Fergal O'Dowd on the Boluise River, Spiddal, Galway.
 UCG Kayak Club - Whitewater.  

UCG Kayak Club's main activity is running whitewater rivers both in Ireland and abroad. The main rivers near Galway include the Lower Corrib, the Boiluisce in Spiddal, pictured left, and the Bundoracha in Mayo amongst others. These river trips take place throughout the year, mainly on Sundays though some take place over a weekend. In previous years, the club has also gone on trips to Wales. Many members also make it to the Alps each summer.  

The Club places a big emphasis on safety, and everyone has the chance to learn the best river running techniques - both on and off the water.  

Whitewater Rivers are graded according to difficulty, with grade 1 being flatwater, grade 6 being MAD (Mutually 
Assured Destruction - of you and your boat). The Club mainly paddles rivers of grade 2,3 and 4. 
 
The Kerry Trip   
  
This trip is the biggest of the year and is a weekend away in Kerry in November. It is primarily for new membersand is your first experience of the thrills of whitewater. About 160 people go on this trip each year, and it hasbecome legendary in UCG, both to people in and out of the Club. We normally stay in eight holiday homes inGlenbeigh, which have their own pub and disco nearby. We arrive in Rossbeigh on a Friday evening, and shootthe Lower Caragh the next day. That night is the disco, followed by surfing on Sunday. That evening we all returnto Galway and resume our normal lives and the personalities required to live in civilised society.  

One cannot fully convey the Kerry experience 
on paper. Ask any member about it, and watch 
them rave endlessly on about. Just remember 
the Kerry motto:-  

"Never put off until Saturday night, what you can 
do on Friday night, because if you try it, and you 
like it, you can do it again on Saturday night !" 
 UCG Kayak Club at the 1997 Intervarsities in Wicklow. 
 
 
Surfing  

Paddle surf involes big waves, you and a kayak. UCG Kayak Club also runs surfing trips when the rivers are dry. The most popular surf break is Lahinch in Clare, but sometimes we go to Doughmore.  

Surfing in a kayak is very much like that with a board except that instead of standing on a surfboard, you sit in your kayak and surf your way in. It's great fun, but goat boaters,as they are known, get alot stick from "real" surfers who think they should stay inland where they belong.  

Despite this (or maybe because of it !) paddle surfing is very popular, and regular competitions take place around Ireland. A more specialised form of paddle surfing involves a surf ski. This is like a large surf board, which you sit on, and use a paddle to propel yourself. The club owns two and sometimes brings them on surf trips.  

People get their first taste of surfing on the Kerry Trip each November, as there is often surf at Rossbeigh beach. The final party of the year always takes place in Lahinch around St. Patrick's weekend, where we spend Saturday and Sunday surfing accompanied by Mr. B. Uckfast.  

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