Unplugged

Bill Anderson

Freestyle Kayak

Favourite Alpkit products:
Filo down jacket

Significant or memorable achievements:
Every new river I paddle is a good new memory

Upcoming projects:
Graduate (hopefully!) in May then spend the summer traveling round Europe.

Best comp results:
7th British Champs 2007
Peak Uk Challenge junior Champion 2000 & 2002

Activities:
I spend all my free time kayaking, whether playboating at Teesside, out on a local river or after the long drive to Scotland to find some water. I can’t wait to graduate this year and am looking forward to going back to Europe with my boat. I’m hoping to visit Slovenia, Italy, France, Switzerland, Austria, Germany then head up to Norway. The Freestyle World Cup series is in Europe this year so I am hoping to compete in the 3 events in Prague, Augsberg and Thun.

Et cetera:
Hopefully get a freestyle event back to Teesside!

Recent Daring Deeds

Pyranha Rev

With Jim offering us a go in Pyranha’s new playboat, the Rev, Nic and I eagerly headed to Alpkit’s Nottingham headquarters to pick them up. With no rain about to try them on some river waves we headed to the National Water Sports Centre to try them on the artificial slalom course.

It’s been a while since I’ve paddled a Pyranha playboat I have enjoyed. The Rev was a lot different and I felt able to throw the boat around with a lot more ease whilst keeping control over it. Although I was in the medium and it was a little small for me, I still found it popped nicely for loops and floated well on the Muncher wave.

Although it was only a short session with the Rev I look forwards to ..

Posted on 07 May, 2008 by Bill

BUSA No Polo 2008

The weekend of 11/12/13 April saw the annual BUSA Canoe Polo Competition at Hatfield Water Park, Doncaster. It is an event that sees teams of five chasing a ball around a swimming pool sized pitch, the aim to score in the goals suspended two metres above the waters surface.

Canoe Polo is a sport I have not played very much that I do enjoy, mainly because you are allowed to push people in! It does get very competitive and heated at points, especially with the Universities that take the event so seriously. However my University, Teesside, like many others see this event as a social gathering and the chance to compete against like minded Universities. Last year we came joint bottom, playing ..

Posted on 07 May, 2008 by Bill

Outdoors Show 2008

After a long drive from Teesside we finally arrived at the NEC on Friday. We had come along to help on the Alpkit stand and with the ‘have a go’ canoe sessions. Friday was pretty laid back, chatting to all the guys from Alpkit trying to take in all the information about the products! Friday night was a good chance to get to know the full Alpkit team over a few beers and a curry. It got even better when we arrived at the hotel to find a cheerleading squad practicing their routine right outside!

Saturday began far too early after the previous night’s beers and the NEC was soon filling up. The Alpkit stand seemed to be the busiest of the show, always full of people. It was really good ..

Posted on 21 March, 2008 by Bill