Hi all,

I’m currently in Sweden with the national freestyle team for the final preparation in the lead up to the World Championships in Thun, Switzerland. I’ve been working with the team for three years now, acting as an independent performance consultant and coach.

The water levels are awesome at the moment, providing lots of options for suitable training features. We’ve setup base for the week just 5 minutes from the ‘Bitch Wave’ (the closest translation into English) on Vasterdal River.

The team just gets stronger every year, making their presence ever increasingly felt on the European circuit, here are a few photos from today’s training. 

Mats performing a KY

Mats Walstedt has been a team member for 8 years now and first entered the European Championship at 16 years old. Check out the composite boat in the photo above. There’s going to be an ever increasing presence this year in composite boats, with athletes taking full advantage of their super lightweight carbon construction.

Tomas Rundgren, a seasoned team member going for a Back Pan-Am

Maria Lindgren, another seasoned team member, picture here working through her routine.

New to the team in 2008 is David Sandberg, his passion and drive unquestionable, here he is putting the final refinements to his Pistol flip.

David performing a Pistol flip.

 And finally, myself throwing a air pan-am in my Liquidlogic ‘Biscuit’

Myself hitting a Pan-Am

I’m in the 65 model here, although I could do with down sizing maybe to the 55. Shane Benedict has definitely got the recipe right for this one, creating a fast and loose hull that is more than capable of performing all of the latest freestyle moves.

That’s it for now, catch you laters

One thing the U.K is not short of is talented freestyle paddlers, last weekend I was at Nottingham coaching the GB freestyle team.  I was asked to provide performance training and support the athletes by going through their training plans, the weather was perfect throughout the weekend and the new course is a vast improvement on the original setup, providing more interesting features for the team and for the wider range of recreational users.  Although currently lacking a wave that supports the bigger air manoeuvres future plans are afoot to create one.

Jon Best - Clean Looping

It’s been an awesome summer so far, I’ve just recently returned from Colorado where I’ve been coaching and guiding for a few weeks. The U.S never ceases to amaze me with its diverse range of rivers to explore, whilst coaching and guiding out there I was also keeping a keen eye out for some potential first descents for next season. We based ourselves in Snowmass (Aspen)  for a week before moving over to Durango for some more creeking action. I didn’t have a laptop at the time so had to download my images onto a friend’s laptop, as soon as they arrive I’ll pop a few up on the blog.

Exciting news for UKCC Level 2 coaches interested in white water coaching, and wanting to flex their qualification to its full advantage.

The BCU Moderate Water Endorsements is now available. This award is designed for BCU Coaches who hold a 4* leader award and wish to introduce paddlers to Grade 2(3) white water or equivalent standalone features like weirs. Lots of people have been asking me about this award over the last few months, and I know this will be great news for club coaches as it will allow them a greater range of activities for their members.

If you’re interested in expanding your coaching remit, the pre-requisites for training are UKCC Level 2, BCU 4 Star Leader White-water, 8hour first aid and be 18 years or older. Once you have attended a training day you need to complete a development phase that requires the following, 10 hours of logged coaching in sheltered water environments post holding BCU UKCC Level 2, a minimum of 20 hours leading in moderate water environment, post holding your 4 Star Award.

If you already hold the assessment pre-requisites, all you need to do is attend a training day and go straight to assessment.