The Gath Gedi

I found myself in the position a few months ago now where I needed a new lid. The one I had at the time had a large fixed peak and so was causing me a lot of neck pain whenever I rolled my kayak especially in hydraulics. I know allot of people don’t have a problem with the forces on their helmets however it seams to effect me quite allot so I thought it was best to cut my losses and move on. The only helmets I considered at the time were the FNA extra and the Sweet rocker… they both looked like awesome lids and I was keen to try them out. Unfortunately I couldn’t get my hands on an Extra to try it and the sweet rocker same in sizes either too big or too small to comfortably fit my head (the smaller size pinched the back of my scull quite painfully). Its worth mentioning however that I still think that they look like awesome lids its just they don’t fit me and as far as I’m concerned fit is the most important aspect of a helmet.

Thankfully my close friend and team mate Dan Hayworth (http://www.double2d.com/) had recently received his new Gath Gedi and he recommended that I take a look. I had always been aware of Gath due to my Dragorossi connections however as no one seamed to stock them in the UKI had never really considered it amongst my helmet choices. A demo was arranged and what impressed me strait away was the comfort… there is a good 10mm of padding and a adjustable comfort strip of softer foam that fits snugly on the lid. I now know that this not only provides a comfy and warm helmet but also provides super impact protection! I wore the lid for around 3 weeks before deciding to stick with it. I was amazingly happy with the fit and I was convinced that the lid wouldn’t move on my head (exposing my temples) during an impact like my previous helmet had done. The one thing that concerned me was how well it could take an impact? I didn’t know… and as I didn’t know anyone in the UK who wore one (other than Dan) there weren’t too many reviews out there to read… little did I know that the perfect test was just around the corner!

One swim on the infamous Fairy Glen on the river Conway proved to me beyond a doubt that the Gedi was pukka. I rolled and before coming out of my boat I took three huge hits on my head. Not only did the helmet stay in the same place without pushing back but I came away without any feelings of concussion… 2 months later in Yorkshire an errant hammer left me getting front looped strait into a concrete wall fast enough to chip a piece of the wall onto my spray deck. Although my neck hurt for days afterwards I again walked away from the incident without damaging my head.

I’ve been convinced. So convinced that I’ve just ordered Jessie one! Wonderful lids and the quality of service I have received from them has been awesome.

I’ve stuck up these videos by Corran Adison.

http://www.2imagine.net/blogger2007/pictures/video/IMGP6896.AVI
http://www.2imagine.net/blogger2007/pictures/video/IMGP6899.AVI
http://www.2imagine.net/blogger2007/pictures/video/IMGP6900.AVI
http://www.2imagine.net/blogger2007/pictures/video/IMGP6901.AVI

They aren’t a scientific test of the helmets overall strength but they do show 3 main points

The Visor does not shatter in a sharp impact – something that has been a concern on some of the internet forums.

The Attachment points of the visor (and soon the flexi-peak) are strong enough to take a hit.

The Helmet does not move on the head! Although its just been hit with an axe and bounced across Corrans drive the helmet stays in position and DOES NOT MOVE. Remember that most people are killed not by the first but the second impact.

As a Quick note I am NOT sponsored by Gath in anyway. They have however provided me with fantastic service and in return I have tried to send them any good action shots of myself in my Gedi. I went out looking for a goodlid that could take a beating and I found one… I can happily say that this has been the safest helmet I have ever had the joy of using.

Thanks Gath!

An unexplored run

In my first year I drove through a ford behind my university halls and thought (I wonder where this river leads)… I couldn’t find any guides or information on it and couldn’t find anyone around that had run it… For all I knew It could have been anything from grade 1 to 6. It’s a Ditch and I knew It would need allot of water to get it going but one day after a quick trip down one of my local runs it rained allot... we found it in condition and ready to go!




I expected the river to pick up somewhere as it starts on top of quite a high hill however I was treated to a steady gradient of grade 1/2 . It was still a nice run though there where some really pretty bridges and a really nice little tunnel.



If it wasn’t so tree choked (4 portages) then it would be a lovely river to take the girlfriend down…. In fact… I may just take her down it anyway

”JESSIE?.....”

Boating with me where Alister and "Doggystyle" Dave, The strawbery blond brigade of Bangor university canoe club

Stinger'O'Stinger

Stinger 'o' stinger your a beautifull boat

You alow me to boof, you keep me afloat

A cartwheel in you is never a chore

My local river is no longer a bore

Stinger my darling, I really I love you

So Corran make a small one (so my girlfriend fits too!)

Of all the boats I have paddled the stinger has been my favourite by far. It’s the first boat that attracted me to the Dragorossi brand and I haven’t been disappointed… I have never tried to convince myself that I have any skill or interest in play boating so I wanted a playboat with a river running twist. Living in north Wales I wanted boats to make the best use of the local rivers the Critical Mass was my choice of creeker but I wanted a play boat that could make some of the local grade 4’s a little more interesting. The stinger was designed as a jack of all trades boat but it really steps up to the mark when put into down river play (or slope style if you’re into fads). It has plenty enough volume to make resurfacing after drops stable and predictable. The rocker profile makes boofing easy and the chunky back end prevents the back end catching on boily rapids and holes.

What I love about this boat is the way I can chuck it into the back of my car and wherever the guys end up going I know I wont be too outgunned in my Stinger. River running, creeking and playboating this boat simply rocks! Its almost like Corran designed a boat just for me… the boat I’ve always asked for.Thanks Corran!



















I thought I’d stick up this old video of me creeking in the stinger… Its from a while ago now but it still makes me smile seeing the local run. That video was also my first real test of my new helmet the Gedi aswell… I wont really go into detail about the lid now but I’m loving it so far and I trust it to the point where I’ve also bought my girlfriend one… wouldn’t feel safe with her wearing anything else!

Fun on Snowdon

A morning phone call on Valentines Day and suddenly I found myself explaining to my girlfriend why the days plans had changed. Two hours later and I found myself slogging up the side of Snowdon towards a river I hadn’t paddled before dragging the High’n’Mighty demo Mafia Behind me…. the old plan had begun to look more attractive!

The Cwm Llan is one of those classic Welsh ditches that rolls down the side of a hill losing bonkers amounts of gradient along the way. It’s an awesome collection of smooth boulders and cascading drops cutting a photogenic gorge down the side of Snowdon. .

To get there wander a kilometre up the Watkins path of Snowdon and put in just before the old mill. As you walk up the path you’ll be tempted by glimpses of the lower section inviting you to come play from the valley bellow… as you loom near the upper you will also be treated to a spectacular view of one of the most epic waterfalls in the country. (make sure you get out before this one… a first decent would mean your last decent!)

I was lucky enough to be boating with some close friends from Bangor university and this made the slog up the side of the hill totally worth while… luckily Sara is about as unfit as myself so company was never too far away! Once on the river the Mafia handled the run really well, I usually paddle a critical mass but as I had to haul ass up the side of Snowdon it made sense to take the smaller Mafia. This boat has had a huge amount of press both good and bad but it worked well for me… It doesn’t track as well as something like a M3 or Solo but what it loses in tracking it more than makes up for in manoeuvrability and predictability. The continuous rocker on the boat makes boofing super easy in comparison to other creekers I’ve paddled.

My girlfriend also paddles a Mafia and she’s found it a great boat to learn in… I’ve stuck up a few photos of her styling around in her boat as well.

Note – Jessie’s boat used to feature a playboy bunny however a nasty cave pinning on Cobdens falls has killed the bunny… RIP