It's only the NSR!!!!
tomthepaddleman | March 20, 2011The National Student Rodeo is a regular annual event organised by the kind rodeo bosses at Leeds uni, where over 1000 students (and not so students) descend down onto Nottingham’s HPP white water course and have a great time (on and off the water). It was the first I got to take part in instead of watching the carnage, nakedness and pure hungover paddling- and my first of many NSR’s.
It all started on the friday, where the campsite shenanigans began, signing up to receive a free goodie bag and the bib- then straight onto the party. I can certainly vouch that the NSR parties are the best parties you’ll ever go to. Friday night was more of a warm up party getting us all loosened up for the main event.
So after some difficulty getting out of bed (some fun and adventure may have been had on friday night), it was time for the extreme slalom and the duo heats.
The extreme slalom is where you get put in your classes, and consists of doing a new school move (in my case a mc. nasty), hitting a ball and an old school move (whipped out some paddle spins here). Which popped me in the expert mens (9am on the water on sunday…. great….)
After watching some good old carnage in the duo’s and taking part in the duo heats, but being beaten at the last minute, I had a go in wavesport’s new project X 48.
After a good hour or two paddling it, I had a pretty good idea on it. Certainly, when I initially saw pictures of it, I thought it looked utterly brilliant.
Whilst paddling it I did enjoy the rails on it, much sharper than the more recent boats that have been coming out (which I’m not a fan of having decided I prefer my ’09 star than to the newer Jacksons). The project surfs like a dream, it’s ridiculously smooth and fast, cuts back well and you can pop off some really good wave moves in it. In the hole, I wasn’t so keen. It is really well balanced, easy to cartwheel and loops well, but I really struggled to do much else in it due to the massive depth of it.
This is probably because I’m too small for it, but there is certainly potential in the boat.
It’s definitely worth a look at in my book- but make sure you do a good demo (as with any boat).
So onto the Saturday party, with my brilliant fancy dress sandcastle.
By the end I also somehow gained Max Bilbow’s Whale…
So Sunday came, I woke up a tad late and almost missed my heat in the expert mens, which didn’t set me up particularly well. Oh well. With the NSR the emphasis is on fun and encourage everyone who goes to the NSR to definitely definitely watch the novice finals. Many ‘props’ are utilised during this… I’ll leave it at “she’s riding a man down the inlet gate” Judge in disbelief
So with the freestyle season kicking off, I hope to make a big summer vid. hopefully including a bit of footage of a quick jaunt to scotland to huck ze gnar… and maybe some voss norway action if I’m lucky.
Cheers
Tom