PADDLER The International magazine for recreational paddlers Issue 53 Late Spring 2020
Interview with…
DANE JACKSON
ezine Mastering the J-stroke By Ray Goodwin Fashion vs function By Corran Addison
Slave to the river By Bartosz Czauderna
Coursing through America By Martin Trahan What is freestyle? By Chris Brain
Covid-19 Skerrie’s paddle With Richard Janes
Surviving the pandemic By Thomas Mogensen
Canoe heeling – part one By Marc Ornstein
Paddle Logger Sarah Thornely speaks to founder David Walker
24-page late spring issue of
CANOE FOCUS
Athlete’s life in lockdown Our community heroes Interview with Chris Brain
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BRITISH CANOEING
+
Mother Earth By Ken Streater
Bridging the Gap By Emer Carton
LE
RT
RODUC T S P O
F
AWARDS
2020
EAR E Y
PA D D
O
TH
SP
55% RECYCLED YARN
L JURY PRIZE SPECIA
PETER TRANTER
foreword
Ed’s
‘Looking forwards’
Covid-19, coronavirus, contact tracing, super-spreader, social distancing, selfquarantine, self-isolate, contactless, unprecedented times, PPE, herd immunity, WFH, second wave, etc, etc.This is the first and last time you’ll read those words on this page. Instead I’m going to try and look forward and say a big thank you to those who have contributed here and made this issue happen and printed. The current crisis seems to have provided just as larger a divider of public opinion as Brexit ever did – yes Brexit, remember that word? However, as paddlers, I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how we have put our sport aside for nearly two months and resisted the temptations to go out on the water. That reflects well upon us and for important reasons such as being treated seriously on access to the water here in the UK. If paddlers had ignored the restrictions, then future negotiations would undoubtedly have been harder. As a regular reader of the Paddler, you would have noticed there is always a large proportion devoted to expeditions and trips to the four corners of the planet. For the next year that is going to change for obvious reasons, so it may be a good time to ask you the paddler, what you would like to see in the next 12 months – email me suggestions on peter@thepaddlerezine.com.
Having a magazine printed means bringing a large number of people together.The unpredictability that reigns at the moment has to be overcome and a plan formulated. So big thanks to British Canoeing and the media team of Robert Knott, Jennifer Gibbon, Steph Roberts, Sam Rankin, Gareth May, Wendy Hockenhull, Kate Bradley, Jenny Spencer and CEO David Joy for their support and guidance through this crisis.
The impact of the virus on watersport businesses has been as hard as anywhere else, so I want to paticularly thank those who have come on board for this printed issue, your support is invaluable. We do realise cashflow is perilous at best for the moment, plus some companies are closed and therefore despite best intentions, some haven’t been able to commit. We haven’t forgotten them though – they have supported us the past few years and so we have included their ads free of charge in the digital editions. The sport must survive and therefore we need to look after each other.
Huge thanks also to the printers and mailing house, who are working under guideline conditions and last but nowhere near least, the contributors and subscribers, all the cogs working together – thank you to you all – onwards and upwards let’s hope.
Under the circumstances, I really think we have an exceptional issue headed no less than the ‘Great Dane’ himself: Dane Jackson. We carry an in-depth interview with possibly the best known kayaker on the planet and instead of being bored rigid by my questions, I invited three well known UK paddlers to put their own questions to him – take a look to see whom and a special thanks again to those paddlers. There’s also a double up from the ever popular Chris Brain for this issue as he asks, “What is freestyle,” for the Paddler, whilst
giving an interview in Canoe Focus on planning your progression back into paddling. There’s also a paddler on paddler interview from Sarah Thornely to David Walker on the merits of Paddle Logger, something that should gain even more significance during these times of paddling alone.
Corran Addison can always be depended upon to bring debate to the table and it’s no different in this issue as he questions the merits of fashion vs function where playboats are concerned – we love him!
Whitewater is wrapped up by Bartosz Czauderna and his expedition to the magnificent and challenging Slave River in Canada, a river we’ve never featured before.
On the canoe front, we are so happy to have Ray Goodwin onboard with a new set of coaching features – so neat to have one of the very best in the business adding his expertise, here with the J-stroke. In addition to Ray’s coaching, we also have a valuable contribution from the U.S. with a canoeing freestyle article on how to perform a heeling manoeuvre with Marc Ornstein and the other guys at the American FreeStyle Canoeing Committee.
English-based BC members can now subscribe to the print edition of the Paddler at the BC member reduced cost of £3.99 per single issue or £20.99 for the annual six-issue subscription: www.britishcanoeing.org .uk/membership/ benefits/communications
Whilst we’re on America and canoeing, we feature one of the world’s best known expedition canoeists, Martin Trahan, and his tremendous challenge of crossing the U.S. by canoe – a truly magnificent effort. It was also interesting to read about his postexpedition blues.
We have not forgotten the virus and therefore include Richard Jane’s bringing the dreams together for an NHS worker, Lyn Jackson by guiding her crossing to the Skerries and Thomas Mogenson and his take on what you need for paddling alone.
Whilst in Costa Rica last October, I was fortunate to meet American motivational speaker, Ken Streater. He’s very kindly started off a selection of articles on watersports by giving an insight into how and why expedition guides need to focus and respect the nature around them.
In the digital edition we have extra features from coach LynneMarie Daleon on the charity, Black Dog Outdoors, and The Shift breathing tool by by Jaden Hunter plus what a huge array of paddlers from across the planet list as the place the would paddle if they could.
British Canoeing’s Canoe Focus carries something of personal interest to me and their recent success of renegotiating access to the River Cam through central Cambridge. I love this stretch of water and in the busy times of the year, you will come across nearly every nationality on the planet. I expect this year to be much quieter but who knows? Thank you to you all and enjoy this issue of the Paddler.
ThePADDLER 3
CONTENTS
Dane Jackson doing what he does best Photo: Rowan James 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
Design
2b Graphic Design Limited
Cover: Dane Jackson Photo: Red Bull Media Additional thanks to: James Bebbington, Sal Montgomery, Andrew ‘Jacko’ Jackson, Bren Orton, Evan Moore, Kalob Grady, Nick Troutman, Rowan James, Catriona Woods, David Bain, Leif Anderson, Yan Kaczynski, Ryan Heck, Jessyca Viens Gaboriau, Mike Shaw, Pete Astles, Lyn Jackson, Paul Klonowski, Bruce Kemp,, Matt Mario, Curtis England, Paddy Dowling, Dimitri Vandepoele, Dale Mears, Richard Davison, Turnip Towers and www.kayakpaddling.net
Not all contributors are professional writers and photographers, so don’t be put off writing because you have no experience! The Paddler magazine is all about paddler to paddler dialogue: a paddler’s magazine written by paddlers. Next issue is Early Summer 2020, with a deadline of submissions on May 20th 2020. 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 magazine is strictly copyright and all rights are reserved. Reproduction without prior permission from the editor is forbidden.
006 Mother Earth
Issue 53
Late Spring 2020
008 Black Dog Outdoors charity Paying homage to by Ken Streater
012 Mastering the J-stroke By Lynne-Marie Dale
018 An interview with… By Ray Goodwin
030 Bridging the gap initiative Dane Jackson
032 Fashion vs function By Emer Carton
042 Slave to the river By Corran Addison
054 Coursing through America By Bartosz Czauderna
066 What is freestyle? By Martin Trahan
076 Covid-19 Skerrie’s paddle By Chris Brain
085 Canoe Focus With Richard Janes British Canoeing’s 24-page magazine
110 Lockdown paddles
148 Surviving the pandemic
60 paddlers and their ideal lockdown paddle
156 Canoe heeling – part one Apaddler’s guide by Thomas Mogenson
162 Breathe and paddle By Marc Ornstein
168 Paddle Logger By Jaden Hunter
174 Testing, testing
Sarah Thornely speaks to founder David Walker
Subscribe to the print issue:
132-page, perfect bound, litho printed. Six issues delivered to your door only £27.49 (UK) Single issue £4.99 (UK) https://thepaddlermag.com/subs-print-paddler/ Special for British Canoeing members £20.99 (UK) Single issue £3.99 (UK) www.britishcanoeing.org.uk/membership/benefits/communications/
Read the free digital issues:
NEW HTML5 version optimised for phones and tablets @ http://paddlerezine.com Page-flip PDF style, including current and all 52 back issues by leaving your name and email address @ https://thepaddlermag.com/subs-paddler-ezine/
ThePADDLER 5
MOTHER
ThePADDLER 6
EARTH
Pay homage to
Words: Ken Streater – http://kenstreater.com There are many life metaphors and sayings that reference rivers and water. “Go with the flow.” “It felt like I was swimming upstream.” “Don’t drift away.” “Still waters run deep.”The list goes on.
Professional river guides drift a lot. Most of our time on a raft is spent between rapids, literally going with the flow. Then there is the time spent sitting around a fire or on a beach. Conversations ebb and flow (see!) between who can skip a rock the furthest to how you make really good lasagna with a camp kitchen in the middle of nowhere, to if there is another planet like Earth in the universe.
Often at the trip’s launch point, before the guests arrive, guides talk about the last adventure or the one just ahead. We compare notes on the rapids, decide on upcoming river camp spots, and confirm the order of that day’s flotilla. At this point, none of us know exactly how the upcoming trip is going to go, as river forces have a whole lot of say in what lies ahead.This realization sometimes leads to reflections on the mythical river gods, who hold our fortunes in their hands.
In a recent conversation, I was reminded of how and why these gods work. You are sitting around before the trip officially starts, waiting for clients to show up. A guide starts talking about all the good runs he or she has had that season. The other guides in the circle make corner-eye contact and give all-knowing, imperceptive nods to each other, around the talker.
HUMILITY AND RESPECT
Fate has been tempted, and now everyone is going to have to keep a closer eye on the one who forgot to pay homage to the river gods. Humility and respect are keys to appeasing this deity.Talking about how good you are is not the best idea, as it ignores that river gods have a say in every trip. A reminder of this always comes quick. Given the misguided comment, there is a good chance that the guide and his or her crew will end up in the water, courtesy of a spiritual swat.
With river gods the opposite also holds true. If you take time during a long calm to appreciate the wilderness around you, then there is a good chance you will be treated to amazing wildlife or a stunning sunset further downriver. If you quietly and humbly leave the canyon without any trace of your group being there, then you get to come back to pristine settings.
This yin and yang or karma relationship is regularly contemplated and regarded in the form of a simple saying, “Respect the river gods.” Those who properly act on this relationship feel the kinship and are blessed by nature’s bounty. Those who ignore or accidentally forget the homage are handed their ass – and then usually don’t disregard it again.
A guide mentor and good friend of mine, Dana Kimball, recently shared his thoughts on river gods and nature… The river and Mother Earth are always in charge. The river gods seem to keep us both safe and humble as long as we always show respect.The same is true with this unseen virus. I believe it is a wake-up call that humans need to understand. Our actions have consequences and we need to change our habits. We are not invincible, but we can still rise up to challenges we never thought we’d have to deal with.
A REMINDER TO FOCUS
There are several habits or offerings whitewater guides use to show their respect to the river gods, to honour the physical and spiritual connection between a human and the waterway. Splashing water on the back of your neck above a big rapid is one. The cold water is at once a reminder to focus and a way to feel the river. Asking people to tighten up their lifejackets is another. This act shows respect for life and the power of nature. Simply closing your eyes, taking a deep breath, visualizing the run, listening to the river rumble, and silently asking for safe passage is another. Guides know that not honouring the stunning force of a river can be deadly.
There are essentially three parts to any guide’s day: the calm, the storm, and the reflection. The calm is described above. The storm is when you are deep into a rapid, eyes bulging, limbs flailing, waves crashing, rocks dead ahead, and the tail run of the whitewater too far ahead to even contemplate.
In the storm, all can go well and everyone survives, with high fives all around upon entering the calm below. Or it cannot go well. This may be due to not paying homage to the river gods, to making a bad paddle command or oar pull at just the wrong time, or because sometimes things just don’t go as you planned. Regardless, you reflect on what went wrong and figure out what you need to do differently on the next trip. This, along with deep appreciation for the beauty and the people around you, is the reflection.
REFLECTIONS
As Dana puts it, “We are not invincible – actions have consequences and we can rise up to the challenges.” For generations, we largely went with nature’s flow. We paid our respects, at the least by not trammeling what sustained us. Then we went through some crazy rapids, including many storms we ourselves caused, but we found periodic calms thereafter. However, the reflection seemingly was never enough. How can we tell? Our ass has really been handed to us this time.
It is now time to rise up, to be honest in our assessment of this river we are on. We got here by closing our eyes to the crashing waves, by personally and collectively not acknowledging the mistakes we made, and by not reflecting enough on the damage we did – and are doing. It is time to rise up to the challenge of our own making.
So let’s rise up. Let’s talk about what lies ahead. Let’s plan how to run the best trip possible, together. Let’s recognize our mistakes. Let’s remind one another to pay homage to Mother Earth by reducing our impact and leaving less of a trace – and by no longer tempting her force and our fate by abusing her. Let’s start by reflecting on our role – yours and mine – in the virus’ creation and devastation. Right now, contemplate what you can do differently today in order to make better what lies just around the bend. Then tighten up your life jacket and give it your respectful all.
ThePADDLER 7
OUTDOORS
ThePADDLER 8
Black dog
Black Dog Outdoors The small charity making a BIG difference
Words: Lynne-Marie Dale - Paddlesport Officer Poor mental health continues to be a growing concern in the UK. Statistics from the 2014 APMS (Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey) have highlighted that, “Every week, one in six adults will experience symptoms of a common mental health problem.” Startlingly, the survey also highlights that, “One in five adults has considered taking their own life at some point.” It is a fair assumption that, based on these facts, many of the people reading this article will have had their lives affected by mental health issues; either directly, or indirectly through family and friends. The good news is that as a society we are now being better informed about mental health. Numerous organisations are working hard, locally and nationally, to de-stigmatise and raise awareness of mental health issues. The challenge of promoting better mental health is being taken up by many employers and businesses. There are also several case studies investigating ways to improve mental health and emotional well-being.
Significantly, many of the mental health organisations and case studies are citing ‘green exercise’ and the ‘blue gym’ as a means of improving mental health. To me this seems an obvious link as being outdoors is my own personal coping strategy. Re-connecting people with the natural environment could also help to improve their well-being.
As the world looks towards the next steps on this long journey of living with the threat and uncertainty of a new virus, we ourselves as paddlers have become increasingly aware of our own wellbeing. How many of us have missed being out on the water? Not just missing nailing those big drops, surfing on the waves or
taking ourselves out to more challenging seas and tideraces. We just want to be out on the water, anywhere near us. Just a nice relaxing paddle on a quiet flat section of river. Out in nature, wherever and whenever we can get the opportunity.
I am sure that we all appreciate the same benefits when we are out paddling, camping, climbing, or walking. It gets us away from the grindstone and the day-to-day activities that cause us frustration and stress. The liberation from the hustle and bustle of traffic, or freedom from the instant connection to technology that we seem to think we cannot live without. We learn to relax and, even if only for a short while, we find ourselves again.
For some people, going on a paddle is a competitive thing. It is something to strive towards as we challenge ourselves to improve skills and experience. For others, these same activities can have more of a spiritual meaning; simply getting out in the clean air and listening to the birds, watching the water. Whatever reason we each have for getting out, it is something that we love, and something that we love sharing with others.
ThePADDLER 9
ThePADDLER 10 So how can we, as a professional paddlesport community, help to promote improved mental health through our activities? Do we have enough knowledge of mental health issues to help support those that we share the rivers and lakes with? How do we start a conversation with someone that we suspect is struggling with their mental health?
Well, importantly, we should be mindful that unless suitably qualified we are unlikely to have a detailed knowledge of mental health, how mental health problems manifest themselves, or how to treat them. That is strictly for the professionals!
THERE ARE SOME SIMPLE STEPS THAT WE CANTAKETHOUGH: •
•
• • • •
We can improve our basic understanding of mental health issues and symptoms. We can actively promote and share our experiences, and the health benefits, through social media. We can encourage friends, family and colleagues to join us on a day out if we suspect that they are struggling with their mental health. We can volunteer to support organised events, such as canoe journeys, that are aimed at groups and individuals with poor mental health. We can familiarise ourselves with mental health support groups, such as MIND (www.mind.org.uk), and how to put people in contact with them. For those that want to take it a step further there are even formal mental health first aid qualification courses, such as those delivered by MHFA England (www.mhfaengland.org).
As a community we all have a love of the water and appreciate the health benefits of a day spent outdoors. With little effort we can use this shared passion to promote better mental health, as well as physical wellbeing, in many other people.
Black Dog Outdoors is managed by a small team of volunteers. We all share similar interests, which include climbing, walking, paddlesport, biking, and the outdoors in general. We are also extremely passionate about the promotion of outdoor exercise to improve mental health and wellbeing.
As Paddlesport Officer for the charity, I am keen to help people make the connection I myself enjoy, by
just being out on the water. As most of our 2020 events have been postponed, I am now looking at the connections and events we as a charity can help organise for 2021 and beyond. Whether this be a canoe trip on the River Wye, an organised club event in the north or a SUP session in Yorkshire. My role is to encourage the paddling community to engage with those less able to paddle and to share our experience through supported events across the country.
THIS YEAR’S PREDICAMENT
As a coach myself, I fully understand the predicament we have all been placed in this year, with a loss of our incomes over a long period of time. This leaves us all with some uncertainty in relation to our financial positions. However, that does not change the skills we have, the boats and kit we are lucky enough to own, whether that is personally, as a BC club or as an outdoor provider or company. So, we ask ourselves, can we give one day to help host one event? To reach out our hands to those suffering with anxiety, depression, low self-esteem; can we as a charity help with a local paddle near you? To support you as a coach, or provider, to help show that your business cares about the community we are all a part of.
Since undertaking my role here at Black Dog Outdoors I have been humbled by the offers of support and help we have received thus far. Though my passion for paddling and supporting people to explore the outdoors is not satisfied. I would love to do more, and for that I need the help of the community around me.
As a national charity, the demand for events across the country is growing, but in order to satisfy that demand, we also need to grow. We would love to hear from any companies and suppliers who could assist with kit; paddlers, coaches and groups who would be interested in joining our team to help host an event in your area. If you already do similar work, how can we help you?
There are many people out there who need our support and a huge outdoor playground in which we can do it. Find out more at www.blackdogoutdoors.co.uk or email Lynne@blackdogoutdoors.co.uk
Let’s go make a difference!
01479 861 256 www.glenmorelodge.org.uk
Join us on Scotland’s famous rivers, lochs and coast Offering the full range of British Canoeing coaching, leadership, performance, safety & CPD modules
qualifications
white water kayaking
open canoeing
Stand up paddle boarding
sea kayaking
ThePADDLER 12
J-STROKE
R AY G O O D W I N ’ S M A S T E R I N G T H E
Text and photos: Ray Goodwin In paddling a canoe, a solo paddler or the stern paddler is, even in easy conditions, having to do some form of steering and generally the canoe will turn away from the power stroke.There's a whole variety of strokes that you can use to correct this with the J-stroke being the normal one.
We can think of there being two families of strokes we use to steer at the rear of a canoe. One family, very powerful, we use a lot in white water or coming down a lake with a strong tailwind. And those are the stern rudders and stern pries. The side of the blade I pull on I am going to call the power face. I can pull through with the power face, but then I switch and steer with the back face. So, it's a case of pull, change blade face, steer with the back face. I can do that either on the gunwale or off the gunwale. Off the gunwale, we tend to call it a stern rudder. On the gunwale, a stern pry. A useful marker in this family of strokes, is in the steer phase the thumb on the grip end of the paddle is up.
Thumb up
ThePADDLER 13
ThePADDLER 14 VARIANTS OF THE BASIC J-STROKE
Below: Power stroke
The second family of strokes, all based around the Jstroke, so the C-stroke, the Indian stroke, the knife-J, which sometimes goes by the name of Canadian stroke or guide stroke, they’re all variants really of the basic J-stroke. In the J-stroke the same blade face is used throughout. We take hold of a piece of water, apply power and then, as we turn the blade outwards, we are still using the same water to steer with. It is a dynamic stroke and normally we don’t trail it like a rudder. The J-stroke can, at first, feel unnatural but soon you will understand why paddlers as far afield as the Amazon Basin, the islands of the Pacific or forests of Canada used the same steering stroke. Once mastered, it feels natural and fluent. It is used in the stern of a tandem canoe or when paddling solo.
this is to allow the movement of the hand on the top of the paddle. In the power phase of the stroke, the hand is pretty well on the top. However, as it comes down into the J-stroke, the hand slides around slightly so it’s no longer gripping the top. This takes the stress out of the wrist.
Top hand slightly swivelled
Right: Into the J
I could do the same with a Pear or T-grip. The hand is on the top for the power element, but as you come into the steer the hand moves round subtly onto the outside face. You actually loosened the grip with the fingers, removing the stress.
Top hand position
Above: Thumb down
So in the J-stroke, because the paddle is rotated power face outwards in the steering, the top hand now is on the outside of the grip, and the thumb is pointing down. One of the real important things with
Because I paddle this boat solo, I use a kneeling thwart. It makes life a lot easier and more comfortable. I would normally use some padding, and that could either be knee pads or a pad on the bottom of the boat.This allows me to move around, be angled, so my hips face the side I’m going to paddle on.
Poor position of the top hand
Problem with the wrist stress is if you don’t get the correct top hand movement, then as you come into the steer, some people end up with a really awkward hand position. It’s not very strong, it’s a poor solution to removing the stress. You really have to learn to allow that hand to slide round slightly.
POSITION IN THE BOAT
Sometimes I will sit but the majority of time when I’m solo, it's white water or it’s windy, I’m going to be kneeling. We have got a number of options. In a
If I’m on the rear seat when paddling tandem, I can still put that little bit of angle into the body. I can sit in easy conditions but even then, I would generally have my legs slanted to one side to give my body that angle to make this stroke easier. However, if it gets a bit bumpy, I’ll square up again, and I’ll face forward, if it gets harder again then I will go to kneeling.
Choose nice, easy conditions to practice the J-stroke in. Each of your power strokes will push the nose slightly away from the power side. If, because of conditions it turns towards the power side then a stroke without steering or a partial sweep will push the nose back on course.
The angle in the water of the blade can be high during the steering phase, almost on edge and that gives a lot
knee pads
I would normally use some padding, and that could either be
Left: Knees together
or a pad on the bottom of the boat
traditional canoe paddling solo, I can paddle it back to front using the bow seat, which is the traditional way. If I want stability, I keep my knees nice and wide. If I want to make my life easier, so I can reach over the side to get a more vertical stroke or for steering, then I can move my knees across. The boat heels over, becomes more manoeuvrable although less stable. It’s much easier to get a good quality power stroke, hands across the side of the boat and easier to do my J. If can actually slant my hips and knees so they’re facing the paddling side, it becomes even easier.
Below: High blade angle
ThePADDLER 15
ThePADDLER 16
Exit
of steerage and that is certainly useful starting the canoe or when necessary but most of the time the angle can be far less. Rather than lifting the blade from the water all that is necessary is a slight tilt up of the leading edge and the water lifts the blade out and you can swing it forward for the next stroke.
LONG AND SHORT
If my bottom hand is outside the gunwale I would define as the long-J some call it the traditional-J). You can use the gunwale if you want some extra leverage.
With the short-J my bottom hand is inside the gunwales and I would lever off on each stroke hence the whipping on my paddle to protect it. This means I can get up a faster cadence, get more strokes in.
You don’t always need to start with a J-stroke. You can start with a stern rudder, C-stroke of many other ways. Maybe a couple of quick stern pries with thumb up to accelerated, and then into some very quick, short Js, with a really fast cadence to try to pick up speed. Now, might do this to make a quick move on a river, out of an eddy, or in a rapid.
Long
https://youtu.be/qmExaexsCAQ
Another common mistake is to do your J-stroke, but instead of tilting the blade to get the blade out of the water you actually lift the blade out of the back, a bit like throwing up into the air like a propeller blade. It’s not very useful. It’s stressful on the hand, on the arm. Instead, once the steering is complete, just tilt the leading edge of the blade up to take it out of the water. The water does the work for you, and it’s then back on its way forward.
The type of paddle you use can make learning a Jstroke hard or easy. A cheap paddle often has a sharp spine down the centre of the blade, which breaks up the water flow. With a J-stroke you want a nice, fluid movement through the water. A nice smooth blade
and better still an otter tail, as used in many of the photos, makes learning easier and quicker before moving onto other paddles.
PRACTICE ON BOTH SIDES
For the sake of consistency I have decided to show the right-handed paddling. However, what I would urge right from the word go, is to practice on both sides. That means that your development muscle-wise is equal. It means that if conditions dictate, you can choose which side that you paddle on. And there will be times when that will be really pushed upon you by wind or current.
Thanks to Venture Canoes, NRS Odyssey pfd and of course Freebird Paddles, where I was using their Kingfisher an WW Big Dipper. Ray Goodwin’s website: www.RayGoodwin.com
Ray’s YouTube Channel is: www.youtube.com/c/RayGoodwinCanoe
Short ThePADDLER 17
GREAT
ThePADDLER 18
An interview with… Dane Jackson
THE
DANE
Interview: Peter Tranter, with questions from James Bebbington, Sal Montgomery and Andrew ‘Jacko’ Jackson Photos: Red Bull Media, Bren Orton, Evan Moore, Kalob Grady, Nick Troutman and Rowan James.
Arguably the best all-around whitewater kayaker on the planet, Dane holds multiple freestyle and whitewater titles and travels the United States and the world in his quest for the ultimate whitewater. When he isn’t staring down into the abyss as he goes over the top of one of the many 100+ feet waterfalls, you’ll find him at Rock Island, Tennessee, or in his RV for more than half of the year, travelling to events and searching for new rivers along the way. His dad of course is, Eric Jackson, for whom Dane says. “My dad has always been there, I would not be where I’m today if not for him.”
Dane walks with his kayak after dropping the Salto Del Maule 134-foot waterfall in Chile. Photo: Red Bull Media
ThePADDLER 19
ThePADDLER 20 SO WHEN DID YOU FIRST START KAYAKING?
I first started kayaking when I was two years old, but really started to progress when I was nine.
WHAT GOT YOU HOOKED ON FREESTYLE AND WW KAYAKING?
My Dad was already a pro-kayaker when I was born, having been not just a pro-slalom racer but also a freestyle world champion. So he got me into it right away, whether putting me on his lap or letting me run easier rivers with him growing up. Once I learned to roll it wasn’t long before he started bringing me along on harder rivers from Great Falls, South Silver, Green Narrows. But what was great about freestyle is that by growing up in a recreational vehicle (RV) we were often parked at some of the greatest freestyle features out there, especially in Colorado. So that allowed me to be able to kayak every day, not only with my dad but with some of the best paddlers in the world. So year
round I was either going kayaking, watching it in person or on videos, or playing around the river with foam boats (miniature kayaks). It was clear right away what I wanted to do, and it didn’t hurt having my dad being who he was to push me to where I am today.
Sal Montgomery has four questions… 1. KNOWING THAT YOU MOVE AROUND A LOT THROUGH THE YEAR, IS THERE SOMEWHERE IN PARTICULAR THAT YOU SEE AS YOUR REGULAR TRAINING GROUND?
Nowhere that I would consider a ‘training ground’, but there are a few places where I just don’t think I can stay away and not return to at least once a year. The biggest one is the Ottawa River in eastern Ontario, whether it’s the big wave season in the spring or the warm water playboating paradise in summer. In the US with or without competitions it’s hard to imagine a season where I don’t spend a bit of time in Colorado and Idaho, as they are both hard to beat in the summer. Or spending a few weeks in the PNW running drops and getting joy laps on some of the best sections. I can also promise that until the dam is completed it’s unlikely I will miss going to the Zambezi at least once a year. Warm water, epic whitewater, hours of rapids, shuttles already set, it’s about as good as it gets.
2. WHAT WOULD A NORMAL TRAINING SESSION INVOLVE?
Unless it’s the time leading up to a particular competition or event, I very rarely ever consider most days on the water a training session. I pretty much never say, “The World Championships is this year, I need to start training six months before,” unless I feel like that day is one of the few days I’ll have a similar feature to train in.
What I do is simply just make sure to enjoy each day on the water, while still having some fun by working on different combos, trying to increase how much air I can get, seeing if I can become smoother downriver. However, unless I am training the few weeks before an event, I almost never am thinking to myself I ‘need’ to be able to get more air or ‘need’ to be faster because of something that will happen later on. Instead I just have fun by just seeing what moves I can improve or new things I can learn, or if I can go faster.
Then when something comes up later on, I then can say, “Well this might work here.” But that being said, that doesn’t mean I am lazy or could have gotten here by being satisfied with my skills even a year ago. I am constantly under the impression that no matter how good I get, I can always get better, so that makes it ever easier to motivate to find ways to improve every day on the water.
I’ve accumulated a lot of stuff over the years and because I paddle in a range of environments, that’s hard to say. On a practical level my sleeping system is pretty important to me. The relationship you develop with a good sleeping bag and mat is certainly more important now than when I was younger. I would say my favourite piece of equipment is however, a Kuksa, which is a small wooden mug, hand carved by the Sami of Northern Scandinavia. I got mine from a Sami Camp after rounding Nordkap so has sentimental value too. That and a good camp knife, one that I can use for filleting fish, splitting wood or sparking life into a fire.Is there anywhere in the world that's got you hooked? Somewhere you want to keep going back to again and again?
@danejacksonkayak
3. WHAT’S THE ONE FAVOURITE PIECE OF CAMPING KIT YOU COULDN’T DO WITHOUT?
Like I mentioned before, the Zambezi is one of the greatest rivers in the world. I truly believe every kayaker in the world should try to experience the Zambezi because it is incredible in every way. It’s just joy kayaking every day for hours in the hot sun, warm water, with some of the most fun big water. But it’s not like you are scared day to day, it’s just epic kayaking. Then on top of that besides being in one of the coolest gorges in the world, if you stay at a location like Jolly Boys, it’s easy to organize a shuttle to and from the river every day. Food is amazing and cheap, life is made easy with shuttles, and you get to get more than enough paddling every day. It’s just paradise in every way. A little cherry on top is it might be one of the best rivers of all time to experience with a slicey stern boat, then you are really winning.
Dane during his run in the finals of the Adidas Sickline,Tirol, Austria Photo: Red Bull Media
ThePADDLER 21
ThePADDLER 22
4. IS THERE A PADDLING DESTINATION YOU'VE VISITED RECENTLY THAT YOU THINK WILL BECOME POPULAR IN THE FUTURE?
I hate to triple it up but I really hope that more people start setting their sights on the Zambezi. It will be dammed in the near future as it’s essentially already underway, though they might get slight delays and such it’s more than likely going to happen at some point. So whether you are a class 3 boater or a class 5 boater, the Zambezi will go to the top of your list of favourite places to kayak, I almost guarantee it. I hope many people go and experience it soon, because you most definitely won’t only visit it once. Besides that I do feel that Hilo, Hawaii is one of the most fun places to spend some time which no one ever does. It’s warm, when it’s sunny you can still kayak and hit the coast or whatever it is. But once that rain comes, it has dozens of drops from small to huge to hit, depending on what you’re into. Wether for bomb laps or big drops, it’s of my favourite places to kayak these days.
Fellow world champion James ‘Pringle’ Bebbington has three to ask… 1. AS THE BEST COMPETITOR I KNOW BY FAR, WHAT TIPS WOULD YOU GIVE PADDLERS WHO WISH TO COMPETE EITHER IN RACING OR FREESTYLE?
Well, thanks for that dude. One main thing I would say is even if you are training for an upcoming event or just trying to improve, make sure you are enjoying yourself. There is no point to any of it if it’s not something you are enjoying, so avoid getting frustrated if certain things aren’t improving as fast as you would like.
However, also don’t underestimate how much you can improve every day on the water. Even if you are running something you have done a million times, or surfing a feature you feel like you have figured out. There are always ways to improve whether trying new combos, or trying harder lines, getting creative. Whatever it may be, I have found I improve the most and learn new things when I can mess around, rather than when I am super nervous.
the Zambezi
Whether you are a class 3 boater or a class 5 boater,
guarantee it
will go to the top of your list of favourite places to kayak, I almost
@danejacksonkayak Dane Kayaks Hilo, Hawaii Photo: Red Bull Media
Alexandra Falls, Northwest Territories Photo: Evan Moore
ThePADDLER 23
ThePADDLER 24
2. HOW DO YOU PERSONALLY PREPARE FOR COMPETITIONS MENTALLY AND TECHNICALLY?
The main thing I would say is I try to sculpt my freestyle routine or race line based on the feature or course in front of me, rather than just assuming that whatever my technique was at another location, will fit in nicely. By doing that, in a way I feel like I adapt my style based on the challenges that I have to work with whether its a new feature or a new course. So that has helped me be able to compete well in all types of features and race courses, because I always feel that however good I was before, I still have ways to improve based on the current event.
3. HOW DO YOU BALANCE YOUR TIME CREEKING/FREESTYLE - IS IT JUST WHICHEVER YOU FEEL MOST EXCITED TO DO OR DO YOU HAVE SPECIFIC GOALS YOUR AIMING AT?
At the moment my focus is to try and explore, as well as running bigger drops while I am at my current best skill level for things like that. While always finding time for freestyle because freestyle not only is one of my favourite things, but it will always also benefit all aspects of my kayaking. I balance the two by simply deciding where I would be the most fired up to kayak at that point and time. Generally the way that works is after a little while of running big drops, or doing big things, I am ready to go and relax with some freestyle, or joy kayaking. As well as vice versa, once I have spent some time doing joy kayaking and freestyle, I am ready to get scared again, and hit some big drops.
Andrew ‘Jacko’ Jackson has a couple of questions… 1. YOU’RE CLEARLY ONE OF THE PADDLERS OF THIS GENERATION.WHICH PADDLERS FROM THE PAST WOULD YOU HAVE LOVED TO HAVE PADDLED WITH?
I have been fortunate to kayak with so many incredible paddlers over so many years, and I draw inspiration from so many paddlers. So it is hard to pick one as everyone is so influential in different ways. But if I had to pick a paddler that I would love to paddle with in their prime, I think Scott Lindgren would be a solid choice. He has done so many expeditions all over the world, as well as been a part of discovering some of the greatest gems we know today. So I think it would be cool to get a chance to paddle with him and see how he did things back when he was at the peak of his exploring, and get to be a part of what he was doing. Luckily he is still crushing, and I have been lucky to get some days on the water with him, but I would love to have more.
Photo: Nick Troutman First descent in the GUANGXI province of China
@danejacksonkayak
Abiqua Falls, Oregon Photo: Bren Orton
Dane during his run in the finals of the Adidas Sickline Tirol, Austria Photo: Red Bull Media
Scott Lindgren
If I had to pick a paddler that I would love to paddle with in their prime, I think would be a solid choice ThePADDLER 25
ThePADDLER 26
2. YOU’RE A MULTIPLE CHAMPION IN FREESTYLE...WHAT TWO OR THREE THINGS WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE EVOLVE WITH THIS DISCIPLINE?
I would like to start seeing variations in the style of competitions. We can always have the traditional freestyle that we know. However, I think it would be cool to find different styles, find ways to reward different aspects like style or fluidity. Rather than someone barely nailing a trick being rewarded the same as someone that laces it.
Back to mine…
WHAT’S IT LIKE TO STARE INTO THE ABYSS,AS YOU TIP OVER THE LIP OF A 100-FOOT WATERFALL?
It’s cliche but everything kind of slows down a bit, and it’s a surreal moment of being at that exact moment where it’s the split second that you get to determine how your line is going to go. But in the end it’s an incredible view as you come over the horizon and you just see chaos below you, but you still have the focus to hit your line.
HAVE YOU EVER FEARED A PARTICULAR RIVER OR WATERFALL?
Almost every day on the water, or anything that has consequence. I always find it helps to be a little nervous or scared because that lets me know I understand there is risk in whatever it is I am doing. But by knowing that and still deciding to run it based on my confidence to hit a line, it allows me to paddle at my best more often.
SOME MAY DE SURPRISED TO KNOW YOU HAVE HEARING DIFFICULTIES HAS THAT EVER BEEN A DISADVANTAGE?
Talking to people when it’s dark, yes. But on the water it has almost given me an advantage due to the fact I can read lips. So whenever someone is far away and most people wouldn’t be able to hear what the person is trying to tell us, like when scouting a rapid. I can read their lips and convey that information to the group.
WHEN PREPARING FOR A MULTI-DAY EXPEDITION IN CHALLENGING CONDITIONS – WHAT ARE THE QUALITIES YOU LOOK FOR IN A FELLOW TEAM MATE KAYAKER?
I always try to stick to paddling with people that not only are ready for whatever we are planning on doing. But more importantly work well together when scouting, doing safety, or helping out when things go wrong. Knowing that I can trust their decision to run certain things, as well as their decisions off the water, as well as vice versa, makes the dynamic much better.
Wailuku River, Hawaii Drone shot by Dane
ANY FELLOW PADDLER YOU WOULD LIKE TO INTERVIEW AND WHY?
Honestly it would probably be Rush Sturges, as he does all three things I love and aspire to do. Kayak, shoot epic content and create music. Don’t think there are many people that have that triple threat.
@danejacksonkayak
Dane drops the Salto Del Maule 134-foot waterfall, the second greatest kayak descent. Photo: Red Bull Media
ThePADDLER 27
Quickies…
ThePADDLER 28
If you could paddle with anyone in the world dead or alive who would it be? Maybe Ryan Reynolds, that would probably be a glorious day. Him as Deadpool would be a bonus.
Pick two celebrities to be your parents… Pretty stoked on mine.
Which famous person would you most like to see play you in a film? Tom Holland would probably crush that biopic.
Are you a bathroom/shower singer and if so what do you sing? Eminem, Logic, Post Malone. I would say I am less of a shower singer and more of a behind the wheel singer though. Facebook, Instagram or Twitter? Instagram.
An ideal night out for you is? Any that includes whiskey on the rocks and good people.
What one luxury item would you take with you on a desert island? Surfboard, might as well have some fun.
What would I find in your fridge right now? My mini fridge is empty except maybe a couple beers. But luckily cause I am home my Mom keeps our fridge loaded with just about anything you can think of.
Dane relaxes after dropping the Salto Del Maule waterfall Photo: Red Bull Media
If we came to your house for dinner, what would you prepare for us? Our first course would be hot pockets followed by easy mac. Nah I would probably say some form of stir fry, or a good rice meal. What’s the most boring question you are often asked? Are we flipping on purpose, or can we get back up if we do.
If you could be a superhero for one day, what superpower would you choose and why? Teleportation. I mean you would never miss a drop or wave in it’s prime. Favourite sport’s team? The one where they throw the ball, I dunno I don’t watch much sports really.
Favourite film? I am a movie fanatic so it’s hard to pick a favourite. I’ll watch anything from Tarantino any day, but if I had to pick one from him it’s Reservoir Dogs.
Who are your kayaking buddies? I have lots of friends I love to shred with all over the world, as well as my family.These days I mainly travel places with our crew SEND, creating content along the way. What three words would you use to describe you? I, Like, Kayaking.That or Energetic, Stoked, Grateful.
Any final shout outs? Thanks for the opportunity to chat, thanks to those that like the stuff I do, and I look forward to getting back on the water with everyone soon!
Huge thanks Dane for all of your help, we really appreciate it.
BRIDGE
ThePADDLER 30
GAP
What is the the
initiative?
Bridge the Gap is an initiative set out by Canoeing Ireland and funded by Sport Ireland, which aims to develop and promote women in all paddlesports across Ireland.To do this we have examined our 11 unique disciplines to find the areas which would need the most attention in order to grow our female participant numbers and grow the number of those women who will take on leadership roles. The best way to do this was to have a team of women to consult who have expert knowledge of their niche area. We have developed a group of 35 ambassadors for women’s paddling – with representatives from each discipline and corner of Ireland, including coaches, instructors, athletes, committee members, clubs, providers, inclusion coaches, university students and scouts.
Sport Ireland’s Women in Sports steering committee have listed us four key areas for development: Active Participation, Coaching & Officiating, Visibility, and Leadership & Governance.
WHAT ARE THE AIMS OF THE BRIDGE THE GAP INITIATIVE?
Visibility: • We aim to have 50% coverage of females across all our social media platforms. The ambassadors are already leading role models in their area and are key to driving this, however we need all our members to promote females across media more. Ambassadors have committed where possible to make themselves more visible both online and at events.
•
We aim to highlight the number of women who attend each event throughout the year with help from our member event organisers.
COACHING & OFFICIATING: • •
•
We aim to see a 20% increase in the number of women who achieve coaching/instruction qualifications from 2019 figures by the end of 2021. We aim to record at least one female referee/judge at each competition or event. We aim to have three of our competitive disciplines have a high-performance training camp for junior girls run in Ireland with top coaches – if this works, we would have more of this in the future for all disciplines!
LEADERSHIP & GOVERNANCE: •
We aimed to and have achieved the development of our Women’s Ambassadors group who have been working together on how the future of our sport will grow to become more inclusive for females. We have had 35 ambassadors engage in a Leadership Training Programme where they have developed their own leadership skills and are putting into action some innovative ideas on how to make paddling more inclusive for women.
• •
We aim to have gender equity across all discipline sub committees and our board of directors by the end of 2021. The majority of ambassadors have committed to identifying and guiding at least two females from their own paddling community towards their leadership journey in a casual mentoring role. We aim to host a networking event for all those involved next year where they can learn about the women in the wider community.This would aim to develop female leaders and the community.
ACTIVE PARTICIPATION:
In 2020 (or 2021 depending on Covid-19 updates) we aim to have: 1. A minimum of 20 girls and 20 women’s only introductory/intermediate courses run across Ireland. 2. 20 discipline specific ‘coaching clinics’ lead by women or lead by men and attended by women. 3. Have at least four beginner friendly events run outside the Dublin area to reach our rural communities. 4. Carry out research on ‘why women drop out of the sport’ and use this to inform our members on future developments. 5. Run five regional workshops on sustainability for women in clubs. 6. Run five workshops on managing the fears associated with paddling as an adventure sport and as a competitive sport. 7. Encourage the running of multi-disciplinary camps, courses, programmes and events.
Since being granted funds our plan for making changes in these areas has been carefully developed to maximise its effectiveness. The ambassadors for women in paddlesports are a huge part of making the changes we need to see. Many plans have been put together on how each ambassador will make a community and national impact on women’s inclusion in all paddlesports.
Covid-19 has presented us with some difficulties about rolling out many of the projects planned over the past few months, however we are doing our best to develop the areas that we can. One area that can still continue to develop is Visibility. Over the past five weeks we have been showcasing our ambassadors through social media outlets and giving them the recognition that they deserve as inspirational role models to our members.
Through our Bridge the Gap Instagram we have been sharing many of our female members workouts, and paddling stories also.
You can find out more about the initiative and who our ambassadors are in the Canoeing Ireland E-Zine FlowState (https://canoe.ie/flow-state-issues/), on our Instagram @bridgethegap_2020, or through our Bridge the Gap webpage at www.canoe.ie
Written by Emer Carton Canoeing Ireland Women in Sport Lead
ThePADDLER 31
ThePADDLER 32
Surfing the 18” high little wave outside my house is literally impossible in a sixfoot freestyle kayak, but I can sit on it all day in my 7’6” F Bomb and have a ball.
FASHION FUNCTION VS
Words: Corran Addison You’ll have to forgive the near incoherent ramblings of an ageing athlete, as I wrap my head around phenomena, one that I’ve always known about, and indeed have exploited myself: fashion over function.
Last summer, I’d go out to the Lachines rapids outside my house, and go surf a half dozen waves in my 10’ long 303. I can catch every wave out there, regardless of water level, and indeed zoom from one wave to another at will, flying 20’ across the river to connect from one wave to another, even attaining upstream as much as 10’ to get from a ‘back wave’ to one further upstream.
When I do finally blow it and flush off the waves, most of the time I can blast across the current, ferrying from smaller wave to wave and into the ‘middle’ eddy, so I’m set up to go back out instantly. When I do blow that and end up in the large eddy at the bottom, I have a boat fast enough to take a series of shortcut attainments and within two minutes, I am back at the top.
So, where am I going with this?
ThePADDLER 33
ThePADDLER 34
Little 6’ playboats are all the rage
(or creek boats, but don’t even get me started on the mid-bending hoops that one would have to jump through to justify going out to Lachines in a creeker), and the overwhelming majority of paddlers out there are using those.
Now if you’re a Bren Orton kind of paddler, who’s racking up 1600 points in 45 seconds, doing a series of linked tricks most of us couldn’t even do as stand alone ones in a lifetime, then I’d have to agree, that the Lachines in a 6’ freestyle boat is a lot of fun. As long as you don’t mind limiting yourself to just one or two of the surfable waves out there, and 15-minute paddles back up (or Jet ski lifts for sponsored athletes), and no intent of linking different waves together in the same ride, then you’re good to go.
But how many people have the skill set of Bren, or Dane Jackson or Nick Troutman? The answer is about 10. Worldwide. And how many people have half the skill level of these 10 paddlers? About 200. Worldwide.
Trust me, when I tell you, you ain’t one of them. Hell, neither am I anymore.
Now that I’ve rambled on about how I surf the waves out there in a three-metre kayak, let me paint the picture I see day in and day out of 90% of the other kayakers I encounter out there.
Bren Orton
One of the many waves on my local rivers that cannot be surfed at all with a six-foot freestyle kayak.There are dozens of these ‘catch on the fly’ waves that everyone else misses. PYRAMID WAVE
Pierre LePaddler (because you know, you have to invent a silly French name; after all this is Quebec) paddles out of the top eddy, tries to catch Pyramid Wave, which is this beautiful 10’ wide, 7’ high, glassy, peaked wall of pure ecstasy. Most likely he flushes off without getting it at all, but in the event he does momentarily catch it, the surf is limited to sitting in the centre of the peak, and alternating from paddling to stay on, and just sitting there unable to do anything other than stay on. After this brief ride, he flushes off, and most likely misses Mojo behind it; a wave that requires a quick burst of speed towards surfers left to get into the pit.
If he does get it, his range of movement on the wave is limited to the hole on its left, and about three-foot of the green wall on his right, leaving the other 10’ of wave to the right unsurfable.
Given that Pierre is not one of the aforementioned 200 paddlers, his ride consists mainly of front surfing with a 30-degree right hand angle, with a few spins, and perhaps a low angle blunt thrown in before getting tumbled in the hole and spat out. He’s not really surfing it, or carving and moving about – it’s a sort of static in place angled front surf with a series of erratic low angle ‘tricks’.
Then comes the tedious 15+ minute paddle (often also involving getting out and walking over rock shelves several times) back to the top. Forget paddling into the ‘Dalton’ waves midway up to use as a springboard to get back to Mojo or Pyramid: it’s not going to happen even if you have Bren Orton’s skillset. Which Pierre does not!
BIG JOE
Since that wasn’t much fun, Pierre now opts for the main wave; Big Joe. At its best in mid-summer, the left side is a fast racy, bouncy green face that alternates between silky smooth, and exploding with boils erupting upwards from the river bottom, with the lip cycling through an all green face, to a crashing soul destroying hole.
To the right, a soft hole-like-wave, sitting about fivefoot higher than the pit of the left side, with a massive, fast, green shoulder that extends about 10’ upstream, almost connecting to Pyramid. Left of the pit, another large green shoulder that’s at best fickle and unpredictable. Behind it all, a pounding recirculating hole called Blowing Chunks (because after a beat down in Big Joe you can expect another in this one too). Many a paddler has exited Blowing Chunks ‘sans le kayak’!
ThePADDLER 35
The reality is very different as the boat surges and skips and bounces, heading this way and that (as he usually fights hard NOT to end up in the left hand pit), and every now and then some sort of set up presents itself and Pierre attempts to throw an airblunt. Usually this is little more than a slightly elevated, barely weightless, flat spin, into an ego crushing, bouncing surging side surf, and frantic efforts to pull the nose upstream into the semi-safe front surf that marks ‘position neutral’: momentarily safe from beat down!
six-foot freestyle kayak
Honestly, I have more fun, and ultimately, do more out there, in a 10’ wave surfing machine than I can in a
Pierre, like 90% of the paddlers out there, drops into the right side of Big Joe, and fights his bouncing, surging, barely controllable boat as it attempts to skittle this way and that. The goal is some sort of semicontrolled front surf, which perhaps will result in a sort of controlled bounce, into some sort of controlled airblunt.
After five minutes of fighting the wave, with a dozen elevated flat spins, the inevitable window shade, or simple flush off the waves right side, and you’re back in the bottom eddy ready for a 15-20 min paddle and walk back to the top to repeat this.
Assuming they can even get back up – at high levels it’s a one hit deal in a short boat.
AN AGEING ATHLETE
Now this is where it gets interesting. Remember, first of all that I’m an ageing athlete, and I’m nowhere near as good as I once was. My reaction times are slower, I’m out of shape, I don’t want water getting blasted in to my nose anymore, and I don’t think getting pounded in one of Big Joe’s cyclic hole crunches is fun like it use to be. I’m not going to win any medals with my rides, and I’m OK with that. What I do want however, is maximum fun, for minimal effort and minimal beat down: not so lofty goals I’d say.
While I own a 16lb six-foot carbon butt bouncing moon rocket that can launch me even today into the biggest airs of my entire paddling career, I almost never ever paddle it. I can do bigger Pan Am’s, cleaner Air Screws, and higher Helix’s today with it than I ever
could, because the boat design is so much better, though I’ll grant with far less regularity. I’m still not in the skill class of the ’10’ world’s best, (and arguably not even in the top 200) but I can, when I want to, throw down. For an old guy.
10’ WAVE SURFING MACHINE
However, generally, I don’t paddle it. Honestly, I have more fun, and ultimately, do more out there, in a 10’ wave surfing machine than I can in a six-foot freestyle kayak. I can catch Pyramid with two strokes, slice and dice the wave into submission for as long as my physical stamina can hold out. If I begin to flush, two strokes put me back on. When I’ve had enough, I can carve across from it to Big Joe with a stroke or two, and hit it with speed and drive that allows for a weightless top carve.
Once on this monstrous pounding wave, I can surf in control, using every inch of both sides, doing long sweeping vertical blunts with speed and power. I can carve it like an ocean wave, launch into the pit with a massive vertical blunt that’s visible from 500m downstream, throw some cool linked cartwheels, and then carve back onto the right shoulder.
All with relative low effort and technical ease; because this sort of boat does the work for you.
When I’ve had enough, I can skip effortlessly from Big Joe across to Mojo (that’s 10’ right and about five-foot downstream), and use the entire width of the wave – surfing wide and far out onto the shoulder, cutting back, throwing a few cartwheels in the hole, blasting out into a arching vertical blunt.
If I get bored, I can race from Mojo right to left, carve off the lip, and make the attainment back into Big Joe from downstream. Or, I can surf out the right side of Mojo, across a series of small surging little waves into a micro eddy, and in 5-6 strokes, be into the Daltons where I surf across, throwing ends, blunts and spins, before making the relatively easy attainment from the wave up to Pyramid, and start the entire cycle again.
When I paddled the Grand Canyon, I said, “I’m going to stern squirt 200 of the 270 miles,” and I did. ThePADDLER 37
ThePADDLER 38 Am I going to throw a Pan Am, or a Helix in my 10’ boat? Nope. But to be honest given that in a 60minute session out there in a six-foot boat I might (maybe) throw one airscrew, and 2-3 Pan Ams, it’s not like this is something I really am missing out on.
I’m rambling, aren’t I? And you’re probably wondering if I have a point?
The bottom line is, that since my skill set is not one that can really, truly take advantage of the ultimate potential of a six-foot freestyle kayak, and even if my skill set was, my mind isn’t, I unquestionably have much more fun in something longer, faster, and more varied in its performance style.
COMPLIMENT MY RIDE
It’s almost impossible for me to go to Lachines in my 303 and not have pretty much everyone there waiting their turn to compliment my ride in some way. Everything from, “That looked like a lot of fun,” to “how do you go from wave to wave like that,” and “you’re back up here already,” come my way. As they, and their friends, flop and flap about, trying earnestly to emulate the rides that they occasionally see from some of the visiting 200 (or the 10) in the summer months, they can clearly see that I’m doing more out there than anyone else. I’m having fun, and often, one long linked ride is enough for me, and after about 30 minutes of non-stop wave-to-wave movement, I peel off and paddle home. I’ve just had a lot of fun.
And so would Pierre. So why is Pierre in a sixfoot freestyle boat?
Because of fashion: the Danes and Brens of the world are in them, the online videos show the top 10, or top 200 in them, and it’s cool. What they do is cool. I know it is. They know it is, and so does Pierre.
However, Pierre, my friend, you will never be able to do a tenth of all the things that make it cool. You’re living an unobtainable dream, and you’re paying for it. Yes, you are having fun out there, but you’d have so much more fun in a boat more suited for your environment and skill set.
Surfing up Pyramid, even with limited skills, is easy to do with even a sub eight-foot boat. The control you’d have on Big Joe would double, and so would your fun
as you race about, and the corker is, you’d end up doing the exact same number of moves as you are now: except elevated spins in an eight-foot or 10’ boat actually both look cool, and feel good. You’d have an easier time staying on the wave, use more of it, have an easier time linking some ends, and in a boat that’s closer to 9’-10’, and with just a little practice, bounce from wave to wave like I do. This story is not unique to the Lachines. I tell the story here as it’s one I see every day. In fact I see it all over the world in my travels. Granted, 10’ is too long for many places (but not as many as you’d think), but there is a new slew of 7’6” type boats out there that are perfectly suited for even the smallest of waves and features.
There is a new slew of 7’6” type boats out there that are perfectly suited for even the
smallest of waves
and features. Pyranha has the Ozone, Liquid Logic the Home Slice and I have the F Bomb with Soul
Pyranha has the Ozone, Liquid Logic the Home Slice and I have the F Bomb with Soul. There are others too. Even though I have the F Bomb, I invariably paddle the 303 more. It’s a ‘little’ easier to do some of the blunting cartwheeling type things with the FB, but even so, I still have more fun with the longer faster boat that can travel further and faster about the waves, and when I do a move, just feels better.
Whether you’re at the Lachines, or at most play features, these sub-eight-foot boats are fast enough to really move around a feature, are stable when vertical,
Bren Orton showing off the new 7’6” Pyranha Ozone; a boat length better suited for most paddlers. Photo: David Bain Brin Addison in the Dragorossi 7’2” Pintail. “This boat is a wave magnet. I surfed dozens of waves everyone else floated past.”
The moves just look and feel better in a long boat anyway.
ThePADDLER 39
ThePADDLER 40
Shane Bennedict in a Liquid Logics Homeslice surfing up a storm.
slowing it all down just enough for average skill set people to keep up, can use more of even small features than most six-foot boats. They are looser and faster so you can spin, recover, spin. Frankly, they just do more, with more places, for most people.
1990’S ERA SLICEY BOATS
And yet, fashion rules supreme. I do see some people searching out old 1990’s era longer slicey boats as the points I’m making in this piece become self evident, but ironically, when buying new – it’s either a six-foot freestyle boat, or a creeker/half slice. Sincerely, those boats from the 1990s can’t hold a candle to these new long slicey boats; in performance, or comfort.
Do yourself a favour. Find a friend with one of these new age longer slicey boats, and borrow it. Take it out for multiple sessions (as some skill adaptation is necessary, unless you were already a paddler in that bygone era). You’ll have way more fun, and you’ll thank me for it. Shuck the shackles of fashion, and think about the fun you’d actually have if you got a boat that can optimize your skill set, and your river features.
Kingo Fujii throwing down on one of Japan’s many waves that only longer boats can surf.
Let the magnificent 10 show off what those freestyle boats can do on Youtube, while you paddle something far better suited to your own reality.
ThePADDLER 42
Words: Bartosz Czauderna Photos: Leif Anderson Back in the day, the fur trade was a huge thing. With increasing demand in fur in Europe the export demand kept growing with northern Canada being a great source of it. To pass fur from the north, people had to cross the Slave River. In winter despite its size, it all freezes, making it a solid winter road. In spring it had to be done with boats. One of those days, a crew were trying to get to Slave Lake with supplies from the south.
The river was already known for its big and dangerous rapids and in order to check the safe route – a small boat was sent ahead to find a path and make sure it would be safe for the large cargo. A gun shot was supposed to be signal if the road was safe. As the story goes – one of the pioneers forgot about that and shot a duck. To his horror he realized too late what he had done. All cargo was lost and the rapid became known as the ‘Rapids of the Drowned’.
SLAVE
T H E
R E A L
to the river
ThePADDLER 43
ThePADDLER 44
Guide – Leif Anderson “Some people experience fear, solitude, loneliness,”
‘big water’
I have been paddling in places for almost 10 winters in Uganda and paddling on the Zambezi. I Love it, live and we are specialised in big water and fun coaching. I love these places and love the drag of big volume, the experience that it gives you, the size of it, the power of nature, the feeling of conquering the rapids and really trying to push yourself through those beautiful but fierce waves. First thing that Leif told me – that the Slave it is not as small as the Nile – you can get lost in there.
Imagine for those of you that have been on the Nile and heard the stories – it is not easy to believe or get a perspective on something being even bigger. The Slave River was a legendary spot that we wanted to visit for couple of years. After a few friends reached out to us to organize a trip there and after checking all the options we decided to make the dream happen and run the trip to the north!
MASSIVE AND HUGE
Rapids of the Drowned is one of four main sets of rapids. To people’s horror but to the joy of kayakers – it’s probably the smallest set of all four. Other names are Mountain, Cassette and the Pelican rapids. All of them are massive, huge and I wish I knew more words to describe my feelings when entering some of them. “Some people experience fear, solitude, loneliness,” as our great guide – Leif Anderson said before dropping down to Fury, one of the largest on the river. You simply must know the lines there. You can either follow your guide, or explore the rapids – usually from the bottom on your own.
For the first couple of days, I had the feeling that the map was slowly growing in my head as I was discovering more and more new paths. In two weeks we managed to cover maybe a quarter of all the rapids.
Each of them are just amazing, they all have waves and holes – some small perfect for practicing the technique, learning first moves and enjoying the surf – and some powerful for big aerial tricks.There are also the others – the ones that you won’t be able to simply dodge. That’s why it is important to know where you are going – you can simply get lost in there.
The difficulty of an expedition to the Slave is that it is quite far north. You can either fly to Edmonton or Yellowknife or obviously take a ride through Canada. We flew to Edmonton where we were picked up by a monster truck, loaded it with boats and gear and then drove 13 hours north.
First visit was to Alexandra Falls as a sightseeing point and a quick break for breathtaking views, then to Hay River for dinner and the final piece to Fort Smith – going directly through Buffalo National Park. Just the drive is an adventure. On the journey of over 1,000km you take maybe five turns driving through beautiful changing landscape where at every moment you can get a wildlife experience.
ThePADDLER 45
ThePADDLER 46
During the trip we saw seven bears, including two cubs, a couple of foxes, many wild birds and finally in Buffalo Park, we drove through the middle of a Buffalo pack, having a lifetime experience getting a close sight at those marvellous, strong and proud animals. After the drive we were greeted by our hosts – Leif and Natalie Anderson, who are living there for the summer and were kind to us for the duration of our trip. Arriving early evening, we got to see the place for the first time and my heart leaps. Camping, outdoor shower, common area on the patio with a place for preparing the food and store gear and a house to hang out in. Everything feels very familiar… Straight away I understand why – it’s the closest to the Hairy Lemon that I had been since the Isimba flooding. Then we play Catan for the evening, eat and laugh, getting ourselves ready to go kayaking tomorrow. It feels like home – and the adventure has only just started.
First day we get to the Mountain rapids. Everybody in the crew has paddled on big water or paddled the Nile, Zambezi or Slave before. They know what it is like to see the volume of the river. However, we couldn’t have got more amazed on the first day.
We go out to the put-in, which is a five minute drive away. The car stays at the top of the hill and we run down excited. After a short warm up we get to the first hole, after becoming rusty with the long drive, we perform some moves in the small and friendly but super fun feature. Just behind it there is a small wave, good for surfs and tricks. It feels like paradise – and we haven’t left the first eddy yet! We play there for a while for the warmup watching the scale of the river that goes around the horizon.
THE CHICO WAVE
Time to head further in to see the Chico Wave.There is an important point made –there are nests of protected Pelicans that are very important for the environment. As kayakers we make sure we keep our distance from them not to disturb their nesting period.We start off knowing it will be a big ferry. It takes us a good 10 minutes to get to the other side of the current. It was just one channel; we have no idea yet how many more are there but after a few eddy hops we are next to our first middle size wave – Chico. It starts with a small ferry through a friendly hole and ends up on a nice steep wave in the middle. It was just a half day of playing – we are back for quick lunch and then come back to the same put in, this time moving a little bit deeper into the archipelago. The Afternoon is blowing our minds. We put in at one narrow side of the archipelago, we spend all afternoon paddling to the other side of the river and running rapids and finally ferry back to the same take out that we used in the morning... A five-minute walk and we are at our car.
ThePADDLER 47
ThePADDLER 48
g n li d d a p e it Desp for half a day,
e oved much. W – we haven’t m ds pi ra e of th ht of lig few e high covering only a and back! Yet th the river there d wide and high. se – os p cr m ly ra re ge ba olly’s. A hu M e th ng pi erybody seems lap t the day is nervous bu ev is y od yb an if ks ching how the Firstly, Leif chec wn before wat do go e w en aled. It was an to be okay. Th big drop is reve e th d hike an up s r stoked so we ramp open erybody is supe ev d . an un n r ru st g ju in amaz e had a look on what w back up to have the line and e go in, set on w en Th go s. am ing cut off and We split into te e the horizon be se u yo n n ee he gr w hold tight ries of crushing down into a se the start on a big ramp quick strokes at d an es ey g bi ppiness and a waves. Screams, g of conquer, ha in el fe e ce th y b it – the confiden are followed e we have run nc O e. ith or w m r er desire fo g rollercoast it’s just like a bi gets boosted – e! or y wants m water. Everybod – we t heading back of runs, we star le h Land up ug co ro a th r ck fte A and go ba he nc la va A , qa e is a selection cross Zambu the rapids, ther of ch easy ea n O s. of Giant hard, medium or u are feeling – yo w ho at th on e d base h it is lik cted. Pretty muc e line can be sele e running on th ar e w at rapids th me so , es av w g through all the bi nce ay you experie nd plenty Slave. On the w rlpools, holes a hi w w fe , ng ki ea br e towards g om in s ad n, gree slowly he n while you are w e local do th d at an s ie up er of e get groc w g in en ev e th er. That was an the bank. In ther to save pow ge to ok co e w shop and insane opening!
STER IS ON ique for ROLLERCOwA y – they are un e are quite luck s
ls er ha With water leve storms, the wat ar. With the rain will be ye e er th st oa of e rc lle tim this ying that Ro sa ed cit ex e up th ng risen. Leif wakes – this time drivi and hit the road Rapids. tte se as C on. We pack up to utes , around 20 min the longest distance ltimate hole in rty hole and U Pa of at s g nd in ki lay l p al r by flat, great fo We start off me ch is slow and hi co w , ly er on riv n e ca th middle of the river – you is the middle of but staying moves. Given it le. It is possible pi am fo e th d in beh off to new back to it from a while, we head r fte ave A g. tin us ha ing to a small w very long is ex leaner and gett C then b nd ar a C ns n w tio ta do channels going position and ro g in rf su r ou work on hole. There we ya and Cheney. ub D to tricks on the we paddle e new tips and uc od tr in to s ough to throw our favourite slow but high en d These become an l al sm g, in round we kept surf, forgiv water and flat g waves. Easy to at fl on ea id ere moving an r getting e idea – We w th in g lin al di the tricks. Afte r fte llercoaster. try new tricks. A that led us to Ro m ’E ck So coming here to m ’E Rock ice, rough famous easy eddy serv downstream th pretty wave with a n face. What e ee b gr to ul t tif ou au rned ls with a be ve le er throw at Rollercoaster tu w w fu lo g it super n to the Nile on the at times, makin ep te something like s ry . ve ya g at Dub – it was gettin picking them up was even better the tricks after y tr to it was ce la p ct ollercoaster, as big tricks! Perfe els to get to R Chute, nn ha op c Po nt s, re an ffe N, Can of Be ays running di TS f d h o ug le ro ng up th co en ng erent goi e area and di We spent a e route was diff s to more to th th u ay ed d uc ch od Ea tr ls. in d prime leve it so amazing an c, which made and better. er tt be g Alarm Clock, et in tt as ge oaster, which w daily on Rollerc
ThePADDLER 49
ThePADDLER 50
When we were ready for a change
of scenery, we took a day off from freestyle and concentrated on river running through Heart Attack and Land of 1000 Holes. On our rest day, we enjoyed the walk-through town of Fort Smith, visiting the Northern Life Museum and Cultural Centre. In the evening we took some time watching videos, analysing the tricks and breaking them down during our flat freestyle sessions.
After the rest day we came back for Rollercoaster to throw tricks we had been thinking about on the rest day and surfing with full energy again - one of the best surfing days! We had taken playing with freestyle on all sizes of waves, which gave us enough skill for bigger challenges. It was time to explore other rapids and run some of the legendary lines.
SIZE AND POWER
We came back to Mountain Rapids this time starting from the top – Running Furies, English Channel, Turnpike, Maelstrom, Forgotten, Avalanche and ending at the Chico. Some of the rapids we run following the lines only, then look back on them – otherwise, we would probably be too hesitant, given the size and power of them! Paddling at Mountain is followed by Pelican the next day. We start easy from the bottom with Pelican Bottom Ferry. The waves are huge, the Ferry itself demands plenty of power and confidence because of the size of green waves that like to crash.
You can either enter high and move through the whirlpools or simply take it a bit lower, joining the current at the easier spot. With the size of this rapid – it does not make much of the difference, despite the line you choose – you will end up at the same place!
We take more time to run rapids like Prat Fall, Staircase Bottom, Snow Catcher and return through Pelican Bottom Ferry. The group takes a while looking at the Pelican trying to grasp its size and scale while Leif, Pierce and I wander off to run it. Ferrying in through three big breaking hole waves will set you on the line and once you are there you go down.
on all sizes of waves,
We had taken playing with freestyle
which gave us enough skill for bigger challenges ThePADDLER 51
ThePADDLER 52
Batosz is the owner and coach of ‘Love It Live It’
More info at: https://loveitliveit.co.uk
Molly was very small comparing to that. It feels like Hair of the Dog from the Nile – just on steroids! Size wise – the biggest thing I ever run! I simply get to the top, where the first wave doesn’t break on me... it simply opens at the over vertical point, and I fall into the void of water. It feels like few metres down and then you get covered by water all around, soft and smooth, no whitewater dragging. Simply opening in the peak, easy roll and I face the next huge wave. That is how Pelican felt from my perspective.
We finish off by running a slide next to Pelican and return home moved by the sheer size and power of the river. We get one more day on the water after taking a drive by look at the Rapids of the Drowned and thinking about the history and importance of that river. We spent the last day surfing and enjoying the great Slave River.
changing playground that you already know and can shape itself into a different environment with the resulting waves and holes, which floods some treasures and reveals others.
I cannot believe why Ottawa is so popular while Slave isn’t! If you love the Nile, Zambezi or Ottawa – you will also LOVE the Slave - it's really worth the drive! We were planning to go back next summer but who knows in the current climate. Whenever, join us on our trip to the Slave!
The thing with Slave is that it delivers on so many levels and it delivers different experiences to different people. Levels are likely to rise or drop on the everhttps://goo.gl/maps/tJkRfj14WAdXTphD8
AMERICA
ThePADDLER 54
C O U R S I N G T H R O U G H Words: Martin Trahan Photos: Yan Kaczynski, Ryan Heck and Jessyca Viens Gaboriau I’m an adventurer and long-distance canoeist who took part in the historical Royal Canadian Geographical Society Canada expedition of the year 2015 ‘Les chemins de l’or bleu’ (The blue gold paths).This expedition started on April 25th, 2015 in the icy waters of Lake of Two Mountains, Montreal and ended 7,000 kilometres – 4,400 miles away on October 16th, 2015 (175 days) along the coast of the Mackenzie River in Inuvik in the Arctic Circle.
From May 19th to July 27th 2016 (70 days), I was part of the ‘Pull of the North’ expedition, that paddled the Yukon River – 3,200 kilometres (2,000 miles) from Lake Bennett (British-Columbia, Canada) to its mouth in the Bering Sea (Alaska). The team was filming a documentary telling the story of the many native cultures and tribal communities that still live along the river and how the modern world and shifting environment was changing their traditional ways of living on the Yukon River.
Then from April 28th to November 4th, 2018, I paddled in a Nova Craft canoe across America; from the Pacific Ocean in Astoria (Oregon) to the Atlantic Ocean at the tip of Florida in Key Largo. An amazing way to discover a country and its people by its waterways. I canoed with different teammates during the adventure and by myself for part of the Gulf of Mexico.
As you can imagine, this trip took a gruelling 191 days to complete the 7,500 kms/4,700 miles from coast to coast. Inspired by Verlen Kruger, Bill Mason and Frank Wolf, this adventure took me across America’s natural waters to pursue my dream of discovery, understanding and
consciousness of the world around me. This incredible seven-month journey empowered me to engage in a close relationship with nature while retracing the legendary explorations of many historical voyageurs such as Lewis and Clark, Louis Jolliet, Jacques Marquette as well as following the traces of America’s First Nations.
Two days before the beginning of the expedition, I felt particularly soothed to have passed American customs. During the long 90-minute interview with the customs officer, I began to fear I would be denied access, that all those hours and money invested in this project would be lost forever. For 90 minutes, a stranger held my dream in his hands and had the power to make or break it. I asked to be in the US for seven months, they allowed me to stay six. A few minutes later, my decision was already made, I’d find a way to finish the expedition in six months.
It was with a light heart and with great excitement that I went on this adventure. As far as I'm concerned, day one was the nicest day of each of my past expeditions. It was the culmination of a lot of work, sacrifices and a dream coming true.
ThePADDLER 55
Did you know: Missouri River is the longest river in North America. Rising in the Rocky Mountains of western Montana, the Missouri flows east and south for 3,767 kms (2,341 miles) before entering the Mississippi River, north of St. Louis.
ThePADDLER 56
This memorable expedition began began on the shores of the Pacific Ocean in Oregon. We were then forced to fight the current by paddling upstream on the Columbia River for nearly 315 miles. We had to portage our first four large hydroelectric dams before reaching the city of Burbank in the state of Washington.
The first seven days on the Columbia River were a challenge and brought me back to earth. Canoeing upstream during spring flood, fighting the tide that was too often in the middle of the day, facing a strong daily wind, and dealing with a lack of campsites because the water level was higher than normal – these were all factors that led me to realize that I had really underestimated the power of this river. I do not remember paddling so hard for so long. We managed to make 35-40 km per day. We were lucky that it was not raining. I was feeling pain; my hands were full of blisters. The Columbia River Gorge is known for its beauty. The lush forest and the sublime mountains made me want to stay there forever.
On day 12, around 18:00, we started looking for a place to camp on the Columbia River. The water level was eight feet higher than usual, there was no more beach, only the tall grass to welcome us. We removed the equipment from the boat and climbed up to a higher place on the banks. Suddenly, I had a bad feeling, overwhelmed by anxiety.
VENOMOUS RATTLESNAKE
I asked my teammate to stop making noise, she couldn’t hear me. I reformulated my request with more vigour, a little more loudly. I was standing on some small tree trunks where I was able to clearly hear a venomous rattlesnake. I took a split second to try to locate it, another fraction to realize that I was walking on it! I stepped aside, a little panicked. I carefully examined my ankles and calves, no trace of bites. That day, my time had not come. I saw death closely; it was really an ugly feeling.
On day 14, the now arid climate changed the scenery and showed us mountainous and desert landscapes that were spectacular and of great beauty. The green vegetation had given way to land composed of cacti. I thought I was in a western movie.
We then canoed upstream and explored the magnificent Snake River for about 140 miles. This river, filled with history, is situated in a semi-arid climate. Snake River offered spectacular panoramas for us. These views were a small reprieve from the rough and rugged nomad life we lived while on the river. After portaging four more hydroelectric dams, we continued to navigate our canoe to the town of Lewiston in the state of Idaho.
ROCKY MOUNTAINS
Between Lewiston, Idaho and Helena, Montana, we were challenged with a 375-mile portage through the Rockies. We had to overcome muscular pains and continued our sustained effort to cross this harrowing portage. We had the opportunity to be amazed by the enchanting setting surrounded by mountains and the Lochsa River. During this leg of the trip, the use of a canoe cart allowed us to admire these landscapes while saving our energy. When we lost the shoulder on highway 12, we decided it was safer to get a ride until the shoulder came back further. We were not feeling comfortable with the idea that the people welcoming us in their country were putting their lives in danger to avoid us.
Before embarking on this long walk, I visited the Nimiipuu (Nez Perce) First Nations community to ask permission to walk on their lands. Then, one of the great wise men of the place came to meet us for the traditional prayer to protect us during our long pilgrimage through the mountains.
My initial plan was to portage using bikes with a trailer cart for the canoe and equipment. However, I had no experience in such mountainous areas and I realized that it would not be safe with such a heavy load. Plus, I thought there was something romantic about walking the Continental Divide. The long hours on the road allowed me to meditate.
danger to avoid us
We were not feeling comfortable with the idea that the people welcoming us in their country were putting their lives in
ThePADDLER 57
A two-day stop in Lewiston, Idaho allowed
ThePADDLER 58
us to rest, but also to see the story of our
adventure presented on television and in their local newspaper. We instantly became celebrities for the people of the area. We then began our 600 km (375mile) portage over the Continental Divide. Every three cars, one passed by with a hint of encouragement waving, others stopped to have their picture taken with us or to contribute in their own way by giving us money. It gave us lots of energy and despite the intense pain in our calves and feet, we were able to keep walking.
This endless 20-day walk through the Rockies made me realize I was not sharp. When I put my 75-pound bag on my back on the first day and started pushing the canoe full of equipment, I doubted. I doubted because I am not an athlete and apart from hiking one or two mountains a year, I don’t consider myself a hiker!
We were welcomed by landscapes of great beauty in Idaho and Montana. Limpid and agitated rivers were fed by the effervescence of spring. Mountains as far as the eye can see, many with snow-capped peaks. We met lots of cowboys – it was epic!
ATROCIOUS WEATHER
This long ascent in the mountains has been the biggest physical challenge since birth. Something interesting happened. I was in control, I felt strong and I walked, walked and walked.The day before reaching the summit, it hailed and snowed, the weather conditions were atrocious, my frozen hands were struggling to push the boat.
Spring not only brings warm weather, but it also attracts grizzlies out of their homes to hunt and fish. Once in Montana, we were on a constant watch for black bears and grizzlies. The delicate fabric of the Exped tent offered a modest feeling of security from the outside dangers. We didn’t see any bears but probably some of them saw us.
We then navigated the mythical Missouri River for nearly 2,250 miles. Finally having the benefit of the current, we were pushed downstream. This allowed us to cover more mileage each day as we got closer to our end goal. During our longest day, we covered 163 km (101 miles). During this stretch of the river, many First Nation communities were situated near the Missouri River and we were willing to learn more about their way of life in hopes of expanding our understanding of different cultures and environments. For over 12,000 years, First Nations have depended on the Missouri River and its tributaries as a source of sustenance and transportation.
Portaging the 14 hydroelectric dams that accompany this river put our endurance to the test. Some amazing and generous people offered their help and they became part of our trip. The valley of the lower Missouri brought violent storms and one tornado. It was the time of the year when tornadoes were most active in the U.S., especially in Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota. Many huge thunderstorms just missed us which was not the case for some paddlers in front of us. High winds, heavy rain, hail, lightning, broken tents…
Once we reached the city of St. Louis, we enjoyed a welldeserved, yet short, three-day break. After returning from our reprieve, the initial plan was to continue to journey along the Ohio, Tennessee and Tombigbee rivers for nearly 750 miles to Mobile Bay in the Gulf of Mexico.
ThePADDLER 59
ThePADDLER 60 After a long discussion with experienced paddlers from America, I decided to change my mind and paddled a different route, which would be the Mississippi River until the city of New Orleans in Louisiana. I had a wonderful time on this beautiful river where it was possible to sleep on a huge beach each night. Surprisingly, it was really easy to navigate and share the river with tow boats and barges.
After months of daring and determined paddling, we finally made it to the Gulf of Mexico while paddling the Atchafalaya River. It is where my friends Jim Emmanuel (retired firefighter from Montana) and Park Neff (Baptist Pastor from Mississippi State) ended their trip. Here, I didn’t stop, but continued on my own for the last and final leg of my magnificent adventure. The immensity and beauty of the Gulf of Mexico was contemplated amid every stroke and every mile I paddled. I allowed myself to be carried by the poetry of the sunsets which was followed by starstudded skies. I then had to be vigilant and cautious of shark, snake, spider, alligator, crocodile, boar and tick bites. The hurricane season was at its peak and I had to respect the power of Mother Nature.
On October 10th, I was in Panama City (Florida) when class 5 Hurricane Michael, one of the biggest hurricanes of all time in America, attained peak winds of 250km/h as it
made landfall. For 15 minutes, I thought I would die, it was so scary. It was a total disaster with many people dying and many losing everything. The day after, it was a really sad feeling to wake up and realize it was not a dream. I’d like to thank the Erdman family that drove 90 minutes to pick me up in Apalachicola and brought me back to their house two days before the hurricane hit.
Their generosity and hospitality probably saved my life. Since the beginning of this expedition on April 28th, Americans had been amazing, welcoming, nice and so generous. I had an opportunity to give back to them and decided to stay for 10 days to help. It was not easy to get back in my canoe. It took me some time before realizing I was dealing with a PTSD. Pretty much at the same time, I also realized I had a shark phobia and I saw many of them coming close to my canoe. I was not feeling brave at all.
On November 4th 2018 at 9:13 am, this epic journey ended on the shores of the Florida Keys in Key Largo after paddling the Everglades with my teammate Scott Hite. There could not be a more heavenly and peaceful place to celebrate the end of the adventure of a lifetime, 4,700 miles away from where it all began seven months ago. After a few days of rest and luxuriance, I returned to where I came from in Montreal, Canada with my head filled with stories, images and memories engraved on my heart.
CONCLUSION
With the conclusion of the Coursing Through America adventure, an important page of my life had turned. A page on which I lingered for months to draw the lines of the project that I dreamt about. The return home, meanwhile, had given way to a long period of recovery. A considerable exercise in reintegrating routine life was waiting for me, while I was psychologically exhausted and my thoughts were still tinged with this epic adventure.
I get closer to happiness one adventure at a time. For me, canoeing is relaxing, dreaming, taking my time, admiring what the most beautiful fauna and flora have to show me. To cross a country, which is not mine led me to have to adapt to new realities. Mother Nature can be very gentle, but it is also able to get angry, you have to know how to respect it. The United States of America has offered me breathtaking and diverse landscapes: oceans, gulf, rivers, lakes, beaches, mountains, deserts, plains and bayous.
The many encounters with its people were rich and valuable. They were extraordinarily kind and extremely generous. They welcomed me to their country with great hospitality, treating me as if I were part of their family. The memories related to these river angels will forever be engraved in my memory. All this gives me faith in humanity.
I planned this expedition and dreamt about it for over 18 months. Without my sponsors, the river angels, the Americans, the people who paddled with me and my family, this dream adventure would not have been possible.
NRS, MEC, Exped, Nova Craft, North Water, Granite Gear, Fjallraven, Good To Go, Bending Branches, Lowa, Jetboil, Osprey, Powerfilm, Rheos, Ropes&Wood were sought because of their commitment to making high quality performance equipment capable of enduring the rigours of our expedition. I would like to say a big thank you for their support and generosity. Coursing through America is deeply grateful for their help in the project.
“Too few people allow themselves to go on an adventure. But those who do… know how beneficial the experience is. Extended time on the water unconnected from day to day stress, sleeping on the beach where you pulled in after a day of paddling, that sense of river time has a way of changing us for the better.” Dave Shively.
ThePADDLER 61
ThePADDLER 62
Reaching the Gulf of Mexico with Jim Emanuel and Park Neff
Signing the Wall of Fame at living legend Dale Sanders' aka ‘Grey beard’
Post-expedition depression
I was not there at all last winter. I was sad, and I missed life on the water. After my adventure, I had the impression of returning to a world that did not look like me. It’s as if my life on the edge, by canoe, has become my real environment. Besides, I often say that I get closer to happiness one adventure at a time.
There are people who will call it post-expedition blues. I rather think that the real term, to assume, is post-expedition depression. When we talk about it, we see the appearance of some people change. It’s rare to brag and say, “Hey, do you know what, I’m in a depression, things are not okay.” With social media, we try to show ourselves in the best light. I do not want to project the image of a superman or a hero.
So this year, I accepted the inevitability of postexpedition depression. I hid it for a long time from myself. Many adventurers experience this, but it’s taboo. Stigma.They do not talk about it, they keep it to themselves; maybe they fear how it will look to others.
Adventurers are perceived as people who are brave, courageous, unshakable, strong, and who take on insurmountable challenges. After my first expeditions, I returned fitting in a little bit more into that mould and I tried to project that image. Finally, I realized that I was not like that.
EUPHORIA AND EXHAUSTION
When I finish an expedition, I am always divided between the euphoria of having achieved my goal and the exhaustion. The question I am often asked is: “What’s next? What’s your next epic trip?” But, in fact, the adventure that I just lived is not over yet. The return home is part of it and it is, for me, the most difficult part. It is much more complicated to manage than planning, storms, or conflicts with teammates. It’s a kind of empty feeling.
The winter has been long, grey, and cold in Montreal. I felt good alone. I did not expect others to understand what I was going through. Friends are fine and they want to help, but I have the impression that they do not understand all the darkness that can inhabit us. It’s even more than that, it’s a form of sadness that is inexplicable. I’ve asked myself several times this winter, “Martin, what’s wrong? You came home, you found the people you love, you have the comfort of your bed and good food.”
I know that this recovery period will always accompany my future expeditions and this will be the hardest part. By knowing it, it allows me to accept it.
I did not only have post-expedition depression as a result of my crossing the United States from the Pacific to the Atlantic. I also faced Hurricane Michael in Panama City, Florida, which resulted in post-traumatic stress disorder.
Without exaggerating, this is the first time I accepted, for 15 minutes, that my life was going to end. I was totally helpless in the face of Mother Nature’s omnipotence. I should have ended my expedition right after the hurricane, but maybe as a question of ego, I went back on the water. I was a zombie. I went into survival mode.
When I returned home after the expedition, I thought I was equipped and well-supported to deal with the situation, but that was a mistake. I remember a day when there was a strong wind. I got out of my car to go shopping, but my reflex was to get back in immediately. I said to myself, “Relax, Martin, you’re in Quebec, there’s no danger, you’re experiencing hurricane post-trauma.”
I also woke up in night sweats during the first nights in Quebec. I felt like there was a hurricane and sharks in my bed. As a result of the hurricane, when I went back to paddling in the Gulf of Mexico there were actually sharks everywhere. I quickly realised that I had a phobia.
The way I managed my depression and my posttraumatic stress was to launch myself thoroughly into my job. I think I did up to 400 hours overtime. It was a way of hiding and not coping with what I was going through.
I thought I would let the dust settle during the winter knowing that I should then look for help with that. I want to make sure I’m on the right track now.
But when you spend so much time in a canoe, in a tent, and the forest is your home, it becomes your identity.
MARTIN THE CANOEIST
Before, I was Martin the friend, the social worker, but now, I’ve become Martin the canoeist and the adventurer. It is a lifestyle so different that it is necessary to have a period of adaptation during the return.
ThePADDLER 63
ThePADDLER 64 DIRECTION RUSSIA
Through the emptiness I felt last winter, I understood two things: I became dependent on the way of life of an expeditioner, and secondly, I feel good when I am consumed by a project. Twelve months ago, I said I was too old for big expeditions and I was going to hang up my paddle. However, spring 2019 arrived, the snow had melted, the rivers were free of ice and my energy had returned.
Chase the natural and it comes back at a gallop. I went back to dreaming and, after some research, I decided to embark on a new adventure.
I will cross Russia in 2022 and travel 4,000 km in 130 days. We will start at the border of Mongolia, on the Selenge River, which will bring us to Lake Baikal. After that, we take the Angara River, which, a little further north, joins the Yenisei River. We will end up in the Kara Sea, in the Arctic Ocean.
Russia has always intrigued me with its grandeur, and allows me to plan a long expedition. Not only is it the crossing of Russia, but I will get to experience the Siberia that we hear about in our history books and in films. It is one of the most remote places in Russia and indeed, the planet.
There is no better way to discover a country than to follow the waterways. Adventures make it possible to have magical encounters. They also allow me to feel as alive as ever.
Martin Trahan: Long distance canoeist Instagram: martin_trahan_canoeist
ThePADDLER 66
D I S C O V E R
FREESTYLE
Interview: Chris Brain Photos: Chris Brain, Mike Shaw, Pete Astles and Peter Tranter
What is freestyle?
Freestyle (or as it has been known previously playboating and rodeo) is all about performing dynamic moves, tricks and spins with your kayak (or even canoe!) It is exceptionally creative and dynamic and like most areas of paddlesport is constantly evolving. When describing freestyle to my nonpaddling friends I often refer to it as the gymnastics of paddlesport or like BMX is to cycling.
Since its original boom, freestyle has evolved dramatically and for many paddlers in recent years has become separate from their whitewater paddling and river running. It wasn't uncommon at one point to see everyone running the river in their ‘playboat’ and spending most of their time stern squirting on eddylines and surfing waves.
ThePADDLER 67
But river running is so cool though…
ThePADDLER 68
Yes it is! We are all in agreement with that! Running rivers in a creek boat is a huge amount of fun and can be exceptionally rewarding, however I feel that so many paddlers miss out on freestyle because the current trend seems to be for most paddlers who are introduced to the sport to graduate straight into larger creek style boats as they start to progress. This is a real change from when ‘playboating’ started to boom in the late 90s, the trend was the better you got, the smaller the boat you got in!
I asked a friend of mine why he was so passionate about ‘playboating’ and he said, “The reason I do it is so that when I am getting trashed in a hole at the end of a big rapid in my creekboat, I have some idea of what is going on! People who don't learn how to play on the river miss out on so many skills.”
It is true that for many of us, ‘playboating’ may well be a second discipline, something that we do every now and then, during warmer weather or when there isn't much water in the rivers. It is important to remember that many of the world’s best paddlers (creeking, river running and even slalom), have at some point worked on their freestyle skills and it has ultimately helped them to develop into the paddler they are now.
Many of the skills that you develop in a freestyle boat, can have such a positive impact on the rest of your paddling, regardless of what your regular discipline is. It is because of these transferable skills that I am so passionate about encouraging any whitewater paddler to learn to enjoy freestyle.
Many of the skills that such a positive
you develop in a freestyle boat, can have impact on the rest of your paddling, regardless of what your regular discipline is ThePADDLER 69
ThePADDLER 70
Ten attributes that freestyle will help you develop… SPACIAL AWARENESS
Freestyle is all about moving (and thinking) in 3D. You become aware of what your boat is doing above and below the water, horizontally and vertically! Like my friend said, when you’re getting turned over in a hole, you’ll be glad you practiced in your freestyle boat and if you make it look good, you could even claim it was intentional!
BOAT CONTROL
Often in freestyle paddling we are controlling a very nimble boat in some challenging situations, with every single tiny movement of your body having an impact on the boat. We are also transitioning from edge to edge very dynamically too, so your overall boat control will inevitably improve which will help your kayaking.
ROLLING
Freestyle kayaking gets your heart pumping! Incorporating a few freestyle sessions into your paddling will certainly help with your all-round fitness.
Freestyle kayaking = getting your head wet. It's pretty much a fact that the more you play the more chances you will get to practice your roll. So many whitewater boaters don't have a strong roll simply because they don't practice it due to the inherent stability from modern boat designs. You might take a few swims when you start out freestyling, but you’ll also get plenty of chances to work on your roll.
Freestyle moves often require you to push the boat around or underneath you and this inevitably develops your strength. As the boat is often at an elevated, freestyle naturally develops core strength, which is important for successful boof strokes, lifting your bow over waves and even for breaking in and out.
Once you start looking for waves to surf and places to play, your ability to read whitewater increases dramatically. You’ll be able to judge which stoppers you can get out of and which ones you can't! You will also start to recognise that the features on the river are just a big playground that you have fun in.
FITNESS
STRENGTH
BALANCE
As you spend so much time with your freestyle boat in all kinds of weird and wonderful positions, you inevitably improve your balance. The ability to hold an edge and to balance dynamically are essential to perform at a high level in any paddlesport discipline.
READING THE WATER
FUN
We all paddle because we enjoy it and freestyle is just another way to have fun out on the water. If you are having a bit of a lull in your paddling or a lack of motivation, then learning to surf and spin could be just what gets you back on the water with a smile
FLEXIBILITY
With the boat making so many rotations around your body in so many different planes, a degree of flexibility is required to perform the moves. If you feel like flexibility is an issue with your paddling, a dabble at freestyle could help to loosen you up!
COORDINATION
If you are the kind of paddler that paddles as hard as they can and hopes for the best, you could probably do with working on your finesse. Many freestyle moves require a set up, initiation, rotation and recovery. This does require you to be co-ordinated with your paddle strokes and often the timing is the key as simply paddling as fast as you can or just throwing your weight around, won't cut it.
and recovery
Many freestyle moves require a set up, initiation, rotation
ThePADDLER 71
ThePADDLER 72
It’s pretty hard to get good at it though isn’t it? At the beginning, learning freestyle moves can seem like a daunting task and without a doubt you’ll fall on your face a fair bit and will probably get quite wet along the way. However, with a little bit of determination and some hard work the results will certainly be worth the effort.There are plenty of skills and instructional videos out there and with a bit of research you will probably find the information you are looking for. Above all with freestyle, keep positive, sometimes your body just needs to learn to do the motion (especially if you haven't done it much before) and before you know it everything will seem to click into place. If you have no idea where to start, most clubs will have some freestyle boats available to paddle and inevitably someone who is willing to help you get started.
THE RIGHT TOOLS FOR THE JOB
Getting the right tools for the job is always important when it comes to kayaking and freestyle is no different. A purchase of a dedicated freestyle kayak will inevitably help you to progress through some of the moves better and a flat-hulled boat with some edges is a must if you are wanting to get spinning on waves. The second-hand market is always active when it comes to buying and selling playboats, so keep your ears open with your paddling pals and keep your eyes on the popular auction sites too. It is always best to demo a boat however, as they often feel very different on a carpet to what they do on the water. Also getting the right boat for your height and weight is a must, too much volume and you won't be able to get vertical, too little and you’ll be sinking all the time.
“Nothing worthwhile doing was ever easy!”
ThePADDLER 74
In recent years many kayak manufacturers have released modern cross over designs, which certainly take some inspiration from the days when we used to play and run the river in the same boat. Whilst typically not specialised freestyle designs, these boats blend the best of both worlds and will allow you to play, as well as run the river with ease.
Remember when you are starting out, you most likely don't need the newest, most expensive design and in fact some of the older style freestyle kayaks are in fact easier to learn in.You shouldn't need to spend much money to get started with a second hand freestyle boat.
USE WHAT YOU’VE GOT
You could of course use what you’ve got! If you have a river running or creek type kayak, you can still use the river as a playground by doing some downriver freestyle. Using your creekboat to play on the river can open up moves like rock splats, grinds, 360s and you can even surf your river boat too. It is never going to be as dynamic as using a dedicated freestyle boat, but if you take the playboater’s mindset to your local river you’ll be surprised at how much you can push yourself and how different you view the water.
TAKE IT FURTHER
Once you have got a taste for freestyle paddling you may well want to take it further. One thing that may appeal to you is to compete. Many competitions take different formats, but the norm is to follow the ICF rules, which gives you 45-second runs on the feature, where you can strut your stuff and rack up points. The atmosphere at freestyle events is always incredibly supportive, with many paddlers cheering on their competitors from the eddy. It can also be a fun way to meet other paddlers and to find some people to get on the water with too.
As with any other discipline of paddling, getting some coaching can also help to move your performance forwards and can give you plenty of ideas on how you can progress, there are even personal performance awards with British Canoeing.This can be a fun way to get some coaching, benchmark your performance and can be very good for setting goals for the future too. If you already have experience and are interested in learning how to coach freestyle, there is a development pathway with British Canoeing for this too. So get out there, get in a short boat and start having fun spinning around and going end over end!
Chris Brain Coaching
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. Chris coaches with the GB freestyle team and delivers the British Canoeing freestyle awards.
Chris would like to thank Pyranha Kayaks, Palm Equipment and Go Kayaking Northwest for making fantastic kit and their continued support chris@chrisbraincoaching.com
LE
RT
RODUC T S P O
F
AWARDS
2020
EAR E Y
PA D D
O
TH
SP
55% RECYCLED YARN
L JURY PRIZE SPECIA
COVID-19
ThePADDLER 76
Under the shadow of
A very special paddle to the Skerries (Anglesey)
Words and photos: Richard Janes Rich Janes (Sea Kayaking Wales) and Lyn Jackson (senior pharmacist at an NHS hospital), paddle to Anglesey Skerries in the final days before national restrictions on movement due to the Coronavirus. As with other and fortunately few major events in our lives, we vividly remember where we were when they happened.There has been much written about Covid-19. Horror stories, tales of great sadness and accounts of professional devotion from those looking after the sick.This is a happy tale. A report of a beautiful, happy day spent with a client and friend in the early spring of 2020. A period none of us will forget and a day we will always remember.
With family and friends working within the NHS it became clear something was about to happen. Lyn, a senior pharmacist at her local hospital felt a definite ‘lull before the storm’ and I knew she needed a great day out before the madness at work began.
ThePADDLER 77
ThePADDLER 78
LYN…
I first met Rich in September on a Dorset beach during a weekend training course. Very approachable, he offered continuing contact to the course attendees and at the beginning of my paddling hobby I had so many questions. I had the opportunity to head to Anglesey in November so the first thing he helped with was getting me spending some money on a drysuit. Up until that point I had discounted the trip as I had fears of spending it wet and cold.
That September paddle was my first time back on the water since a British Canoeing 'Star' award over 12 months previously. Life’s challenges had escalated and I was looking for something to support my mental health and wellbeing.
Come the trip in November I had become less emotionally strong and was in a period of time where I had been signed off from work. I had paddled since September and each paddle was a time where my woes were left on land and I just enjoyed ‘being’.The water seemed to bring remarkable peace and happiness. We had a fantastic day out on the Menai Straits (Rich now beginning his patter regarding buying a paddle!) and this was followed by a Sunday out from Porth Dafarch.This day was extremely hard for me.The hurt of my sister’s suicide flowed over and I struggled to keep the tears at bay. Being on the water now almost permitted me to stop, and start feeling what had built up over a very long time. Although one of the hardest days in my recovery it was the turning point and from this point on time spent on the water has again been a happy and memorable time.
I met Lyn in the morning to consider our options. I could tell she was 'edgy' and after a long chat it became clear to me how important the day was to be.
LYN‌
The short drive to Cemlyn was a joy and distant views of the sea hinted of calm conditions. Arriving at Cemlyn we could see the early vanguard of spring birds had arrived, silently watched by devotees with binoculars. The breeze was a little stronger than forecast but we felt confident in the
https://seakayakingwales.com
All Rich needed to do was decide on destination.
The Skerries or better; Ynysoedd y Moelrhoniaid (Islands of the bald-headed grey seals) in Welsh, lie around 3km from Carmel Head and 13km north of Holyhead. On the north coast of Anglesey, the tide would be ebbing until 15.30. This gave us the timely option to paddle from Cemlyn with the Ebb tide, enjoy a leisurely lunch and begin our journey back at slack water shaping a course inshore to enjoy assistance from the flood tide but away from the lumpy water of wind against tide conditions.
Products include Biodiversity Eco Kayaking, sea kayak sailing, navigation, leadership and skills courses.
I had looked forward to this weekend paddling for a long time.The weather had been appalling for a while and frequently thwarted getting out on the sea. I had planned a few days coaching but decided to go home early as my mum, who I care for, is in the very high risk category and I felt it would be better to get back to her sooner. I even considered driving home that morning but the sun was shining beautifully, the weather was perfect and it was an opportunity to get out on the water, not knowing what future weeks would bring. I had trips planned in my diary but no idea what the world was going to be like.
The weather forecast was for light winds from the north east and a big smiley sun in the graphics. I knew the Skerries would be an amazing option!
SKW coaches sea kayaking on Anglesey and the western coastline of Wales
I had paddled with Lyn several times before. Physically strong, I knew her skills were progressing very well. That Sunday in March was a beautiful day, a rare day which followed a string of 'named' storms and their hammering of the west coast. It was one of those days where you can feel hints of summer warmth in the sun but remembering winter's bite in the breeze. The day began with a dawn chorus but distant hills still carried snow patches.
ThePADDLER 79
ThePADDLER 80
stability of the weather pattern. I could see a physical change in Lyn. Suddenly animated and enthusiastic, she was clearly up for the paddle. Motivated by the beautiful day and excited by the prospect of a trip to the Skerries.
LYN…
I do love how paddling makes me feel. Every time I get in a kayak I know that a time where I can switch off from all life’s toils and troubles is upon me. It really is amazing how the change in how I feel just courses through my body, almost like stepping into a completely different life. Ever since my mental health took a battering late last summer, I have done my best to get on the water as frequently as
possible, although it hasn’t been easy with the winter weather we had. I am certain the improvement in my wellbeing has been in part related to this and if this hadn’t been my strategy, I would not have come as far as I have.
A quick call to the Coastguard and our launch was from the pebbly West Beach of Cemlyn with a plan to take the ebb tide escalator to the Skerries. Lyn was paddling with style over the smooth water of the bay. Middle Mouse could be seen to the east and we chatted of our memories there with friends and Lyn's daughter, Amy. We could see some white water at Harry Furloughs rocks, marked by the green Harry Furlong (Harry Furlough) buoy. Our 'Harry' seems to have been a right charmer!
A local character named 'Harris' is reputed to have extinguished beacon lights marking the rocks at Cemlyn, thus wrecking them on the rocks. The rocks were a furlong distance from the shore. Over time the name is supposed to have changed to Harry Furlough (Furlong) Rocks. The stone beacon was changed to a green conical buoy in the late 1960s.
The ebb tide flowing over the rocks creates fun surf waves and a usual play spot for this trip. Tempting but mindful of the ghost of old Harris and his wrecking potential, I wanted Lyn to save her energy both mentally and physically, for the journey and lively water we would likely meet at the Skerries.
A trip to the Skerries involves a long ferry glide, punctuated by navigation aids and interesting targets. We took a line north, aware of the seductive tide drawing us to Harry Furlough's. Our first target was the North Cardinal buoy of Victoria bank.Top cones pointing up, black over yellow and flashes V.Q if you are hereabouts at night.The massive Cardinal marker had a bow wave reminiscent of a powerful motorboat.
I was aware Lyn felt a little anxious at this stage. Land feels and is a long way away. Committing, superb sea kayaking! It must have felt strange for her as I kept our bows to the north as the inexorable tide pulled us towards the Skerries. West Mouse was clear to our south and when the 'White Ladies' on Carmel Head and the beacon on West Mouse lined up, we knew we were halfway. Soon, North Stack and South Stack became visible to the south west and it became time to think of our approach!
LYN…
I recall Rich sharing quite a lot of this fascinating information but on this particular day, although really happy to be out, I sensed some anxiety within.The sea wasn’t horrendous and I’d been in worse, so I couldn’t put my finger on why I was feeling like it. It was a sense within, not really related to any thoughts I was consciously aware of.
On reflection later I do think it was because we were what was ‘offshore’ for me, whereas apart from my Middle Mouse trip, I hadn’t really previously gone very far from land’s edge at all. I remembered Geth’s advice (Sea Kayaking Wales) from the previous day about leaning forward, getting my paddle in the water and using my feet/legs. A rhythm took hold and it became less ‘shaky’.
As predicted, fast water was flowing at the Skerries and with clapotis, forming some very disturbed water. We planned a strategy and Lyn 'show-boated'
through the fast water and into the first eddy. We worked up the eddy, a quick burst against the flow to miss rocks and we were in calm water, where the first of many, many Atlantic Grey seals welcomed us.
I have been here so many times but paddling into the lagoon today felt special. A portend of the 'lock down' to come? Lyn was enchanted by the attention being paid to her by all the seals. I happened to point out most were male!
LYN…
This was the part of the day I probably found least challenging but apparently that is misjudged and was probably the most! It’s so strange how your head plays with your feelings about things. I think it was probably because I had clear directions on what was needed to manage this final approach so I was focussed and didn’t have time for any other thoughts. And yes, the seals! A relative newcomer, my experiences have not included much wildlife thus far, so it was exciting. Rich, quite used to years of this being the norm around here, didn’t bat an eyelid as we shaped a course to cause least disturbance. Me? I was in awe.The seals on the rocks and then as they saw us slowly paddling into the lagoon, they would slip into the water and follow us, or suddenly bob up from across the other side.
This really was a first experience for me that I will never forget and it has forged an ongoing delightful memory. Later I watched from above as two other paddlers came in and were followed by a number of seals. It was perfect viewing.
Skerries Lighthouse was first lit on the highest point of the largest island after 1716. A patent for the lighthouse was subsequently obtained in 1824. The builder was William Trench, who lost his son off the rocks. Trinity House took over the responsibility for the light through an enabling Act in 1841. The light was converted to electricity in 1927 and automated in 1987. It flashes twice every 10 seconds and can be seen 22Nm away.
Basking in spring sunshine, lunch was a glorious affair! Without time for the usual sandwich preparation, we had packed stove and goodies. But I was told my (limited) paddling skills vastly surpass my tea making ability. What a treat to be in such a haven! Seals calling around the lagoon, whilst the ebb still roared over the 'Platters' to the South.
LYN…
We had a decent time for lunch so cooked a feast and drank tea whilst I continued to take in the view. It was something I didn’t think I’d ever get tired of. Glorious sunshine, perfect views, playful seals, satiated… Oh! And the tea… Well, there’s always time to get better at it Rich! I
ThePADDLER 81
ThePADDLER 82
have a photo that I have shared with my work colleagues as they know how much I like my PG Tips and never refuse a cuppa. I did today!
https://goo.gl/maps/KTgbQuqMZyruHgLG9
The time passed too quickly! And with the dying ebb it was time to leave. We left the lagoon with a flotilla of seals. Strangely, Lyn displayed some anxiety about the water. Waves well within her capability and not remotely as challenging as the water we had encountered on our approach. We reckoned her concentration and focus was so acute earlier, she didn't have time to feel anxious! She quickly settled and enjoyed the glorious light over Carmel Head.
The paddle from West Mouse, east towards Cemlyn Bay was tough for Lyn. The stronger than forecast breeze was in our faces and I think the mental and physical strain of the day was beginning to tell. Not that it detracted too much from a wonderful area of coastline. Very soon we turned the corner of Trwyn Cemlyn and our starting point was close.
LYN…
Oh my gosh the trip back was a slog. At some points it didn’t seem as if we were making any progress but having talked about the White Ladies earlier, I could see using them as transit points that we were definitely moving. I felt anxious again but put it down to tiredness. I kept making Rich slow down as I struggled to maintain the pace, regardless of the new paddles I was sporting after his tried and tested advice! I was exhausted when we finished and it felt good to hit dry land. The warmth in the air we felt earlier had gone and it was distinctly chilly, made colder by my fatigue.
It felt very odd to be finishing. I'd forgotten everything to do with the virus and suddenly thoughts started flooding back. What on Earth was beginning to happen?
My first trip to the Skerries was memorable and I hope Lyn feels the same of her first visit. An absolutely glorious day and fortuitous timing gave my friend and NHS worker some mental calm before the Covid storm. A storm whose waves are truly fearful.
LYN…
The simple response is yes – it was a truly memorable trip. It has actually turned out to be even more important than just an amazing memory of a great classic paddle (South Stack and the Skerries in one weekend, who could ask for more?).
The trip had given me peace and relaxation prior to the crazy and deadly storm we subsequently entered. My team and I are increasingly busy with a new service we are providing to our clinical colleagues in critical care. Sometimes it’s important to just try and bring some calm to our days.The view from my desk has improved! I now have a slide show of some of the photos from that day set as my background – the lighthouse, the lagoon, the views, the seals, (lots of photos of seals), a glorious feast and an awful lumpy cup of tea.
rockpool it’s all in the detail
Unit 7, Holland Park Ind Est, Cyttir Rd Holyhead, Anglesey LL65 2PU Workshop: 01407 764422 Mike Webb: 07970 298985 sales@rockpoolkayaks.com www.rockpoolkayaks.com
To advertise email: ads@thepaddlerezine.com or call +44 (0)1480 465081
ThePADDLER 83
LET'S TALK ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY WE CAN'T FIX EVERYTHING, BUT WE CAN: - Make gear that lasts for years The longer it lasts, the less the waste - Plant trees and rewild the Scottish Highlands To offset some of the carbon (and guilt) - Work with instructors and charities to connect more people with the water environment The more people who care, the more who will value it, and want to protect it - Use organic, fearwear and recycled wherever possible From our rashvests made from reclaimed ocean waste, to our dry bags made from waste PVC
To find out why, and how McConks are different, visit www.mcconks.com
When an inflatable paddleboard dies, it cannot be recycled
CANOE
FOCUS
Tokyo 2020: An athlete’s life in lockdown Page 16
Plan your progression!
Our Community Heroes Page 21
Late Spring 2020
An interview with Chris Brain Page 12
In partnership with
And it’s closer than you think. Let our experience inspire yours and discover expert adventure on your doorstep.
ADVERT
20% discount for British Canoeing members. Shop online using code: AF-BCAN-M1
Trusted by our partners since 1974 cotswoldoutdoor.com Full T&Cs apply. Please see online for details. Offer expires 31.05.20
Contents
3
WELCOME
FEATURE
Welcome note from Chief Executive David Joy 4 NEWS Catch up on the latest news from British Canoeing
Plan your progression
12
AWARDS
5
British Canoeing maintains 6 paddling access on the Cam
FEATURE
Life in lockdown - an 16 athlete perspective
WELCOME
FEATURE
Volunteer and Recognition 14 Awards 2019
FEATURE CLEAR ACCESS, CLEAR WATERS Our places to 8 paddle
Canoeist swaps paddles for 20 patients in Coronavirus pandemic Community Heroes 21
Five ideas for your learning and 11 development during social distancing
ACTIVITY 23 Make your own teeny tiny raft
Canoe Focus Late Spring 2020
COACHING & LEADERSHIP
4
Welcome As I write this at the end of April, we are five weeks into the Coronavirus lockdown and it is clear that we are still a few weeks away from any relaxation of the situation. Government advice is still to stay at home other than for essential reasons.
WELCOME
The lockdown is impacting on all aspects of our lives including our paddling and our paddle sport community. Thousands of people have been unable to paddle, clubs and commercial centres remain closed, hundreds of selfemployed providers have had their businesses disrupted and paddle sport trade and retail companies have also been seriously affected. At British Canoeing, our staff have been working from home and we have had to cancel many of the events planned for the summer. We are projecting our income from non grant sources will halve in 2020. The impact has been similar across all sport and leisure activities in the UK.
I hope you have seen some of the great content we have provided over the last few weeks. We were thrilled to bring you the incredible 45 paddling films to watch during lockdown, share our elearning centre with you and to promote our coaching podcast series. These are promoted within this edition of Canoe Focus and can be found in our new Paddler’s Portal. Head to the British Canoeing home page to see more. No one had ever envisaged that something as big as the Olympic and Paralympic Games could be postponed, but once the Games in Tokyo were rearranged to 2021 due to COVID 19, we had to consider whether the athletes already selected for the Games would remain selected. It wasn’t an easy decision to confirm their selections and you can find out how they are getting on, on page 16.
www.britishcanoeing.org.uk
I want you to be assured that we are engaging I would like to take this opportunity to thank with government agencies to explore how the thousands of members who have supported and when people can start to paddle again. us by renewing their membership in the last We believe there is a strong case for socially few weeks, despite being unable to paddle. This responsible paddling, as soon as the restrictions has made a huge difference to our organisation on sport and recreation are relaxed a little and has allowed us to keep working hard, to and when participation in activities other than develop new products and services which we running walking and cycling are encouraged. have shared with you recently or which will be We will of course keep you informed of launched later this year. the latest developments through all of our channels. British Canoeing is a membership organisation, created by and run for the benefit of members. Stay safe and I really hope it won’t be too Thanks for showing this solidarity when we far in the future before we can once again need it most. enjoy happy paddling.
David Joy
CEO British Canoeing
N E WS
Receive regular updates plus exclusive discounts for our partner products with a British Canoeing membership.
www.britishcanoeing.org.uk/membership/join-us-online-here www.britishcanoeing.org.uk/news
Athletes confirmed for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games
https://www.britishcanoeing.org.uk/news/2020/ british-olympic-association-and-british-canoeingjoint-statement-on-athletes-selected-for-the-tokyo2020-olympic-games
Fundraising appeal launched for urgent repairs to land at the River Dart British Canoeing volunteers and the South West Regional Development team have set up a fundraising campaign in order to raise money for urgent reinforcement work required at the River Dart near to Holne Bridge.
https://www.britishcanoeing.org.uk/news/2020 /fundraising-appeal-launched-urgent-repairsto-land-at-river-dart
Paddler’s Portal Check out our new Paddler’s Portal, providing British Canoeing members and the paddle sport community with a range of free digital resources, webinars, podcasts and content.
Life can be pretty frustrating when you’re a paddler who can’t paddle. Luckily we’re here with some top tips to keep you happy and healthy until you can get back on the water. https://www.britishcanoeing.org. uk/news/2020/5-ways-to-stayhappy-and-healthy-when-youreoff-the-water
45 Films to watch whilst you’re off the water Travel the world on all manner of paddlecraft by diving into our selection of the 45 best paddling films to watch. https://www.britishcanoeing.org. uk/news/2020/forty-five-paddlingfilms-watch
Pulling their weight for the NHS JCB sponsored athlete Adam Burgess attempted to lift the equivalent weight of a JCB 220X digger, weighing 22 tonnes, in pull ups to raise funds for the NHS. The Canoe Slalom athlete was joined by British Athletics’ Ben Williams (also sponsored by JCB) who completed the challenge by doing squats and deadlifts. Together they have raised over £2300 for the NHS. www.britishcanoeingawarding.
Watch Adam in action here org.uk/resource/british-
canoeing-coaching-podcast/
Canoe FocusLate Early Spring2020 2020 Canoe Focus Spring
The bank erosion which was also impacted by the recent floods has become a serious problem. Can you help us to save this popular piece of water?
Five Ways to Stay Happy and Healthy When You’re Off the Water
NEWS
The British Olympic Association (BOA) and British Canoeing have confirmed that the five canoeing athletes already nominated for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games will remain as selected to represent Team GB at the rescheduled Tokyo Olympic Games in July - August 2021.
55
6
British Canoeing maintains paddling access on the Cam British Canoeing has been working closely with the Cam Conservators to extend the licence agreement for a section of the River Cam in Cambridge which comes under their jurisdiction.
The popular paddling spot was up for renewal and thanks to the hard work of our volunteers in the region, we are pleased to announce an extension has been agreed. This means that once the current restrictions are lifted, paddlers will have access to the waters between the Mill Pond in Cambridge and Bottisham Lock until the end of March 2021 with no additional charge.
The agreement is subject to the following conditions:
FEATURE
•
The licence extends to individual ‘on the water’ British Canoeing members only. (Members of clubs or paddlesport providers must make arrangements with the Cam Conservators directly to cover their vessels)
•
Paddlers must adhere to the Conservators’ by-laws and conditions of registration (see camconservancy. org) which includes clearly displaying an identification number (British Canoeing membership number) on both sides of the craft at all times.
•
Paddlers must carry their British Canoeing membership card with them at all times and present if requested by a member of the Cam Conservancy.
This will come as welcome news to the many people who expressed their concerns to the Places to Paddle team, over the potential loss of this waterway from our block licence. Regional Waterway Volunteer, David Savage said: “The Cam is a wonderful, historic stretch of water, it is extremely scenic and many paddlers value this section being covered by the British Canoeing block licence. It is a really popular trail and I am pleased that an agreement has been reached.”
www.britishcanoeing.org.uk Photo: David Savage RWA East
British Canoeing works closely with navigation authorities such as the Cam Conservators, Canal & River Trust, Environment Agency and others to combine all the main licensable water under our membership. This gives members the ability to paddle on over 4,500km of our waters, without having to seek separate licences. Places to Paddle Manager, Ben Seal said: “The waterway licence is cited by our members as one of the main reasons they join British Canoeing. “It is a fantastic asset and we are really pleased that we can continue to work with the Cam Conservators. The money that goes into the Navigation Authorities helps preserve and protect our waterway network; from maintaining our heritage to preserving the natural environment.”
Photo: David Savage RWA East
8
Clear Access, Clear Waters Our Places To Paddle
British Canoeing continues to maintain a portfolio of sites across England that provide paddlers with fantastic places to get on the water. The organisation is extremely proud to be the custodian of ‘Places to Paddle Sites’ on behalf of the paddlesport community. In the current climate the management of these sites is, however, a significant challenge and one which could not be met without the amazing local volunteers on the ground.
CLEAR ACCESS, CLEAR WATERS
The portfolio of assets British Canoeing maintains today has grown in number over a couple of decades. No two sites are the same and range from an arable field on the Wye, to a dam release river in Yorkshire; from a flood release channel in Bedford to a small haven of woodland on the Dart. Each of these sites presents a unique set of challenges and opportunities, so here is an update on the current state of play.
Holne Bridge, River Dart The land, situated within the beautiful setting of the River Dart in Devon is a very special location, popular with paddlers, swimmers and anglers alike. Importantly, this small section of woodland is a crucial access point to the River Dart loop and lower Dart. Holne Bridge was purchased in 1991 by two local paddlers and although the site is owned by British Canoeing, it is currently cared for by dedicated local volunteers, Pete Thorn and Brian Taylor. Used by hundreds of paddlers every year, it is a valuable access point to the river for those tackling the popular ‘Dart Loop’. Bank erosion has in recent years however become a serious problem and with the recent flooding in the area worsening the problem, work is more urgently needed now than ever. A target of £15,000 has been set by the South West Regional Development Team to undertake the work, although they have already received sums from Sport England and Regional Development Team Reserves, donations are still needed.
www.britishcanoeing.org.uk
The link to donate to the fundraising cause can be found here. Donations close on 30th June 2020.
Ripon In 2010, British Canoeing purchased a piece of land on the banks of the River Ure at Ripon. As a result, canoeists have enjoyed a guaranteed access and egress point, plus wild camping by arrangement. The site also plays host to a local piece of unique World War One art, installed as part of the centenary commemorations. In Spring 2019, British Canoeing received a significant number of reports of access issues on the Ure around Ripon, largely from organised groups complaining of receiving threatening letters by the Piscatorial Association. Paddlers using the Ripon site are always reminded to be mindful and respectful of other users along the banks and to always maintain good environmental practice by avoiding gravel banks, where fish may be spawning.
Halton Rapids This site has been used by paddlers since the 1970’s and is still a great venue for practicing white water skills, with access to parking, changing and showers!
9
This year, volunteers have been busily replacing access steps and a ramp down to the water’s edge, which had become dislodged by flooding. Funding for the new structure has been entirely sourced by the volunteers and will hopefully continue to provide access to the Lune and Halton Rapids for years to come. Access to the site at Halton is largely due to the dedication of two people: Pat and Norman Green, who have managed the relationship with Lancaster Co Housing and the Anglers for decades. Without Pat and Norman, it is unlikely paddlers would have access to the facilities we do today.
Washburn Working in partnership with Yorkshire Water, British Canoeing leases the Washburn River and owns an area at its southern most end, commonly known as ‘The Woodyard’, where you can find basic facilities and parking. The Washburn site is managed by a subcommittee of the Yorkshire and Humberside Regional Development Team. Throughout the year, the Washburn committee coordinates a calendar of events and competitions for recreational, slalom and playboating. Each event is run by volunteers from local clubs on behalf of the committee. During an event, water from Thuscross Reservoir is released down the river, turning a shallow, rocky stream into a fast flowing, 2.5km grade 2-3 river.
It is uncertain as to when the Washburn calendar will carry out a full year of events. Volunteers and staff are working hard to secure the future of the Washburn as a valued regional asset for paddlers.
Linton
Since the main part of the hydro scheme was officially commissioned in 2019, efforts to get the course up and running for paddlers have been ongoing. Safety testing of the features has been hampered by a series of setbacks, including high water, maintenance work to the innovative inlet gate, plus issues with certain sections of the design. Volunteers and British Canoeing staff are continuing to work hard to get back to testing as quickly as possible. The fish migratory season and Covid-19 crisis has created a further set back, but all efforts are being made to make the course open to the public as soon as is safe to do so. For now, the facility remains closed.
Canoe Focus Late Spring 2020
Linton White Water Course has been in development for many years. The project is part of a groundbreaking hydro scheme at Linton Weir, north of York. The facility combines fish passage, energy generation and a four pool white water training facility for paddlers.
CLEAR ACCESS, CLEAR WATERS
Since 2016, Yorkshire Water has been working hard to recover the river to a ‘good’ ecological status. Restrictions on release events during spring and early summer has for the last four years helped significantly improve fish spawning. In recent months, major capital works in the reservoir chain below the River Washburn has caused the cancellation of many release events. Extreme weather has also played its part, with dry summers and extremely wet winters limiting the Washburn committee to only a handful of releases in 2019.
Exclusively Available At
Official Fruit Partner For
YOUR VITAMIN C INTAKE SAVE £1
at Offer valid 01.1.2020 to 31.12.2020
Five ideas for your learning and development during social distancing
1119
Lockdown has been a difficult time for everyone and is having an enormous impact on the paddling community and Instructors, Coaches, Leaders and Guides in particular. That’s why we’ve developed some top tips and recommendations for you to keep your passion for paddling alive by developing your knowledge and coaching skills further. So whilst we kick back to stay safe, you can still maintain your learning and development from the comfort of your sofa.
1
Explore eLearning Explore a range of bitesized knowledge exercises on topics including ‘Buoyage’, ‘Nutrition and Hydration’ and ‘Introduction to Environmental Awareness’. Check out the ‘Develop your Coaching Craft’ and ‘Leadership’ eLearning materials to support your coaching and leading ability, or work through the ‘Personal Performance Awards eLearning’. Prepare yourself to run these awards once we’re back on the water!
overview, as well as a specific breakdown in each area of your skills and knowledge. The analysis then offers considerations on how you may want to support your continual learning and development.
4
Listen to ‘the Coaching Podcast’ Hosted by Lee Pooley, Sid Sinfield and Pete Catterall, The Coaching Podcast, explores a range of topics including ‘How can we make our assessments empowering?, ‘Maximising sessions through good gate sessions’ and ‘How to get started and develop as a coach?’.
COACHING & LEADERSHIP
2
Delve into the digital library Our free digital library includes a wide range of resources to support your learning and development across the different disciplines. From videos, audio books, blogs and presentations to academic research and much more, there’s something for everyone!
You can also renew your First Aid qualification with our newly introduced FREE First Aid Extension eLearning course. This course will be recognised by all National Associations as a three month extension.
Canoe Focus Early Spring 2020
3
Develop using the Coach Self-Analysis Tool Whatever discipline you participate in, gauge your current level of understanding, skill and knowledge with our coach self analysis tool and gain a personal overview of your current practice. The tool provides you with a holistic
Canoe Focus Late Spring 2020
5
Tune into the weekly Coaching Community of Practice webinars Connect with coaches from across the British Canoeing paddlesports community through our webinars. Each week a new coaching topic is discussed as we look at the implications and applications of coaching in various contexts. We also share experiences and learnings. Topics so far have included ‘Coaching through Covid’ and the ‘Coach Athlete Relationship’.
12
Plan Your Progression There are so many little things that we can do to keep ourselves focused on paddling during this time of restriction. Chris Brain reflects on his time away from the water and how we can all prepare for the return to paddling.
This is the longest time that I haven’t been in a boat since I started paddling!
FEATURE
For me going out on the water isn’t just my job, it’s who I am, it’s my identity, it gives me real focus in my life and so many of my personal goals are intertwined with it. With the restrictions in place, I’ve currently found myself feeling a little bit lost, wondering what to do, how to keep focused and how to get some kind of paddling fix throughout all of this. I know I’m not alone in how I feel, thousands of paddlesport enthusiasts across the country are feeling the same way. In an unprecedented situation where paddlesport is currently on hold in the UK it feels strange to be sat at home when the sun is shining, the water is warming up and daylight lasts well into the evening.
Reflect Where are you currently with your paddling? To help, you might want to ask yourself the following questions:
www.britishcanoeing.org.uk
● What have the last 12 months paddling been like for you? ● Where have you paddled? ● Are these the same places you’ve always paddled? ● Is that ok, or do you want to explore more venues? ● How have your skills/experience/ knowledge developed in the last 12 months? ● Do you have development opportunities with your technical and tactical skills? ● Do you have development opportunities with your physical and psychological approach? ● Are you making recognisable progress?
What many of us do have during this time however, is an opportunity. An opportunity to become fitter, faster, healthier, more knowledgeable and more prepared for future paddling. We can reflect on where we have been and where we would like to go. We can take the time to properly plan that dream trip or to research rivers, coastline, lochs, lakes and canals we’ve not yet paddled. We can create a proper personal development plan so that we can move forwards with our paddling when we’re back on the water. We can also take time to connect with others who might share our situation; via social media, online meeting platforms or just a good old fashioned phone call. What I’ve realised is that we can do a little something every day to help us prepare for when we get back on the water. So take some time to reflect, set some goals and to make a plan!
If you are looking to reflect specifically on your coaching skills and experience the British Canoeing Coach Self Analysis Tool can help you identify areas where you have potential to develop. This will also signpost you towards a range of resources to assist your development Effective reflection is the first stage towards solid planning, so taking the time to do this will pay off in the long run.
Goal Setting
It is really important that your targets are specific and tangible so you know exactly what you are trying to achieve and will be able to recognise when you achieve it. Many paddlers fall down at this stage by saying something too vague like, “I want to be a better paddler.” This goal is not specific and won’t help you in your quest to improve.
“If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got” If you want to come out of this period ready to move forwards with your boating, you’re going to have to be prepared to do something different to what you were doing before!
13
Setting goals as well as specific milestones and checkpoints along the way is going to be critical to developing your paddling performance. A simple and reliable way to do this is to use SMART goals.
FEATURE
Specific - I have a clear definition of exactly what I need to do Measureable – I will know when I have achieved it Achievable – It is actually possible for me to do this Realistic – My level of commitment is good and the time required to do it is realistic Time Bound – I have set myself a realistic deadline to complete my goal and I will work towards that
Plan and Do Reflecting and goal setting is one thing, but getting off the couch and doing it is a different matter altogether! Now you’ve identified the areas you’d like to develop and set yourself some targets, it’s time to start making a plan as to how you are going to do it.
“How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time!”
Once you start your plan, keep the initial steps towards your goal really small and easily achievable, the simpler something is to do the less likely we avoid doing it! Remember there is something we can do every single day to help achieve our goals.
Canoe Focus Late Spring 2020
Break your SMART goal into lots of smaller bite sized pieces. Giving yourself milestones towards your goal is critical, consider the rivers/rapids/venues/moves that you will need to do along the way to help you reach your target. The inclusion of checkpoints is also key as they are structured moments for reflection to check you’re tracking towards your goal.
14
British Canoeing held its annual Volunteer and Recognition Awards at Eastwood Hall, Nottinghamshire on Saturday 14th March. The Awards highlighted the amazing work our volunteers and clubs do to make our sport what it is today, celebrating the nominees and winners from the past 12 months. Congratulations to all of our deserving winners... To find out more about each nominee’s story, head to; https://www.britishcanoeing.org.uk/news/2020/ volunteers-honoured-at-british-canoeing-recognition-awards-dinner
AWARDS
Outstanding Contribution Award: Lorraine Murray-Glendenning
This posthumous award was presented to celebrate the life of Lorraine and her voluntary work at Hexham Canoe Club. The Outstanding Contribution was presented to Lorraine’s daughters Chloe and Anna - Louise Glendenning.
Volunteer of the Year, sponsored by Jaffa: Siobhan Rowe, Norwich Canoe Club
www.britishcanoeing.org.uk
Clear Access, Clear Waters Award of the Year Award sponsored by Peak UK: Steve Waters, Colchester Canoe Club
#ShePaddles Club Award, sponsored by Lyon Watersports: Holme Pierrepont Canoe Club
15
Club of the Year, sponsored by Errea: Basingstoke Canal Canoe Club
Impact on Equality and Diversity Award sponsored by Red Paddle: Adventure Activities for All
Young Volunteer of the the Year Award, sponsored by NRS: Jack Holland, Pennine Canoe and Rowing Club
AWARDS
John MacGregor Award sponsored by Pyranha: Lee Royle Lee’s mum Louise Royle collected the award on his behalf.
Young People’s Club of the Year Award, sponsored by Dagger: Pennine Canoe and Rowing Club
Royal Canoe Club
Go Paddling Award, sponsored by Palm: Slea Paddlers
Canoe Focus Late Spring 2020
Talent Club Partnership Award, sponsored by Towergate:
16
Life in lockdown An athlete’s perspective
The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has meant paddlers across the nation have had to put down their paddles and take some time away from the water. With the cancelation of events across the board and the monumental postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, this has been a particularly tough season for our athletes too. Training might have stopped on the water, but our athletes aren’t letting this get them down. Many have altered their training programmes to suit a home set up, ensuring they remain in strong physical condition ahead of their return to paddling. We caught up with the five selected canoeing Olympians to see how they are keeping in shape during lockdown, what they’re doing to keep themselves occupied and their plans for getting back on the water ahead of the rearranged Tokyo 2020 Games.
FEATURE
Mallory Franklin – Canoe Slalom
Bradley Forbes-Cryans – Canoe Slalom
Mallory Franklin is a women’s C1 and K1 slalom canoeist and in 2018 became Great Britain’s most successful female canoeist winning a record eight individual and three team medals in one season.
Bradley Forbes-Cryans put down the run of his life at the World Championships last year, in the men’s kayak single (K1). He finished just off the podium in fourth place but still secured his Tokyo berth, beating some of the world’s biggest names in the process.
The Games next year will be douberly special for Franklin, who will race in the women’s canoe single (C1) class, the first time this event has been included in an Olympic Games.
How has training been whilst in lockdown? “Luckily I was able to get quite a bit of gym kit, including weights and a bench press, from Lee Valley White Water Centre before we had to lockdown, so I have a pretty normal gym set up for me. This has allowed me to continue my normal gym sessions which is really important. “On top of that I am doing lots of ergo sessions, running, yoga and circuits - a range of things to keep me moving every day.”
What have you been doing to keep fitness up during lockdown? “I’ve had some gym equipment delivered to the flat, I’ve got a kayak ergo and some little bits of essential gym equipment. I’ve been doing ergo sessions, a little bit of gym and quite a lot of running. The main thing for me is keeping the baseline fitness with my running and also to try and keep my power to weight moving on as much as possible.
www.britishcanoeing.org.uk
“I don’t feel stressed about trying to move anything on too much because we have a longer lead in period, so I’m hoping to enjoy a bit of rest and down time before getting into some really intense training when we do return to normal.”
Aside from training, what have you been doing to keep yourself occupied? “I’m trying to get on top of the house because since I moved in, I haven’t got a lot of it done, so it’s a good opportunity to get through that list. In between painting my bedroom ceiling and baking, I’ve also spent a lot of down time watching TV.”
How much are you looking forward to the Games when they come around? “There’s so much training between now and the Olympics which will include training camps in Tokyo, and other races, so I am looking forward to that whole journey. SItting on that start line at the Olympic Games will be an incredible moment when I know all of my hard work and dedication to a sport that I love will pay off, so I’ll enjoy the experience and hopefully bring my best performance out on the day.”
Liam Heath MBE – Canoe Sprint Reigning Olympic Champion Liam Heath holds the world’s fastest time in the men’s K1 200m, an event he only started competing in seriously during 2016. He is also a multiple Olympic medallist in the K2 200m with partner Jon Schofield.
How have you remained focussed whilst training at home?
17
“I’m going for lots of runs, and doing full body workouts. I’m thankful to British Canoeing for lending me some gym equipment, so I’m continuing to do lots of working out as I’d do normally, which is cool. I have a kayak ergo to keep my arms moving and simulate the kayak motion. I have also been getting creative with swiss ball ideas.”
Aside from training, how have you been keeping yourself occupied?
How is training and life going during lockdown? “Training is going well. Going into lockdown, the concern was maintaining strength and fitness, but I’m lucky to have a full range of equipment and now I’ve settled into it, I have a good routine going. I train twice a day which is balanced alongside looking after my daughter Sarah.
How much are you looking forward to competing in Tokyo and how big a Games will it be? “It is going to be a massive Games and a massive celebration of sport. Having the date set is a great driver for motivation to get through the solitary sessions. “Knowing we have something to aim for in the near future provides a good focus.”
Kimberley Woods – Canoe Slalom Kimberley Woods had her first insight of life as an Olympian as a member of the Team GB Ambitions Programme at Rio 2016. When she heads to Tokyo next year, she will take the seat in the women’s kayak single (K1) and finally realise her Olympic dream.
Adam Burgess – Canoe Slalom Great Britain’s first ever C1 U23 World Champion in 2015, Adam Burgess has been growing in stature over the last few years. He will race in the men’s canoe single (C1) when Tokyo comes around.
How much are you looking forward to being on that Olympic start line? “It is really exciting. Come next summer the world will hopefully be in a better place so I think it will be a huge celebration of all things sport and show how interconnected sports makes us.”
FEATURE
“My focus is 100 percent on next summer and the training I need to do in order to put on my best performance at the Games. I’m desperate to be able to get back on the water but this period is allowing me time to focus on my family and our health during such uncertainty.”
“I have been filming quite a lot of content for my next video – ‘project lockdown’, which will feature on my vlog. I filmed a video of me doing a P.E workout with Joe Wicks which should be entertaining to watch - it was fancy dress Friday so stay tuned for that! I am trying to be creative and keep my mind healthy as well as my body.”
How have you remained focussed whilst training at home? “I have a home gym set up here which we are making do with, so there is plenty I can get on with. I am taking the opportunity during the lockdown to take advantage of having more time to spend on gym work. I am trying to look at it as a land-based physical block to add some horsepower to the engine.”
What are your thoughts now the new dates for Tokyo have been announced?
Aside from training, how have you been keeping yourself occupied? “I am lucky that I’m doing my yoga teacher training, so I’ve always got homework, different exercises and planning classes to do. I’ve spent whole weekends on Zoom instead of in the studio. It is a great second focus and I’m lucky enough to have the time to practice some teaching. I have been doing sessions for followers of the British Canoeing Facebook page, using their Facebook Live has been a really good experience for me - planning and delivering classes. I’m also trying to give a bit back to the community and inspire a few more people to get interested in something I’m quite passionate about.”
Canoe Focus Late Spring 2020
“I am super pleased to know the new dates for Tokyo. Now I know we’re looking into 2021, I can focus on planning, although there is still uncertainty around when we will be back into full training. I will be having calls with my coaching group during lockdown and planning the races we want to do from there.”
01.
ON DRY LAND An expert’s guide to caring for your kit When you’re back on dry land, there’s plenty you can be doing to make sure the time you do spend on the water is the best it can be. Caring for your kit is an essential part of any adventure, helping to make sure it lasts as long as you do and performs at its best. Here’s a guide to caring for your kit from the experts at Cotswold Outdoor.
Footwear
Outdoor footwear is built to be sturdy, but a little care and attention will keep it performing for longer. Removing mud and grime each time will help prevent it wearing away at the material, but you should always properly clean and reproof your boots before storing them. To keep your boots performing at their best, particularly on the water, reproof them after every couple of wears. Check for wear regularly, looking out for over-worn soles, fraying laces, cracks in the midsole or broken eyelets. If the boot uppers are damaged, this can compromise their waterproofing and you might want to consider replacing them.
02.
Insulation
After a season on the water, your insulated jacket may well need some TLC. If you use a down jacket without a waterproof shell, we highly recommend having it professionally cleaned, but if you want to wash at home, always check the care label and use a product designed specifically for down jackets. The best way to dry it is in the tumble dryer, taking it out every 20-30 minutes to shake it out to avoid clumps, before airing for a few days. Synthetic jackets require a slightly simpler process and can be machine washed using a non-bio detergent with no added fabric softener. Like down jackets, synthetic jackets are best dried in the tumble dryer and then left to air for a few days. Revive your jacket’s water repellency and improve breathability by replacing the DWR coating. Simply repeat these washing steps using a wash-in treatment.
We’ve been where you’re going cotswoldoutdoor.com
19 Spending time off the water is the perfect opportunity to show your kit some due care and attention, making sure it’s ready for wherever your next adventure takes you.
Waterproofs
Most waterproofs are treated with a DWR finish to keep the outer fabric from becoming soaked or ‘wetting out’, but it’s essential to wash your waterproof kit to maintain its performance. You can use a sponge or put it in the washing machine using a tech wash or non-detergent cleaning agent. If washing alone doesn’t do the job and your kit is still absorbing water after washing, you will need to reproof and use heat to reactivate the DWR treatment.
04.
Storing your kit
Storing your kit when you’re not using it is crucial to maintaining optimal performance on and off the water. Footwear should be clean, reproofed and completely dry, before being stored in a well-aired, dry place away from direct heat and sunlight, to avoid damage and keep them in great condition. An insulated jacket’s performance relies on its filling and compressing it can cause it to lose its insulating effectiveness, so these should be hung rather than folded or stuffed. Finally, you’ll probably need your waterproofs year-round, so keep these hung up in a dry place away from direct sunlight.
Water droplets should bead and roll off but if your kit has become clingy, saggy and water sinks into the outer fabric, it’s time to reproof and refresh the DWR coating.
In partnership with
COTSWOLD
03.
20 20
Canoeist swaps paddles for patients in coronavirus pandemic
FEATURE
Olympic hopeful Doctor Chloe Bracewell put her medical aspirations on hold two years ago in order to put herself in the best possible place to win a coveted spot on Team GB for the Tokyo Games.
Chloe graduated from Nottingham University in 2015 and split her time between training at Holme Pierrepont and completing her foundation year until she decided to take a break to train full time.
Following the escalation of the Coronavirus pandemic however, she has opted to return to the NHS as a call taker on the 111 service, assisting patients over the phone.
“I love my sport but keeping people safe and well is most important right now. It was important for me to join the call to arms and return to the NHS.”
Talking about her move back into health care, Chloe said:
Chloe’s training won’t stop though, she will be combining her shifts on the phone with training in her makeshift gym - inside a former sheep barn in the countryside where she currently lives.
“We’ve been really focussed on training and getting into the best shape possible ahead of our trials but clearly COVID-19 is bigger than anything else right now and I’m glad I can do my bit to help. I’ll be answering calls on the 111 service, giving advice to patients from there.”
Watch Chloe discussing her return to medicine here
www.britishcanoeing.org.uk
Nominate your community heroes
21
We know there are many key workers and community volunteers in our paddling community who are working tirelessly to help our country during the current crisis. To show our appreciation and say thank you for all they are doing, we’d like to award them with a Blue Paddle Award. We’ll be posting our thank you messages on social media and news stories featured on our website. First off a huge thank you goes to Sarah Thomas, Delia Ellard and Dominic Hinshelwood for their contributions.
Dominic Hinshelwood
Sarah Thomas Sarah Thomas provided support to the Southern Boat Series (SBS) Wild Water Races and since lockdown began, has been helping some of the oldest and most vulnerable members of the group.
FEATURE
After delivering outdoor education to hard to-reach young people for over 30 years, Dom has had to adapt to working online, making sure the mental health of the young paddlers he supports is maintained during this period. He is even making doorstep deliveries to kids with disabilities providing flower-growing and art kits, and has set a ‘paddling in your garden challenge’ for his youth club members.
Despite both Sarah and her husband working full-time from home and juggling childcare for their daughter Izzy, Sarah continues to deliver the vital weekly shopping to members of the SBS group who are in need. Without her help, the people Sarah supports would have to risk their health by making the trips to shops themselves. Sarah is a true lifeline for them.
Delia Ellard
To nominate yourself or someone you know, head to; britishcanoeing.org.uk/membership/community-heroes and click the link to complete the form. Tell us about the work you/they are doing, their involvement in paddling and don’t forget to attach a picture of your nominee.
Canoe Focus Late Spring 2020
Delia Ellard is usually busy making the bibs for competitors of canoe slalom to wear at ranking slalom events. Since Covid19 hit, however, Delia has put her superb sewing skills to use by making scrubs for the NHS. Aged over 70, Delia is doing a most valuable job providing protective gear to help shield our wonderful NHS staff and other key workers.
MISSION: PERFORMANCE
DON’T LEAVE YOUR SPORTS NUTRITION TO CHANCE FOR QUALITY, INTEGRITY AND AFFORDABILITY, GO FOR VOW NUTRITION When it comes to sports nutrition, it pays to be choosy. To be at your best, whether in the gym, on the pitch or on the water you want products that consistently deliver targeted performance benefits. So why not follow the example of the British Canoeing Team and many world-class pro athletes and choose Vow Nutrition? Vow’s dedicated team of nutrition experts have developed a range of scientifically backed but affordable formulas, supported by the latest research on key nutrients, vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals. With a commitment to using only the highest-quality, pure, raw materials, they’re also backed up by rigorous lab testing.
THE BEST START
Vow Nutrition gels are targeted to support your needs pre, during and post workout, and are certified 100% vegan. Providing easily digested carbs, plus 60ml caffeine
in each sachet, Kick-Off apple-flavoured gel will give you an energy boost and help sharpen your focus ahead of high-intensity exercise, or any endurance activity.
SUSTAINED PERFORMANCE
When fatigue kicks in, Half-Time orangeflavoured gel will give you a lift to see you through to the finish. Designed to be consumed without water, it tops up your energy with carbs, and replenishes electrolytes to help avoid dehydration.
SAFE FOR ATHLETES
Vow Nutrition is committed to using the purest natural Ingredients and the highest production standards. Made in the UK, every batch is scientifically tested to ensure that each product only contains exactly what it says on the label and nothing else. That’s why Vow Nutrition products are certified by Informed Sports – and why you know they’re a sports nutrition brand you can trust.
PRIME YOUR RECOVERY
When the final whistle blows, or you’ve finished your warm-down set on the ergo, it’s time to think about recovery. FullTime raspberry- flavoured gels are loaded with a blend of essential BCAAs to speed up muscle repair and rebuilding, plus carbs to replenish energy levels.
WWW.VOWNUTRITION.COM
Make your very own teeny tiny twig raft!
23
Whilst we settle into life indoors, our friends at the Scouts have come up with a range of ideas to bring the great outdoors inside. Why not have a go at this teeny tiny raft building activity and share your raft with us by uploading a picture of it to social media and tagging us @britishcanoeing
1
2
3
5
Gather some fallen leaves or petals – these will be the flag on your raft. If you can’t find any you can always create your own flag out of paper and colour it in yourself Cut six pieces of string, each around one metre long Line up your eight same-sized twigs, side by side. These will become the deck of your raft Next, wind a piece of string around and between one end of each twig. Try and follow an under and over pattern - go under the first twig, over the second, under the third, and so on
6
When you reach the final twig, tie a knot to fix the end of the deck in place
7
Repeat steps two and three, to secure the other end of the deck
8
Then lay one of your long twigs at each end of the raft – they should lie the other way to the deck. Use the rest of the string to attach these twigs to the deck Carefully slot your thin twig upright in the middle of their raft. This is your flag pole. Attach your leaf, petal, or paper flag to the flagpole by poking the flagpole through the flag Have a think about which woods float best – lighter woods such as cedar usually float better than heavier woods such as oak. It’s time to set sail with your teeny tiny raft! Test your raft by floating it in a small shallow pool of water. Does it float? Can you write a story about the adventure your raft will be going on?
For more activities from the Scouts Great Indoors collection, visit: www.scouts.org.uk/the-great-indoors/
Canoe Focus Late Spring 2020
9
ACTIVITY
4
Collect eight sticks or twigs that are roughly the same length. You will also need an additional two slightly longer twigs, and one thin twig
Exclusively Available At
Official Fruit Partner For
BOOST YOUR VITAMIN C INTAKE TO AN EXCITING NEW LEVEL WITH THIS DELICIOUS SMOOTHIE! Jaffa Orange Smoothie Servings: Two Ingredients:
- 2 ripe bananas (frozen works best!) - 1 Mango (de skinned and cut up in to small chunks) - 1 Jaffa orange (peeled and cut up into small chunks) - 200g orange juice (we use freshly squeezed) - 150g almond milk (alternative milks would work too) - 1 tsp vanilla extract Method: Put all ingredients into a blender and whizz up until smooth Optional: Serve with an orange slice and ice
WO R L D - C L AS S K AYAKS , C AN O ES AN D PAD D L I N G EQ U I PMEN T
paddles with are
“go anywhere” dependable exploration
adventure around every corner
taheoutdoors.com Robson, Zegul and Tahe Marine products are distributed in the UK and Ireland by Lyon Equipment - www.lyon.co.uk
DAG and RTM products are distributed in the UK and Ireland by Lyon Equipment - www.lyon.co.uk
To advertise email: ads@thepaddlerezine.com or call +44 (0)1480 465081
ThePADDLER 109
We asked
60 of our contributor paddlers a simple question…
PADDLING? When the lockdown ends, where are you Questions asked on April 20th, 2020
Featuring (In the order they replied…) Corran Addison Darren Clarkson King Darcy Gaechter Mike Shaw Christopher Crowhurst Glenn Richards David Horkan Dimitri Vandepoele Adriana Eyzaguirre Dave Manby Liam Kirkham Mark Corti Andy Holt Jack Atkinson John Connelly Serkan Konya Nick Troutman Barry Shaw Derek Hairon Steve Brooks Aniol Serrasolses Mal Grey Martin Rickard Pete Astles Cornil Wambergue Chris Brain Tom Thorpe Sal Montgomery Jf Marleau Sean Clarke Greg Paquin Hap Wilson Andi Brunner Claire O’hara Martin Trahan Jakub Sedivy Bruce Kemp Kevin Callan Eric Deguil Sandra Hyslop Steffan Meyric Hughes George Harrap Angela Ward Graham Warren Jessie Stone Ray Goodwin David Bain Andy Lee Georgina Preston James Ibbotson Gareth Mahood Markus Stehböck Adrian Cooper Ottilie Robinson-Shaw Glenn Tomlinson Rebecca Jones Richard Harpham Adam Evans Mark Salter Becky Mason
ThePADDLER 111
ThePADDLER 112 CORRAN ADDISON ROUGE RIVER, QUEBEC, CANADA
Canada’s lockdown is a strange one. Stay home. Don’t socialize. Avoid family members and friends you do not live with. However, go for a walk. Ride your bicycle. These are encouraged. If you ride in a group, its a $1,500 fine each. Ride alone and it’s OK. It takes some interpretation, but this means that, at least currently, we can still paddle. I’m going out to the Lachines with my son, or sometimes alone for a surf. But I’d like to go run a river, the Rouge specifically, with my son again, and as soon as the lockdown ends, that’s where we’re going. We cannot now because it involves a shuttle, but thats number one on my radar.
Corran Addison is a regular contributor to the Paddler magazine and owns Soul Waterman
www.soulwaterman.com
DARREN CLARKSON KING GAMCHI CHU RIVER, BHUTAN
Easter is the time our plans always move toward the Himalayas. From the holy Ganga to the pristine rivers of Bhutan. The less unknown runs. Sure most know about the classic of Nepal, the Sun Kosi, Marsy and Bhote. Bhutan has kept a mystery around the rivers in the Kingdom. The Gamchi Chu is tucked away across the country, way out east. A dirt track takes you to the put in. The white Chorten an obvious land mark. Cool and clear water rushes past. The horizon dropping at each river bend. Rocks block the path, they cover over the visuals. Heading down, moving past troublesome features is never all that easy. On the bank the farmer and the beast of burden. On the horizon another fall, a cascade, a smooth boulder to ride over and boof. All too soon the river slows, a road bridge comes close. That is the place to settle – to exit.
Darren is an adventurer whose personal philosophy asks what we can learn when we put ourselves in a place of adventure. Over the last 20+ years Darren has explored some of the worlds most challenging rivers. He specialises in running trips across the Himalaya in Nepal, India, Bhutan, Pakistan and Tibet. To join him for expeditions visit www.purelandexpeditions.com
DARCY GAECHTER SOUTH YUBA RIVER, CALIFORNIA, USA
If I weren’t sheltered in place, I’d most likely be loading up my new van with kayaking gear and driving to California to start the boating season off right! One of my favorite early spring runs in CA is the South Yuba River. Look at those beautiful rocks and amazing water colour! The South Yuba has many kilometres of amazing whitewater and there are tons of sections so this river has something for the Class III paddlers, the Class IV paddlers, and the Class V paddlers.
http://darcygaechter.com
Darcy Gaechter is the first ever woman to kayak the entire Amazon River!
MIKE SHAW OTTAWA RIVER, CANADA
So here goes where would I paddle?
Assuming we can go anywhere and be anywhere in the world right now with optimium paddling conditions. I would transport myself and a bunch of friends to Canada, to the Ottawa River. Beautiful scenery, amazing wildlife, stunning white water, phenomenal waves and wonderful people. A freestyle kayakers paradise!
Hectic mornings watching beat down after beat down in Phil’s hole, frustrating but oh such joyous surfs on corner wave. Grins from ear to ear on baby face wave before heading to Garberator for immense airscrews and ass kickings! Relaxed afternoons at push button, chilled evenings on the beach, cooking on open fires and a moonlight session back at push button to finish of the day before crawling to bed tired and content, ready to do it all again the next day.
Mike Shaw is a professional coach and playboater in his spare time, sponsored by Jackson Kayaks, Mitchell Blades and Square Rock
ThePADDLER 113
ThePADDLER 114 CHRISTOPHER CROWHURST LAKE KABETOGAMA, MINNESOTA, USA
In the northern reaches of Minnesota, where the US and Canada border slice through the lakes, there is a beautiful stretch on water, Lake Kabetogama in Voyageurs National Park Lake. Unspoiled crystal-clear waters interspersed with rocky islands that offer safe havens for nighttime camping.
Easter is a perfect time to escape here, the ice is leaving the lakes, the black flies are still hibernating. The lake is quiet with only the hardiest of paddlers and fishermen bracing the sub-freezing night temperatures. The paddling is wonderful, either long open crossings or sheltered excursions using the many island’s wind shadows for protection, there are routes for all levels of experience and passions.
Most islands have sheltered campsites, providing stunning views across the lake and forests surrounds its shores. The driftwood and fallen trees from the
winter storms provide ample fuel for fires, and the total darkness of zero light pollution provides amazing star gazing opportunities. Instead though I find myself stuck nearer home practicing yoga, and building my strength, for when it becomes safe for us all to return to paddling the wilds.
Read Christopher’s blog on the https://qajaqrolls.com website that he runs.
GLENN RICHARDS TANA RIVER, KENYA
My favourite river to do endless laps on is the Tana, Kenya! Putting on below the town of Sagana and taken out at ‘Savage Wilderness.’ Fantastic grade 1-4 drop pool river. If I am kayaking or rafting this river is such a joy to be on. I have done countless laps but never gets boring.
Its great to take clients rafting on this section, as the big rapids push there confront zone and creates big smiles. The calm water section where clients have the opportunity to ask questions about the local cultural and different species of birds in the area.
Kayaking this section there is always places where you can push yourself! Catching that micro eddy, trying different line, playing in different ‘play spot’ in your creeker or being out in a play boat. I love showing visitors this river which I have on my door step. Using different sections to coach on or doing laps of the harder rapids and trying to get a ‘Clean Line’
Due to the current situation laps can wait. Kenya is not on a full lockdown. Certain cities here are! However, the way to stop the spread of ‘Covid-19’ is to ‘Social Distance’ and in fact change are lifestyle. I am
missing being on the water and paddling with friends or clients visiting. But to set a good example to the people around here and highlight that ‘Covid-19’ is serious we have to sacrifice are hobbies and are passions. However, there will be a time when this is all over that we can return to do the things we love.
Glenn Richards ‘Senior Instructor’ at ‘Savage Wilderness’ Event organiser for ‘Tana River Festival’
@SavageWilderness @Tanariverfestival @immersionresearsh
DAVID HORKAN DEVIZES TO WESTMINSTER RACE, UNITED KINGDOM
If I could get away for a paddle this weekend I’d love to be doing another Devizes to Westminster race. 125 miles across English country side finishing under Westminster Bridge. It takes place Easter every year and can be attempted over four days or non-stop in k2. I’ve done the race four times, my last race in 2018 being cancel halfway through due to flooding on the Thames. I’m looking forward to getting back for this great race in 2021.
Closer to home I be happy to get out on my local coast on the West coast of Ireland and enjoy some clean Atlantic surf and sea air. We will have to stick to alternative training for the moment, but it will make it all the more sweet when we get back to our boats and paddles.
David is a professional kayaker and one of Ireland’s top paddlers A guide, coach and athlete, he is active at a high level in multiple disciplines. From paddling raging whitewater rivers, surfing walls of Atlantic swell, to racing over incredibly long distances. His passion for being on the water and commitment to pushing his boundaries make him the epitome of the ‘all round’ kayaker. https://www.dhkayaking.com
DIMITRI VANDEPOELE KORCULA ISLAND, CROATIA
Most of us are in lock-down due to the Coronavirus. I hope you and your families are OK. If there is one place where we would be right now, during the Easterweekend, it should be Lumbarda. This is located on Korcula island in Croatia where we coach the Sea Kayak Training Camp every year.
When the SKTC is done, we head out ourselves and find us the best spots in the area. The reason why this place attracts us so much is the diversity, the beautiful weather and crystal blue water all around. I’m thinking of visiting the wellhidden and abandoned limestone quarry on Vrnik island, the curious deer on Badija island where there is also an ancient monastery.
A few uninhabited islands further away is the village of Korcula. If you have never been there, it is like Dubrovnik, but smaller and cosier. After lunch in one of the many small restaurants, serving tasteful local dishes, we head back in our sea kayaks to Bilin Zal beach, where we started, and where there is a sandy beach. Lovely to see the sun go down with the white sand going through your toes. Let us all dream, and this lock-down will be over before we know it.
https://youtu.be/m_FIuWnkBxA
https://www.youtube.com/northseakayak
ThePADDLER 115
ThePADDLER 116 ADRIANA EYZAGUIRRE ITHICA, GREECE
Now I spend a lot of time in Greece in a unique unspoiled little island in the middle of a turquoise sea. One of the most enjoyable events last year was having Eiichi Ito here running a Greenland rolling workshop where I learnt lots of new rolls and techniques. So, if I could go paddling this weekend, I would definitely be taking out my rolling kayak, my Greenland paddle and heading for the lovely waters of the bay to work on those tricky rolls!
The waters here are crystal clear and warm and you can always find remote coves to practice skills. I want to get back that feeling of excitement, enjoyment and playfulness with the sea that Greenland rolling brings. It has really taught me to relax and take it slow, even when under water, and enjoy the process of rolling in a very friendly way.
DAVE MANBY DEE RIVER, UK
Adriana Eyzaguirre Director www.exploraexpeditions.com +44 (0) 7981716957 www.facebook.com/groups/exploraexpeditions.com
Ah the Dee, that reliable run you can run at any level, my local river, the river that I cut my white water teeth on, the river where I met up with Mike Jones, the river that changed my life. I remember showing my dad Trevor Rocks when I had just started and his approving my choice of an alternative sport (though I think he would have liked me to continue playing cricket too)!
Memorable days on the river: making it down the ‘Tail’ the first time as a wide-eyed 14-year old, competing in C1 at the Llangollen town Div 1 Slalom in a C1 4 years later. High water runs – I caught it once at around 2.5m on the Corwen gauge – it didn’t take long. Also the Dee site for the Mike Jones Memorial Rally and many many smiling faces.
When lock down is finished I think I will go for a paddle without my jaded, “It’s not high enough”, “it’s too cold”, “I’ve no one to paddle with”, I’ll go for a paddle with my memories.
Dave needs no introduction and is considered a pioneer in the sport of canoeing and is probably best known for being involved on the British expedition of the first descent of the Dudh Kosi river. More info on Dave and his books and DVDs: http://www.davemanby.co.uk
MOVE LIKE A NINJA
The revised NRS Ninja is now available in 3 bright colors – to be seen when it matters.
100% Employee-Owned Company
The Ninja liberates your arms and shoulders for total freedom of movement. Its compact design stays out of your way for unrestricted paddling, whether exploring the coast in your sea kayak or surfing your local play wave. The ultimate low-profile PFD is now better than ever with a re-designed pocket and updated features. Dual zippers allow easy access to the wide-opening half-moon hatch, internal organization adds usability, and an angled lash tab optimizes knife placement.
facebook.com/nrseurope
instagram.com/nrsweb
nrs.com
www.
ThePADDLER 118 LIAM KIRKHAM RIVER OF GOLD,THE SUN KOSHI, NEPAL
After a couple days pottering round the vibrant somewhat chaotic streets of Kathmandu bartering for lumpy knock off down jackets made by Potogonia and South face. Id like to head to the Sun Koshi.
The start of the classic stretch is only a few hours from Kathmandu and what lays ahead is a class 3/4 270km multi-day trip from west to east. Every day has big bouncy fun rapids but also lazy green sections to idly float, take in the surroundings or chat to friends without the distractions of your usual life.The rapids have their draw but right now what I’d appreciate most are the huge white sandy beaches that border the river. Sunbathing after a nice day’s paddling then cooking on a driftwood fire before laying down to sleep in the sand under the clearest of skies. Bliss.
MARK CORTI TRYWERYN, SNOWDONIA, UK
Where would I paddle this Easter weekend? Tricky! In my imagination, I’d be on a flight to Punta Arenas for a lateseason trip into the Chilean fjords, eating fresh-caught crab every day and heading back for hot showers and soft beds on the expedition yacht Icebird! In reality, I’d be – like almost every other white water boater in the UK – fooling about with some mates on that most sociable of rivers, the Tryweryn.
Rock spins at the top of the Graveyard. Surfing cafe wave. Rock splats on Everest. A trip down the Lower with my eldest, and since the weather’s warm I’d introduce him to some of the easier features on the Upper. Then a barbecue and beers at the Tyn Cornel campsite next door, swapping stories and planning a summer trip to the Alps.
Mark is a regular contributor to the Paddler magazine with his expeditions in Antartica and South America.
Liam heads up the tuition and trips at AS, so if he is not in the shop he is on the water. Liam is a qualified canoe and kayak coach, and will be providing trips, courses and coaching: http://team.aswatersports.co.uk/meet-theteam/as-staff/liam-kirkham/
YOUR TRUSTED TECHNICAL A P PA R E L S U P P L I E R
Centre R ange W E T S U I T S | BU OYA N C Y A I D S & M O R E
www.typhoon-int.co.uk | sales@typhoon-int.co.uk | +44(0) 1642 486 104 |
Typhoon_international |
TyphoonInt
ThePADDLER 120 ANDY HOLT CORSICA, FRANCE
It’s that time of the year again and Spring is here. The air is warm, Blossom is on the trees and the birds are singing. For the last 12 years my favourite must go paddling destination at Easter has been Corsica. This beautiful Mediterranean island has peaks over 2,500 metres and with its early snow spring melt and temperatures averaging 25 degrees plus its one of Europe’s places to be.
Corsica boasts some of the best low volume steep creeking in Europe with its bedrock rapids, granite slides and amazing clean as you like waterfalls, it’s a mecca for boaters all over Europe who visit the island during April.
I’m sitting here smiling as I write this like I’m smiling on the Corsican rivers. That feeling of coming up to one of those horizon lines a little nervous but then peeking over to see the most clean slide or fall into a green translucent pool is the best feeling in the world, with whoops of joys and high fives at the bottom, it just gives you inspiration and already your looking forward to the next one.
Corsica at Easter has a special place in my heart and draws me back year after year. I can almost hear the rivers now calling my name and I will visit you soon my friends…
Andy has been working in the outdoors since 1998 and in 2004 set up his own business ‘Escape To Adventure’ which mainly focuses on kayak courses & white water coaching and guiding. Having built up an excellent reputation within the paddling community and with their excellent safety track record and low instructor to client ratio, Escape To Adventure has been a huge success and continues to grow every year. www.escapetoadventure.com
JACK ATKINSON DOURO RIVER, PORTUGAL
All is coming back to life. Almond blossoms replaced with green leaves, orange and lemon trees with bending branches loaded with fruit, and especially the grapevines are full of new leaves. Here from my vantage point in front of the Rock Art museum at the confluence of the Coa and Douro Rivers, I can see grapevine covered terraces stretching far off in the distance. Now we must get down off this mountain to the Douro River for another fantastic paddle.
After being quarantined at home for six weeks, all of us have been dreaming of this moment. Our first strokes are incredibly comforting as we realize that we are, at last, back on the water. These last few weeks are slowly flowing from our minds, as we try to be here in the present. It’s been a tough time, and for many, life will never be the same. These weeks have also brought out the best in many people, witness all the people working in essential services. The tremendous inequality in our lives and the impact on many people has again come to the front. Perhaps the most critical wakeup call should be to consider how our environmental destruction of the planet may be a root cause for the development of the coronavirus.
For the next couple of hours, we try to put our concerns in the background and stay in the present. Grateful for being back on the water.
Jack has been the instigator and driving force behind both Douro and Algarve Kayak Expeditions. After having lived and worked in several parts of the world, Jack settled in the Iberian Peninsula more than 45 years ago and has been an English teacher, language school owner and sea kayak guide during this time. https://www.dourokayak.com
JOHN CONNELLY CAYO COSTA STATE PARK, FLORIDA, USA
Cross-country skiing is over, lakes in the mountains are still frozen and the rivers haven’t started running yet. What’s a northern paddler to do? Go where it’s warm!
For years we’ve been fleeing Maine’s mud season to put our pale toes in warm sand and paddle the island paradise of Cayo Costa State Park on Florida’s southwest coast near Fort Meyers.
Nine miles long, the island boasts untouched white sand beaches on the Gulf of Mexico and lush mangroves on the protected Pine Island Sound side to the east. In addition to the birdlife, there’s a resident population of feral hogs and alligators and the gamefishing and sport fishing is phenomenal.
Take your kayaks and camping gear aboard the ferry from Bokeelia at the north end of Pine Island or load your boats and paddle mostly protected waters to Cayo Costa’s dock.You can also rent recreational or siton-top kayaks at the Park, but if you want higher performance boats, you will need to bring them.
There’s a handful of campsites for tenting on the Gulf of Mexico and a few extremely basic small cabins. Ice can be purchased at the ranger station near the dock. It’s all you need if you’re prepared for primitive camping life on the island.
John Connelly has written a book on his Paddlequest 1500expedition called ‘Dying Out Here is Not an Option’. It can be found on Amazon both digitally and in paperback. His travelogue can be found at http://www.paddlequest1500.com
SERKAN KONYA ALARA RIVER,TURKEY
We had been planning a trip for more than a year with Beth Morgan to the Taurus Mountains of Turkey for this Easter. After my arrival to Antalya, all the international flights were cancelled and I’m right now here, alone and already planning/dreaming about where to paddle, as soon as we’re allowed to drive again.
There are number of good quality runs in the area both explored or yet barely explored. But as I’m most probably going to be myself, I have to pick one that I’m most comfortable with and it has to be as long as possible.
The mighty Alara River is the answer for many good reasons in one pack. First of all its about 50kms of epic white water, curves through narrow, steep, box canyons and later massive, deep, beautiful gorges with plenty of good quality rapids with a fair amount of calm water in between. The river starts to flow at the Ucansu waterfall in the area of Gumusdamla village, to the north east of Antalya in the heights of middle Taurus and flows all the way down to the small historical village of Alarahan on the coast at Alanya.
I think it’s good to go for three days on a solo selfsupported expedition so I can take it slow and easy in order to have plenty of time to enjoy myself, the river and the nature in the middle of nowhere.
Serkan is a pro kayaker. operating and leading whitewater kayaking/rafting trips and courses in Africa, Europe and Turkey. https://twitter.com/serkan_konya
ThePADDLER 121
ThePADDLER 122 NICK TROUTMAN BRUSH CREEK, CALIFORNIA, USA
I can’t wait to get back to the river, and if I were to be heading to the river this Easter weekend (which I’m not, as we stay home in selfquarantine) I’d love to be back on the Brush Creek in California.
We spent one Easter there a couple years back and it was ideal with warm weather, plenty of water and fun location to go hunting for Easter eggs with the whole family. This year we will hunt for eggs in out front yard and I will dream about the friendly waterfalls of Brush creek while we stay home. Stay home, stay safe, and remember we’ll all be back on the river soon enough.
Corsica at Easter has a special place in my heart and draws me back year after year. I can almost hear the rivers now calling my name and I will visit you soon my friends…
BARRY SHAW THE MAIDENS, N. IRELAND, UK
If I was going to go for an Easter paddle this weekend it would be to The Maidens. They are a couple of islands which lie a few miles off the Antrim coast. I have never been out to them and last year since moving over here they have been on my mind as paddling destination. I’m quite excited about paddling out to them but I would like the first time to be either by myself or with my partner Claire, so that it can be a new experience. I find going to a new destination with someone who is familiar with it can be like watching a film with someone who has seen it before.
Barry paddled around Great Britain with Phil Clegg and Harry Whelan, completing the 2,200 mile journey in a record breaking 80 days. He’s also completed the 2400km circumnavigation of the South Island of New Zealand.
Nick’s list of achievements is wide ranging from film producer, to World Freestyle Kayak Champion. He has featured in the Paddler magazine many times and several years ago after his Hurley Classic triumph we go the chance to interview with him: https://thepaddlermag.com/nick-troutman/
DEREK HAIRON THE TWO TOWERS, JERSEY
I’m spoilt living on Jersey, the island of the tides because I have so many sea kayaking opportunities both around the coastline and offshore. But, it’s a 50m walk down my path and onto the beach where I grew up that enthrals and rejuvenates me.
When I slide my kayak onto the water two hours after low tide, it only needs a couple of paddle strokes before I’m whizzing along like a salmon running a river. Here, the 12m tide rushes amongst a labyrinth of criss-crossing rocky channels that make this the largest rocky intertidal area in Europe. Beneath my kayak is an aquarium of marine life.
A few hours later, what was once a mass of rocky gullies is transformed into an ocean that’s bordered by two 19th century offshore towers. The two towers lure me away from human sounds and into a place where nature is in control. On a calm sunny day, only the sound of the flowing water breaks the silence.
Eventually, my watery route will become land. Now I can retrace my journey on foot as if I was walking over the bed of a river.
Derek Hairon, a British Canoeing level 5 sea kayak coach if the author of the Channel Islands Sea Kayak guide book (Pesda Press). He runs Jersey Kayak Adventures and offers tours and courses from novice to advanced levels. He uses a range of craft from sit-on-top and sit-inside sea kayaks to high-performance sea kayaks and surfskis. Derek has kayaked extensively in many top sea kayaking destinations. He still finds his island home and the waters on his doorstep to be the best place to be out kayaking. https://jerseykayakadventures.co.uk/
STEVE BROOKS RIO PALGUIN, CHILE
For the past three weeks I have now been at home in the Arlberg region. From being quarantined for the first two weeks, we can now leave our village to get food and after Easter even go to the garden centre to bring some brightness and colour to spring!
I was in the Indian Himalayas kayaking with Stanzin Tanfan and the boys from Shivanandi just before the outbreak in Austria started. I was advised to fly home as soon as possible from the embassy in Delhi and the Austria Foreign Ministry also said they could not guarantee that flights would keep going and borders could be closing soon with countries going into lock down. Infact whilst I was on my flight from Delhi to Paris I found out that the border of Austria and Germany was closed! I managed to secure permission to cross the border by foot from the last train station in Germany across the border and into Austria. It took me 41 hours to get back home from the Himalayas!
Usually I would be kayaking on the stunning Soča River in Slovenia. Kayak School Arlberg has been frequently running trips there throughout the Spring and sometimes in the autumn to this beautiful river. While watching our home river – the Rosanna -– rise
everyday during this past week, we are still not allowed to kayak until the 26th April, which is our next Corona decision date!
The river I am most looking forward to kayak however, is the Palguin in Chile but that will have to wait until November!
Steve’s love for kayaking and adventure is infectious and this can especially be seen in the kayak school he set up eight years ago. Based out of Arlberg, Austria, the school runs courses for beginners plus coaching and instructing kayakers through all the whitewater grades, including creeking and river running. For more information check out: www.gokayaking.at and www.gokayaking.at/blog
ThePADDLER 123
ThePADDLER 124 ANIOL SERRASOLSES RIO BAKER, PATAGONIA, CHILE
If we weren’t in total lockdown the first place I would head for this weekend would be the rio Baker in Patagonia. One of Chile’s biggest volume rivers, Class V rapids and the most beautiful scenery. A true paradise for white water kayakers. We are just getting started with COVID19 and we have a long way to go down here, but feeling thankful for what we have and confident that we we’ll get through this one and get back to the rivers we love.
Aniol is a world-class kayak adventurer from the Catalonia region of Spain who loves nothing more than to be lost in nature and pushing the limits of the sport he loves! His brother Gerd introduced him to kayaking and the brothers have gone on to be film makers and defenders of the rivers.
https://www.instagram.com/aniolserrasolses
MAL GREY NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS OF SCOTLAND, UK
Every Easter we head to the wonderful Northwest Highlands of Scotland with the ‘Pirate Captains’, a bunch of growing kids for whom this year’s trip would have been their seventh year. We were due to head to Loch Maree, to attempt a route we’d tried and failed on four years ago, portaging up to lonely Fionn Loch, the head of which lies in the heart of the most remote region in these isles. That year was one of extremes.
We started by surviving a Force 11 storm on an island which tried to destroy both our tents and the ground on which they sat. Later, broken equipment forced a turn around half-way up a three-mile portage with time running out. The reward though was a return to the islands in utterly fabulous conditions, where we spent a magical few days revelling in the landscape around. We were looking forward to a rematch but the closest we will get this year is a video call from
our separate gardens, but though we won’t be in the wilderness, the wilderness will still be with us.
Mal runs the ‘wilderness is a state of mind’ website at www.wildernessisastateofmind.co.uk
protect yourself from the elements www.liquidsports.co.uk
ThePADDLER 126 MARTIN RICKARD PAPA STOUR, SHETLAND, SCOTLAND, UK
So where on my doorstep would I go for an Easter paddle?
There are so many fantastic paddles in Shetland, it’s hard to choose just one. However, Papa Stour always springs to mind. On the west side of mainland Shetland, it offers a fun and challenging day out. https://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Papa_Stour
The cliffs have been under siege from the Atlantic for thousands of years, the erosion there has produced some of the best caves, geos, stacks, tunnels and arches you are likely to see.
To be honest if you want to explore the very best caves and tunnels, then it’s pretty much a fair-weather paddle as any swell from the west makes it impossible to enter safely.
From the crossing point at Melby it doesn’t look spectacular or even mildly interesting, but within half an hour of reaching the other side you are in a different world…
PETE ASTLES CROMFORD CANAL, DERBYSHIRE, UK
Anywhere would be good… Just on the Cromford Canal, with my boys would be nice. It’s right by our house, but we’re being good and abiding by British Canoeing’s policy of not going out on the water! We’ll be down there as soon as we’re through this. Much love. Stay safe. Pete xxx
Pete Astles owns and runs Peak UK, one of the world’s biggest paddling equipment manufacturers, who supply everyman and his dog in the industry. Family man Pete is also pretty dapper with a camera but his long term ambition is to brew good beer:) Find out more @: https://www.peakuk.com
It’s worth taking some serious illumination. Many of the best caves are long, narrow and dogleg. One is 600 metres long and beware conditions can be very different on the other side. Lots of camping options, bring water.
Anyone visiting Shetland, interested in local knowledge/guiding are welcome to contact Martin @ info@seakayakadventures.co.uk www.seakayakadventures.co.uk
ThePADDLER 128 CORNIL WAMBERGUE THE ISLAND OF COMINO, MALTA
My name is Cornil and I own ‘Gozo Adventures’, based in Gozo, the small sister isle to Malta. It’s a small island (just 5Ă—7 miles) and surrounded by the beautiful Mediterranean sea. As long as it’s not too windy, it’s a pleasure to kayak all year round.
If I could set off now I’d being heading towards the tiny island of Comino and the famous Blue Lagoon. It’s always an amazing experience in spring before the summer swimmers and tour boats arrive and we have to share it. The water there on a sunny day really is the most amazing turquoise colour. Bliss đ&#x;™‚
Cornil runs and owns ‘Gozo Adventures’, based in Gozo. Find out more @: http://www.gozoadventures.com
CHRIS BRAIN LOCH NESS, SCOTLAND, UK
I always associate Easter with heading to Scotland for some kind of adventure, whether this is kayaking in Glencoe sliding down waterfalls, over on the river Spey on a multi day canoe trip or making the journey from coast to coast across some of the major lochs in Scotland.
A place that has always held a strong attraction for me is Loch Ness, a spectacular expanse of water with beauty and challenge in equal measure. I’ve travelled across this Loch in a range of crafts, paddled it with groups, tandem and solo, explored the north coast, the south coast and plowed straight down the middle too!
Even though I feel like Ive seen a lot of this water it still shows me something new every time and that will keep me heading back there for years to come. I am yet to complete the Great Glen Way on a SUP, so once the world has regained a bit of normality, that is certainly a challenge I would like to set for myself.
Chris has been kayaking, canoeing and coaching for the last 17 years and runs his own business Chris Brain Coaching, delivering paddlesport coaching, safety and rescue courses and REC First Aid Training.
http://www.chrisbraincoaching.com. Email: chris@chrisbraincoaching.com
TOM THORPE SOUTH WEST OF THE UK
If I could go anywhere to paddle right now it would be my home turf. I love the south west of the UK, there is a surf zone for all conditions and there are extensive rock gardens, not to mention offshore and downwind options. If you know where to look there are also tide races. I live next to the slipway and can access some amazing places in a day, but there is another place which is calling out.
When people ask me where I’d like to go, normally the first thing that always comes to mind and one of my favourite places in the world is the west coast of Scotland and for sure escaping other people would be great right now.
However! Brittany is amazing and for me its just across the channel as I can drive onto the ferry at the bottom of my road. I love how easy it is/was. We were all worried about Brexit and the issues it may cause, now we are worried about when this Covid storm will pass and trying to do the right thing to make it pass quicker!
In the north of France you’ll find great surf breaks, sheltered paddles and of course tide, it also tends to be a tad warmer than here in the U.K.
The islands west of Le Conquet including lle Molene and Ushant are fantastic, linking the islands is so much fun and a paddler can go as far as they want or just
stop, chill and play. Most of the Islands are nature reserves and landing is forbidden, but there are small settlements on some of them and pure white sandy beaches. Do not under estimate the Islands as the tide that flows between them is strong and being good at eddy hopping will help you a lot, not to mention surfing standing waves!
Sea kayaks are not the best at surfing beach breaks, especially steep close out waves but sea kayaks are made for these kind of surfy, longer adventure trips.
Tom is a regular contributor to the Paddler magazine and a renowned sea kayaker. To find out more about Tom read the interview he did for the Paddler in 2019: https://paddlerezine.com/aninterview-with-tom-thorpe/
SAL MONTGOMERY RIO CLARO, CHILE
If I could be anywhere with primo levels and a good bunch of buddies right now… it’s a tough one but I think it’s got to be the Rio Claro in Chile. Waking up and spending the whole day running clean waterfalls that drop in to big pools of perfectly clear water, in the sunshine and one of the most beautiful valleys you’ve ever seen. Can it get any better?
https://vimeo.com/262946273 Photo: Eli Castleberry
Sal is a regular contributor to the Paddler magazine and an outdoorsy type who is happiest when out adventuring with friends, although she does like the odd solo adventure too. When not on the river, she can usually be found playing on the sea or in the mountains. Watch her great video on Bhutan – a must watch @: https://uktvplay.uktv.co.uk/shows/expeditionwith-steve-backshall/watch-
online/6062262839001 and her interview in the Paddler magazine @: https://paddlerezine.com/an-interview-with-salmontgomery/
ThePADDLER 129
ThePADDLER 130 JF MARLEAU BROKEN GROUP AND DEER GROUP ISLANDS, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA
When the legal and social norm restrictions are lifted or softened and kayak touring will become socially accepted in relation to the evolution of the status of COVID-19 in our area, we have a few plans to enjoy the freedom of the sea again.
Weeks ago before COVID19 transformed the world as we used to know it, my partner Justine Curgenven and I were planning two Easter adventures. First a seven-day trip where we will leave from a beach beside our house in Ucluelet on the west coast of Vancouver Island for the Broken Group Islands and Deer Group islands in Barkley Sound.
The Broken Group Islands has over 100 islands by itself. This is currently on the path of the grey whale migration and the area between our place and the Broken Group and the Deer Group Islands is very wild and beautiful with so many whales around. This is just a start.
We were also planning to take a float plane to go kayak fishing trout to a remote alpine lake called Pretty Girl Lake for a few days.This Lake is only accessible by float
plane. When things return to normal, in addition to guiding and teaching in remote areas, we are planning to circumnavigate Haida Gwaii for a personal holiday from guiding and teaching sea kayaking:)
JF has taught kayaking and guiding expeditions full time across Canada since 1998. He is a certified Level 4 Guide & Guide Trainer and Examiner with the Sea Kayak Guides Alliance of BC (SKGABC). He was vice-president of the SKGABC for 14 years, He is also a certified Level 4 Instructor and Level 3 Instructor Trainer with Paddle Canada. He runs SKILS, Canada’s premiere sea kayaking training centre. For details see: https://www.skils.ca
SEAN CLARKE WHITE NILE, UGANDA
Escaping from lockdown and an imminent winter, I’d love to be on a river anywhere. But if I have to choose, then the White Nile, Uganda – even in spite of the recent Isimba Dam, everything about Jinja, Bujagali and surrounds, it is my favourite place on earth.
April is the rainy season but other than bodas and mutatus sliding everywhere in the mud, paddling continues year round. Freestyle paddling is much reduced without the Nile Special section but the river is still mighty and holds the attention of any paddler unawares on it. Ingenuity and a genuine love of the river is what draws people back each year for the Nile River Festival (Jan/Feb each year) and I can’t help myself in answering the call and heading back.
There’s not too many places in the world you can get to the river holding your kayak and paddle on the back of a motorcycle sliding through mud. Adventure and social interactions (sorely missed in the isolation) is what draws me back year on year. God damned I wish I could get there right now.
Sean is the Chair of British Rafting, the rafting discipline committee of British Canoeing and Head of Marketing and Media for the International Rafting Federation. He is also a kayak and canoeing coach. www.britishrafting.com
GREG PAQUIN FISHERS ISLAND SOUND, NEW ENGLAND, USA
Here in New England, the north east coast of the US, it is still quite cold around the Easter weekend. So, it is a toss up whether to go paddling on the sea or skiing in the mountains. Especially since a recent Nor-Easter storm just delivered 12-14 inches of springtime snow. If I were to set my sights on paddling, which traditionally is part of my self-conditioning process ahead of the annual trip to Angelsey North Wales to help coach at SKUK’s early May symposium, I head to my favourite coaching/paddling grounds.
This is a place where three states, Connecticut, Rhode Island and New York meet together in Fishers Island Sound. Fishers Island Sound is a dynamic place where the glaciers left terminal moraines in different orientations giving us over falls and tidal races where the water pours in and around creating up to five knots of tide.
It is always interesting to see how the winter storms changed this eastern section of Fishers Island Sound and what migratory bird and marine life are still around or
passing through. And, with constant tide movement and exposure to ocean swell, it’s a fantastic place to paddle. Stay safe everybody and make wise decisions. Greg is the founder of Kayak Waveology in Connecticut USA in 2005, a sea kayaking specific training company. He has 26 years of experience as a sea paddler and a BC Performance AWE Coach. https://kayakwaveology.com
HAP WILSON LADY EVELYN RIVER, TEMAGAMI, CANADA
sometimes even later.
It’s unlikely we would get out during any Easter weekend here except for a couple of local rivers that would be running high (Big East/photo/running rapids). Our first venture would always be the Lady Evelyn River in the heart of the Temagami Wilderness Park, once the ice is out and that generally doesn’t happen until the first week in May,
Compared with other countries graced with warmer climes, the best canoeing in central Canada owns a rather short season. I’ve paddled the Lady Evelyn more than 200 times – it’s our commute to our Ecolodge (www.cabinfalls.ca). It’s a 35-kilometer paddle with twelve rapids and portages; great fun in the spring, beautiful no matter how many times you paddle it.
Hap is an award-winning artist, author and photographer. He worked several years in the Temagami District as a Park Ranger, later as an
outfitter and was co-founder of the environment group Earthroots. Author of 14 books, his writing has appeared in Canadian Geographic, Cottage Life, Explore, Canoe & Kayak, International Wildlife and Outdoor Canada. https://hapwilson.com
ThePADDLER 131
ThePADDLER 132 ANDI BRUNNER PACIFIC NORTH WEST, USA
Most kayakers are not allowed to go kayaking at the moment. But we are all sitting in the same boat!
If there wasn’t the lockdown, I would immediately go to PNW in America. I have already been there once before with lower water and it was amazing! I am dreaming of paddling there with good flows! Unlimited laps on the famous Little White Salmon must be so good. And many more great rivers that are in this region. Actually it was my plan to go there in April. Unfortunately it didn’t work out. If they would end the lockdown now, it wouldn’t take more than two hours for me to sit in a plane to Portland.
Andi is an Austrian world-renowned white water kayaker, a Jackson team member and a regular contributor to the Paddler magazine – catch up with him on Instagram. @andi_brunner97
CLAIRE O’HARA HAWEA AND TEKAPO WHITE WATER PARKS, NEW ZEALAND
If life was back to normal, I would absolutely love to be paddling in New Zealand right now. Powered by Easter eggs, I would be enjoying an Easter weekend surfing the crystal clear (freezing cold) water of the Hawea and Tekapo white water parks. Throwing down back to back freestyle tricks on the park’s amazing waves and holes. Between sessions I would head to the stunning nearby lakes and enjoy some good food by the water, surrounded by incredible mountains and natural beauty.
Claire is the most successful female freestyle paddler of all time, having won a combined 10 World Championship gold medals in the whitewater disciplines of freestyle kayak and squirt boat. Now, residing in Sydney Australia, Claire still represents Great Britain at major events around the world. https://www.claireohara.com
creating lifetime memories
tootega.com
ThePADDLER 134 MARTIN TRAHAN POISSON BLANC REGIONAL PARK, QUEBEC, CANADA
I’m a health professional working with elderly people. I’m also a caregiver taking care of my 101-year old grandma still living in her house. I’m exhausted, I need some time off and I’m dreaming about going back canoeing in the wilderness. Through the emptiness felt this winter and the Covid-19 outbreak, I need more than ever to get back in my canoe. I get closer to happiness one adventure at a time
The Poisson Blanc Regional Park is a vast area dedicated to outdoor recreation in the province of Quebec in Canada. The park’s territory mainly evolves around the beautiful Poisson Blanc reservoir, a lake of 85 km2 dotted with a hundred islands on which are located wild campsites. Rustic and isolated, they offer an exceptional camping experience on a vast stretch of water without any close neighbours. Relaxation, nature and greatness. You can be using this amazing playground by canoes, kayaks or paddleboards. Too
few people allow themselves to go on an adventure. But those who do know how beneficial the experience is. Photo: Yan Kaczynski
Martin is an adventurer, ultra long distance canoeist and Banff Mountain Film Festival ambassador/Quebec Tour. Catch up with him on Instagram: @martin_trahan_canoeist
JAKUB SEDIVY CORSICA, FRANCE
For Easter I would go to Corsica. I love and miss the island. There is just no other place like that. Corsica is usually the first whitewater melt in Europe in April and as such it attracts a lot of paddlers who are keen to get on the water after a long winter. I love the feeling of getting on the ferry and meeting a lot of my friends I have not seen for a long time. You can just sit back, relax and await the view of the white peaks above the meditearean sea. Corsica is not only about kayaking but also about meeting a lot of friends and about the cultural experience.
Where else can you paddle close to the snow line in the morning, eat the oysters at the beach by an old roman port in the afternoon and enjoy evening barbecue with many of your friends while drinking local wine?
So yes, just writing about it makes me smile and I may go to the cellar and check if there is a bottle of Corsican wine for this evening.
Jakub is a regular contributor to the Paddler magazine and a world-class white water paddler paddler hailing from the Czech Republic. He’s also an outdoor photographer focusing on adventure sports all around the globe. He
spreads his time shooting photos of skiers in Austria over the winter, travelling around Europe in search of the best whitewater and biking locations in the spring and summer and heading off to the far corners of the planet on various expeditions in the fall. Catch him @ https://www.jakubsedivy.com
TITAN NYMPH available on line at www.good2go-equipment.co.uk
RRP £750 Pre order with custom colours available for £650 Order before end of April 2020
WO R L D - C L AS S K AYAKS , C AN O ES AN D PAD D L I N G EQ U I PMEN T
paddles with are
“go anywhere” dependable exploration
adventure around every corner
taheoutdoors.com Robson, Zegul and Tahe Marine products are distributed in the UK and Ireland by Lyon Equipment - www.lyon.co.uk
To advertise email: ads@thepaddlerezine.com or call +44 (0)1480 465081
ThePADDLER 135
ThePADDLER 136 BRUCE KEMP PINE BARRENS REGION, NEW JERSEY, USA
The Pine Barrens region of Southern New Jersey is an Unexpected Wilderness of about a million acres in close proximity to some of the most densely populated regions of the US east coast. It is a unique eco-region known for its rare plants and tanninstained streams, dense groves of Atlantic white cedar and jack pine, and the area’s rich history dates back to colonial times.
Besides the remote, wilderness feel so frequently encountered in here, the topography and hydrology of the Pine Barrens combine to create unusual conditions for paddling. What strikes most folks is the small size of the streams. Here they call ‘em rivers – the Batsto, Mullica, Wading, Oswego – but back home we’d call them creeks. The relatively small geographical area of South Jersey doesn’t allow enough space for the streams to develop much significant size, or for that matter length, before they dump into the Delaware Bay or the Atlantic Ocean. Indeed, in the Barrens most paddling is of necessity single file.
The Barrens rivers are fed primarily by constant upwellings from the shallow aquifer below, with comparatively little contribution from tributary run-
off. Because of this, there is a stronger current than you just would expect in such flat terrain with only a barely discernible gradient. An ‘insistent’ current, if not exactly ‘pushy’.
Like streams in flat terrain everywhere, these rivers meander, and that in the extreme. Numerous sharp and usually blind bends, many of 90 degrees or better, come up quickly and continuously. Not to mention the occasional overhanging limbs or submerged logs that require maneuvering to avoid. And all of this with a pretty decent current behind you.
For lovers of remote, intimate, intricate streams, the Pine Barrens is a premier paddling destination.
To find out more on freestyle canoeing go to: https://freestylecanoeing.com
KEVIN CALLAN THAMES RIVER, ONTARIO, CANADA
I live a couple of hours north of the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Easter usually has me out paddling. Not in the north. Most of the lakes aren’t free of ice yet. I go south, flushing my canoe down one of the country creeks or rivers, the ones that are swollen by the spring melt.
My favourite has to be the Thames River, located in southwestern Ontario. It certainly has a Huck Finn flavour to it.You drift past cities, hamlets, and corn fields. It’s definitely not my usual riverside views of boreal spruce and pine.The trees change to southern Carolinian tulip, paw paw, Kentucky coffee and sassafras.
Campsites were a mix bag. I’ve pitched my tent on farm fields and backyards. My last trip down the Thames was an eight day journey – from Woodstock to Lighthouse Cove on Lake St. Clair. There was a heat wave and I had some guy wander into my campsite one night and try to convince me that the Ku Klux Klan was a good organization to join. But overall it was an amazing trip. It runs a full 300 plus kilometres and is the most southern watercourse in Canada. Surprisingly, the river is mostly wild; except for brief encounters with golf courses and road bridges.
My video series about my time spent on the Thames is up on my KCHappyCamper You Tube channel.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MfwZPf_WA
Kevin Callan is the author of 18 books, including the best-selling The Happy Camper and his incredibly popular series of paddling guides. He’s a notable public speaker and frequent guest on radio and television. Kevin is also a regular contributor, blogger and columnist for explore Magazine, Paddling Magazine, the Paddler magazine and has won several national magazine awards. He was made Patron Paddler for Paddle Canada and has recently won several filmmaking awards. Kevin was listed one of the top 100 modern day explorers by the Canadian Geographical Society. More info on Kevin and his canoeing exploits @: https://kevincallan.com
ERIC DEGUIL GRAND CANYON, COLORADO, USA
Like you and most of humans, i’m confined. Crazy times! I stay home with my daughter, painting, playing, pushing her tiny kayak on the skateboard. I train in my garage every days, pushing and pulling weight. I improved most of my personal best on bench press and deadlift and i shape my paddle during this waiting time at 500 metres from my home river.
The place where i would love to be right now is, where I was last year at same date – the Grand canyon of Colorado and pooping in a box. Hahaha! It may be the best place to be confined.
Honestly, this is not just a river. You are paddling in the desert, where the history of our planet is present and evolving. Slowly pushed downstream, you can read Earth’s story like a book. Most of the mistakes and good actions we did are in this canyon. The best place to understand how to improve our actions and balance our relation with the nature. Something that
the actual COVID-19 is doing. As I always learned on river, be the water or be eaten.
Eric is a French world-class white water kayaker. He is a three-time Green Race Champion and former French National Slalom team member. Eric is a team member of Liquid Logic. Catch up with @ https://www.facebook.com/eric.deguil/
SANDRA HYSLOP ONTARIO AND QUEBEC RIVERS, CANADA
It’s the time of year where the snow and ice start melting in eastern Canada and rivers go from being bigwater to crazy-insane-scaryhumongous-water. Let your lockdown daydreams take you to the land of Poutine and beaver-tails where Stakeout season is about to begin! When the snow-melt hits Ontario and Quebec the rivers swell and incredible standing waves develop perfect for getting airborn in a stubby playboat.
Big-wave springtime surfing on rivers such as the Ottawa, Mistassibi and Rouge rivers is quite possibly the most fun a girl can have on the water. Couple that with some excellent (terrifying) creeking opportunities and some great company (Quebec Connection have a great sense of humour and a lot of knowledge about the area) and I can’t think of anywhere better to be at this time of year!
Sandra is a 29-year old kayaker from north-east England, and lovse being outdoors, travelling and exploring with her kayak. She spent a number of years competing in the discipline of Wild Water Racing with highlights being becoming Junior
World and European Champion as well as a silver medal at Senior Europeans and a fifth place finish at the Senior Worlds. After going to New Zealand on a working holiday back in 2016, she fell in love with it there and has become a resident. She’s currently living and working in Greymouth on the west coast of the South Island whilst studying part-time for a Masters in Drug Design with UCL. More info @ https://www.ilikekayaking.com
ThePADDLER 137
ThePADDLER 138 STEFFAN MEYRIC HUGHES UPPER WHITE NILE, UGANDA
If I could be paddling anywhere this weekend, it would be the place that I’m still hoping to revisit later this year, which is the Upper White Nile in Uganda. It’s hardly a surprising or original choice. It is in fact (or was) the mecca for European freestyle paddlers. Things have changed with two recent dams. With the loss of the Nile Special wave train (home to the world famous Nile Special and Club waves), many might have thought all was lost.
In reality, the White Nile is such a broad, braided river, with so much reliable, year-round volume (it’s lake-fed and equatorial – so always sunny, always good flows!), new features are being discovered all the time. A recent series of videos from Uganda resident Sam Ward, who runs ‘Live It Love It’ to cater for visiting paddlers, shows various features, newly formed by the change in the river since the dam, or recently rediscovered, including the well-named Phoenix Wave and the Real Deal Wave.
The well-loved Superhole is still there. I’d love to try them and also to run the freakish drop called Kalagala Falls that I didn’t tick off last time. My memories are of drinks on the NRE balcony, frisbee golf on the (now submerged) Hairy Lemon island, huge, friendly, warmwater rapids, laughing locals, kids shouting ‘mzungu’, red earth and black, starry skies. It’s a special place largely unknown outside the freestyle paddling world and I’d love to return this winter.
Steffan Meyric Hughes is news editor of Classic Boat magazine. He has written many articles for the Paddler magazine on famous paddlers of the past and present and is an enthusiastic freestyler.
GEORGE HARRAP UPPER SWALE,YORKSHIRE, UK
As the lockdown continues and another day off the water passes by, it seems our memories of exhilarating days become increasingly powerful rather than distant. A kayaker’s desire to cast off with fellow enthusiasts grows ever stronger and there is no need for debate around how good that first paddle stroke, ferry glide or boof will feel. For most, being back on the water will not be a story of adrenaline and extremes, instead highlighting the importance of the people we choose to spend our free time with. When I think back to epics and adventures rarely does the quality of a particular line or move overtake the importance of who was present. So, firstly with who, and secondly where, would I head if circumstances were different?
The first question is arguably easier than the second for reasons aforementioned. There’s no need for names, simply that old friends with strong northern accents would be present. The location has to be the infamous Upper Swale in the Yorkshire Dales. Never has a river struck more fear into the aspiring club paddler but at sensible levels the reality is more accessible than you might expect. I once heard it stated that the Keld section rises and falls more quickly than any other in the UK, perhaps contributing to its elusiveness in the days before online river levels and rain chasers. For me, this sub two-kilometre 4/4+ (5) section of pool drop rapids
is like an old friend and one I strongly suggest you become aquatinted with when the time is right. In terms of clean drops on which to finesse your boof stroke and entry angle Rainby is simply without compare. The locality of a hot tub and self-service tearoom are simply a bonus! Photo: Mark Ollett
Geoege is the sheriff at Robin Hood watersports based in Yorkshire and is ay home doing anything on the water. Catch him on his blog @ https://www.roho.co.uk/blog/author/georgeharrap
ANGELA WARD LLYN PADARN,WALES, UK
My memories of visiting Llyn Padarn for the very first time are as crystal clear as the water on that fateful day, back on Saturday October 31st 2015. I’d volunteered to take part in a clean-up campaign around the lagoons, organised by Surf-lines (now Snowdonia Watersports). As I didn’t have my own boat, I was allowed to borrow one of their fleet. As luck would have it, they had some used canoes for sale, one of which was a Mad River Explorer 15.
As soon as I started paddling, I knew this boat and I belonged together. It was no longer just a canoe and it became ‘My Paddy’, named after where we first met.
Being gently rocked on the water whilst gazing at Snowdon in the distance, silhouetted against the clear blue Welsh skies, was a magical experience. Since then, Paddy and I have been on so many awesome adventures and have met amazing people. He’s carried me on the water and I’ve carried him across mountains.
No matter where we go and what we do, being on Llyn Padarn is like coming home for both of us.
Angela is a regular contributor to the Paddler magaziine and always very keen to share her latest exploits in a canoe.
GRAHAM WARREN INVERPOLLY, SCOTLAND, UK
Each Easter, my wife Susan and I drive up to Scotland with the canoe to explore a little, and spend a few days in a different world. We had planned to set off this Easter Monday to one of our special places which we are fairly sure we will have completely to ourselves.
We were to park at the Ledmore River Gate, on the fringes of Inverpolly. Virtually everyone who puts in here heads downstream onto Cam Loch, then on to Loch Veyatie, but we head upstream instead, paddling against the current on this small but handsome river. After a quarter of a mile, a smaller stream flows in from the right. It looks rather insignificant, lost amidst the rushes, but it has a secret; it leads up to a hidden, magical place. If you turn into this stream, you can paddle or pole up to the base of the falls, then a portage takes you eventually up to Loch Urigill. Here there are islands to explore and a shingly beach where we like to camp. There is even a modest mountain to climb. The views at sunset over to Cul Mor and Suilven are truly out of this world.
Graham runs Moosehead Canoe and Paddles website at: www.moosehead canoes.co.uk
ThePADDLER 139
ThePADDLER 140 JESSIE STONE SAANEN RIVER, SWITZERLAND
If I could get out and paddle over Easter weekend, the first place I would head is to the beautiful Saanen River in Saanen, Switzerland. Pristine, intimate, scenic, and wild feeling gorges with a wonderful mix of fun river running and some nice play features all the way down! It’s a short run, but you can make it as long as you’d like depending on how much time you spend playing! And you can walk the shuttle and do the run by yourself if your paddling partner has corona or has not had corona yet – depending on what the situation may be!
Of course, I advocate this for myself, but you need to know what your own level of paddling is and paddle way below that level if you are going by yourself! This run is a wonderful re-introduction to spring and paddling in the Northern Hemisphere every year for me, and I never get tired of it!and the Real Deal Wave.
Jessie is a former US freestyle kayak team member, founder of Soft Power Health, Jesse
spends 5-6 months a year in Uganda working with the health company and paddles nearly every day she is there. In the US, she continues to teach paddling, run the Inner City Kids Kayaking Camp, compete in freestyle kayaking events and run rivers as often as she can. Jessie is also a Kokotat team member and can be found @ https://kokatat.com/team/jessie-stone
RAY GOODWIN THE GREAT GLEN: FORT WILLIAM TO INVERNESS, UK
Where did we plan to go at Easter? Well that is an easy one, it was to be our first family trip across the Great Glen in Scotland. Maps were laminated, the new tent due for a testing and fingers were crossed for good weather. Little did we realise what the new reality would be.
I have paddled the Glen numerous times as a guide but also on personal trips. Graham Rowe and I did it against the wind as part of a north to south crossing of the Highlands in ’98. We started on Loch Eribol on the north coast finally crossed the Rannoch Moor to finish in Perth.
I have completed it in a single day with Chris Charlton before paddling the Spey the following day. Loch Lochy was eerie in darkness and mist only to find neither of us had packed a compass (it normally lives in my BA) but we sorted it. It took, from start to finish, some sixteen hours.
So many adventures and this was designed to be another, our first crossing as a family. Lina, Maya and I have paddled the Spey, done trips to the Drome and Ardeche, expeditioned in Algonquin but the Great Glen will have to wait.
Photo: Loch Lochy with Ben Nevis in the background. Paddlers Alan and Helen Pinnington
Ray Goodwin MBE needs little introduction. Follow his adventures @ www.RayGoodwin.com and on YouTube @ www.youtube.com/c/RayGoodwinCanoe
DAVID BAIN WEST COAST OF SCOTLAND
The place I am going to paddle as soon as this lockdown is over will the west coast of Scotland. My family is from the Stirling area and I spent a lot of time when I was younger heading north to go paddling. I am looking forward to both getting back out in my sea kayak, as well as getting some laps on some freshwater too.
David is a product rep and team paddler for NRS – Northwest River Supplies and an experienced white water and sea kayaker. Catch up with him @ https://www.facebook.com/david.bain.kayak/
ANDY LEE SOUTH FORK OF THE NEW RIVER NEAR BOONE, NORTH CAROLINA, USA
The USA and Canada have thousands of lakes and rivers and bays, and like everyone else, I would love to be paddling any one of them right now. My first choice is the South Fork of the New River near Boone, North Carolina.
The South Fork is the beginning of my upcoming 1,000-mile paddling and backpacking trip following the footsteps of Daniel Boone, one of America’s greatest frontier heros who blazed the trails that settled the west.
The South Fork is headwaters for the incredible New River which flows north through North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia before entering the Kanawha River which flows to the Ohio River in Ohio and the Big Sandy River in Kentucky. It begins on the Eastern Continental Divide along the Tennessee/North Carolina border and eventually makes its way to the Mississippi River and down to the Gulf of Mexico. I would love to see all of it.
That is over 700 miles of excellent paddling for all levels of paddlers. Beginning with a gently flowing blue-ribbon trout stream where a mom is teaching her five year old son how to kayak, to rambunctious Class III-IV rapids in the New River Gorge National Park.
Andy has been messing around with boats since he was nine years old. His smallest canoe was a 10-foot Bart Abernathy design that he used for trout streams and sawmill ponds in Massachusetts and New Hampshire over 40 years ago. Along the way, he’s paddled solo whitewater canoes, whitewater kayaks, solo and tandem touring canoes, and whitewater and touring kayaks ranging from 8-feet to 17-feet. Andy’s largest boat to date was the two years he served aboard a US aircraft carrier at nearly 1,000 feet long. Catch him @ https://www.andyleeoutdoors.com
ThePADDLER 141
ThePADDLER 142 GEORGINA PRESTON HOLME PIERREPONT, NOTTINGHAM, UK
When based in the UK, my perfect sunny weekend is a stone’s throw from my house – Holme Pierrepont! Pack a picnic and you’re set for the day! I am a casual raft guide there, so I’ll do a fun session on the raft, usually with a rowdy stag do crew, followed by a freestyle lap in my second-hand gui gui (replacing my beloved 20year old Riot Flair!). I like to take it easy, one lap playing on each feature – my favourites being Top Wave, Twin Waves, Jaws and Muncher, then chill in the sun with chums, before jumping on again. In the evening when it’s quiet, I’ll jump on Jaws on my foamie surfboard. I love walking back upstream as the sun sets over the river, ending the perfect UK weekend.
I am a combat medic in a specialist reserve medical regiment of the Army. Right now I’m on 48-hour standby with my bags packed ready to go. However much I want to help out right now, it is a good sign if we are not called up.
I try to avoid British winters so you’ll normally find me in Peru from October till November, then elsewhere in South America until March. But you can’t beat a sunny weekend with mates messing about in the Trent!
Georgina is an avid fan of white water and travels the world in the pursuit of the perfect spot. Catch up with Georgina on Twitter at the “Life and times of a GB White Water Rafter, Kayaker and Olympic WAG” @ https://twitter.com/georgie_preston
JAMES IBBOTSON PLATTLING, GERMANY
Hey! If I could be paddling anywhere in the work right now it would undoubtedly be Plattling, Germany. It has to be one of the best all-round freestyle places.The feature itself is prime for going huge and learning new tricks. But apart from that it is a hub of European freestyles, with the Germans always being around, but then friends from Poland, Slovakia, Czech, France, and lots of other places there too.
You camp (for free) right next to the feature in the field where it is nice and quiet, and perfect for late night drinks and moonlight sessions. If it is the right time of year you also have the beer festival a walk away! So many friendly locals love seeing the paddlers there and the beer is good! Plattling is the ultimate freestyle town for me!
Best known as ‘Ibbo’ he started running his own freestyle league at Holme Pierrepont on a Friday evening, which grew into an event that has brought the world’s best paddlers in from abroad. He also set up the European Open,
running in Nottingham yearly, attracting hundreds of people to the city for the weekend. Ibbo now works for Peak UK and you can catch him @ https://www.facebook.com/JamesIbbotsonLocal Hero/
GARETH MAHOOD LOUGH ERNE, N. IRELAND, UK
Easter time in Northern Ireland means one thing and that Is the Ulster Canoe Club annual Family camp and easter egg hunt. For this we head for Upper Lough Erne where we use the Share Centre for our meeting point and then head off to the fantastic bothy on Trannish Island.
You can’t help but fall in love with Lough Erne as you head off to explore all the islands. A truly fabulous place to head off to live out an essential Easter getaway. We are so fortunate to have this facility to use and we love to show visitors to the festival everything that the area has to offer.
Check out the the canoe trail information at http://www.canoeni.com/canoe-trails/lough-erne/ where you can request a free waterproof map and guide to the area. Information on the Bothy can be found https://sharevillage.org/trannish-island-bothy/
A Canoe leader, coach and guide, with a passion for all things open boat and promoting it in Northern Ireland. The event organiser of the Ulster Canoe Festival. Gareth is editor of the The Put In paddling ezine promoting and reporting on the paddling scene on the island of Ireland. Covering all disciplines of the sport. https://www.facebook.com/people/GarethMahood
MARKUS STEHBĂ–CK SOCA RIVER, CROATIA
Covid-19 these days, is preventing us from social contacts. Here in Bavaria, Germany, this means no kayak or SUP lessons at all and staying at home, letting the first snow melts flows disappear. Usually we spend this period of the year in Greece to open the season. Well, maybe the first break in this almost 20 years of old routine, will strengthen our joy for next year! Staying positive about the situation, we hope to be paddling the Soca again, soon.
Despite all optimism, we are aware of a non-travelling possibility next month. In this case, staying flexible and making the best of the situation is the key. Most of the white water paddlers I know are used to this anyway. For us this means staying on the home rivers, which luckily we also have in good numbers.
Markus works for Alpin Outdoor, based in Bavaria, that runs and organises both SUP and kayaking holidays throughout Europe, catch up with them here: https://alpinundoutdoor.de
ThePADDLER 143
ThePADDLER 144 ADRIAN COOPER OPEN CANOE FESTIVAL, DRÔMEVALLEY, FRANCE
Paul Villecourt has been the organiser for the Ooen Canoe Festival for the past nine events, although over slightly more than nine years. Indeed, one year when it was not on, I took a group of friends to the event campsite to run the river despite the lack of a festival. The festival plays host to several hundred paddlers from all over Europe and is a great place to make new friends whilst paddling knew of the best whitewater canoeing rivers in the area.
Having attended five previous festivals I was looking forward to the tenth anniversary which was unfortunately cancelled due to the coronavirus. I’ll definitely be at the next one. The pictures are of me on the last weir before the take out although the authorities have now changed this so it is a bigger bang but much more straightforward.
Photos: Paul Villecourt
OTTILIE ROBINSON-SHAW SLAVE RIVER, NWT, CANADA
Like everyone here in the UK at least, I’m massively missing not only my regular training but all the paddling trips planned and especially all the competitions now postponed at best. I was lucky to have Galway Fest as the first competition of the year and would be heading off to Colorado in the next couple of weeks for the Colorado tour including the Go Pro games before heading home for a summer of European competitions but sadly that is not to be. For me my Easter paddling would have definetly been spent paddling and training at Holme Pierrepont however, a summer day on the Ottawa or maybe the mighty Slave River might just top my wish list right now.
Ottie is two times ICF Freestyle Junior World Champion, European Champion and four times British Champion. At just 18 she is raising the bar in women’s freestyle and has her sights set on the senior title at the next World Championships in 2021. Catch her @ https://www.instagram.com/ottie_rs
Adrian is a long standing canoeist in the UK and a recipient of the British Canoeing Long Service Award for volunteers who have committed 25 years or more to paddlesport. Catch up with him @ https://www.facebook.com/adrian.cooper.9231
GLENN TOMLINSON THE MIDDLE ETIVE, SCOTLAND
Easter would’ve found me in the eastern Scottish Highlands, based near Fort William: the mecca for Scottish white water boaters. I never tire of the rugged beauty of this part of Scotland and it is no accident that Fort William is the Outdoor Capital of the UK, attracting those with an adventurous streak seeking quality white water.
Fort Bill is the epicentre of west coast boating and in whichever direction you leave town, you are soon at a river. Rainfall and mountains usually means plenty of water in the rivers. When it rains you are spoilt for choice; and even when they’re low there are real gems, such as the Spean, Orchy and the dam release Garry, available.
A Scottish trip would not be the same without a run down the Etive.The Middle Etive is a deservedly a wellknown classic; if water levels are high and ‘Triple Step’ is full on you may find the Upper Etive a better option. Afterwards you have to head up the hill for some steep creeking action on the drops and slides of the nearby Allt a Chaourinin and the Allt Mheuran, for those allimportant photographs and videos of your trip! A north-east based paddler who is currently sat at home dreaming of the day when he will be free to paddle again! Glenn regularly coaches and leads
with his club, Stockton and Thornaby Canoe Club in the north east of England. Catch him @ https://www.facebook.com/glenn.tomlinson.16
REBECCA JONES SCOTLAND, UK
If life was normal at I would normally go with where the water is. I sometimes break myself back into freestyle training with a long weekend at Holme Pierrepont/Lee Valley or I would have been creeking in Scotland. Instead I’m still working for Royal Air Force from my study trying to keep everything ticking over.
Photo: Lee Valley by Dan Richter.
Rebecca is a passionate about grass roots participation in the sport, which has assisted her travel and see the world. Every Thursday I coach the junior paddlers and lead them regularly down whitewater at a weekend. and is a contributor to the Paddler. Catch up with her @ https://www.facebook.com/BeccaJonz
ThePADDLER 145
ThePADDLER 146 RICHARD HARPHAM RIVER SPEY, SCOTLAND, UK
Strange Times. It’s interesting selecting a place to paddle like trying to identify a favourite record. The virus has already robbed us of our work on the River Great Ouse, Lake District paddle, our Best of Scotland lochs and iconic rivers, moving water course in the Peak District and a Yukon Canoe Expedition. Perspective reminds us that despite missing out on our job, livelihood and passion, there are people far worse off, suffering in our communities, within families and friends. Stay Home, Stay Safe and Paddle Later.
So the answer is to question of where to paddle at Easter, if a magic wand was available, we would head to the Highlands of Scotland to canoe the River Spey. It’s packed with stunning scenery, abundant wildlife and fantastic rapids.There are other benefits including whiskey galore (to quote the film), highland hospitality and a chance to enjoy one of Britain’s best canoe rivers. I love pulling into the Old Bridge at Aviemore for a ‘wee dram’ or pint of ‘80 Schillings’, sharing the
‘Washing Machine’ with our customers and playing at Knockandoo rapids. Enjoying lunch and good company on the banks watching the world flow by is simply spell binding. The River Spey is one of those rare spiritual places that fills you with joy and you cant help to leave with a beaming smile.
Richard is a long-time contributor to the Paddler magazine and a human powered adventurer and inspirational speaker who has completed over 9,000 miles of expeditions by kayak, canoe, bike and on foot including exploring the Yukon, cycling the Sahara and Canada’s Inside Passage. At home he runs www.canoetrail.co.uk , a watersports and adventure business with his wife Ashley in Bedfordshire providing qualifications, canoe camping, coaching and paddling trips to some of the UK’s and world’s best locations. Also see: www.richadventure.com
ADAM EVANS RIVER DERWENT - DERWENT WATER, ENGLAND, UK
For me, combining the gentle River Derwent, fed from the high Tarns of the Lakes District, its banks lined with English oaks, meandering effortlessly under twee bridges from the Bowder Stone. It gives opportunity to pole, play and paddle before heading out into the poetic scenery of Derwent Water.
Just before entering Derwent water itself, passing Canon Dub, on the east side of the river, pop into a hotel for a very British pint by the waters edges of this iconic part of the UK.Then leaving the river, taking the waters west shore, you can pass idyllic picnic spots in the bays of Myrtle, Abbots and Brandelhow, ideal places for an ice cream stop or picnic.
Amid Derwent Water, under the view of the undulating Lake Land Fells, sit multiple islands to navigate, the most canoe accessible being St Herbert Island, once the home of a 7th century hermit priest. I love spending time on these islands, doing nothing particular, they serve as such great places to paddle around at night, with head torches and compass bearings in the dark. Or even a place for a quiet, innocuous, hammock or bivvy out.
With Keswick so near it’s an easily accessible paddle, where you can use the waters edge campsites with your family, enjoy the company of other people or explore the quieter edges of this picture perfect spot by canoe.
Ottie is two times ICF Freestyle Junior World Champion, European Champion and four times British Champion. At just 18 she is raising the bar in women’s freestyle and has her sights set on the senior title at the next World Championships in 2021. Catch her @ https://www.instagram.com/ottie_rs
MARK SALTER GLASGOW TO EDINBURGH CANOE TRAIL, SCOTLAND, UK
At Easter we should have been paddle boarding with our friends from #TeamSUP Nottingham across Central Scotland. We were to be paddling the beautiful inland run of 90km on the ‘Glasgow to Edinburgh Canoe Trail’, stopping to see the Falkirk Wheel and to take some photos with the Kelpies! It’s the lesser known route for paddle boarders across Scotland. Probably the more famous route is the “Great Glen Canoe Trail” which our team were planning to paddle next month.
My wife and I paddled that route in 2018 and had the time of our lives. I’ve been fortunate enough to paddle in many amazing countries but Scotland is my favourite. The scenery is spectacular and the area so vast that you can often spend a whole day on the lochs and feel like you’re the only people there. Living in a city apartment, I really am craving that outdoor space at the moment as I know all of us paddlers are!
As soon as are on the water, we’ll be eager to get back to adventure paddling.
LET’S FINISH THIS WITH TWO LEGENDS OF CANOEING, BECKY MASON AND REID MCLACHLAN…
We are staying home here in Canada as well. However, we did go paddling in our backyard yesterday! This might give you and you all a chuckle.
Mark is a keen SUP racer and competes very successfully in the GBSUP Race Series. You can follow Mark and his team’s adventures at @Supfitnessuk and his take on the adventures at Insta @saltersup. Also catch up with Mark’s interview with SUP Mag UK @ https://supmaguk.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/sup magukaugust2019issue22.pdf
Cabin fever, or isolation inanity, has hit redcanoes.ca in Chelsea Quebec.They want to go paddling but choose to stay at home...what to do????
www.redcanoes.ca
https://youtu.be/5O4DUavnsSk
ThePADDLER 147
ThePADDLER 148
PANDEMIC A kayaker’s guide to surviving the Covid-19
Exploring freshwater archipelagos in northern Sweden
Mother Nature is not affected
Words and photos: Thomas Mogensen - sea kayak guide/adventurer Reproduced with kind permission of: https://www.kayakpaddling.net
Nature is not affected, she continues as normal.There is plenty of space to kayak without being around other people, which actually makes it a very safe place to be.There is no lockdown in place in Sweden, and this is how I am surviving the pandemic. STAY AT HOME – If your country has demanded you to do so. In these difficult times, the need to find refuge in nature is rising. What many people often don’t think about is that nature isn’t affected – it goes on as normal. And it is sufficiently spacious to find a place without other people, which actually makes it a very safe place.
ThePADDLER 149
ThePADDLER 150
The perfect place for social distancing
It might not only be the Covid-19 virus itself that affects the majority of the population, but maybe even more the mental stress. Retreating into nature will not only be a method of distancing from the virus, but an equally good way to restore mental health.
BUT HOW TO DO IT? WHERE TO START? I will get deeper into how easy it is to get out by kayak.
FINDING A GOOD AREA
When deciding to go kayaking, the first thing to do will be to find a place that both suits your level of paddling and isn’t crowded. Hidden shallow waters like an archipelago, is often empty of boats and rich of experiences with vegetation and animals.
When deciding to sleep outside, you should also pay attention if it is suitable for camping and, of course, if it is allowed to camp. Last, but not least, find a place you like to stay, a place that brings the inner peace to you.
WARM AIR, COLD WATER
The spring is often the most difficult time of year to dress right. When the winter is over and the sun breaks through, the warm weather can be overwhelming. Everywhere on the street corners and in nature, you will see people dressed in t-shirts and shorts.
It can seem like a good idea to dress the same way, when going out kayaking. However, a golden rule in any paddling adventure is, “Dress for the water temperature.” So even if the hot air motivates you to undress, the water can still be just above the freezing point, which can be fatal if capsizing.
Do not underestimate the cold water, even if it feels weird wearing a drysuit with warmer clothing underneath. As I said, dress to suit the water temperature and use a drysuit for proper safety.
ThePADDLER 151
ThePADDLER 152
Your skills
Always make sure that you know what you are doing. play a key role in deciding the difficulty of the paddle
PREPARING FOR YOUR PADDLING ADVENTURE
To dress up properly in the springtime, a drysuit is your best friend to stay dry. Dress normally under the drysuit, just like you would dress for the temperature.
The drysuit is only used to keep you dry. Use the multilayer principle by using wool on the inside and normal clothing on top of that.
Could be soft clothing material for better movement or just hiking trousers and a fleece. Even wool socks are recommended, since the neoprene shoes doesn’t provide much warmth. After putting on the drysuit, it is good to put on a warm hood and a buff.
OTHER ESSENTIALS:
• • • • • •
Life jacket Water pump Throw rope A suitable paddle Extra dry dress A bottle of warm drink and snacks
IMPORTANT REMINDER:
Always make sure that you know what you are doing. Your skills play a key role in deciding the difficulty of the paddle – distance, weather and environment.You don’t have to paddle a long distance in difficult surroundings to find the best and finest spot for camping.
HOW TO CAMP OVERNIGHT – ESSENTIAL GEAR
Tent: freestanding tents will often give you better opportunities for camp spots, compared to a tent that would need lines and attachments.Tenting on a bare cliff in the middle of nowhere, is a heavy experience.This will of course only function in little or no wind at all. Often you can find something close to the main spot, that provides with some shelter. In my case, it was behind a small island. Sleeping; an inflatable sleeping mat with insulation inside is recommended for easy packing in the kayak. Always keep in mind that most of the cold will come from the ground up. You can bring extra insulation, like a blanket, to use under the sleeping mat.
The Ramparts
For a warmer feeling, you can buy a liner to use inside the sleeping bag. It is a low cost investment for a little luxury. It will also provide some extra heat. I also never go without a small pillow. Cooking: The pot can be a small one for boiling water if using dry meal or a little larger if bringing fresh food. If possible, I always recommend bringing fresh food as it really spices up the overall experience and there is plenty of room in the kayak. Gas is recommended as a fuel, since it is easy to use and pack and it does not leak. Other things to bring: • Mobile phone • First aid kit • Multi tool • Camera • Head lamp • Tent lamp • Power bank • Clock • A book • Coffee • Snacks
Make the trip as comfortable for yourself as possible – without overpacking!
ThePADDLER 153
ThePADDLER 154
MY KAYAKINGTRIP PACKING LIST • • • • • • • • • • • •
Kayak: Zegul Bara Paddle: Robson (Tahe Outdoors) Drysuit: Palm Cascade Life jacket: NRS Odyssey Neoprene shoes: Crewsaver Basalt Neoprene gloves: NRS Veno mitt Spray skirt: Artistic (Tahe Outdoors) Water pump Towline: Palm Ocean Pro Water bottle: Nalgene 1L Thermo: Primus vacuum bottle 1L. Dry bag: Sea to Summit (for an extra set of clothes)
• • • • • • •
Tent: Hilleberg Soulo Sleeping pad: Exped SynMat 3-d 7 MW Sleeping bag: Helsport Alta 195 (3 season) Liner: Haglöfs Pillow: The cheapest in synthetic. Kitchen: JetBoil MiniMo Gas: Primus Winter Gas
MY CAMPING TRIP PACKING LIST
• • • • • • •
•
• •
Plate: Primus Meal Set with Spork Cup: Hand made Water bag: MSR 4L Multitool: Gerber Diesel Headlamp: Lumonite 1000 Tent lamp: Cheapest from the local store First aid: Lifesystems in drybag. Added extra for paddling and camping. Camera: Gopro6 with different mounts for head, tripod and kayak. Drone: DJI Mavic Pro Dry bag: Several bags in all sizes (for sleeping bag, pillow, electric gear)
Kayaking has been a big part of my life since I started paddling in 2014. The first course I took, was north of the arctic circle in winter, wearing a dry suit and several layers of wool underneath. This experience was special, and I got gripped in a way, that I got totally carried away. Find refuge in nature, especially in those difficult times.
Enjoy and respect nature.
www.kentcanoes.co.uk Tel: 01732 886688 Email: info@kentcanoes.co.uk KAYAKS|CANOES|COURSES|TECHNICAL CLOTHING|SAFETY GEAR|ACCESSORIES
HEELING
ThePADDLER 156
A
P I T C H
F O R
Part one…
Words: Marc Ornstein Photos: Bruce Kemp, Paul Klonowski and Marc Ornstein
If you’re reading this article it’s a good bet that you’ve seen a video or two where a paddler has significantly heeled (tipped) the canoe, sometimes all the way down to the rail, while executing a turn.You may have thought, “OK that looks cool, but why do that? Is it just some way of making something simple look fancy – just another way of showing off?” Well, a bit of that maybe, but heeling has an effect on the hull that can be very useful.
Most canoes are designed to track (resist turning) quite well when level in the water (side to side and front to back) and paddled correctly.The keel line (length of the hull that is below the waterline) is relatively long compared to the width of the hull and it parts the water nicely as it travels forward or backwards. In general, the longer the keel line and the narrower the boat, the more efficiently this happens.Thus, racing and fast tripping canoes tend to be long and narrow, while canoes designed for manoeuvrability tend to be shorter and wider. Regardless of the design when one attempts to turn the canoe, the ends of the hull must push a lot of water to one side or the other and this requires additional effort.
ThePADDLER 157
ThePADDLER 158
Before beginning our turn we spent some energy getting the canoe moving; creating momentum. Any effort spent while turning the canoe, expends energy and reduces that momentum. One way of reducing that effort is to add rocker. Rocker is a curvature of the keel line from front to back. This raises the bow and stern a little, causing the bottom shape of the hull to look in profile similar to the rung of a rocking chair. With the ends now sitting a little higher in the water, the amount of water that needs to be pushed aside, as the boat turns, is reduced and the turning is going to be a little easier.
ROCKERS
Looking at two extremes, a typical racing canoe will have little or no rocker while a whitewater playboat will often have so much rocker that it begins to resemble a banana and is sometimes humorously referred to as such. The more rocker, the easier the boat turns. When I began canoeing, I was told that I could buy a canoe that tracked (went straight) well or one that turned well, or one that did a little of each (but wouldn’t be all that great at either). The common wisdom was that to cover my bases, from lake tripping to running rivers, I’d need a selection of canoes.
Well, not necessarily – I’m here to tell you that you can have your cake, and eat it too. You can have a single canoe that will both track nicely and also turn efficiently when you want it to – your dream canoe! It’s one that has a fairly straight keel line when you want it to go straight but can be converted to a highly rockered canoe when you want it to turn. In fact, it may well be the canoe that you already have in your shed.
Picture most any canoe, be it a tripping, touring, racing, or general purpose craft. Sit it flat on the ground or
better yet, float it on a pond (if on the ground, you’ll have to use a bit of imagination). You’ll notice the keel line runs the full length of the boat, or nearly so. Now, tip the boat a bit to one side or the other. The tipped down side has now effectively become the bottom of the boat and the ends (stems) of the boat have risen higher in the water (or the imagined water). The keel line has become much shorter and the canoe suddenly has more rocker. The further you heel the boat, the greater the rocker, to the point where the stems may leave the water entirely.
CONTROL AND ADJUST
The trick is in learning how to control that rocker. How to heel the canoe onto its side, smoothly and consistently; when, where and how far you need to; and then how to flatten it back out with the same level of control. Generally a modest heel is sufficient to get the job done but the further you heel the boat, the greater the rocker and the less it resists turning. It even matters which way you heel it, toward or away from the turn, but that’s for another article. In other words, how you adjust your canoe to meet your needs at any moment. This can be done while sitting or kneeling, though you’ll have infinitely more control, when kneeling.
So, do you still think it’s just something that looks cool, that it’s a way of showing off? It can be that for sure, but it’s much more about precision boat control. It’s about the ability to have a nice
Generally a modest heel is sufficient
to get the job done but the further you heel the boat, the greater the rocker and the less it resists turning
ThePADDLER 159
ThePADDLER 160 tracking touring boat, which at your whim, becomes rockered and turns on a dime before continuing on its journey. It’s about transforming/fine tuning your canoe, on the go, constantly.
harmony, it’s a beautiful thing to experience or watch. The video that will be included at the end of part two of this series includes numerous demonstrations in real world settings.
The two videos linked below show a no frills axle (a basic turn to the on side) using a modest heel to enhance the turn. The first video is at normal speed while the second is at quarter speed.
Controlling rocker and pitch are key elements that are taught by freestyle instructors at all of our events.
Three point axle at quarter speed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGp3sYe-Hx4
While there, click on ‘The Cross Post’ for many more articles on freestyle canoeing.
Three point axle at normal speed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhsGKTF_o0Y
Three point axle at quarter speed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGp3sYe-Hx4
Three point axle at normal speed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhsGKTF_o0Y
Just as important as rocker, is pitch. We’ll explore that in part two of this series. Heel and pitch can be used just as effectively in both solo and tandem canoes. In a tandem canoe, with both paddlers working in
You can learn more about freestyle by visiting our website at www.freestylecanoeing.com
Tailor-made Canoeing, Kayaking & Rafting Holidays
www.windowsonthewild.com 020 8742 1556
SMITHS SM SMITH SMIT SMI
of the Forest of Dean Ltd. The Tank and Drum Experts
New & recycled lockable plas c containers for canoe safes etc. Available from stock. Also recycled steel drums for pontoons.
Collect from our Gloucestershire depot or na onwide delivery available. Visit www.smdd.co.uk or call on 01594 833308.
Sea Kayaking Kefalonia Ionian Sea, Greece www.seakayakingkefalonia.com
Day-trips around Kefalonia, multi-day trips in Kefalonia, Ithaca and all central Ionian, BCU courses, accommodation
Explore Jersey by sea kayak Guided tours, courses and offshore trips. Open all year. Sea kayaks and sit-on-tops available.
Call: +44 (0) 7797 853033
thepaddlermag.com/algarve-south-coast-of-portugal/
Low Premium! Comprehensive
Canoe & Kayak insurance
Quick and simple - at the touch of a button
www.craftinsure.com thepaddlermag.com/douro-river-in-portugal/
or call: 03452 607888
Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority
AS Watersports, Exeter, EX2 8DP
01392 219600
WWW.ASWATERSPORTS.CO.UK
Kayak • Canoe • SUP Only the best brands. All under one roof. In-store & online. O
ThePADDLER 162
PADDLE Quiet the mind, take a breath and go out for a Words: Jaden Hunter Photos: Jaden Hunter amd Peter Tranter
One of the most therapeutic things you can do to settle your mind and escape some of your every day worries and troubles, is to be out on the water, just taking in Mother Nature. These days the majority of our society has lots of outstanding issues and daily stresses/worries, and that is why a majority of people will suffer from anxiety and panic attacks at least once in their lives. And because not everyone can find the time or place to just jump in a canoe or kayak and get out on the water to escape and breath, people like Todd and Vanessa Steinberg created an organic tool to help those cope when problems strike. Enter into the picture Komuso Design and The Shift breathing tool that uses ancient wisdom to help all of us control our start of mind through breath.
We sat down with Todd and Vanessa to learn more about their product that has been a global hit, but also more about why paddling, being on the water and taking the time to enjoy life as it comes has helped in their overall life successes.
ThePADDLER 163
ThePADDLER 164 Why is paddling and being out on the water so important to you both? The rhythm of padding out on the water is meditation to us. It’s so much easier to be present with our thoughts when you’re surrounded by nature and only hear the sound of swooshing water. There are days when we just want to find some stillness amidst the noise in our lives. Some people refer to the experience of forest bathing to find calm but we consider the water to be a more powerful connection to nature. There comes a time in your week when the concrete and technology all need to go away.
Where is your favourite locations to paddle? Since we live in south Florida, our favourite spots to paddle are amongst the narrow canals deep into the mangroves. When you get far enough into that ecosystem, you’re fortunate enough to witness the wild habitat in its most natural state. It’s hard to explain the feeling when a dolphin swims near our kayak but we start to feel like one of them, as crazy as that may sound. It’s also very easy to get lost within the intricate framework of canals but there’s something romantic about that adventurous feeling. We always pack some extra water and food just in case we drift into some Huckleberry Finn type of experience.
Below: The narrow canals deep into the mangroves
How long have you both been adventureseekers and been into exploring what mother nature has to offer? We were both raised in big metropolises, Vanessa in Quito (Ecuador) and myself in Chicago, so we didn’t experience much of nature until our twenties when
we felt a call to the wild. Paddling the Zambezi River in Africa was where it all changed for me. The intense feeling of being part of something bigger than yourself is so profound. I realized how abundant nature is and that a hippo could easily end my life out there. I remember being so grateful to just be alive and thinking that I needed to remind myself of that feeling more often. That’s why the water is spiritual to me. Everything is connected and we feel more connected to the universe when we’re out there.
Your company Komuso Design created an organic tool called The Shift which was inspired by Japanese monks. Tell us more about the product. Komuso was born because we wanted to find a practical solution to our growing stress. My wife and I had fast paced careers that eventually started to take a physical toll on us. We heard meditation was a really effective way to calm your mind but we were having a hard time staying consistent and didn’t like being so tethered to our phones. One day at lunch with our friend who is a therapist, he grabbed a straw from our water and showed us a simple breathing technique, which slows your exhale to trigger the nervous system to relax. The results were immediate and impressive. We wanted to create a more sophisticated version of that straw that people could use as a function to keep them calm, wear as a reminder to be present, and as a commitment to a more mindful lifestyle. After two years of testing different diameters of the piece and reliable metals, we were able to design what we call ‘The Shift.’ The Shift is an organic tool that slows your breath to calm your mind.
Do you use it when you are out on the water at all? Is it waterproof? I love wearing The Shift out on the water because just knowing it’s hanging around my neck feels like a security blanket.You never know what you’re going to encounter out there so having the tool with me is relaxing.The Shift is made with top grade stainless steel, which is water resistant, so you can take it anywhere!
Some campers, paddlers, etc, become anxious at times or even have panic attacks in certain situations while out exploring. How will your product help these people? We use The Shift in so many unique situations but when we’re in the wild, we mostly for what we like to call ‘preventative breaths’. We can prepare our mind and body to handle stress much better by using our necklace before stress is present. It allows the brain to process information with clearer circuits so you don’t make mistakes. For example, if we’re out on the water and notice some bad weather coming, we don’t paddle reactively. Breathe first... everything else comes after. You can easily get lost by entering ‘fight or flight’ mode, which is driven from adrenaline. Slowing your breath using The Shift allows you to downregulate physiologically. Being calm enables us to make better decisions so we can get ourselves out of trouble faster.
What is your advice to other husband and wife teams in making ‘it’ work? On any given day we experience the entire spectrum of emotions because we deal with so many strains of adversity. The perfect example is when one of us has an idea and other one hates it. It’s like watching two fighters circle each other in a boxing ring. We’re both very passionate about the business and about each other so there’s some fireworks but we always manage to solve it, especially since we are literally across from each other. To experience success with your partner who is also your wife is like nothing else
Below: The wild habitat in its most natural state in the mangroves
ThePADDLER 165
ThePADDLER 166 in that our bond grows with every experience. Komuso is us and we are Komuso. If you’re thinking about taking the plunge into a partnership, just make sure your values are aligned. If so, it’s rewarding in so many ways.
Is being able to step away and take a nice kayak trip on the river or lake important to your wellbeing as a team? We’re so well positioned in south Florida to be able to get away, which makes a big difference in our lives. When things start to get heavy in the office, I give Vanessa a look and we quietly whisk ourselves away for an afternoon trip to the water for a quick jaunt. These experiences are like vitamins for our souls because it balances our lives and gives us perspective. It’s so easy to get caught up in the busyness of the business. Well-being is not given, it’s earned. Train yourself to create habits of being nature.
Where is the one place you both want to explore most? We find ourselves talking about Alaska pretty often. When you think of adventure, there aren’t many other places that have such rich diversity of wildlife and nature. It would be amazing to safely get off the grid and
explore. My favourite quote from Christopher McCandless sums it up pretty well, “The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun.” Any other items about paddling or being outside that you want to touch on or state? We just want people to commit to being well. Whether you’re out on the water or simply taking slow conscious breaths to get through your day, we’re with you.
Learn more at: https://www.komusodesign.com/
© Saeed Rashid
Plastic is choking our oceans... help us put a stop to it
Join today and receive your free cotton tote bag, ‘Living without single-use plastic’ guide and quarterly magazine.
www.mcsuk.org/join Registered Charity No (England and Wales): 1004005 Registered Charity No (Scotland): SC03748
PADDLE
LOGGER
ThePADDLER 168
Easy tracking with‌
Sarah Thornely of SupJunkie has a chinwag with David Walker, the founder of Paddle Logger, an award-winning innovative watersport app to record your adventures on the water. Interview: Sarah Thornely Photos: Sarah Thornely, Matt Mario, Curtis England, Paddy Dowling
Hi David – are you able to let us know what Paddle Logger is please?
Hi Sarah – thanks for having me. Paddle Logger is a mobile app for watersports, we offer a tracking service designed to record your epic adventures, a logbook to help with training and heaps more. Our flagship service that we are pushing this year is PaddleLIVE (formerly Paddler in Trouble), designed - with no extra effort – to keep you connected on the water in case something should go wrong, or just help with logistics!
We want people to become better paddlers, our service reflects this. Paddling more, challenging comfort zones in a connected way, mitigating risk, and being able to see your achievements and improvements in a measurable way.
As one of the co-founders of Paddler Logger (together with Lewis Smith), you are yourself a paddler – this must mean that your passion fires your enthusiasm for your own product? Can you let us know a little bit more about how that process works?
Absolutely – when one of the drivers to run your own business is, “To have the flexibility to paddle all the time,” it makes sense to make sure it’s a key part of the process! I come from a SUP background and that really informed the initial idea and development.
When we started, there was nothing out there for me as a paddler, I was aware I had a phone, which was super capable. STRAVA had existed for a while but none of those products are built for paddlesports. Small buttons with cold wet fingers through a waterproof case – nightmare. So, when designing a product for me as a paddler, we had to start from the ground up and the big start button was just one of the things we had to consider. I find it amusing now, how many multi-sports apps just stick paddling in there without changing the UI.
Expensive electronics and water don’t mix too well so everything we design is about reducing friction. What I mean by that is the amount of times you have to interact with your device. We built things like a delay, meaning you can start your device on land and by the time you are on the water (with your device safely stowed) you are good to go! I am super proud again that we were first to bring this simple feature to the health and fitness tracking app market over five years ago. Whether independently or not, the ‘big companies’ certainly came after us on that. By reducing friction at every stage, we now have a product that will track your session, keep you connected, make you a safer paddler and connect with Apple Health – all by pressing just one button. We want our users to concentrate on what they do best – paddling. Not on their tracking device.
Lewis comes from an app development background particularly in health and fitness, this means we have a lot of the bases covered when it comes to building an epic product for sports tracking. We are clear that we want to serve and provide an amazing product for our paddlesports community, so on top of our respective backgrounds, community engagement is very important to us. Our very first version was relatively simple back when we started – we could afford to be – we were the first looking to do this in this way. So, we put version one out and let the community tell us what we should build next. We still operate like this. We have a list of features we want to build and we want our users to tell us what they want. We built for our sport and our community. That won’t change.
ThePADDLER 169
ThePADDLER 170
Since the Brand start up in 2014, how has the App grown from covering one watersport (SUP) to many others? Did that naturally occur or is it something you have worked hard to achieve?
Yeah exactly right. Our first market was very much SUP. I come from that background, I was competing on the circuit a bit, I had lots of contacts in the UK. It was natural as a startup for this to be our focus.
However, relatively quickly we had kayakers using Paddle Logger as well as sailors and wild swimmers! So, clearly there was a need to refocus our efforts. So, we rebranded in 2017 and while the name stayed the same, we started to be more sport agnostic. We wouldn’t specifically use SUP in marketing and draw imagery from a number of places. Still I think we were known for a long time as that paddleboarding app that other people use. Or, “Paddle Logger – that’s for SUP right?”
Once we started work on ‘Paddler in Trouble’ at the end of 2017 early 2018, we really started calling ourselves a watersports app. Our community was growing organically across lots of paddlesports and to be honest we have been led a bit by that! I think really this follows in many ways our relationships with ocean paddlesports. If you start out SUPing, you may very quickly find yourself trying out an outrigger canoe or surf-ski – I call it a bit of a gateway sport in that respect. It’s one of the fastest growing and most easily accessible.
Most recently we have put in a lot more work with the kayaking community, especially in the UK with British Canoeing and some of the top athletes across all paddlesports.
With very little money we have relied on word of mouth and rarely paid for marketing. What I find interesting is that while all paddlers are looking for a tracking solution, not as many look for a safety solution. So actually, we have found that once paddlers see what we are offering in its entirety, they tend to see the value in it – this is especially true of the PaddleLIVE service.
You have, for a fairly new Brand, had some fantastic support, reviews and awards – can you let us know about those please? When we started it was very much a side-gig hobby. Whereas now, both Lewis and I are able to dedicate time to it – and with that we have indeed had some epic rewards! The best is the reaction from our community – we still have a core group of people who have been with us when it started and continue to use the product and have seen it grow and helped shape it. Our community reviews speak for themselves. We have an incredibly innovative rounded product now - we fix things very quickly – one recent review noted that they didn’t think we ever slept!
We have also had some excellent industry recognition. In 2019 we won SUPConnect’s Gear of the Year – Accessory and also TechSW’s Cluster Award. In 2020 we have been shortlisted for the Sports Technology Awards in Most Innovative App, we are alongside Manchester United, Sail GP and the New York City Marathon. Epic company!
Can you let us know about recent collaborations and what they mean to Paddle Logger?
We have been very fortunate to work closely with a number of organisations over the past few years. Notably last year with British Canoeing, working with how we can improve our safer paddling service for all paddlers, operators and rescue services. In the UK we have been fortunate to work with GBSUP, by sponsoring their race series and having these types of organisations on-side is valuable in growing our brand but more importantly getting more paddlers on the water, becoming better paddlers and safer more responsible paddlers!
In 2020 we are proud to have become a 1% for the Planet partner. What this means is we have committed 1% of our sales, not profits, to environmental non-profits. It is our belief, that our industry has a duty to protect the environment that it relies upon people wanting to spend time in existing in a healthy way. No environment, no one wants to spend time in it, no sales. At an economic level, the feedback loop is particularly shorter for the watersports industry. We want to lead the way in sustainability and sustainable environmental thinking being part of normal business practice.
ThePADDLER 171
ThePADDLER 172
PaddleLIVE appears to be one of the easiest ways to connect to friends and loved ones whilst you are out on the water, something that might seem more prudent whilst we have currently been in lockdown due to Covid-19 – can you explain a little more about this and how you think it relates to us now and in the future?
I think we as paddlers all know we ought to tell people where we are paddling and how long for, but hands up, who honestly does? One of the reasons for this is the effort – that may sound ridiculous, but if you are going for a quick 30-60 minute rental on holiday, you are very experienced and the water looks lovely, you don’t expect to get into difficulty. I am the first to put my hand up and admit I am guilty of this, but we all know the water carries inherent risk and can change at the flick of a switch.
Right now, Paddle Logger is leading the way to making this type of connected safety accessible – what I mean by that is that it is easy to do and doesn’t mean your paddle is spoiled by admin. You don’t need a piece of £400 specific hardware or qualification and it shouldn’t be complicated. It should be as easy as pressing one button. That’s what it is with us. What is interesting now with Covid-19, is that in whatever time we are able to paddle regularly again, we will be recommended to paddle alone. Social distance for a period. This makes it more important than ever that you take a phone with you, better yet start a PaddleLIVE session and share your LIVE location and data log with your loved ones. If not for yourself, but their peace of mind!
Do you believe the PL App could be used in the virtual racing world – even when we are back on the water, this may be a thing of the future, particularly in the winter months when it is not so easy to get on the water?
Racing is super interesting. I remember years ago putting together a detailed plan of how we would do Paddle Logger race events. It has since sat on a dusty shelf, while we have concentrated on other features. Now though, we are seeing more virtual events and for good reason! So, at Paddle Logger we have a super easy .GPX export and functions so you can enter any event. It’s so easy, just like going for a paddle, start your tracking – end your paddle after you have done your required distance – upload.
That doesn’t mean to say we may not also do our own version in the future. A lot of the platforms being used have, like the trackers, been built for running and cycling. So, for paddlesports, some elements will need to be built from the ground up and purpose built!
Even if it’s not a race league though, there are numerous challenges out there. Designed not to compete but complete. We want paddlers to be better paddlers, you do that by paddling more, sometimes a challenge is exactly what you need to push you on those cold winter evenings. British Canoeing have a great ‘Winter Paddle Challenge’.This year we had planned a monthly target challenge, however circumstances have put that on hold at time of writing. Thank you David for your time and we wish everyone a safe and happy time on the water – we look forward to speaking to David again for our sister publication, SUP Mag UK.
2019
WINNER
ThePADDLER 174
Testing, Standard Horizon HX300EVHF radio www.standardhorizon.co.uk By Dimitri Vandepoele Northseakayaks Youtube
It’s been nine years since I passed my VHF exam, and since then I never been on the water without a VHF radio. To get things straight, Standard Horizon was not the first brand I carried with me on the sea. I didn’t know much about waterproof radios at the time but that soon changed as I decommissioned two older VHF radios because were not waterproof.
The radios themselves were good, but not for a sea kayaker who spends more time in the water than in his kayak during rescue training. Things started to corrode very soon due to the saltwater, such as the external contacts to charge the battery and I’m not fond of carrying my radio in a waterproof bag. If the brand states that it is waterproof out of its own, well then it should be. So, after a few years I discovered the Standard Horizon HX300E.
WATERPROOF OR NOT?
The waterproof rating caught my attention, because I never had a radio that lasted very long. The Standard Horizon HX300E VHF radio is IPX8 submersible. I have carried this radio with me for more than six years. To be complete and objective; the radio has always been carried in the front pocket of my PFD, with the antenna sticking out. The front pocket is not waterproof, so when I’m submerged in the water… the radio is too! I had to replace the antenna once, because it’s always stuck between the zipper of my front pocket and it’s been abused plenty during self-rescues (the radio finds itself between me and the back deck).
Besides that (and for me that is normal wear and tear) I had no issues whatsoever. The radio floats and when it hits the water, it starts to emit a bright red light – so, no worries about losing the Standard Horizon HX300E, even in the dark. You should see the look on other paddlers’ faces when I throw the radio into the sea, a few metres away from my kayak! It disappears below the surface and then resurfaces where it awaits rescue, emitting its red light! In my opinion, one of the its qualities – ON and IN the water!
g
testin During the past years I have informed other sea kayakers about Standard Horizon VHF-radio when asked. I find it to be the best radio you can buy, for a sea kayaker’s purpose. I would never buy another radio with a lower IPX rating (although there are also submersible at IPX7). THE Standard Horizon HX300E does exactly what is stated on the box. It’s never let me down and I use it every time I go out to state my intentions to the Coast Guard and to sign off when I’m back on the beach. Besides that, I have used it for ship to ship (even kayak-rescue helicopter) communication without any trouble. The
nte of i
EXTRA
dd lers - email us: review s@thep addle rez ine
m .co
People who know me will be aware that most of my equipment gets a beating, every now and then and the VHF radio is no exception! During surf session in rough conditions, the radio performed, the water stayed out, the volume is loud enough for me to hear and the microphone is good quality. If there is water in the speaker and/or the microphone; simply blow a few times to force it out. The radio itself is very compact, fitting into any PFD. If you prefer to carry your radio outside of the PFD, then there is a clip installed that comes with the radio. The antenna is also good quality, but if the needs arises it can be replaced swiftly. The LithiumIon battery that is provided with the radio is light but powerful. The Standard Horizon comes with a USB charger, with the contacts safely tucked away behind a small waterproof cover, so no worries about corrosion on the long term. So, in short: light, small, firm and waterproof!
e will b nd it ed a iew rev uct od
HARDWARE
res t to pa
I paddle during the four seasons, which means I need to carry thick neoprene gloves during the winter. The buttons are large enough to operate with gloves, so there is no need to take them off. There are not many buttons and if you haven’t read the manual, the layout is intuitive and you can read the purpose of each button clearly. The screen itself is clear and easy to read even in bright sunlight. There is a programmable scan function, dual/tri watch and priority scan (for us that will be channel 16). With the pre-set-key you can chose up to 10 of your most used channels. The output can be switched between low (1W) and high (5W). Beside that you can see the battery, squelch and volume on the back-lit display.
ou want y ion. If y o u stat rp st r
EASY TO OPERATE
The Paddle r ez ine te
price is very competitive (read: low) for such high-quality equipment. If you don’t carry a VHF-radio with you yet, maybe now is the time to invest in this life-saving device and maybe take some classes so you know how to use it when the need arises. Have a look at our YouTube channel and you will see that we use so much of the time.
Have fun and take care of each other on the water!
Price: The recommended retail price is £132.95 inc VAT, although it can be found at many dealers/online retailers at prices like £99.95 inc VAT.
ThePADDLER 175
ThePADDLER 176
Palm Ace PFD
https://palmequipmenteurope.com Dale Mears
Just as lockdown is starting to ease, more and more of us are going to be jumping back on the water. Whilst this is great news a few things to think about. What condition is your kit in and has anything changed since your last paddle?
One piece of kit you really want to ensure is right is your PFD. A PFD (Personal Floatation Device) is a must if kayaking, canoeing or SUP boarding, no matter how competent you feel.
Palm have released the Ace pullover style PFD that works on the principle ‘Less if more.’ Palm say they have trimmed this down to just the essentials and I have to agree. The PFD is light and really does feel slimline. The front and back are cut away nicely, which really helps free the shoulders and chest area of the PFD. There is plenty of movement for those all important paddle strokes. Fit wise I have always found Palm very generous and the M/L was a great fit for me as a 13-stone male. The Ace has a nice curved profile thanks to Palm’s use of layering foam (contouring). As a pullover style, this does not have a zip, which I am happy about as personally I find a zip quite bulky. I’d rather it be clean on the front.
A big plus of the Ace is its looks. This is one good looking PFD coming in two colour schemes. The blue, which I am reviewing with orange detailing (Palm call this the Cobalt + Ocean) and a red option with blue detailing (Chilli + Flame). The use of the Palm logo across the front and back of the vest in a lighter tone adds a bit of style. What you are getting is a very simple design with clean lines.
Adjustment wise you have three adjustment points, shoulder, sides and waist. What I do like about this is there is no clip lock buckle on the sides or waist strap. The adjustment buckles use Palm’s easy ride straps, which are very quick and easy to adjust. If you are a smaller frame there are two small pockets by the front shoulders to put any overhanging strap. Towards the waist strap there are also pockets, which were useful to tuck away any excess strap.
The adjustable slip lock buckles are well made and have a small overlap, which is easy to get a finger or thumb under to loosen quickly when needed – this attention to detail is what you expect from Palm. Another good example of this are the shoulder straps. These are not just standard webbing straps but have the same polyester material stitched into the underside of the shoulder strap offering comfort and prevents rub if wearing in the heat of summer against bare skin.
Performance wise the Ace did what I expected it to do. It was comfortable, easy to adjust and did not hinder movement or performance when paddling. Now I tested this whilst paddle boarding but as an experienced kayaker this would also make for an excellent freestyle or slalom vest. In fact all sizes except the popular with kids XXS (40N), are ICF approved and there is a clear tag in the PFD to show this at events. To prevent ride, the Ace has a textured band across the waist strap to hold it to your wetsuit, or whatever you’re wearing. Palm call this their 3D anti ride waist band and such a simple thing works really well.
The Ace also offers a small velcro pocket on the inside front panel, which is ideal for loose change or storing a non electric car key. It isn’t the biggest pocket and not super easy to access but if you are stuffing some cash before getting on the water it’s a good trade off to having a big pocket on the outside.
Who should buy this? So reviews are always subjective but anyone reviewing should want to
A size 10 was a good fit for me as I’d say my feet range from 9.5-10. The boots feel really supportive and hug the contours of your foot shape, as one hate of mine is a paddling shoe where your foot gets lost. The velcro strap also pulls the bridge of the sole up nicely, which from a SUP point of view gives excellent contact with the board.
The velcro is quick and easy to adjust and well bonded into the rubber sole, so no risk of coming loose or breaking.The design is mid-height and sits just above the ankles.There are two orange webbing loops to pull the shoe both on the front and back of the ankle.
inform the target user. For me this is a perfect PFD for a wide range of people from someone who is just starting to SUP and decided they need a PFD (I would always recommend this) and at £79.95 this is very good value for someone starting out. That said, the design and fit of this PFD should be an attractive offer to the seasoned freestyle or slalom paddler. If you want big pockets to carry your snacks, a whistle and other features, then the Ace isn’t for you and you need to look at a dedicated touring PFD. I used this with the Palm Quick release belt and they made an excellent pairing for SUP paddlers.
Note: 1% profit from Palm WW PFDs is donated to freeriversfund.org fighting against hydro power, preventing access to some of our spectacular rivers across the world.
Palm Paw shoes
I have worn a pair of Palm Paw shoes for quite a while, these have always been my go to shoe for kayaking and moderate weather SUP, so an opportunity to try the newer design was always going to be a treat.
So how much can one tell you about a paddling shoe? You would be surprised.
Let’s talk fit. I found the fit of these a touch on the smaller size due to the thermal insulated neoprene.
There is plenty of re-enforcement and the heel, toe and top of the foot are really protected, which will prevent rubbing if wearing in a kayak or canoe but will also prevent damage to the neoprene making these boots last longer.
The sole is the selling point for me. Some wetsuit boots and boating shoes can over complicate the sole and go to town on texture but this takes away that feeling of contact you have with your board.The Paw has a simple diamond texture relying on contact rather than exaggerated grip, more like a climbing shoe.
On the paddleboard, I had excellent grip to the EVA deck and felt every move, which is what I want from a shoe. That feeling of bare feet but with the warmth and protection a shoe offers.
Normally when reviewing gear I am looking at the pros and cons, for these the pros are easy. The grippy sole offers plenty of contact with feel, a good quality build and re-enforcement in many places.
I’m struggling with cons, maybe a little warm in the height of summer? However, it’s a little niggle as you could just dip your feet in and fill them up. The price at £39.95 may put some off but you should consider that looked after, you will get 3-4 seasons out of them. Most people would happily pay £10 a year to look after their feet. I think I wore my last Paw shoes for about five seasons!
All in all a great product and one worth the investment. These will be so good for anyone kayaking, canoeing or SUP boarding in all seasons.
ThePADDLER 177
ThePADDLER 178
Atlantic Ocean (AO) Paddles
Richard Davison www.good2go-equipment.co.uk
FOR DETAILS AND PRICING CONTACT:
Jonathan McElhinney 07456 504111 Email: AOpaddlesuk@gmail.com
For the past year I have had the opportunity to give some testing to Atlantic Ocean Paddles.
For many years I have been a fan of carbon nylon paddles from Lendal/Celtic. Whilst owning other paddles such as Werner, Mad Yakker, Robson and Double Dutch, I always liked the robustness of the Lendal. Sadly these don't seem to be available any longer, so I started hunting for a new set. I tried quite a few, but none felt right with the shaft, or the blades were too big.
For reference, I'm 5'9, medium build and medium strength. I paddle with the paddle fairly upright. A lot of what other brands have available, are either too big, or too small on the blade, or encourage a lower paddling angle. Working 4-5 days a week on the river, a while ago I did 13 days straight and I did feel pain in my elbows and wrists, so I need to get my paddles right.
AO come in a number of material variations, glass or carbon shaft, and glass or carbon blades. Mix them up as you please. Many people are drawn to carbon, because of their stiffness and power, but I’ve always found them a bit too rigid and a cause to wrist, elbow and shoulder pain, so I opted for glass blades and shaft. AO suggested glass shaft and carbon blades which give flex, but firm power in the blade. I went with glass as I wanted a bright colour.
I initially tried the Saiph Nova in carbon. It has a medium blade size and I find suited my more vertical paddling style (maybe this comes from my slalom background). As the blade isn't too big, I find it is easy to paddle quickly to accelerate when needed, and then able to maintain that speed without
burning out because the blades are too big. I feel this matches British rivers well, with lots of tight turns, then accelerating for a drop. The power in the blades feels positive and connected. Quick backwards strokes to change direction never give off flutter, nor have I felt it forward paddling.
More recently they have brought the Mizar to the market. Again a nice blade that I like a lot. It feels a bit more powerful, but a little harder to get to speed compared to the Saiph Nova. It feels like it is easier to hold the power and speed once you are up to cruising speed.
Nicely all paddles can come with an adjustable length spigot, so if you want to change boats, you can adjust your paddle as well. Maybe a shorter paddle for playboating, longer for river running.
Durability: overall I'm pretty impressed. Glass or carbon in a rocky environment isn't a great mix, hence I previously used a carbon/nylon blade.
I’ve given these a tough ride and used them on every river. There are expected signs from wear and tear, but nothing concerning. On one occasion I managed to jam them between rocks and I thought I would snap them, but they are fine, just a little chipped!
Overall these paddles come in a bit cheaper than the bigger brands, but I don’t feel any major trade offs. Certainly if you are looking for your first good paddle these are worth considering. Bear in mind you will be less mindful where you are putting your paddle, or lack skill to place your paddle where needed so it might have a rough ride! Many cheaper plastic blades are heavier and won't allow the swing rate a glass or carbon paddle will.
Overall a nice paddle, with good durability, and the price is good too!
LE
SP
O
TH
PA D D
N EV I S
RT
RODUC T S P O
2020
EAR E Y
AWARDS
F
EL & EQUIPMENT APPAR
Rowan James, Muluate, Ecuador – photo Jack Grace