The 2006 Round Up
A quick summary of my year, where I’ve been and what I’ve been up to

Photography by Robert Piwko

Competing has gone down on my list of priorities this year and I have only entered 2 events, my home event at Hurley, UK, and the International FishSteps Festival in Holland, I was lucky enough to win them both.

Photography by Timmy Raaa

I spent a lot more time in the judging tent at events this year; highlights being head judge at the Euro Cup in Augsburg, Germany, and head judge for the Euro Cup finals in Thun, Switzerland, ensuring fair play and high standards in the sport that is my life.
I secured a monthly feature in Canoe Kayak UK magazine, promoting open canoeing and good paddling techniques for open canoeists. I have had reports and photographs published in several international canoeing magazines from the following events; Teva Mountain Games, Bremgarten Waves ‘n’ Wheels, Thun Euro Cup Finals, International FishSteps Festival, Rhone River Challenge for Children with Leukaemia and the Hurley Classic. I featured in a “Very Important Paddler” interview with my girlfriend Lilli for Kanu Magazin in Germany.
I lead a team on a source to sea descent of the Rhone River to raise money for the charity Children with Leukaemia as part of the Magnificent Seven challenge; we successfully completed over 600km’s in just 11days and raised over £15,000.
A months holiday on the White Nile in Uganda with Lilli checking out the big waves and rapids and the crazy party place that is NRE.
Now I am back in Germany with Lilli waiting for it to snow so we can get out on our boards and rip up the Alps. Reflecting on the year gives me a chance to really appreciate all the beautiful places I have been and the lovely people I have met, thank you to everybody who has made my year what is was and of course a big thank you to my sponsors for supporting me and my crazy antics for another year, long may it continue I don’t wanna be a grown up!
Bring on 2007, peace out and happy new year world,
James