Very Happy Christmas!!

I hope everyone enjoyed a splendid day of eating drinking and socialising...

With plenty more to come!

Many thanks to Fiona and the team who organised the Christmas re-enactment at Tynwald Hill http://www.christmasonthehill.im/- what a terrific success with literally thousands of people including many youngsters in the audience - thankyou for the opportunity to be part of it! Looking forward to next year.. Photo's to follow!

We also managed to squeeze in the traditional festive paddle with a few friends - thanks for a very pleasant, relaxed trip and the especially festive enjoyable goodies... :)

Just back from a paddle on the West Coast today with Sam, and setting off from fenella Beach watched a Peregrine Falcon getting mobbed by gulls right in front of us. So much always to see, if you look for it :) Another relaxing very calm sea so we could run through more ideas for our Aleutians 2010 Expedition, and possible obstacles we need to get to work on.

January 13th kicks off our first course of 2009, the Kayak Safety (indoor pool course) and our popular Introduction to Sea Kayaking - January course begins Sunday 18th Januay. Our full range of courses new for 2009 will be displayed on the website updates shortly, and the January 2009 newsletter! If you need details before then please contact us - info@adventurousexperiences.com

Sunset in the East...

Sunset off Laxey.. Sheltered from the strong SW winds, we paddled from Laxey beach yesterday, and a very positive coaching session commenced. The wide sandy beach provided an easy chart to recap the feedback from the previous session, and outline details for this one... with the focus continuing on engaging the hips and increasing individual's awareness of their lower body in relation to the kayak :) Jan's home baked cake bringing even more cheer to the session! The Youth Scholarship training session was a Gorge Scramble - and this brought a lot of laughs to the team! The winter season is a period when both our staff and students concentate on presonal performance, evaluating their present skill level and setting goals for the future! Specific training and low ratio coaching provide the imput, with motivation & dedication giving the other ingredients to success...

Traditionally the time of winding down, celebration ( and for some - hybernation...) others use this 'extra-time' to boost their skills and gain competative advantage, in many different ways!

The colder period allows us at Adventurous Experiences the opportunity to re-evaluate and gain additional feedback and act upon it. Upgrading facilities, designing new products and refining existing ones to match increasing demands from our customers.


We will continue to provide the most effective training facility for Outdoor Education, and give unforgettable adventurous experiences on the Isle of Man tailored to our clients needs. We are presently upgrading the main website, look out for some cool changes in the new Year!

Christmas On The Hill

A quick reminder of The Christmas story outdoor re-enactment (FREE Mulled Wine and Mince Pies) with carols at Tynwald Hill St. Johns 4.30pm. Free event, Bring a torch. Visit the animals afterwards. The event is a cast with adults (and one baby) from the local community including Mary riding a donkey. The wise men on large horses and shepherds carring newborn lambs. children are welcome to meet the animals and baby Jesus at the end of the show. Tynwald Hill, St Johns, http://www.christmasonthehill.im/

Chritmas Holly

See you there, and look out for Joseph!

Keirron

"To Dare Mighty Things..."

Spring tides and clear skies combined with light winds provided an exciting advanced trip round the Calf of Man and out to Chicken rock... a small number of whirlpools forming nicely along the way, and the ebb tide producing a fast moving paddle in which to make decisions and practice some moving water skills!

An abundance of Atlantic Grey Seals along the way, congregating mostly around South Harbour and a few outlying intertidal rocks.
Suberb conditions throughout the afternoon, and the return trip gave a stunning sunset across the 'Drinking Dragon' and nearby headland, with the Chickens Rock lighthouse peeping over the top, occasional flashes twinkling as darkness fell and we finished at the slipway exuberant and a wintry glow all round...

"FAR BETTER IT IS TO DARE MIGHTY THINGS THAN TO RANK WITH THOSE POOR SOULS WHO KNOW NEITHER VICTORY NOR DEFEAT"

adopted from a quote by Theodore Roosevelt by Kendal Judo Club

I believe this a fitting mantra for those trying out a new sport or ambition for the first time, or those attempting improvement or competition, where the outcome is never certain.

The Youth Scholarship and Development Program - Norway 2009 expedition team enjoyed a sea kayak trip - paddling from Niarbyl for this week's training session, practicing core technique and rescue skills along the way.


The sessions have an in-built excellent strength and conditioning aspect, and the team are certainly improving in every way. Looking forward to Gorge Scrambling next week!

a week from Winter Solstice : ')

With a colder spell in for the past few weeks, we captured a few images (aside of coaching and off the water sessions) of very memorable trips;





"Thanks to all you guys for the kayaking trip, it was awesome and all of us had a great time! Definitely a good way of getting rid of a hangover!! ...Rory"

a couple more...



With goals set for 2009, members of the Adventure Club are fully committed to the winter schedule, and the trips and awards which lie ahead... A challenging day on Sunday just gone, and what a great performance from everyone! Looking forward to the Calf next weekend, and the socials Lauren is organising too :)

Quick reminder from Lol for 21st - meeting about 6pm in the Creek for a few social beverages, and a bite to eat for those who wish ...

Kelvin's Tackle - fishing and Kayaking supplies has moved to Ballabrooie - Adventurous Experiences base, opening officially with the new store in March 2009. In the meantime, we will retain our usual stock and continue orders (xmas vouchers are also available)

2009 Courses
If your wishing to book on any of the existing or new courses for 2009 - outdoors and lecture room based (or a combination of both) - please get in touch.

• 'Introduction to Sea Kayaking' beginning Sunday 11th January, 08th Feb and 03rd March
• 'Kayak Safety & Core Skills' (indoor pool course) beginning Tues 06th January and 03rd Feb
• Various new courses beginning weekday evenings in January - contact us for details

Lastly, Christmas Gift Vouchers for adventurous experiences, courses and the Adventure Club are available online http://www.adventurousexperiences.com/vouchers.htm

and by contacting me keirron@adventurousexperiences.com

Unforgettable Adventurous Experiences... with the Adventure Club

http://www.adventurousexperiences.com/adventure_club/

the cycle of change...

Its a time of change - in many ways, from the vibrant colours of the leaves to the bigger picture of the world on general.
The only thing that is guaranteed is - things change!
Generally for the better - and a great example of this are the students on our Youth Scholarship Program, in whom we see numerous small positive changes as training continues, and they gather increased confidence through working hard and achieving, pushing personal limits and working together to towards the final goal.
As the dates for the Norway 2009 Expedition loom closer, so do the dates for their A' Level and IB final exams, how they deal with pressure is one of the ways their individual characters and teamwork is displayed and the distance every one has come already is positive inspiration.

KELVIN'S TACKLE - FISHING & KAYAKING SUPPLIES - RELOCATED

On the subject of change, Kelvin's Tackle has now relocated from Michael St, Peel to Ballabrooie - Adventurous Experinces base, and will open again for trading in the new premises from March 2009. Till then Kelvin can be contacted with any enquiries through; info@adventurousexperiences.com

Orders for kayaks and kit needed before Christmas will need to be made as soon as possible

We have been using the windy conditions to get ahead on projects at Ballabrooie, scheduled to begin over Christmas, and the newsletter out in December with keep you informed as to our upgraded facilities, Adventure Club products and services and our new range of courses - (both practical and evening theory course) beginning January 2009.

Email me for details before then; keirron@adventurousexperiences.com

making the most of... the Isle of Man in November!

It was so hot (sheltered from the Northerly breeze) down at the Chasms on Monday,










great to see Dave and Sarah who joined us as it was Dave's Birthday.. and we realised we were overdressed for the Rock Climbing session, and lacking in sunscreen!






Last night was the last session in the October indoor pool 'Kayak Safety Course' and the November course begins next Tuesday evening...
The students on Youth Scholarship Program are training in the pool and on the sea now, and getting some excellent results :)

The final session finished with a fun team game with the usual wet result!

the risk of having fun :)

Sunday's paddles as usual were full of folk out to enjoy themselves, with the morning session having two main groups - those who had completed the Introduction to Sea Kayaking course, moved through to improvers and very comfortable in their kayaks (together with the Intermediates) and those who were having their first taste of paddling (or their second) and desired a relaxed gentle trip...
The afternoon sessions were novices and complete beginners, trying the sport before beginning the Intro course next Sunday, and those who have been out with us before and asked to be notified when good conditions were predicted...

Hot sun and blue skies continued right through the day, and a core wet skills staff session rounded off by the sunset concluded the experience.

Already looking forward to seeing everyone next Sunday, and conditions look excellent for novice night paddles on the West Coast - one scheduled for Wednesday this week. If your not in the Adventure Club and have not given me your contact details for updates and fancy joining us, you'll need to contact me shortly on keirron@adventurousexperiences.com or text me on 406655

These are few of the pics we took, more on the way to you via email shortly :) For those who were on the water with us, your personalised images will much more vivid and memorable...
New born fluffy white seal pups were lounging on a few of the rocky beaches at the sound, (the rewards for those who took the more challenging paddle) so the group landed further down, enjoying their break overlooking one of the local seal colonies. Meanwhile, easy novice paddles took in Port Erin Bay, the archway and shallow caves, with some basic tuition in maneuvering and control and short forays into the moving water near the headlands. Demonstations of easy rescue techniques by the coaches gave some thought for future sessions (ideally these wet skills are learnt first in the indoor pool then transferred to the marine environment). For those who were comfortable in their kayaks and desired a floating break, Lol assisted with her usual enthusiasm with the biscuits and hot drinks!