0:00:29 > 0:00:32Hello, and a very warm welcome to a brand new series
0:00:32 > 0:00:34of The Adventure Show, bringing you the best action
0:00:34 > 0:00:37and adventure from across Scotland
0:00:37 > 0:00:38and around the world.
0:00:38 > 0:00:39And this year, we're covering
0:00:39 > 0:00:42the Mountain Bike World Cup in Fort William
0:00:42 > 0:00:46and delving into the world of extreme triathlons
0:00:46 > 0:00:47and mountain marathons.
0:00:47 > 0:00:49And we're not just going to be spectators either,
0:00:49 > 0:00:52we're going to be taking on some serious challenges,
0:00:52 > 0:00:56both on dry land and in the water.
0:00:56 > 0:00:59And I'm back again too, showing you some of the finest
0:00:59 > 0:01:00mountains in Scotland.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03I'll also be checking out some of the best
0:01:03 > 0:01:05of what the continent has to offer.
0:01:05 > 0:01:08We're starting off with the premier canoe slalom
0:01:08 > 0:01:11on the River Tay in Highland Perthshire.
0:01:11 > 0:01:14It's great to be back at one of the most important
0:01:14 > 0:01:18races of the season at the spiritual home of Scottish paddling.
0:01:18 > 0:01:21It's really good to come back to the home water, you know.
0:01:21 > 0:01:22Just to see all the youngsters
0:01:22 > 0:01:25on this water is great
0:01:25 > 0:01:28and for us, coming up to this river, they all seem to love it.
0:01:28 > 0:01:30There's always a big buzz about.
0:01:32 > 0:01:34Later in this month's Adventure Show,
0:01:34 > 0:01:37Deziree will be exploring the wilds of Wester Ross
0:01:37 > 0:01:38on foot and by boat...
0:01:39 > 0:01:41Oh, no! I'm sorry!
0:01:41 > 0:01:44..and Cameron will be heading up one of Perthshire's iconic hills
0:01:44 > 0:01:47Ben Vrackie, and we'll be taking to the skies...
0:01:47 > 0:01:49Yeah!
0:01:49 > 0:01:51..for a sport that's always full of surprises.
0:01:51 > 0:01:54You never know what the next thermal is going to bring.
0:01:54 > 0:01:57I banked over the turn and there's an eagle on my wingtip
0:01:57 > 0:01:59and I'm flying with it and we're going up together
0:01:59 > 0:02:01and he's looking at me and I'm looking at him
0:02:01 > 0:02:04and he's going "Cawww!" and I'm going "Hello, how are you doing?"
0:02:04 > 0:02:07You know, it's a good climb and up we go.
0:02:07 > 0:02:12All of that is to come, but first to the Grandtully Premier Slalom.
0:02:12 > 0:02:16Now, after the success of Scottish paddlers in last year's Olympics,
0:02:16 > 0:02:21I think it's fair to say that this is a sport that's riding high.
0:02:21 > 0:02:24We've got a lot of up-and-coming athletes. I see a lot of talent,
0:02:24 > 0:02:26Like, I look at them and I admire them so much
0:02:26 > 0:02:28for the hours they put in already.
0:02:28 > 0:02:31We're pushing to be one of the best nations in the world now
0:02:31 > 0:02:34and hopefully that will encourage some youngsters
0:02:34 > 0:02:35to get involved in the sport
0:02:35 > 0:02:38as they see the success of our better athletes.
0:02:38 > 0:02:39After the Olympics,
0:02:39 > 0:02:43I think even more youngsters will start as well.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46The people that are paddling now are young and very, very fast.
0:02:46 > 0:02:49MAN SHOUTS
0:02:49 > 0:02:53And we've no shortage of action from the water.
0:02:53 > 0:02:56In this programme, we have the men's and women's K1 class where
0:02:56 > 0:02:58they use double-bladed paddles
0:02:58 > 0:03:02and we've the single-bladed C1 and C2 classes
0:03:02 > 0:03:04where the racers kneel in the boats.
0:03:04 > 0:03:06Heading up the C2 class
0:03:06 > 0:03:10are Tim Baillie, who grew up in Aberdeen, and Etienne Stott.
0:03:10 > 0:03:13They put in the performance of a lifetime
0:03:13 > 0:03:16to win Olympic gold at London 2012.
0:03:16 > 0:03:18We've had a lot of almost...
0:03:18 > 0:03:19close-but-no-cigar sort of races
0:03:19 > 0:03:23where we've felt we've performed pretty well and just little bits
0:03:23 > 0:03:24haven't worked out and so, yeah,
0:03:24 > 0:03:28winning the Olympics is absolutely a crowning glory.
0:03:28 > 0:03:31And we've put Tim and Etienne to good use.
0:03:31 > 0:03:35They're showing us what this year's Grandtully is like.
0:03:35 > 0:03:37Getting up some speed now to cross the start line.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40The water's quite shallow at the top of the course here,
0:03:40 > 0:03:43so the boat is draggy, you can see the bows lifting up in the water.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46- We're really pushing hard.- So you've got to get up your momentum,
0:03:46 > 0:03:51slide down the top four and just try and steer it into gate two
0:03:51 > 0:03:55and put the burners on and race across the three,
0:03:55 > 0:03:58try to hold the bow up, have to be a bit careful to get out of there.
0:04:00 > 0:04:03Working hard out and just steering a little into four,
0:04:03 > 0:04:05got a boost through there,
0:04:05 > 0:04:09turn it back hard in five, try and work hard to get above the rock.
0:04:09 > 0:04:11We need to be careful not to chip
0:04:11 > 0:04:13the side of the boat on the underwater rock there
0:04:13 > 0:04:15and a very tight sequence approaching now,
0:04:15 > 0:04:18bit of water over the bows there, just slowing us
0:04:18 > 0:04:22up a little bit as we work to a tight manoeuvre here,
0:04:22 > 0:04:23downstream in the eddy.
0:04:23 > 0:04:26Working hard to get away again, keep the speed up,
0:04:26 > 0:04:30trying to be careful into the upstream,
0:04:30 > 0:04:33try and hold the boat upstream as far as we can and out.
0:04:35 > 0:04:38Trying to keep the bows down through these gates,
0:04:38 > 0:04:40keep the boat down in the water into the ups
0:04:40 > 0:04:43so we can use the eddy water to bounce around.
0:04:43 > 0:04:45And now working into the final sequence.
0:04:45 > 0:04:49The physical effort of the run has really filled up your arms
0:04:49 > 0:04:52with lactic acid. It's going to be hard work from now on.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55We've got to be very precise around these final turns.
0:04:55 > 0:04:59Yeah, working as hard as we can, but also being careful not to hit
0:04:59 > 0:05:01the last couple of gates, and round the last up
0:05:01 > 0:05:04and then really trying to get our stroke rate up
0:05:04 > 0:05:06and go as fast as we can to the finish.
0:05:06 > 0:05:08And across the finish line,
0:05:08 > 0:05:10Tim leans forward to steal a few hundredths.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13We'll find out later on in the programme whether Tim
0:05:13 > 0:05:16and Etienne can take the top spot here in Grandtully,
0:05:16 > 0:05:19but first we're starting with the women's K1.
0:05:19 > 0:05:23Today, the water level here at Grandtully is extremely low,
0:05:23 > 0:05:26which is going to make for some tough racing.
0:05:26 > 0:05:29You really have to attack the course and keep the boat running
0:05:29 > 0:05:31cos there's not much time on the course at all to make up on,
0:05:31 > 0:05:35like, staggers, like, everyone could do them forward, basically,
0:05:35 > 0:05:38so you really have to be the fastest you can on them.
0:05:38 > 0:05:41The bottom of the course is very physical cos you've got
0:05:41 > 0:05:43a couple of ups and then there's some down sets,
0:05:43 > 0:05:45so you're zigzagging across the river
0:05:45 > 0:05:48and they're really testing you physically down there.
0:05:48 > 0:05:51Each competitor has two runs down the course
0:05:51 > 0:05:54and it's the fastest time from either the first or second
0:05:54 > 0:05:58run that counts, with two seconds added for a touch on a gate
0:05:58 > 0:06:01and 50 seconds if you miss it entirely.
0:06:01 > 0:06:03In the women's K1 class,
0:06:03 > 0:06:07the first run proved to be a closely-fought contest.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10Just four seconds separated the top three paddlers...
0:06:15 > 0:06:18They're all highly experienced racers, with both Lizzie
0:06:18 > 0:06:21and Fiona former Olympians.
0:06:21 > 0:06:24Just behind them in fourth is a potential hope for the future,
0:06:24 > 0:06:27under-18 paddler Kimberley Woods.
0:06:27 > 0:06:31We're joining the action for the second run as Lizzie Neave
0:06:31 > 0:06:36takes to the water and there's still all to play for.
0:06:36 > 0:06:37Whoa! Putting the power on at the top,
0:06:37 > 0:06:40getting as much speed as she possibly can.
0:06:40 > 0:06:44And Lizzie, of course, and Fiona Pennie, such great rivals.
0:06:45 > 0:06:47Lizzie was the Olympic boat last year in London,
0:06:47 > 0:06:51four years before that it was Fiona Pennie over in Beijing
0:06:51 > 0:06:54but Lizzie finished the first run in second place
0:06:54 > 0:06:57with a time of 108.65,
0:06:57 > 0:07:002.39 seconds behind Fiona Pennie.
0:07:02 > 0:07:04So what can Lizzie do to improve on that?
0:07:04 > 0:07:05Number four on her jersey.
0:07:07 > 0:07:11Alongside Fiona Pennie, they used to train together all the time.
0:07:11 > 0:07:13They've now split up and changed coaches
0:07:13 > 0:07:18and they're training individually and the idea is to get them
0:07:18 > 0:07:22both faster without watching what each other is doing.
0:07:22 > 0:07:26Lizzie with the Union Jack on the paddle blades there.
0:07:28 > 0:07:30Can she improve on her time?
0:07:30 > 0:07:33108.65 it was, the first time down.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36Now she heads towards 15.
0:07:36 > 0:07:39And when the sun comes out it keeps us all nice and warm,
0:07:39 > 0:07:44but Lizzie Neave will be absolutely boiling at this stage of the course.
0:07:44 > 0:07:47All the effort put in and she powers on down towards the bottom
0:07:47 > 0:07:49and heads towards the last upstream gate.
0:07:51 > 0:07:55Round that and powers on to the finish.
0:07:55 > 0:07:58Well, this is looking quicker than her first run,
0:07:58 > 0:08:00but is it good enough to beat Fiona?
0:08:00 > 0:08:02No, not quite. 107.8.
0:08:02 > 0:08:05That may be enough for a podium finish,
0:08:05 > 0:08:07but no win here today for Lizzie Neave.
0:08:09 > 0:08:12So, Kimberley Woods here looking really good so far.
0:08:16 > 0:08:19Dipping very tight to that gate, did very well,
0:08:19 > 0:08:23hoping for a nice, clean line through here,
0:08:23 > 0:08:26so lying in fourth position after the first run,
0:08:26 > 0:08:29Kimberley Woods didn't pick up any penalties in the first run.
0:08:31 > 0:08:38So, Kimberley, junior, under-18, but here competing well for a top spot.
0:08:41 > 0:08:44And very good, long reach, this girl has.
0:08:46 > 0:08:50Technically pretty competent, strong.
0:08:52 > 0:08:54And then coming into upstream gate 12,
0:08:54 > 0:08:58a nice powerful spin on that left hand
0:08:58 > 0:09:01and getting the blade in, turning the boat and the blade,
0:09:01 > 0:09:04moving the boat around the blade rather than the other way round.
0:09:07 > 0:09:10And very nicely done. The gate was just swinging there.
0:09:10 > 0:09:16She turned it perfectly, and she's tight there into 17.
0:09:19 > 0:09:21So, Kimberley looking good so far.
0:09:24 > 0:09:27Oh, a little bit slow around 19, tiring a little bit
0:09:27 > 0:09:31as she comes into the last gate and a sprint to the finish.
0:09:31 > 0:09:34And as she comes to the line, she looks absolutely exhausted,
0:09:34 > 0:09:37finishing at a time of 109.73.
0:09:37 > 0:09:39That puts her currently into third place
0:09:39 > 0:09:40and it's a great run
0:09:40 > 0:09:42for this rising star.
0:09:44 > 0:09:48Here is Louise Donnington, third after the first run,
0:09:48 > 0:09:51a time of 110.24.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59Nice and smooth round the top section, absolutely fine,
0:09:59 > 0:10:00now this bit here.
0:10:00 > 0:10:03This is where the time can be made up if you keep it nice and smooth,
0:10:03 > 0:10:06get the boat in the right position and just get through these
0:10:06 > 0:10:08downstream gates - has she done it?
0:10:08 > 0:10:12Doesn't have to correct too much, just a bit of bow rudder there.
0:10:12 > 0:10:14And flies around. Yeah, not looking too bad...
0:10:14 > 0:10:17Oh, a little mistake there! Had to correct.
0:10:17 > 0:10:19That'll cost her a bit of time.
0:10:19 > 0:10:22Unfortunately, she's clipped gate eight, that's going to be
0:10:22 > 0:10:24a two-second penalty and it's knocked her off her stride.
0:10:24 > 0:10:28Out of line for gate 10. My goodness, she needs to refocus
0:10:28 > 0:10:32if she's got any chance of reining in Fiona's first-run time.
0:10:32 > 0:10:35She was looking so smooth and so sweet in the middle section
0:10:35 > 0:10:40until gate number eight when it just went a wee bit wrong there.
0:10:40 > 0:10:43Just lost the bow of the boat in the white water
0:10:43 > 0:10:45and had to do some evasive action.
0:10:45 > 0:10:48It could have cost her too much time but we'll see.
0:10:50 > 0:10:53Looks like she's still got plenty left in the tank, though,
0:10:53 > 0:10:55as she batters on down to the bottom.
0:10:57 > 0:10:59But that two-second penalty is costly.
0:10:59 > 0:11:03It brings her total time to 110.13
0:11:03 > 0:11:05and that'll keep her off the podium.
0:11:08 > 0:11:09So on the course now,
0:11:09 > 0:11:13Fiona Pennie who was quite far ahead of everybody else.
0:11:13 > 0:11:17And Fiona now is really, really showing her class.
0:11:17 > 0:11:22Absolutely fantastic paddler, totally motivated.
0:11:22 > 0:11:26She told me earlier on that she wants to continue until 2016.
0:11:28 > 0:11:31To stay in the elite level until Brazil would be a tremendous
0:11:31 > 0:11:35achievement, but she has now relocated from Nottingham to London,
0:11:35 > 0:11:40so that she can train full-time on the artificial river down there
0:11:40 > 0:11:44that was built for the Olympics. And Fiona absolutely looking superb.
0:11:44 > 0:11:46Very long reach, strong shoulders and hands,
0:11:46 > 0:11:49driving the boat forward - certainly the fastest paddler
0:11:49 > 0:11:55we've seen through the middle part of the course. Nicely done, Fiona.
0:11:55 > 0:11:58Just a little bit...you could see the paddle slightly in the water,
0:11:58 > 0:12:00not completely clean,
0:12:00 > 0:12:04but she is in a class of her own by the looks of it today.
0:12:04 > 0:12:06Leant back slightly before there.
0:12:08 > 0:12:11Two strokes of the right hand, she wouldn't have liked to do that.
0:12:11 > 0:12:17Oh, just slightly fluffed that, but Fiona pushing on into 17,
0:12:17 > 0:12:23and straight across the river to catch 18 upstream. Nicely done.
0:12:23 > 0:12:29So, here she goes, powering through 19 to the finish.
0:12:29 > 0:12:33And that is another great run from Fiona, 106.47,
0:12:33 > 0:12:35almost identical to her first run
0:12:35 > 0:12:37and easily enough to secure the top spot,
0:12:37 > 0:12:40so confirmation of those results...
0:12:57 > 0:12:59Yes, it was a tough race - physical, very physical,
0:12:59 > 0:13:02still out of breath now, but, yeah, you really had to push.
0:13:02 > 0:13:05Yes, I did a very good first run and I was pleased,
0:13:05 > 0:13:07it was very solid and it's all about tightening the lines up
0:13:07 > 0:13:10and trying to go a bit faster in the second run.
0:13:10 > 0:13:12Congratulations to Fiona Pennie -
0:13:12 > 0:13:14a winner here at Grandtully once again.
0:13:14 > 0:13:18Now, you can call it good planning or you can call it luck.
0:13:18 > 0:13:21I prefer the former, but we spoke to Fiona before this event
0:13:21 > 0:13:24and she revealed her tricks of the trade for getting down this
0:13:24 > 0:13:25river as fast as possible.
0:13:32 > 0:13:36Fiona, competition on natural rivers are quite unusual for you,
0:13:36 > 0:13:39so this is quite a different option for you.
0:13:39 > 0:13:42Yes, I'm sure nowadays most of our races are on artificial courses
0:13:42 > 0:13:44and coming back to paddle on a natural course,
0:13:44 > 0:13:47you sort of have to think a little bit differently.
0:13:47 > 0:13:49Are you going to show us some of the things actually on the river?
0:13:49 > 0:13:51I'll stand at the side and watch you.
0:13:51 > 0:13:54- I'll not follow you down cos I'll end up swimming.- I'll give it a try.
0:13:55 > 0:13:57First up, the stagger.
0:13:57 > 0:14:01This is a sequence of downstream gates set across the current.
0:14:01 > 0:14:04It's much harder than it first appears. The key is getting
0:14:04 > 0:14:08the boat on the correct line before moving across the current.
0:14:09 > 0:14:11You come out of this gate.
0:14:11 > 0:14:14What's important is that we turn before the gate, do a big sweep,
0:14:14 > 0:14:19do a rudder before the gate, sweep through, another sweep,
0:14:19 > 0:14:22rudder before the gate.
0:14:22 > 0:14:25On down to the next section -
0:14:25 > 0:14:27sweep, rudder,
0:14:27 > 0:14:29rudder before the gate and away.
0:14:29 > 0:14:33We change where we put the weight in the boat, you know,
0:14:33 > 0:14:35we lean back a little bit for the pole.
0:14:35 > 0:14:37It makes it easier to turn the boat,
0:14:37 > 0:14:41and then when we go away from the gate again, leaving the gate,
0:14:41 > 0:14:44we tend to put the weight on the front of the boat to try to get
0:14:44 > 0:14:46the boat to squirt forward.
0:14:46 > 0:14:48When it comes to the upstream break-out gates,
0:14:48 > 0:14:51there are two techniques. This is the basic three-stroke break-out.
0:14:53 > 0:14:57Coming down the current into the eddy, sweep into the gate,
0:14:57 > 0:15:02bear rudder around the pole and sweep out of the gate and away.
0:15:02 > 0:15:04That's a fairly safe way of getting around the poles here,
0:15:04 > 0:15:06unlikely to hit the poles.
0:15:06 > 0:15:10It's just something we do when the water's a little more tricky
0:15:10 > 0:15:13around the gate and we can't predict what's going to happen.
0:15:13 > 0:15:16When conditions are more favourable, there's a faster option,
0:15:16 > 0:15:19the reverse stroke breakout.
0:15:19 > 0:15:21We come a lot closer to the gate when we're coming into the eddy.
0:15:23 > 0:15:27So come down, getting the bows right under the gate,
0:15:27 > 0:15:31neck around the pole, reverse and rudder and out.
0:15:31 > 0:15:35You use a lot of strength to do the upstreams very quickly
0:15:35 > 0:15:39and obviously we've had lots of hours in the gym to get that strength.
0:15:39 > 0:15:41You just learn the spacing.
0:15:41 > 0:15:43You have to know how far away from the pole you want to be when
0:15:43 > 0:15:47you start initiating the turn on the boat, when you come around the gate,
0:15:47 > 0:15:49and then, you know, just a lot of practice.
0:15:49 > 0:15:53Let's face it, I don't think I'll be trying those any time soon,
0:15:53 > 0:15:57but we will be seeing plenty of those techniques later on.
0:15:57 > 0:15:58That's all to come.
0:15:58 > 0:16:02Right now, we're heading to the north-west Highlands with Deziree Wilson.
0:16:08 > 0:16:13On a cold, slightly dreich day, typical of this year's spring,
0:16:13 > 0:16:16Deziree has joined Backcountry enthusiast Andy Toop
0:16:16 > 0:16:18for an unusual journey.
0:16:18 > 0:16:22Well, at first glance it looks like we're just out for a nice walk
0:16:22 > 0:16:24but that's not the whole story.
0:16:24 > 0:16:27Although we're on foot just now, around the corner there's a loch
0:16:27 > 0:16:31and then further along our route we've got a river to negotiate
0:16:31 > 0:16:32so what's the secret?
0:16:32 > 0:16:35Well, today I haven't got my trekking poles with me,
0:16:35 > 0:16:37but I've got paddles.
0:16:38 > 0:16:40This is packrafting.
0:16:40 > 0:16:43It is a combination of rafting on one-person dinghies,
0:16:43 > 0:16:49small enough to fit in a backpack, and hiking when the river runs out.
0:16:49 > 0:16:52The whole idea of having the ability to link the blue bits together
0:16:52 > 0:16:57on a map is, I suppose, the idea of packrafting.
0:16:57 > 0:16:59The ability to travel through
0:16:59 > 0:17:05and immerse myself in the wilderness, in the Backcountry, is the appeal.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10So, how does it work? It's easy.
0:17:10 > 0:17:14When you're hiking, the raft is packed in your rucksack,
0:17:14 > 0:17:17and when you reach a piece of water, you take it out,
0:17:17 > 0:17:19blow it up, and off you paddle.
0:17:19 > 0:17:21At least that's the theory.
0:17:23 > 0:17:28- I can let the bag inflate or I can try and catch wind.- OK.
0:17:29 > 0:17:31Close it up.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34And once you're there, put it on your thighs.
0:17:37 > 0:17:40Yes, yes, that's good.
0:17:40 > 0:17:42Oh, look at that!
0:17:42 > 0:17:46If you take the beach dinghies from your childhood,
0:17:46 > 0:17:49those ones that cost a fiver -
0:17:49 > 0:17:53take one of those and make it a real grown-up's dinghy
0:17:53 > 0:17:56that's the same size and shape.
0:17:58 > 0:18:00The boat's super stable.
0:18:01 > 0:18:04- And I'm in.- OK.
0:18:08 > 0:18:12'I came across packrafts with a bunch of guys adventuring in Alaska.
0:18:12 > 0:18:15'So, we bought packrafts on a whim, I suppose.
0:18:17 > 0:18:24'The way it opens up the areas you can travel through is just unbelievable.
0:18:24 > 0:18:29'You find yourself in places where maybe no-one's been.'
0:18:31 > 0:18:34- Such a great craft for beginners. - Yes.
0:18:34 > 0:18:37- They're super friendly.- Yeah.
0:18:37 > 0:18:41There you go, you are a packrafting professional already.
0:18:45 > 0:18:48'To be self-sufficient with regards to my mode of travel
0:18:48 > 0:18:50'and having those options.
0:18:50 > 0:18:54'I can take un-navigated paths,
0:18:54 > 0:18:57'un-navigated rivers, that's the appeal.
0:18:57 > 0:19:04'It's new, it's exciting, it feels like real adventuring to me.'
0:19:05 > 0:19:09- Do you want some help with yours? Are you OK?- I'll be OK, thank you.
0:19:09 > 0:19:13That's good. I reckon just here keeps it out of the wind
0:19:13 > 0:19:15as much as possible.
0:19:17 > 0:19:21We wouldn't want it blowing away as it's the best part of £1,000.
0:19:22 > 0:19:25It seems a lot for what is a kiddy's dinghy
0:19:25 > 0:19:29but they're incredibly robust.
0:19:30 > 0:19:33As neat as possible, getting all the air out
0:19:33 > 0:19:38- because that's what's going to give us our minute pack size.- OK.
0:19:48 > 0:19:54There are so many permutations, so many hills, glens, tops.
0:19:54 > 0:19:59You can just get lost for days and days.
0:19:59 > 0:20:01- Lost in a good way, you know? - Yeah, I was thinking,
0:20:01 > 0:20:04it's pretty unlikely we're going to meet anybody else around here today.
0:20:04 > 0:20:08And I'm not noticing the weight of it that much at all.
0:20:08 > 0:20:10It doesn't really feel like I'm carrying a rucksack
0:20:10 > 0:20:13that's much heavier than what I would be used to carrying
0:20:13 > 0:20:14for a day hike anyway.
0:20:16 > 0:20:20That's the river down there. We're going to head out...
0:20:20 > 0:20:22then you see the river down there.
0:20:22 > 0:20:26That sort of ultralight revolution that's come through from the States,
0:20:26 > 0:20:29we are down at 2.5 kilos and, you know,
0:20:29 > 0:20:33you're looking at other crafts which are closer to 12 or 15 kilos, and
0:20:33 > 0:20:36you just couldn't lug those around with your own personal kit as well.
0:20:36 > 0:20:40There's lots of other kit that we have that makes all this possible.
0:20:40 > 0:20:43Maybe a few years ago it wouldn't be possible.
0:20:43 > 0:20:46Even with the same boats cos everything else is so heavy
0:20:46 > 0:20:48but it's good the way things are advancing.
0:20:53 > 0:20:56If we drop down here, we can see most of the rapid.
0:20:56 > 0:20:59It's going to swing left and hopefully there'll be
0:20:59 > 0:21:02an eddy down there and stuff, what do you reckon to that?
0:21:02 > 0:21:05If I just tuck in behind you and then just follow your line.
0:21:20 > 0:21:25The nature of these rivers in these tucked-away glens,
0:21:25 > 0:21:29you are running them blind, there's no guidebooks.
0:21:29 > 0:21:31If we couldn't see...
0:21:31 > 0:21:35The few times we couldn't see, it was getting out and having a look.
0:21:37 > 0:21:41We had to walk a wee bit down where it was too shallow.
0:21:41 > 0:21:43Again, that's all just part of it.
0:21:45 > 0:21:49I really like that element of just not really knowing what was coming next.
0:21:49 > 0:21:51Every section was a wee bit different,
0:21:51 > 0:21:54you're having to do something a little bit different with boat,
0:21:54 > 0:21:55a bit different with the paddle.
0:21:55 > 0:21:58There's just something quite fun about it.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01You feel like you are journeying just that little section as well.
0:22:03 > 0:22:05Oh, no! Sorry!
0:22:05 > 0:22:08It's definitely an adventure off the beaten path.
0:22:08 > 0:22:14It's part of the drive, part of the passion that fuels this thing for me.
0:22:14 > 0:22:19It's why I keep doing it, I keep finding myself soaking wet,
0:22:19 > 0:22:23sitting on some windswept loch in the middle of absolutely nowhere.
0:22:23 > 0:22:25But every time I still get that good feeling.
0:22:27 > 0:22:30Oh, goodness! Oh!
0:22:30 > 0:22:33That is not my natural environment, I have to say,
0:22:33 > 0:22:35but I did really enjoy it.
0:22:35 > 0:22:36Time for another?
0:22:36 > 0:22:38To find out more about packrafting
0:22:38 > 0:22:40and the other items in this month's programme,
0:22:40 > 0:22:43don't forget to join the bigger Adventure Show community
0:22:43 > 0:22:46and follow us on Facebook.
0:22:52 > 0:22:55Welcome back to the Premier Slalom here at Grandtully.
0:22:55 > 0:22:58Now it's time for the kneeling C1 discipline.
0:22:58 > 0:23:01In C1s you've actually got to tie yourself into your boat
0:23:01 > 0:23:03so these are Velcro straps which hold yourself in place
0:23:03 > 0:23:06rather than wedging your knees in the kayak.
0:23:06 > 0:23:08Does that make it more difficult to get out
0:23:08 > 0:23:10if you have to get out of the boat?
0:23:10 > 0:23:14It takes a wee bit longer, but not normally a problem at competitions.
0:23:15 > 0:23:20The Grandtully Premier Slalom is unusual because it uses a natural river.
0:23:20 > 0:23:22Every day the water can be different
0:23:22 > 0:23:26and how the course is set plays a huge part in shaping the race.
0:23:26 > 0:23:29We always have the issue with the canoes
0:23:29 > 0:23:31that you have righties and lefties
0:23:31 > 0:23:34so you've got to make the course balanced to suit those
0:23:34 > 0:23:37because you can't have it more biased in one way
0:23:37 > 0:23:40but I think you've always got to find a balance of technical moves
0:23:40 > 0:23:43to challenge the paddlers and also a bit of physical.
0:23:43 > 0:23:46On a natural river like this where you can't actually move
0:23:46 > 0:23:49the boulders around and create eddies and so on,
0:23:49 > 0:23:52what are you looking for to make a really nice, fluid course?
0:23:52 > 0:23:55We're always looking to see where the water runs,
0:23:55 > 0:23:57if a wave runs in a certain way,
0:23:57 > 0:23:59can we set the gates where the paddler has to use
0:23:59 > 0:24:02that bit of water to get the best out of the course, really.
0:24:02 > 0:24:04So you're always looking to try and
0:24:04 > 0:24:07work with the water instead of against it.
0:24:07 > 0:24:11In the first run down for the C1 paddlers, two under-23 competitors
0:24:11 > 0:24:15from south of the border were fighting it out for the fastest time.
0:24:15 > 0:24:18Thomas Quinn had a clean run through the gates
0:24:18 > 0:24:21and came home in a time of 107.84 seconds,
0:24:21 > 0:24:25but even quicker, Adam Burgess limboed his way down the course
0:24:25 > 0:24:27in a time of 105.87.
0:24:29 > 0:24:31With the rest of the field about seven seconds off the pace,
0:24:31 > 0:24:35the scene is set for a showdown between these two paddlers.
0:24:35 > 0:24:38First up is Thomas Quinn.
0:24:38 > 0:24:41It is the fastest time from either run that counts
0:24:41 > 0:24:44so Thomas will be keen to put pressure on Adam Burgess.
0:24:44 > 0:24:46So, Thomas Quinn.
0:24:48 > 0:24:51There's the man - he finished in second place,
0:24:51 > 0:24:541.97 seconds so he can do this here,
0:24:54 > 0:24:57he can make a big, big run down this course,
0:24:57 > 0:24:59he could take the leader's...
0:25:01 > 0:25:04And he's trying pretty hard for it as well.
0:25:04 > 0:25:06Working very hard indeed, you can see the cadence of the paddling,
0:25:06 > 0:25:10really, really working hard, incredibly hard to get round.
0:25:10 > 0:25:12Using the speed of the river, getting across quickly.
0:25:12 > 0:25:14Oh, this is looking good.
0:25:14 > 0:25:18If he keeps this clean, this could be very impressive indeed.
0:25:19 > 0:25:23Thomas Quinn was from the Lower Wharfe Club,
0:25:23 > 0:25:26working really, really hard to go around 12 there.
0:25:26 > 0:25:27Was he a wee bit wide?
0:25:27 > 0:25:32Just using a little push off that rock, that is allowed.
0:25:32 > 0:25:35If it's there, you are allowed to use it.
0:25:35 > 0:25:37And a little limbo to get through 14.
0:25:37 > 0:25:40Now, what's he got left at the end here? A lovely pirouette through 15.
0:25:42 > 0:25:44And still he looks like he's working very hard,
0:25:44 > 0:25:47still it looks like he's got lots of gas left in the tank
0:25:47 > 0:25:50as he batters on down towards the bottom of the course.
0:25:50 > 0:25:531.97 he has to make up from the last run to take
0:25:53 > 0:25:58the leader's place on this Premier Slalom at Grandtully.
0:25:58 > 0:26:02Through 19 and off towards the finish for Thomas Quinn.
0:26:04 > 0:26:07And he crosses the line in the time of 106.24,
0:26:07 > 0:26:10faster than his first run but not enough for top spot.
0:26:10 > 0:26:12And he looks so disappointed.
0:26:15 > 0:26:18And here is our leader, Adam Burgess, coming down now.
0:26:18 > 0:26:24A really fine first run he put in, 105.87, with no penalty points.
0:26:24 > 0:26:27What's he got in the second run?
0:26:29 > 0:26:32He uses that stopper to lift up and over.
0:26:32 > 0:26:34So, he's going through three now.
0:26:34 > 0:26:36He knows he's in the lead.
0:26:37 > 0:26:40Clearly he wants to improve on that,
0:26:40 > 0:26:43but he doesn't know how anyone else has done up to this point
0:26:43 > 0:26:48so he'll be wanting to get nice and clean and nice and fast.
0:26:50 > 0:26:54So far, so good for the Stafford and Stone paddler.
0:26:56 > 0:26:59Thomas Quinn really was working so hard at this point
0:26:59 > 0:27:02and got really quick during the middle section of the course.
0:27:02 > 0:27:05Adam Burgess doesn't look as quick but he's very smooth.
0:27:05 > 0:27:08His lines are fine so he knows he's ahead.
0:27:08 > 0:27:11He doesn't have to do anything really to stay ahead,
0:27:11 > 0:27:14keep it nice and clean, keep it nice and careful.
0:27:14 > 0:27:17And he knows he's got the power left.
0:27:17 > 0:27:19It doesn't look like he's had to work ridiculously hard in
0:27:19 > 0:27:23the top section of the course but he can really make up some time here.
0:27:25 > 0:27:27And here we go.
0:27:27 > 0:27:30He keeps it going all the way down to 18,
0:27:30 > 0:27:33and nicely round that.
0:27:33 > 0:27:36Home and free through 19 and off to the finish
0:27:36 > 0:27:39and looking pretty good for Adam Burgess.
0:27:39 > 0:27:42And it is, that tremendous time, 103.66,
0:27:42 > 0:27:47two seconds faster than his first run and three seconds clear of the field.
0:27:47 > 0:27:49A triumph of technique and strength.
0:27:50 > 0:27:53So, at the end of the men's C1 competition,
0:27:53 > 0:27:57Thomas Abbot was third in a time of 111.37.
0:27:57 > 0:28:02Thomas Quinn pushed hard but could only maintain second place at 106.24
0:28:02 > 0:28:07while the clear winner here today was Adam Burgess with 103.66.
0:28:07 > 0:28:10I had a little bit of an error to correct
0:28:10 > 0:28:12on gate two that time, which I did,
0:28:12 > 0:28:16and the same as this morning, just kept it really smooth and it worked.
0:28:16 > 0:28:19Obviously now with the Olympic success in C2,
0:28:19 > 0:28:22how much difference has that made now to your motivation
0:28:22 > 0:28:25and the motivation of the team and the funding and so on?
0:28:25 > 0:28:29It was definitely a really inspiring day watching Dave and Richard
0:28:29 > 0:28:31and Tim and Etienne get the medals.
0:28:31 > 0:28:33I also paddle C2 as well
0:28:33 > 0:28:37and we were one place behind those guys to make the team that year,
0:28:37 > 0:28:41so I guess I am looking forward to 2016 to hopefully making the team in both classes.
0:28:41 > 0:28:44Now it's time for the discipline
0:28:44 > 0:28:47that everyone's talking about, the men's C2 event.
0:28:47 > 0:28:52In canoe slalom, young and inexperienced paddlers compete against the stars.
0:28:52 > 0:28:56For gold medallists Tim Baillie and Etienne Stott,
0:28:56 > 0:28:59this is one of the great things about the sport.
0:28:59 > 0:29:01In football or whatever, the really big sports,
0:29:01 > 0:29:03it's very hard for there to be
0:29:03 > 0:29:05that connection from the top of the sport to the bottom
0:29:05 > 0:29:09but in canoe slalom, it's a nice, friendly sport and it's much easier.
0:29:09 > 0:29:11It's one of the things I think Tim and I are both really keen on.
0:29:11 > 0:29:13When we were younger, because we were in this sport,
0:29:13 > 0:29:16we had access to the top athletes and when you see them
0:29:16 > 0:29:19and you realise that they're just very similar to you,
0:29:19 > 0:29:21they do things differently but they're no different,
0:29:21 > 0:29:23they're not superhuman in any way,
0:29:23 > 0:29:25that's a really powerful message to people to say
0:29:25 > 0:29:27you can do what you want to do, you can do anything you like.
0:29:27 > 0:29:31I noticed yesterday when you were here doing some practice on the river
0:29:31 > 0:29:34that a lot of the younger paddlers saw you coming and moved out of the way
0:29:34 > 0:29:36cos you're Olympic champions, everyone's looking at you.
0:29:36 > 0:29:39Your life has changed quite a bit, I'd imagine, since the Olympics.
0:29:39 > 0:29:41Yeah, I mean, our lives have changed.
0:29:41 > 0:29:44A lot of the things we've done since the Olympics you would never
0:29:44 > 0:29:47have the opportunity to do if you didn't win an Olympic medal but
0:29:47 > 0:29:50at the same time, to be fair, people are probably moving out of the way
0:29:50 > 0:29:53because they see a big C2 with 160 kilos of people in,
0:29:53 > 0:29:56looking fairly out-of-control half of the time, so, I think...
0:29:56 > 0:29:59That's the nice thing about canoeing, it's a really small sport.
0:29:59 > 0:30:01Everyone's known us for years and arguably we're
0:30:01 > 0:30:05at the pinnacle of the sport, winning the Olympic gold medal.
0:30:05 > 0:30:09I remember watching it, the race, and we were joking before,
0:30:09 > 0:30:12you know, we might get a one-two and no-one actually believed that
0:30:12 > 0:30:14but the actual race, I can still remember it now,
0:30:14 > 0:30:16it was absolutely electric.
0:30:16 > 0:30:20A fantastic experience and it is fantastic for the sport.
0:30:20 > 0:30:22Obviously everyone knows Tim and Etienne,
0:30:22 > 0:30:25they've been racing on the circuit for years, but is it different now
0:30:25 > 0:30:28being against these guys because they're now Olympic champions?
0:30:28 > 0:30:31I think definitely getting in at the start, I was quite...
0:30:31 > 0:30:33"This doesn't happen very often to me,
0:30:33 > 0:30:35"getting on the water with the Olympic champions."
0:30:35 > 0:30:39Yes, I had a little smile at the top. I thought, "That's good."
0:30:39 > 0:30:42So, as we head into action for the first run,
0:30:42 > 0:30:44the stage is set for Tim and Etienne
0:30:44 > 0:30:48to show the kind of paddling that won them an Olympic gold medal.
0:30:48 > 0:30:51And in the first run they're on top form once again,
0:30:51 > 0:30:53working hard all the way down the course,
0:30:53 > 0:30:56their years of experience are paying dividends.
0:30:56 > 0:30:58But they're not having it all their own way.
0:30:58 > 0:31:00Rhys Davies and Matt Lister,
0:31:00 > 0:31:04the under-23 silver medallists from last year's European Championships,
0:31:04 > 0:31:06are snapping at their heels.
0:31:06 > 0:31:12And on the first run, Rhys and Matt were just one second behind Tim and Etienne,
0:31:12 > 0:31:17but with two penalty seconds, their total time was 114.13 seconds,
0:31:17 > 0:31:22whilst Tim and Etienne had a clean run with a time of 111.57.
0:31:22 > 0:31:27We're picking up the action as they start their second run down the course.
0:31:28 > 0:31:31And here they come, Tim Baillie and Etienne Stott,
0:31:31 > 0:31:34first after the first run by 2.5 seconds,
0:31:34 > 0:31:37ahead of Rhys Davies and Matt Lister.
0:31:39 > 0:31:43Olympic champions and winners here at Grandtully many times in the past.
0:31:45 > 0:31:47They just seem to attack this course.
0:31:48 > 0:31:51Oh, a bit of work to be done getting around three though,
0:31:51 > 0:31:54it's not easy, those two upstream gates so early in the course.
0:31:56 > 0:32:00Dropping down now, towards the bottom section.
0:32:04 > 0:32:08Not sure if these guys are as smooth as they were first time around.
0:32:08 > 0:32:10Obviously you post a good time,
0:32:10 > 0:32:13second time you can really go for it and if you're going for it,
0:32:13 > 0:32:16that's when, potentially, mistakes could be made, but...
0:32:18 > 0:32:21Looking at 15, the gate swinging there but they're safely through.
0:32:23 > 0:32:24Heading across to 16.
0:32:24 > 0:32:26Keeping the power on.
0:32:31 > 0:32:35And all eyes on that final time to see if
0:32:35 > 0:32:38they've improved on that first time of 111.57.
0:32:40 > 0:32:43Well, Tim and Etienne's strength really paying off here
0:32:43 > 0:32:44through the final gate.
0:32:44 > 0:32:47And they're home in a time of 111.04,
0:32:47 > 0:32:51just half a second faster than their first run.
0:32:52 > 0:32:56So, let's see if the younger team can knock the Olympic champions off first place.
0:32:58 > 0:33:00So, here's Rhys Davies and Mark Lister
0:33:00 > 0:33:02who are in second place after the first run.
0:33:02 > 0:33:04Big hit on three there.
0:33:04 > 0:33:07That will cost them two seconds and they can ill afford it
0:33:07 > 0:33:09cos they're 2.5 seconds off the pace,
0:33:09 > 0:33:11or they were after the first run.
0:33:11 > 0:33:14114.13 was their time.
0:33:17 > 0:33:20But they're certainly putting the work in, there is no doubt about that.
0:33:20 > 0:33:25Rhys and Matt from the Bala Canoe Club under-23 paddlers.
0:33:26 > 0:33:31Wearing number 50, that means they've left their bib at home -
0:33:31 > 0:33:34they should be wearing number one on their jerseys.
0:33:36 > 0:33:40Carrying on towards the bottom section of the course,
0:33:40 > 0:33:42to gate number 15, upstream gate.
0:33:42 > 0:33:44Oh, they were way high in the air there.
0:33:47 > 0:33:49Working pretty well as a team.
0:33:49 > 0:33:522.5 seconds is easy to make up, or is it?
0:33:55 > 0:33:57Carrying on down towards the bottom section of the course
0:33:57 > 0:34:01and they're still working extremely hard.
0:34:01 > 0:34:04Paddles going in together like a well oiled machine.
0:34:04 > 0:34:07Is it good enough, though, to take the lead?
0:34:08 > 0:34:10And as they cross the line, not quite.
0:34:10 > 0:34:14113.87, plus two penalty seconds.
0:34:14 > 0:34:19So, it's their first run of 114.13 that counts for Matt and Rhys
0:34:19 > 0:34:22and that's good enough for second place.
0:34:22 > 0:34:24But, proving why they're Olympic champions,
0:34:24 > 0:34:28Tim and Etienne are first in 111.04.
0:34:30 > 0:34:32So, justice has been done and the Olympic gold medallists
0:34:32 > 0:34:37have retained their position as C2 canoers winning here in Aberfeldy.
0:34:39 > 0:34:42Still to come, we have got the Blue Riband men's kayak event.
0:34:42 > 0:34:46Now though, we're swapping water for air
0:34:46 > 0:34:50as we head 20 or so miles west to take to the skies around Loch Tay.
0:34:58 > 0:35:02You're just using the natural uplift of thermals
0:35:02 > 0:35:05and the wind on the hillside and it's just a fantastic feeling.
0:35:05 > 0:35:08Essentially you're just flying like a bird.
0:35:08 > 0:35:11You're part of the wind, you know, there's no engine noise,
0:35:11 > 0:35:16there's no distraction, it's just you and the wing and the air.
0:35:16 > 0:35:19It's just like the purest form of enjoyment.
0:35:19 > 0:35:23It's so natural and so broken down
0:35:23 > 0:35:26to the bare essentials, almost.
0:35:26 > 0:35:29It's just you
0:35:29 > 0:35:32and a wing and you're on your own in the sky.
0:35:33 > 0:35:35This is hang gliding.
0:35:35 > 0:35:38Flying free as a bird, where after launching it's a question
0:35:38 > 0:35:42of finding thermals or rising air to keep you in the sky.
0:35:42 > 0:35:45In the mountains we might be looking for rock faces
0:35:45 > 0:35:48that are basking in glorious sunshine, heating up,
0:35:48 > 0:35:50getting almost red hot, bubbling the air around it,
0:35:50 > 0:35:53and then when you fly into that air
0:35:53 > 0:35:56it can be quite an exhilarating lift up
0:35:56 > 0:35:58cos you might be flying along maybe in some sinking air
0:35:58 > 0:36:02and the glider's coming down and then you get near that rockface
0:36:02 > 0:36:05that's basking in glorious sunshine, the nose of the glider will pitch up,
0:36:05 > 0:36:08your instruments start screaming at you going, "Beep! Beep! Beep!
0:36:08 > 0:36:11"We're going up, we're going up!" And you start circling,
0:36:11 > 0:36:14doing a 360 and before you know it you're hanging onto the glider
0:36:14 > 0:36:16and you're shooting up towards the clouds
0:36:16 > 0:36:20and it's got to be one of the most exhilarating sensations you can ever imagine.
0:36:20 > 0:36:23One friend described it to me, "It's like being Superman."
0:36:25 > 0:36:29This year the initial round in the British Open series has come to Scotland.
0:36:29 > 0:36:33It's the first time for 10 years the competition has come north of the border
0:36:33 > 0:36:37and it's attracted hang gliders from across the UK.
0:36:37 > 0:36:41I've flown all around Europe, in Hungary and Spain and France
0:36:41 > 0:36:45and various other places. On a good day you just can't beat Scotland.
0:36:45 > 0:36:48You can be at 10,000 feet above Ben Nevis,
0:36:48 > 0:36:51able to see the sea in the West Coast and the East Coast,
0:36:51 > 0:36:53flying with eagles, you know,
0:36:53 > 0:36:57it's just an unbelievable place to fly in terms of scenery
0:36:57 > 0:36:59and conditions - on the right day!
0:36:59 > 0:37:04One person who's at the top of the sport is David Matthews.
0:37:04 > 0:37:08He's won this event twice before and has high hopes for today.
0:37:08 > 0:37:10Winning's everything.
0:37:10 > 0:37:14No, it's become more important over the last few years
0:37:14 > 0:37:17because I think once you have won a couple of competitions,
0:37:17 > 0:37:21I think the pressure is then on you to carry on staying at the top there if you can.
0:37:21 > 0:37:23But it's not everything,
0:37:23 > 0:37:26the most important thing is to just have fun, really.
0:37:26 > 0:37:30I mean, on a good day like this, if we get some nice thermals
0:37:30 > 0:37:32and a reasonably high cloud base,
0:37:32 > 0:37:36to float around the Scottish Highlands is the best thing, you know.
0:37:36 > 0:37:40The competition almost comes second to that, but not quite.
0:37:40 > 0:37:43I'm just getting ready and organised with the radio.
0:37:43 > 0:37:47The secret is to be organised and be ready but not necessarily be
0:37:47 > 0:37:49the first person to take off
0:37:49 > 0:37:51so I'm not going to risk that at the moment.
0:37:51 > 0:37:54Strategy is everything.
0:37:54 > 0:37:56Before the task starts
0:37:56 > 0:37:59there's a period of time to allow all the pilots to launch
0:37:59 > 0:38:02and then, like sailing, it's a question of circling round,
0:38:02 > 0:38:06maintaining height and waiting for the start of the race.
0:38:07 > 0:38:10Brothers Jem and Myles Kynaston from North Wales
0:38:10 > 0:38:13began flying when they were teenagers.
0:38:13 > 0:38:16Once you get up to a certain height you're reading the clouds, so you
0:38:16 > 0:38:22decide where the best flight path is, by looking at where the clouds are
0:38:22 > 0:38:26and the top of those cumulus clouds mark the top of the thermals,
0:38:26 > 0:38:30so the ideal scenario is to climb in a thermal to cloud base
0:38:30 > 0:38:34and then see where the next most promising-looking cloud is
0:38:34 > 0:38:36and glide to that one.
0:38:38 > 0:38:40You start with taking off,
0:38:40 > 0:38:43so you think about the wind direction, the wind strength.
0:38:43 > 0:38:46You want to look in the direction they are sending you
0:38:46 > 0:38:49so it could be over the back of the hill or it could be out in front
0:38:49 > 0:38:52or it could be anywhere and with this you want to be thinking,
0:38:52 > 0:38:55"How am I going to get high to go over there?
0:38:55 > 0:38:56"Who am I going to follow?"
0:38:56 > 0:38:59because that is what I am going to do, probably!
0:38:59 > 0:39:03"Which bits of the sky are working well and which places to avoid?"
0:39:03 > 0:39:05And then with me, a lot of the time is,
0:39:05 > 0:39:08"Where's the bottom landing field?"
0:39:08 > 0:39:11Because you always need to know all your options.
0:39:11 > 0:39:13Hopefully you won't need it, but there you go.
0:39:20 > 0:39:23Even though the course obviously can track a straight line,
0:39:23 > 0:39:26pilots will be choosing their own lines to follow
0:39:26 > 0:39:28for the optimum conditions.
0:39:28 > 0:39:31That could be to do with the terrain, it could be to do with the clouds,
0:39:31 > 0:39:34so if you see a rockface in basking sunshine in front of you
0:39:34 > 0:39:37you might think, "That's going to kick up a thermal, I'll fly to that
0:39:37 > 0:39:39"get my climb and glide on,"
0:39:39 > 0:39:42or you might see a cloud out over a loch somewhere
0:39:42 > 0:39:45and think, "That cloud's working, I'll fly for that cloud,
0:39:45 > 0:39:47"see if I can get taken up in a thermal."
0:39:47 > 0:39:51So people will be taking different routes but what will happen is, gaggles will form.
0:39:51 > 0:39:54That's what you call them, you call them a gaggle of gliders
0:39:54 > 0:39:55and they'll get underneath a thermal
0:39:55 > 0:39:58and you'll get one person come in and maybe start going up well
0:39:58 > 0:40:00and everyone will be watching from maybe a kilometre away
0:40:00 > 0:40:03or two kilometres away and like hornets coming in,
0:40:03 > 0:40:06they'll just suddenly all pile into the same thermal
0:40:06 > 0:40:09if it's a strong one, so suddenly from flying on your own, you can have
0:40:09 > 0:40:12gliders coming in from every angle, coming underneath you,
0:40:12 > 0:40:16above you, climbing up together and going off on a glide.
0:40:16 > 0:40:19Everyone flies with their own safety margins.
0:40:19 > 0:40:22I personally fly with quite a high safety margin
0:40:22 > 0:40:25but I would hope that I have as good a chance as anybody
0:40:25 > 0:40:28of getting round to goal and beating them.
0:40:28 > 0:40:31The winner is the pilot who passes all the waypoints
0:40:31 > 0:40:34and makes it to the finish line in the fastest time.
0:40:34 > 0:40:37Today first place goes to Gordon Rigg,
0:40:37 > 0:40:43- who flew the 56.6 kilometre course in just over two hours.- Yes!
0:40:44 > 0:40:48But this is just the first stage of the British Open series,
0:40:48 > 0:40:50so there's still all to play for in future rounds.
0:40:50 > 0:40:53You need to be able to read the sky all the time
0:40:53 > 0:40:56and if you can't read the sky then you'll either get into trouble or
0:40:56 > 0:40:59you'll just not do very well on a day when you're in a competition.
0:40:59 > 0:41:03But you don't need to be a physicist or meteorologist,
0:41:03 > 0:41:05but it probably would help!
0:41:05 > 0:41:10And our thanks to everyone in the British Open Hang Gliding Series.
0:41:10 > 0:41:13Let's hope they will be back in Scotland again before too long,
0:41:13 > 0:41:17providing those spectacular views of our landscape.
0:41:30 > 0:41:35Down from the skies and we're heading east to join Cameron McNeish on terra firma.
0:41:35 > 0:41:40This time his wild walk celebrates a great hill - Ben Vrackie.
0:41:41 > 0:41:44I'm in the village of Moulin which sits on the hillside
0:41:44 > 0:41:48high above Pitlochry in Highland Perthshire
0:41:48 > 0:41:52and the hotel behind me here has been looking after wayfarers like me
0:41:52 > 0:41:54since the 18th century.
0:41:54 > 0:41:58The hotel is actually quite a new build in Moulin terms because
0:41:58 > 0:42:02people have been living hereabouts for the best part of 4,000 years.
0:42:09 > 0:42:12This is the Baledmund Standing Stone
0:42:12 > 0:42:15and people reckon it's about 3,000 years old.
0:42:17 > 0:42:20I just love to touch ancient stones like this.
0:42:20 > 0:42:23You can almost feel its antiquity.
0:42:24 > 0:42:27And it's believed that further up the field here, there's some
0:42:27 > 0:42:30evidence of ring dwellings which suggest that people
0:42:30 > 0:42:33have been living here since this stone was first erected.
0:42:43 > 0:42:46The village of Moulin was named after an old castle
0:42:46 > 0:42:49that once stood here, the Black Castle of Moulin.
0:42:49 > 0:42:53It was built in 1326 by the Earl of Atholl,
0:42:53 > 0:42:57but unfortunately in 1500 they had to deliberately destroy it
0:42:57 > 0:43:02because within the walls there was an outbreak of the Black Plague.
0:43:13 > 0:43:15Ben Vrackie is a corbett,
0:43:15 > 0:43:22that's one of Scotland's mountains between 2,500 feet and 2,999 feet.
0:43:22 > 0:43:28It actually stands at 2,759 feet, a fairly substantial hill.
0:43:30 > 0:43:32The name Ben Vrackie or Ben Y Vrackie
0:43:32 > 0:43:37as it's seen in the Ordnance Survey maps, means "speckled hill"
0:43:37 > 0:43:41and that refers to the geological mishmash
0:43:41 > 0:43:46that makes up this mountain - the schistose quartzite and epidiorite,
0:43:46 > 0:43:48quite an unusual kind of conglomerate.
0:43:56 > 0:44:01It's quite nice how the landscape suddenly becomes quite rugged, quite craggy.
0:44:04 > 0:44:07The route's beginning to reveal itself now.
0:44:07 > 0:44:11You can see the path going up into that top gully where the snow is,
0:44:11 > 0:44:14so we climb up the ridge to the summit.
0:44:20 > 0:44:23There's a temptation to think that the ascent of Ben Vrackie's
0:44:23 > 0:44:26just a nice gentle walk up a moorland path
0:44:26 > 0:44:29but in actual fact this last mile
0:44:29 > 0:44:33takes in two thirds of the entire ascent.
0:44:33 > 0:44:36It might well be hands and knees stuff.
0:44:51 > 0:44:54It's quite interesting just looking at the view down there,
0:44:54 > 0:44:56down the length of Strathtummel,
0:44:56 > 0:44:59but today that is the main road north,
0:44:59 > 0:45:02whereas at one time higher up the hillside was where
0:45:02 > 0:45:04all the activity took place.
0:45:04 > 0:45:06There was a main road came through this pass here
0:45:06 > 0:45:09and down to Killiecrankie on the other side,
0:45:09 > 0:45:13a road that was once used by no less a person than Mary Queen of Scots,
0:45:13 > 0:45:16going to a big deer drive in Glen Tilt.
0:45:23 > 0:45:26It was after Culloden when General Wade was told to come north
0:45:26 > 0:45:29and pacify the rebellious Highlanders.
0:45:29 > 0:45:32He thought the best way to do that was to build a system of roads
0:45:32 > 0:45:35in the Highlands, but instead of following the roads
0:45:35 > 0:45:38that originally would have been higher up in the hillside,
0:45:38 > 0:45:40he decided he would build the roads down in the glens
0:45:40 > 0:45:44and the glen bottom so he built his road from Perth to Inverness
0:45:44 > 0:45:48along these valley bottoms, right along Strathtummel.
0:45:55 > 0:45:58Earlier on I mentioned the unfolding views
0:45:58 > 0:46:01and you can see that to good effect now.
0:46:01 > 0:46:04We're high enough to see Ben Lawers away across there
0:46:04 > 0:46:06and to the right of it the mighty Schiehallion,
0:46:06 > 0:46:09the fairy hill of the Caledonians.
0:46:10 > 0:46:13Indeed, away to the south I can just see the dim outline
0:46:13 > 0:46:16of the Campsie Fells just north of Glasgow.
0:46:25 > 0:46:29For a wee hill, it's a steep little climb at the end.
0:46:29 > 0:46:31The proverbial sting in the tail.
0:46:38 > 0:46:41Oh, wow!
0:46:41 > 0:46:44Look at that! That's fantastic.
0:46:51 > 0:46:55You know, lots of people say this is one of the finest viewpoints of Scotland
0:46:55 > 0:46:58and being up here today I can understand that.
0:46:58 > 0:47:02And you've got the benefit of a direction indicator up here
0:47:02 > 0:47:06to show us what we're looking at and according to this,
0:47:06 > 0:47:12Ben Nevis, our highest mountain, I can see across there, yes,
0:47:12 > 0:47:15I can see Ben Nevis over in that direction. And the hills of Glenshee
0:47:15 > 0:47:19just over in this direction so it's not bad at all.
0:47:24 > 0:47:28You know, on some days, when you get to the summit of the mountain
0:47:28 > 0:47:31you want to spend as little time as possible there because it is so cold
0:47:31 > 0:47:33and windy and it can be quite miserable
0:47:33 > 0:47:35but today is not one of those days.
0:47:35 > 0:47:37This is a day to linger and just enjoy it,
0:47:37 > 0:47:41and enjoy the spaciousness, the wide-open views.
0:47:43 > 0:47:44I'm going to leave you now.
0:47:44 > 0:47:46I'm just going to sit here for a while
0:47:46 > 0:47:50and simply enjoy what feels like the roof of Scotland.
0:47:59 > 0:48:03Welcome back, and now it's time for the men's K1 class.
0:48:03 > 0:48:06Now, one of Britain's top paddlers, Olympic silver medallist
0:48:06 > 0:48:10Campbell Walsh retired last year so he's not competing,
0:48:10 > 0:48:13but there are plenty of other talented individuals
0:48:13 > 0:48:15hoping to make their mark here at Grandtully.
0:48:15 > 0:48:18It's a shame that Campbell Walsh retired last year
0:48:18 > 0:48:20because he's definitely the one I wanted to beat, really.
0:48:20 > 0:48:22But, it's great, he's a good paddler
0:48:22 > 0:48:25and it's a shame to see him go but he had a great time.
0:48:25 > 0:48:30Under-23 paddler Joe Clarke took up canoe slalom when he was 11
0:48:30 > 0:48:34and he's someone with his eyes on the next Olympics.
0:48:34 > 0:48:37I live in Lee Valley at the moment in London on the Olympic course
0:48:37 > 0:48:41so just training there and push on for the 2016 Olympics and beyond.
0:48:41 > 0:48:46Another bright hope for the future is Bradley Forbes-Cryans from Edinburgh.
0:48:46 > 0:48:48He's currently an under-18 paddler
0:48:48 > 0:48:51but someone determined to make his mark in this sport.
0:48:51 > 0:48:55For this year me and my coach Neil Caffrey really want to push to try
0:48:55 > 0:48:58and make the senior team before we make the jump out of juniors
0:48:58 > 0:49:03and we want to try and get into the under-23 team as well because
0:49:03 > 0:49:06that means we're allowed to do two of the senior World Cups this year.
0:49:06 > 0:49:09So being at that level and competing at that level, even though
0:49:09 > 0:49:12you're very young, would be just great for your potential career.
0:49:12 > 0:49:15Yes, the way we look at it is, it's all good experience in the bag.
0:49:15 > 0:49:20Time now for the K1 paddlers to take to the water for their first run.
0:49:20 > 0:49:23And we're picking up the action with another young competitor,
0:49:23 > 0:49:26under-23 paddler Joe Coombs.
0:49:26 > 0:49:31So, Joe Coombs in the top of the course, from Warrington Canoe Club.
0:49:31 > 0:49:36And he's pushing now for a place in the senior squad
0:49:36 > 0:49:38and blasting through that little stopper there.
0:49:40 > 0:49:44Using it again to accelerate out through gate four.
0:49:46 > 0:49:50And, as we've discovered today,
0:49:50 > 0:49:53it's not quite as technical as it has been in previous years.
0:49:53 > 0:49:56There's a lot of sluggish slow water
0:49:56 > 0:49:59so it'll be fitness that will be the winner here.
0:50:01 > 0:50:03That's nicely done.
0:50:03 > 0:50:04Looking pretty quick here.
0:50:07 > 0:50:09They get some practice runs.
0:50:13 > 0:50:17But it is all about today making sure that you warm up well
0:50:17 > 0:50:20and you don't blow too much of your strength in the warm-up
0:50:20 > 0:50:24so when you compete you're absolutely fired up and going very strong.
0:50:27 > 0:50:32So, Joe, coming down into the upstream gate 15.
0:50:32 > 0:50:34Nicely done, just slightly stalled,
0:50:34 > 0:50:38tipped the boat a little too far up there and stalled slightly
0:50:38 > 0:50:43but a very nice tight line into 16 and round into 17.
0:50:45 > 0:50:47Go on, keep pushing on.
0:50:49 > 0:50:53And that looks like a fine run for Joe as he comes through 19
0:50:53 > 0:50:55and a quick sprint into the finish.
0:50:56 > 0:51:00And he's through the gate in 99.01.
0:51:00 > 0:51:02That is a pretty competitive time.
0:51:04 > 0:51:06This is number nine, Mikey Wilson,
0:51:06 > 0:51:09this is his first year as an under-23 paddler.
0:51:09 > 0:51:15He was a member of the Junior 18 British team last season
0:51:15 > 0:51:19so this is him stepping up. He'll have five years at under-23.
0:51:22 > 0:51:24Going nice and fast.
0:51:25 > 0:51:28Again leaning back, just getting through nice and smoothly,
0:51:28 > 0:51:31using the speed of the river to his advantage.
0:51:31 > 0:51:35Not doing any checks, that's fine, absolutely fine, nice and sweet.
0:51:37 > 0:51:41Such a big step up from Junior 18 to under-23
0:51:41 > 0:51:45but he seems to be stepping up quite comfortably and confidently.
0:51:46 > 0:51:49Paddles for the Stafford and Stone Club.
0:51:52 > 0:51:55And heads on down towards 16 and the slowest part of the course.
0:51:58 > 0:52:02But if you've still got some puff left you can make a big difference.
0:52:05 > 0:52:08And closing it down and finishing off towards the bottom.
0:52:10 > 0:52:13This looks like a good run from Mikey Wilson.
0:52:13 > 0:52:19Coming up to the line, crosses it in 99.8, just behind Joe Coombs.
0:52:20 > 0:52:25So Huw Swetnam sprinting on this top part of the course.
0:52:25 > 0:52:30Huw has been in the British squad on and off for the last few years.
0:52:30 > 0:52:32That's nicely done.
0:52:32 > 0:52:34And you could see the tip of the boat, or the tail of the boat,
0:52:34 > 0:52:37just touched a little rock there and stopped the spin.
0:52:38 > 0:52:43Huw nicely lined up here. He has got two or three gates to go.
0:52:43 > 0:52:46It's beginning to blow a little bit, the breeze has got up slightly
0:52:46 > 0:52:48which will make it a little bit more difficult
0:52:48 > 0:52:53but Huw in the fastest part of the course here, doing pretty well.
0:52:56 > 0:52:59Trying to keep the bow downstream.
0:52:59 > 0:53:05So, once again, watching these guys on this very slow water,
0:53:05 > 0:53:08it really is going to be tough and powerful work.
0:53:10 > 0:53:12So that's nicely done.
0:53:12 > 0:53:16Just a little dip of the shoulder to get underneath 11.
0:53:19 > 0:53:21And pushing through.
0:53:21 > 0:53:24Yes, very nice, keeping the paddles completely upright
0:53:24 > 0:53:26so you don't clip the double gate.
0:53:27 > 0:53:29Some double and some single gates.
0:53:31 > 0:53:33And...
0:53:33 > 0:53:37Oh, a little bit of a fluff there.
0:53:39 > 0:53:42So... Here...
0:53:42 > 0:53:45Oh, he came out too low on 17
0:53:45 > 0:53:49so Huw is just feeling it now,
0:53:49 > 0:53:51puffing a little bit, blowing his cheeks out
0:53:51 > 0:53:54as he comes through 19 and sprinting into the finish.
0:53:54 > 0:53:58Huw's through in 98.32, that is the fastest time so far
0:53:58 > 0:54:02and there are only a few paddlers left on this first run.
0:54:04 > 0:54:06So this is Bradley Forbes-Cryans.
0:54:06 > 0:54:10Bradley, from the Forth Club in Edinburgh,
0:54:10 > 0:54:13had a pretty successful year last year. A Junior 18 paddler.
0:54:15 > 0:54:18Oh! That's disappointing for Bradley.
0:54:18 > 0:54:22He got a big smack on gate number three there,
0:54:22 > 0:54:24so a two-second penalty right away
0:54:24 > 0:54:26and he'll be furious with that
0:54:26 > 0:54:29because he has been expecting a lot of himself today.
0:54:29 > 0:54:31He is a very, very talented young paddler, this guy.
0:54:31 > 0:54:33He puts a lot of work in.
0:54:33 > 0:54:35Determined.
0:54:35 > 0:54:36I spoke to him last year
0:54:36 > 0:54:40and he wants to represent Team GB in the Olympics in the future.
0:54:40 > 0:54:41That is what he said.
0:54:41 > 0:54:44It doesn't matter. He started with that big hit
0:54:44 > 0:54:46but he's got the power and experience
0:54:46 > 0:54:49and the ability, despite the fact he's only a young man,
0:54:49 > 0:54:55he knows how to do something special here on the River Tay at Grandtully.
0:54:55 > 0:54:57He knows this water very well indeed,
0:54:57 > 0:55:00although he is based at the canals in Edinburgh.
0:55:00 > 0:55:01SHOUTING
0:55:01 > 0:55:06His coach screaming his head off at Bradley to get the job done.
0:55:06 > 0:55:07Now, that two-second penalty,
0:55:07 > 0:55:09he worked so hard in the middle section of the course
0:55:09 > 0:55:12to try and make that up but will he be paying for it now
0:55:12 > 0:55:16as he comes down to the bottom half and starts putting that last...
0:55:16 > 0:55:19Upstream gate and then puts the power on and heads towards the line.
0:55:22 > 0:55:26And Bradley crosses the line is 99.72 plus two penalty seconds.
0:55:26 > 0:55:30That's still an impressive run from this Edinburgh youngster.
0:55:32 > 0:55:35Last down the course for the first run is Joe Clarke.
0:55:35 > 0:55:39So, on the top of the course, Joe Clarke.
0:55:39 > 0:55:42Under-23 paddler but a real talent.
0:55:42 > 0:55:45He has had an exceptional start to the year.
0:55:45 > 0:55:49He came out of his winter training very well. Strong and focused.
0:55:50 > 0:55:53That's nicely done. It's a little bit tricky here.
0:55:53 > 0:55:55You've got to be very careful.
0:55:57 > 0:56:01So, Joe, dipping under those two gates,
0:56:01 > 0:56:05trying to keep the straightest line down the river
0:56:05 > 0:56:07to maximise the speed of the boat,
0:56:07 > 0:56:13trying to get as low resistance on the underside of the kayak
0:56:13 > 0:56:17as possible. So just a slight stall there coming in.
0:56:17 > 0:56:21just twisting round, very nicely done, under gate.
0:56:25 > 0:56:32Just drifted out slightly as he came in to the upstream gate of number 12.
0:56:32 > 0:56:34But Joe looking good so far.
0:56:34 > 0:56:37Definitely very neat. Nice and tight.
0:56:40 > 0:56:45Slightly off-line there. Trying to keep tight into 15, through 15 well.
0:56:46 > 0:56:50And a nice low, tight line, 16.
0:56:50 > 0:56:52Joe looking really strong.
0:56:52 > 0:56:54Very few paddle strokes between the gates,
0:56:54 > 0:56:57very effective technique.
0:57:00 > 0:57:03This is shaping up to be an amazing run from Joe Clarke,
0:57:03 > 0:57:07coming up to the line, he's across in 93.88,
0:57:07 > 0:57:11smashing the rest of the field by a phenomenal five seconds.
0:57:11 > 0:57:13He is in a class of his own today.
0:57:13 > 0:57:16And that first run proved to be pivotal
0:57:16 > 0:57:20with none of the top five able to improve on their places
0:57:20 > 0:57:21second time down the river.
0:57:21 > 0:57:23So this is how it finished.
0:57:23 > 0:57:26Bradley Forbes-Cryans managed
0:57:26 > 0:57:2999.8 on his second run to come in fifth.
0:57:29 > 0:57:33Mikey Wilson's first run was also in 99.8 but
0:57:33 > 0:57:36he remains in fourth as his other run was quicker than Bradley's.
0:57:36 > 0:57:40Joe Coombs was in third with 99.01,
0:57:40 > 0:57:44with Huw Swetnam coming in second with 99.32.
0:57:44 > 0:57:49Then there's that huge five-second gap and a great performance
0:57:49 > 0:57:54behind it that puts Joe Clarke in first place with a time of 93.88.
0:57:54 > 0:57:58Joe, a very, very fine win for you. Congratulations.
0:57:58 > 0:58:00Thank you very much, it has been a great day today.
0:58:00 > 0:58:04What about this race? Because no water in the river, just about.
0:58:04 > 0:58:07It adds a wee bit of an extra dimension to the race.
0:58:07 > 0:58:09Well, not only have you got to go around the poles,
0:58:09 > 0:58:12you've got to avoid all the rocks as well so, for sure,
0:58:12 > 0:58:14definitely a lot more difficult compared to usual
0:58:14 > 0:58:16but it was a great race nonetheless.
0:58:17 > 0:58:20That's it for this month's Adventure Show.
0:58:20 > 0:58:22Next time we will be in Fort William where the best
0:58:22 > 0:58:24mountain bikers in the world will converge
0:58:24 > 0:58:26for the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup.
0:58:26 > 0:58:29Please join us for that if you can. In the meantime, from Grandtully,
0:58:29 > 0:58:31thanks for your company. Bye for now.
0:58:43 > 0:58:47Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd