Author: Tim Aldridge
Weapon of choice: DragoRossi Mafia
Age: 17
From: Manchester
At the 2004 Liquid Life event I got
off the start line in 3rd place. Thanks to a quick line through the
“S” bend rapid I managed to get into second place. Then the guy that
I’d managed to steal second place from got alongside me so it was
paddles crashin’ and boats bangin’ neck and neck all the way down to
the last drop. I managed to get ahead of him, by the skin on my teeth,
and had another good line down the first fall but just before the finish
line he sneaked ahead of me. I was totally gutted! All that hard work I
had invested in the event not to mention the time and I got a 3rd in my
3rd race, ironic eh!
I vowed to myself that things would
be different next year and so I spent almost every night running, biking
and boating. When I was at work I was doing pull ups all the time. I was
determined to get ultra fit for Liquid Life 2005.
With just 3 weeks to go before the
event I started going to the Tryewryn and the Goyt with a few pals.
We’d spend our time racing and experimenting with lines down rapids.
We worked out that rock blasts are slower than the average lada but hey,
we had to try anything to make up those precious seconds that it takes
to win the event.
On the Thursday before the
competition I received an e-mail confirming my place in the Junior
event. Since it was also one of my closest mates birthdays we went out
for a game of pool and a quiet pint, the perfect chill out before the
big weekend. On the Friday morning I took the ten minute walk to my
friend Al’s house. We loaded up his car with all the necessary gear
and, while I sat in the back flicking through various boating mags and
watching grass, hills, trees, cars, trucks, sheep and so on go by, he
drove the eight hours northwards toward the Scottish border. We trundled
along the A9 with me map reading (which was funny)…..
Al asked, “Is this the turn off?”
and I replied “ummmmmmmm think so, yeah”! So we turned off got on a
dodgy looking single track road which none of us remember from the
previous year. We kept going anyway and finally we came to a lake and
the famous Red Bull tent so we knew that we were in the right place. We
stopped, signed in and got the bibs, t’s, mags and Pyranha sponge
amongst other items. Then we continued on to look at the river, heading
straight to the bottom fall. I thought “Oh my gosh it’s low” but
then I remembered that they’d turned the dam off. The river was dry so
it was hard to predict how it would be for the event but we had a good
look around anyway, trying to scout possible lines. After an hour or so
we went to find our accommodation which was kitted out with a great
kitchen and everything.
Saturday morning came and so did my
nerves. My run wasn’t until about 12-ish so I went to watch a few
people doing their run. I watched some great lines and got some great
ideas as well as some really bad ones. Then came the shuttle bus so I
lined up with a few of the masters for the trip to the top of the river.
After a quick warm up I was onto the water and the start line. I kept
thinking “This is it, I have to win! No third place like last year”.
On my first run I got in to first
after the first split in the river then built up a lead. When we got to
the section just before the Limm I got stuck on a rock and almost lost
my lead but I managed to stay ahead and boofed the drop with a massive
grin on my face and a whole crowd cheering at me. It was such a buzz!
I had a bite to eat and prepared for
my next run which was arranged for about 4-ish. This time it was the
same again. From the start I took the same line again and again I
managed to take the lead. “This is it” I thought “I have won
again”! This time I got to the bottom without any pins and made a
perfect boof over the finish line.
At that point I thought that I’d won the entire event but back
at the campsite I was shocked to see that I had to do it all over again
on Sunday. After another bite to eat a quick drink I went off to bed for
a good nights rest. The next day I awoke way too early for a teenager
but I didn’t want to loose the event for the sake of oversleeping!
This time I was lucky enough to get
an early lead but only just by the skin of my teeth. By the time I’d
reached the “S” bend I had established good lead and took a really
good line. At this point I was thinking that I won the heat I’d win
the entire event. I got to the finish in first place and decided to
throw a freewheel off the bottom drop. I was so stoked to land it and
power over the line in first place. I have never been so happy in my
life!
I got off the river after saying well
done to the other competitors, went over to my mates on the bank and
they all went mad with excitement. They were patting me on the back and
congratulating me. All the hard work that I’d put myself through over
the past year had finally paid off! I went and got some lunch had a
quick break and decided to go up a bit early. I was there paddling
around for what seemed like ages, just thinking about the final run and
whether I would be able to get it in the bag. Finally, after a long
wait, we were all preparing for the start and my adrenaline was pumping
like mad. The whistle blew and we were off. I got to the “S” bend
and I was paddling so hard my arms kept locking with lactic but I was
determined to keep going. I made some sweet lines down every rapid. My
Mafia was so fast and I managed to find the best line every time. Again
I led the way down the shoot, down the first drop and over the Linn with
the whole crowd cheering. I could hear all the guys from home especially
as I went over the finish line. Muzza popped his head round the Teva
tent and said “well done Tim”. Of course I was well chuffed! I went
to shake Ian Letton’s hand and say well done. I jumped out my boat ran
along the bank, still out of breath, so that I could join the spectators
watching everyone else coming down the river.
After the men’s final I went for
another quick paddle down the Tummel before heading to the campsite just
in time for the prize giving. There was a table, about six metres long
that was full of prizes from “Full On Adventure”, Vuarnet, Soul
Boater, Madyacker, Peak UK, and Lomo to name but just a few! Finally
came the moment for which I had waited and prepared myself for such a
long time. I heard my name shouted out. I had won a fully paid raft
guide course courtesy of Full On Adventure, a pair of sunnies from
Vuarnet, a t-shirt and a pair of Teva sandals. I was so happy, I
couldn’t believe I had actually won the junior Liquid Life 2005 event!
That night there was an awesome party
that went on until the wee hours of the next morning. Eventually I made
it back to the campsite and to my bed, still grinning like a cheshire
cat. ;-)
I could not have done all this
without a lot of help from all my friends and my sponsors. First of all
I would like to thank Jon and Glenn from High ‘n’ Mighty
Distribution for the sponsorship and help, Al and Lisa for driving me
all that way and Steve, Ingrid and Tony for being my personal fan club!
I’d also like to thank Muzza for holding the event and also Full On
Adventure for the raft guiding course which is something that I have
wanted to do since I was young. Thanks ever so much, I couldn’t have
done it without you!
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