The National White Water Centre is based near Bala in Snowdonia on the River Tryweryn, a wild mountain river but water levels are dam-controlled so it’s rapids still work in the summer. On the day we went the water release was 10 cumecs (September 2013).
After the obligatory wetsuit, shoes and helmet fitting and a brief dry-paddeling practice we had our first go down the Upper Tryweryn’s grade 3-4 natural white water rapids. No-one wanted to sit on the front so I thought ‘in for a penny, in for a pound’ and took up front paddle. It were brilliant!!! Over the next two goes we got more and more confident and eventually paddled all the rapids rather than ‘hiding’ in the boat on the scary bits, but still no-one was keen to go on the front. As I loved it so much, on the last run I felt I ought to push someone else to try it.
Big mistake!!
I took up position behind the front person who nervously took up hers. On the very last rapid of the day, she lost her balance and fell backward, I was thrown forward and my eyebrow collided with the front lady’s helmet. A stunning black eye the result.
So my advise, give white water rafting a go but if you can, sit on the front!!
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