University of Limerick Kayak Club

In Summer 2015 we want to go somewhere after the Alps trip. A few ideas have been thrown around but nothing has been decided yet. So what I'm looking for is idea's from Everyone about where they would like the club to go next Summer. A few conditions:

- It must benefit the club in such a way that we can market it to Paul/Michelle and get sufficient funding.

- It must be the most kick ass awesome kayaking destination you can think of anywhere in the world (we're not going to Cavan!).

Write a paragraph with your idea and post it up here. Our destination will be decided in the coming weeks after all of the ideas are discussed. Let the imaginations flow!

Watch This Space

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#Ottawa2015

Ottawa was the one and only place I thought of when this was brought up and I don't see why it wouldn't be feasible. All we have to do is find a campsite and paddle our hearts out for 3 weeks or a month. . . .

Granted, it will be expensive but with some research and sweet talking I'm sure we could find ourselves some sort of deal along the way!

Why would this benefit the club?
Why the hell not?! People will not only develop freestyle skills but their paddling confidence and technique will absolutely soar! We'll more than likely run into some of the big boys out there too and this could work out well for us as we can build up contacts and make relationships with these people which will make ULKC known to some massive names across the water...

I kinda wish I got Mark to write this for me coz he would've made it sound a million times more exciting

Caoimhe_F wrote:

I kinda wish I got Mark to write this for me coz he would've made it sound a million times more exciting

Land her flat lad

Ottawa is probably the busiest river in the world. Expect mad long line ups. (I mean like 30 plus people at a time in eddys) Especially seeing as world championships are likely to be held there that summer. I wouldn't go there unless i was employed, accommodation, transport and food is pretty darn expensive.

If ye are looking at a real adventure why not experience the road less traveled and get a whole lot more covered then just one river. So many options out there!

Uganda, better river, less line ups and cheaper.. as well as being in UGANDA?!?! Also this might be your last chance to ever get there, the Ottawa is going nowhere.

Endless benefits to the club, exposure, show UL doing humanitarian work etc etc

Some other options:
British Colombia
Peru
Venezuala
India

Morocco

Driving over would probably be best because renting is pricey.
Limit group to 7 or so (full sprinter)
Have a few drivers and they could take alternate days driving/ paddling.
Would be a nice introduction to expedition style kayaking.
Loads of mulitday trips on grade 3/4 rivers that have been done before.
Same paddlin season as Italy, early summer.


Sri Lankalank

600 yoyo return flights (not including boats)
Boats hard to get over there, no whitewater shops!
No whitewater paddlers either.
Loads of rain in summer months Monsoon season
Real cheap food.
Get to drive around in tuk tuks
Loads of grade 4/5
Again Monsoon season grade 4/5
Country is really small so creeks close together.
Lots of hard work required to get to them though.
Real small group needed for this one.


Disclaimer: With all them bullet points it looks like I know what i'm on about but I dont and haven't looked into either suggestion!

Any more ideas?

I want to have the destination at least picked before the Alps madness begins so we can start planning over the summer.

Russia

Rent some of those ancient vans you see in videos and go exploring?

I have 2 places I'd love to see the club go and I can't decide which I prefer so I'm gonna say both of them.

Norway

Fly out in midish July, have 2 or so weeks of the worlds most amazing whitewater, make a movie out of it, come back to Castleconnell in September and cry.

Rivers to suit every level of paddler, but this trip would be aimed at a group of 10 strong paddlers maximum. Can continue on from the plans that were in place this year. Get a committed group to train and prepare for it as best they can. We have paddlers who've been there before so they'll have some local knowledge. Would be the first Irish university to go to Norway and would once again would put UL on a pedestal. It'll be very easy to sell to C&S as an incredible club development trip.

Uganda

A few weeks paddling some amazing waves and as a result, our quality of paddler and playboater will go through the roof. Keyes is going on a reconnaissance mission this summer and Andrew has been there a few times so it could be easily organised. Would work out more expensive than Norway but it may be our last chance to ever go there with the new dams being built. Maybe more difficult to sell to C&S as its more expensive and would probably require a certain level of fundraising but for what we'd be getting it'd be worth it.

Surely if my trip is a club 'reconnaissance' mission then there should be a subsidy involved...

I think we should look at this from the outside perspective, what shows people in the University the level which this club is on and what portrays the club in the best light.

A trip to Uganda, while working with a charity like Soft Power Education shows the club kayaking in a unique and special place while also giving back to the communities who live there. Never mind the fact we can take spectactular photos on a Safari or at Murchison Falls. The main one though is that seriously, you will regret it if you don't make it in time! Anyone who has been there will tell you the same including Keyes when he arrives back. Very easy to organise aswell. I could probably do the bulk of it from this computer in a few hours.

I would challenge your ideas on price, you can do Uganda on a shoestring budget if needs be whereas Norway is a very very expensive place for everything and a ton more logistics. Norway is not necessarily the place for large groups of people on the water especially with varying levels of ability.

We should always remember that we have a month off at christmas aswell, as Rob will tell you Chile aint a bad spot in December

Im up for Uganda but just to add a bit of variety i've been interested in New Zealand, I haven't heard of much people paddling it but i've been looking at a lot of videos lately and it looks great! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84Bul9br4OE

Anyone else?

chile ... for some body boofing etc.
pucon, futaleufu, palguin
not sure but I think I heard rob was in chile, could ask him. Also I think andrew said it works in winter too so that could be another alternative?

I would certainly go back to Chile at Christmas time!

If ye fuckers go chile and i'm stuck doing coop I will cry