The Paddler Early Summer issue 30 2016

PADDE PD DLR LER The International digital magazine for recreational paddlers

CANADA Darin McQuoid

Clendenning Creek, BC

ezine

CARVING Corran Addison

HIMALAYAS Steve Brooks Spring in the

Issue 30 Early Summer 2016

SIBERIA Vladimir Rabotyagov Altai rivers of

Contents

Photo: Pete Astles Editor

Peter Tranter peter@thepaddlerezine.com Tel: (01480) 465081 Mob: 07411 005824 www.thepaddlerezine.com

Advertising sales

Anne Egan Tel: (01480) 465081 advertising@thepaddlerezine.com

Covers

Kayak: Clendenning Lake, BC, Canada

by Darin McQuoid Salty: Patagonia, Chile

by Arek Mytko Canoe: River Severn, England

by Richard Harpham

Not all contributors are professional writers and photographers, so don’t be put off writing because you have no experience! The Paddler ezine is all about paddler to paddler dialogue: a paddler’s magazine written by paddlers.

Next issue is Late Summer 2016 with a deadline of submissions on July 20th. Technical Information: Contributions preferably as a Microsoft Word file with 1200-2000 words, emailed to submissions@thepaddler.ezine.com.

Images should be hi-resolution and emailed with the Word file or if preferred, a Dropbox folder will be created for you. The Paddler ezine encourages contributions of any nature but reserves the right to edit to the space available.

Opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publishing parent company, 2b Graphic Design Limited. The publishing of an advertisement in the Paddler ezine does not necessarily mean that the parent company, 2b Graphic Design Limited, endorse the company, item or service advertised. All material in the Paddler ezine is strictly copyright and all rights are reserved. Reproduction without prior permission from the editor is forbidden.

Issue 30 Early Summer 2016

004 The Paddler’s Planet

By Christian Wagley

006 Iconic Paddlers No.4

‘Blondie’ Hasler by Steffan Meyric Hughes

011 Seasonal delights

The salty paddler by Sonja Jones

018 Coaching

Fear by Dave Rossetter and George Fell

022 Behind the lens (part 2) Exposing the beauty by Dave Wortley

034 An interview with…

Sean Morley

044 Chile

Patagonia Austral expedition by Arek Mytko

058 Norway

Moskenes Island by Kristoffer Vandbakk

072 England & Wales

The River Wye by Steve Le Say

084 England’s rivers to the Yukon

C2 training forYukon River Quest by Richard Harpham

096 Working as a team

No. 2 of a safety coaching series by Chris Brain

106 Russia

Cold War thaw in Siberia by Vladimir Rabotyagov

118 Canada

Clendenning Creek, BC by Darin McQuoid

132 India

Spring in the Himalayas by Steve Brooks

144 Kayak coaching

Carving by Corran Addison

154 Testing, testing

Plenty of kit reviewed by our contributors

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PADDLER’S PLANET by CHRISTIAN WAGLEY

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A coastline of beauty, tragedy, Coasts are dynamic places, and as paddlers we tend to have keen eyes and ears that serve us well in documenting the world around us.That includes America’s Gulf of Mexico coast that I call home, and its many scenes of beauty, tragedy, conflict and change.

For more information on how you can participate wherever you may be on the Planet visit www.supradioshow.com Stay tuned for my weekly podcast of The Paddler’s Planet with my guest host Christian Wagley on www.supradioshow.com, “Where we are Standing Up for the Planet!”

And so it was as I set aside my paddle for several days of land-based travel along the watery edge of four of the five Gulf states, observing its people, places, and culture.The trip was a great reminder of the need to stay connected with the heartbeat of the regions where we live.

Much of the Gulf coast is low and flat, with extensive pine forests bisected by rivers and streams carrying vital fresh water to estuaries along the coast. Within these bays, fresh and salt water mix as the physical and biological forces of land and sea come together. Long, thin barrier islands separate bays from Gulf, sheltering the coastal waters from the full force of the Gulf and allowing more gentle conditions that nurture one of the world’s richest stretches of marine life.

Travelling from Florida west the changes are apparent as water colour changes from green to a turbid brown, and beach sands from white and coarse to tan and muddy.The already low land gets even lower, as water is always near or on the surface and swamps cover much of the land.

The low and wet landscape reaches its peak in Louisiana, as the muddy Mississippi River runs through and its delta spreads into the Gulf with thousands of square miles of wetlands nourished by sediment carried downstream.Those wetlands fuel a rich ecosystem of oysters, shrimp, finfish, and birds. New Orleans is the human epicentre of it all, with its original settlement smartly perched on the highest ground along the river where floods were unlikely.

The historic ‘French Quarter’ is a delightful but often rough enclave of walkable streets and lessons in living with the hot-humid climate.

Courtyards and deep porches provide pleasant outdoor spaces that are often cooler than indoors, while second floor porches hang over the sidewalk for shade and shelter from downpours.The distinctive cuisine is a defining characteristic, with restaurant menus dominated by the bounty from the nearby sea. Artists paint plein air next to their booths surrounding a city square, while street performers dance, drum, and pantomime to fill jars with a few dollars.

Where 18th and 19th century plantations clustered along the Mississippi River to the north, today there are also concentrations of chemical plants and refineries producing the products that Americans demand.This is one of the most industrial corridors in America, and one tragically nicknamed ‘Cancer Alley’ due to the public perception of high rates of cancer among residents living near the plants.

The river shapes the landscape and culture, providing a place of transit that allows ships to travel up and down into the American heartland to exchange raw materials and goods. But it has been so altered, hemmed-in by dikes and its flow altered so that the flow of sediment that it spent thousands of years spreading across the delta is now mostly dumped straight into the Gulf, starving low-lying wetlands of the material they need to grow taller in the face of a rising sea. About 16 square miles per year disappears beneath the Gulf.

While the river flow no longer supplies the sediment needed by wetlands, it does deliver something not needed—nutrient pollution carried downstream from agricultural areas in the Midwest.

Much of this is nitrogen from fertilizer that runs off corn fields planted mostly to feed livestock for human consumption and to make ethanol fuel – a taxpayer-funded scam of the highest order.The nutrients pour into the Gulf and create a ‘dead zone’ of low oxygen water where little life remains.

© Judith Scott

conflict and change

Along the river’s edge I see subsistence fishermen sitting on overturned five gallon buckets, hoping to catch a meal despite the contamination of much of the River’s aquatic life. Being poor brings few choices in life.

Circling back home along the Mississippi coast there are thousands of empty spaces where homes and buildings once stood – remnants of the destruction of Hurricane Katrina visible 12 years hence.

Concrete slabs, a few scattered bricks and weedy grounds cover lots where grand old homes looked out across the water.

I stop in Mississippi for a final meal before returning to Florida. It’s not an American-born and raised person who serves me, but a recent immigrant from India. She owns her own small restaurant serving foods of her homeland, while telling me that she is “getting too old” and is “ready to retire.”

I drink four glasses of the most delicious iced tea I’ve ever had, but it’s not the classic tea of the American South but tea brewed from cinnamon sticks from Southeast Asia. It’s a reminder that the American ethos of the ‘melting pot’ continues, as does conflict, change, and the human spirit—all along the Gulf coast.

Why not join the Marine Conservation Society?

The Marine Conservation Society (MCS), the UK charity that protects our seas, shores and marine wildlife, needs your help.

With one of the longest coastlines in Europe, the UK has around 1,300 beaches and 8,000 species of marine animals. Yet just 0.01% of o our seas are fully protected.

By becoming a member of MCS, your support will help us to:

Join us today and claim your free Rapanui m marine-themed organic cotton T shirt.

• • • •

www.mcsuk.org/join

Protect marine wildlife Clear beaches of litter Reduce pollution in our seas Promote sustainable seafood

When you join you will also receive a welcome p pack full of information and gifts, plus four issues of Marine Conservation magazine every year.

Marine Conservation Society, Overross House, Ross Park, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire HR9 7QQ. Telephone: 01989 566017 Registered Charity No: England and Wales: 1004005; Scotland: SC037480.

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I C O N I C

P A D D

N o . 4

STEFFAN MEYRIC HUGHES

L E R S

Col HG

‘Blondie’ Hasler By the late 1930s, paddlers in Europe had discovered the joys of running whitewater rivers but kayaking’s pivotal move, the roll, had yet to really take root. And although this series is supposed to be on the evolution of whitewater kayaking as a leisure pursuit, Colonel Blondie Hasler was neither at leisure nor on whitewater as we know it when the hour came upon him to lead what is now thought of as the most audacious small-scale raid of the Second World War.

The year 1942 was not a good one in Britain.

The brief ‘phoney’ war of 1939, followed by Operation Dynamo (the ‘miracle of Dunkirk’ in 1940), then the Battle of Britain, had seen Britain by turns passive, gloriously defensive and heroic.

By 1942 though, things seemed bleak, with German submarines decimating British supply convoys in the Battle of the Atlantic and perhaps a creeping suspicion that Germany might prove to be a superior foe, not least because of her stronghold over the port of Bordeaux, in Nazioccupied France. Control of Bordeaux, on Europe’s greatest estuary, the Gironde, meant being in continuous receipt of the goods that were fuelling the German war effort.

On an unusually cold night in December 1942, Hasler, with nine other paddlers in five commando K2s, were dropped by submarine in the icy black vastness of the Gironde Estuary, with the mission to paddle undetected and upriver for 90 miles or more to Bordeaux, deploy limpet mines on German ships, then escape overland to Spain. The mission was successful but suicidal: only Hasler and Bill Sparks survived, with six men facing execution and two dying of hypothermia after capsizing.

The story of their heroism is well known, but let’s consider their exploits from a paddling point of view. Among the challenges must have been the feeling of sheer exposure, and the navigation, which was achieved by leadline and compass, in often turbulent waters under cover of darkness.

Equipment was laughable by today’s standards.

The Cockle Mark IIs, as they were known, designed and built with Hasler’s input, were hard-bottomed, semi-collapsible skin boats of 16ft in length and 28.5in wide, in order to fit though a submarine’s forward loading hatch for deployment. This is not unusually narrow, but

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Far left: Exhibition stand highlighting operation Frankton.

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Hasler and his men were not skilled paddlers in the way we understand that term today. Their paddles were a full 9ft (274cm) long. Equipped with the limpet mines and other equipment, they were very heavily laden. The men’s clothing was woeful and even included ‘denim trousers’ – jeans, one assumes. They had rudimentary spraydecks, but these spraydecks lived up to their name in the sense that they were purely to deflect airborne spray, of which there would have been plenty.

The men’s training had focused on endurance and stealth, but no record is made of any knowledge of stability strokes like the high and low brace. In any case, the boats are of a shape that would have been very unforgiving in the rough, with flat bottoms and a very angular chine. In the event, the men encountered tidal overfalls that they had underestimated, with turbulent water up to five feet in height, causing the capsize of the kayak Conger, with Sheard and Moffatt suffering capsize and subsequent death by hypothermia. It was a scene that would tragically repeat itself to some degree in the

fated school canoeing trip in Lyme Bay in 2003, when four teenagers drowned.

Reading Paddy Ashdown’s book on Operation Frankton, as it was codenamed, reveals a tale of unimaginable fortitude, while Ewen Southby Tailyour’s biography, Blondie, paints a picture of a serious, focused man from an ordinary background in a the privileged officer-class world of the Second World War. He was something of a loner and though incredibly tough, was never directly aggressive, not showing a great propensity for boxing, for example. In that respect, like MacGregor, he can claim to be part of the DNA of today’s paddlers, as well as one of the greatest heroes of the Second World War. The legacy of Blondie and his men to recreational paddling has been felt, indirectly, in the annual Devizes to Westminster Race, in which many military personnel have raced over the years. Blondie himself went on to found solo transoceanic yacht racing in 1960 by proposing the first OSTAR; he was also the founding father of the modern SBS (Special Boat Service).

č wi čÃÌ ið À v À` > > ° 1 ° * Ì LÞ >`°

e: info@peakuk.com w: www.peakuk.com

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t:+44 1629 732611

SONJA JONES

Seasonal

delights

…The salty paddler

I did not know I was capable of this, but I have fallen in love with nature all over again, and the reason? Sea kayaking.

I have just returned from the first expedition I have ever planned, which was a circumnavigation of Menorca with four friends (read here online).

Sea kayaking is my most favourite way to observe wildlife and be immersed in nature. At times, the sea was so crystal clear that we could snorkel from the comfort of our kayaks by simply gazing down into the water below, where we could see jellyfish pulsating and fish gliding beneath us.

Although rather than read about why adventure kayaking is the bees knees, if a picture tells a thousand words, I’m pretty sure this introductory film, to a series of films by Erin Bastian about why I love sea kayaking, will help you to understand why: https://vimeo.com/169540322

I was amazed to see many familiar rocky shore characters when paddling into nooks and crannies along the Menorca coast, where I could be mistaken for being in the UK – sea urchins, beadlet anemones, limpets, periwinkles, shrimps, and breadcrumb sponge…to name but a few were abundant along this diverse coast.

I stood and observed a man one day, stepping carefully into precarious rocky shallow waters with a bucket. I watched him stand very still and plunge something akin to a litter grabber into the water – I couldn’t make out what he was doing. He approached the shoreline and in a mixture of single word Spanish and French, he told me that he was collecting sea anemones to serve as food in local restaurants. It was incredible to see such a tradition in action and by a small scale fisherman who was so considerate in his approach to the ecosystem around him…especially with an organism that seems so common place and that we don’t tend to consume in the UK. This got me thinking about all of the incredible marine wildlife that we have at home in the UK and how magnificent every encounter is, no matter how big or small, and so I thought I would call upon a good friend of mine; Marine biologist and coastal explorer, Emily Cunningham, to tell us about the amazing delights you could be lucky enough to spot out on the sea this summer...

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Emily Cunningham

Rock-pooling is often our first introduction to the sea. I thank many happy childhood days of exploring rocky shores as the reason for my career in marine conservation. UK seas are an amazing place; and no more so than in early summer, when our coasts and seas are at their most exciting.

Rising sea temperatures and calmer waters create the perfect conditions for plankton blooms.

Phytoplankton (a kind of microscopic algae) is the foundation of the marine ecosystem – fuelling a vast and complicated food web (that includes us fish and chips, anyone?) and providing the oxygen for every second breath we take! Combined with zooplankton (tiny animals and the eggs and larvae of most marine creatures), it is this plankton soup that we’ve got to thank for the massive visitors that we all secretly hope to spot when we’re out on the water…

Marine safari Harbour Porpoise

Although you might spot a stubby triangular fin breaking the water’s surface, it’s likely the sharp ‘chuff ’ as they exhale that grabs your attention – they’re not nicknamed Puffing Pigs for nothing!

At 1.7m long, harbour porpoises are our smallest and shyest cetacean. Wary of boats and paddle craft, sightings will likely be brief – but exciting nonetheless. Porpoises give birth to a single calf in June, so you might be lucky enough to spot a smaller fin surfacing alongside mum as

Common dolphins Photo: Eleanor Stone

the summer progresses. Always give cetaceans a wide berth – especially those with young in tow.

Dolphins

UK waters are host to seven species of dolphin, varying from summer visitors to year-round residents. The best known, bottlenose dolphins, are easily identifiable by their sickle-shaped fin.

Definitely not shy, an encounter with a fourmetre bottlenose bull is not easily forgotten!

Bottlenose dolphins also calve in the summer months, so make sure all encounters are on their terms – ensuring that you don’t paddle into pods or between mums and calves.

Spot a half-munched cuttlefish in the summer months, and you’re in the wake of a feeding Risso’s dolphin! Fully grown adults are four-metres long, with tall straight fins and backs covered in white scratches (the more they have, the older they are).

Common dolphins are less frequently spotted inshore, but sometimes follow shoals of fish into large bays to feed. Smaller in size, common dolphins are around 2.5 metres long and have a distinctive hourglass pattern along their flank – including a bright ochre-yellow patch.

If you’re incredibly lucky, you might spot the tall (six-foot) black fin of a killer whale or orca. We have one resident pod, named the West Coast community, spotted occasionally off the west coast. Other orca visitors to north and eastern coasts are nomads following herring shoals around the north west Atlantic.

Guidelines for wildlife encounters:

Bottlenose Dolphin pod Photo: Emily Cunningham

l

Give the animals space and time, staying as calm and quiet as possible

l

Don’t approach, allow them the choice to come to you

l

Do not remain in contact with the animals for any longer than 15 minutes

l

Do not touch, feed or swim with marine animals (it’s illegal to do so!)

l

Do not follow them if they choose to leave

l

See Wise Scheme Codes of Conduct here

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Leatherback Turtles

The largest of 7 species of sea turtle, this is the only regular visitor to UK waters. Named after the soft, leathery skin covering its back, this turtle is capable of regulating its own body temperature, allowing it to visit cooler climes in search of food. Usually around 2m long and weighing 600kg, this large turtle feeds solely on jellyfish. However, they often mistake plastic bags for jellyfish, which get stuck in their guts and lead to a slow, painful death from starvation. If you spot a bag out on the sea, scoop it up and take it home.

Ocean sunfish

Basking Sharks

Arriving off Cornwall in late spring, these gentle giants are the second largest fish in the world, measuring up to 11m long and weighing up to 5 tonnes! Coursing slowly north up the west coast of Great Britain as the summer takes hold, these harmless filter feeders dine solely on plankton (so no fear!). Keep your eyes peeled for broad, triangular fins swaying at the surface as they feed.

Spotted either individually or in groups, they travel at around 2-3mph, swimming in random patterns whilst feeding, cavernous mouths agape.

Their movements can be difficult to predict and they can breach clear of the water – so stay well back! If you are lucky enough to encounter a basking shark, stay still and quiet and keep your distance. Large groups of basking sharks may be displaying courting behaviour – which can get feisty, so definitely don’t paddle into the middle of that!

Ocean sunfish

Normally first spotted off south and west coasts, these funny looking creatures are the world’s largest bony fish – weighing in at nearly a ton!

Almost as wide as they are long, sunfish resemble a massive head with fins attached. It’s these silver pointed fins flapping at the surface that are normally your first clue – but don’t be alarmed if you come across one sunbathing side on. Like leatherbacks, this normally tropical species strays into our waters in search of jellyfish in the summer months.

Seabirds

From Manxies to puffins, rafting seabirds is one of early summer’s most magical sights; as hundreds of thousands of seabirds swarm to our shores to breed. Cliff faces and offshore islands become cacophonous colonies as seabirds arrive

en masse to lay eggs and raise a precious chick.

From rocky islets stained white with guano to the Kittiwakes nesting on the Tyne Bridge in Newcastle City Centre, our coasts are internationally important for breeding seabirds.

Noisy and smelly as they are, they are incredible to behold. Be cautious not to disturb rafting or nesting seabirds, keeping a safe distance and passing calmly and quietly.

Seals

The most likely accompaniment to a salty paddle is the curious face of a grey seal, popping up to check you out. The UK is home to 40% of the world’s population of the seemingly ubiquitous grey seal – but in fact there are fewer grey seals in the world than African elephants! One of two species of seal native to UK waters, grey seals can be recognised by their long roman noses; with their Latin name, Halichoerus grypus meaning hook-nosed sea pig! Common (or harbour) seals have a much more feline look about them, with a concave forehead and vshaped nostrils. Both haul out on sandbanks and rocky shores to rest and give birth – common seals in June-July and grey seals from SeptemberDecember. Skittish when on land, spooked seals will rush back to the water, putting pups at risk – so please be mindful to steer well clear of a sealoccupied spot.

To keep up to date with Emily’s marine musings, follow here on Twitter @eegeesea So next time you’re out on the water, why don’t you make your very own tick-box marine safari to keep you on your toes (if the water isn’t already doing that!) – and if you manage to snap a picture of something wonderful, please do send it our way to share with the salty world of paddling.

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Introducing this issue’s Star Paddler, the king of open canoeing himself –

Ray Goodwin Ray is an adventurer who has a passion for exciting journeys; he has white water kayaked in Nepal, done major ice climbs in Africa and has travelled extensively on rivers of North America.

Ray is a British Canoeing Level 5 Coach in three disciplines and gets about in the most eye catching of craft…

Where's your favourite place to go sea kayaking in the summer in the UK and why?

Almost anywhere on the west coast of Scotland – narrowing it down it would have to be circumnavigating Mull. For work, I have been around the island six times and have had smaller trips to explore the wonderful islands of the west side, but I never tire of it. I love it for its spectacular scenery, the very special Iona with its history of monks,Vikings and kings; Staffa and the bird colonies on both it and Lunga in the Treshnish and a myriad of special memories.

What has been your most memorable marine wildlife encounter?

I had seen what I thought were some kelp fronds waving in a most peculiar way. I then thought it must be two porpoises – intrigued I paddled towards the fins. On looking down into the water I saw the biggest mouth I had

ever seen in my life and it was just metres from me. I was still accelerating into the distance when my brain said “idiot.” It was the first basking shark I had ever seen; I’ve seen lots since but I still chuckle at that first sighting.

I have come across lots of porpoise and dolphins over the years but paddling with a pair of minke whales was really special as their dorsal fins were so small I had presumed, at a distance, that they were dolphins. It was only when one swam under me and surfaced close enough for me to get the stench of its breath I realised. I was fishing at the time and quickly reeled in; I didn’t want to end up catching mackerel that were then taken by a whale.

I must also mention the ungrateful guillemot I cut from a fishing net – on being freed it attacked my leg.

That’s a wrap for this issue – I hope it inspires you to go forth and embark on a marine safari or a salty adventure this summer.

If you had to see just one creature in the wild whilst salty paddling – what would it be and why?

Got to be an Orca. I hope it is well fed, feeling happy and literate because all the books say they won’t attack humans. I have seen them from a whale watching boat but never from a kayak.

How have the ducks responded to your pink canoe?

With shock and awe! I ended up getting a pink canoe because of a reoccurring joke on Facebook after Maya, my young daughter and I were photographed in a pink composite Wenonah canoe. From then on it seemed it was only a question of time before a pink canoe was mentioned even on a totally unrelated thread of mine. I was discussing Venture canoes with Graham Mackereth as we walked around the Pyranha factory. He asked which colour I wanted and before I had time to think my mouth had said, ‘Pink.’ Graham stopped dead and looked incredulous, “Are you serious?” I told him to give

me 24 hours and I would get back to him but in reality the decision was made. On setting it all up and proudly telling Maya, she informed me she now preferred blue! Anyway the colour is stunning in photos and I am certainly getting noticed. It has yet to do it first proper sea trip but that will be remedied later this summer. On a separate note I have P & H Cetus HV on order: it is not pink.

And finally, what’s the best thing you’ve done on the sea in a canoe?

Well the first ever circumnavigation of Wales (in a paddle craft) was done by Rob Egelstaff and myself some 24 years ago followed two years later by the Irish Sea crossing with Dave Howie. Those trips were pretty out there; but however good we were, the canoe was always the limiting factor. As a close second I would say a trip around Puffin Island with my daughter and Lina in canoes. Even with such a simple trip I waited on the right weather and tide before taking Maya out.

The second edition of your book canoeing is out and so what are the changes?

Well it amounts to 27 extra pages with small changes and additions occurring throughout the book. Some are extra things that I have learnt or been shown over the last five years. Some are things I wanted in the original but the editor thought we had already got enough content. So in many ways this is the Director’s cut. It has over 900 photos. It is available direct from my website: www.RayGoodwin.com

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By Dave Rossetter – Head of Paddlespo Over the past while my articles have been around a few psychological principles and how they might have an influence on us as paddlers. I have also talked about how mentoring and creating a strong community can be beneficial for us.This article is one that has joined these two areas together. In the coming months I will be working with coaches that I have the pleasure of working with at various levels to develop their/my coaching!

In this article I have asked George Fell to cover the aspect of fear.This came about at a conference that I was involved in developing the coaching programme for.The workshop covered various aspects for coaches and how they may aid the paddlers that they are working with to understand why fear is there and ways that we may help them overcome it.

So over to George and his thoughts from the workshop…

Fear I'll let you into a secret.

I'm often scared when I'm boating. As a paddler I'm scared I'm going to stop improving as I get older; as a coach I'm scared I'm not going to give my learners the awesome day that they deserve.

We'll come back to that at the end. Now for a bit about brains…

Two brains for the price of one!

The brains of many animals have some bits in common.Those bits are involved in things like motivation, emotion, learning and memory.We'll call this the limbic brain. Apes (including us) and some other animals have some extra bits which are involved in thinking.That's the cognitive bit of brain you're using to read, interpret and understand this article right now.

One bit of the limbic brain is involved in reacting to threats. It's directly wired to our eyes and ears and can trigger a load of responses in the body.Typically fight, flight or play dead. It reacts in about 1/60th second. It's not until another 1/60th of a second later that your cognitive brain catches up, becomes aware of what's already happened to your body, and this is what we call being afraid.

That may sound like a load of neuroscience waffle, but just think about that last sentence; l Your cognitive brain isn't involved in triggering your fear response. l Being scared isn't a thinking choice – you can't think yourself out of being afraid. l Your body is probably already doing stuff before your cognitive brain (i.e.YOU!) is even aware of the threat.

orts at Glenmore Lodge This made a load of sense two million years ago when our ancestors were pottering around the African plains. By the time your cognitive brain has worked out that the rustle you heard behind you in the Savannah, might be due to that cackle of hyenas you saw yesterday, you're already their lunch! Much better to have a fast reacting, easily triggered limbic system that has you climbing the nearest tree before you know why you're doing it. The odd false alarm just means you end up occasionally climbing trees for no good reason. Failing to trigger just once means you are hyena food!

A bit more about the limbic brain

The limbic brain is born with some triggers – babies are afraid of toy snakes, even in countries where there are no snakes.

The limbic brain is incredibly good a learning to be afraid of new things.You only need one bad experience and the limbic brain can learn a new trigger, and that learning can last a lifetime.

It doesn't even have to be a bad experience that happened to you.You can learn to be afraid of something from someone else's experience.

The limbic brain doesn't choose the trigger in a rational way. If you have a bad experience on a river your limbic brain might choose to fear; all watersports, kayaking, green kayaks, holes, that particular drop or paddling with your mate Reg. There's no logic to it, because the limbic brain doesn't do logic – that's what your cognitive brain does.

If you were going to invent a sport to trigger our primal fears it might look quite like whitewater kayaking. Noise, splashing, power, unpredictability,

drowning, entrapment. Maybe it needs a few snakes wriggling around inside your boat to make it perfect.

That's also why whitewater is so much fun! If I gently push the buttons of my limbic brain, then a fraction of a second later my cognitive brain gets to experience all the excitement and stoke of piloting a crazy little boat down an ever changing rollercoaster of moving water. If something fully triggers my limbic brain the excitement turns to fear, terror or an out and out emotional meltdown!

It gets worse. If my limbic fear response is fully triggered, I'll tend to either freeze or thrash around ineffectually (that's what play dead, fight or flight look like in a kayak!) The stuff that worked on the African savannah really doesn't work on a river. I have a bad experience and that just reinforces the fear response (remember the limbic brain is really good at learning to be afraid of stuff).

So I get locked into a feedback cycle where boating makes me afraid; being afraid makes me rubbish at boating; I get nailed and that makes me even more afraid next time!

Remember, it's not a cognitive thing.

Knowing that we've set safety, knowing that it's a lowconsequence rapid doesn't help because the limbic brain doesn't respond to reason.

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George is a full time paddlesports coach who when he's not reading sports science textbooks manages to get out boating and coaching around the world in whitewater kayaks, open canoes and sea kayaks.You can find out more at www.georgefell. co.uk/blog.htm

The long slow path to success It is possible to teach your limbic brain that paddling is OK.You can't reason with your limbic brain, but you can teach it.

You do that by being exposed to the fear trigger, but having a good outcome. If the fear is of swimming rapids, then go and swim some safe rapids. It seems that the more scared you can be and still get a good outcome the more effective this method can be.

Of course that doesn't work if the fear is of a particular move or a particular rapid that requires you to drive your boat.At this point being really afraid will mess up your performance and put you right back into the bad feedback cycle. Here we need to find a way to make it easier and get some success; can we find a similar move in an easier environment?

Can we break the move down and practice some elements of it? Will getting fitter help? Is the underlying problem to do with fear at all, or is it simply a lack of technical ability to make the move?

Eventually if I keep getting success and I gradually increase the difficulty level, I can slowly teach my limbic brain that it's OK. Of course it could only take one failure to put me back to square one. If you're sitting in the eddy at the top of a rapid, unable to swallow, talk or think, it's probably a sign that you shouldn't be paddling it.

Some quick bodges

These probably won't fix the fear, but might allow you to get down a rapid!

Visualise – shut your eyes and go through a successful run inside your head. It'll help your cognitive brain sequence the moves and it might just kid your limbic brain into not triggering.

Breathe – slowly and deeply. It might do some clever physiological stuff to your nervous system.

It will certainly give your cognitive brain a bit of space.

Mindfulness – Listening to your body, being aware of how scared you are and how it's affecting you. Don't analyse it, just be aware of it.

Focus – under pressure the cognitive brain can focus on the wrong cues. A bit like visualising, planning the key moves of a rapid and having a cue for what's going to make you do the right things at the right time can help.

Don't focus – for other people under pressure, they try to pay attention to too many cues. The cognitive brain tries to micro-manage every movement. The movement loses fluidity.

Distracting the cognitive brain and letting the limbic brain drive is what's needed.

Summary

So to take it back to the start, I'm often scared when I'm boating, but nowadays it’s usually cognitive. Being scared of getting worse at boating makes me try new stuff, paddle more and train better. Being scared of not giving my learners a good day makes me get feedback on my coaching and try to improve it. I think that's a good rational thing.

On the occasions I find my limbic fear kicking in, I usually recognise it happening. If I can't fix it, I usually get out and walk. The rapid will be there for another day.

Happy paddling/coaching!

Dave Rossetter Dave is Head of Paddlesports at Glenmore Lodge – Scotland’s National Outdoor Training Centre. He has been involved in the development of the new awards and provides expert advice throughout the industry on all things to do with coaching, safety, leadership and personal paddling. He is passionate about all things paddling and specialises in white water kayak and open canoe where he will most often be found. www.glenmorelodge.org.uk www.peakuk.co.uk

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B E H I N D t h e Part 2: Exposing the beauty Last issue I looked at capturing fast action shots, freeze-framing action.This time I’m going to guide you through some of the artistic steps for making beautiful photos.

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Whenever I go kayaking somewhere I make it my mission to not only take nice photos of my friends pulling tricks or running waterfalls but also to capture a sense of the place itself. I’ve built up quite a collection of photos from paddling locations around the world and I have several of these printed out. It can make a disappointing journey to an almost empty river into a photographic adventure, a quick visit to somewhere without your boat into a real bonding experience with the river.

I specialise in taking long-exposure landscapes of rivers and water. I enjoy exposing the mystery of shapes and flow lines that wouldn’t be obvious in a sharp image by smoothing out the fine droplets and splashes with long exposures.

These photos are harder to take because they require a lot more time, they will take you lots of practice to get right and you need to learn to master post-production to really get the best from them.

By Dave ‘Scout’ Wortley

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Low Force High Force

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ThePADDLER 24 You don’t want too much light, dawn or dusk are the best times or even under full moonlight like in my photo of the Falls of Falloch on a freezing cold winter’s night.You need to be able to leave your exposure open for anything from two up to 30 seconds and in the middle of the day you just can’t do this as the image will blow out unless you use an ND filter, which will reduce the amount of light coming into the camera and thus you can expose the image with a longer shutter speed.

take time and judgement; you’ll want to try a few different shutter lengths, it will totally depend on the waterfall itself combined with the amount of light and your own taste with respect to combination. Take the time to experiment and see what works on the day.

I take a lot of panoramic long exposures, this means using a tripod to take a sequence of photos as I pivot the camera around. I always shoot with the camera in portrait orientation to give myself the biggest vertical field of view.

It can take between six and ten shots to cover a wide landscape this way but it gives you a huge resolution for your final image.

Post-production

Finding the right balance of exposure time depends entirely on the water, expose for too long and the water will be a thick blur, get it too short and it’ll look like it’s accidentally blurry or streaky. To get the right look does

Panorama of Asygarth Falls,Yorkshire

Throwing these into Photoshop or Lightroom you can quickly stitch these together, but unless you’re really lucky with the lighting conditions the challenge has only just started. I do a lot of post-production on my photos, this skill has developed from my professional life working with extremely talented photoretouchers. I’ve learned a huge amount and

constantly find it interesting to push my own creative-eye and find a way to transform a photo. Simply adjusting the white-balance, dialling up and down the levels of shadows, highlights and bringing some clarity into the image can be enough.

I recently took a panorama at Asygarth Falls in Yorkshire, the river was very low but this didn’t stop me having a nice stroll along the falls for my first visit and spend time getting to know the drops through the lens before hopefully returning to run it in my 9R one day soon!

It was a bit of a grey day, there wasn’t any direct sunlight and it was getting on in the afternoon, which made capturing a long exposure without an ND possible but left the light quite lifeless and dull. At the lower Asygarth Falls I found a nice ledge to sit on, down close to the water, I always like to get as close as I can so there’s an element of foreground in the shot. I carefully positioned my tripod to frame up nicely and as it started to drizzle I quickly banked a series of five segments for a panoramic.

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Gra r nd Cany ra ny yo on

top to bottom: JElves Chasm; Campsite under the stars; Redwall Cavern

When starting

the post-production process for my photos, I do some simple adjustments in Lightroom to remove distortions cause by wide-angle lenses, vignette, the shadowing around the edge of frame, chromatic aberration (the purple fringing that appears in high contrast wide images), and colour balance the images so they are all consistent. I process them out in 16-bit for greater control and allow Photoshop to do its magic stitching the separate photos together into one image.

I often work with a black and white correction on top until I’m happy with the levels of contrast in the image, without the distraction of colour you can really find the balance and make sure the focus is in the right point of the image (which would be where, in your opinion?

What do you tend to focus on in your photos?). Sometimes there’s a little air-brushing required to darken down highlights on rocks so that they don’t pop out of the image, often I’ll darken the sky down as well so that the water is the brightest and most prominent thing in the image. I like to paint artistic vignettes in and force interest into the key areas, once I’m happy the contrast is correct, I then start looking at the colour balance.

Does the picture need more blue, do I need to remove some orange from the water, etc…

This is a totally bespoke thing to the image and can take hours to perfect? Does the river or feature look better in natural colours, or could darkening it or using black and white add more drama to the final image? When you’re working with adjustments in Photoshop the most important thing is to use Adjustment Layers with masks so you can selectively make adjustments in different areas of the image. The key here is to be subtle by having a play around and experimenting. It’s not uncommon to have 30-50 adjustments on an image to make it work, but it will be well worth your time.

16-bit

In your RAW processing settings make sure you write your images to 16-bit TIFFs, they will be much bigger in terms of file size but you’ll have much more control of the highlights and shadows in Photoshop than you would with a regular 8-bit JPEG.

Falls of Falloch, Scotland

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Swallow Falls

To some people this level of manipulation may seem like cheating, but there are hardly any professional photographers out there who don’t do some form of colour correction afterwards; it’s always been a part of photography. Since the early days of film, mixing chemicals to get different results from developing negatives, pouring liquid into certain areas of the negative to dodge/burn areas, has been used to generate artistic effects by photographers back as far as Ansel Adams.

Eller Beck,Yorkshire

Almost every photo on Instagram has been subjected to some form of filter or adjustment, but to get truly epic photos, adjustments need to be refined and concentrated into different areas using masks. One of the nicest things about shooting panoramics in many portrait panels is that the resolution increases cumulatively so that you end up with a big image size when the parts have been stitched together, this means that they can be printed-out beautifully on large prints.

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Sunbury Weir Keeping kit dry

A crucial consideration is to make sure that your kit stays dry whilst out on the river, you can get a cheap small light-weight tripod that you can stash in the back of your boat, but even just walking around the river bank is risky.

I entrust my gear to a Watershed Ocoee bag that keeps my kit safe and dry. I always do it up properly, which saved my bacon when I tossed the bag up on to the bank at the very start of the Grand Canyon only to watch my camera bag roll straight off and drop into the river! A waterlogged camera would not have been a good start to a three-week trip!

I often get asked about what camera is best; the simple answer is that it really doesn’t matter. DSLRs come in all shapes and sizes and all with slightly different perks. Find what’s right

for you, price wise and size-wise What is a million times more important than the camera itself is what lens you should buy. If you purchase a DSLR on the high-street today it’ll come with a kit-lens 18-55mm, which isn’t that good for kayaking as it doesn’t have much zoom and the lens is slow; no good for capturing fast action on flowing rivers. Even a cheap Tamron Lens like 70300mm will allow you to get zoomed right in on the action and get much better shots.The best all-round lens I’ve seen lately is the Sigma 1875mm… However, it is fairly heavy! Sacrificing lens quality, an 18-200mm lens will give you the ability to go from wide angle to zoomed in, which will be good most of the time for quick shots as you won’t have to faff around switching lenses on the river-bank.

The Bitches, Pembrokeshire

There’s one more part of the puzzle that’s needed; and that’s how to understand all the technical settings on your camera. In the next part of this series I’ll be explaining what F-stops really are and how to work with metering. Follow me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/DaveWortleyPhotography and on twitter: @OnTheRiverDave and Instagram: @daveWortleyPhotography

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034 An interview with… Sean Morley

044 Chile

Patagonia Austral expedition by Arek Mytko

058 Norway

Moskenes Island by Kristoffer Vandbakk

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Interview with the Marathon Man himself…

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H

ow did you start out in what is a very successful career in sea kayaking?

I spent many happy hours exploring the South Cornwall coastline as a kid, at first in a general purpose kayak, then a tippy K1. I was always very comfortable on the ocean and it did occur to me back then that if I kept paddling around the next headland, I would eventually arrive back where I had started having paddled all the way around Britain. But I thought that sea kayaking was for old men with beards and definitely not for me!

Training for long distance races like the 125-mile Devizes to Westminster Canoe Race gave me an excellent endurance base. In 1992 I joined the Devon and Cornwall Police but kept paddling and whilst training at Exeter Canoe Club I met Robin Feloy, designer of many excellent sea kayaks including the Inuk, a high performance sea kayak. I was immediately intrigued to discover how far I could paddle the Inuk in a day and in 1997 I set myself a challenge to paddle around the coast of Devon and Cornwall, including the Isles of Scilly as quickly as I could. I found that it was possible to paddle well over 50 miles a day using a wing paddle and a fast cadence, but I also found out that your body quickly breaks down if you push a heavy sea kayak too hard for too long.

Before we start – just let our readers know a little about yourself, family, background etc.

Originating from the UK and now a resident of Marin County, California, I began kayaking at the age of ten with 1st St. Austell Scouts. I was extremely fortunate to have the late Martin Compton as a Scout leader and he was passionate about kayaking and especially kayak racing. I took part in my first kayak race in 1978 and have competed in many disciplines of paddle sport since then including marathon, sprint racing, whitewater slalom, downriver racing, wave ski, surf lifesaving spec, ocean surf ski and surf kayaking with some success at national and international level.

In 1998, together with two friends, Ian Wilson and Jim Morrissey we set a record for the fastest crossing of the Irish Sea from St. Davids to Rosslare of just over 11 hours. The following summer Ian and I completed a 500-mile circumnavigation of Northern Scotland starting at Fort William and completing the circle using the Caledonian Canal.

Having gained experience and confidence in navigation, in 2004 I achieved my childhood dream by completing the first solo circumnavigation of the UK and Ireland by sea kayak; the first ever to include all of the inhabited islands. The 4,500-mile expedition took 183 days and is the longest kayak journey ever undertaken in British waters.

Sean Mo orle ey e y

Kayak surf to sea kayaking and now SUP – anything else in the pipeline to surprise us with?

My two kids keep me pretty busy now so my days of breaking records are definitely over but I am having a lot of fun teaching them to surf and paddle. I can only hope they’ll love paddling as much as I do and then who knows what they’ll do. As for my own paddling, I like to mix it up as much as possible and my wife and I are having a lot of fun learn to SUP surf but if the waves are good, I will always want to be in a kayak or on a wave ski. I certainly haven’t given up competing and hope to represent the US West team at the World Surf Kayak Championships in Northern Ireland in 2017.

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What was the main reason for emigrating from Cornwall to California?

In 2005 I helped Valley design a surf kayak called the Rush. In 2006 I came to California to compete at the Santa Cruz Kayak Surf Festival, the largest surf kayak event in the world. I didn’t do very well in the competition but I did meet Gina Troiani, who was also competing. I’m not proud of the decisions I made next since I was already married and my ex-wife certainly didn’t deserve the emotional trauma that I inflicted on her. But within a few weeks I had resigned from the police and purchased a one way to California!

I couldn’t be happier with the end result!

What’s the most enjoyable encounter with wildlife that you’ve had at sea?

I have had so many it is hard to pick one but one of my favourites was paddling through a pod of about half a dozen blue whales on my way from Catalina Island, back to the mainland.

I was just a couple of miles offshore, on my own having paddled to six of the eight Channel Islands of California. It was my first encounter with a blue whale and was staggered by the size of these leviathans. One passed right underneath me and it looked like the fuselage of a jumbo jet in the clear blue water. It occurred to me that I was within sight of the urban sprawl of Los Angeles. I wondered how many of the 15 million residents know or even care that these magnificent creatures live in their neighbourhood.

You famously circumnavigated the UK and Ireland in 2004 – was there a stand out moment for you on the expedition?

Reaching St. Kilda was without doubt the highlight of an amazing journey. It wasn’t a great summer as far as the weather was concerned so I feel blessed that we got the weather window we needed. I had agreed to have a support boat for the crossing to and from the archipelago and that was the only time that season that Murray McLeod and his boat Sea Trek made the 40-mile crossing to St. Kilda. The conditions were almost perfect for both crossings and for day exploring and circumnavigating these stunning islands. Whilst I wouldn’t necessarily recommend the 11 plus hour crossing by kayak, I would absolutely encourage every sea kayaker to put a visit to the islands on their bucket list. Gordon Brown and others lead trips there most years.

It was my first encounter with a

blue whale leviathans

and was staggered by the size of these

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If you could capture just one ‘feel good’ moment in your time on the ocean – which would it be and why?

Paddling under the Golden Gate Bridge is always memorable, whatever the weather and sea conditions. I have had the opportunity to lead many paddlers under the bridge for their first time and it is always such a privilege.There are very few man-made structures that complement the natural landscape but I would argue that the Golden Gate Bridge is one of them.The art deco design and international orange colour of the bridge, the imposing Marin Headlands, the skyline of downtown San Francisco, the strong currents, powerful Pacific swell and the characteristic fog and wind all combine to make it a spectacular and often challenging paddle.

When preparing for a multi-day expedition in challenging conditions – what are the qualities you look for in a fellow team mate sea kayaker?

The ability to paddle hard and good sense of humour! I have done most of my major trips solo because I actually enjoy the experience of paddling solo and I am not a very patient person. Ian Wilson was THE BEST team mate you could wish for. Not only was he a very strong paddler, he is also hilariously funny and during our trip around the north of Scotland he was able to make me laugh even in the most challenging circumstances.

Do you have any favourite conditions for sea kayaking or are you happy with whatever Mother Nature bowls your way on the day?

Living in California has definitely softened me to the point where I now have to look for challenging weather conditions to paddle in.

That said, the swell can be enormous here on the west coast and whilst big swell will make it impossible to enter the rock gardens, it is often possible to ride some of these monsters at places like Point Bonita (in a sea kayak) and Steamer Lane (in a surf kayak). I do enjoy the thrill of surfing big waves although I am often humbled.

For rock gardening, a small, long period swell (something like 5’ @ 15 secs) will allow you to get into all the fun features and still have plenty of time and energy to run some big pour-overs.

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Ever been scared out there?

Yes, way too many times. When I first started teaching it took me too long to realize that not everyone feels as comfortable on the water as I do and how fear is a barrier to learning. Anyone who has read my story in the book ‘More Deep Trouble’ will know that I am capable of making a bad error of judgment. I was terrified of losing one of my students during that fateful incident and it had a major impact on me as an instructor.

It took me seven years of trying to win the Men’s High Performance category at the Santa Cruz Paddle Surf Festival. I don’t know if I will ever be able to repeat that win but I will keep trying.

Sea kayaking, kayak surfing or SUP – which gives the most pleasure?

Surfing a large, clean wave and getting airborne in a surf kayak or on a wave ski. I am not there yet on an SUP…

As for my own personal safety, I have paddled out to Mavericks several times now but have yet had the courage to take the drop. It is such a beast of a wave, with potentially deadly consequences for a surf kayaker if you don’t make the bottom turn and reach the safety of the shoulder. I can’t stop thinking about it but that is probably as far as I will go now I have two kids that need me fit and healthy.

Teaching my kids to surf and paddle. If they really get into it, I will start up a youth paddling club locally as there is nothing in our area for kids.

SUP surfing and open coast/downwind paddling.

I’ll race SUP once I feel ready.

Tell us a bit about your coaching setup and how you help others to improve?

I have a new wave ski on order so getting air on that will be my next challenge before I am too old!

Right now I am taking a break from teaching regularly as Gina needs me available to take care of the kids. But once her schedule settles down I will be focusing on instructor training and personal coaching. I believe that developing a long term relationship with your instructor is the best way to make significant progress. Whilst there is value in taking one-day classes and attending sea kayak symposia, there are too many students that take lots of classes without practicing in between.

Whilst it helps to keep paddling schools in business, I feel that it would be more beneficial for the student to be given tools/drills/concepts to work on and more use made of video analysis and 1:1 coaching over a period of time. I will also look to provide personal guiding locally, for visiting paddlers or anyone looking to get beyond their comfort zone. There is so much exceptional paddling right here in the Bay Area and whilst I have limited ability to travel, there is plenty of opportunity to teach and guide in my own back yard.

Do you have an ultimate achievement and if so what?

Whilst there has been a spate of circumnavigations of Britain and Ireland recently, no one has attempted the big circle – all the inhabited islands – since I did it in 2004. It was without doubt the most audacious and gratifying achievement of my paddling career and I look forward to seeing someone else having a crack at it and including the Channel Islands, which I missed out on including during my journey. That really is the ‘ultimate’ circumnavigation.

What projects are you currently working on?

Continuing to develop my ability to coach and not just teach and growing a client base of long term students.

Resurrecting the US West Surf Kayak organization and helping the team get to the Worlds in 2017.

Paddle Golden Gate 2018.

What do you do when not kayaking?

Work on our house and take care of the kids.

Our town of Fairfax and the hills of Marin County are the birthplace of mountain biking. I am still finding new trails to ride.

I’m a paddler and going on vacation, where would you recommend apart from your own backyard?

The Mendocino Coast of Northern California.

Hit up my friends Jeff Laxier and Cate Hawthrone of Liquid Fusion Kayaking. Whether you want surf, paddle rock gardens or whitewater, they will show you a great time in one of the most beautiful places on earth. Or go to Pembrokeshire, Wales or Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, or the West Coast of Scotland, or South West Ireland or…!

What’s the one location you haven't paddled that would be on your bucket list?

Australia. Any or all of it!

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What is special about the Californian coastline?

It is constantly surprising and tremendously diverse.The wildlife is reassuringly abundant despite the pressures from an ever growing population.The real secret is that winter is the best time to paddle here when the conditions between storms can be better than summer with less wind, consistent swell and lots of sunshine.

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Quickies…

If you could paddle with anyone in the world dead or alive who would it be?

Paul Caffyn.

Pick two celebrities to be your parents.

Barack and Michelle Obama. I don’t know if I want them as my parents but they would certainly do as surrogate patents for our kids if anything happened to us.

Which one sportsman or woman has inspired you?

Seb Coe. Fierce competitor, superb technician, incredible talent and when I was racing K1, I would often imagine I was Seb Coe in a kayak!

Are you a bathroom/shower singer and if so what do you sing?

No, but I work out to Stereophonics.

Name one actor/actress you would love to get naughty with?

I’ll decline to answer this one for my own personal safety!

Favourite film?

Top Gun (see above☺).

Cats or dogs?

Two Brittany Spaniels.

Facebook or Twitter?

Facebook – I still haven’t got into Twitter.

An ideal night out for you is?

Watching the Giants at AT&T Park with Gina and the kids.

What one luxury item would you take with you on a desert island?

Maui Jim sunglasses.

What’s in your fridge right now?

Ninkasi Brewing Co. Dawn of the Red.

If we came to your house for dinner, what would you prepare for us?

BBQ.

If you could be a wild animal – what would it be?

Harbor Seal.

Who are your kayaking buddies?

Gina and the kids, Kelly Marie Henry, Bill Vonnegut, Kenny Howell and anyone else that feels like going for a play.

What’s the most boring question you are often asked?

Are you Australian?

What three words would you use to describe you?

Paddling dad/coach.

Finally, any final shout outs?

Kokatat, Werner Paddles.

https://youtu.be/1MVsn_mdxZ0

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Many thanks Sean for all of your help on this – we really appreciate it.

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T A H E

O U T D O O R

PA AA TAGONIA When looking at the Strait of Magellan with a bird's eye view, one can see how irregular the coastline is and how complicated the system of fjords, straits and channels – a truly grand maze.The two largest Chilean localities of Punta Arenas and Puerto Natales are 250km apart overland. If we wanted to paddle from one village to the other, our journey would be that twice over. Given that there are have been very few kayak expeditions on the Strait of Magellan, not counting the one-day commercial trips, I decided to paddle from Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales.

By Arek Mytko

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A AUT USTA TRAL

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I had two options…

The first is the classic route from one city to the other, through the strait and channels, which is used by fishing boats.

The second is penetrating all the way up into the islands and channels, that is, an attempt to reach the other side through the mountains.The first option seemed too classic and not exploratory enough, therefore, reviewing the maps, I discovered a new variant with two portages through the mountains, and, possibly, in the advanced option scenario, with three portages. And so it was decided.

My trip attracted interest from a number of guides who had worked with me in northern Patagonia in the past. Due to their good communication and their professional performance of duties, I chose Mauricio and Alex.

On the waters of the Strait of Magellan, a harmonious and solid team is the basis of, not so much success, but as a guarantee of safety.

To overcome the basin, called the ‘raging fifties’ (due to the latitude of the area), dangerous due to powerful winds and strong ocean currents, I needed large expedition kayaks. My choice fell on the biggest models from Tahe Marine and Zegul.

Having agreed with the factory all the details of shipping the kayaks and additional equipment (suits, paddles, flotation vests), I started collecting other expedition equipment and began the physical preparation.

When I’m not on an expedition in the mountains or in a kayak, I train every day, a routine I have followed ever since I was a kid.The type of training is chosen with regard to the next expedition. And so I somewhat changed my training system, which was now focused in 90% on increasing the strength and endurance of the upper body. I gave the same guidelines to my fellow paddlers.

Due to their good communication and their professional performance of duties, I chose

Mauricio and Alex

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In early December my equipment arrived Unfortunately, the transportation company had not treated the three large boxes professionally and my kayaks arrived seriously damaged. Two of them, Zegul Searocket and Tahe Marine Wind 585, had broken sides in several places. It looked like someone had crushed them with something heavy. The third kayak, Zegul Empower, had a crack in the rear of the luggage compartment.

For the first week I occupied myself with the repairs, during which, out of my mouth spewed insults at the logistics company. Other shipments, which reached me from Poland and the United States, also took a lot of effort and multiple conversations with local transport companies to find out when and if they will reach me in their entirety.

Unfortunately, logistics in Chile is deficient, regardless of whether the parcel travels via local post (from Poland to Santiago de Chile – ten days, from Santiago de Chile to Punta Arenas – two months), or a private transport company (theft of equipment, long waiting periods and charging of additional dreamt up fees). I wasn’t off to a very good start!

On 13th December at 0300, we started moving all of the equipment to the nearby beach. Within two hours we managed to pack everything into the kayaks and we dressed in waterproof overalls.

We began the journey which we called Tahe Outdoors Patagonia Austral Expedition 2015.

For the first two days we paddled 14 hours a day with headwind and several times we had to go ashore to wait out strong squalls. In two days we covered over 70 km and the road, which originally stretched along the coast, ended for good. With the last buildings we said goodbye to civilisation. There waited for us now the long, straight Strait of Magellan. Due to the fact that we were kayaking to the northwest, and the winds mostly dragged from the west, awaiting us was an exhausting battle for every kilometre.

Cabo Froward

One of the most difficult sections was to be the very tip of South America called Cabo Froward (Cape Froward) – a high rocky mountain that is also the southernmost point of mainland South America. Several times I had visited the place, coming from the side of the mountains where the winds often exceed 100 km/h. It is one of the areas that are stressful to local fishermen and to kayakers too, because of the high rocky coast and, thus, no possibility of escaping to the shore.

When we were left the next morning to try to conquer the cape, we found calm weather, which at Magellan is extremely rare. The sea was flat as a mirror and the wind had stopped. Incredulous, we paddled along the rock walls, touching them with our hands to physically mark our presence.

The day ended as it had begun – without wind.

In Patagonia, especially in its southern part, you can never lose vigilance, regardless of the conditions at hand.Two days of windless weather may seem perfect for kayaking in Magellan, but in Patagonia ‘vacation’ never lasts forever as I had pointed out to my companions before the expedition. We found out how quickly the conditions can change from idyllic to a deadly storm when we sailed along the nine-kilometre wall. When the sea began to undulate gently, I began to anxiously watch the sky, the movement of the clouds, and the rock formation, which did not offer any place that would enable evacuation.

With the last buildings we said goodbye to civilisation.

There waited for us now the long, straight

Strait of Magellan

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Blistered hands

Five minutes later, our kayaks were piercing attacking waves and we had to move away from the shore, so as not to wreck on the rocks. For two hours, full of stress and tension, we were slowly covering kilometres with our bodies constantly fighting to maintain balance. When the wall finished, we thankfully kayaked into a bay with a long beach. We were able to breathe a sigh of relief and relaxed our aching bodies. Our hands were blistered from firmly gripping the paddles, which the wind had tried to snatch from us. The guys, due to this being their first experience paddling long hours for several days, began to feel severe pain in the back, arms, hands and their forearms were all swollen. We decided to spend a few days to recuperate.

During the travel between Punta Arenas and Puerto Natales we still had some difficult sections in addition to the Strait of Magellan itself.These were the two portages through the mountains, about which we had previously known basically nothing: the Jeronimo and Gajardo channels, Obstrucción Fjord and Xaltegua Bay. Jeronimo Channel is reached from the Strait of Magellan. It is a narrow channel, which is more like a river than the ocean. Depending on the movement of the sea, we found the current in line with our direction, or opposite. In many places, there are all kinds of natural obstacles, such as islands, bays, or protruding rock tips where whirlpools appear. Eddies and currents are so strong that fishermen wait for the period of tidal change, to get to the other side of the canal.The winds, which, as I mentioned, blow from the west, gain speed by pressing between high mountains and raising the waves.

Entering the Jeronimo channel, the high tide had ended and the wind not so annoying so we continued our kayaking. After an hour, the direction of the current changed and an uphill battle began. With the upcoming evening, the wind began to blow more fiercely, and at one point it became strong enough and, in addition, striking from

the side, that our kayaks were pulled towards the rocks. The situation was dangerous because it became very difficult to keep control of the kayaks, with the paddles trying to fly out of our hands. It took us two days to cross the channel against the currents and strong wind.

However, when we made it, we had to go 10km to the other side of the mountains.

The first portage was not so difficult technically, due to two lagoons and the small amount of trees. We managed to find a passage and the whole thing took us only three days. Now, Xaltegua Bay awaited us – well known for its strong winds and high waves, due to the direct connection to the Pacific Ocean.

‘Evacuation’

After a hard day of paddling, we camped in a charming bay and prayed for the rapid advent of a weather window which would calm the sea and give us a chance of crossing the bay. At night the wind died and at about 0300 in the morning, I woke up the guys and ordered the ‘evacuation’ which, in our language, meant fast packing of the belongings into kayaks and leaving immediately. The sea was unusually calm, but we were covering the kilometres nervously, crossing the bay to the other side. When, after three hours, we were about to enter the Gajardo Channel – the wind began to blow.

On one hand, we were lucky because we had managed to get to the other side of the bay; on the other hand, we were two hours short of reaching the narrow bottleneck of the channel. We were amid the small islands, where the opposing current started to move our kayaks backwards. The water heaved and began to form eddies. Fighting the strong current and wind, we hid behind a rock island, which protected us from the wind. It was only a temporary shelter because this place had no beaches or, especially, drinking water. We decided to wait for the storm to pass, and when it seemed to us that the wind eased, we paddled out into the bay.

Eddies and currents are so strong that fishermen wait for the period of tidal change, to get to the other side of the canal

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For two hours we paddled hard, cutting through the waves and wind. We decided to enter the channel with the change of tide that was due to come in another two hours. It gave us a chance to rest and prepare a meal. Gajardo Channel is a picturesque canal which, in the middle of its length, tapers down to 50 metres. It is easy to imagine what is happening at the constriction, where the ocean pours from one side to the other. We arrived at the narrowing on the second day soon after the tide change. We had to overcome 200 metres of a ‘mountain river’. The kayaks were thrown in all directions as we struggled through the strong current and numerous whirlpools. We managed to overcome the difficulty and on the other side waiting for us, was a ‘mirror’.

We arrived at the second portage after a few days. First, we tried to get into another fjord near the Campo Nevado Glacier, but when we climbed on to a high rock, we noticed that the fjord was clogged with ice and so we continued on our planned way. However, 10 km before the portage we were detained for a few days on the Skyring fjord by a storm. The second transfer of kayaks had already demanded more from us and it took us five days to overcome the five kilometres of wetlands.

During this period the wind blew continuously, which brought us comfort as we knew they do not blow forever and in the end there must come a moment of silence, like at Froward Cape. When we entered Obstruccion fjord, which reaches

almost to the Puerto Natales, we were already prepared for opening the champagne bottles, the lack of actual champagne – meant this was only in our imaginations! However, the first kilometres of the fjord shattered our plans of quickly reaching the goal.The wind, which was blowing mostly from the side, wasn't even allowing us to leave the bay, where we found perfect shelter.

The kayaks were thrown in all directions as we struggled through the strong current and numerous whirlpools

ThePADDLER 54 For five days every day, we tried to leave the bay and every time we had to come back. The wind on the open fjord exceeded 100 km/h. It was impossible to keep the paddle in the hand, not to mention safe paddling and it was

impossible to breathe. We were two days from our destination, hungry and tired. Our rations, which over the last few days had diminished, finally ended and the wind blew constantly, without even giving us a chance of catching fish.

Whatever we managed to catch by the shore, we ate in its entirety, including the bones. In addition, we gathered mushrooms that grew on trees. It was not much, but it filled the stomach.

After a week of waiting, eventually there came an opportunity to paddle out of the bay. At 0400 in the morning I ordered ‘evacuation’ and we went ahead. The jagged ledges of the coastline, over which earlier the waves had smashed furiously, could finally be bypassed.

Two hours later came the wind, but we didn’t care, as we had fled the most difficult section of the fjord and the high waves that rolled through the kayaks, we welcomed with a laugh.

We were slowly reaching civilisation.

The jagged ledges of the coastline, over which earlier the waves had

smashed furiously, could finally be bypassed

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Two days later we reached the port of Puerto Natales. Hungry, tired, but happy. The entire journey took us 33 days. The longest section at sea, which we covered in one day, was 73km. We paddled 10-14 hours a day, using the fact that the days during this period of the year were the longest. The average speed of a fully loaded kayak was 7km/h in excellent conditions.

Depending on the current and wind, this speed was different and in general was lower. During the 33 days of the expedition we had two days when the wind was blowing from the stern and three days of windless weather. In other cases, the wind was blowing in our faces and, in the final stage of the expedition, from the side.

During this time I lost five kilogrammes.

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T H E O F

R E M O T E N E S S

MO OK SKN KENS NES I S L A N D N O R W A Y

The Lofoten Archipelago is draped across the exposed Norwegian Sea above the Arctic Circle. For sea kayakers these islands offer everything from relaxing day trips to week-long expeditions in remote and exposed coastlines. One such exposed route is along the west coast of Moskenes Island.

By Kristoffer Vandbakk

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The west coast of Moskenes Island is a remote, unpopulated coastline with steep mountains, huge sandy beaches and tidal currents to peak the interest of any adventurous sea kayaker.

Kvalvika Beach

We typically begin this trip from the small village of Fredvang, north on the island. The first leg of the journey is about 10 kilometres and takes us to the Kvalvika Beach. This beach was made well known in the documentary film ‘North of the Sun,’ which is about two surfers who wintered there in a shelter built from debris found on the beach. A point of land to be aware of before Kvalvika is the Bergsneset headland. Clapotis, due to the steep mountains and tide, may create demanding conditions for some paddlers.

Kvalvika Beach

Near this beach there are several sea caves to explore. One of them has large pebbles covering the floor adding a dramatic sound inside the cave as waves wash in and out. Most people do not venture far into this particular cave when they hear the sound of the grinding pebbles echoing around the cave.

Bunes Beach

Along the coast there are two huge sandy beaches surrounded by steep smooth granite walls. They have fresh water and offer excellent wild camping spots. Bunes Beach was inhabited by the Bunes family up until the Second World War when a stranded mine blew up one of the houses there.

Sea cave near Kvalvika Beach

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A few of the caves are facing northwest, which means that they are only lit up by the

midnight sun, which lasts from May 26th to July 17th

Camping on Bunes Beach as the midnight sun is shining

The stretch from Bunes Beach

to the southern tip has several dry caves. The Refsvika Cave requires a certified guide to accompany you as it has ancient cave paintings on the walls from 3-4000 years ago, when there existed a cave religion in Lofoten. The caves held cultural significance and similar paintings of what looks similar to stick men, is painted in caves on other islands as well. A few of the caves are facing northwest, which means that they are only lit up by the midnight sun, which lasts from May 26th to July 17th.

At the southern tip of Moskenes Island lies the Mosken tidal current. This forms as a large body of water moving over a shallow and narrow strait between Moskenes Island and the smaller Mosken Island. When conditions are gentle the current will not form a challenging tiderace, however, given enough wind and waves, conditions can certainly become treacherous in this strait. Closer to land you will find the current is weaker and at the right time with the right conditions, you can safely paddle around the southern tip.

According to the Norwegian pilot guide, the typical maximum speed is six knots in the Mosken tidal current. As with any tidal currents and races you need to know and understand what you are getting yourself into.

Coming down the west coast and around the southern tip lets you for the first time in days contact civilization by telephone or radio. The east coast of Moskenes is partly populated with small villages. One of the more picturesque areas is the Reine Fjord which has been featured in countless photos. My tip for any photographer is to wait until sunset or sunrise on a windless night with clear sky.You’d have to be lucky with the weather though as such conditions are rare.

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Horseid Beach, Moskenes Island

Norway

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Looking across the Mosken tidal current to the small Mosken island

Weather

The journey described above can take 3-5 days depending upon how much time you have available. During this time you will expose yourself to the typical coastal weather above the Arctic Circle. This is rapid changing weather where sea fog is likely as well. Weather planning is crucial before setting out in your sea kayak. It is possible to check the weather on your phone or VHF that’s a 20-minute hike from Bunes Beach.

Other than this spot there is no VHF or phone coverage on the west coast. The whole east coast has VHF and phone coverage. Wind from northwest is the least favourable direction for anyone on the west coast. Waves will have a long fetch and there will be few if any lee shores or hiding spots.

With a northwesterly wind, the beaches are likely to experience surf as well.

Having said all this, the weather during the summer months is much more gentler than winter weather.

Wildlife

Lofoten is well known for its abundant sea life and fishing industry. Migrating cod amass from the Barents Sea to Lofoten during the early winter months to spawn. Lofoten has for more than a 1,000 years attracted fishermen from far away to harvest this natural resource at this time of the year. You are likely to spot a lot of sea eagles, cormorants and puffins in the more remote areas in Lofoten. Otters and grey seals are shy but spread out all over the islands. There are few resident tribes of Orcas in Lofoten throughout the year, you are however more likely to spot migrating Orcas during the winter months.

Accommodation

Accommodation in Lofoten is typically busy during the summer months. For all our sea kayaking activities we use Hattvika Lodge in Ballstad as a base for operations. This place caters particularly to sea kayakers and downhill cycling during the summer months and outback skiing during winter. The place is strategically located with some of the best paddling and tidal race nearby.

https://vimeo.com/kajakknord/lofoten

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Risk Long stretches on the west coast have no landing spots or walk out routes. A risk assessment plan should be made regarding landing spots and possible escape routes. Maps, Google Earth and hiking guides for Moskenes Island are useful tools when constructing a safety plan.

The weather is a major concern, as described above it could have you stranded on one of the beaches or prevent a paddle around the southern tip of the island.

About Moskenes island:

The most southern island in Lofoten with road connection Population: 1,100 Economy: Fishing and tourism Average summer temperature: 12 celsius Geography: 80% of the island consists of steep mountains. Some of them are amongst the oldest in the world. Tallest mountain is Hermanndalstinden at 1,029 metres.

Home to the Mosken tidal current depicted in Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

https://goo.gl/maps/ShNbaJQmfh92

Having paddled the west coast several times and guiding people there I always feel a thrilling sensation paddling around the first headland and looking down along the craggy, remote and wild coastline. It is rarely visited by humans and I cannot help but feel privileged being there in my tiny craft among mountains, caves and tidal currents.

About the author:

Kristoffer Vandbakk Owner of Kajakk Nord (www.kajakknord.no) 4 Star BCU and NPF guide Based in Oslo and runs guided expeditions and day trips in Lofoten during summer

To advertise email: ads@thepaddlerezine.com or call +44 (0)1480 465081

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PADDE DLR LER Canoe Ca C anno an oe oe

072 England & Wales

The River Wye by Steve Le Say

084 England’s rivers to the Yukon

C2 training forYukon River Quest by Richard Harpham

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I C O N I C

PADDLING PD

L O C A T I O N S

RIVR VER 1 0 0

M I L E S

O F

G

S

WYE A X E

&

P A D D L E

By Steve Le Say B U S H C R A F T In 2015 Axe and Paddle Bushcraft met ‘want to canoe?’ and we haven’t looked back since! One of

our first proper adventures together was a 100-mile canoe expedition in November last year…

I have been canoeing on and off for years, but have never had the opportunity to paddle such a long journey.

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I was using the trip to test all the new Axe and Paddle canvas kit that I'd been making, plus a new knife made for me by Ben Orford and a new pan that the Guvnor (my wife Kirsty) had recently approved purchase on – lovely. I was carrying all the pots and pans, as well as the Wisperlite Stove, a great bit of kit that I've had for years, just in case we couldn't have a fire on the journey.

Day one

We arrived at Hay on Wye at the Want to Canoe HQ at Racquety Farm. The farm is a 60acre organic, family run affair incorporating a mile of Wye riverbank, woodland and pasture.

We were greeted by Aubrey and Clare.

After a cuppa, Clare and Aubrey suggested we camp on their little beach and so we got the kit and off we went. The spot was only 100 yards away from their HQ, but you would never have known, it felt like we could have been in Canada – it was one of the best spots I've ever camped.

So I started to set up the Whelan shelter and Laura began sorting out dinner. We talked about what to expect on the trip and decided that if it's as good as this, we would be over the moon.

We were so toasty and tried to sleep, but kept giggling like little kids on their first camping trip.

Laying there with a full belly, looking at the light from the fire dancing across the canvas and listening to the salmon jumping, I drifted off blissfully.

I awoke at about 6am. It was still dark and the fire was smouldering away. I woke Laura up and we laid there for a bit still giggling like children about how warm and cosy we were.

We got up and with a little attention the fire was back to life. I put the coffee on and Laura got some pancakes on the go with fried pear and apple and a splash of maple syrup. I never go camping without coffee, pancakes and syrup.

That's just how I roll.

We watched the sun rise over breakfast, and then started to pack down. Clare popped down to make sure we were OK and to give us a hand, but we had it covered.

I cleared the site so no one would ever know we were there, before carrying the kit over to the canoes.

When I saw Aubrey, he offered me his beautiful Old Town Charles River canoe. I was so pleased, as this traditional style is so much nicer than the more modern canoes. I was still grinning when the other guys started to turn up. I’d met Ollie Sandeman before – he’s a canoe instructor and guide and then there were new faces: Matthew Plum, a tree surgeon and poet; Reuben, a young whippersnapper and BMX rider and Nick Golesworthy who runs F.W. Golesworthy & Sons, one of the local outdoor stores in Hay.

Laying there with a full belly, looking at the light from the fire dancing across the canvas and listening to the

salmon jumping, I drifted off blissfully

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So into the water went the canoes, we chucked the kit in and off we went.

We had already seen an otter that day, while getting supplies and within a few minutes of paddling, we had spotted our first kingfisher and a jumping salmon. Everyone was in good spirits with the sun shining on the water – it was so exciting to finally be on our way and after a few miles everyone was getting into their stroke.

As we paddled, we saw so much wildlife; over 10 kingfishers, goosanders, shags, geese, swans, a few Mandarin ducks and I also saw two otter tails. As far as I'm concerned and Plum agreed with me – that's as good as one whole otter! After 22 miles we finally got to a campsite in Byecross that was situated in an old orchard. We all unloaded and got our camp set up, lit the fire and had a bite to eat.

Everyone was tired, so after supper and a few beers, we all went to bed.

Woke up at 6am, to the sound of Aubrey packing up his kit, I told him to be quiet; otherwise he'd get no coffee – the noise stopped instantly! Then the shout went out, “Anyone living the dream, want coffee and pancakes?” You can guess the response!

The fire was still warm and we had put a few logs aside for the morning, so it was going again in minutes. I put the coffee on and then went down to the river to see how it was running. It was beautiful – all misty and looking like a scene from a movie.

Day two

We were all ready for day two’s paddle to begin and down the slippery jetty we went, with all the kit and off down the river again.

Ollie and I dropped back a little and talked about my paddling style. He mentioned that my hand was too low and was hitting the gunwale (that’ll explain the bruise) but apart from that he said that I had a nice paddling style. I'm a selftaught paddler and I always use an Indian hunting stroke, so my paddle very rarely leaves the water. I love this style, as it makes no noise, so you can get really close to wildlife and as we went on, I concentrated on improving my stroke, as the expert had suggested.

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We took a blind bend and only 10 feet away, there was an otter with his head out of the water watching us but quick as a flash, he was gone again. Ruben asked me where he had gone and I informed him they can hold their breath for ages – around 6-8 minutes. He didn't believe me, saying, “But it's so small – how can it do that?” “Practice” I said. Then a few miles later, there was another one, this time only four feet away from me. Before this trip, I'd never seen a wild otter – now I’d seen two in one day – BOOM! As we pushed on we also saw two white geese, pretending to be swans, though the swans didn’t seem to mind, however, they chased off the Canadian geese.

We all decided to wild camp that night and there was some talk of an island nearby.

Then, all of a sudden, we saw a pied wagtail being chased by what looked like a sparrow hawk right over our heads. It turned, and then turned again. They were so fast that only Ollie and I managed to see it. We felt very privileged to witness such a stunning race for life, but we’ll never know who won.

So that night we kept our noise down and the fire just big enough for cooking and keeping us warm. It was dark, it was peaceful and we were, invisible – part of the landscape.

“Good night John Boy," I said. “Good night, Mary Ellen” was the reply. Then darkness and only the sound of the river – I was asleep in minutes.

By 9am the next day we’d all passed the halfway point and a cheer went up. At the milestone, there were about 20 shags sitting in a dead oak tree. At that point I'm not even sure we were in Wales – we could have been on the other side of the world!

We were in good spirits and had all got into the swing of things. I wasn’t hurting at all – it just felt good. I'd had the best night’s sleep I'd had for ages and it was a beautiful morning.

By now we had seen over 50 kingfishers, never having thought we’d see so many on one stretch of river! A little later that morning, another great sight of a few mallards hanging out with a couple of goosanders all diving under water for ages. I'd never seen mallards do that – they must have found some fish eggs or something – well worth it.

We arrived at the rowing club in Ross on Wye at about 2pm and noticed a black swan with about 30 white swans. It's a real treat to see black swans as you don't see them too often.

We felt very privileged to witness such a stunning

race for life, but we’ll never know who won

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All my Axe and Paddle kit is working a treat! The canvas bags that have been sitting in water in the bottom of the canoe all day were as dry as a bone inside and the bivvy was dry too! I asked Laura how was her kit was holding up, “Dry as,” she said. So we got the fire going, set up camp beside the river and we had the luxury of the club toilets that night, which was very nice of them indeed.

Before I knew it, it was 6am the following day and Aubrey was up and already banging around.

“Good morning, old bean,” I said and a fine morning it was too. The weather had cleared up nicely and the scenery was amazing. It felt like a bit of a dream actually – you just forget you live in the modern world.

Favourite part of the journey

Back on the river, Ollie caught up with me and told me this was his favourite part of the journey and I could see why. The colours of the trees was amazing and all the animals were busy getting ready for winter. I agreed that this was the most stunning scenery I’d seen in years. The river was like glass and the low clouds brushed the tops of the trees on the steep sides of the valley – beautiful.

As Ollie and I paddled along, I noticed a bit of movement to my left and to my surprise, it was a mink! It just sat in the water watching us – we were all well chuffed.

I’ve never seen such a healthy river as the Wye. At the landing spot, I wanted to pull my canoe all the way up so that I could make a good shelter.

Laying the canoe on its side, I pegged one side of the tarp over it and supported the other side with my paddles with one paddle in the centre to give us a bit of head room. I laid out the bivvy and put on some dry clothes with plenty of room for everyone underneath.

The colours of the trees was amazing and all the animals were busy getting ready for winter. I agreed that this was the most

stunning scenery I’d seen in years

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The last day So we were off on the last leg of our adventure. A few more bends, then straight in front of us was Chepstow Castle – the finishing point. Everyone started whooping!

We took a few pictures of us all together, under the castle.Then it was time to get onto dry land.

We had made it!

There were hugs and kisses and handshakes all round. All of my Axe and Paddle kit had performed amazingly – the Whelan Shelter was superb and the bags, with all my gear inside, had stayed as dry as a bone. My paddles were a dream to use and Aubrey, Ollie and Laura, who had also been using paddle that I had made, said theirs were too.

Fancy a wild canoe/bushcraft adventure of your own? Contact hire@canoehire.co.uk? To start planning your adventure! Options include expeditions, canoe hire but most importantly, new for 2016: specialised weekend expeditions with the want to canoe? and Axe and Paddle Bushcraft crew! #WalesAdventure

This was one of the best camping trips I have ever done with a ragtag group of people who really made it fun.

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Training for the Yukon River Quest has been a huge undertaking to be ready to race 444 miles from Whitehorse to Dawson City. It is mentally hard to process the sheer scale of a wilderness race, to allow yourself to manage your highs and lows. From my experience with over 8,000 miles of adventures it is important to develop the mental toughness and confidence during training to achieve your goals.

Exploring Britain’s iconic rivers training for theYukon River Quest

BY RICHARD HARPHAM

My team mate Rob Campbell, an experienced canoe racer and coach has already done the Devizes to Westminster canoe race ten times and has more miles in the tank. We decided our training plan would need to be flexible to allow for other priorities and life

Rich with Julien Enconier

Our final training sessions for the Yukon River Quest on the river itself Whitehorse down to Takhini Bridge and around town #exploreyukon

at home but should include the following aspects: Regular training sessions each week (total of at least 25 hours a week).

Include one or more longer 20-24 hour overnight paddles to acclimatize with those specific demands.

Paddle different river locations offering different conditions to provide mental stimulation.

Maintain good general fitness, diet and rest.

Vary the training patterns between pyramids, shorter sprint type sessions and longer endurance training.

Work on racing technique to optimize performance.

Taper down the training approaching the race.

All of this of course needs to be in tandem as we are racing in a C2 canoe for the Yukon River Quest.

Devizes to Westminster

One of our training milestones for both Rob and I was to compete in the 125-mile Devizes to Westminster race. I was due to be paddling with Andy Torbet but a recurring back injury forced a change in plans. My DW race switched to K2 racing kayak with fellow Viking Kayak Club paddler Julien Enconier who stepped into the breach with three weeks notice. Our 18th place in the adult K2 class was a good result but has left me wanting to race again in future. The training and 125-mile challenge with 76 portages provided a significant test of my fitness and endurance.

Rob was paddling C2 with a different partner, Chris Towson and achieved 7th in the ‘digger’ canoe class which was fantastic. Our other training on the River Thames provided some testing moments with high river conditions and very fast streams due to flooding. The portages also meant cross training from paddling to running with the canoes around the locks.

Cygnets riding piggy back on the Great Ouse

After the DW we decided to refocus our training into a new regime to build muscle memory, technique and fitness and of course paddling in the same boat.

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Just reflecting – canoeing the River Severn

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Ironbridge by dark as we then paddle Jackfield Rapids at night

Canoe Trail International Sheep Rescue whilst canoeing the River Severn

98 miles of the River Severn The River Severn is Britain’s longest river at 220 miles originating in Wales and following the border before passing into England and on to the Severn Estuary. Our training paddle began in Welshpool under a beautiful stone bridge on a sunny morning. We knew the route ranged from shallow meandering pools and over hanging trees to rapids at Jackfield and deeper waters with navigation as we approached Worcester.

Given the variety of flow and depth we opted to paddle an old plastic 17ft 6in canoe rather than risk damaging our borrowed Wenohah Jensen. It turned out to be a heavy ‘plastic pig’ compared to the speedy racing canoe.

We packed full kit to make the training session realistic and also planned to test different daily routines from comfort of the canoe including eating and weeing. Like so much of our training the river was tonking along given the wet spring we have all been experiencing.This meant significant turning which broke our forward paddling rhythm. We opted to push the first three hours with limited interruptions to our stroke rate. After that we went to hourly feeds to ensure we kept power in the machine, us, the engines.

Stuck in the mud

One exception to our progress was rounding one of the river bends and finding a young lamb firmly stuck in the mud. We went into rescue mode and eventually managed to free the struggling animal who returned to a huge flock in the adjacent field. The river grew slightly wider and less overgrown as we headed towards the UNESCO world heritage town of Ironbridge.

We were paddling hard aiming to get through Jackfield Rapids before dark. The slow meandering banks before Ironbridge put that beyond reach and we approached the rapids in complete darkness.

Paddling into the town was a welcome boost after hours of ‘digging’ hard. We had an ‘in boat discussion’ about the size of the wave train and my gut feel was to move back from the bow in our heavily laden canoe. The Iron bridge itself looked particularly magnificent lit up in the dark night as we paddled underneath. I opted to kneel behind the bow seat which was a good job as we still took water over the front. We braced a few times and avoided the biggest hole.

It felt like a moment of triumph and we paddled on into the night. By now we had tested various elements of our race strategies including me sleeping in the boat (well for 5-10 mins), eating and also peeing into our bailers.

It is strange how as night envelops you that the pace seems to become easier to maintain. It is a peaceful tranquility and we were be able to relax into our paddling. The relaxation was interrupted by the appearance of a heavy morning fog. It proved tricky with our powerful USE Exposure Light’s torches reflecting on the wisps and blankets. It was quite eerie indeed like a scene from Ghostbusters meets a horror movie. It was also hard now to see twist and turns or indeed where we were going.

The tree lined banks awoke with green colour adjustment as daylight broke the next morning. It was nice to sense the arrival of some pending warmth. As we got closer to Stourport and Worcester we knew that there were three portages to contend with. By now our backsides were a little bit tender and numb and the thought of stretching our legs seemed great.

As with many bigger adventures the sting in the tail often comes at the end.The portages on the River Severn starting at Stourport were no exception, they were long and tricky. The first one involved a 300m carry with our heavy canoe and kit. If we thought that was bad then the second one was almost 500m and certainly not canoe friendly with awkward walkways from the pontoon and a steep launch point ramp. The third one was the beast, not ideal after 90 plus miles of paddling overnight. It simply seemed to have forgotten that canoeists might want to paddle this mighty river and we ended up lifting the canoe and kit vertically up a 3m quay. We were shattered.

We paddled into Worcester and finished our mammoth training paddle at the kayak club in the city, tired but pleased with our efforts.

Worcester Canoe Club were fantastically welcoming which we were really grateful for.

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Canoeing the River Stour

The River Stour proved to be one of our most iconic and beautiful training trips with a complete range of conditions and scenery. It changed from tight shallow stream like conditions to a wide, deep navigable river and everything in between. Although not whitewater or rocky it is actually a technical river with the need to work hard steering as a tandem crew.

We started at the Stour River Trust headquarters in Sudbury which has a very convenient car park perfect for paddlers.

We turned out of the small backwater onto the river and hoped we were heading in the right direction. It turned out our instincts were good.

We arrived at the first lock and went into autopilot with carrying the kit and canoe. The river began to change after the lock as we headed Eastwards towards the coast. It became narrower and much shallower and given the spring/summer conditions we found plenty of reeds sprouting in our path.

The paddling became instantly more fun and challenging with cross deck cuts, draws and bow cuts to navigate a seemingly impossible path. I did get it wrong a few times and on one occasion discovered the ancient art of Reed swallowing as a reed stabbed the back of my mouth. The route was guarded by endless WWII pill boxes and lots of interesting little weirs. We were again in the racing canoe so shooting them was not possible but in a plastic boat would have been great fun.

gardens of the portage. The River Stour continues to the coast with a lock at Cattawade but sadly we didn’t make it that far on the day.

Of course this part of the world is known for its big skies.

On the return paddle upstream we had a few tricky moments with shallow gravel beds, lilly pads and reeds meant we had to go old school with poling to protect our carbon race paddles.

We commandeered a couple of tree branches and made some poles to push upstream. Fun times. Another 36 miles in the bank achieved with a long day’s paddling on a beautiful river with plenty of technical bits.

Canoeing the River Nene

The River Nene is another quintessential English river which flows from the Grand Union Canal eastwards towards Peterborough and eventually the Wash. It is navigable and has a fair number of locks which must be portaged. The canoe or kayak portage points are low and accessible but are quite long and tricky in some locations. The Nene is definitely popular with other boaters with lots of canal barges and smaller boats enjoying the river.

In high flows or flood conditions we were left in no doubt that this river could be tricky with over hanging tress and possible strainers. The constant twists, turns and different river conditions made it fantastic fun. At the halfway point we passed the little village green and duck pond whilst really getting into the swing of the technical tandem paddling. It was just what we needed to bring us closer together.

The Stour is famous for artist John Constable’s paining of Flatford Mill and many other paintings.

We didn’t quite get that far on the day and opted to turn around at Denham Mill which was also idyllic with an incredible arboretum in the

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We started the training paddle on the steps of the Nene Whitewater Centre on the outskirts of Northampton. We loaded for a full day paddle and were off into the countryside although flanked at the start by the ring road and a little road noise. Quickly we left this behind and traversed our first lock and eased into the routine of carry the kit and then the canoe or vice versa. We passed various little boat clubs and marinas which all looked quaint and welcoming.

Billing Aquadrome was close to the start and provides overnight camping and other leisure activities which is something to come back for.The Locks continued and one of the striking differences with the Nene is the width and views of the river valley itself.The fact that we had a view over the wider landscape was something unique when compared to the other training rivers we paddled.

One of the most beautiful locations on the route was Woodford Mill and tea shop which was picturesque. Sadly we hadn’t bought any money with us.The old brick bridge near Rushden is also worth a mention.The majority of the river seemed accessible for launching or extraction given the locks and road crossings.

Canoeing the Great Ouse

Training on our local River, the Great Ouse has provided us with an incredible array of wildlife during the spring including Mandarin Ducks, owls, otters, egrets, mink, grass snakes, red kites, herons and lots of kingfishers. Most mornings our training sessions have been punctuated with kingfishers flitting and even three otters playing in the early morning mist, and on more than one occasion! BBC television has been showcasing wildlife on their Spring Watch programme #springwatch whilst we have been witnessing it first hand.

On a practical note training locally has also reduced our transport miles and travel time. Our footprint was greatly reduced by this.

The river itself also has a various portages ranging from 25m-100m in lengt

RIver Nene

We paddled about 44 miles on the river on a warm day basking in sunshine. We dodged a few ponies at one of the locks and even managed to conduct a radio interview with the BBC from the canoe. Although we only covered 44 miles it felt like a demanding session with portages galore.

th and of course Bedford’s Victorian Embankment. Generally we trained close to home starting in Great Barford and paddling up and down stream aiming for sessions of 2,4,6 and eight-hour duration.

To vary the training we also did a couple of longer downstream trips past St Neots towards Huntington providing a change of scene. Of course we are biased running a canoe, kayak and SUP business on the River Great Ouse (www.canoetrail.co.uk) but honestly we have seen more wildlife on the river than any of our other paddles to other locations.

Quick paddle on theYukon

Arriving in the Yukon we have been welcomed into a very special community of people undertaking the Yukon River Quest which includes 14 nationalities, local stalwarts, charity teams and hardened racers. It is inspiring to be part of the race and both Rob and I have been suffering with jangling nerves and butterflies. We were provided with our race canoe, did some fitting out and then organized a test paddle. We paddled upstream on the maiden voyage into the fast flow which was a heart pounding sprint.

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Richard Harpham is a human powered adventurer and outdoor instructor. Richard has completed over 8,000 miles of adventures including canoeing the Yukon, sea kayaking from Vancouver Island to Alaska and biking and kayaking from London to Marrakech. He runs www.canoetrail.co.uk with his wife Ashley in Bedfordshire.

Richard and Ashley are also members of Bedford’s Viking Kayak Club. You can see more of his adventures @ www.richadventure.com and www.canoetrail.co.uk

Rob Campbell is a Level 4 canoe coach with a vast experience of canoe expeditions in Sweden, Canada and Scotland. He is a seasoned canoe racer who has won the infamous Devizes to Westminster on three occasions in a solo C1 canoe and has also competed 10 times over the 125 mile course. You can see more of his work here: www.robhouston campbell.com

The following day with we signed up with local outfitter Up North Adventures for their shuttle service to bring us back to Whitehorse from the Takhini River Bridge. It was a great chance to acquaint ourselves with the river and go for a blast. We loaded the boat with all our kit including water to make it more realistic and joined the moving conveyor belt of water.

Nerves gone we were flying and soon found our stroke rate.

Although only a training paddle we found our competitive side and hunted down a few canoes and a SUP in front of us. The camaraderie and spirit amongst the teams has been humbling. We left the water happy with our last training session, 14 miles in less than 90 minutes. There was plenty of banter amongst our fellow competitors in the van with laughs and jokes a minute. We got a lift back with a couple from Vancouver Island, a local SUP racer and an all girl team of outdoor instructors who had first fallen in love with the great outdoors by doing a 50day trip together aged just 17. We have seriously got to raise our game.

The following day was the welcome host event where we got a race briefing and stories of the first nation culture, heard the history of the event and met some of the incredible people behind one of the world’s toughest races. It was pretty special with the hairs on the back of your neck tingling. You could have heard a pin drop in amongst some good humour. A massive thanks

to Canadian Affair, #Explore Yukon, UP North Adventures, SPOT GEN3 Tracker, Flint Group and our own Canoe Trail for supporting our team entry. Canoe Trail on Tour, Boat 72 is ready to race. Dawson City here we come.

You can follow their Yukon River Quest SPOT messenger and tracker here as the race unfolds between June 29th to July 3rd: http://share.findmespot.com/shared/face s/yinviewspots.jsp?glId=0W9puRoYG55Z WvA8pF9mT4pVJGcoOHmCc

To advertise email: ads@thepaddlerezine.com or call +44 (0)1480 465081

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PADDE PD DLR LER Kayak y

096 Working as a team

No. 2 of a safety coaching series by Chris Brain

106 Russia

Cold War thaw in Siberia by Vladimir Rabotyagov

118 Canada

Clendenning Creek, BC by Darin McQuoid

132 India

Spring in the Himalayas by Steve Brooks

144 Kayak coaching

Carving by Corran Addison

154 Testing, testing

Plenty of kit reviewed by our contributors

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C O A C H I N G No.2

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By Chris Brain In the second part of the Paddler safety series, we are focusing on working as a team on the water and the strategies we chose to use to keep us safe.

It is important to remember that there is no substitute for professional training in this area and this must be combined with experience in order to effectively use the ideas and techniques contained in this series. This article is not intended to replace formal training.

Both on and off the water teamwork is essential. We should all aim to share responsibility and contribute to decisions.

Taking ownership helps to create a culture of independent paddlers who make informed choices and use their brains rather than one of being led, thinking minimally and having decisions made on our behalf.

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A simple strategy which groups can use to work as a team is to apply CLAPS (Communication, Line of Sight, Avoidance, Position and Strategy).

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Communication

• Clarify signals with the team.

• What do we actually need our signals to do?

• Make sure that we pass on information clearly and that it is understood.

I have a theory that we can paddle, listen and think but when we are in a challenging environment it is hard to do more than one at the same time.Therefore, when we are passing on information or giving signals we should wait until everyone is in a position where they can take on board this information. We also need time to process this information too and for many paddlers, mental rehearsal is important.

Make sure you give your team time to think about what they are about to do before you expect them to do it.

Our signals are exceptionally important and need deciding (and clarifying with the team) before we actually need to use them. It is worthwhile working out what signals we actually need to give and what we are likely to actually use. Rather than discussing every single signal at the very beginning I often add signals in at appropriate locations as we move along.

Most groups need their signals to be able to communicate the following • All go.

• One at a time.

• Come to me.

• Eddy out.

• Go this way – go that way (pointing towards where we want to go).

• We also need to be able to select and place specific paddlers, often by pointing at them.

It’s the norm to have some kind of clarification that your signal has been understood when a signal has been given.

Usually we can keep our signals simple, if the information we pass on to our team is clear and we have already agreed what strategy we will use to move on a particular rapid beforehand.

However, if your team paddle in a less pre-planned way, you might need to introduce signals which specifically define your movement strategy. For example, how will you tell your team part way down a rapid that you want to start eddy hopping or that you want to leapfrog or come in pairs? It is better to plan ahead rather than to try and solve a situation that has been created part way down a rapid.

Many groups also introduce a stop signal, but my personal preference is to actually use strategies to move the group that naturally incorporate stopping rather than having a direct signal for this. For example, rather than saying “stop,” I choose to say, “eddy out” and point towards where I want them to go to. If you think about it, it is actually pretty difficult to stop in moving water without eddying out! This goes hand in hand with “no signal – no move,” which becomes really important when we start to use strategies such as eddyhopping.

My experience is that every single group will use a different set of signals and this isn’t a problem as long as you all know what is happening and your signals are useful. My personal opinion is that I don’t use paddle signals or whistles as they can be confusing or misunderstood. The only time I use my whistle is in an emergency situation.

Whatever you decide to do, the key is making sure everyone knows and agrees with how you will communicate when you are out there on the river.

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Line of sight Our movement strategies involve us being able to maintain line of sight and if it is ever lost then we do something to regain it. Tactics such as eddy hopping can be used to maintain line of sight when the nature of the river means that line of sight might be lost otherwise.

It is important to have an idea of what might cause a group to lose line of sight: • Gradient increase • Direction changes in the river • Waterfalls • Large boulders or features • Weirs and manmade structures

. If you want y o tion u rp sta r st

It is essential on the river that everyone can be seen by ThePaddle r ez someone else at all times, however we don’t have to actually be ine able to see every single group member at all times. Of course it is te preferable if we can all see each other constantly, but realistically this can’t always happen, therefore we maintain line of sight through the group.

e will b nd it ed a view t re uc od

These features create either vertical or horizontal horizon lines meaning that seeing past or around them is an issue. When we approach features such as this our intention should be to adapt our strategy so that line of sight can be maintained. We must make sure that we don’t commit ourselves to having to paddle a rapid by catching the very last eddy. I know several paddlers who have been caught and either had an incident or a near miss by not making the final eddy or paddling through drops blind. Remember, rapids can change from day to day and trees and other obstacles can become stuck in the river at any time.

ter of in

est pad to

dle rs - e mail us: r eviews@t hepad dler ezin A common theme through everything we do on the water is to avoid unnecessary hazards and e risks. Everything mentioned previously in this article has fitted well into that way of thinking and

Avoidance

Simple things such as not paddling down drops blind, taking lines that avoid the hazard rather than going through it and moving in ways that minimise the risks are all part of avoiding an incident. We also use rescue systems that are as knot, loop and snag free as possible and we dress ourselves to have a ‘clean’ profile.

Paddlesport is rarely without some element of risk and we are often balancing risk versus reward. When approaching rapids on the river I ask myself the following questions: • Can I see the line?

• Can I paddle the line (and have I paddled something like this before?).

• Can I put safety in place to help if required?

• What are the consequences if I swim (and what is the likelihood of this happening?).

My answer to these questions massively influence whether I will paddle something or not. I have walked away from several rapids even though I could see the line and I think I could paddle it, but because I didn’t like the consequences should I end up in the water.

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the planning we do and the decisions we make are about us avoiding having to deal with an incident.

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Position Our personal position on the river and in the group is very important to things running smoothly and incident free. Often this is presented as the position of maximum effectiveness/usefulness and many people believe that it is only the leader’s job to think about this. In reality we can all be in useful positions, even if we are being led by someone else and/or we are not that experienced.

Your useful position as a group member might be waiting in the eddy for a signal and understanding not to move unless called or it could be in an eddy maintaining line of sight.

Your position as a leader or experienced paddler might be right by the hazard or the point where someone is most likely to swim.

On the water I am constantly assessing where I am most useful and I am not afraid to change my position if I feel like I haven’t made the right choice initially. Having an understanding of what skills, you possess is really important too, maybe you are not the most confident paddler and might not be very well placed in the water, but maybe you are useful on the bank being able to pass signals and maintain line of sight through a steeper rapid? Maybe you are a throwbag specialist or are good at rescuing boats? Either way we can all be in a useful position on the river.

Strategy As a group we should have an appropriate range of movement styles and strategies that we can use on the water. I often find that groups have three styles, all at once, one at a time and some sort of eddy-hop variation. They often move either too slowly or too fast and have very little in between. There are lots of ways that we can move on the water and it is important that we vary our tactics based upon the challenge and difficulty of the river.

We change our tactics based up on: • The speed we want to move.

• The difficulty of the water.

• The potential hazards.

• The skill level of our team.

• To minimise the potential amount of swimmers at once.

• To maintain line of sight.

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The strategies I often use to move with a team on the river are:

All go – Nice and quick for easy water.

Pairs/threes – paddling the rapid with a buddy or two. A bit more controlled than all go, but still pretty quick.

Useful when we start to slow things down a bit.

One at a time – Great for when we want to look after just one paddler on a rapid.

Eddy hop – Useful to slow things down and maintain line of sight, I often use this so that one person moves at a time on a steeper rapid or one with lots of eddies.

Leap frog – Paddlers get to switch leads and move from the back (when signalled) to the front every time. Useful for moving fast and a good peer style.

Alpine leapfrog – Paddlers split into smaller teams and leapfrog as a team, protecting the next rapid for the group behind.

Constant leapfrog – Paddlers constantly leapfrog each other without using signals.

If you are at the front your job is to find the next eddy and wait for everyone to pass you. As soon as the last person paddles past you, you tag on the end until you are at the front again. Very quick, catching lots of eddies, but still maintaining line of sight. More structured than “all go” Marshalling – Strategic placing and use of specific paddlers and specific strengths by the leader on a rapid. Paddlers will be given different roles and are often placed ready to rescue and/or maintain line of sight. Usually requires a designated leader and is useful for a mixed ability group.

Next time you’re out on the water, have a think about whether you can put any of the above into practice, you might be surprised how much of this you already do. With a bit of time and thought, we can be safer, faster and clearer with our communications making us more effective on the water. Thanks also to Paul Smith for photos and also for his input into the article.

Chris Brain

Chris has been kayaking, canoeing and coaching for the last 15 years and runs his own business Chris Brain Coaching, delivering paddlesport coaching, safety and rescue courses and REC First Aid Training. www.chrisbraincoaching.com. Email: chris@chrisbraincoaching.com Chris would like to thank Pyranha Kayaks, Immersion Research, VE Paddles and Go Kayaking for making fantastic kit and their continued support. Photo: Patrick Beavis

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W H E N

TWT O R

The slogan,“Sport you aree the world” is one of the few e ew that doesn’t lie.

By Vladimir Rabotyagov In the last few years of the Cold War, Russians and Americans were seeking ways of reconciliation through sport with one such area being white water paddling. At the end of WWII in 1945, Russian and American soldiers had linked-up on the River Elbe; in 1987 white water rafters from the two countries met on the Katun River in Altai, in the heart of Siberia.

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the Americans may have been misunderstood to be agents of

‘American imperialism’ dressed as tourists

Project RAFT was a citizen diplomacy initiative to ease tensions between the Soviet Union and the United States by putting Russians and Americans in the same boat on raging white water rivers. Between 1985-93, thousands of people participated. To put Russians and Americans literally in the same boat, which was a vivid metaphor for needing to work together for mutual survival despite the differences.

But when they started to work on this project, the Soviet side found that the original rivers they chose of Pamir and Tyan-Shan were really close to the border, which wasn't secure enough because of random militaries conflicts. They couldn’t risk the Russian paddlers safety by giving a green light to go into special zones close to the border, as the Americans may have been misunderstood to be agents of ‘American imperialism’ dressed as tourists.

The only place where they could finish the Cold War without any issues was the Altai region and its rivers.

American white water athletes were under Michail Kolchevnikov`s responsibility (Soviet white water founder). In addition to the paddlers there were TV reporters from ABC to make a film about the adventure as they had done before the first descent of the Yangtze River (Chang Jiang) in China and it’s famous rapid ‘Jump of a Tiger’ where the waves are like block of flats in height. There were no white water athletes in China so their leaders sent an Olympic team of flat water kayakers and canoeists with the order to not lose to the American kayakers and rafters and be the first to descend the Yangtze River.

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To avoid the cost of running the headwaters at high water in July and returning in October to run the rest of the river, the American team chose to follow the summer flood down the river. The result was a disaster. The Chinese teams had virtually no white water experience, so they didn’t have the knowledge that they shouldn’t be running a first descent in flood conditions.

ABC reporters remembered the terrible accounts as almost every day a paddler from the Chinese team drowned.

In Altai the problem was that the Americans didn’t know the local features and started to deploy project RAFT at the beginning of summer, when the glaciers of the Belukha Mountain starts to melt and flood the river.

Usually local rafters wait through this period but now they could not do that and Michail was nervous remembering unlucky Chinese colleagues. Of course the Katun is not the Yangtze and Akkem Break is not ‘Jump of a Tiger,’ but they had never paddled there in big water. What if a raft overloaded by tourist gear raft overturned in the Katun’s rapid?

However, everything went OK and everybody returned alive from this trip.

After that there was a trip to Colorado and other united expeditions. A film made by John Wilkinson ‘Rafting into Siberia’ had been shown in the United States and he won an ‘Emmy’ as the best adventure film.

There were many funny episodes from the first link-ups. Sergey Bozhenko from the first group of RAFTers remembers how

international relations went down because of Russian misunderstanding.

“I was an eye-witness of one situation.

Somewhere on the Katun several groups had met each other on a shore. We had seen Americans alive for the first time! Redhaired men and women but none of us knew any English. We were singing songs and playing our guitar near a fire in order to build a connection. The connection is started to appear… but then everything stopped! The American girls were looking at us like fools and made the first steps. Two courageous girls came over to our boys, talked about something and then the shout went out, ‘Any condoms here?’ So that’s how an attempt to adjust international relationships went off.”

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National Geographic named Altai as the

number one destination in Russia for outdoor tourism in 2011.

Modern day

Today and now life has turned another cycle, this story hopefully will be an example of the goods things that have passed and could be repeated with other participants in other conditions but with the same good motive. Altai now is a well known outdoor tourism destination in Russia and it’s currently becoming much more accessible for international paddlers than before.

Five natural Altai areas, such as the Golden Mountains are UNESCO World Heritage sites and the central road of Altai – Chuyskiy Trakt (part of the Silk Route) is classed as one of the ten most beautiful roads in the world. Altai is a very popular kayak destination in Russia, with hundreds of kayakers and rafters visiting every year.

There are many different sections for all types of kayaking such as white water, rodeo-spots and play boating with varying conditions and sections depending on complexity from Class 1 to VI. If you prefer II-III Class then take a look at the Lower and Middle Katun and Chuya. If you prefer Class III-IV try the Middle Chuya, Upper Bashkaus and Chulyshman. Mazhoy and Kurkure if you are Class V-VI athlete.

The Adidas team and many world-class prokayakers have visited and made many films about their experiences. They prefer the remote wild areas that contain the most complex sections.

Local Russian kayaking fans however, prefer the Class II-IV sections with easy van logistics, camping and meals included in the tour.

International kayakers can be quoted for visa and tickets assistance, international certified English-speaking guides, transfers included into the tour cost and much more.

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https://goo.gl/maps/M2Cw4mT1Unr Because of the present low value of the Russian Ruble, local kayaking providers are competitive on the prices of their services, and even if the tickets to Moscow, Barnaul or Novosibirsk are more expensive, the total cost of your trip could still be cheaper than many other worldwide locations.

As a bonus, there is not only white water adventures available in Altai but all kinds of outdoor activities from trekking and biking to helicopter flights, cave exploration and other esoteric excursions.

https://youtu.be/WZe_FI2kvug

Altai is a mighty place, and also considered to be the entrance to the mythological paradise kingdom of Shambhalla and that the roots of the native Americans came from the Altai nation.

The Altai language is also one of the ancient languages of the world. It is certainly a place worth visiting.

https://youtu.be/ARHNDcd1rb8

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C L E N D E N N I N G B R I T I S H

C O L U M B I A ’ S

GLACIAL GA F E D

Photos and story: Darin McQuoid

C R E E K

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The Clendenning was once British Columbia’s most popular multi-day trip. Somehow that title now goes to the Stikine, but that’s a whole different story.

Personally I’d written off the Clendenning as class IV and something that I would do in my ‘early retirement paddling.’ Little did I know how wrong I was – no surprise there then!

Having done the Stikine first on our trip, we also paddled most of the Whistler classic runs like

the Box Canyon of the Ashlu, various Cheakamus runs, Callaghan Creek and what not. Two of the team from Austria were due to fly out and we had just enough time to squeeze in one last bit of excitement.

We had been watching the Elaho gauge for days, and it seemed to be dropping to 200cms.

Still rather on the high end, we read that it is ‘Class V at 200 cms and up,’ while another write

up from well-travelled paddlers described it as a positive portage fest at 200cms. There was only one way to find out, so we headed to Green Lake in north Whistler to talk about flying.

Clendenning Creek starts just 47 miles from Whistler as it flows out of its namesake; Clendenning Lake. From there it’s nearly 20 miles to the confluence of the Elaho. Getting to the said lake is no simple task, there are no roads or trails. When the founder of Whistler Air owned the company he would fly to Clendenning Lake with eight people and kayaks in a de Havilland Otter.

A short time ago Whistler Air was bought by Harbor Air, the world’s largest float plane operation. Harbor Air had no interest in flying

us to Clendenning Lake. Eventually we were able to talk directly to the pilots and they were more than ready for a break from being glorified taxi drivers shuttling wealthy tourists from Vancouver to Whistler.

Due to new corporate policy there is no way they could take all of us in the Otter, because kayaks would block an exit door. The best we could do was take six kayaks and one person in the Otter, and the other five of us in the smaller Beaver. Prior to the trip we’d read about $250 a person, but oh the times have changed. Now it takes two pilots, two planes, and around $500 a person. We take time to consider. It's not every day that four Austrians and an Italian are in British Columbia, so we were all in.

Getting to the said lake is no simple task, there are no roads or trails

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the river wasn't going to get any easier for some time.We either need to start running it, or walking

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With our gear unloaded we wasted no time getting ready to go. Half the team were to fly home three days later and with the high water levels we wanted to be sure to make it out in time. It’s quite incredible, Clendenning Creek flows right out of the lake with no log jams or other obstructions.

There is certainly no shortage of water as we began the trip, there were many routes and not too many rocks showing in the first rapids. Many write-ups talked about boulder garden creeking but this seemed far from a creek.

Some nice warm up behind us and a glacier sits high above on the right. An old avalanche path leads to the river and it makes sense to see a boulder pile just downstream. We routed through one rapid then scrambled for eddies. This one didn’t look so nice. The whole team portages 15 feet then it was time to make a decision.

From what we could see the river wasn't going to get any easier for some time. We either need to start running it, or walking. As we had portaged on both sides of the river there was no way to communicate the decision process.

Oddly enough we managed to make a decision unspoken, in that odd way experienced teams can come to conclusion. The team didn't want to portage the rest of the river, so we put back in and it was then one endless boulder garden with big moves, high consequences and just enough eddies.

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Clendenning Creek, British Columbia

Canada

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The race was on, a tent full of gear is in the river. Heavy rain began to fall. It was a scramble to keep other tents from flying off while stuffing dry gear into shelter whilst another person charged after the tent that had headed downstream. Water levels had risen quickly.

Once everything was safe we figured it was time to cook up some hot food so we wouldn't have to waste time cooking after the recovered gear came back wet. We had a brand new unopened fuel canister that we couldn’t cook on because the company forgot to put threads on it. We had not planned on having a fire, but things had to be done to cook food and avoid hypothermia. We dried our gear at sunset and thankfully the rain had stopped and the skies cleared.

One would never guess that it rained the previous night. Water levels were back down to their previous levels and glorious blue skies reigned above. Unsure of the day ahead we soaked in the sun but make sure to get on the water just before nine. Paddling around the first corner below camp a team member was lucky and found his own jacket. Lost with the tent in the previous night’s debacle, we never thought the jacket would be seen again.

Twisting through an open section, the day started off with some nice warm up. Looking downstream we saw another avalanche path and knew that rapids resided ahead.

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We are cruising

along nicely with some aggressive read and run. The nature of Clendenning Creek is a lot more like the Austrian Alps than California. I was happy to follow. Suddenly the brakes were on and we scouted a big cascade full of possible routes. None looked ideal but many looked feasible. Rok Sribar opted to probe, followed by Manu Koehler. They ran completely different lines, Rok went hard left and Manu hard right.Â

Really it was one large rapid in there. By eddy hopping we had minimized scouting, for the third time that day. There was one large hole to get around. Then more downstream as always.Â

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Below the crux hole

the river was rowdy for another kilometre.We opted for a lunch break and paddle repair, not sure how long the action would continue.

Satiated with food we returned to the water, ready for more challenging whitewater, yet fingers crossed that we were through. Paddling a fantastic rapid around the bend, suddenly it was all over.We relaxed and enjoyed the scenery on the paddle out, happy to have finished safely around one in the afternoon. Floating on the Elaho we formed a flotilla and all agreed that with our flow of 200cms, the Clendenning was more challenging than last week’s trip on the Grand Canyon of the Stikine.Then again, on the Clendenning one could always walk every rapid, unlike the Stikine!

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S P R I N G

i n

t h e

HIMAA ALA AA YAS

It had been a mediocre winter season to say the least back home in Austria, so it did not take too much persuasion to make the most of the new online visa, book a flight and head to India. I had a month to go kayaking, visit friends and enjoy the madness that makes India so addictive.

Story: Steve Brooks

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Landing at New Delhi airport in the middle of the night does have its advantages. Ganesh had organised my taxi and we were charging through the deserted streets of central Delhi on the way to Rishikesh.

It was Shivaratri, the holy day for the Lord Shiva and unlike Nepal where anything goes, here in India, the roads were closed and people were heading to various temples by foot to worship. So a few detours later I was finally in Rishikesh and sitting in my favourite barbers removing the winter beard off my face!

I headed up to the Alaknanda, the major tributary of the holy Ganges to stay at the Shivanandi River Lodge. Since it was built I have been making the pilgrimage every year to this amazing place. The houses have been made in the traditional way of stone, cow muck for insulation and big stone tiles for the roof. Situated on the banks of the Alaknanda River, surrounded by fruit trees and rice fields, with basic meals of rice, lentils and vegetables, a natural spring for water and beds where I can actually lay out stretched without my feet hanging over the end. It is one of the best places in the world for me as a kayaker to escape and just eat, sleep and kayak!

Taught how to kayak Ever since Shivanandi was being built, the owner Shalabh offers a chance for young Indians from all over the country to work there and in return they get taught how to kayak. It has changed the fortunes of many a local lad, be it a shepherd from high up in the Tons Valley to a Ladakhi living on the high altitude plateau of Indo Tibet in the heart of the Zanskar region.

It is Stanzin, one of the Ladakhis with whom I have kept in contact for the past couple of years since I first met him at Shivanandi, whom I was going to be kayaking with for the next few weeks.

Our first day was spent kayaking from a town called Karnaprayag. It has rapids with some big hits and wave trains and about halfway down we stumbled across a wave and what a wave it was! With perfect eddy access we spent hours there surfing, carving our way from one side to the other. It just could not get any better than this, what a way to start the 2016 kayaking season for me! In-fact the wave was so good we ended up running just this section for the next few days, each time spending a good hour there – the smiles on our faces said it all. With a hot sweet chai (milk tea) made when we got back to Shivanandi, what more could I need?

Pindar River The river level was dropping a bit, the Indian Himalayas had also suffered from a severe lack of snow. In Himachal Pradesh there was no sign of the rivers getting their spring melt and here in Uttarakhand only the very high peaks still had snow.

We decided to head to the Pindar River, a major tributary of the Alaknanda and a great river, for a couple of days. So with our kit packed we drove up to Thurali.

Another plus of India is the cost effectiveness of travelling, though some kayakers I know of take it as a challenge to live as cheap as possible for their duration, I on the other hand prefer to travel and live like a king! Whether it is my age catching up on me or just spending so much time travelling by buses throughout the Himalayas when I left the Army, I am not too sure. But there are a few things I know for sure which are big advantages when you travel by taxi or jeep. It is usually much safer, you stop along the way to scout rapids and one very important positive is that if you meet a corrupt official wanting a bribe to kayak you can politely tell him where to stick it, drive around the corner out of sight and then put-in without any undue stress and loss of valuable chai money!

The shot of the trip! Stanzin showing his class on the Pindar River

Fact The Himalayan climate ranges from tropical at the base of the mountains to perennial snow and ice at the highest elevations.These complex and diverse eco-regions are interconnected: an ecological threat to one is ultimately a threat to them all.

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Stanzin Tanfan, Upper Alaknanda River, Uttarakhand

India

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Stanzin Tanfan kayaking Hilary Falls on the Alaknanda River

Fact The Himalayas are the source for the Indus, the Yangtze and the Ganga-Brahmaputra.

All three are major river systems for the continent of Asia.

The Indian Himalayas on a stunning spring day

everything was flowing so smoothly. I had my new camera with me and Stanzin was just styling each rapid.

It was amazing to see how much he had improved and how technically better his kayaking was.You would actually think that he learnt to kayak at a young age and had gone through the slalom divisions the way he paddles!

The start of the Pindar gave us a few rapids which were mainly boulder gardens due to the low water, then the river mellowed out somewhat before we arrived at the town of Nairenbagar. Here the gradient picked up again and we were running some sweet drops.This was the lowest I had run the Pindar and I was very apprehensive if there was enough water in there to make it worthwhile. I was not disappointed as we found some smooth rocks to boof off, slide down and some sweet tight lines where good edge control found you going from one tongue of water to the next.

We camped just below the town and once the tarp was up Stanzin suggested we build a fire, well let’s just say it was more like we ARE going to build a fire and who was I to say no.This whole area has a reputation for leopards and I have personally seen evidence of these fierce animals in the area.The most frightening moments can be when you meet villagers along the river and they warn you of a man eater, then it is time to realise we are not right at the top of the food chain here and a more secure place of rest is required.

It seemed as though we had passed about four funerals that day by the time we got to Karnaprayag. We had decided to kayak back to Shivanandi. As we paddled through the town we were waved at, screamed at, smiled at by all the Nepali families and kids that were living in makeshift tents by the side of the river. I was smiling and waving but also trying to keep my mouth shut for the fear of any of the water here getting into my system! From Karnaprayag it felt like a long paddle out but maybe it was because we decided to stop and surf the wave again for a bit, even with boats full of kit we were still carving around on the face! After a sevenhour paddle we arrived at Shivanandi, tired but happy and of course it was not long before we had a hot sweet chai in our hands!

We decided to take a well-earned couple of days rest before we headed up the Alaknanda River to kayak the upper section. From Berahi down to Nandaprayag, the river gave us some great whitewater.The first hour to Chamoli was pushy, pool drop rapids that required a move somewhere but with Stanzin knowing this section extremely well he gave me the line and off I went while he waited patiently at the top of the drop for me to get my camera out.

Friends of mine have said they have never heard of anyone getting attacked by a leopard when they sleep in a tent but they are unable to say this with regards to a tarp. So with plenty of wood all around the beach we gathered what I thought would be enough for a funeral pyre but Stanzin thought some more big logs would keep the fire burning all night and again who was I to argue?

We woke up the next morning to see the fire just barely alive but it had done its job and we had slept well throughout the night. It was a great day of kayaking, lots of drops with everything pretty much read and run at this level and some pools in between to hold the water for the next rapid. We were in our element and

One of the women bringing back some food for her cattle.

It has been known for the women to be chased home by leopards at sunset

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Fact The Himalayas are the third largest deposit of ice and snow in the world, after Antarctica and the Arctic.There are approximately 15,000 glaciers located throughout the range.At 48 miles (72 km) in length, the Himalayan Siachen glacier is the largest glacier outside the poles.

Shivanandi River Resort on the banks of the Alaknanda River

After Chamoli

the pools became longer, the rapids mellowed somewhat and it was not long until we arrived at the jailhouse rapid. Some six years ago I was kayaking here when the tell-tale signs of a recent landslide had turned the rapid into a portage, there was a cloud burst on the little side creek sometime over the monsoon and of course this completely devastated the side stream and took all the rocks, stones and debris into the Alaknanda.

However, since then after another huge monsoon a few years back the river changed again and had been totally cleaned out. Gone were the monster syphons and huge boils, now there were a couple

of massive rocks with clean lines. It is unbelievable how quickly a river can change, we know this from back home in Austria where the Sanna can change every couple of years. Of course with the volume of water and rain fall that the Himalayas receive this is just multiplied!

Stanzin getting ready to launch off a rock on the Pindar River

It was not long before we were at Nandaprayag, we paddled Hillary Falls – where the Kiwi was stopped in his attempt to drive a jet boat up the Ganges and Alaknanda Rivers.The take-out was a few metres below and of course it was not long before we had the boats on the roof and another sweet chai in our hands!

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For more information check out: www.gokayaking.at My month’s trip was coming to an end, I had spent a lot of time at Shivanandi coaching some of the young interns there, eating lots of lentils and of course getting to know Stanzin and how his family live their life in one of the most extreme environments on the planet.The weather was becoming extremely hot and by the time I reached Delhi it was a blistering 41 degrees.

Austria was waiting and it was due to snow again.

What a start to the 2016 kayaking season!

Steve Brooks

Steve has lived in Austria now for over 15 years and from being a place to come and work seasonally on the river, to a base camp and finally making Austria his home! Steve’s love for kayaking and adventure is infectious and this can especially be seen in the kayak school he set up five years ago. Based out of the Arlberg Region in Western Austria the school runs courses for beginners plus coaching and instructing kayakers through all the whitewater grades, including creeking and river running. In-between the kayaking season in Austria, Steve can be found kayaking in the Indian Himalayas, Peru and Chile in South America and trying to find some perfect powder on his home mountain of St Anton am Arlberg.

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T H E

L O S T

A R T

O F

CAV ARVING Words: W Wo r s:Corr rd Corran rra rr ran Addison A dison Ad Photos: Christine Phot o os:Christ ot s ine Pinsonneault st

Carving, true carving, is one of the most delightful sensations in a kayak.

This is not to say that linking a dozen sweeping vertical ends in old school cartwheels, or launching four feet of twisting rotating air is not mind blowing. It’s just that carving a responsive kayak on an awesome wave is a truly unique and gratifying sensation.

To this you’ll find that a large percentage of paddlers, especially paddlers who learned to kayak in the last decade, will shrug it off; and understandably so.Very few, if any, of the modern river play kayaks will truly carve. This is not a knock at the designs of the short bouncy boats that excel at their specific brand of exciting wave riding. It’s simply a statement of fact that the very features that make these short bouncing boats exceptionally good at launching massive airs, are the same traits that prevent them carving.

While you don’t need to have a longer kayak (seven and a half feet to eight and a half feet) to carve, longer boats make it easier to catch the wave, use all of the wave, and recover from the inevitable mistakes you make. For the most part this means a trip down memory lane to locate a flat bottomed hard edged kayak from the days where these were the common style (think Glide, Foreplay, original Zones etc).

There are some shorter sub seven feet carving designs like the Fish,Vibe, Squashtail out there of course, but my suggestion is to find something longer that has some real speed and drive to it.

There are a few modern designs like the Axiom, and the Braaap of course, but displacement (round) bottoms make learning to carve quite hard (that boat has its other strengths) and the new Gonzo which I’m using in these photos.

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While I could have given the demonstration on one of my home-town massive green glassy waves, I decided to find something a little more like what most people are likely to find – a fast, smaller, uneven and constricting wave where precise skills are needed to really make carving happen.

I like my boat slightly tail heavy for really dynamic carving. Think about a surfer who’s standing on the back of the board to get it to really perform. Most of the release and rail change happens on the tail of the boat, so weighting this makes the transition easier, and also keeps the nose loose. Having a seat that’s quick to adjust helps.

What carving is not:…

A left to right turning of the boat, pivoting the nose and tail with the boat basically sitting flat around where the paddler is sitting. Most people surf this way, and believe they are carving. But this slides the boat around, loses speed rather than gaining it and doesn’t create drive and snap. Another error is this left to right movement while sitting half way down the face of the wave. While you can ‘carve’ side to side this way, that’s a very limited way of approaching a wave when you have all that speed at the bottom of the wave and the lift and snap off the lip of the wave.

The reason most people go left and right is it’s safe; little chance of blowing off the wave this way. Using the whole wave from the extreme left and right shoulders and the extreme top of the wave, opens you to the slightest error resulting in a flush, and at the bottom of the wave with a nose pearl and a face full of water. But to really enjoy carving, you need to leave your comfort zone.

The first thing to work on is edging. For this we literally will be going left and right across the face centre.The key here is not to lean your body over the rail of the boat (not yet) but rather to keep your body upright, and simply roll the kayak onto one edge, then the other. Do NOT lean back. Leaning back reduces edge control. Keep your spine and torso vertical. If the nose is pearling, move your seat back.

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Start a rhythm going Carve left on the left edge, boat edged, and body upright. When you’re ready to carve the other way, the first thing you do is look across the wave at the specific point you want to get to. For now that’s the extreme right of the wave (you’re still on the left edge here as you look right), mid-way up the face. Look at that point.That’s where you’re going. Now roll off your left edge and as you do that make a slight rudder stroke (we’ll get to this in a second) to begin the nose turning right and then edge the kayak onto the right edge (the kayak, not your body) and stay focused on that point you’re looking at. Right before getting to it, turn your head, still on the right edge of the kayak, find that new point on the other side of the wave, look at it and go through the same transition of edging and strokes.

One key here is not to flatten the boat and turn it flat between carves (the most common mistake).The goal is to go directly from rail to rail with zero time spent with the boat flat.Your kayak will effectively still be pointing left when you turn your head right, roll onto your right rail (that’s right, you’re leaning upstream for a brief instant), and make that right rudder stroke.

The back-stroke is not really a back-stroke.This would slow you down, and the goal is to accelerate; unless of course the goal is to hit the breaks (stop a pearl, or make a more radical stop and go type turn). Rather, imagine the blade as a moveable fin.The whole paddle should be over the rail of the kayak that’s carving (both hands over that one side) so the shaft is almost parallel to the centre line of the kayak.The blade is then placed in the water up against the kayaks tail edge parallel to the flow of water, and the paddle is pushed away from the boat (careful to keep it parallel to the kayak centre line rather than turning it into a backwards sweep).This will act as a fin to turn you, but not a break. .

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Weighting and unweighting Once you’ve got this feeling down, lets move onto the next stage; weighting and unweighting. Right as you get to that point where you would start to look around to the other side of the wave and begin your body and head rotation to that side and prepare the paddle to release and change sides, move your weight backwards right as you make that head and eyes transition.This will unweight the kayak, lift the nose, and allow for a more dynamic edge change.The more aggressive this movement the more dynamic the snap will become, but for now keep it subtle.

As the paddle crosses the boat to engage as a fin on the new side of the boat to begin the new direction carve, so shift your weight forward again so your spine is vertical and edging can be controlled and consistent. If that weighting and unweighting is dynamic enough, and timed perfectly, the kayak may actually ‘hop’ into the air during the direction change.This is in fact how the first Flipturn was invented – I just came in with high speed and an aggressive rail and weight change and the whole boat released, rotated in the air, and landed on the new carving edge.This is almost the ideal, though on many less dynamic waves is a bridge too far. But that’s your ultimate aim.

Once you’ve got this left to right aggressive and powerful direction changes mastered (so in a few years), it’s time to start using the whole wave.The size of your wave is going to be a big part. If it’s only two feet tall, there will be very little up and down movement in your side to side carving. If it’s four feet tall, or has some sort of diagonal on one side or the other, or a foam pile, now things start to get interesting.

Uneven features are what makes a wave dynamic and exciting, as fun as a silky smooth wave is to surf.

Take the wave in these photos as an example of using the whole wave. Starting from my mid-face carve on the far right (going onto a left rail), rather than looking across to the left side mid face, now I look left to the top of the wave. Since I’m used to spotting my point of edge transition from the exercises we did above, this is not big task. Now my boat not just carves from right to left, but actually goes up the face of the wave towards the top.Technically I’m moving downstream when I’m going left on this wave (and this would also the case on a perfectly flat wave too) and as such, the boat will suddenly accelerate more than you’re used to.This means you’ll probably get where your next turn is sooner than expected, and with more speed than before, and most likely flush off the wave (if you truly went to the top, and not mid face again).

Practice this.This next edge to edge turn at the top of the wave is critical.You need to really be aggressive with your weighting (forward and back weight transition) and rail to rail transition. If its lackadaisical, you wont be able to make the direction change before flushing off..

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Now comes the hard part (what, that wasn’t hard enough?).

In order to get that same climb up the face on my left to right surf, I need to get to the bottom of the wave. There are two ways of doing this. One is to make that top turn a long sweeping arc and turn across the lip at the top and keep that carve going without too much turning of the boat so it begins to run down the face into the trough. As you get there (this is where the water is fastest on a wave), so that rudder becomes more aggressive and you really turn the kayak to wards the right, your eyes now firmly fixed on the lip at the top of the diagonal on the far right. As you approach this lip, body vertical and boat edged, so you literally throw your weight back as you make the rail transition, and swing your head and eyes aggressively back to the top of wave left.

The boat will literally explode into the new carve direction.

Done right, the carve could become completely weightless, or even airborne.

Don’t get frustrated if you don’t get it immediately. It might seem like a simple skill to learn, but I assure you it’s every bit as hard as learning to cartwheel or butt-bounce into an airblunt. Every time you get back from a session, re-read this to check on what you’ve been doing, and if possible, video yourself so you have visuals.

Best of luck. Go carve some waves.

Best of luck. Go carve some waves.

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Testing, Waka Tuna 2.0

www.wakakayaks.com

By Steve Brooks www.gokayaking.at

Has one of the best kayaks available just got better?

I have been extremely lucky to have been given the new Waka Tuna 2.0 to test here in our kayak school in Arlberg, Austria.

I’ve been looking forward to seeing just how good the new design is and of course comparing it to the other kayaks I tested earlier in the spring in Slovenia.

Firstly, what are the differences to the previous wake model?

1. It has been evenly moulded, meaning all the edges and design lines on the top of the boat have disappeared.

2. The 2.0 is slightly longer and around the knees it is slightly narrower.

3. The centre of gravity for the boat has been moved slightly back and is now around where your hips are.

4. The thigh braces are now moulded within the shell thus making it lighter.

5. The only holes in the 2.0 are for the footbrace and the drain plug.

6. The lip around the cockpit has also disappeared.

Since the Tuna 2.0 has been with us here in Austria, we have had a serious amount of rain and so I have only been able to test it so far on BIG water. My first run was down the Sanna at 270cm (high water is 245cm), I have been using it on our recent courses from Class II upwards and I really put it to the test on the Landeck Gorge at a staggering 720m3/s!

It is certainly a fast kayak that is for sure, but it holds its line extremely well and I had no problems turning and manoeuvring the boat to where I wanted to be on the river. It is a modern kayak and so you need to be pro-

active to get the most out of it – think of it as a Ferrari, you do not want to be stuck in 1st gear with a bunch of boy racers blowing their horns behind you, instead you want to be driving the Ferrari and putting it to its limits and letting the boy racers dream of one day owning such a vehicle. The same can be said with the new Tuna 2.0, you need to put the effort in to get the most out of it!

Nailing your line

Carving in and out of eddies has not been a problem, it is super stable which gives you an amazing opportunity to be confident enough to nail your line no matter what the grade of whitewater! Though it is slightly longer than the previous version you do not get the feel that you are in a ‘big boat.’

I really like the new thigh braces that are part of the boat mould. This feature alone has taken off just over 1kg in weight. I am 186cm (6’2”) tall and have plenty of room in the boat and do

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testin

dd lers - email us: review s@thep addle rez ine

m .co

Though do not just take my word for it, go and try one yourself‌

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So has the Waka Tuna 2.0 improved on its predecessor? You bet it has, lighter, faster, more manoeuvrable and with a feeling that it will take you kayaking to the next level!

res t to pa

I have tested quite a few kayaks this year and the new Waka Tuna 2.0 is right up there, in-fact only one other kayak had such a positive effect on me and that is also in our kayak school for our clients to use.

e will b nd it ed a iew rev uct od

The seat is fixed in place with no holes being made into the plastic shell, the hip pads keep you in place, the pad on the seat keeps your bum warm and the back band can be adjusted by the ratchets close to the moulded thigh braces.

It is a very comfortable kayak to sit in, as I have been using it all day coaching with no problems whatsoever. The bulkhead is also easily adjustable.

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not feel I would have trouble making a wet exit. You can always easily trim the thigh braces with a sharp knife if you think you would have difficulty getting out.

The Paddle r ez ine te

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Sevylor Madison

www.sevylor-europe.com

By Peter Tranter and Anne Egan

Some boats are built for performance, others for racing, river running, long distance and the list goes on.Then there are those built purely for fun, jut having a good time and that’s where inflatables enter the scene.

If you’re looking for a kayak or canoe to do all of the above, then there are plenty that will do the job better than the Madison but the ability to just chuck it into the back of the car with the kids, drive off to the coast or the local river and just have a splash around, the Sevylor Madison would come out on top and for a minimum of half the price with paddles thrown in too.

https://youtu.be/n_lLEAJKpB4

The Sevylor is all about uncomplicated fun and it’s such an easy setup. The Madison is supplied

with a very effective footpump. Looking at it initially when taking out of the box, you would be forgiven for thinking it looks like it will be hard work. Well, no it isn’t as long as you follow a procedure.

Firstly make sure you attach the supplied fin before inflation and secondly be sure to inflate the floor of the kayak before inflating the walls.

Reasons being that after inflation, you won’t be able to fit the fin and the floor has to be first because if you inflate the walls beforehand, then you will not be able access the valve that inflates the bottom part.

The pressure gauge on the pump allows you to judge accurately on when to stop. The seats are inflatable too but they can easily be done by mouth. All in all – a five-minute job.

On the river it is exactly what it is – a sophisticated and very tough inflatable that seats two comfortable with a couple of rucksacks. This weekend we intend going to the Norfolk coast and just having a splash about. There are no hard edges and if you fall out just clamber back in – perfect for messing about.

On the other side of the coin it is also a convenient paddling piece of kit. We covered around 10 miles of the River Cam from Grantchester through Cambridge and back again with ease. I had to fiddle about with the inflatable seat a little, more so to get my back rest into the right position.

It goes without saying there are no thigh brace, footrests and cockpit, so its more like paddling a kayak/canoe hybrid. The supplied two-piece glades are maybe on the rudimentary side but perfectly OK for short to medium length paddles. As well as the paddles, also included is the foot pump plus a repair kit.

On the floor of the Madison are suggested seat positions for either two paddlers or for somebody on their own.

I know of three friends within a mile of me who have had these types of inflatables for quite a few years now. I’ve always tended to dismiss them as niether one thing or another, more like a dinghy than a canoe or kayak.

However, I have to say that I’ve been reasonably surprised and more impressed with the fun angle rather than taking them seriously as some type of performance boat. If you bear that in mind plus the very low cost – then in all seriousness you cannot go wrong – get one for the kids if nothing else – they’ll love you for it.

Anne’s viewpoint

Three words, “I loved it.” The Madison is my first experience of an inflatable kayak. Starting with the appearance the Madison is striking. In blue and aqua marine, the kayak looks beautiful and gives the impression of quality and good construction. We tried it out on the beautiful River Cam in Cambridge one barmy evening and it was a delightful and stress free paddling experience.

It was relatively easy to inflate using the foot pump supplied, other options for inflation are available in the form of a hand pump and an electric pump. The valves were initially a little temperamental and it took a couple of attempts to correctly attach the pump so that it did not leak whilst inflating but this felt like it was just a matter of experience.

Once inflated, and the seats were put in place, given by the built in seat-O-graphy, we were off and portaged the kayak a couple of hundred metres down to the river.

The seats are worthy of further mention, I am 65 kilos (yes I am working on it!) and just 1.5 m tall but I found the level of comfort afforded by the seat absolutely fabulous. The cushion base is inflatable offering great support and was so comfortable with no numb bum experience. The back rest is attached to the base, and in situ is adjustable via straps, to the level of uprightness or recline that you find to be best. Personally I found it to be the most comfortable I had ever

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entering and leaving the boat. Carrying it (inflated to the water) was easy as the carry handles offer good grip and it didn’t feel heavy or awkward. The side carry handles double up as paddle holders for you to clip your paddles into.

The texture and feel of the kayak were appealing to me, and together with the curviness I found it a very user friendly vessel that screamed come and have fun in me, which we did and made friends with some Cambridge cows along the way.

been in a kayak. The height of the seat relative the height of the side of the kayak meant I felt myself to be in a very good position for paddling which led to less fatigue and strain.

Lifting the Madison from the river again did not present any difficulties and it felt light, and easy to manage. Paddling with one person or two, was simple, the Madison comes with a removable fin, simple to attach and assists with tracking.

Stability, pretty important in a kayak, again I found this to be more than adequate especially when

Another great feature of this kayak is how quickly it deflated and can be popped into the back of your vehicle and away you go. Obviously storage is simple – it packs away into it’s bag and takes up very little space in a shed or garage, alternatively you might choose to keep it in your vehicle and have the freedom to paddle without having to have planned or loaded.

Supplied with two piece adjustable paddles which we found very adequate for purpose, certainly for the purposes of a few hours of recreational paddling.

All in all a very desirable craft, easy to inflate, carry, paddle, store – a definite hit.

Great Barford

Canoe & kayak hire Stand up paddle board safari

Bromham

Wild campsite located next to river Tuition, guided tours & multi day trips Canoe & kayak sales Group deals, kids parties & corporate days

The Embankment

Activity vouchers, bus bushcraft & adventure activities Other locations including the River Thames, River Ivel & River Wye

Bedfordshire Canoe Trails

Call Ashley on 07960 087235 or Richard on 07710 616520 Proathlete ltd trading as Canoe Trail

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Horizon Rocket Stove from Aneyay

www.anevay.co.uk

By Richard Harpham

The Horizon Rocket Stove from Aneyay is another one of those fantastic British designed products that is perfect for canoe trips, camping and bushcraft adventures. We have had one on test for the past few months and have used it canoeing and camping and also on a training expedition in Norway in minus 15 degrees below. It’s well designed and literally belts out heat for cooking.

Like many portable cooking stoves you need to feed it to maintain the roaring effect. The Stove is similar to the old school home made tin can stoves you might have made in Scouts in the past. The side pipe allows easy feeding of the fire as well as dropping wood down the top. It has solid metal supports for resting your skillet, pots or pans whilst cooking. Also great is the orange wire basket cage around the body of the stove

that remains cool making it easy to carry or secure in your canoe and also reduce the number of hot parts you can touch.

We did realise that you need to select the size of your skillet carefully so not to stifle the air flow but other than that the Horizon Stove passed with flying colours. It actually changed the way we wanted to cook and enjoy campfire cooking based on how simple it was to use and light. Well done Team Anevay for another great stove product. As they say get them like hot cakes…literally!

You might also want to check out their Frontier Stove system in the range, which is a great tent stove using a stovepipe to avoid any smoke.

Hopefully we will have one of those on test at some point.

What they say about it:

A super-efficient rocket stove, the Horizon is smokeless once lit: no more smoke in your eyes when barbecuing on the beach. It runs on just a handful of twigs or driftwood. Once you’re finished cooking, just tip out the ash and it’s ready to transport. Always make sure any embers are fully extinguished before you leave.

Specification:

Weight: 1.8kg Height: 27cm Width: 24cm Fuel type: kindling, sticks, driftwood

Paddler review – a five-star review!

Durability: Features/design: Value for money: Weight/size: Performance:

5 5 5 5 5

MSR WindBurner Stove System http://windburnerstove.com

By Richard Harpham

The MSR WindBurner is an award winning stove system which boils water efficiently for life on the trail or on paddling trips or adventures. It comprises a one-litre water pot with lid, the burner system and a cup and lid, all of which fits neatly together. It’s perfect for a day hatch of a sea kayak or tourer and could be carried in a dry bag in your river boat.

Its radiant burner and enclosed, windproof design allow the stove to boil water fast and operate in weather that leaves conventional burners in the cold. The Wind Burner has capacity for solo traveller or teams/groups. The integrated cookwear pot has an integral heat exchanger.

The all-in-one system nests inside its pot for easy packing and assembly – leaving more time for you to enjoy your adventure.

We tested the stove on the river banks of the River Severn whilst canoeing, on a woodland canoe and camping trip and in the wilds of Norway. Our test Wind Burner delivered hot chocolates, coffees, soup and popcorn definitely boosting morale.

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Durability: Features/design: Value for money: Weight/size: Performance:

http://www.stylosports.com

By Richard Harpham

The build quality of the Hornet paddle is superb. It has a large blade at over 50x24cm at its widest point.The T-grip works well and is comfortable and the oval shaft is strong but potentially may be uncomfortable for longer races until you are used to the shape.

The paddle looks neat and the demo version we were sent was of the dark blue carbon finish, very pleasing to the eye. The paddle feels solid and powerful and really provides a great forward drive for your canoe. In weight terms it is significantly lighter than most wooden equivalents at 440 grams but obviously heavier than other alternatives for out and out racing such as the ZRE canoe blades that weigh around 225-300 grams depending on the model.

We found the paddle a good alternative blade for touring and shorter races where weight is less of an issue. It is also great value for money retailing at £135.

Colour options : Dark red or dark blue

Integrated System: Compact, all-in-one stove and cookware solution features a secure-locking pot/personal eat-and-drink mug with cosy.

Maximum Efficiency: Radiant burner and heat exchanger deliver faster boil times and more fuel efficiency than conventional stoves that use convective heat only.

Windproof Performance: 100% primary air combustion, enclosed design and internal pressure regulator work together to make stove virtually impervious to outside conditions.

Compact Design: Conveniently packs the stove burner, 4 oz. (110g) IsoPro™ fuel canister (sold separately), folding canister stand and PackTowl® inside the 1.0L pot.

Extra full-sized bowl snaps onto the outside.

Paddler review

Hornet canoe/outrigger paddle Double Bend

Paddler review

Power: Value for money: Weight: Performance: Feel:

4 5 3 3 3

5 4 5 5 5

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Ride Zenith

http://ride-kayaks.co.uk

By Nathan Eades

After a six-year break from kayak surfing and purely waveski riding, I was anticipating the transition back into a kayak to be a difficult task. As my waveski was shaped by James Hawker, the mastermind behind Ride’s new surf machine, I had a sense that it might suit me and was curious to see how well it could perform‌ I was simply amazed by the experience I had while surfing the Zenith.

There are various behaviours the Zenith possesses which impel me to draw the conclusion that this is THE kayak to be riding right now. It has a combination of features enabling all round high performance surfing rather than pigeon-holing itself into being a one trick pony. While some seek a kayak with phenomenal down the line speed and minimal turning capability, the Zenith serves up a fat portion of speed but uniquely delivers a side plate of manoeuvrability. Balanced with a confidence invoking stability, this kayak holds no limitations for the innovative surf kayaker.

Slashing

Slash turns have never been a manoeuvre I have enjoyed as they usually entail forcing the kayak around a tighter radius than it is capable of and dragging a large amount of volume through the water in order to flick the tail out. The resistance created by the kayak during this action often results in the loss speed and sometimes causes the surfer to stall so severely that you fall off the back of the wave. Ride have removed this resistance by decreasing the volume in the front of the Zenith, softening the front rail and cutting away even more volume from the side wall creating a concave either side of the cockpit.

When I began throwing myself into slash turns with the force that used to be required in previous designs, the Zenith simply flicked around, kicking up spray and retained the wave effortlessly, even when I attempted them in weaker surf. Not only does the Zenith enable you to complete slashes with ease, it also makes them feel enjoyable, which is a whole new experience for me.

Rail to rail transition

Firstly, let’s focus on the rail before moving onto the transition. While the Zenith has fins and a planing hull, allowing you draw turns out from the tail, it also has a long gripping rail enabling you to park the boat at the top of the wave for the first few pumps to build up speed before you really start throwing it around. With a rail which provides you with so much grip in the face of the wave, you might think that releasing one rail and switching to the other would be a challenge and result in you tripping up or power flipping.

This is not the case; the chamfer on the underside of the front two-thirds of the rail running from the tip of the kayak up to your thighs makes this experience more forgiving, enabling a swift flick of the boat from the wave

side rail back onto the beach side, resulting in very fast, snappy turns. The concaved walls in the deck allow one last little flick to accentuate the turn and send that spray up, before gently rolling back onto the hull.

Down the line speed

So a kayak with the ability to flick around on the wave and swiftly shift from rail to rail must surely have a weakness….Could it be the down the line speed? Prior to surfing the Zenith, I spoke to a few people who had drawn conclusions following their own comparisons between the Zenith and other manufacturers’ latest models.

They were quick to tell me that they did not feel that this was a fast kayak and I have to say it did take me a bit of playing around to find, but once I started to put the Zenith into the right part of the wave, I unlocked all the speed I needed. This kayak will sit anywhere you put it on the wave and when I finally sat it back in the pocket and began driving turns out of the bottom, it unleashed itself and sent me hurtling towards the lip with the speed of a gazelle.

While the Zenith may not possess the instant velocity which some surfers relate to speed, those more seasoned riders among us who know where to put a surf kayak and are prepared to slot the kayak into the critical section of a wave will be rewarded with the speed they seek on a level I have not experienced in a kayak before. I did not find the true potential of the Zenith in my first session so I would urge anybody wishing to trial a Zenith to take their time and really put this kayak through its paces to give yourself the opportunity to find the magic as I did of the Zenith.

A new waveski or surf board takes a good rider a few weeks before they click with their new craft. If the Zenith is the kayak that has managed to get closest to the performance of a waveski, then you should expect to invest a little time in your new toy and find the advantages it has over the many competitor models.

Surfing the slop

The Zenith looks more kayak-like than some of the other arguably more radical looking surf machines out there.The seating position is a little more central giving the appearance that the tail is perhaps slightly longer than competitor models.

This gives riders the option to surf on the middle third of the kayak rather than off the back tail as you would with a ski, and while some surf kayakers might find this strange to begin with, it actually

enables the kayak to stay on the plane and retain its speed even through sloppier sections.

This has two advantages, the first being that you can get it going on weaker waves and the second is that when you are competing in waves with less push, the Zenith will keep its speed through your manoeuvre without stalling as a kayak which is dependent on a hollower wave might. I think it’s this characteristic that makes this new addition to the line-up really stand out from the others, as costumers who are about to shell out on an expensive kayak want to make sure that their new toy will perform in a range of conditions and not be dependent on a certain wave type.The Zenith’s versatility allows you to ride the rail every time the wind chops up the face or the waves become fatter, then switch back to powerful bottom turns driving your momentum out of the tail to initiate big manoeuvres off the lip when the conditions wall up.

Floaters

As far as I am concerned, a kayak wins hands down over a waveski when it comes to floaters due to the extra volume kayaks possess, resulting in greater stability when you get yourself up onto the aerated part of a wave and perform your floater.

Despite looking very low volume, the Zenith still retains this advantage and due to its extra width in the front third of the hull, I found it sat beautifully up high and glided through the floater with ease.

Those chamfered rails I spoke about earlier assist the landing on the other side giving you the confidence to start anticipating your next manoeuvre before you have even come off your floater and back onto the green face.

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ThePADDLER 164 Pros:

Fast Progressive Highly manoeuvrable Easy paddle out Very forgiving High quality product Comfortable

Cons:

Limited space for the larger paddler

Re-entries

I had wondered if the reduced rocker in the nose, exaggerated by the lack of volume up front might cause me problems when coming down from a vertical manoeuvre in the critical part of the wave. Even when I felt like I had pushed my luck too far and the nose was sure to bite and throw me over the handle bars, there was always sufficient lift to keep me out of trouble. I really enjoyed throwing the Zenith up to the top of the wave, laying down some beachside rail and letting it glide through the manoeuvre as a waveski would.

The law of physics states quite clearly that what goes up, must come down and there is nothing worse than smashing the lip and feeling the release we all so desperately seek, then dropping down the wave, biting the rail and rolling up

dazed feeling like somebody has slapped you across the head with a big rubber glove! I can honestly say that I did not catch a rail during the week I rode the Zenith and have to admit that despite loving a waveski, I found myself getting off the water grinning like a Cheshire cat every time I took it out for a spin.

Comfort and build quality

The surface finish and logo placement certainly makes Ride kayaks look professional, and when you pick any Ride kayak up, the lack of weight is very pleasing indeed. A quick inspection of the hull informs you how stiff Ride are managing to produce these kayaks, but the attention to detail on things which have been overlooked by Ride’s predecessors started to raise my eyebrows the more I inspected their range.

Let’s start at the beginning… you first unzip a professionally finished kayak bag and slide your shiny new Ride kayak out which is filled with an abundance of pieces of foam. There are different sized, pre-cut foam pieces for the footrest, an ergonomically shaped back rest and (for the Zenith) a mushroom to insert between your legs to lock yourself in. Within five minutes, I found myself feeling fully locked into the kayak and very comfortable. Needless to say that the kayak really is an out of the bag and ready to ride product similar to the quality you would expect from a white-water kayak.

The cockpit rim is a nice touch and I am sure that the Ride manufacturers scratched their heads for a long time trying to figure that one out, but it was definitely time well invested in my humble opinion. The Ride range has a one piece cockpit rim, integral to the top deck, meaning that there is no extra glue or filler to chip away creating leaks in the future and of course less material means less weight.

I cannot sit here and tell everybody to go out and buy a Zenith, as the truth is there are some excellent kayaks on the market and have been for a long while…You will need to go and test each one yourself and find the kayak which suits you. What I can tell you, is that this little kayak from Llanelli made me fall back in love with kayak surfing, it got me through heats with varying conditions and enabled me to complete a variety of manoeuvres delivering me to the final of the Open HP at the Pantin World Championships this year.

To advertise email: ads@thepaddlerezine.com or call +44 (0)1480 465081

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Palm Glide floatation belt http://palmequipmenteurope.com

By Tez Plavenieks

Palm Equipment’s Glide floatation belt is new for 2016 and it’s a nifty bit of crossover kit that covers multiple paddle sports. For SUPers it’s an added back up in case of emergency that could prove invaluable during situations of dire straits.

There has been much made about leashing up when afloat, and here at SUPM we concur.

Staying in contact with your board is essential and safe practice. But what happens when the dreaded occurs? There’s nothing as sickening as that initial tug of the ankle and then, nothing. You know it’s happened even before you’ve broken the water’s surface. And yep, sure enough, with daylight on your face it’s goodbye stand up paddle board as it disappears into the ether.

Now it’s one thing to snap a leash while SUP surfing. Usually paddlers are just a swim away from shore – sometimes a tough swim but a swim none the less. For those venturing further away from land, such as downwind aficionados, distance racers and touring nuts, it’s a different kettle of fish. Accidental breaking of contact between body and board is potentially life threatening in these kinds of situations.

Palm’s Glide could be the solution. Attaching securely to paddler waists it’s easily forgotten about until needed. A quick tug of the yellow tab will deploy a bright yellow bladder – much like you see on aeroplanes. Fitting over your head, while staying attached at your waist, it keeps

https://youtu.be/91E_-hC3AA4

heads above water, via 100N of float, and could provide valuable time needed for search and rescue teams to locate you. 24 gram CO2 cylinders can be replaced once spent and the bladder can be repackaged having been inflated.

Something to keep in mind: as good as Palm’s Glide belt is it won’t do any good if the rider become unconscious. Therefore every box should be ticked to reduce risk before putting in.

(We appreciate accidents still happen though).

The wearer actually has to physically pull the bladder over his/her head. Having said that it does provide peace of mind when out on the water, and could help beginners increase their confidence while providing experienced SUPers with essential back up if venturing offshore.

Conclusion

As with all Palm kit the Glide float belt’s design and styling is A1. Inflating the Glide, even when on or in the water, is easy peasy and it’s a swift process to yank over your head. We can really see the Glide coming into its own for sweepers losing their main source of floatation (board) when far from shore. Not only that, the belt has a front located (non-waterporoof) pouch to store mobile phones which is great when help’s needed. With its simple design and means of inflation (via replaceable CO2 canister) Palm’s Glide float belt is another weapon worthy of inclusion in any paddler’s armoury.

Note: in some areas of the world you’re now required to wear a PFD when on the water.

Palm’s Glide delivers a non-intrusive way of achieving this.

Price: £79.95

Photo: Dave White (http://www.davewhite.photography)

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Sportviz sunglasses and Aquaviz goggles www.sportviz.co.uk/

By Peter Tranter and Chris Stubbs

Before we start I have to point out that these are no ordinary sunglasses and goggles but a real bonus for the eyes as they feature a very neat snap on system for your prescription lenses, so as once again you can see everything in details around you.

You start with what Sportviz call a Core, of which there are ten to choose from.These comprise differing versions of diving goggles, ski masks and sunglasses. We were specifically send the Sportviz XTS sunnies and the Aquaviz OTS Pro. Once you have chosen your core it is then onto choosing what Sportviz call the Inzert. The Inzert are the prescription lenses that clip onto the inside of the Core and there are eight to pick from including polarized and bi-focal versions.

Mine were the standard single vision lens, I could have chosen the bi-focal but I don’t tend to do too much reading whilst on the move!

The Inzerts are very easy to clip into the Core and that’s it - you have clarity of vision and protection for the eyes. So firstly, onto the goggles.

Aquaviz OTS Core goggles

Kayaking with goggles is not to everyone’s taste but glasses can be ripped off, even with straps depending on water conditions. Goggles have the added advantage of making an airtight connection to the face and therefore they are much harder to dislodge and rarely leak, which was the case for the Aquaviz. Fogging does occasionally happen when you raise the body temperature, but it’s easy to remove them, swill them out and carry on.

Biggest advantage with goggles I feel is they protect not only the eyes but the eye sockets too and these goggles with a shock absorber system that soaks up the punishment that could happen in white water paddling. I liked them and enjoyed wearing the goggles and would wholeheartedly recommend them to any paddler looking for eye protection on the water.

I also took the kids swimming and they are excellent as underwater diving goggles, so if you like a lot of swimming in your kayaking exploits then you have the best of all worlds.

I personally didn’t use the Inzerts as I have very good vision and they’re Peter’s prescription anyway but if I had to I cannot see any situation where they could be anything but an advantage, particularly if you are short sighted.

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Scratch resistant PRO polycarbonate lightweight frame.

Full UV protection.

Anti-fog coating.

Single hypoallergenic gasket design.

Soft mesh carrying case.

Available in two PRO black designs.

Sportviz XTS Core sunglasses

Anyone who knows me will realise that white water is not my bag and that I would look a little over protected paddling down the Great Ouse or the Cam rivers wearing goggles. So I tried the sunglasses instead and what I would like to say from the start is they could benefit from a strap as five minutes into the paddle, I knocked them off and into the water! Fortunately, it was pretty shallow clear water and I was able to retrieve with my paddle.

So go out and buy a strap, which are pretty cheap and I paid a couple of quid at our local market. It’s worth it as the sunglasses with the prescription inserts cost £75.00.

Enough of that though as the rest left a good impression. They have a good balance of weight without being uncomfortable with the Hydrogrip nose and ear pieces and the frame has a sturdy quality feel Clipping them with your paddle and knocking them off not withstanding, they are a comfortable fit on the nose and feel very secure in place. Of course the huge bonus is the clarity of vision.

Initially my fear was that the prescription Inzert would hamper my field of view but they don’t as the Inzerts are at just the right distance as

normal glasses would be and therefore all round vision is all that it should be, without the feel that the lenses are too close to the eye.

The Core lenses are interchangeable as well with grey, blue reflective, yellow and transparent as the options, so they can be quickly swapped out according to the lighting conditions. All in all a very well thought out concept and one that I’m sure would impress most.

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Lightweight Hard wearing TR90 featuring Hydrogrip™ technology Ultra-lightweight Chromalite® Polyamide polarized sun lenses Full UV400 protection blocking 100% of UVA and UVB. Accepts any Inzert (tinted Inzerts not recommended).

Cleaning cloth, microfibre pouch, and solid case.

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Sweet Protection Supernova DryTop

https://sweetprotection.com

By Philip Carr www.unsponsored.co.uk

The Supernova dry top has also been updated with the same GORE-TEX® PRO with Ocean Technology® fabric as used in the Sweet’s Intergalactic dry suit.You also get the high quality latex gaskets with additional neoprene seals.

The big differences are obvious – no TiZip entry and no legs!

As with the Intergalactic, I have used the first version of the Supernova for over a year as my main dry top. This new version was picked up around eight months ago. I bought the top direct from Sweet.

Many of things I could write about the Supernova match what I have written for the Intergalactic and vice versa.

The shape of the Supernova and the way in which it has been put together results in a dry top that is very comfortable to wear and has never restricted movement.To use Goretex a

manufacturer has to adhere to a number of tough QA processes. As a result the stitching and seam taping is at the highest level.This results in a well-put together piece of gear that will take the abuse and keep on performing well.

The fabric is super tough. The Supernova in particular has had some real heavy use and has survived many scraps and scrapes when my body hasn't faired as well.

In summary since its initial launch the Supernova has had a place in my gear bag.

Version 1.0 was great and the new second edition has had a few tweaks that have made it even better.

Explore Jersey by sea kayak

• • • •

Guided tours, courses and offshore trips.

BCU star tests 1-4 and navigation courses.

Sea kayaks and sit-on-tops available.

Open all year.

Tel: 07797 853033 www.jerseykayakadventures.co.uk

To advertise email: ads@thepaddlerezine.com or call +44 (0)1480 465081

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SPOT GEN3 Satellite Tracker

www.findmespot.com/international/

By Richard Harpham

The SPOT GEN3 Messenger Satellite Tracker is an essential piece of kit for everyday paddling, multi-day trips and longer adventures and expeditions. It provides reliable satellite tracking using the Globalstar Satellite Network detailing your location as well as messages to loved ones and emergency services. Having the opportunity to provide piece of mind to family and friends at an affordable price seems too good to be true. In fact the cost of the SPOT Messenger is less than the cost of many travel insurance packages.

Once set up and linked to your profile you can use the SPOT tracker to show your position and tracks at a predefined interval (between 10-60 minutes). It also allows you to programme a custom message to pre-listed emails. More importantly it provides an SOS signal to GEOS International Emergency Response Coordination Centre providing your GPS coordinates and information to local response teams. Since its launch the SPOT system has already been responsible for over 4,404 rescues, literally savings lives.

The SPOT Tracker is used by a wide range of adventure races across the world including the Marathon De Sables and the Yukon River Quest (the Paddler team are using and testing one for our Yukon River Quest Race).

https://youtu.be/ZBUzrKYsRG8

You can opt for different service contacts or packages for your SPOT tracker depending on the level of support required. SPOT GEN3 costs about £99/€145 and is retailed by major retailers. You can also buy online at http://www.findmespot.eu/shop/

Features

• SOS beacon to emergency services worldwide.

• Pre-programmed messages to friends and family.

• Check in/ ‘I am ok’ message signal.

• Automated tracking linked to website.

• Help/assist button for non life threatening conditions.

• Downloadable SPOT Connect application.

• Automated links to core social media.

The SPOT GEN3 requires 4xAAA batteries and includes a strap, USB cable and carabineer.

Size/weight: Value: Features: Reliability: Ease of use: Durability:

5 5 5 5 5 4

Vertical Element AirCore Pro Carbon Canoe (C1) Blade http://vepaddles.com

By Richard Harpham

The VE (Vertical Element) Aircore Pro Carbon Canoe Paddle is a beautiful piece of work, strong, light and something of real pedigree. It is always a testament to the build quality of a paddle when other people make a beeline for it and ask to borrow it.This is the case with the VE Carbon Canoe Blade.

The tapered carbon shaft, and blade are 100% carbon, bonded well and feel positive and are geared for performance particularly in moving water. The blade itself is manufactured at a very high pressure to produce an extremely solid hard wearing edge. The handle is made from ash and is also very comfortable. We tested the paddle on flat water and also moving water during our training for the Yukon River Quest on the Severn, Great Ouse and Stour rivers.

Its large square blade allows powerful strokes in white water for forward paddling and also intricate combination strokes. We paddled deep bouncy wave trains, fast flowing rivers and shallow rock gardens.The paddles passed with flying colours and stood up to quite a hammering.

You can order them with different shaft lengths, a glass shaft alternative and of course the same design and manufacturing control is available in their sea kayak and whitewater range. They weigh significantly less than the majority of wooden alternatives. In summary the VE Paddle is a star performer and is great for whitewater and touring alike.

Blade dimensions

Blade area: 904 sqcm Overall length: 553 mm overall width: 206 mm Weight @ 120cm = Only 405g [+/- 3%]

Features

Carbon paddle shaft/glass fibre alternative available.

Wooden ash handle.

12-month warranty.

Carbon blade.

The SPOT GEN3 requires 4xAAA batteries and includes a strap, USB cable and carabineer.

Weight: Value: Power: Feel: Durability:

5 5 5 5 5

Paddles prices are £169 for the full carbon, £159 for the glass shaft and carbon blade and £149 for the glass version of the paddle. They are all available from www.vepaddles.com