ThePaddler ezine issue 7 April 2013

Issue 7 - April 2013

ThePaddler ezine com International digital magazine for recreational paddlers

.

TREK across CANADA KAYAKING the AMAZON INTERVIEW withTAO Four men paddle coast to coast in open canoes

Peruvian WW style

Tao Berman

Win a Wave Sport Ethos River Cruise Kayak on page 142

Contents April 13

Photo of the month for April 2013 Rio Clari in Chile, Caracol rapid, Kayaker Jean Baptist-Marie (known as Jean Rigole). By Andraž Krpič Editor

Peter Tranter peter@thepaddler.co.uk Tel: (01480) 465081 Mob: 07411 005824 www.thepaddler.co.uk

Advertising sales

Anne Egan Tel: (01480) 465081 advertising@thepaddler.co.uk

Front cover: Dragging the canoe

over ice under Mt. Lime on the headwaters of the Yukon River. Trans Canada expedition by Pete Marshal.

Huge thanks to: Keith Day, Nick Watt, Pete Marshal, Florian Fischer, Steve Brooks, Scott Edwards, Tao Berman, Simon Everett, Phil Carr, Terry Wright, Werner Ostermann, Claire O’Hara, Marty McCann, Suzie Cooney, Leslie Kolovich, Jason Pereira and Dave Rossetter.

Not all contributors are professional writers and photographers, so don’t be put off writing because you have no experience! ThePaddler.co.uk ezine is all about paddler to paddler dialogue: a paddler’s magazine written by paddlers. Next issue is May 2013 with a deadline of submissions on April 10th. Technical Information: Contributions preferably as a Microsoft Word file with 1200-2000 words, emailed to submissions@thepaddler.co.uk. Images should be hi-resolution and emailed with the Word file or if preferred, a Dropbox folder will be created for you. ThePaddler 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. The publishing of an advertisement in ThePaddler ezine does not necessarily mean that the parent company, 2b Graphic Design, endorse the company, item or service advertised. All material in ThePaddler ezine is strictly copyright and all rights are reserved. Reproduction without prior permission from the editor is forbidden.

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Where we’ve been…

9

10

OC Paddler

Trans Canada expedition Part one of a 2600 mile expedition across the frozen north of Canada.

By Pete Marshal

23 Kayak Paddler 24

40 52

58 68 78 80 86 88

Peruvian Amazon 75 years after their compatriot Herbert Rittlinger descended the upper Amazon, a quartet of German paddlers trace his paddle strokes.

By Florian Fischer Beas Gorge, India From chillin’ to thrillin’ Indian style.

By Steve Brooks

Issue 7 Canada 10

Peru 24

East coast US As the ice retreats, the kayakers come out to play on the River Delaware.

By Scott Edwards Interview with Tao Berman

By Peter Tranter

Kayak fishing A day spent on Loch Ness.

By Simon Everett

India 40

New Zealand adventures

By Claire O’Hara

Dagger Mamba review

By Phil Carr Yak Mavric review

By Dale Mears

RTM Abaco review

By Terry Wright

Tao Berman interview 58

95 Salty Paddler 96

Nova Scotia, Canada The extraordinary Cape Chignecto Wilderness Park.

By Werner Ostermann

106 Paddlesurf Surf kayaking and waveski.

By Marty McCann

Canada 96

114 SUP Paddler

United States 115

115 Welcome to SUP Beginners tips to share the stoke!

By Suzie Cooney

122 South Carolina, USA On the road to an SUP winter retreat.

By Leslie Kolovich 130 UK Frostbite local race series

By Nick Watt

Portugal 132

132 Central Portugal SUP, Sardines and Superbock.

By Jason Pereira

138 Coaching BCU coaching structure

By Dave Rossetter

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The campaign for River Access For All Peter Tranter Editor

Defra have changed their position but not their thinking

For many years Defra, and the agencies that report to it, have adopted the position that there is no public right of navigation on unregulated waterways and access to them by canoeists and others can only be with the permission of the riparian landowners. In 2004 Revd. Dr Douglas Caffyn published his thesis ‘The Right of Navigation on Non-tidal Rivers and the Common Law,’ which concluded that, “In common law there is a public right of navigation on all non-tidal rivers which are naturally physically navigable by small boats and on those rivers which have been made physically navigable at public expense.”

Defra whilst aware of this research, have steadfastly refused to engage with it or form any opinion on its value and the credibility of its conclusions. They have however clearly taken on-board enough of the evidence to recognise that their traditional stance was unsustainable and they have now modified their position to, “There is no clear case law on whether a ‘common law right of navigation’ exists on unregulated rivers. This is widely accepted to be an unclear and unresolved issue.”

This can only mean that there is no compelling evidence to support the notion that navigation can only take place subject to the ‘permission’ of riparian

landowners and therefore this part of Defras traditional thinking must change too.

www.riveraccessforall.co.uk

The website invites those that contest the public right of navigation to challenge these assertions and in particular to say which legislation or exercise of statutory authority ended the historic right of navigation.

No such challenge has been received.

Defras position should be that, “Those who believe that navigation under certain conditions may impact negatively on the protection of the environment and the rights of riparian landowners or those with a right to shared use of the river can work with canoeing organisations and others to find an equitable solution.”

River Access For All is not asking for the creation of new rights of navigation or for the extinguishing of any rights enjoyed by others. We are merely asking for recognition of the public rights of navigation that have existed from time immemorial. All rights come with responsibilities and we accept the need to exercise public rights of navigation in ways which achieve a balance with the rights of others and the needs of the environment.

We are a free people! Under our legal system, it is lawful to do anything not made unlawful by statute or common law. The notion of any party giving (or withholding) ‘permission’ for shared use of our rivers is clearly unsupportable unless it can clearly be shown that a statute or the common law requires it.

KEITH – RIVER ACCESS FOR ALL

Kayaking Holidays for groups in Tirol Including: > Transfer & shuttle service > Top quality equipment > Great accommodation to suit all budgets > For groups of 3 to 7 paddlers

Come and enjoy the amazing rivers of Tirol!

info@whitedescents.com l www.whitedescents.com l +43 650 8610959 To advertise email: ads@thepaddlerezine.com or call +44 (0)1480 465081

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2600 above 60

Pete Marshal Northern Territories, Canada

Skookumchuck

Nick Castro British Columbia, Canada

Greenland SUP 2013

Paul Hyman Greenland

Oasis at Rock Run

Ian Smith Pennsylvania, USA

Snow Kayaking

Warren Miller Norway

Coolcara

Xaver Walser International

Chili : ĂŠpisode 1

Nathan Barbier Chile

Frontier movie trailer

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Rush Sturges International

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From sea

to

Winchell Delano

Steve Keaveny

Matt Harren

Pete Marshall

A mari usque ad mare

Our four-man team: Winchell Delano, Steve Keaveny, Matt Harren, and myself, Pete Marshall, all had extensive wilderness canoe experience. We had paddled rivers in the Arctic, across Labrador, and to the Hudson Bay. Together we had thousands of miles of combined experience. But when we got off the ferry at Skagway Alaska, we knew that nothing we had gone through would be like the next few months.

“He shall have dominion from sea to sea and from the river unto the ends of the earth.�

sea

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Hike through the Coastal Mountains of Alaska

Did you know: At 3,855,103 square miles, Canada is the second largest country in the world, behind Russia.

Two mountain ranges,

three heights of land, and 2600 miles of some of the most remote and wild country left in the world lay before us. On paper, it was an ambitious route. Most people who knew better told me so. I knew it was ambitious, and to be honest, I had serious doubts about crossing the Rocky Mountains in a canoe and reaching the end of the trip before the winter storms began. In many ways, I knew better than to set out on this expedition. But when you have big dreams and big goals, willful ignorance is a powerful thing.

The expedition was conceived with imagination and from there took form. An afternoon spent with maps and trip reports led to a drunken conversation at the bar that was followed by a hung over phone call that then resulted in a plan that involved many more phone calls, coordinating resupply points along the route, raising money, booking tickets on a ferry, and ultimately to the point where we were now at.

The beginning of the expedition

The first part of the trip didn’t even involve canoeing. It was a hike through the Coastal Mountains of Alaska, via the famous Chilkoot Pass. We had our canoes and paddling gear picked up by an outfitter on the other side of the Pass, on the headwaters of the Yukon River, where we would pick them after hiking through the pass.

By our second day, we learned that winter had not begun to leave the mountains. This was a risk we had to chance form the outset. There only had a brief window, between ice-out and freeze up, in which we could do the trip. It was better to start too early, rather than too late. It was early May and the thirty-feet of snow and fifty-mile per-hour wind that blew on us for three days was a clear indication that spring was a long way off.

We hiked over avalanche paths, passed snowed in shelters, wowed by the beauty, and when we reached out canoes, we were eager to begin paddling.

However, the lakes we hoped to paddle were choked with rotting ice. They were impossible to walk on and impossible to paddle through.

Rain on the Ross River In the mountains, it was snowing

with rotting ice.

However, the lakes we hoped to paddle were choked They were impossible to walk on and impossible to paddle through

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Mile after mile of ice

Cliffs, La

It's easy to se

We were able to travel, but only because we were equipped with Kokatat Expedition Drysuits. These fully waterproof and fully enclosed bodysuits kept us safe from hypothermia and the freezing water.

we broke leads and pushed the canoes over unstable ice. It was slow work. We fell in many times, and like a seal crawling out of a breathing hole, had to pull ourselves out of the ice. Rather than being a life-threatening incident, with the drysuits on, we laughed, took photographs, and continued with the day.

This went on for a week until after 40-miles of breaking through and pushing across Lake LaBerge, we came to the open waters of the Yukon River. For three days we enjoyed the ice free current, happy for the rest, for the sunshine and the easy paddling down stream. The river was low. The snow that covered the surrounding mountains had not began to melt. This would happen in the coming weeks.

And when it did melt, the river would swell, the current would double, but we would not enjoy these benefits. We would be going the opposite direction, against the flooded current.

Pelly and Ross Rivers

We turned our bows east and began to ascend the Pelly and Ross Rivers, on route to the Continental Divide. This was the major challenge of the trip, in many ways, its defining feature. I had little knowledge of what lay ahead, mostly because everyone who had paddled these rivers told me that going up them would be next to impossible.

The last person to ascend the Pelly was a prospector almost one-hundred years ago, and he had made the trip in autumn, during low water. We would have to see the river for ourselves. None of us had any idea how difficult it would be.

At first it was interesting, even fun. We walked and pulled the canoes, paddle hard and made little distance. But we experienced something of a minor thrill as we threw ourselves into this challenge. By the third day, that novelty had worn off. The snow that made the mountains so beautiful in the distance was melting. Each day the river rose and swelled. The shoreline disappeared. We traveled beside submerged trees, entire forests looked like they were growing out of the flooded river.

We ferried back and forth across the rive, chasing the small stretch of slack water on the inside bend.

Everyday we woke and hoped for a bit of relief, for a point in the river that the current would slow and give us a break. But the Pelly flowed like a continual, and exahsting treadmill.

By the third day, that novelty that made the mountains so

ake LaBerge

had worn off. The snow o beautiful in the distance was melting.

Paddling on Marsh Lake,Yukon River

Did you know: Canada has the longest coastline of any country in the world at 151,600 miles.

ee why this is one of the most beautiful lakes in the world.

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Canada

John Lake, Ross River, Yukon

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We came to a

Did you know: Cryptozoologists claim that Canada is the hom sloth-like creature known as the beaver-eater, a number of lake monsters, such as Ogopogo in

well earned break when we reached our first resupply point, 41 days into the journey. This was the first of three resupply points we had set up along the route, every 35 to 40 days of travel. For 36 hours we rested and didn’t paddle, but like all vacations, it came to an end too soon. With a packs full of replenished food food and equipment, we left the hospitality of our host, the kind couple who held our packages, and returned to the river.

In three days we left the Pelly River and turned north onto the Ross River. The Ross was a smaller tributary of the Pelly. We had unrealistic hopes that less water would mean easier travel. But as the Ross ascended deeper into the mountains, things only became more difficult.

The river was more violent. Mile after mile of steep drops. We walked more than we paddled. Most days were spent plunged waist deep in water that 20 hours before was part of a glacier or a snowfield.

Ferry across the Flood Plain

Pause before Mt. Wilson

Pulling through ice and snow

e of several cryptids, including Sasquatch, a giant cannibalistic wildman named Windigo, and a Lake Okanagan, British Columbia.

As travel became more difficult, the weather deteriorated. We woke to rain and went to sleep in rain. Snow fell on the surrounding peaks and moral slackened.

This was the point that we all began to question the trip. How is it that we thought this trip was possible? There was no answer. We kept moving and continued the desperate struggle. The further we went the thinner the river became. The mountains were closer. And while moving against continual stretches of almost 20-feet per mile drops, we came closer to the point where we would finally be able to go down stream. It was a prospect and a reward that was hard to imagine.

And then it happened.

On a cold and rainy afternoon, 64 days after we began our journey, we were portaging through a series of ragged moose trails that would bring us over the Continental Divide. The reward for our effort was before us: the justly famous, South Nahanni River.

Negotiating the flood

Part 2 Next month

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2012 Trans-Territorial Canoe Expedition interactive map Track progress of the expedition click here

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Kayak Paddler ThePaddler 23

a

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dventure

By Florian Fischer Nils Dippon Pirmin Dlugosch Sepp Cetinköprülü

Rio Amazon Following the tracks of Herbert Rittlinger

In 1937, Rittlinger, paddled the Amazon from its source rivers Mara帽贸n and Huallaga, solo with his folding kayak from 3,845 metres. After a year of serious planning and three weeks of acclimatization, the team of four paddled in his strokes to kayak the upper Amazon.

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Our preparation for the project

The preparation for the descent of the upper Amazon is coming to an end. In the past five days, we have managed a first descent of the Rio Salka and spent three days on the Rio Apurimac.

On the Rio Salka we put in at 4,200m above sea level. This was a test to see how our bodies deal with paddling on these altitudes.

Considering everything, the river isn't a real highlight for us whitewater kayakers. Steep canyons are full of siphons and the fast running river disappears suddenly under the mountains of Peru in a cave to appear after a few hundred metres. Leaving out the aspects, caves and siphons, the river compensates you with beautiful steep and remote canyons with a wonderful panoramic view onto a glacier and big mountains.

Our multi-day on the Rio Apurimac was our last point of preparation. It contains several rapids up to class V whitewater in a steep canyon with the only exit by kayak. Help is far away and there are no options if something goes wrong.

On the afternoon on the 15th November 2012 they started their 1,100km long journey to their final destination: Laguna Lauricocha close to Cero de Pasco.

First descent very upper Amazon done!

Absolute despair and total exhaustion can be seen in our faces... The entire creek disappears under a huge rock fall – no way to continue the journey by kayak. Initially, we are still motivated to rope up our boats with pulleys to the top of the first big rock. The whole dimension of the blockade can hardly be seen from this point and we're asking ourselves if it makes sense to continue our journey. What will be around the next corner?

Our local contact person, Alonso, has organized a car for our expedition to the most upper Amazon. In front of the house we're living in, there's a taxi of the type ‘Toyota Probox’. A roomy car with enough space for four people with all their baggage. We're just not sure about its crosscountry mobility but soon we're on our way north to the Laguna Lauricocha.

first descent

In the past five days, we have managed a

of the Rio Salka and spent three days on the Rio Apurimac

Entry into the big canyon

Just before the entry into the first tunnel

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Peru

Cordillera Raura

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All in all it took

us 56 hours to get from Cusco to the Laguna Lauricocha, our put in for the descent of the Rio Lauricocha.

After 21 police controls and uncountable miles on gravel road we are finding ourselves in a small Indian town of Yanahuanca, where we took a last good meal in a Polleria – roasted chicken with French fries, soup and salad for round about 4$.

In a small shop we bought food for the upcoming seven days.

The road map gives us an idea what's coming next: The really bad roads have been marked white; the upcoming road is just grey and way thinner. Also the junction to the road can be only found with the help of the local people.

A thin steep dirt road, as wide as a car, is curling up to the high sierra of the Cordillera Raura.

Initially we haven't been sure if it's possible to run the road without 4WD. All the locals told us not to try without, but we did it and it was unbelievable what a Toyota Probox is able to handle. We spent a lot of time filming, photographing and just enjoying the landscape.

On the map it was looking like just 10km but after a few kilometres on the gravel road the driver told us, there are still 30km to go (3-5 hours in 4WD car) to the Laguna Lauricocha and it's impossible without 4WD. With super slow speed it's going over big rocks, super steep ‘roads’ and muddy pools. After a small village with five Indian huts the road was much better. We are still on a gravel road but now with road signs and less pot holes. After a couple of hours we decide to camp at an elevation of 4,500m.

After a cold and rainy night we reach the laguna Lauricocha.

75 years ago, Herbert Rittlinger wanted to start his mission here, but he had too little water and so he was forced to start about 50km downstream. So now it's our turn to do the first descent starting from the Laguna of the Rio Lauricocha (the biggest source river of the Amazon).

as the fir

We are leaving the Lagu

on the w of the upper sou

rst people

una Lauricocha

waterway to do the descent ource river of the Amazon

Food for three days, stove, water purifier, cameras and much more and the kayaks weigh about 40kg. After a good farewell from the local Indians, we are leaving the Laguna Lauricocha as the first people on the waterway to do the descent of the upper source river of the Amazon – the biggest river on the planet.

The river is flowing through amazing scenery in the middle of the Cordillera Raura with easy whitewater class II and III. A huge siphon allows the river to disappear for 10 metres and at this point the difficulties are rising. On the following couple of kilometres we found whitewater class III-IV with some class IV+ rapids. Another portage is necessary because the river is flowing completely under a rock fall for 200 metres.

Did you know: The Amazon collects water from just over 40 per cent of South America's Landmass, through the thousands of tributaries that join the main branch of the Amazon river.

Of these tributaries, 17 are over 1,600kms (1,000 miles) long.

Upon reaching the little town of Cauri, the river's character is not really changing in contrast to the weather, where a big thunderstorm is developing and paddling is becoming harder.

Our first descent ended up in Cauri after 30km of white water in an unbelievable landscape.

Rocky Contos discovered the following 20km only three months ago. Our next destination is the confluence from Rio Maranon and Rio Vizcara. On the upcoming section to the confluence of the Rio Laurcocha and Rio Nupe, where the Rio Maranon begins, we find 20km of whitewater class IV in a large canyon with many siphons and undercuts, which requires attentive paddling.

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Yeah, der Wasserstand ist perfekt!

Y

Yeah, waterlevel is perfect!

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After 50km

we are super happy finishing our first part of the expedition while reaching the meeting point of Rio Nupe. At this point Sepp has to leave the group, to get his flight back to Germany.

Another 50km of unknown whitewater lie in wait for us. Many Indian locals recommended not to continue paddling the Rio Maranon because the river disappears in a huge rock fall.

We don't understand much of the language because the people in this area don't speak Spanish - just Quechua.

The first five kilometres are easy whitewater class III until a huge rock makes continuing impossible. “This must be the huge syphon the locals were talking about!” After rappelling the first few metres we realized the whole dimension of this siphon. It’s about one kilometre long and really difficult to portage. We doubt the possibility of continuing the Rio Maranon and after a short discussion we decided to unload our kayaks for easier handling whilst portaging.

After six hours of portaging we find a good camp in a cave where totally exhausted, we cook noodles with tuna and go to bed early. On the next day, we have to paddle many kilometres of whitewater. Our plan was to run the whole 50km within two days and we hoped to find interesting and difficult whitewater. We are also going to trying to find the cave where Herbert Rittlinger once left his heavy useless equipment to make his boat lighter, although we recognized that the cave might be buried by a rock fall.

What we didn’t plan was to paddle just six kilometres on the first day. Still exhausted from the day before we have to carry our boats another hour downhill to the river, where we continue our ride on the Rio Maranon. We have still about 45km left. In our topographic military maps we recognized that the river is not very steep. We are paddling 45km class II and III, with a couple class IV rapids. A short canyon with class IV+ whitewater excites us before paddling almost flat water to confluence of Rio Vizcara. Here, near the small town of Pachas we're ending the first phase of our trip and are happy finishing our project ‘descent of the most upper amazon.’

As two days ago, getting our car to the take out takes us another six hours. At 10pm we're on our way via Lima to Cusco, where we arrive 36 hours and seven police controls later.

Back in Cusco we're are very happy to be sleeping horizontal after the long drive.

I n

Indian locals recommended not to continue paddling the Rio Maranon because the river disappears in a

huge rock fall

Abyssmo Canyon We talked a lot about the lower canyon of the Rio Apurimac and that we really would like to run it.

It is called ‘the Abyssmo’. We asked Alonso, the boss of the company ‘Apurimac Explorer’ and the man who is sharing his home with us, if he would like to join us. He just answered, "Yes, no problem, let's go. We need just one day!" We were little bit confused. The other local guys told us it is the hardest whitewater in the Cusco area and you will need about three days. As Alonso promised us that it is possible and that he already ran the Abyssmo three times, we packed our stuff and went to the put-in at 5am in the morning.

We packed our boats with stuff for two days – just in case and because we will sleep at the takeout. There is a six-hour walk out waiting for us.

So we started our trip.

Very excited about what we will find on the next 30km. The first 22km is just whitewater class III with a few rapids of class IV. After every rapid there is a huge pool where you can relax and in the case of a swim, where you can get all your stuff back. We thought we could get an idea about what is coming next. But the only thing that didn't change was the absolute remoteness in a deep and impressive canyon.

For the last eight kilometres there was not a single pool and maybe three or four rapids a little bit easier than class V. In this place the Rio Apurimac shows its complete power and danger, but also its beauty. Steep class V rapids one after the other with a lot of siphons and undercuts. And if we say “a lot” we mean “a lot!” Especially these siphons forced us to portage at least three times.

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After nine hours

and a few minutes after sunset we reached a bridge where the famous Inca Trail is crossing the river. This is the first possibility to get out of the river. We were really happy about reaching this point, totally tired and mentally exhausted. You can continue with easier whitewater downstream for another day and you will avoid the six hours walk out. But we decided to take out here and shared our camp with a few billion sandflies and mosquitos. In the next morning we were waiting for some horses to carry our boats uphill to the next road access. Alonso organized everything and we told him to order some more horses for us. So we rode the horses for six hours and 1,500m of elevation up to a little town where Miguel, our taxi driver was waiting for us.

All in all it was a great adventure with heavy whitewater in amazing scenery and the pretty cool ‘walk out’ of the gorge.

Home

After two months of travelling through Peru, the time came for heading home to Germany.

We spent three days in Lima, where we surfed and visited the historical city.

Thanks to Alonso from ApuEx, all the raft guides and new friends we found. We had a pretty good time in Peru and will be back for sure.

The rivers we ran before going to the Rio Lauricocha to use as preparation. ●

●

●

Rio Chilca was to prepare for running class V big water in a moderate altitude (approx. 3,000m).

Rio Salka was to prepare for running whitewater in high altitudes (approx.

4,500m).

Rio Apurimac was to prepare for running difficult whitewater with fully loaded boats.

Check Flo’s video link on: https://vimeo.com/flofischer

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INFORMATION LOCATION: Peru is located to the north west coast of South America and boarders countries such as Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Bolivia.

Peru

Peru can be divided into three areas known as the highlands, this area is in-twinned with the andes mountains and runs directly through the centre of the country. Secondly the jungle regions are located around the amazon rainforest to the east of Peru and finally the coastal regions to the west of the country.

http://goperu.about.com

LANGUAGE: The official language of Peru is Spanish however Quechua is also recognised as an official language.

Machu Picchu

Peru Google map

PERU AMAZON: The Amazon rainforest stretches over a vast area of South America and covers an area of seven million kilometers (1.2 billion acres) with the amazon rainforest covering an area of 5,500,000km running through a range of South American countries such as Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, bolivia and Peru.The Amazon contains over half of the planet's remaining rainforests and has the largest majority of species throughout the worlds rainforest population containing over 70% of the worlds species.

The Peruvian part of the Amazon jungle is considered to be one of the best parts of the Amazon as in this area of Peru it is believed to be untouched, as other areas throughout the Amazon have been affected by deforestation however the Amazon basin of Peru is protected by law.The area in which the amazon is located in Peru is to the Northeast of the country and covers nearly two thirds of Peru itself..

PADDLING: Through the Andes Mountains and into the Amazon run many rivers, from gentle Grade 1 through to Grade 6, which the most experienced kayakers will find fearful. Some kayak tours include treks and team-building on white water rafts..

BEACHES: Punta Sal is, according to many, the top entry for best beaches in Peru. Punta Sal isn’t too far from the Ecuador border, and it is surely one of your best bets for beach resorts Peru vacations. Besides surfing, you can explore options for scuba diving, deep sea fishing, and wind surfing at Punta Sal. Surfing is best enjoyed from December to March, and the area’s abundant sunshine means that you will more than likely grab some sun rays with your waves.

WEATHER: As a rough guide you will find that the summer regions of the coast are usually extremely hot and sunny during the dry season that last from December to April. The mountain regions have a slightly different dry season that lasts from April to October when the conditions range from hot temperatures during the day with little rain, followed by a dip in temperature as nightfall approaches. The jungle region of Peru has a similar dry season to the mountains as it lasts from April to October were during this period temperatures can average between 30-35°C. To summarize you will find the best weather on the coast during January with the mountain and jungle regions being visited after the wet season is a good rule of thumb when Peru

CURRENCY: The official currency of Peru is the Nuevo Sol (S/.) and there are 100 céntimole (cents) in one sol. The sol is available in a range of bank notes from 10, 20, 50, 100, 200. There is also a selection of coins in use in Peru these are 1, 2 and 5 Neuvos Soles, other coins that are in circulation are 5, 10, 20 and 50 céntimole.

VISAS: Most tourists can enter Peru with a valid passport and a Tarjeta Andina de Migración (TAM), depending on their nationality, which you fill out on the plane or at a border crossing point before entering Peru and entitles you to a maximum stay of 183 days. Visit: Dirección General de Migraciones y Naturalización for up to date information.

Rider: Valentin Grollemund Spot: La Raillere, Cauterets River/France Photo: Fabrice Poueyto

Grafik & Design: Š 2012 www.lukmedia.de

www.tywarp.com

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

ThePaddler 39

By Steve Broo ks

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Chil

India

Manali, Himachal Pradesh

llin’

Manali is a great escape from the intense heat and dust of the plains during monsoon and is just a sweet place to kick back and relax while eating some good food!

Over the past five years I have been heading back to the hill town of Manali.

Set in some of the most amazing surroundings, Manali has become a very popular resort for both Indian and international tourists. For the Indians it is one of the main honeymoon destinations made famous by numerous Bollywood films being shot on the Rohtang Pass – the main route to Leh and Ladakh.

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e o som t y a gatew ater. e h t s i w ers it yan white k a y a For k ic Himala ass is P g t n s a fanta Roht s the e h t r ove ch ha y i h h t r w o , ht en aul To th ley of Lah d the mig e Beas th an al the v ra, Bhaga the south alley all V d o Chan b Rivers.T the Kullu nd the n a a Chen its mark o he Punjab t s make y down to a the w . plains

r h T

’ n i l l i r India

e g r o G s Bea

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During the past five

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U

nlike other popular areas of India such as Ladakh and Uttarakand (Ganges, Alaknanda and its tributaries) there is not a lot of information about Himachal Pradesh’ rivers and maps are somewhat erratic and rather outdated!

I had heard about the Beas Gorge being a Class V epic with a relatively short window for it to be run.

Also you can probably count the amount of river runners that have been through the Beas Gorge on one hand, in fact the last known descent of the gorge was over 15 years ago!

I had just led a successful expedition on the Tsarap Chu and Zanskar Rivers in Ladakh, commonly known as the Grand Canyon of Asia. By chance a good friend of mine was in Leh with his jeep so rather than trying to suffer in a rickety old bus over some of the highest driven passes in the world, I persuaded Bob to put my kayak on the roof and head for Manali.

With storm clouds brewing over the Karakoram Mountains in Pakistan we decided to head off as soon as possible. What was supposed to be a nice two-day drive over some of the most spectacular scenery the Himalayas has to offer ended up being an epic of all proportions!

We got caught by heavy snowfall just on the other side of the Baralacha La Pass and spent a night and an extended morning in a Dhaba (a stone wall building with a tarp as a roof that is used while the road is open to feed and keep the convoy in trucks heading to Leh in tea).

We ended up being only the tenth vehicle into Manali after the storm and considering roads were closed due to landslides, avalanches, snow, rain and wind that was a pretty good effort.

years I have been trying to get hold of information about the Beas

Gorge below the town of Mandi.

I spent a few days thawing out in Manali and also met up with three American kayakers who were on a mission in India: Henry, a local Idaho kayaker, his wife Kelly and Lisa from Colorado.

After telling them about the Beas Gorge, we formulated a plan and within a couple of days we had loaded the boats and were heading to Mandi in a taxi. The Beas was running clear and the madness of the monsoon water had gone. A threehour drive brought us to our put-in. It was warm; the sun was out so what more could we ask for?

We had planned to spend around four days on the river and to take our time running the Gorge, as we knew we could make up time on the flat water after the gorge. The last piece of information I received off Chris – who just happened to have been part of the

last group which had run the Beas Gorge – was that there were a couple of big drops that we will need to check out and his group that were on an extreme fishing trip in search of the mighty Himalayan Masheer fish had to portage rapids and line the rafts!

We set off just after midday, the sun was beating down and the water was warm. We kayaked passed local kids swimming and playing in the river to avoid the midday heat. This is something out of the ordinary, as usually you do not see many Indians playing down by the river, it is something you see more in Nepal.

The first part gave us some nice and mellow Class III pool drop rapids, the river started to gorge up and the drops were getting bigger. It was not long before some of the drops were impossible to read from our kayaks and we had to get out to scout the line.

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and big holes

huge waves

The moves were getting harder to make and we had to punch some

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With polished boulders and rocks all around it made for some great backdrops to the white water - which was now rising in intensity. We kayaked under a new bridge – our first navigational point, and then came a second older bridge built by the British many years ago.

This bridge was on its last legs and it was going to be a matter of when and not if it would finally collapse into the river. The river Rana came in from river right pumping the volume up and just below the confluence we decided to make our first camp on the left deep in the gorge. With the final rays of sunshine pushing through the gorge we set up camp and put the kettle on!

It was certainly warm that night, I really did not need my sleeping bag until the early hours and then it was just a case of dragging it over me. The mist was hanging around in the morning giving us a great atmosphere to the upcoming white water. By the time we packed away our kit and had

run the first rapid next to camp the sun had burnt through the mist and the sky was a deep blue.

The rapids were getting bigger; though the river was pool drop in character we now had to scout over huge rocks to find our lines. The moves were getting harder to make and we had to punch some huge waves and big holes. One rapid of note started with a drop over a kicker wave followed by a big move over to river left to avoid some nasty holes and boils before hitting and punching the final hole at the bottom of the rapid.

I ran first and got pushed around all over the place but managed to stay upright and get to a position where I could eddy out and set up my camera.

Henry nailed the line and with his fully ladened boat he just blasted through the bottom hole.

The girls were next and had mixed results but they both nailed the bottom hole! We were still keeping up our guard and rightly so as the rapids became longer and the lines narrower. Our journey through the gorge was going well and with the thought of two big drops that the fishermen portaged in our minds we were taking everything in our stride.

It was not long until we came to a new road bridge high above us. This was the third bridge and marked the end of the gorge! Just as the bridge appeared from nowhere around the corner the same could be said about the white water. It just mellowed out to class II with a lot of flat in-between, though the current was always taking us along at a good pace.

The climate had changed and we found ourselves in lush, dense vegetation. The Beas was now taking on more of a jungle character that you would expect from kayaking rivers in Ecuador! As far as the eye could see was trees and jungle, we started to look at the pristine sandy beaches to see if there were animal tracks around.

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We passed some beautiful waterfalls coming into the river, a couple of temples with pilgrims bathing by the side of the river, a huge water/mining project and finally a sweet wave! We decided to make camp that night and were visited by local fisherman. They did not seem to have much of a catch, which was a bit surprising considering how many fish we had seen jumping out of the river in search of a meal. Just before one little drop a fish nearly landed on my spray deck!

I do not think they have

The following day saw us arrive at yet another bridge, this time we were some 20km above Sajampur. We stopped and I headed up to the road in search of a taxi. I had a bit of a strange reception by the road. I do not think they have seen many tourists and especially those dressed for kayaking. Still the English wine and beer shop was open for business, actually selling whisky and a local brew that I could only compare to as rocket fuel or some kind of alcoholic drink that was sure to make you go blind! Still they said they could organise a jeep and told me to wait for 20 minutes.

Just how long is 20 minutes to an Indian? That was the question, usually anything over ten minutes means something long but believe it or not after what was a relatively short time our jeep turned up. We were on our way back to Manali.

For more info check out: www.gokayaking.at

e seen many tourists and especially those dressed for kayaking

It had been an amazing trip, though only three days it was well worth the short drive (for Indian conditions) to get there. Henry, Kelly and Lisa were looking north and wanted to run the Chandra. I had ran the Chandra the previous year and after the warmth of the Beas Gorge I did not fancy freezing cold nights in the Lahaul Valley, so I decided to head back down to the warm waters of the Beas and to kayak two previously un-run rivers that fed into the Beas Gorge – the Rana and Binwa rivers alone.

and www.stevebrooks.at

Steve Brooks

Steve has clocked up a fair few kilometres of white water so far in his career. In fact he has paddled in over 16 countries, on five continents including first descents along the way!

In the summer you will find Steve at his home near Landeck, Austria where he has been running a successful kayak school and guiding service for the past couple of years. When the Autumn sets in and with the weather getting colder and rivers drying up, Steve heads with his kayak to sunnier climes, always looking for that piece of river heaven. He seems to have found it in South America and the Indian Himalayas!

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INFORMATION LOCATION: Manali is located some 533 km north of Delhi and towards the end of the Kullu Valley. It is the start of an ancient trade route to Ladakh and is now the main supply route to Leh throughout the Summer.

GETTING THERE: From Delhi it is either a 12 hour taxi ride or up to 18 hours in a bus - depending on the season and type of bus! There used to be regular flights to Kullu airport but they have been postponed for the foreseeable future. It is also up to a two-day drive from Leh either by bus, mini-bus or 4x4 taxi. The journey from Leh is one of the most dramatic anywhere in the world!.

www.stevebrooks.at

Manila, India Google map

ACCOMMODATION: By far the best place to stay in Manali is the Tourist Hotel - if you are on a budget! It is located in a quiet place on the way to Old Manali. They are used to kayakers, all their equipment and needs which is a great help: http://www.touristmanali.com. Devraj is the owner and Dharm Singh is the hotel manager..

FOOD & RESTAURANTS: If you are looking for Indian cuisine than you can do no wrong by visiting Mayur in New Manali – it is where the locals go out to eat and the Butter Naan is amazing!

There are plenty of other restaurants offering Chinese, Tibetan, Pizza etc. If you are looking for a cake and a great lassi then check out Amigo’s Cafe in New Manali.

Finally if you fancy a schnitzl or probably the best chicken and chips in India then you will have to be in town on a Sunday and try to work out a plan to get to Martin’s (this is not easy and you will have to order your chicken by Friday evening!).

GETTING AROUND: There are woods all around Manali which makes for a great way to stretch the legs. Taxis are everywhere and so are Tuk Tuks. There are plenty of local buses too that service all the surrounding areas and with various levels of comfort.

If you want to organise a taxi to the river then you can either go to an agency or to the official taxi stand in New Manali close to the bus station. A good tip is to speak to Devraj from the Tourist Hotel somehow he manages to get great deals.

SEASONS: Spring is a good time to kayak in and around the Kullu Valley though Manali can get real busy in April from the Indian tourists escaping the heat of the plains. Monsoon finds all the rivers full to the brim and there has been a blanket ban on river running of any sorts throughout the monsoon. Autumn is the best time to kayak in the Kullu Valley. Once the monsoon is over you get fantastic water levels and 100 days of sunshine (which is close to the truth). By November it is getting cold in the evenings, be careful of the onset of snow – the Rohtang Pass is usually ‘officially closed’ in November.

PERMITS: Sometimes you need a permit to run the rivers in Himachal Pradesh. I have never been stopped and checked, however, it has happened (especially during Monsoon or in Lahaul). If you encounter a problem go and speak to Himanshu. You can find him through the Amigo’s Cafe – he is really helpful and friendly.

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LOCATIONS IN THE UK North Wales is renowned for having some of the best kayaking locations anywhere in the UK. From the lakes and rivers of Snowdonia to the coastal waters surrounding Anglesey and the North Wales coastaline, there really is no better place in the UK to come kayaking.

At Plas Menai we run a wide range of kayaking courses suitable for the complete novice right through to advanced paddlers and those wishing to get qualified as instructors.

We also• SUP Business SURF RACE •• Insurance RELAX SURF •offer RACE RELAX We also offer SUP Business Insurance We also offer SUP Business Insurance www.SUPinsure.com www.SUPinsure.com www.SUPinsure.com

We also run a number of sea kayak expeditions each year.

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01248 670964

ThePaddler 52

Down the

Delaware in early Spring It is April‌ that time of year in the north east/mid Atlantic regions of the United States that gets kayakers blood pumping as the ice retreats for the final time of the year. Paddlers begin dutifully checking gear, restringing deck lines, repacking dry bags, refilling first aid kits as the full on season can be seen, smelled and even felt.

By Scott Edwards

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It is our group’s habit to ‘kick off’ our season (for those of us who don’t paddle/ice break all year long, or prefer to swim in more temperate waters) with a camping trip with longer than usual kayak trips being the highlight of the outing.

The best thing about early-season paddling is that you avoid all the crowds and you get your the pick of the litter of the prime campsites. The downside to early-season camping in this region, especially in northeast corner of Pennsylvania, is the weather. April can be so unpredictable. The daytime high one-day can be well over 15.5c, that night it can be below -1.1c, and rain/snow are still not out of the question.

So bring your winter sleeping bag and layers and layers of clothing, as you will be actively thermo-regulating throughout the trip.

On this trip the nights were so absolutely frigid and I actually awoke in the mornings to find my tent covered in frost. This also means that early-

season water temperatures are going to still be very low, in the high 1.6c to 7.2c range, requiring the wearing of cold water, quality immersion kayak gear. If you look at some of the pictures you'll see that most people opted to wear dry suits for this paddle. Fortunately on this trip we did not have any incidences where anybody capsized, but better safe than sorry in water temperatures of that range.

Delaware River

The Delaware River is part of the border between New York and Pennsylvania and the entire border between New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Depending on where you say the river ends it is between 482 and 643 kilometers long. The most picturesque paddling areas can be found in the more northern end, where the river has not been dredged and widened for commercial shipping (check out the ports of Philadelphia and Wilmington, both major shipping points on the southern Delaware, before it empties into Delaware Bay).

Because this was a group trip of the Delaware Valley Kayak Club (www.delvalkayakers.com), we set up our own shuttle, starting our trip at the Milford Beach put in and taking as many cars as we could get down to the take out at Dingmans’s Access. This made for a trip of what we estimated to be around 29kms and we planned a lunch stop right at our campsite, as: a) It was a natural halfway point and b) If people needed to change, get other gear, avail themselves of facilities the campground offers or even take out if they didn’t want to do the entire trip.

There are a lot of other options, both shorter and longer available; it is all up to you and your group as to what you want to do. On the Delaware, there is even the wonderful option of camping on islands in the river as you wind your way downstream. Many kayakers love this type of trip, as it insists that you trim down your kit to fit inside your kayak… tent, sleeping bag, poles, food and water as well as all your other gear must fit in your boat, or you go without.

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As those who

have done self contained camping, this takes a lot of practice and lots of properly sized dry bags.

While you can get a lot of gear in a large dry bag, it is not as flexible when it comes to packing it in, and you will most likely wind up having to scrounge through your things to find the one piece of kit your looking for/need. It’s why I opt for lots of smaller, different colored dry bags, makes both packing the boat and finding things your looking for much more efficient.

The Delaware River in the Water Gap area is your classic eastern north American river cut through the mountains. It is breathtakingly beautiful, it is both tranquil and challenging in spots, as it is dotted with class 1-2 rapids, depending on the water depth and wind conditions, which in kind, warrants another mention of being dressed appropriately for the water temperature and make sure your boat is properly outfitted.

On Saturday morning, 18 of us set up our shuttle and began wrestling our way into our dry gear and getting out boats into the water. Despite the below freezing temperatures of the night before, the morning had broken sunny and beautiful, marking the beginning of a beautiful day on the Click to view on Google Maps

Information

Your best resource for information on the best paddling areas and planning your trip is the website of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreational Area. A division of the National Park service, you can even avail yourselves of state sponsored buses for shuttles along the Delaware’s myriad put ins and take-outs.

The Delaware Water Gap’s 70,000 acres also offer some of the most breathtaking hiking in the region, with waterfalls and scenic overlooks to punctuate the outing.This site will also link you with events and programs, fees and reservations and other highlights.

http://www.nps.gov/dewa/index.htm

water. The Delaware spread out in front of us framed by beautiful mountainsides. There is always the chance of sighting White Tailed Deer or Black Bear on trips in this area. In fact, in most camping areas, you are required to take anti bear measures at your campsite. Sadly, on this trip, we saw no bear, but were joined by several White Tailed Deer, Red Tailed Hawks and a couple of Bald Eagles.

The Delaware River in the Water Gap area is your

classic eastern

north American river cut through the mountains

allowing everyone to enjoy a leisurely lunch on the banks of the Delaware before pushing on. It was quite something to be able to spy our riverside campsites as we paddled past them on to the second leg of our journey.

On any of our paddles the organizers always make recommendations on boat size and type and appropriate gear. On a trip of 29kms, it was suggested that everyone paddle a kayak 4+ metres in length, to keep the group together and not have someone get separated because they could not keep up.

The group put paddle to water and began heading down river. We set point and sweep (the first paddler, who leads the group, and the last paddler, who makes sure no one gets too far behind) and soaked up the abundant natural beauty as we clicked off the kilometres.

Confused water

For the most part, the Delaware was moving briskly, aiding our progress and despite the fact that the Delaware is a major river in the region, there are still plenty of rocks in it! About an hour and a half drive downstream from this paddle, areas such as Upper Black Eddy and Frenchtown, there are remnants of dams, which can make for some interesting and fun confused water. In the Delaware Water Gap areas, the confused water and rapids are from the river descending through the mountains. They add quite a bit of fun and a bit of excitement to the paddles. They can also be lumpy enough to make a spray skirt an exceedingly good idea to help keep you dry and well under control.

Make sure your spray skirt is properly fitted, and that your release is free and clear. As someone who has had a spray skirt implode on them, it is a lot harder to paddle a boat half full of water than one might imagine.

We stopped for lunch at our campground, just pulling ashore at the put it in where everyone refueled for the remaining 14kms ahead. The sun had done it’s job and burned off the morning cold

As a rule, I always keep two things close at hand while paddling. One is my Spot emergency signal; the other is my waterproof GPS. I think it bears bringing up that while a lot of gear made for the outdoors is waterproof, very little of it floats. So, it is a good idea to either tether these items to you or your boat, or store them in a dry bag that offers buoyancy. I was watching the distance tick off on the GPS and once we had gotten past the 29km mark, I found myself wondering just how far we were going!

I must admit, after a very tough night sleeping in the cold, I was getting a bit tired and looking forward to taking out and reflecting back on the trip. Well, the take out, it turns out, was another 2.1km downstream. I think everyone was happy to finally see the ramps that marked out destination.

I’d imagine everyone was fairly frosty the evening before!

Everyone arrived safe and sound at the end of the paddle and many were very pleased to have covered 31 plus kilometers on such a beautiful day.

In fact, some had such a good time that they did another, albeit shorter, trip that had them headed in the right direction to go home on Sunday.

If you find yourself in the area between New York and Philadelphia and want to enjoy some of the finest scenery in the region I would highly recommend a paddle down the Delaware. It is always a wonderful trip!

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Interview with

T

World holder

Pre-World

50 first descents

Tao Berman

record Champion

s A N D…

OF THE PADDLING WORLD ThePaddler 59

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W

here and what was your first paddle?

I grew up paddling in the North Cascades on the Skykomish River, Washington state and all the tributaries that flow into it.

What and where was your first descent?

The first notable first descent that I accomplished was Alpine Falls, which is located at the bottom of a creek called The Top Tye. Everyone would paddle the creek and take out just above the falls. I couldn’t figure out why all of the more veteran kayakers didn’t think it was possible. So one day when I was about 16 I went over the falls. I think that moment was a pivotal learning experience for me because it helped me realize that when one says something is impossible, it just means that it is impossible for them!

With over 50 first descents which was the most memorable?

My most memorable first descent would have to be Lacie falls. It is a 300-foot sliding waterfall.

What made it so challenging was that the water at the base of the falls was only three feet deep, at its deepest area. And if I didn’t have the right side to side momentum I would have landed on exposed rocks 300 feet below. So clearly the danger factor was quite high.

Which part of the World is your favourite?

The world is so vast and diverse I couldn’t limit it to one favourite part. I love Southeast Asia for the geography and culture. Europe is fantastic for its history, architecture and of course the food in Italy.

When one says something is impossible, it just means that it is

impossible for them!

surf big waves

in a kayak.

What was the reason for taking on the Big Wave project?

I was starting to feel a little bored with what I was doing in the sport from a progression perspective. When I got into the sport my entire focus was on pushing the extreme end of the sport. After setting a couple of world records, including setting the record for the highest waterfall descent, I decided that I wanted a new challenge. So I got into freestyle kayaking. After becoming the pre-World Champion at freestyle I needed a new challenge to stay motivated. So I decided to get into extreme racing. My goal was to win. Over the course of the next five years I won over 80 percent of the races I entered and one year I was undefeated in every race. This is when I started to get a little bored with racing. So each year I trained less and less and for the most part I kept winning. I didn’t want to not be completely passionate and focused on being the best I could be. So I realized I needed a new

challenge to motivate me. There was only one thing left in the sport that I was motivated to learn – and that was to surf big waves in a kayak.

Working with Murky Waters and Randy Phillips to design and build the perfect surf kayak for big waves was also really exciting for me because I had never before been as involved in the designing of a kayak.

Is there anyone in particular in the sporting world that has influenced you?

Not really. But there are aspects of many people in the sporting world that have influenced me. I admired Dan Gavere’s ability to become a pro kayaker before people in America even knew what a kayak was. Brandon Knapp was a better technically proficient kayaker than just about anyone. I would study what I thought the people I admired where doing right and attempt to emulate it, or improve upon it.

Tao Berman

There was only one thing left in the sport that I was motivated to learn – and that was to

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What is the biggest accomplishment in your career?

For years people told me I was going to severely injury myself, or I would die. I am proud of the fact that in 20 years of paddling I have never had a serious injury.

What would be your ultimate achievement?

A fulfilling and happy life. But the only way I can be happy is if I’m successful.

Ever been scared?

No. Fear comes from doubt. If I doubted my ability to run a rapid or waterfall I wouldn’t have done it.

Any advice for those starting out in extreme kayaking?

Learn the rudiments first. Today I see a lot of paddlers running really big waterfalls that have very poor technical skills. Anyone can run a waterfall. But having the skills to run real difficult rapids and make it look easy is something that seems to be a bit of a lost art.

Which paddlers out there are currently pushing the white water boundaries?

There are a lot of paddlers that are pushing the boundaries of how high of a waterfall can be run.

But unfortunately I see less paddlers today pushing the technically challenging rapids.

Any advice for dropping over waterfalls?

Start small!

What's next for you?

As you know I retired from paddling after completing my big wave project. Now I have the time in any given day to dirtbike, mountain bike, ski, golf, or windsurf. I am also focused on buying income producing real estate. Storage unit facilities, multi-family housing, mixed use commercial and mobile home parks are what I am currently investing in. But most important, I have more time to spend with my two young children and Jamie.

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Thanks for your timeTao

Thanks Tao let’s finish something sho

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

I would prefer to paddle with my group of friends that I grew up paddling with.

Facebook or twitter?

They are both overrated!

On your iPod you're listening to?

I prefer the radio.

What would you do with $100,000?

Tao Berman

with hort and snappy…

The same thing I do with most of my money. I would buy more real estate.

An ideal night out for you is?

A nice bar with my good friends.

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

A boat.

What do you do to let off steam?

I really don’t get to worked up. But I suppose exercise would be the solution.

What do you get really angry about?

Nothing.

The one thing I’d change about kayaking is?

It would be nice if there was more money in the sport so more athletes could make a good living kayaking.

If you could be a superhero for one day, what superpower would you choose and why?

I would be the wolverine. He never gets hurt.

What three words would you use to describe you?

Relentless. Focused. Determined.

http://taoberman.com

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Tao Berman Big Wave Project Nelscott Reef, Lincoln City, Oregon

United States

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Peaceful, t

LOCH A day spent fishing on

By Simon Everett

NESS

The light awaked me. It was just after 4am, but I had had a couple of hours deep sleep and was ready to go, spurred on by the thoughts of getting one of those glorious, big spotted, Ness brownies. I drove up the south shore road to Dores, where there is a little beach and space for a couple of cars and the water is only 50 yards away. I got the kayak ready and fired up the cooker to brew a coffee and have a bite before setting off.

The sun started to lighten the tops of the far mountains as it climbed above the hills.

The water was like glass and there were no midges! It was simply glorious.

I decided to fish with two rods. A little Baitcaster I won at the Esthwaite Grand Slam with Abu 5500c on it for pike with a 14cm, gold jointed Shad rap on it, a wellproven lure. The other my Abu Suveran (a proper Swedish one that is about 15-years old, not a modern copy!) 6lb line and a great little sea trout lure called a Pins Minnow. GB swears by them! I set off, trolling in about 10 feet depth and trying to stay with the minnow in just about the depth I could see the bottom and 40 yards astern, while the rap was a bit closer and on the deeper side. There wasn't a breath of wind yet.

tranquil and quiet

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One of the trip boats, the Royal Scot from Fort Augustus came past and put up some waves that were like ripples in

thick, melted chocolate

I zigzagged my way down

so I was bringing the lures over the drop off and trying to keep them in good fishing depth, plus covering more water as I did so. Running a zigzag course is always a good ploy when trolling. The turn of the lure seems to be an additional attraction. I took a picture of the water running off the blade of our new paddle, it just caught my eye! Full carbon, very light, not as big a blade as it looks in the picture and slightly asymmetrical and exhibits no flutter whatsoever.

As the morning wore on the clouds started to bank up. There was still no wind, or fish, but the view down the loch was astounding.

I paddled down the southern shore for just over nine miles without so much as a pull, but I did see an osprey, and a grebe with a clutch of nine chicks. She was going to have her work cut out!

At this point, almost down as far as the hydro power station, I crossed the loch. One of the trip boats, the Royal Scot from Fort Augustus came past and put up some waves that were like ripples in thick, melted chocolate, it was that calm.

I continued to paddle up the north shore, staying in close and searching for a fish as I head towards Urquhart Castle, which is the second most visited tourist spot in Scotland after Stirling Castle or so I was told. The prisoners here were held on the top story of the tower of this castle.

Being built on the solid rock there was no dungeon. Every so often the prisoners were offered the chance to jump and swim across the freezing waters of the loch to their freedom.

There is no record of anyone ever succeeding.

The wind dropped again and the water became glassy calm once more, as luck would have it the sun started to break through a gap in the clouds so I had to paddle out into the middle of the loch to get this shot. An island in the sky, just like off Avatar!

Then I went in close around the base of the castle and tried around the rocks. Still to no avail, but I was having a thoroughly good morning with the scenery, wildlife and just having nothing more to worry about than keeping my lines from crossing.

I decided to try the shallows of Urquhart Bay and trolled in past the castle and the GPS showed me that there were a couple of little streams that ran into the bay. I decided these might be worth trying as a trout or pike might just be lying in the old riverbed amongst the sand bars. I worked my way around the bay, still zigging and zagging in big curves to present the lures.

The prisoners here were held on the top story of the tower of this castle. Being built on the solid rock there was no dungeon

There were a couple of little sandy beaches that looked inviting for a stretch of the legs. I chose the middle one, for no particular reason other than it seemed a good spot for a coffee and bite to eat. I hadn't stopped paddling for anything other than to take pictures since I launched at about 05.30... I looked at my watch – it was 13.15 – seven hours in the saddle without a stop, drink or anything to eat! The scenery just held my breath all the time and I hadn’t felt the need for anything. Now, though, my fasting was starting to catch up with me and I was hungry and wanted a drink too.

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a little roebuck came along the beach, saw me in the trees, trotted smartly along the

beach behind me

and hopped over the kayak!

URQUHART

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I didn't take any more pictures because as soon as I stopped paddling to pick the camera up I lost 50 yards as I was blown back down the loch and getting going again and having done a fair bit already, with no wind or tide assistance, I didn't want to waste any energy, that coffee and Killy Pie was all I had had, but I was burning off my spare tyre!

I had a coffee and ate my ‘Killy Pie’ that I bought in a great little sandwich shop in Darvel the day before. I got myself back together and pushed the kayak out a bit, remounted and went back to paddling those lures around the bay a couple of times. There were still patches of sun coming through the clouds and an old pretty Clyde style fishing boat came up the loch, so I paddled over to get a picture. The Lady Rose she was called and the folks were very friendly when I paddled over.

Rose

Soon after that the wind picked up quite suddenly. A real blow from the east, which was a nuisance as that meant I now had to paddle back into it all the way to the car! As I got out of the bay it really howled, it was funnelling

LADY

Castle

down the loch out of nowhere. Within a matter of minutes there were proper waves, and they carried on building until we had two-foot waves. It was blowing so hard the wind was wrenching at the paddle and trying to wrest it from my grip. White caps started to appear within 30 minutes making the eight miles I still had ahead of me to go a bit of a workout, especially after the 11 miles I had already done.

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I got back to the car I got back to the car just after 16.30 having covered 19.4 miles, eight miles of them into that strong headwind and it did me the power of good! But, I wasn't done yet! I had a date with a small pike loch that I know near Aviemore. I loaded the car with everything and drove over to my little pike loch. I stopped off between Loch Ness and here for a couple of ciders and a bite to eat first then started to launch a few minutes after 18.00.

It was a chance to get my fly arm swinging again because things have conspired against me getting much fly fishing done this year and being well north in Scotland things were behind, so an early pike was worth a try for.

The loch in question is a kettle hole, a loch formed by a great lump of glacial ice that comes to a grinding halt, gouging out a furrow and then as the ice melts fills it to create the loch, which is topped up by small feeder streams that have evolved over the years running off the surrounding hills. How the pike, perch, trout, roach and other little fish that inhabit the waters have got there I don't really know, but they did and it is a good spot for them.

The fly I tried first is a DNA Mohican in orange.

It is a faithful pattern anywhere and has caught me countless pike, but after flogging the water for an hour or more with nothing more than a pull from a good trout, which failed to get the 4/0 hook in its mouth, I decided a change was needed. The one I went for is a multi-coloured pattern incorporating a little yellow under the

olive back – a good roach suggestion and one that I will use here in the English midlands to good effect.

I drifted quietly around the margins in about six feet of water, casting a good line and retrieving nice and slowly, keeping in constant contact with the fly. Resulting in absolutely nothing. I decided maybe I wasn't getting deep enough even though the water was absolutely crystal clear, so I changed from the intermediate to the depth charge, a fast sinking line that casts like a rocket. Having done that I decided to change the part of the loch I fished too, and headed for a reed bed at the bottom end.

As I drifted the wind picked up a little, not heavy but enough to make it worth putting the drogue out. I slowly approached the corner of the reed

bed, drifting in silently and even with a count of 10 on the fast sinker I wasn't getting the bottom, so I knew it was deep here, probably 12 feet or so. I put in a cracking cast that landed the fly within a foot of the reeds and with the lily pads to their right. I knew it would be shallower there and counted to just three before giving the first short strip. On the second strip the fly was hit and I was in! Finally I had connected with a fish. I had worked hard enough to get one!

It fought really, really well too. Driving hard and making several strong runs that had me letting line slip through my fingers to preserve either the tippet or the hook hold, or both. I was desperate to land a fish after so much hard work on Loch Ness for nothing. Eventually a small pike around 4 lbs came to hand.

It was still very lean; making me think the pike hadn't been feeding up after spawning for very long this far north. Feeding they certainly were though, this fish took my fly very confidently. It looks mangled, but in fact it is just ‘out of shape’ and nothing that a gentle wash and a comb couldn't sort out. The hairs all came back into place and it fished on perfectly.

As I drifted along the reed bed I saw a small bay formed in the edge of them, perhaps 20 yards deep, where a small stream ran out. I cast my fly right to the very point of the reeds, at the start of the bay. A small perch immediately pounced it on!

The greedy little chap wasn't much bigger than the fly itself and quite how it got the 4/0 hook in its mouth properly I can't imagine. I have only caught a handful of perch in my life this is about the second biggest!

As I unhooked him a young osprey came soaring over the loch in search of a bedtime snack. The little perch was quite safe; it was back and gone under the kayak in a flash. The osprey landed in the trees opposite though, about 100 yards away. I could see the markings on its breast even in the fading light. I gave it another half hour and got one more pike, about 10" long… then I felt the long day catching up on me. I looked at my watch, the sun was already down behind the hills and it was gone 23.00. I had to get back and put the tent up yet, and have something to drink.

I slept soundly, having got on the water at 05.30 and now only just finishing off at 23.30, in bed for midnight. It had been a long but one very memorable day. One day I shall return and catch a big, Scottish pike!

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INFORMATION LOCATION: Loch Ness is situated at the north eastern end of the Great Glen, a large ‘side-slip’ (and active) fault line that splits the north of Scotland down the middle and further sculpted by Ice Age glaciers. The word glen means ‘steep sided valley’.

RIVERS: There are about forty small rivers, streams, burns and waterways running into Loch Ness. The loch itself is connected to the sea via the River Ness and Caledonian Canal – both feeding into the Moray Firth. Beneath the water the loch consists of two deep basins separated by a barrier of sediment from the River Foyers, approximately half-way down the southern shore of the loch.

www.visitlochness.com

Loch Ness

Google Map

SIZE: Loch Ness is 51 feet (16 metres) higher than sea level, is 23 miles long and one mile wide. Loch Ness contains more water than in all of the lakes and rivers of England and Wales combined. It also has the greatest volume of water than any other Scottish loch. The waters of Loch Ness never freeze over.

MONSTER: There have been countless fake monster sightings and false evidence of its existence presented over the years, including a fabricated echo sounder chart showing a multi-legged creature taken from the Rival III in 1957. Operation Deepscan, has been the largest and most exhaustive expedition staged at Loch Ness. During the exploration, several unidentified and unexplained sonar contacts were recorded beneath the water.

COLOUR: The colour of the water is caused by peat particles floating throughout the loch. There are two layers of radioactive sediment beneath the waters of Loch Ness. The first was the result of radioactive fallout from the Chernobyl disaster.

URQUHART CASTLE: Urquhart Castle has been changing hands between the English and the Scots for well over 400 years since it's construction. Two hundred years ago it was finally destroyed with gunpowder explosives at the end of the 17th Century in order to prevent Urquhart Castle from falling into the hands of the Jacobite Uprising.

WELLINGTON BOMBER: On New Years Eve in 1940 a training flight in a Wellington Bomber suffered engine failure. Luckily, the pilots spotted a nearby body of water and managed to make a perfect landing on Loch Ness – bailing from the bomber before it vanished beneath the water.

The wreck had lain beneath the water for almost 40 years before divers stumbled across the wreckage in almost perfect condition. It was recovered in September, 1985 and is now in Brooklands Museum, Weybridge and is one of two Wellington Bombers still intact.

THEORIES: Theories and ideas about Loch Ness include: The dreaded Pyranha Midges that hunt the shores of Loch Ness, stripping flesh from small mammals in seconds.

The hidden vents of an active super volcano lying in the depths of the waters – complete with whole new species of sulphur eating plankton.

The shocking new 'evidence' that Nessie hunts on land, out of the waters of Loch Ness!

There is gold at the end of the rainbow – the Kaskazi Marlin ARX! The Marlin has been revised and now has the option of an ARX type deck. The deck can be either fixed or detachable and allows the comfort of paddling with a spraydeck to provide protection from the elements.

In stock for immediate delivery

The other changes are: > Longer cockpit to accommodate taller paddlers. > Larger drain holes to vent water faster. > The day hatch has been moved closer to the seat to allow it to open with the ARX deck in place.

www.kayakuk.comThePaddler

Telephone: 01889 566796. Mobile 07768 632560

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New Zealand Adventures...

Claire O'Hara

New Zealand is an adventure paradise and the adventures just have not stopped since I arrived here four weeks ago. After the incredible few days at Jackson Bay we went back to the Hawea waves for the NZ nationals and team selections. There was a great turn out and atmosphere at the event, which also celebrate the official opening of the park in front of crowds of local people on a beautiful sunny weekend. Over the two days everyone took to the water to take part in a whole range of competitions on a wide variety of crafts. There was body boarders, surfers, hydro speeds, freestylers, creek boats and SUP's. Pro paddlers to beginners and ye oldies all the way through to loads of young kids.

I had a great weekend winning both days competitions but not being a Kiwi means I didn't make the national team! However it is going to be an exciting year for NZ freestyle as the event showed that freestyle is still alive and growing and 2013 will see one of the largest and strongest NZ teams compete at the worlds later this year and also a huge development of freestyle within the country thanks to new Hawea freestyle training facility. Heres a quick highlights video from our time at the waves.

After the event it was time for a few days chilling, wake boarding and waterskiing before a quick trip to Queenstown to go freestyle paragliding and grab a Fergburger.

Then it was time to head north for a days hunting before jumping on the ferry to the North Island and Lake Taupo and the Kaituna.The Kaituna is a enchanting river and it was awesome to catch up with friends old and new as we explored the area and paddled the run.A drought in NZ meant the levels were super low but still really good fun.Another week on and we've been boating loads and filming, bungee jumping*, competing (the Full James event), mountain biking, speed boating on the lake, SUPing on a gorgeous spring and surfing in the ocean, playing ocean golf and going to the gym, the circus and several natural thermal hot and cold pools. So much fun!

The adventures just haven't stopped and now I am leaving the Islands to head to Australia and who knows what adventures will come next. www.claireohara.co.uk www.claireohara.blogspot.com

Your paddles, courses, jobs and travels To advertise your ÂŁ20.00/$32.00 ad on this page email: ads@thepaddler.co.uk

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79 ThePaddler 79 ThePaddler

ThePaddler 80

mba r Ma gge 3 Da 201

o t e y d k i a e r R st

rr a C l hi P y B

The Mamba from Dagger has been around since 2005 and has become a firm favourite with paddlers at all levels. Over the last couple of years Daggerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s designers and test paddlers have been working on making the Mamba even better, the result has been some major design changes that have brought the Mamba bang up to date. In many senses the new Mamba is a completely new boat.

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Old Mamba or new Mamba?

www.dagger.com

For 2013 a number of new

colour options

are available for the Mamba and other kayaks within the Dagger range.

It’s pretty easy to tell the two apart.The new Mamba has a bow security bar that runs across the front deck and an additional security bar has been added just in front of the cockpit and the drain plug is now positioned in the centre of the stern.The design change occurred in 2012 with those kayaks supplied with the older Dagger outfitting system.

For 2013 the Mamba comes equipped with Dagger’s new Contour Ergo outfitting.This is similar in design to the Wave Sport Core outfitting system.

Mambas are available with two different specifications of Contour Ergo outfitting – River and Creek.The River Ergo system equipped kayaks come supplied with the Contour Ergo play seat and the Creek spec comes supplied with the Contour Ergo Creeker seat. Both systems are extremely similar with the main difference being that the creeker system includes a plastic step out pillar and additional storage trays (with bungee cord) to the front of the seat.

The new outfitting is designed around ease of use and adjustment. For example the front edge of the seat can be raised or lowered through the use of the same kind of ratchet system that we are all familiar with on kayak backrests. A couple of quick release buckles allow easy access to the back of the hip pads to add/remove the shims. Plenty of shims are supplied with the outfitting pack to allow the paddler to achieve optimum fit.The backrest provides a broad support base and adjusted via two ratchets positioned near the front of the cockpit. All Mambas are supplied with a fully adjustable full plate footrest that incorporates a system that allows the plate to expand thus eliminating gaps between the footrest and kayak shell thereby reducing the chance of foot entrapment. A nice little touch is the fact the bolts that hold the footrest rails in place have a leash system that prevents the bolts from being dropped within the boat and potentially lost.

Plenty of storage and clip in points are provided both in front of and behind the seat.The throw bag storage position is flat just in front of the seat and can be secured in place using the strap system.The system seems nice and secure. In this position the throw bag is very easy to access whilst you are sat in the boat.

The whole outfitting system is simply superb. It probably took me around 10-15 minutes to get the Mamba set up for my style of paddling.

For 2013 a number of new colour options are available for the Mamba and other kayaks within the Dagger range. Other changes are much harder to spot on first inspection.

A modern day classic, the Mamba has proved itself over and over again on rivers all over the world. A planing hull with soft rails gives the Mamba excellent performance on big volume, without compromising its capabilities as a first class creeker.The Mamba Creeker features the same bomb proof rotomoulded seat and step out pillar as the Nomad. It's the ultimate choice if you want a kayak for both steep, technical whitewater and big volume. Available in three sizes.

Mamba 7.6 Creeker The new Mamba 7.6 Creeker is beefier than the 7.5 Creeker with added volume and improved volume distribution, yet it remains forgiving. Great size for youths and smaller paddlers who want to tackle creeks or big water rapids.

Mamba 8.1 Creeker The new, larger sized 8.1 offers more volume and better volume distribution than the Mamba 8.0 Creeker.

Mamba 8.6 Creeker The Mamba 8.6 Creeker is a large boat for large paddlers, with improved safety features and volume like you've never seen. Series improvements offer an outstanding ride regardless of the size, with the forgiving performance you've come to love in the revered Mamba Series.

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www.unsponsored.co.uk

What Dagger saysâ&#x20AC;Ś

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Overall, the new kayaks in the Mamba series are bigger in both length and volume.

Volume has been added in a couple of key areas that pushes the Mamba firmly into the world of a capable planning hull creeker as well as still being a versatile river-runner. More volume is located in the knee area to increase comfort levels and change the paddling positioning. Additional volume has also been added to the stern which means that the Mamba sits a little higher in the water than its predecessor.

of centre. I would recommend any new Dagger Mamba owner to do the same to dial the boat in to their own paddling style.

The Mamba is available in three different sizes 7.6, 8.1, and 8.6 so there are lots of options, which should allow most paddlers to find a Mamba that is ideal for them.

This in itself adds greater levels of stability and with a smooth transition from hull to side to deck results in a kayak that is very forgiving and stable whilst side surfing or trapped in a sticky hydraulic.The edges of the Mamba are quite pronounced at the bow and run to just under the seat before tapering out towards the stern.This again aids the stability of the boat. After paddling a new and old Mamba back to back I could instantly feel the difference between the two.

On the water the Mamba is quick and easy to turn. I felt that the kayak was very predictable, and stable.Yet just a little knee lift to get the boat on edge resulted in some nice snappy turns.The speed of the Mamba is pretty good due its planning hull and it certainly holds its own against the likes of the Liquid Logic Stomper and Wave Sport Recon. I found it very easy to punch through stoppers, break through larger sea waves/surf and boof.

The Mamba resurfaces very well and the deck sheds water incredibly effectively.

I spent a bit of time playing with the position of the seat that is adjusted by loosening off a few bolts.

Even the smallest adjustment makes quite a big difference to the way in which the boat paddled. I positioned the seat just forward

Photos: Phil Ca rr. Paddler : Fred

Bainbridge

extremely versatile

Overall I would say that the new Mamba is an

Kayak. It will appeal to beginners and more advanced paddlers alike.

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Testing, Yak Mavric white water cag http://www.crewsaver.co.uk/YAK

Yak has been putting a lot of time into their research and development before releasing their new line of paddling cags. I have been able to get hold of the Yak Mavric, the latest white water cag to see if itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been worth it.

First reaction was that the cag looked good, much more attractive than past Yak cags, it looks stylish and features good colour. It was clear to see Yak have concentrated on quality and affordable quality at that, where the Mavric undercuts most other manufacturerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cags on the market when it comes to price. So to re-cap good looking, affordable and quality; well that is what I wanted to find out.

Latex inner neck and cuff seals Self facing fabric outer neck and cuffs for protection of latex seals and comfort fit

Seamless underarm technology with pre-bent sleeves for high performance

Fully adjustable neoprene waistband and inner skirt

Trying on the cag I found the sizing similar to other manufacturers. I fit a medium and the cag has plenty of growing room, a little too much space in the chest area maybe for the smaller paddler, if you are hitting the gym frequently maybe this will be in your favour.

Comfort wise the Mavric is nice, the waist band is similar to that of the Sweet cags, a soft neoprene, which does not restrict any movement in your torso.

Heavy weight tri-laminate waterproof fabric

g

testin

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

ThePaddle r ez ine te

ter of in

Black / Grey in S, M, L, XL. £179.99

m co

On the water the Mavric was still impressive.To paddle it was comfortable with no major restrictions and the material was very watertight with Yak’s four-way stretch tri-laminate fabric allowing unrestricted performance.

The underarms are seamless, which like Palm’s range will result in longer lasting kit, as sweat is one of the main causes of cags delaminating.The arms are pre bent allowing no restriction when in a positive paddling position.The Mavric is fully taped and breathable making it waterproof and allowing you to paddle without build up of sweat in the cag.There are two chest pockets for earplugs or other things you may carry on the river, I personally don’t like pockets on my cags I see it as another area to leak or eventually come untaped but it is down to personal preference.

ll be it wi and ved mo t re uc od

est to pad

The shoulders felt comfortable, plenty of room for movement and no restrictions when rolling, or general paddling. To tighten the waist,Yak have used two Velcro adjustment straps these feel really effective and the Velcro sticks well. On the wrist there is a latex seal, which features an outer Velcro strap allowing you to make the wrist smaller and tighten around your wrist.

This was the main negative I took from the Mavric; the wrist can be tightened but the sleeve tapers I prefer an elastic wrist or something a little more sophisticated. As with the neck I would prefer to see the outer neck to be a little higher to protect the latex seal.

dle rs - e mail us: r eviews@t hepad dler ezin e.

The Mavric proved to be a good whitewater cag and I believe it will hold up well over time. I see this as a strong contender on the current market as an affordable high end cag. If I were to rate this out of ten I’d happily give it a 8/10 – a quality product with a few minor negatives, which again could be down to personal preference.

BY DALE MEARS PHOTOS: BREN ORTON

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RTM Abaco ThePaddler 88

Never heard of it I hear you say!

Neither had I until very recently. I set about a search for a review but I could not find a single one by a UK angler. That will change now; I have one in my garage for a short while.

RTM have been around for quite some years, they are based in France and for some time were the European manufacturers for a leading brand of kayak. Many will know of the RTM Tempo which is very, very similar to the classic and sadly discontinued Scupper Pro.The hull is virtually the same but the cockpit has been modified, some say improved some say not, I am not here to argue the point. However the main point is that RTM are Europe's

largest sit-on kayak manufacturer and are surprisingly little known in the UK by angling kayakers.The Abaco is their flagship kayak so let's start with the kayak as it sits on my drive.The Grey Storm colouring is definitely striking and easy on the eye.The first thing you notice is as you run your hands over the kayak it has a very clean smooth finish. Let's start from the bows.

ByTerry Wright (http://coarsekayakfishing.proboards.com)

A rubber, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Tupperwareâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; style lid, seals the access.Very tight and I would guess the seal is improved by this tightness. Open up and the bow storage is vast!

Widest point is 35cm for 55cm then narrowing down. Big enough for a C-Tug I hear you ask?

Split right down and with the chassis at full length.

But then there is this clever idea. Do you get fed up of bits getting lost down the hull? Just drop this in and problem solved.

But then there is this clever idea. Do you get fed up of bits getting lost down the hull? Just drop this in and problem solved.

Just behind this is a small flat area with a bungy for lure boxes or bolt on accessories. Either side of this there are two more flat areas.

The footwell area is flat with a slight run off to the two scuppers.

There is a pair of adjustable foot pegs and on the gunwhales an aluminium channel suitable for the bolt on type accessories.

Accessories just like this rod tube that comes with the Abaco.

Then we have the central storage area the lid secured with two clipped straps.

The lid would be ideal for screwing a fish finder or other accessories to but I guess the old 'cutting board' backplate would be safest.

You will notice a familiar tube for storing a fishing rod that runs to the stern. Current length of the tube is 95cm (37") with the additional length of the storage box of 55cm (21").

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The storage box has a ridge at the other end that could be used as a battery area, a little mod with a strap or bungy to secure it so long as you are confident the area is dry enough.

Either side of the cockpit are recesses with rubber mesh covers for pliers, forceps etc. Also in the footwell is a moulded in ruler, not very long but more than adequate for most of the fish I catch.

Behind the seat area is a pair of rod holders. Behind the seat is a recess, with a small but easily changed bungee. It is a perfect fit for the popular Flambeau box.

We then move to the rear storage area.The main oblong area is 46cm x 47cm and 13cm deep with an area of another 45cm to the stern.With two scuppers.

Finally I am trying out one of RTM's own brand seats.These are made from closed cell foam with the standard four adjustable straps.The back is designed to be tightened to wrap around you.

Two each of these lure boxes come free. A small standard box and a nice clip closure double-sided lure box.

I almost forgot an innovative little hole in the stern: Now you may have used kayaks with a fixed wheel. This can sometimes work well and sometimes not. Often it clogs or is too narrow to be stable. With the Abaco you can thread a bar though and slot on two pneumatic tyres. This is not the answer to all you problems but it works on many surfaces and is a great idea.

Summing up: I can see this as a very versatile kayak, with great potential for modifications. Judging by the profile and by one or two videos on Youtube it is very sea worthy.

Dimensions:

Length (cm): 420 13ft 9in Width (cm): 72 28 1/2in Height (cm): 30 Weight (kg): 27 60lbs Max. Capacity (kg): 180 400lbs Max paddler weight (kg): 130

National Distribution

Every angler has a story Every kayak angler has a better one

Tetra 10 Angler Length 3.25m Width 0.75m Weight 23.2 kg Also available : 3.7m version

Trident 11 Angler Length 3.5m Width 0.77m Weight 24.5 kg Also available in 4.1m and 4.8m lengths

Trident Ultra 4.1 Angler Length 4.1m Width 0.71m Weight 28.5 kg Also available in 4.3m and 4.7m lengths

Malibu Two XL Tandem Angler Length 4.1m Width 0.86m Weight 30.4 kg

Plotter / Fishfinders for Kayaks

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PiranhaMAX 176xi

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RTM Abaco ThePaddler 92

Fitting RTM Stabilizers/Outriggers

We call them outriggers they call them stabilizers, but whatever you call them they are meant to give the kayak a wider and more stable profile. The RTM setup does this very well.

ByTerry Wright (http://coarsekayakfishing.proboards.com)

The kit comes as two floats made from a very robust plastic streamlined at each end to reduce drag as much as possible.

The main mount is a 3cm square tube and the float mounts are 2,5cm tube, both are aluminium for less weight and no corrosion.

The float tubes have three holes offering various width settings and the square tube has two slots drilled thus allowing fixing preset brass fittings in to the hulls of the RTM Abaco and KLargo. Note the square tube has a pair of oblong plates welded to it to offer bracing against the hull.

Here you can see the individual floats set at the maximum, left,minimum right and both widths. So the overall width goes from 54" to 72", more than enough to suit anyone.

Summing up

I stood up with them on the narrowest setting and would have been more than happy to cast a fly or lure. Other options are for nervous paddlers, sailing and as one guy mentionedâ&#x20AC;Ś mounting an outboard. Whilst paddling the floats were barely skimming the water so drag was minimal but that was with just my 15 stone on board, fully laded they will sit lower but still not very low in the water.

Believe me this is a robust bit of kit and whilst it is designed for RTM kayaks it would not take a lot of effort to make it fit other brands The unit sells at ÂŁ149 which when compared to most of the set-ups that you can find on the net and they all seem to be US or Australian. So if you are in the market for a set of stabilizers/outriggers then here is answer for you and best of all no problems with having all the postage charges and duties linked to imports.

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Salty Paddler ThePaddler 95

By Werner Ostermann of NovaShores Adventures ThePaddler 96

extraordinary The

Cape Chignecto

Wilderness Park

Bay of Fundy Nova Scotia Canada ThePaddler 97

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The Bay of Fundy

with its largest tides on this planet can conjure up images

of raging currents, whirlpools and riptides. While all this does occur on this amazing body of water, it also presents some opportunities for exceptional sea kayaking adventures. The most extraordinary destination on the Fundy is the Cape Chignecto area, where the towering cliffs of the Avalon highlands meet those huge tides. Due to differential erosion along the most geologically diverse coastline in Nova Scotia, where it is said that when the super continent of Pangaea split part of it drifted on to what is now Morocco and the other became the Chignecto shore where sea stacks, caves and arches are the norm.

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Archway at high tide Red Rocks

Spicers Cove

We will be going on a three-day coastal adventure Paddling the entire coast of the Cape Chignecto wilderness park. It is a protected area which is inhabited by large land mammals such as Black bear, moose, deer, and numerous smaller species, plus a wide array of land and sea birds and some of our favourites that we share our paddle with â&#x20AC;&#x201C; grey and harbour seals. On arrival at Spicers Cove, the wild beach we launch from, our group of four and guide spend some time first checking out the numerous carboniferous age fossils to be found along the red sand beach. It takes a while to stuff every available inch of the kayaks with the necessary safety/camping gear and some good food and wine to enjoy after each dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s paddle.

After an easy launch from the sand beach we make our way towards the high conglomerate cliffs, keeping a safe distance in case of rock falls until we reach a fault line where it abruptly turns into the more solid volcanic rhyolite and basalt predominant along this part of the shore, allowing us to paddle within a paddles length of the sheer cliff face. This mix of red and black stone presents a colourful backdrop to the jade green water of the phytoplankton rich waters of the bay.

stunning scene

We paddle into a

of sea stacks and a jagged coast

The Three Sisters On reaching Squally point we round the corner with the highest raised beach in the province high above us, a remnant of the last ice age. We paddle into a stunning scene of sea stacks and a jagged coast where the red rhyolite is frequently broken by the black diabase dykes that surged through the crevices millions of year ago, now eroding into a kayakerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fantasyland.

Some of these stacks are part of the legends of the indigenous peoples of the area, the Mikmaq, natives whose imagination gave life to many of the mysterious forms that thrust to the sky from the sea. Like Olympus in Greek mythology, the Bay of Fundy was the home to the Mikmaq gods.

But the Mikmaq were long ago driven from this area by Europeans who realized the value of the impressive timber for building ships. As we leave the sea stacks we paddle into a place known as Eatonville Harbour.

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Now a beautiful tidal

wild river, at one time it roared with the steam engines driving the saws to cut the wood to build the ships, which they then filled with more of the wood for export to Europe and the eastern seaboard of North America. Little evidence remains of this time, although we do find some old rusted iron nails and a horseshoe on the constantly eroding beach. In the short time we are there the large tidal basin empties and the mouth of the Eatonville River does a Jekyll and Hyde turn from placid to a surging white water river.

After lunch we continue down the shore, which has now changed to predominantly basalt, with the occasional bald eagle soaring overhead and black guillemot’s flying in a flurry of quickly beating wings from their cliff side nests, their red legs and feet giving a flash of colour over the water. On arrival at Seal Cove we set up camp on the sand/cobble beach and enjoy a gourmet dinner as the sound of the beach pebbles washing to and fro as the surf advances up the beach gives a soothing backdrop of sound to our secluded beach camp. The reds and oranges of a spectacular sunset paint a picture of serenity as we retire after a beautiful, peaceful day.

We awaken the next morning to strange melody of sounds, the bellowing of grey seals from the next cove, mixed with the mewing of the gulls overhead. After a hearty breakfast, we begin the day with a discussion of the challenges of the day’s paddle. The wind has picked up and some surf on the steep beach means we will spend a bit of time until the tide drops further. And it does drop! With a tidal difference of up to around 12 metres on this part of the bay the environment is constantly changing.

Refugee Cove Refugee has a storied past, named for the Acadian escapees of the British deportation of 1755.

Apparently a group of the Acadians, who had refused to declare allegiance to the British crown, escaped to this remote cove, setting up a lookout for British ships at the French look off just above the cove. Just offshore is Isle Haute, named by Samuel Champlain in 1605 and in the distance is Cape d’Or, again named by Champlain, mistaking the copper coloured cliffs for gold instead of the copper it was.

The younger seals slide into the water before we approach and survey us close up from where they feel the most comfortable. The big bulls eye us suspiciously though, remaining on the rocks unless we get a bit too close and then they too will slide down into the sea for a closer look at these strange creatures. Knowing we can easily make the cape for the high, we spend some time with the seals, letting them get comfortable with us and taking photos. On reaching the cape we

take advantage of the small beach, which is getting smaller by the minute, to have a lunch and watch the tidal rips surging out into the bay.

In the short time we are there the large tidal basin empties and the mouth of the Eatonville River does a

Jekyll and Hyde

turn from placid to a surging white water river

At the top of the flood tide we are ready to go, quickly slipping around the point into a new world. While the jagged shore to this point has been fascinating, what meets us on rounding the cape is formidable. We are met with huge sea cliffs rising vertically 200 metres from the water.

The aptly named Devils Slide really gives us a sense just how diminutive we actually are! As we continue down the imposing coastline Old Sal, a large sea stack that marks the entrance to Refugee Cove, our camp for the night, greets us.

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The Three Sisters at high tide

With a bit of wind and the currents caused by those big tides, today will have to be well timed for the rounding of Cape Chignecto, which is thrust deep into the Bay of Fundy, splitting it into two large bays. We will time the rounding with the high tide, where we can hug the cliffs.

Before we reach that though, we spend some time with the grey seals. They have hauled themselves up on the bladder wrack covered rocks as the tide drops and eye us warily as we quietly float into their world.

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Owl Rock

The Fundy tides create a kayaking fantasyland On setting up camp we decide to hike the coastal trail out of Refugee for a look at our environment from a different perspective. It isn’t long before we realize that a sea kayak is by far the best way to explore this rugged coast. Climbing at a 40degree angle up 200 metres, we are sweating profusely by the time we reach the top. The kayaks are mere specks on the beach.

The following day is an easy paddle, giving us ample time to really investigate the sea caves along the coast – and a real treat – take a freshwater shower under a waterfall that tumbles a hundred metres down a cliff into the bay. At high tide we can paddle directly under it, but today we luxuriate in refreshing water that massages away the stiffness from a couple of days of paddling and then dry in the warmth of the summer’s sun. Return to civilization will come all too soon.

Visitn www.novashores.com about kayak tours on the

Bay of Fundy

om .c pe m o ur co mxe le. www.syste padd nd www.wi

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Surf k + Wav =

(Paddl

For as long as I can remember and before the emer been used within the kayaking scene to refe Many may not be familiar with these

By Marty

kayak + veski =

dlesurf)

rgence of stand up paddling, the term ‘paddlesurf’ has er to the disciplines of surf kayak and waveski. e paddesports. So what are they?

y McCann

ThePaddler 107

i’ k s e v a ‘w e m a n e th Despite

ThePaddler 108

it skiing. So what is it? Well, it has nothing to do with ki ves wa k at it. For some a really depends how you loo ak kay on and paddle like a is a surfboard that you sit formance surf kayak. per h and for others it is a hig like a fat surfboard with a Essentially a waveski looks ps to keep the rider in seat, lap belt and foot loo e waveskier surfs ocean contact with the board.Th r as other wave riding waves in the same manne ertoire of manoeuvres rep e sports, utilising the sam wave to its full potential. and techniques to surf the performed in ‘surf The same manoeuvres are fer is seated within a kayaks’, but the paddle sur ver surf kayaks do have conventional kayak. Howe general purpose, whitedifferent specifications to water or freestyle boats.

h composite construction suc A surf kayak is made of a /Kevlar or a combination as fibreglass, carbon, carbon fitted with fins like a of the three. Some are out ere have well defined rails.Th waveski or surfboard and h hig ng ani me ak. HP are two classes of surf kay rter in length, have fins sho are ich wh s, nce performa second type is IC which and fairly short tails.The s.These boats are stands for international clas t, are longer than waveskis reminiscent of a slalom boa erally not fitted with fins. and HP boats and are gen a in much the same way as A waveski is constructed the by ped m core is sha surfboard. Firstly the foa h two layers of fine wit d ere ‘shaper ‘then cov together by epoxy resin. fibreglass cloth and bonded t loop attachments are The fin boxes, belt and foo

Mar ty McCann surfski

Photo: Ian McClelland

y ce. Finally it is thoroughl added and glassed into pla ki’s ves Wa . lied app is coat sanded before a finishing er’s requirements and rid the to c cifi spe are made ution, length, width, needs. The volume distrib as the height, weight and sharpness of rails as well taken into consideration. ability of the surfer are all re is very little gear Compared to kayaking the stay warm with a wetsuit required.You will need to for obvious reasons and and booties, have a paddle t depending on where and also stay safe with a helme beginning it is also when you are surfing. In the to keep the Waveski from important to wear a leash . A waveski can cost escaping you on wiping out d hundred for a second han anything from a couple of ski. de ma a full custom one or around £1,000 for

modest growth in Ireland Paddle surfing has seen a comparison to France and over the last few years in ki and kayak surfers from Portugal. However waves ing their country in World Ireland have been represent ip events since the 1980s and European Championsh e scene in the north and and continue to do so.Th ticularly healthy. Out of north west of Ireland is par ber of talented athletes, which have emerged a num current World Champions, former World Champions, s. s and International finalist numerous European title th and north west of Ireland It’s no secret that the nor y aks.These vary from friendl have some great surf bre and aks committing reef bre beach breaks to the more day there are gems to be e even on a howling onshor nnies of the Irish coastline. found in the nooks and cra

Andy at east Strand

Photo: Dessie McGlinchey

Andy at Portrush

wear a leash

portant to In the beginning it is also im escaping to keep the Waveski from you on wiping out ThePaddler 109

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Sam Jones of England at European Titles

Portugal

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

www.systemxeurope.com www.wernerpaddles.com Photo: www.supsafety.de

For Sun and element protection Surf,SUP or paddle with a Wavzcap

www.wavzcap.com

SUP Paddler ThePaddler 113

Darrell Wong Photo by

BY Suzie Cooney Owner of Suzie Trains Maui, LLC

ThePaddler 114

Alo

oha

and

welcome

to the sport of

Stand Up

Paddling

It’s an honour to write for the ThePaddler ezine, as I imagine the reason why you’re reading this article is because like myself, you’ve caught the stand up paddling sensation or you’re getting ready to learn the new board sport that is taking the planet for an amazing ‘glide.’

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(one of many) about stand up paddling also known as ‘SUP’; is that practically anyone can do it and you don’t have to be a surfer, have incredible strength or cardio endurance, just the desire to have fun. It’s really that simple. Most people are up on their first try.

As a sponsored SUP team rider for Naish International and a professional fitness expert specializing in stand up paddling performance; I’ve had the fortunate experience to be able to paddle year round and paddle in all kinds of conditions, just about any day of the week.

Soon you’ll be preparing for your spring and summer (hopefully) and I can’t wait to for you to catch the glide too. I’m going to share with you a few tidbits that will help you best prepare yourself in the best way so you can have the best possible experience too!

First, be sure you seek a qualified instructor with the proper equipment that will assure you the best first time adventure and success. I recommend that you learn on a wide and stable board and also be sure your paddle is not too long or too short. Also be sure that conditions are suitable for learning; calm, non-windy or water without big swell or chop.

Next, leave your ego or machoness at home and be open to feel and do something totally different.

Embrace the fact that you may actually smile and laugh at one self while getting up for the first time, so simply relax.

A few tips regarding your mindset: Don’t tense up, just relax and keep your body lose and knees always slightly bent. Don’t death grip your toes on

SUP Pro Talk Maui with Suzie Cooney ( A three part series ) Available for purchase at standuppaddlingfitness.com

Learn Advanced First Aid for SUP Surfing Prepare Yourself For Open Ocean Endurance / Safety - Learn Wave Etiquette & Board Handling - Gear Review -Downwind Paddling Tips - SUP Fitness Training Tips

the board, relax them and be sure not to stand too wide; less than shoulder width apart is perfect.

Look forward not down, dig in that paddle without hesitation and go! Use the paddle to brace yourself if you feel you may be falling.

Also once you’re up and paddling a bit, try to not look at the paddle each time you take a stroke.

Keep looking forward. Keep your body somewhat upright don’t hunch over and reach for the nose of board each time.

Once you’ve been able to stop the shaking and the adrenaline has left your body, have fun! Start to really use your entire body to dig that blade in feel your body’s power pull you through the water. Pick up the tempo and always keep breathing.

To improve your skills, do some balance training and light upper body workouts. My website has tons of videos how to be stronger for SUP. But remember the one having the most fun is the one smiling and helping others share the stoke!

Mahalo

Tracy Kraft Leboe

The wonderful thing

Photo by

Darrell Wong

Photo by

Suzie Cooney, CPT Owner of SuzieTrains Maui, LLC

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INFORMATION Weather: The wind blows east to west in Hawaii. Any time of year is a good time to visit. The average temperature is between 24°29.5° C. Summer, between April and November, is warmer and drier (average temperature is 24°-31° C) while winter, between December and March, is a bit cooler (20°-26° C). November through February is big wave surf season on Hawaii’s north shores.

Hawaii

http://www.gohawaii.com

Geography: The state of Hawaii consists of eight main islands: Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe and the Big Island of Hawaii.. The Hawaiian Islands are the projecting tops of the biggest mountain range in the world and Mauna Kea is the tallest mountain in the world (measured from its base at the ocean floor). https://maps.google.com/?ll=20.673905,-157.472534&spn=6.087665,6.399536&t=m&z=8 M2O facts: The first Molokai to Oahu race was successfully completed in July 1997 and inspired by three paddleboarders: Dawson Jones, Garrett Macamara and Mike Takahashi. Today the race sells out with both prone and stand up paddleboarders (SUP) from around the world who compete in solo and team divisions.

The Channel Bones or Ka’iwi (kah-EE-vee) Channel is more commonly known today as the Molokai Channel, the Ka’iwi Channel separates the islands of Molokai and Oahu. Stretching 26 miles (42km) and plunging to a depth of 2,300 feet (701 meters), the Ka’iwi Channel has the reputation as one of the world’s most treacherous bodies of water.

SUP: If you are heading to the Hawaiian islands with SUP on your mind

then you won't be disappointed. Exploring the Hawaiian islands by SUP will give you a completely different perspective of Hawaii and It’s one that you won't want to miss. Look for the giant sea turtles, called Honu in Hawaiian.

The Hawaiian Honu represents longevity, safety, Mana (spirituality) and is considered to be good luck. While paddling around you are sure to see the many beautiful reef fish darting around below.

Hawaii offers every type of paddling. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced paddler you will find some of the best conditions in the world.

Flatwater, waves, downwinding… Hawaii has it all. If standup surfing is what your dreaming about, be sure to check with a local shop to find out where to go. There can be a little animosity between prone surfers and standup surfers, but no worries, there are plenty of waves for the beginner standup surfers where you are sure to get a shaka or ‘hang loose’ from the other surfers in the line-up.

The experienced paddler might want to try one of the famous downwind runs that Hawaii has to offer. In Maui, it’s all about the Maliko run, a 9-mile downwind ride of a lifetime. You will be surfing the swells all the way down the coast of the North Shore of Maui form Maliko Gulch to the Kahului Harbor. There is a great downwind shuttle van to get you and your board where you need to go. (www.moorewatertimemaui.com, 808-250-1984).

If you are on Oahu then the Hawaii Kai run is what you will want to experience. The run will take you from Hawaii Kai to Waikiki. Check with www.wetfeethawaii.com. Downwind runs start at $99 per person and includes all equipment, transportation back from the finish. Morning or afternoon sessions are available. Transportation from Waikiki is available for an extra fee. Bookings can be made by emailing wetfeet@hawaii.rr.com or calling 808-373-7873 to make reservations or for more information. A fun once in a lifetime experience.

Finding a board or a lesson will not be a problem. It is available all over the Hawaiian islands. Grab a paddle, a board, and get up, stand up and start your Hawaiian adventure the way it was meant to be… on the water.

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ALL ROUND CRUISER ATLAS EXTRA ATLAS BIG EASY AVANTI BLEND NRG FITNESS WIDE POINT DRIVE NRG FITNESS WHOPPER EXTRA WHOPPER

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SURF NOSE RIDER ELEMENT WIDE POINT CONVERSE+ HERO CONVERSE WIDE POINT POCKET ROCKET WIDE POINT SEVEN ELEVEN WIDE POINT

10’0” X 30” 9’8” X 30” 9’5” X 32” 9’5” X 30” 9’0” X 33” 9’0” X 30” 8’10” X 32” 8’5” X 30” 8’2” X 32” 7’11” X 30” 7’8” X 32”

0 0RVW PRGHOV DYDLODEOH LQ %UXVKHG &DUERQ :RRG $67 6LOYHU $67 &QDG\ DQG $67 :KLWH RVW PRGHOV DYDLODEOH LQ %UXVKHG &DUERQ :RRG $67 6LOYHU $67 &QDG\ DQG $67 :KLWH

SURF PRO GUN PRO GUN PRO PRO PRO PRO PRO

10’3” X 28.5” 9’8” X 29” 9’6” X 27” 9’0” X 29” 8’5” X 29” 8’0” X 28” 7’7” X 27” 7’4” X 26”

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SPRINT 14’0” X 27.5” SPRINT 14’0” X 26” SPRINT 14’0” X 25” SPRINT 12’6” X 27.5” 12’6” X 26” K15 (UNLIMITED) 12’6” X 25” 14’0” X 27” 14’0” X 25” 14’0” X 23.5” 12’6” X 27” 12’6” X 25” 12’6” X 23.5”

14’0” X 25” 14’0” X 24” 12’6” X 25.5” 12’6” X 24.5” 15’0” X 30”

EXPLORING TOURING TOURING TOURING TOURING TOURING BIG DADDY FISHERMAN

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16’0” X 33” 14’0” X 30” 12’6” X 30” 14’0” X 26” 12’6” X 26” 10’2” X 25” 11’2” X 32” 11’1” X 39” 11’1” X 39” 11’1” X 39” 10’0” X 35” 9’0” X 30” 8’2” X 32”

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ThePaddler 122

On the road with Leslie Kolovich

Nothin’ could be finer than South

Carolina to be in

Even though I have never been to South Carolina, when Chris Tilghman of Surf Blue Ridge SUP called and asked if my husband and I would like to join a group for a SUP retreat, I didn’t hesitate to say, “Yes!” I knew that the scenery would be much like my home in the panhandle of Florida, but knowing Chris Tilghman, I knew an adventure was guaranteed!

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Our drive from Florida

to McClellanville, South Carolina, would be 10 hours. We got a late start, and had only made it to Jacksonville, Florida, when our eyes became very weary, with six more hours to go. I started thinking about places to stay. I realized we were near St. Simons Island where I had the privilege of emceeing the Golden Isle SUP Classic Race a few years ago, where I met some of the coolest people, including Lori Hurley. As soon as I posted one Facebook message that I was driving through her neck of the woods and needed a couch for the night, Lori called and said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Please, come stay with us!â&#x20AC;? It was a great reunion. Thank you Lori and Ben for your hospitality!

The next morning when I posted an update on Facebook, I was contacted by another member of the SUP community, my friend, SUP Chef Glen Barroncini, owner of H2O Sports in Hilton Head, South Carolina. Glen has shared some of his recipes with me for The Stand Up Paddle Radio Show, whic

White picket fences line the street in front of two-story

pillared white houses

with rocking chairs on their porches

house for this group retreat! It easily accommodated the six of us with room for at least four more.

McClellanville

After settling in and a quick lunch, we launched our paddleboards right off the dock.

Fishermen from the shrimp boats anchored for the winter season stared at us with great amusement, but gave us friendly waves. Miles of flat water paddling meander through this wildlife refuge. One could plan to be on the water all day, paddling out to the Atlantic Ocean to see a lighthouse. It was a wonderful place for SUP fishing as well, with plenty of redfish and speckled sea trout.

“Cape View” was an understatement of a name for the two-story house on stilts sitting on five acres facing Cape Romain Wildlife Refuge. Even from the ground, the views were breathtaking!

The dock faced a beautiful marsh leading into the Intracoastal Waterway. Daniel Bates, owner of MCVL Realty, had found us the perfect SUP

Midway through our first paddle the breeze turned chilly, reminding us that it was still winter. After an hour or so we paddled back, and with a quick run to the house to get a few beers and warmer clothes, we made it back to the dock just in time for the sunset. It’s moments like these with like-minded friends clinking bottles to celebrate” just being in the moment”, that really are priceless. The words, “you know how lucky we are to be here right now?” probably came out of every single one of our mouths. Once the darkness of a moonless night was upon us, “lets get dinner” was the next phrase that came out of our mouths.

ch I produce and host (www.supradioshow.com). After a quick hello and a recipe for cold weather soup, we continued on our way.

The drive took us through one of America’s most historic Civil War cities, Charleston, South Carolina. Being interested in Southern history, I made a note to return someday to spend time in this city.

Thirty minutes outside of Charleston lies the sleepy fishing town of McClellanville, it’s main street canopied by ancient live oaks dripping with Spanish moss. Sidewalks are heaved up in places from the tree roots, and white picket fences line the street in front of two-story pillared white houses with rocking chairs on their porches. Once my eyes saw this street, I felt “southern comfort”.

Turning chilly

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There is only one The temperature fell drastically in a very short amount of time, taking our conversations to hot chowder, scallops and oysters from TWs back in town!

restaurant in downtown McClellanville. People drive from miles away to experience the creations of Chef Pete Kornack at T.W Graham & Company Seafood Restaurant.

The shrimp-crab-corn chowder was out of this world! I had it for every meal that weekend!

The next morning our SUP adventure began without incident.

Chris hauled the paddleboards and us into the Francis Marion National Forest to paddle the Wambaw Creek. The sky was cloudy, the temperature was cool, and we all felt an adventure coming on. The still dark creek crawled between hibernating winter cypress and water tupelo trees. The temperature began to drop, and we realized that none of us had checked the weather forecast to see if it had changed. Rain started falling, at first just a mist, then a good steady light rain. The Florida couple, whose names shall not be mentioned, did not bring rain gear.

The temperature fell drastically in a very short amount of time, taking our conversations to hot chowder, scallops and oysters from TWs back in town! Chris tried to distract us by pointing out the long leaf pine trees where the rare red-cockaded woodpecker nested.

Nevertheless, our pace was noticeably faster, and we all were happy as red-cockaded woodpeckers in a long leaf pine forest, to see the take out point! It was a beautiful paddle, but the rain was steady, and we could see our breath.

When we got into the truck it seemed like a good time to check the weather forecast. Snow was on the way! With the truck heater blasting, our fingers thawed. After lunch and a break in weather, we decided to go for a hike to the Santee Coastal Reserve. The best time to see migratory waterfowl is during the first three weeks of February, so we were there at the perfect time.

his camera

Brian Kyle, was in heaven with

pointed at woodstorks, pintails, shovelers, and rare black ducks

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One member of our group, Brian Kyle, was in heaven with his camera pointed at woodstorks, pintails, shovelers, and rare black ducks. The Reserve is a birdwatcherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s paradise. After walking about a mile or so, the sun was low and the sky was showing potential for snow. Like all true SUPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;rs, food was on our mind again, so back to TWs, we went for another wonderful meal!

Overnight the weather grew worse. We opted to sleep in a little longer, share a couple of pots of coffee and then be on our way. Even though the adventure was cut short by one day, I felt the satisfaction of renewing and making new SUP family connections. All in all, McClellanville, South Carolina, was a wonderful place for a SUP retreat, with no pressure, scenic waterways, easy paddling, and great waterfront accommodations.

Thank you Chris, Anne, Brain, Susan, Kent, Daniel, and all the townspeople we met along the way.

For more information on SUP Adventures contact Chris Tilghman through www.surfblueridge-sup.com

For more information on waterfront rentals in McClellanville, SC, contact Daniel Bates through www.MCVL.net.

Ever thought of gliding along the Thames at night, enjoying the flow of the river, the wildlife and the city lights?

Join us in seeing London from a new and exciting perspective.

Active360 is the only organisation dedicated to developing the sport of SUP (Stand Up Paddleboarding) in London. The story is just beginning and already we have introduced more than 1,000 people to the sport.

We offer lessons, coaching, parties and SUP trips on the Thames equipment demos and extended trips to coastal and other locations.

We also stock a wide range of boards and paddles - to buy or hire at our new SUP store at Mikeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dive Store London W4 5PY. Our experienced and friendly coaches are ASI (Academy of Surf Instructor) accredited and mostly from a kayaking background. We provide all equipment required including wetsuits where required. We help to keep people paddling at low cost by introducing them to local clubs and through our low cost board hire membership scheme.

info@active360.co.uk T: 07761 015360 This year we are setting up new ASI SUP Schools in Brighton and Mersea Island in Essex. We are also establishing SUP City - urban racing open to every level and whitewater SUP sessions.

We are off on expedition to the Arctic waters of Greenland this summer and we are planning to run trips to Greenland, Iceland and a range of other exciting locations from 2014.

www.facebook.com/ polarbearsandpaddleboards

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www.baysup.co.uk

Bournemouth

The Frostbite Race Series Local is not run by any particular person or people; it’s a concept of racing run by the community for the community which promotes maximum participation for all paddlers to grow SUP racing in the UK. If you want to find out more information about how to run a series in your local area, feel free to contact info@baysup.co.uk and we’ll be more than happy to help.

Frostbite Race Se So the Frostbite Race Series Local in Bournemouth hosted by Baysup and Surf Steps Surf School wraps up for another season. With over 75 paddlers taking part throughout the series, it once again proves that people love racing in this country – even in the freezing cold.

So what is the Frostbite Race Series Local?

A few years back a few keen racers (Nick Watt, John Hibbard, Ryan James, Matt French and Pete Holliday) found that there was not enough racing over the winter. So we decided to hold a race series and spread the word through the community and we quickly saw events taking place in Bournemouth, London, Surrey, Hayling Island and South Devon.

This created a series of events where an overall winner would be crowned. For the following year we looked at how SUP clubs could grow racing within their own area so the series became ‘Local’. The concept was that each club would hold their own series of races or even individual events to keep racing alive over the winter and get paddlers ready for the summer events which happen all over the country. There are now races and series happening in various parts of the country, which is building club communities and growing the sport in this country.

For the 2012/13 series in Bournemouth, we had a variety of formats which consisted of flat water,

technical and downwind paddling. The concept we apply is that we decide the format of the racing based on the conditions on the day. As the area of Bournemouth and Poole has some of the best paddling spots in the country, we like to use as many of those as we can.

Having the right conditions for a downwind paddle was a stroke of luck and this was first downwind race held in the UK!

The river had some super close racing with the countries best paddlers giving 100% to get those vital series points. The 12’6 end of series came down to the wire in the last race between Pete Holliday and Mark Slater with Mark Slater just getting the edge on Pete,

fantastic racing from these guys. The technical races from the beach are also highly exciting as this is not just about fitness, it’s also about boards skills and tactical paddling.

The course has a beach start were the paddler’s battle through the surf to then head round a course of buoys with a run up the beach after each lap. There are so many factors with a technical course as you need to get a good start, complete good buoy turns (as there can often be many paddlers at the buoys), catch swells and generally stay out of trouble as there can be carnage everywhere. This is a spectator favourite too!

Series Local

End of series winners’ results:

Frostbite 2012/13 Series Winners – 14ft 1. Ryan James (Starboard International) 2. Nick Watt (Starboard UK) 3. Andy Joyce (Rogue UK) Frostbite 2012/13 Series Winners – 12’6 1. Mark Slater (Fanatic) 2. Pete Holliday (BIC) 3. Zac Wharton

Thank you to our supporters who have been fantastic throughout the entire series:

Andy Joyce and the crew at Surf Steps Surf School (www.bournemouthsurfschool.co.uk)

Barbara from Nutrichef (www.nutrichef.com)

Sam and Paul from Starboard UK & Red Paddle Co (www.tushinghamsails.com)

Rik from Mistral UK (www.whasup.co.uk)

Shaun from Sorted Sorted Surf Shop (www.sortedsurfshop.co.uk)

Nick and Matt The SUP Store (www.thesupstore.co.uk)

BaySUP have three exciting races and events planned for the summer, dates to be released shortly. There will be another winter series happening in 2013/14. For details see: https://www.facebook.com/BaySup

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SUP, Sardines and Superbock in

Portugal

By Jason Pereira

Illustration by Garyck Arntzen http://garyckarntzen.deviantart.com

Mention Portugal and you instantly think of the Algarve, package holidays and golf, but venture north and a whole new, exciting and genuine country begins to reveal itself. The central region of Portugal starts at Lisbon and stretches north to Nazaré, yes that Nazaré, the one made famous by the Hawaiian surfer Garrett McNamara surfing the World’s biggest wave.

Photo by Tó Mané

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UNESCO Biosphere reserve Berlengas Isla, Peniche

SUP surf, Peniche

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An ocean overview Starting at Lisbon or to give it its correct name ‘Lisboa’ head out west along the Rio Tejo and you will come to the Estoril/Cascais coastline which has many beaches you can launch from and from April through to October you will have perfect cruising conditions with clear water.

Being so close to the capital, these beaches are where the city dwellers flock to and as such get very busy throughout the warmer months. In Cascais at high tide, the sea pushes right up to the boardwalks squeezing the sun worshippers and beach goers, just like Portugal’s famous export of tinned sardines!

Praia do Guincho

In the winter months there is surf along this stretch of coast but the line-up will be busy with city surfers grabbing a session whenever they can.

Head out beyond Cascais and you will find yourself at Praia do Guincho, a long sandy beach with a rocky headland to the north and the Guincho Fortress dominating the bay. Once a stop on the world windsurfing championship due to its nuclear winds and huge lumps of water to launch yourself off, you can sometimes get classic wave riding conditions but usually the strong cross-on shore winds and huge rips make this far from ideal for SUP and better suited to kite or windsurfing.

Next we get to the area of Ericeira which is listed as a World Surfing Reserve and with the famous breaks of Coxos and Ribeira this is a place for advanced SUP surfers. The line up’s here will be busy and the standard of surfing is very high so unless you have total control over your board

Illustration by Garyck Arntzen http://garyckarntzen.deviantart.com

and are experienced in surfing shallow, rocky reef and point breaks the advice is stay away. The risk element is high and the locals don’t take kindly to kooks.

Heading north you arrive in the area of Peniche, which being a peninsular, there is virtually always a wave with an offshore wind to be had and with vast and varied beaches there are many surf breaks going un-ridden if you take the time to explore. The main beach is a 4km horseshoe stretch of sand that runs from Peniche’s old town round to the village of Baleal and Baleal Island.

The bay is a great place for beginners with many peaks of varying sizes and few rocks; lifeguards are on patrol during the summer months.

‘European Pipeline’

Beyond Baleal Island you have the reef break of Lagide and south of Peniche you have Supertubos – a high performance barrelling beach break known as the ‘European Pipeline’ and since 2009 a regular stop on the ASP surfing world tour. With a bit of exploring it is possible to find a wave to yourself even in the height of summer. The jewel in the crown for this area has to be the Obidos lagoon, a tidal saltwater lagoon roughly 6km long and up to 1.5km wide. The lagoon has perfect conditions for those learning SUP for the first time or for those who prefer to just cruise and enjoy the scenery and wildlife.

Cafés and restaurants are dotted around the lagoon so there are plenty of places to take a break and enjoy the serenity of this nature reserve. For something different you can visit the UNESCO Berlengas Biosphere Reserve, a small rocky group of islands a short boat ride away from Peniche. With small coves, high cliffs and caves to explore, it makes the Berlengas Islands a fun day out. The crystal clear waters around Berlengas are a snorkelling paradise so bring your face mask if you have one.

About the author

Jason Pereira is the co-owner of supXscape a dedicated SUP company accredited by the ASI and operating throughout Portugal.

ASI trained and qualified and with a lifetime of experience above and below the water as well as an accomplished mountain biker and snowboarder. Always happy to discuss SUP in Portugal and give advice with anyone thinking about visiting the country.

Contact via email jason@supxscape.com

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Paddling past Castelo de Almourol, Rio Tejo

Flat water paddling in central Portugal Central Portugal is not only for the SUP surfers but also an amazing destination for those that love the flat water side of the sport as there are also many rivers and lakes to explore including the Rio Tejo and Castelo do bode Portugal’s second largest lake.

The Rio Tejo starts in Spain and flows for roughly 1,000kms although only 275kms make up the Portuguese part. The upper reaches are a mixture of head and tail waters so care needs to be taken as you approach the dams and also below them as water releases happen often so a benign river can soon become a torrent of white water. The middle section of the river becomes mostly slow and meandering but care and some local knowledge should still be sought as there are still a few narrow and fast flowing sections as well as commercial gravel works that need a lot of care to avoid. South of Santarem, the river becomes tidal before emptying in to the Atlantic Ocean at Lisbon. With plenty of commercial activity on and alongside the river there are better places to paddle. As with all river paddling having the correct safety equipment and water skills is key to having a fun but safe time and to maximise water time seek out local licenced specialists for information and advice.

Castelo do Bode is a man made lake created by damming the Rio Zezerre at Castelo Do Bode and opened in 1951, its principal aim was to supply a steady source of drinking water to Lisbon. For SUP the lake is very calm and serene with very few other watercraft using it except in the peak of summer. In some places there is limited access but this is what gives the place its charm and if you’re looking for solitude in a lake set deep in a valley surrounded by pine and eucalyptus forests this is the place for you.

Downstream of the dam the Rio Zezerre flows for about 14kms before joining the Ro Tejo and within this section there are some great white water SUP opportunities.

Explore but be careful

This mini guide is just scratching the surface of the paddling opportunities that are available in Portugal’s central region and no matter what type of paddler you are there are the conditions to suit all.

If you are a beginner or would prefer to rent or make use of a local SUP school in Portugal make sure they are licenced, insured and qualified to operate and also have a professional qualification to teach SUP. Too many times we see surf instructors, wind/ kite schools and even Pedalo outfits renting and teaching SUP without any understanding of basic paddle technique. Not only is this dangerous but your lesson could be cut short if the Maritime police stops by to check paperwork and I guarantee there won’t be any refunds.

Portugal is an amazing country but like anywhere keep your wits about you. Keep valuables out of sight, seek out local advice and don’t put yourself or others in unnecessary danger. The surf in Portugal is some of the best in the world and as such can pack a punch, the better SUP surf breaks are away from the guarded areas of beaches. If you do launch on a guarded beach stay out of the swim zones and we suggest you stay on your knees till away from swimmers. Aside from SUP there is an amazing amount of heritage, culture, food and an abundance of amazing local wine to enjoy as well as being very affordable. The central region of Portugal is easily accessed with good road and rail networks and accommodation options range from hostels to five star resorts and a great selection of self-catering choices.

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By Dave Rossetter –paddlesport ins

This article is that start of a series exploring coaching within paddlesport. In later issues I will look at the different disciplines and provide input into the technical and tactical aspects.These will benefit coaches and paddlers with our understanding as well as give top tips to becoming a more solid and robust paddler / coach.

Here I am looking at the pathways that are open to becoming a coach and the choices that are available.This is your guide to helping you understand the current BCU coaching structure.

Click to view PDF

The pathway to becoming a coach!

Giving something back and becoming a coach!

OK so you have seen the PDF of the current BCU coaching structure below – confused? Let’s see. The basis of the scheme is that there are many pathways depending on what you want to do. First off do you need to be a coach at all? For many people the leadership pathway is sufficient.

1) Work your way through the Star awards with 3 Star being a good place to start to give you the required skills in the moderate water environment.You choose the discipline that you are interested in and away you go.

2) This opens up the leadership route for 4 Star – which allows for leading paddlers in your discipline on moderate water. These courses are a minimum of two day training with a further consolidation period before a two day assessment. All the 4 Star leadership courses are a mix of practical with theory blended throughout. At assessment your personal skills in the environment and your ability to lead a group will be assessed.

nstructor at Glenmore Lodge 3) This finishes this pathway with the 5 Star â&#x20AC;&#x201C; which allows you to lead paddlers in your discipline in advanced water. These courses are a minimum of two day training (although most are run over three days) with a further consolidation period before a two day assessment. All the 5 Star leadership courses are a mix of practical with theory blended throughout. At assessment your personal skills in the environment and your ability to lead a group will be assessed.

For many paddlers this is all they need and means that there are leaders out there to help in clubs/centres etc. with ensuring that they have a safe enjoyable trip. These leadership awards are a great opportunity to improve yours and others experience/skill and ensuring that paddlers have opportunities to get out in the more challenging environments.

Safety courses

The safety courses that are available while complementing the coaching and leadership awards are stand alone and are available for all paddlers.They all are training only courses to ensure that paddlers can gain the essential information for their craft of choice and the environment they paddle in.

1) Foundation Safety & Rescue Training (FSRT)

A training course that it is suitable for all craft and takes place in sheltered water. This course has been designed for those at the early stages of their paddling and is suitable for whatever your craft including sit on tops / stand up paddle boards and the like. This is a one day practical programme.

2) White Water Safety & Rescue (WWS&R)

For those that head out onto grade 2 (3) white water and need to be aware of the best way to avoid getting into trouble and then some key simple solutions to common white water rescue scenarios. This is a two day practical in boats programme.

3) Coastal Navigation & Tidal Planning (CNTP)

A one day programme designed to give all those who head out into moderate tidal waters the ability to plan trips taking account of all the factors to do with tides. It is a classroom based course to give time and understanding of these key navigational skills.

4) Advanced White Water Safety & Rescue (AWWS&R)

A two day training programme that takes the skills developed in WWS&R and moves them onto advanced white water. This course is practically based and is suitable for those that paddle on grade 4 water.

5) Open Water Navigation & Tidal Planning (OWNTP)

A one day training course that expands on the skills from CNTP programme to include open water crossings. If you are heading out on advanced tidal conditions this course covers the skills to ensure that you stay on track of your planned open water crossing.

6) Advanced Surf Safety & Rescue (ASS&R)

Ffor the surfers this one day course covers the essential skills for working in moderate to advanced surf conditions. The course is based out of the boat and on the beach to ensure that all have a greater understanding and skill to look after themselves and others in this environment.

For many accessing these awards or indeed looking to provide these ensures that as paddlers we are aware of our own abilities and those of our peers.

Ensuring that all paddlers are self-sufficient and have essential safety skills to look after themselves and others can only benefit us all in the long term.

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UKCC framework

The coaching pathway follows the UKCC framework and as such is split into: 1) Assistant coach – UKCC Level 1

This four day programme looks at how to introduce paddlers to any of the paddlesport craft. The course has a blend of practical on water sessions with classroom theory to support the new coaches in their understanding of coaching. There are assessment tasks done throughout the four days. Once qualified the Level 1 coaches can work towards assessing the 1 Star.

2) Progressive coach – UKCC Level 2

Dave is the full time paddlesport instructor at Glenmore Lodge – Scotland’s National Outdoor Training Centre. He has been involved in the development of the new awards and provides expert advice throughout the industry on all things to do with coaching, safety, leadership and personal paddling. He is passionate about all things paddling and specialises in white water kayak and open canoe where he will most often be found. He is supported in his paddling adventures and coaching

by Pyranha Kayaks, Mad River Canoes and Palm Equipment. http://www.glenmorelodge.org.uk/ http://www.pyranha.com/ http://www.palmequipmenteurope.com/ http://www.madrivercanoe.co.uk/

The programme is split between training (four days) and an assessment (one day). Between training and assessment there are set assessment tasks to be completed along with gaining coaching experience prior to the final day assessment. At the end of the process the Level 2 coach is able to assess up to 2 Star and is able to develop paddlers over a series of sessions in multiple crafts.

These endorsements are excellent pathways into the Level 3 programme or for those looking to develop paddler’s skills in the new environment.

Using the Level 2 coaching behaviours ensure that these endorsed coaches have the tools to develop paddlers over the longer term.

At Level 3 coaches will specialise in their chosen disciplines and work with students for up to year. This means that the programme is longer but is split into manageable chunks. At the end of the process the coach has the ability to coach with long term students in moderate water and assess up to three star in their chosen discipline.

The final part is the Supporting modules. These are available for all coaches and cover some of the disciplines such as racing and slalom as well as dealing with other areas of the sport such as the physiological and/or psychological side. The foundation modules are three hours long while the intermediate modules are six hours. The discipline specific modules are one day.

3) Annual coach – UKCC Level 3

For some they don’t need to go onto the Level 3 programme and Level 2 is where they are happy with the coaching process knowledge. What they are after is the ticket that allows them to coach on more challenging environments.

Therefore the Moderate & Advanced Water Endorsements are available.

Moderate Water Endorsement

This course brings together the 4 Star leadership award and the UKCC Level 2 to train and assess coaches on their ability to coach paddlers on moderate water for their chosen discipline.

Advanced Water Endorsement

This course brings together the 5 Star leadership award / UKCC Level 2 with moderate water endorsement to train and assess coaches on their ability to coach paddlers on advanced water for their chosen discipline.

Supporting modules

There you have it the BCU coaching scheme. The scheme is built on options to ensure that paddlers can choose the appropriate discipline but also the level that they need to get to for where they want to operate.

Remember we are all coaches and as Yoda so finely put it – “Always pass on what you have learned,” our choice is which path to take?

Happy paddling and hope to see you on the water.

For more information on the awards please see: http://www.canoescotland.org/CoursesTraining/CoachingAwardsModules.aspx

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