as a psychiatrist. Academics often struggle with sharing and communicating knowledge in ways people enjoy. Steve uses analogy and metaphors as a useful way to learn.
One of the significant points that stands out for me is that your brain has two main competing forces, and we need to recognise them. Prefrontal cortex = human/ logical part of the brain and limbic system = inner chimp/ emotional part of our brain. The human acts rationally, based on facts and sees many answers to situations, in shades of grey. While the chimp only decides using emotions and sees solutions in black and white.
State of mind - It's advantageous to observe our own state of mind and if you're getting stressed ask 'who's in charge here? Do I want to feel and act this way? Or is the chimp taking over? 'which pathway am I going down?' Or in some cases, rather than a chimp it's a silver-backed gorilla! If I can only see one answer to a situation, I'm most probably working in chimp mode. Do I want to be?
Our emotional part of our brain is more potent than our logical side, so observing and asking questions early on is key to managing ourselves more effectively in challenging stressful situations, such as powerful dynamic surf.
Example: In a dynamic beach surf environment, your chimps job is to protect you, so listening and changing venues may be the best action. Or choosing to stay and stretch that comfort zone appropriately and easing your chimps concerns, allowing the logical self to gain control again. This may mean, doing a 15-20 minute stretching session, some side surfing in the soup, choosing an area with a small set of waves or getting on, out through the surf and working outback.
At the end of the day
Rather than getting too tired, missing that roll and taking a swim, which then likely supports your Chimps primary concern. Pacing yourself, managing your capacity, so you finish wanting more, Is the key. Ask your self two questions. 1) how much more mental capacity do I have left? How much more physical ability do you have left? And measure with a percentage mark.
Feedback and individual chats tend to happen as they arise on a course when it's real and in your mind. Each weekend ends with a group discussion and reflections so that each person has a more precise direction on what's required to progress towards their own chosen goal.
Below is the 2nd film Roger had created around 'what is sea kayaking?' This time the film considers gentle dynamic movement, of current and tide. Some of the fun and magic, which highlights why Anglesey is such a special place for Roger. The film ends with a fun and playful North Stack
My next blog will focus on 2018 Roof of Britain one-month-long expedition and provide an insight into the preparation for a BIG trip.
Plus despite these other wonderful destinations how returning to North Wales, Anglesey holds the magic. |
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