Unsponsored.co.uk - National Watersports Centre (HPP)

River Trent - HPP

Holme Pierpont is Englands National Watersports centre based on the River Trent just outside of the Midlands city of Nottingham. It is also the home of the British Canoe Union (BCU) headquarters and many of the UK's top slalom paddlers.

	Hpp is a man made course that essentially diverts water from the main river down a concrete ditch. The course is some 800 metres long and has a number of playable features. Up until quite recently the nature of the features has been dependent on the gradient of the trench and the amount of water flowing down. But over the course of the Summer (2002) bolt-on features have been added to the course at the looping pool to create a much more playable wave. The system being used is very similar to that being used at the Teesside ww course since its creation. Subsequent tweaks on the course are being made in preparation for the Euro Championships, by Pete Astles and others.

	The first feature to note is the wave on the inlet gate. Now depending on water flow this can be a river wide stopper or a green wave. Great to try and get on- much easier when its the stopper! Spins, blunts and a few ends are possible here if conditions allow. The next notable play feature is the series of eddy lines just after the inlet wave at pool 1. Great to warm up in before heading further down.Just at the bottom of pool 1 are two stoppers which can either be perfrctly formed or build and break depending on water flow. In the second of the two it is possible to throw multiple ends in either direction as well as flat spins.

	The following straight section has a number of standing waves which are suitable for surfing and on a good day and your paddling well a few spins. This then leads down to pool 2 and the cheese block (or pyramid block). This pool is a favourite with the squirt boaters due to its strong eddy lines and standing waves. A very short straight section with a couple of standing waves and a stopper leads down the course under the first wooden bridge into pool 3 - the looping pool. As with the majority of the course it's pretty deep. Infact deep enough for old school boats to get pop-outs etc.

This section has undergone major changes and now has a top class wave named "the office". The office is ideal for the new breed of shorter boats, allowing multiple ends, blunts and some say even air is possible. The eddy at the looping pool is still pretty fast and a quick roll will be necessary to prevent the paddler heading down stream to the plug hole and the muncher. As the course narrows the water speeds up and forms a number of great play holes. Firstly we have the plug hole - a well formed pourover hole with good retentive qualities. This is quickly followed by the Muncher which until recently was THE wave on the course. The muncher is present at all water levels and provides paddlers with a playspot that allows ends in either direction as well as blunts and spins. It is however possible to bottom out here. Getting washed out this wave will result in a lengthy paddle back up around the back of the main flow. An ideal oppurtunity to practice your very gliding technique as you dodge from one eddy to the next working your way upstream. After the muncher the course splits neither routes hold anything exciting and converge again just above the last wave on the course. This is a fairly meaty and retentive hole. Get stuck in side ways and your in for a bumpy ride. Keeping at the top of the pile will mean ends are possible without the fear of a spanking. >> Previous Page