Avon Descent 2023 Paddlers Guide 02a (360 Video) - Northam Weir
Channel: Terry Russell
Date: 2023-06-30

This is the first obstacle of the Avon Descent, less than 1km from the start.

The weir is fairly straightforward at water levels between 0.5m and 2.5m.
You just line up with the middle and paddle down, keeping your paddle scraping gently along the concrete and being ready to paddle forward or backward to stay pointing downstream. Try to be mindful of other paddlers and not block them or hit them with your paddle.
Here's what it looks like at a very pleasant 1.5m during last years race: https://youtu.be/tZsoCXb9oG4?t=275

Below 0.5m the weir becomes a slow scrape down the concrete; '2020 race': https://youtu.be/Ugh1jdOXbFQ?t=423
And above 2.5m the wave at the bottom becomes a very strong stopper that can easily force you sideways or upside down if you don't have a strong brace stroke; 2021 race: https://youtu.be/7BpnwWQFYVM?t=242 
View from drone above 1 day before the 2021 race: https://youtu.be/EAh3xeO636Y?t=61

Luckily the last 3 years has been very low water, very high water and last year was perfect in the middle, so I have both the memories and the helmet cam videos of all scenarios still fresh in my mind and hard drive!

These videos by the riverbank are filmed with a 360 degree camera - you can pan around in all directions. Manually adjust the quality to max (4k) for best results. Water level today was 0.6m