Post
by WindsorCC » Thu Feb 28, 2019 3:57 pm
Appreciate that it's all a bit off the original topic but...
I agree that there's a challenge with juniors dropping off the RTA/SRS squads and then giving up as they suddenly lose the status and access to water/coaching, but I do question if some of that is down to parents who make that the focus rather than just enjoying the sport for it's own sake.
Others may have a different experience, but from what I've seen of the RTA/SRS, they aren't necessarily robbing clubs of paddlers. At Shepperton they have a thriving group of juniors who are paddling there 2-3 times a week. Some of those are also doing RTA/SRS sessions, but they are still paddling with and racing for the club. TID is different, but that's because it's bringing non-paddlers in from outside the club system, not taking them away from clubs (as far as I'm aware?)
We've always had an issue with paddlers leaving the sport at 18 when they head off to uni/work, unless they are really keen and generally already in Prem/top of div 1.
I'd agree with Joel regarding Lee Valley, having paddled and raced the Olympic, it's a great course. It's hosted a worlds and the world cup race is coming up, so it can't be that bad. We're not talking about Cardington.... Yea, we'd all love to be padding rivers all the time, but it's just not a reality. Already everywhere is pretty low, without places like Lee Valley, HPP, Cardiff etc, which are fundamentally all concrete ditches, there would be nowhere in the UK to paddle from May to October. Rafts are a pain, but it does mean that I can get over to LV and do a couple of sessions during the week, ok I have to dodge a few rafts, and it's on 4 pumps rather than 3 so it's a bit more mushy, but I'll take that any day over not paddling. They aren't going to run the pumps and provide safety cover for a dozen slalom paddlers. I actually prefer a raft session with a few paddlers than trying to paddle any of these sites with 30-40 playboats who are using the water very differently and aren't aware of the lines we're taking.