30 ROUNDS

For those of you interested in the outdoors and looking for a hobby, I recommend kayaking. This article is going to be kind of an advertisement, however it might inspire you to find your lifetime passion. Kayaking or any paddle sport is an activity for anyone of any age. When I went to Lee Valley white water centre a few weeks ago there was a 70-year-old lady going down the same white-water that Olympians did, now how’s that for badass? Once you get to a high enough level it becomes a year-round sport. Kayaking is fun at any level whether it’s your first time in a kayak on a perfectly smooth lake or going down a Grade 4 river for the hundredth time. There is a large range of disciplines in kayaking that unless you despise water, I guarantee you can find something for you. If you are looking for an adrenaline rush, there is white-water kayaking. If you are looking for an adventure, consider an expedition in a Canadian canoe or touring kayak. If you like the open sea and want to see the coast, try sea kayaking. If you want a relaxing way to spend your weekend outdoors the refined technique of canoeing is for you. If you want a disciplined and competitive fix then slalom is worth a shot and if you enjoy spending a lot of time upside down, try freestyle. Kayaking gives you a new view to life, because you literally see things from a different angle. Kayaking also teaches you a great deal of self-control and other mental skills for example having the courage to stay in an upside-down boat. Once you have mastered the water you can go to some places that would be unreachable on foot. We are lucky to live in a place with such a broad range of water ways on our doorstep which you could spend your entire life paddling and not see it all. I’m only a relative novice but from my time kayaking I have met some great people, fulfilled my fitness goals and spent some unforgettable time outdoors. Kayaking in the CCF: We are fortunate as a school and a contingent to have four excellent kayakers on the staff, Mr Williams, Captain Sharrock, Contingent Commander Firestone and Lieutenant Caulfield. We are lucky enough to have a great set of lakes at the school one of which we have exclusive boating rights to. With a fleet of excellent kayaks that are great for white-water, lakes and rivers. Those of you in Navy have likely made quite good use of the facilities and those of you who haven’t yet I recommend taking any opportunity to do so. The Cadet Centre for Adventurous Training (CCAT) holds many kayaking courses in nearly every discipline I have mentioned above and with the great areas on the centers doorstep they are worth a look (and they cost nearly nothing). Those of you looking to join the forces may find it interesting to know they have many paddle sport teams and each year they hold an inter service canoe and kayak competition, this year it was held at the national white-water centre in Nottingham. Finally, I recommend the yearly white-water rafting trip to Lee Valley, whilst it's not kayaking it will give you a great taste of white water. So if you are ever asking what can I do in the CCF, I recommend giving kayaking a go.