Isle of Man Adventure Week - Festival Weekend

A few glimpses of the weekend, more to follow as they come in...

Coaching and Leadership award training and assessments during the week ran very successfully, with Fridays advanced staff training around the 'Drinking Dragon' off the South tip of the Calf of Man... Spring tides and interesting sea conditions, with all sorts of scenarios, and the odd Basking Shark swimming through the group!

Gorge Scrambling was a popular choice, as always and given its suiting to the present weather conditions, i'm sure its popularity will continue!

The Festival Weekend (also the 6th annual Sea Kayak Symposium) was well attended from the UK and overseas, with great characters from all over the world visiting the Isle of Man to enjoy the social, share experiences and impart their knowledge.

A late arrival of Gordin Warner in the early hours, added to bussle of activity at Ballabrooie, Adventurous Experiences base. Gordin had a recent battle with cancer, and coming out victorious decided to travel from his home in Canada and paddle round the Isle of Man to raise money for cancer research. Gordon said he was inspired by Jeff and Keirron's Vancouver Island Record paddle in May 2007, and thought the Isle of Man would be the ideal journey. Despite the challenging sea conditions, he will be beginning his circumnavigation today... More news as this unfolds.

More info on this and how to donate (so far $5000 has been raised)!

IOM Adventure Week 2008!

The Isle of Man Adventure 'week' officially got underway on Monday, and the unpredictability of the weather has added more suspense to the build up :) We have many of our guest instructors already over and running courses, with more arriving in time for the weekend festivities! Here's a few pics from sessions since the last update...

sea kayak trips, coasteering and gorge scrambling, rock climbing and classic overnight camps have continued to grow in demand, and we've more staff working very hard to guarantee our high quality, unforgettable adveturous experiences on the Isle of Man...

Hoping to see many of our happy and excited customers at some point this weekend, even if you only make an evening social :)
Having a relaxed do @ Ballabrooie on the Fri from 6pm, weather dependant looking at campfire and few activities / challenges (for those who wish) and Sat guest speaker at 7pm and the Ceilidh after at Patrick old school again…
We have a few spaces on different activity sessions, and I know people can’t make the full weekend, it is an absolute bargain @ £99 however :)
If you do fancy a session or two, then contact us for what we can offer…

If you book any session, you get free entry into the evening socials as well!!

Obviously if can’t make the weekend but want to book an adventure with us this summer, please get in touch and we’ll sort that for you :)

Exceeding expectations...

Still full of jubilation from the joyous coasteering session earlier, we were driving down the little winding road to Ny Arbyll for tonight's evening paddle, and gazing out across the expansive bay towards the distant Bradda Head and Calf of Man, and caught sight of a whale breaching about quarter of a mile off the 'tail of rocks'! Excitedly we prepped the kit and wondered if we would be lucky enough to get another sighting...
A perfect evening, with flat calm sea and bright sunshine which would provide an idyllic sunset evening paddle, off the West Coast of the Isle of Man.
A couple who had been watching the bay intently through binoculars passed us a pair and there were three large Basking Sharks milling about just offshore!
So to the water our group went, and after some some initial coaching, set off across the bay. We stopped before the area a pair were feeding in, and waited as a very large adult swam right in front of us before heading off towards the sunset, finally sinking beneith the shimmering surface...
More pics to come, and with Corporate evening paddles running throughout the week, and sea kayak trips running during the day, we'll be hoping for many more close encounters.

The phenomenal clarity of the coastal waters, has remained throughout the year, and whether viewing the sea beds and rocky outcrops passing beneith the sea kayak, or nogotiating a coasteering route and stepping from from one of the numerous natural 'platforms', (with just enough time to whoop with delight) before splashing into the salty depths, being able to view 'ocean life' close up brings out the desire to learn to scuba dive, and explore this other world ...

As well as exploring the coastline, caves, caverns and zawns, Gorge scrambing up the inland glens and water shutes provide some exhilarating experiences! The Classic Adventurous Experience at the weekend had a magnificent backdrop and no shortage of wildlife... This lifestyle just keeps getting better!