Round 3 - Nottingham

06:09:08

It might be back to school for some and back to work for those paddlers who have been traveling around the freestyle scene in Europe for the summer but next weekend see’s the first The Festival of Freestyle take place at Nottingham.
Alongside the normal paddling program there will be a Paddling Car-Boot Sale, Desperate Measures Gear Shop, Coaching Clinics and a massive end of summer party. The paddling should be stepped a notch with several international paddlers coming over to try and take their share of the £1500 Alpkit Expert Competition prize fund. The weekend kicks off on Friday at the Rugby club with the Money Shot Video Competition. If you wish to enter a film please bring it with on a DVD, harddisc, or CD. Entry is 50p with the winning film walking away with pot.
We’re really going to have to pack it in on Saturday so the earlier you could register the better. We are now offering a Boto-X competition as well.
The car-boot sale is open to anyone wanting to sell off unwanted outdoor equipment. The cost of a pitch will be £5.00 and you will also receive a discount voucher from Desperate Measures enticing you to spend your takings. (The sale of anything other than outdoor equipment is strictly prohibited and anyone caught will be ask to leave)
Coaching Clinics are free and open to anyone. They will take place on Saturday afternoon between 2.00 & 5.00pm. Places will offered on a first come, first basis and can be signed up for on Saturday morning. A full list of clinic available are available on the webiste, http://www.festivaloffreestyle.com.
Saturdays Nights party will take place at the Rugby Club after the floodlit finals. Fancy dress will be the classic Robin Hood theme. Pizza’s from Mr Pizza will be served through the evening.
The campsite at HPP is open all weekend, for some reason if you have a van make sure you bring a tent as it is cheaper to camp than stay in van (Even if your van is parked next to your tent)!!!!!!
Hope to see you there,
Jim.

Timetable


Friday
  • 7.30pm The Money Shot 3 Film Competition - (Rugby Club)

Saturday
  • 8am Registration
  • 9.30am Briefing
  • 10.00am Sport / Expert Freestyle Heats (Expert - Muncher / Sport - Inlet Gate)
  • 2.00pm Incubator Freestyle Coaching Session & Competition / Squirt Qualification
  • 3.00pm Boto-X Time Trial (Jaws to course bottom, Individual timed runs for ranking)
  • 4.00pm Sport Freestyle Finals (Muncher)
  • (2-5pm coaching clinics - Sign up at registration)
  • 5.00pm Dagger Green Sprint
  • 18.00 Expert Semi Finals
  • 19.00 Old Gits Freestyle
  • 19.30 Squirt Final
  • 20.00 Expert Finals
  • 21.00 Prize Giving, Party & Pizza (Rugby Club)

Sunday
  • The Youth Freestyle will be taking place throughout Sunday for those of you who have already registered to take part. We are planning to hold the Boto-X during breaks in the Youth Freestyle Program. Timings for this will be posted on Saturday evening.

Entry
£25 (£28 non-BCU)
If you have paid for the Youth Freestyle event please bring proof of your entry and we will deduct this from your entry fee.
£6.00 Party / Food / Coaching
£5.00 Car-Boot sale pitch.

General River Info

The National Watersports Centre lies just to the South East of Nottingham 2 mins from the A52. Built way back when it was the UK's first artificial whiterwater course. Quite a few changes have been made to the course over the years as the various disciplines of canoeing have developed. Currently run by Leisure Connection most of the funding for the centre comes from Sport England. The centre is home to the majority of the UK's Olympic Slalom hopefuls, meaning Freestyle plays second fiddle. However that doesn't make the course an unsuitable site for freestyle. There are numerous waves, holes and features that offer a wide and diverse selection of possibilities to all levels.

Anyone wishing to paddle on the course at this event or generally must be capable of or already hold their BCU 3 star award.

The centre has all facilities you would expect from a National venue, good showers, clean toilets, burger van, etc. If you have not already experienced it first hand or heard rumours on chat boards ect the parking at the centre is a bit of a crime hotspot. Please do not leave anything valuable or not on display in your car, van or automobile.

Camping is not included in the entry fees for this event. There is a campsite at the National Watersports Centre just before you turn off to head down to the whiterwater course. The prices start from around £9 per tent.

Further info and local links.
National Watersports Centre
Peak UK Shop