Pembrey Training Weekend - Building on last years success S.L.S.A. Wales Coaching weekend took place on the 1st Bank Holiday Weekend of May and was supported by the member Welsh Clubs and a guest club from Heanor. Set against the spectacular backdrop of the Gower Peninsula and overlooking the coastal scenery of Carmarthen Bay, the training weekend was held in the beautiful setting of Pembrey Country Park.

Registering over 70 12yrs –16yrs the weekend offered three days of training to Nipper Junior and junior age groups on both beach and sea events and although individual clubs were represented, all club members trained and played together during the weekend as one unit, making friends and socializing with other team mates without the stresses and expectations of competition and rankings.

Friday all members turned up with trailers, tents and caravans set up their camp and relaxed with tranquil surroundings offered by the parks. S.L.S.A. Wales provided a large marquee, showers and generator and while parents and coaches relaxed the children explored their surroundings.

Saturday members met in the Marquee and were given a team briefing and programme for the day this included the morning with beach work, warm up techniques, relays, sprints and flags with the afternoon concentrating on board. Demonstrations and tuition were provided by club coaches and members of the Welsh team senior squad.

Llanelli S.L.S.C, with a BBQ, karaoke and games, provided the evening entertainment.

Sunday followed a similar programme to Saturday with concentration on fitness with the warm up, run and obstacle race, demonstrations with board and ski repairs and practical with craft paddling techniques. Evening entertainment consisted of BBQ, disco, and a quiz.

Monday was a free day and members enjoyed such things as the adventure playground, toboggan run, dry ski slope and horse riding before heading home

The weekend was a huge success with all involved working to their own abilities gaining new skills which included social mixing, meeting new friends and learning important 'life skills` that are not available during daily routines. 

S.L.S.A. Wales would like to thank all the members for supporting the weekend, all the club coaches for helping with the training, the senior members of the Welsh team who turned up to help coach, the I.R.B. crew and members of the Youth Commission and Llanelli S.L.S.C.

A special thanks to the sponsors and also Pembrey Country Park for a fantastic venue.