Introduction

This chapter introduces both an international event as it is now and its genesis, with the intention that readers may see parallels with events that they may either wish to start, or enhance/extend. Content focuses upon the development of the event's format and 'flavour'. Atmosphere and the underpinning values of events can be diffcult to either define or to convey in written form, but an attempt is made to do so here. The event interfaces with 'systems' and loose-knit organizations that are independent, but mutually supportive, and those relationships are described only in part. This is due to both restrictions of space and the realization that the relatively specialist nature of this event makes detailed explanation irrelevant to most readers of this book. Readers wanting more detail, say on the British Canoe Union and their courses, can find such information via their website.

It is the author's contention that the generation of events, or their extension, can and should be based upon careful and complete 'audits' of both similar and dissimilar events. Although no explicit use of the author's own auditing tools are apparent, it is hoped that serious students will find these for themselves.

Arrival

It was with some difficulty that he fought his way to the bar. They had arrived much later than planned; the car park and verges were full of cars with kayaks on their roof-racks, and big commercial trailers, laden with new sea kayaks still wrapped in plastic, lined the road...