The Canoe Slalom Squad is back together!

After a few long journeys from the UK and a short flight from Prague the Performance squad were joined by the Talent squad, ready for 2 weeks of sunny paddling in the French alps.

The first stop of the trip, L’Argentiere la Bessee, is the perfect location to start the slalom trip. With on-site campsite access to the slalom site 24/7 and an abundance of extra activities to do when having down time from slalom training, the squad were set for an awesome week ahead of them! 

Each day started for the team with a 9:30 course walk to suss out the gates, moves and challenges that had been set. Once plans on negotiating the course in the fastest and smoothest ways had been made it was time to hit the water. Each morning's sessions ranged from fifths, half and full runs to test and improve their skills. 

The afternoon slalom sessions were all about learning new skills and improving confidence in a new course. L’Argentiere lends itself perfectly for these types of sessions as repetitions of skills or moves are easy with big eddies and plenty of rocks to rock hop and attain back upstream. Incredible progress from everyone was made in week one of the training camp. 

What makes these training camps genuinely stand out is the number of extra activities available to do whilst out in the French alps whilst living at the campsite together with all your teammates. Some of the pre and post-activities for the week included creek boating on the Gyr, river runs down the sunshine run, running, road cycling on Tour de France routes, via Ferrara in beautiful canyons, relaxing by le lac and cultural tours to old town Briancon. 

After an action-packed week here we’re now all packed up and on the road to Bourg St Maurice for the final week away before heading back to Wales.

Written by Andy Kettlewell, Performance Slalom Coach