The Tryweryn Festival is back!

Paula Mckenna • 10 August 2022

With highlights such as -  Boater X, DJ Sets, Pyranha Retro Rodeos and Throwbag Olympics plus so much more.

It's THE White Water Paddler's event not to be missed!

After a few years off, Tryweryn Fest was back on at the National White Water Centre Canolfan, Tryweryn, from Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th July. Which saw hundreds of paddlers gather and compete from all over the UK in what turned out to be an amazing event!


It has been a huge part of the white water paddlers calendar for many years and this year proved to be no different, with so much to see and do, it did not disappoint.


The T fest is well known for it’s evening parties and the Friday night was a local live band that really got things going.

The event kicked off on Saturday with the mass start NRS Extreme Race, resulting in the usual fight for position and some fun carnage through Miss Davies’ Bridge, and The Fingers section made this an awesome race to be in or watch! The mass start set the seeding for The Boater X, which soon followed, this began with a head-to-head down the steep ramp and though NRA Bridge and Chapel Falls, round after round led to some exciting wins for the men’s and women’s races. The Pyranha Retro Rodeo Wave Competition was certainly one not to miss for its comedy value where competitors wowed the crowd with their ability to craft moves to the music. After this came the coaches of Plas y Brenin and Canoe Wales who were on hand running coaching sessions across the weekend for all levels of paddlers. More events took place over the afternoon with the rowdy King of the Wave and Palm Epic Enduro (newly invented for this year’s festival) where competitors had to paddle as many laps of the Graveyard section in 30 mins, running back up each time to start the lap again, David Bain from NRS won by a landslide, with an amazing 6 laps and still didn’t look tired! What a machine!


Saturday night involved a great talk from Save Our Rivers, and local DJ Oli mixing tunes long into the night. What a party!

Sunday there may have a been a few hazy heads, not that you could tell from the energy of the Throw Bag Olympics – some serious skills to behold. Followed by more fantastic coaching for Improvers, Freestylers and tailored Masterclasses to get everyone performing to their best regardless of the heavens opening and trying the dampen the vibe; everyone appeared to have the time of their lives and were keen to sign up for next year.


Thank you National White Water Centre Canolfan – We had an awesome time & you made an epic festival.


Are you coming next year? It's going to be awesome!


By Pete Catterall, Coaching and Development Manager



The event was organised by the staff at the Tryweryn, Annette and Sam, and supported by Pyranha kayaks, NRS Equipment, Radical Riders shop, Whetman Equipment, Palm Equipment and Canoe Wales.



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