Great day up LV today with great company and featuring assessment highs and lows. The day started with an anxious early wake up with my heart saying this is gonna be greatand my head saying the air show would be a safer option. Fun and nervous laughter just about sums up the journey with Steve Higgs and not wanting to break with ACC trip tradition we only got lost once. After meeting up with Steve Bourne we skipped over the bridge for out first sight of the Legacy if Im honest it didnt look to daunting until some guy had a major wipeout and came thundering down bouncing off every block like a pinball....oh! Anyway after some tips from Dave Brown, Lew, Leon and Ian Talmbridge we suited up and got started. My eagerness to get this over with lead me to plump for first up the escalator and then it was run number 1. Paddling like a Duracell bunny with a 12v battery up its #~%* I punched it down the top 3 drops and manage to stay up all the way down.. Summary messy but safe. Run number 2: 1st drop was ok 2nd wow I made the left hand eddie this is where it went wrong with a weak brake out I had little momentum into the stopper almost through and I was being pulled back like I was on a bungee, the back dipped and the front shot up to what felt like near vertical and then there was a split second of nothing before I shot out like a wet bar of soap I think I landed on my back Im sure Steve Bourne can confirm this as he was following me down. SWIM !! I must say this event did tarnish my confidence and seat. Run number 3: Drops 1/2/3 ok couple of eddies made and a fair run I thought Run number 4: Drops 1/2 ok flipped on my new enemy no 3..... SWIM Run number 5: Bit wobbly but slowly getting a bit of confidence this was filmed by Leon. Run number 6: Now asked to make a couple of break ins and job done. SWIM on drop 4. Run number 7: Unlucky collision on 3 ... SWIM I get out and the assessor says Sorry cant pass you we are now out of time GUTTED and annoyed as he was not watching my best runs. Tip for anyone attempting this in the future establish eye contact and if hes not watching stay where you are!!! I was made up for the two Steves as they had both passed but in a very low place myself. After suggestions of showing the guy Leons video to prove my competence I thought this was not a good idea and it would be best to see if I could get another observed assessment. I cant thank all the guys enough for their words of encouragement and Ian for his advice in the changing room it highlights what a truly supportive club we all play a part in. Luckily after an hours wait I was back on and with a new found calm determination I nailed the the first three drops and set to making break ins and outs, a slight slip up followed by a controlled roll half way down and I got the thumbs up. The assessor said great recovery and the only reason I went over was because I was starring him in the eye and not watching where I was going ... I wonder why that was ? Total relief and elation set in and in my remaining hour some truly enjoyable and relaxed runs, a bit of surfing and new respect for the Legacy. Changed and lunch ordered we all sat and watched Tim, Steve Chalk and Nick showing how to do the Olympic with style, awesome. Safe journey home and the aching is now setting in, thanks again to all members who made this a day to remember and good compensation for the Tryweryn cancellation. Anyone thinking of doing the assessment in the words of Nike Just do it !
Posted on: Sun, 31 Aug 2014 19:21:16 +0000
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