Gene17’s New Boy, Gerainet Rowlands reflects on his time in Slovenia

Staff Training

Theme’s included safe group leadership strategies, identification of coaching needs, and using the environment to get the most out of your paddlers during the coaching practice. Building lateral momentum when entering eddies, and moving over areas of conflicting flow quickly by maintaining forward momentum were also main areas of focus. The course was an excellent opportunity to paddle some great water. During staff training I was also training with Deb P who is looking to enter the world of slalom. Therefore running the forest trails that surround Trenovo became a frequent evening activity as well as the phrase, “double the run, double the fun” which basically meant that we were on for another evening sprint down the classic section. Finishing the day in Bar Baraka is obviously a local tradition that it would have been silly for me to refuse. Cheers to the instructional team and all the lads from down south for a cool week!

Alpine River Leader Training, Early April on the Soča

I thoroughly enjoyed the company of all the paddlers during this week. I would just like to thank everyone for their efforts while on the water, there were some exceptional performances! There was an exceptional international feel to the team with client coming from a large range of countries which made dinnertime conversation very interesting.

Having been to the Soča valley for the past three years in a row it was a pleasure to be back again and I certainly intend to make this a yearly pilgrimage. For the team it was an excellent opportunity to brush up on skills before the start of the boating season in more central Europe, skills were honed on big volume Grade 3/4 boulder garden style rapids which is perfectly suited terrain to improve boat control as there are countless water features to focus on. I’ll never forget looking at the snow packed peaks and then back down at the rich blue of the Soča river, the location is truly breathtaking and I look forward already to next years trip.

Cheers

Gezza