2025 LCC Alpine Paddling Holiday Day 2 Sunday: Espace Eau Vive de l’Isle de la Serre by Claire M

After a morning run, I was preparing for a chilled afternoon watching everyone kayaking from the safety of the bankside. Then John Cooke said we are hydrospeeding if you fancy joining us. I did have to think for a minute, did I want to chill and sunbathe or do something that was way out of my comfort zone? With a bit of encouragement, I decided to give it a go!!!

All suited up & after some brief instructions, we were ready to go. John told me to follow him & we gave the bottom wave a go, which wasn’t too bad, but we were now heading up to the top of the white-water centre to make our way down to the bottom. The top waves were really good fun & I was following John like my life depended on it. We stopped before the biggest drop, all chatted about what to do & John headed off with me to follow him.

All was going well until a kayaker came along. He hadn’t told me what to do when a kayaker got in the way. Chris from the riverbank could tell I wasn’t best pleased that I now had to negotiate a kayaker. I managed to get past him, went down the first drop and went right instead of left, where John was. That wasn’t in the instructions; I was now leading myself down the next few drops. I held on for dear life & made it. It was so much fun.

Next, we went halfway up, jumped in & tried to surf the wave. I think I managed 10 seconds, lost the float and went down the rapids feet first. Most people managed to surf the wave and were all laughing when we got to the bottom.

We were off again for one last run all the way down. No kayakers in the way this time, so I can’t blame them for me losing the float and taking those last rapids feet first again.

It was a great afternoon of fun & I’d earned that beer in the bar afterwards.