Liffey Descent 2011

[Ritchie]

Anyone thinking of doing it??

I am thinking of brushing off the dust from my boat and entering it with a friend - does anyone know the requirements - i know you have to have icu membership (can his be got through the club or can benny get it for you you??).

[kmck]

It can be gotten thorugh the club ritchie or you can pay €30 to join canoeing Ireland as an independent. You'll still have to pay €20 euro through the club as far as I know. You need your level 3 or have a level 3 instructor sign off on you.

[Karen]

It's either this or electric picnic

[Eoghan]

I certainly plan on doing it..that never seems to materialise though..hopefully this year..

doing rescue would be looking more probable though

[Gareth]

I'm definitely doing it this year

[Tiny Tim]

yeah ill be doin it again sure its gr8 craic!!! everyone should give it ago its great craic

[Ley-Ley]

If I'm around I'll do it! Or I may do rescue! Both are awesome fun!

[Amanda]

I would also like to do it, but how much training would you need to do. And would it be worth while to buy/borrow a racing boat.

[kmck]

Answer to first part, you'd need to be out a few times a week, firstly for confidence and secondly it's a bloody long paddle. No don't get a racing boat, your mamba would be fine if a little slow. Racing boat takes practice that you need to be doing to get confortable with just doing the distance.
I did from the portage to the get out as sweep a couple of years ago and all i can say is don't do it if you leave the bung open on your boat. Also after about 30 rescues and no training I was fucked falling out of the boat.

[Ley-Ley]

Ah it's not that bad, I've done both and I wasn't too bad. Don't do the descent if you haven't paddled in a long while though. Unless you don't mind being told to get off the water!

[M1XR]

i wouldnt mind givin it a shot....i know of people who have no experience who have done it, strange.....what kinda training you recomend....lond distance flatwater or what?

[Ley-Ley]

Long distance flatwater, it's all about the stamina. Most of the weirs are handy, the most difficult part is after the last weir where there is just a long stretch of flatwater.

[M1XR]

cool, yeah just lookin at the map here, it looks long enough,  what is the distance?

[kmck]

17 miles ish.
I will probably do rescue this year, lots of fun and great practice for err... rescue. You get a t-shirt and a meal and tickets to the evening out for free!

[M1XR]

nice ...on the ld forum they recommend a few warm up rough water races.... what examples are there around ireland over the summer and do many people do them