While in Japan with Sarah Outen, I decided to make a “This is the Sea 5” DVD. For some reason I’ve been fighting any urges to make a 5th DVD in the series, probably because I didn’t want the format to become tired and because I felt like taking on some different challenges. Well, it’s now been 3 years since “This is the Sea 4” came out – & in that time I’ve made an open canoeing DVD and I am nearing completion of my first instructional DVD, “This is the Roll” with Cheri Perry & Turner Wilson. I’ve enjoyed these new projects but I also feel the time is right for another ‘inspirational’ seakayaking DVD. While I could try to ‘invent’ another exciting format, it struck me that “This is the Sea” is a very popular series with a good reputation & I regularly get emails asking when the next one is coming out…. so if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. With that in mind, I decided that I’ll work on a “This is the Sea 5” for release in 2012. I already have some material for the DVD – and I have plans for other segments.

Over the last 2 days, I made the most of the fact that the very talented paddler and thoroughly nice chap, Paul Kuthe , was on my home turf for the UK Storm Gathering. I’ve admired Paul’s surfing skills in the DVDs “Pacific Horizons” and “Eastern Horizons” (available in our UK/ Europe/ Australasia store) and was keen to film him in action. Paul agreed to spent Saturday filming with me. The forecast was pretty grim – southerly winds gusting up to 40 knots, and rain. Not ideal for filming and the larger tidal races on Anglesey were out – too windy for that. In the end we headed to Cable Bay, near Rhosneigr where Paul joined some board surfers in the line up for the fat, chunky waves that were rolling in there. The waves were very wind-driven and not super clean, but a headland protected the bay from the main blasts and Paul got some great rides.

On Sunday morning, Barry, Paul & I were up early and on the Swellies wave in the Menai Straits for a 7am surf session. Paul is tired from a week of teaching, training and finally passing his 5 star assessment (not to mention a bit of socializing) but he dragged himself out of bed not really knowing what to expect. He  jumped straight on the wave and was ripping it up! A few minutes later, he appeared back in the eddy with a big grin on his face saying, “I wish I had one of these 15 minutes from my house”.

Also over the weekend was the first “Swellies extreme seakayaking race” organised by “Kayak Essentials“. Paul and I missed the main race because we were filming & didn’t know where the course went, but we rushed back for the ‘mass start’ race and I enjoyed trying to go as fast as possible down the fast flowing Swellies, eddy hopping and paddling around buoys. It was a lot of fun and I hope to compete in the whole event next year. Thanks to Webby from Rockpool kayaks for the photos of Barry and I on the course.

This week I am working on “This is the Roll” which we hope to release before Christmas. The DVD has taken Cheri, Turner & I months of filming, planning & editing in 4 different countries (Sicily, Wales, Scotland and Canada). We hope it provides clear and well thought out instruction, as well as lots of examples of Cheri & Turner teaching students to roll. I’ll write more on that in the next few weeks.

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