Issue 9 - June 2013
ThePaddler ezine com .
International digital magazine for recreational paddlers
OPEN Canoe FESTIVAL CHILEAN TravelTIPS BURNING River of OHIO 2013 from the Dr么me Valley, France
All you need to know
To paddling paradise
RegularPaddler
KayakPaddler
SaltyPaddler
SUPPaddler
OCPaddler
Contents June 13
Photo of the month for June 2013 Downwind SUP Teahupoo, Tahiti By Teahupoo Tahiti Surfari 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: Open Canoe Festival, France by Paul Villecourt
Huge thanks to: Teahupoo Tahiti Surfari Seth Ashworth, Tez Plavenieks, Simon Everett, Phil Carr, Terry Wright, Ben Garrett, Nick Castro, Jock Paterson, Leslie Kolovich, Jason Pereira, Chris Leesmith, Guy Genge, Ashley Welton, Greg Spencer, Paul Villecourt, Julien Gontard, Garyck Arntzen, Philippe Bouvat, Martin Strunge, wilderness-canoe.co.uk, David Morris, Darren Harrison, Andrew Regan, Dave Herpy, Richard Harpham, Barry and Olivia Ide, Barry and Olivia Ide, 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 Juky 2013 with a deadline of submissions on June 20th. 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.
Where we’ve been… 24
34 38 44
52
58
70
78 84 90
SaltyPaddler
Interview with Nick Castro By Peter Tranter
SUPPaddler
6 8 10
16 18
Eight of the very best Eight must see paddling videos.
The Couch Potatoe The best of reading and viewing.
Island Style Hayling Island has become recognised as a centre of excellence for paddlesports. By Tez Plavenieks The National Watersports Festival A truly epic weekend. By Jackie Lambert Coaching Observation and analysis. By Dave Rossetter
Hawaii 44
ThePaddler’s Planet By Leslie Kolovich
Interview with Jock Paterson By Jason Pereira
Hawaii – USA Paddling passion on Big island – the story of the Shouses. By Ashley Welton BIC Ace-Tec review By Tez Plavenieks
France 58
OCPaddler
Open Canoe festival Despite the weather, there was a fantasic weekend of open canoeing in the Drôme valley, France. By Greg Spencer
Chile 90
Robson Brooks review By Chris Leesmith
KayakPaddler
Choosing a fishing kayak By David Morris
K Largo review By Darren Harrison
United States 114
Chile – South America Avocados, volcanoes and so much fun whitewater… Chile has it all. By Seth Ashworth
102 Chile – South America Top tips for travelling through the water wonderland that is Chile. By Andrew Regan
RegularPaddler
Issue 9
114 Ohio – USA From burning river to paddling paradise: The evolution of the Cuyahoga River. By Dave Herpy 126 New York state – USA The spare seat expedition that ran from Niagara Falls to NYC in 2012. By Richard Harpham
136 Dagger Jitsu review By Phil Carr
United States 126
Italy 142
142 Lake Como – Italy The small town of Bellagio is ideal for kayaking and SUP. By Barry and Olivia Ide
ThePaddler 3
ThePaddler 4
To advertise email: ads@thepaddlerezine.com or call +44 (0)1480 465081
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24 hours in Africa
Claire O’Hara White Nile
Game. Only one can win
Polly Green International
Incredible Lava Kayaking
Barcroft TV Hawaii, USA
Beccles to Geldeston Locks
Ryan Lovejoy United Kingdom
A Different Kind of Race
NationalGeographic Canada
The Seeker
Alan Hunter Scotland
SUP in Hawaii
Airton Cozzolino & Kai Lenny Hawaii, USA
Cheat Fest Narrows Crew
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Dale Briggs United States
www.point65.com
FOLDING Canoes & Kayaks
Quest Folding Kayak
The Quests combine great looks with comfort and efficient cruising performance. Quests are ideal travel kayaks. Very light, yet ruggedly-built with space-age polyurethane materials which contain no toxic chemicals – the planet will thank you!
A new level of flexibility
Puffin Saranac
Point 65 Kayaks Sweden presents tthe take-apart Apollo! A rigid highperformance sit-on-topkayak that you ccan carry with a smile on your face, e easily stow on your boat and transport iin the trunk of your car. Go solo, go tandem go triple - go bananas! The Apollo snaps apart and re-assembles in seconds. Snap in the mid-section and your Solo transforms into a Tandem. Add another mid section and it’s a triple! The Apollo is a safe, fun and stable kayak for the whole family!
Puffin Kayaks are perfect travel companions. Great stability and paddling performance make Puffins enjoyable on the water. With good looks and light-weight price, they are a pleasure to own.
PakCanoes
PakCanoes are excellent for remote wilderness trips or adventures closer to home. Light-weight, compact for easy travel and storage, yet rugged, dependable and easy paddling.
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Fearless: One Woman, One Kayak, One Continent This is the Sea 5 DVD
Stuart Miller www.riverspublishing.co.uk/lake-district/
Eddyline Films http://eddylinefilms.com/whitewatersafetymovie
Stuart Fisher www.bloomsbury.com/uk/the-canals-of-britain
Tessa Wardley www.bloomsbury.com/uk/the-river-book
Canoe & Kayak Guide to North West England
Cackle TV www.cackletv.com/shopping/
White Water Safety DVD
Kayaking Manual
Bill Mattos www.haynes.co.uk
Joe Glickman http://amzn.com/0762772875
The River Book
Encounters from a Kayak
Nigel Foster www.falcon.com/books/encounters-kayak
The Canals of Britain
The Couch Potatoe
The best or reading and viewing
ThePaddler 8
Go Canoeing Tour (Half Day) There is no finer way to explore the beauty that is Langstone Harbour than from the comfort and stability of a canoe. Our Half-Day tour requires no previous experience and is open to all. There are chances to see our friendly neighbourhood seals and all manner of beautiful bird life we have in the harbour.
Portsmouth Watersports Centre is ideally located on the banks of Langstone Harbour and directly over looks Hayling Island. We have a fantastic array of courses available for everyone. Go Canoeing Tour (1 Day) There are several incredible routes that can be taken from Portsmouth Watersports Centre all led by our experienced and knowledgeable guides. You will have chance to visit are friendly neighbourhood seals on the way as well as the rare chance to closely admire the beautiful SSSIs (Site of Special Scientific Interest) in the area.
Other activities at Portsmouth Watersports Centre include Sailing ● Windsurfing ● Climbing and High Ropes ● Team Building and Corporate Days Birthday Parties ● Hen & Stag Parties ● Children’s Holidays Camp Adventures
For more information contact the centre on (023) 9266 3873 Email: portsmouth.watersports@parkwood-communityleisure.co.uk www.facebook.com/Portsmouth.Watersports
www.portsmouthwatersports.com
ISLAND STYLE!
ByTez Plavenieks (sitons.com) ThePaddler 10
With a title like Island Style! you’d be forgiven for thinking this story would describe a palm fringed, white sand, Pacific Rim atoll paradise where ‘inked up’ locals paddle furiously through powerful ocean swells, their ‘women folk’ swaying hypnotically on the shore as a blazing sun shines down onto lush tropical undergrowth. In fact, what I’m actually going to describe is a quirky spit of land that sits in the lee of the Isle of Wight on the south coast of the UK – sorry to disappoint if you were expecting an article about Polynesia…
Hayling Island?
Over the last few years Hayling Island has become recognised as a centre of excellence for paddlesports – a reputation bolstered by the fact that many industry luminaries reside on this English Channel ‘rock’ – the sitons.com team included.
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HAYLING
ISLAND Hayling is synonymous with windsurfing – Pete Chilvers first attached a ‘sail’ to a plank of wood back in 1958 and invented the sport – but of late, stand up paddle boarding, sit on kayaking, sea kayaking and outrigger canoeing have all gained momentum with increasing numbers of enthusiasts visiting the island for regular ‘spooning’ exploits.
Make the pilgrimage to Hayling on any given day and you’d be unlucky not to spot some form of paddle craft bobbing about. If you’re a ‘paddle head’ and looking for a new spot then why not hit up this English Channel gem, you could be pleasantly surprised.
Waves?
Yes it’s true! Hayling gets waves – sometimes… If you check a map then the beady eyed will spot Hayling is about half way up the English Channel and tucked behind the Isle of Wight, with an extremely small swell window. ‘How can a place like this get waves?’ I hear you scream. The West Winner sand bar, located just offshore from West Beachlands is actually a bit of a swell magnet – once paddlers understand it’s completely at the mercy of large tides. Hit up the beach on a seemingly good forecast, with a low spring tide, and chances are you’ll be faced with nothing more than a couple of dribblers.
If you’re a ‘paddle head’ and looking for a new spot then why not hit up this
English Channel gem,
you could be pleasantly surprised
Grab yourself a latte and come back a few hours later, with the tide on the push, and low and behold, the planets may have aligned, the Gods could be smiling and if you’ve crossed your fingers and toes then a bashable wall may have materialised. Visiting the island solely for wave slaying shenanigans though would be ill advised. Having a ‘plan B’ in the bag is the best route to scoring.
Downwind
For many coastal paddlers hacking off downwind and ‘riding those runners’ is what it’s all about and Hayling has oodles of breeze to help. Benefitting from a ‘squeeze’ caused by the close proximately of France ensures the island experiences a regular blow. Even if the direction of the breeze turns more offshore then don’t forget you can drop in at the top of the island and score a mini downwind session. While not quite up there with downwind venues like Maui, Hayling still offers some pretty tasty conditions for this kind of pastime.
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Try it, you might just like it‌
the sitons.com crew do!
Touring
Hayling Island is the perfect place for a spot of cruising/touring paddling with 14 miles worth of high water nooks and crannies to investigate. With abundant wildlife, marine life and picturesque scenery searching out those hard to access locations is a great way of spending a glorious summer afternoon (or longer if you prefer). You could use Hayling as your base and head off along one of the many tributary estuaries that empty into Chichester Harbour. Exploring as far up as Dell Quay (Manhood Peninsular) is a rewarding experience, even more so if you choose to stop for a quick pint of amber nectar before heading back to your put in spot! Ferry gliding back on the tide is sheer bliss…
Racing
With its testing conditions and ample space for smashing out the miles Hayling is a fabulous training ground for any paddler looking to put in the work and prepare for their next event. Long distance paddlers, sprinters or downwind racers; the waters around Hayling offer good open sea training options for all types of racer. Every year the National Watersports Festival invites the paddling community to the island and puts on a fantastic event with highlights including the round Hayling stand up paddle board race. This year features the inclusion of sit on kayaking which further cements the island’s reputation as a superb paddling venue.
Just paddle
All of the described scenarios lend themselves to the serious ‘paddle head’ and some of you with a less extreme slant may be thinking that Hayling might not be the right location. But you’d be wrong. If all you’re searching for is a family day out at the beach, a ‘dabble with a paddle’ thrown in for good measure, then come on down to Hayling, you’ll be sure to find some great conditions for a ‘spoon’. The beach, on land facilities and generally mild weather are fabulous for messing about by the sea with the kids. With a good forecast, a car full of beach toys, including your paddling equipment, Hayling will serve up all of what you need and more.
A good choice
Whatever craft you paddle you’ll almost certainly be guaranteed some (salty) water action if you visit Hayling. With current up to date weather and tide information you’ll be armed and ready to score. Having an adaptable attitude and open mind means your enjoyment levels will be ‘up’. By no means a tropical world class venue, conditions on Hayling do allow for the development of a great set of all round paddling skills. Head to this south coast gem with an open mind, some prior planning and you’ll leave with as much paddling stoke as you would anywhere else in the world.
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By Jackie Lambert
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The National Waterspor
A truly epic weekend! Hayling Island, Friday 30th August to Sunday
I was warned that I would need painkillers if I went the NWF (National Watersports Festival) last year. Not for the aftermath of the beach parties, but because I would have face-ache from smiling so much, which started on day one and occurs every time I revisit the memory of a truly EPIC weekend!
rts Festival
T
his year, the NWF is back and if you can believe it, even bigger and better! The NWF word had spread and a few other watersports fancied a piece of the action, so NWF 2013 will include Kayaking and Kitesurfing as well as the Windsurfing and SUP (Stand Up Paddleboarding) which were the main feature last year.
If you have not heard of the NWF, it is an event designed to allow intermediate, recreational watersports enthusiasts – rather than the pros – a chance to get on the water and take part.
NWF is a fun event. There are simple, out-and-back ‘Master Blaster’ races, which are designed to allow anyone to take part, regardless of age, ability or type of equipment. If you can get yourself out to a buoy and back, you can compete! There are hundreds of prizes to be won and beautiful wooden trophies, created by Wayne Willets of Surfmirrors. Free coaching and race tips are offered by the top, professional coaches, many of whom are former British and World Champions. If you fancy trying something new, there are also free taster sessions in all of the featured sports.
The fun doesn’t stop there. The NWF boasts the biggest trade show in the UK, with all of the 2013 and 2014 kit on show. The beach parties, on Friday and Saturday nights feature live bands and Saturday is fancy dress, with a horror theme. There is a charity auction for W4CR (Watersports for Cancer Research) where you can snap up a bargain from the fabulous lots donated by the industry and exhibitors. To top off the action, there is also the unique ‘Night Watersports’ event, where the professionals race and perform incredible stunts under the floodlights.
Peter Hart, windsurfing legend and professional windsurfing coach said of NWF 2012, “Extraordinary weekend at the NWF – it was a continuation of the Olympics and this amazing summer of sport – sun, camaraderie on a huge level, great performances, crazy dancing and a sea of smiling faces.”
Online entry opens 1st June for both competitors and additional party tickets. Entry includes free camping for the duration of the Festival, tickets to both beach parties (on Friday and Saturday nights) and all other water-based and onshore activities.
Further information: www.nationalwatersportsfestival.com or www.facebook.com/WatersportsFestival
1st September
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By Dave Rossetter –paddlesport in With accurate observation and then the analysis of that allows us to ensure that we are coaching the correct skill for the student in the environment that they are operating in. When looking to observe performance then there a few things we can do to help our performers and us. Starting our coaching from a point of fact and not assumption is a key skill that we need to hone. Without these skills we may be providing our paddlers with poor or misleading feedback / information and even starting our coaching in the wrong place.
Observation and analysis
This edition looks at the arguably the most important skill for the coach that o
1. Coach and paddler agree on which skill / manoeuvre is to be practiced 2. Paddler practices skill 3. Coach observes and analyses 4. Coach and paddler provide feedback, agree goals and modify task(s)
Once the paddlers is active we need to have ways to observe the skill. Here we will look at tactics to help achieve good observation and analysis of a performance.
HOLISTIC
Big picture person/observer What jumps out at you?
This is a very intuitive approach. Seeing the whole picture and your ‘gut’ feeling aids you in your observation.
Here we are looking at frameworks, flags and markers. Please note that there are other ways to structure your observation and analysis this is just a starter.
Use of a “FRAMEWORK”! To put this into context then we look at the whole performance and then analytical in our approach to decide on our feedback:
BODY: Posture ● Head position Muscle tension Connection
This relies on your experience/knowledge of the sport/craft etc.
DEDUCTIVE
Technically focused person/observer
Due to the coach being aware and knowledgeable about the discipline and the skills within it they therefore can look straight to probable causes. The coach can then focus their observations into specific areas.
ANALYTICAL
Systematic observer Likes things in their constituent parts. Why does it do that? What’s the cause?
This is really useful when the problem is subtle or disguised/confused.
Here you can start using specific tools to allow you too be specific and measurable with your feedback. This could include number of strokes, speed and time.
BOAT: Edged ● Flat Fast or Slow
BLADE: Reference ● Points Vertical ● Horizontal
structor at Glenmore Lodge
of:
PHYSIOLOGICAL:
A range of factors that are linked by each other determines the performance of the paddler. We need to be able to identify at any one point what one has the bigger impact and therefore is the limiting factor in the performance.
Are they fit and ready or is there a limiting factor that needs addressed?
What do you know of your discipline?
How is the minds ‘function’?
TECHNICAL:
Did they achieve the outcome?
How is the bodies ‘function’?
PSYCHOLOGICAL:
Do they cope under pressure? How do you know?
Boat positions/Blade positions/correct speed/correct shapes
What barriers are going on in their head to impair the performance?
How did the performer deal with the wind/current/tide/waves?
Things that indicate that something is or isn’t happening. These really help out with your approach to what is happening during the performance. The use of flags can allow us to be very deductive. Some examples are below but another could be head coming out first on an eskimo roll.
TACTICAL:
What about the environment – did they use the correct tactic for the environment?
Use of effort? Is it efficient?
What were they trying to achieve?
BACKGROUND : Actual background interference Performers background
FLAGS
Examples: ● The look on someone's face ● White knuckles on the paddle ● Head/chin position
MARKERS
Allow us to compare results and provide the performer with evidence. Markers allow the coach to accurately measure the performance. We can use natural markers such as points on the body or boat or create our own using tape or pen markings.
Examples: ● Hands reaching above shoulders in a manoeuvre ● Markings on a boat where the water comes to
Coach’s tip
Have the following with you to help out with those deductions or to create markers: ● ●
BRAIN : What are they trying to do? How do they feel about it?
● ●
● ●
Roll of electricians tape Create a raised point on the gunwale of the canoe so the paddle feels where the hand is. White board marker pens You could put marks on the boat where the paddler has to look or where the paddle enters/exits the water at. Note pad/video camera To record your findings to allow you to be accurate with your feedback.
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V-A-K
VISUAL What you see What jumps out at you
Observe the full picture and using the frameworks of above to help on your evaluation and next coaching point. Questions you may need to ask yourself/performer: ● Was the outcome achieved? ● Did they achieve the outcome in the time allocated? ● Did they use enough effort? ● Was it predictable? ● What does your experience tell you?
AUDIO What you hear The sounds and rhythms
During the picture can you tune into all the sounds and rhythms that the performer has. ● The noise of splash on the bow as you paddle forward, during a turn the spillage off the stern would give some examples of the sound. ● As the performer is forward paddling is the stroke rhythmical or has a pattern. ● Questions: did the performance have a consistent sound? Was the performance rhythmical?
KINASTHETIC What you feel Self check and internal pressure points
Self check exercises will allow our performers to internally check themselves and give internal markers as to what is happening during the performance. ● Internal pressure points work as flags to indicate that something is happening during the performance. ● Questions: existing pressure points are where? Do they change when the skill is under pressure? ● Number scales for edge control exercises.
A useful coaching maxim
I hear and I forget / I see and I remember / I do and I understand Chinese proverb People generally remember: ● 10% of what they read/20% of what they hear/30% of what they see. ● 50% of what they hear and see. ● 70% of what they say and write. ● 90% of what they do.
So go and get doing!
Positions for all this to happen
Dynamic – it’s time to be on the move! You will see different things from different views. Same level/standing up in canoe/from the bank/from behind/in front. Make sure you get enough information i.e. repeated performance, ask questions.
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/
Do you need to use a checklist? ●
●
● ● ● ●
● ● ●
Where are the eyes looking? What is the head doing? Does the face tell you anything? How does the paddler respond to external changes? How does the boat move through the water? How is the pelvis set? How do you know? Are the connection points active? What muscle tension score would you give the core? Energy in vs energy out. How are the shoulders/arms moving? What muscle tension score would you give the shoulders/arms etc?
To put all of the above information into a plan that allows our performers to be active and involved so we can observe and help them with our analysis the following mnemonic will help:
COACH
Check Out what actually happened.
Give the performer time to repeat the performance while you are dynamic in your observations. Ask questions to deepen your understanding of your performance.
After the performance seek clarification from the performance by asking questions. Remember and give time for the answer and don’t ask too many questions. Challenge or Create exercises or activities to enhance or adapt the performance. This where you use the information gathered above to create new activities or exercises to help your performer.
You must remember to also challenge the skill to enhance the performance. Offer Help and support to the performer that enables them to be a more independent learner.
Point the performer to areas of help or support such as resource materials, equipment etc.
FINALLY
Work together, coach and performer to make your sessions active FUN!
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To advertise email: ads@thepaddlerezine.com or call +44 (0)1480 465081
+44 (0) 147 182 0002 info@skyakadventures.com www.skyakadventures.com w k k d t
Salty Paddler 24
Interview with Nick Castro By Peter Tranter
ThePaddler 23
Unveiled this month i
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The Hurricane Riders, Active Sea Kayaking an Member of
ROUGH WAT owner of
Photo by Ben Garrett
is Canadian sea kayaker and coach Nick
Castro
nd and
TER ADDICT! ThePaddler 25
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W
here and what was your first paddle?
My First paddle was in Victoria BC. I signed up for a basic sea kayak guiding course after meeting one of the instructors on a Wilderness First Aid course. I remember thinking, “This is crazy, I have never been on the water, and what am I doing here.” I smiled the all five days, had tons of fun, and decided this was simple enough for me to figure out.
Why did the sport keep your interest?
I started looking at sea kayaking as a sport and played with strokes, efficiency, boat control. There was so much to learn I couldn’t get bored. Then just as I got to that point where things were starting to be repetitive, I saw ‘This is the sea 2’. I remember watching it and thinking, you can DO THAT in a sea kayak? I am doer, so I started looking into it – where, how, and so on.
Photo by Alex Matthews
Now I am still challenged when I go out, conditions are just getting bigger so all my attention is focused when I am paddling in winter. To me the only way to live is in the moment, concentrate all my focus on one thing and achieve something right there and then. There is freedom in doing something just for fun, that require skills, experience, a little adrenaline… Being in the zone.
What was your route into coaching?
When I decided I could make a living out of paddling, I looked into the options and coaching for my own company offered several advantages, so I set out to open the doors.
My Name is Nick Castro, I am a Canadian Sea kayaker and coach with a slight addiction to rough water paddling. I emigrated from France when I was 23 in search of Wilderness and adventure and Canada has provided both. I now own and operate Active Sea Kayaking, a small sea kayak Instruction company based in Victoria, British Columbia, on Vancouver Island.
I had looked around and observed there were not too many old guides but there some old coaches, I took that as a good sign. So I tried it and I thought this was for me. I draw energy form participants succeeding in what they set out to achieve. I get a great reward to see some past students keep on paddling and set out to become great paddlers in their own right.
and its presence
The ocean has spanked me a few times
bring me both energy and humility
Kayaking or coaching – how do they both give you satisfaction and does one give more than the other?
I love both. I think I could coach anything and enjoy it!
The THR is something else. I happen to be friends with one of the co-founders and so became a member because we were going paddling together. THR stands for a group of friends wanting to push the limits. I think the original statement was to develop the rough water scene and film it to show the world.
It looks a blast – what are the dangers?
The dangers are all the usual suspects! Water all around, playing on the edge of your limits, searching for bigger conditions still within the risks we are willing to take. I think the real danger is our ego, sometime a little camera courage could be a hazard… The limits are being pushed all over the planet and I think we are going to see some insane stuff in the near future. I am not sure I want to keep up with the craziest, I just want to move forward to avoid boredom and keep on progressing.
Photo by Rowan Gloag
The kayaking gives me a personal challenge, both physical and mental. The paddling community has provided me with awesome buddies and all my best friends are paddling partners and mentors. The coaching is a way to pass on the good vibe and open the doors to others. I think for me the difference between other sports (I have practiced a few) and kayaking is the environment. When I am out there, I am aware I am only a small part of the picture and I have to watch out for the rest. The ocean has spanked me a few times and its presence bring me both energy and humility.
The Hurricane Riders (THR) – what’s this all about?
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Any of your THR paddles scared you?
Sure! Surf in big conditions are always something I worry about. Around here our surf zone is very chaotic; there are no clean breaks and orderly waves. So when you start surfing bigger stuff, you are dealing with the unknown of the bigger set of the day and I often can’t say how it’s going to look before it’s there. But I know it will be ‘the moment’ of the day to get it right. Lately I have back paddled through and out the back of a wave that appeared for only two or three minutes and sucked me back. I could not paddle forward fast enough because of some currents and I was just getting pulled back to it. I gave up the idea of going forward and started paddling back hard. As I felt the wave over me I tucked in for a roll and came through the back. The look of that wave was mean, with a very vertical wall and the top pitching way over it. I had never seen anything like it (well, I had in a few surf videos) and I was clearly unsure of how this would play out. As we paddle bigger conditions we are going to discover new things, and they won’t all be nice!
How do you deal with fear?
Let it flow. It goes away. In the moment when I KNOW something is not right, my brain just concentrates on the next few seconds. There is no fear in that place, just some very slow time.
Recently I drunk a good amount of salt water, and I think it bothered me more after the fact! If I felt fear on a regular basis, I would not paddle this type of water anymore. If the conditions you paddle in grow at the same speed as your experience, there should not be too much fear. Anxiety? Sure.
Any favourite paddling experience or one that really sticks in the mind?
Paddling Skook (Skookumchuck Narrows Provincial Park) is unreal! You can surf a good size wave for minutes on end… I smile so much on that wave my face hurt at the end of the day!
Paddling the north west coast of the Island is a incredible experience, remote and truly wild. My local paddling spot is Baynes Channel, a tide race. It’s special to me because I have spent countless hours looking at winds reports, current atlases, calling buddies. I have spent some of my best paddling times with my friends, and I have grown there more than anywhere else, as a person and as a paddler.
I think the real danger is our ego, sometime a little camera courage
could be a hazard
What is special about British Columbia?
Too long to explain! Awesome people, wild coast, great conditions for beginners or advanced paddling. The remoteness of some destinations will get you thinking. The wildlife is unreal, both in the ocean and on land. This is a Jack London idea of a good time. There are still places where you’ll see very few people. Summer can deliver great weather, or fog, or keep you in camp of course! Come and visit…
What is your biggest accomplishment?
I am not sure. Did I accomplish anything? I am happy trying to live in the moment when I am on the water. I have made a few videos, no real edit, just for fun. The Youtube Channel shows over 150,000 views (www.youtube.com/user/Activeseakayaking/about), so I guess that’s a good impact on getting people excited! Recently I have been involved in the Bendo (www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bz33szsc_Y4), the first sea kayak freestyle.
What would be your ultimate achievement?
I would love to ride a BIG wave, with a shoulder and a way out. A big green ride!
Any regrets?
Wish I could have started younger…
What's next for you?
There are a few things on the back burner, I want to keep playing.
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OK Nick let’s finish with something short and snappy…
Photo by Ben Garrett
Make of boat?
P&H Delphin
If you could surf with anyone in the world dead or alive who would it be?
Sean Morley, Michael Pardy, Justine Curgenven, Bill Mattos.
What would your friends say is your most annoying habit?
I wear a very ugly hat under my helmet, which no doubt annoys a lot of people! However, my ears are warm, what can I say.
Which one sportsman or woman has inspired you?
What do you do to let off steam?
What would you say to them?
Racism, politics, stupid people.
The same people I’d like to paddle with!
Thanks for the stoke. You showed me it was possible, so I went and I am still trying it!
Go paddle.
What do you get really angry about? Any broken bones? Nothing too important.
Any place paddling on the planet – which Favourite sport’s team? would be your favourite? Rough water paddling?
I am thinking Hawaii… warm water, waves…
Facebook or Twitter?
Facebook so far.
An ideal night out for you is?
What three words would you use to describe you? Organized, driven, passionate.
Slightly sore from too much kayak surfing, fire burning, good food, friends and wife. Maybe a little GoPro footage of the day at some point.
What one luxury item would you take with you on a desert island?
Espresso machine. For sure.
Thanks for your time Nick
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SINCE 2004
surfing-day .com
B C FO YR R E A S I R ID T E N RI E D CE D R 2 0 ERS S 04
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52
ThePaddler’s Planet By Leslie Kolovich
Interview with Jock Paterson By Jason Pereira
Hawaii – USA Paddling passion on Big island – the story of the Shouses. By Ashley Welton BIC Ace-Tec review By Tez Plavenieks
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h e c i i l y s B e ov L ol K Photo: Joan Vienot
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For more information on how you can participate wherever you may be on the Planet visit www.supradioshow.com/wpftp Stay tuned for my weekly podcast of The Paddler’s Planet with my guest host Christian Wagley on www.supradioshow.com,
900 days and counting
I
t was just one year ago on June 16th that I was awakened by one man’s honest desire to make a difference. It was the first World Paddle for the Planet (for the story see http://issuu.com/thepaddler/docs/thepaddler_5). My friend Bob paddled the entire 80-mile length of Okanagan Lake in 19 hours. Before this event I appreciated people who did distance paddles for causes, but had no real understanding why someone would want to put their body through such pain for the seemingly impossible mission of ‘Saving the Planet’. What then seemed “Where we are Standing Up crazy, I now understand as simply being what it takes to get people to pay attention. for the Planet!”
June 18th marked Bob Purdy’s 900th consecutive day of Stand Up Paddling, which is his effort to draw attention to our need to change the way we live on this planet. His passion for this cause is as deep as the ocean and as vast as the skies. He never wavers. He paddles through all the elements in the rugged beauty of the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia, Canada. He almost always paddles solo, early in the morning, before he goes to work. Owned by neither brand nor government, he shares his message with all by walking the way he talks, or shall I say, walking the way he paddles.
Until I paddled with Bob, I always thought that it was not in my power to make significant change. I now know that change begins with me as an individual. And, you, as an individual! Thus begins our global awakening. As our awareness increases, it is natural that we start making smarter personal and political choices. I encourage all to look at your daily routine, and make just one simple change, such as, using reusable grocery bags, refusing to use single use plastics or styrofoam, using refillable water bottles, or driving less or carpooling. Lead by example, and you will find that people start to copy you. Together we all can create a wave of change.
We all know that society gains the most when we work together for the greater good. Change just one thing in your life for the good of the planet and become fanatic about it! Jump on this crazy-train of passionate Planet Paddlers. And that brings me back to Bob Purdy. He along with several other Planet Paddlers will be leading another crazy feat, paddling for 24 hours continuously, in Panama City Beach, Florida, on October 12-13th for the 2nd Annual World Paddle for the Planet. Join us!
Visit www.worldpaddlefortheplanet.com for details.
‘Polar Bears and Paddleboards’
The Polar Bears and Paddleboards
is a unique expedition to undertake the world’s first stand up paddleboard expedition in Arctic waters. The team of 10 will attempt to paddle approximately 100Km in just five days.
project has an internet presence through an increasingly popular website and social media following, which is being strengthened by awareness campaigns from commercial supporters involved with the project. The social media following of Bear Grylls and Oakley alone numbers millions of individuals worldwide.
Against a stunning backdrop of icebergs and beautiful scenery in Greenland, the team will paddle to the face of an Arctic glacier demonstrating just how versatile paddle-sports and stand up paddleboarding in particular are. The expedition is being used to promote stand up paddleboarding as a means of active recreation, to support charities and for the UK wide education project the 'Schools Explorer' operated by Justin Miles.
The project already has given rise to a number of 'spin-off' activities and events such as corporate activities, charity fun-days and the worlds first ever 'paddleboard marathon' which was held on London's River Thames in June 2013. Justin Hankinson will be supervising the filming of the project and the expedition. He will be using the material for a series and documentary to be shown at various film festivals around the world. You can see the expedition trailer on our Vimeo channel here: http://vimeo.com/58969916
The expedition has attracted the support of British adventurer and television personality Bear Grylls and commercial supporters of the project include well-known names such as Oakley and Berghaus. The entire project, from preparation to the expedition itself is being filmed to create a documentary by team member Justin Hankinson (a cinematographer who worked on Spiderman 3 among others).
MEET THE TEAM
Juliette
Ball
Paul
Hyman
Justin
Miles
Mohammad
Nilforooshan
Phil
Sayers
Brad
Symington
Charlie
Head
Jaime
Silva
You can get involved and help support the project with pledges starting at just ÂŁ10 and in return you will receive some fantastic rewards! Details are available from our Kickstarter project Page: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/p bandpaddleboards (may have to revise link when project goes live). If you would like more information on the expedition or would be interested in discussing advertising opportunities, please get in touch: info@polarbearsandpaddleboards.com www.facebook.com/ polarbearsandpaddleboards
Justin
Hankinson
Stuart
Howells
INTERV
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Jason Pereira
VIEWS
Jock Paterson
and his thoughts on the UK SUP scene and where it’s heading…
Flag illustrations by Garyck Arntzen
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J
P. Hi Jock tell us what you’ve been up to over the past year or so and what’s been happening with Tribal Wave?
Jock – I pretty much put everything on hold from December 2011 as our SUP school had a very difficult season. The whole idea of a mobile unit seemed a good one and many people said perhaps we were too early with it, the practicalities were hard to say the least and the weather conditions challenging so I have concentrated on more one to one coaching and becoming more of a freelance coach which has been a very positive experience so far. Tribal Wave movie nights have progressed and we enjoy bringing all the surfers, SUP’ers, boogie boarders, kayakers and the like together. We have a great water sports community down here in the Brighton area and we now have a permanent home for our regular events.
JP.With a strong emphasis on racing in the UK do you think other areas of SUP which lean towards the more ‘fun’ aspect of the sport are being neglected for instance adventure paddles, SUP Surf or the fitness and health benefits?
Jock - I think that the competition scene is very race orientated in the UK as it is in many other countries throughout the world, some people will see that as good and others may not but I do think that is the great thing about SUP, it has so many different aspects to it for people to explore and enjoy. There are quite a lot of people promoting adventure paddles in the UK, after all we are blessed with such a diversity of waterways, lakes, rivers and of course the ocean. I guide for Brighton Adventures and we are looking forward to doing some interesting paddles this year, we have a trailer and pretty awesome bus to get people around so it should be a lot of fun.
Back in April we were fortunate to have the legend that is Jock Paterson visit us at supXscape in Portugal. Jock was here to escape the UK’s ongoing winter, catch some surf and to help us develop intermediate and advanced SUP surf clinics. With a long and colourful history in skate, 41 years surfing and six years SUP’ing including winning the BSUPA Championship for both race and surf in 2009. There are few more qualified to comment on the UK scene than Jock and we were eager to hear what Jock and Tribal Wave have been up to and his thoughts on the UK SUP Scene and where it’s heading.
There are quite a lot of people promoting adventure paddles in the UK, after all we are blessed with such a
diversity of waterways,
lakes, rivers and of course the ocean
JP. If we continue to focus on racing will the sport start to lose its potentially massive appeal that we see in other parts of the world?
Jock - I would like to see as much emphasis going into the surf and downwind as there is in the race aspect of the sport. The British Longboard Union do a great job for the longboarders with appropriate divisions so something similar to that and more emphasis on the downwind open ocean racing and not just on flat water. I think it is really encouraging to see so many racing at The Head Of The Dart and the Battle of The Thames but for me open water is the real challenge as I know it is for many others. However, taking part in any of these disciplines will make you more well-rounded as a waterman and of course provide awesome fitness.
JP. How do we get more people involved in SUP and are those involved in promoting and developing the sport including and considering all demographics?
Jock - Well the club scene is certainly growing and maybe with some inter-club events at grass roots levels will give the opportunity to introduce both more youth and women to the competition side. I would have liked to see age divisions brought in like they have in the BLU. I am a competitive guy, have been in all of my sports and I never want to stop competing for as long as I am paddling but equally I feel the need to be on a level playing field with my competitors like I am sure a lot of others would. I am 56 this year and think a VET’s division would be most suitable for me now.
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JP.We all know that Stand Up Paddleboarding is a paddle sport before it is a surf sport but you only have to look at forums and blogs to see that the SUP surf side has a huge appeal. Do you think that in the UK we have the right training programs and skills in place to develop this side of the sport?
Jock – To date there is still no governing body in the UK so I guess people are just feeling their own way. I offer coaching in SUP surf and will continue to encourage this.
JP.With your strong background in surf and SUP surf how do you think the UK’s best SUP surfers compare to the Europeans and the rest of the world?
Jock – As far as I am aware there are a lot of great UK paddle surfers here. Just getting back to the point about having a SUP surf series I do think more people like Adam Zervas, Guts Griffiths, Rob Small, Tim Mellors, Ben Skinner, Elliott Dudley and Tony Peters to name but a few of the whole host of great UK talent may show (sorry if I haven't mentioned you all, there are many). In my book one event a year is not enough to send a team to compete on a World level.
JP.What are your future plans?
Jock – The future for me is to to carry on with my coaching and to ride as many waves as is humanly possible along the way! I am currently working with Adam Chinery at Brighton Watersports to develop more SUP river exploration trips throughout the beautiful county of Sussex. To assist the Brighton Watersports SUP club, SUP surf and downwind coaching. Outside of the UK we will be developing Surf SUP clinics in Florida, Portugal and Spain.
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 BIG
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passion Island
on
BIG ISLAND, Hawaii
What are the chances that a girl from Oregon and a guy from Arizona hear the call of the ocean so deeply that they move to Hawaii – separately – fall in love, and become two of the most beautiful ocean ambassadors around? Pretty good, if you’re the Shouses.
By Ashley Welton
Donica is originally from Waterloo, Oregon, an hour and a half from the frigid and unforgiving coast where she taught herself to surf at the age of 17. Abe is from Arizona, the real life Rick Cane and spent his childhood flip-flopping between the West Coast and the East Coast every two years, submerging himself in all things surf wherever possible. He knew he’d live in Hawaii one day, like most people know they’ll grow old, and when he met Kawika from Hilo in Hawaii, he took it as a sign and turned the land-locked Hawaiian into his California road trip surfing buddy. It didn’t matter that Kawika didn’t surf, he was from Hawaii, surely he wanted to learn!
For Donica and Abe, their geographical distance from our salty playground didn’t obscure the closeness they felt for it in their hearts. And so, as the ocean will do, it sent them a message saying, “Come to Hawaii, you’ll love it here.”
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Donica moved to Hawaii in 2004 and Abe shortly after in ’05. They met surfing, where else? Abe spent the session showing off, hollering and smiling at Donica, as they caught wave after wave – a true waterman’s courtship.
Stand Up Paddleboarding entered their lives in the Fall of 2008. They would borrow boards from friends at a local surf shop and paddle around Kahalu’u Bay. Seeing the sport’s potential, they dedicated themselves to developing their skills, expanding their knowledge, and participating in SUP tours. Through their curiosity and growing love of SUP, they met the surfer, stand up paddleboarder, and craftsman extraordinaire, Leleo Kinimaka. Leleo offered to make Abe an apprentice to teach him the craft of building paddles. Abe, having been a woodworker since high school, jumped at the opportunity to marry two loves: surfing and woodcraft. They were only a few months into their apprenticeship, when Leleo was offered a job on the North Shore. He sold his equipment and materials to Abe, and Paddle Hawaii took its first breaths.
Abe started making paddles out of their garage, but, apparently, it’s illegal to operate heavy machinery from a residence, and the State shut him down. It was then he decided to fully commit to SUP. He rented a shop and jumped headfirst into crafting some of the most beautiful, ergonomic, and eco-friendly paddles on the market. He continues to develop new paddle designs that support the constant evolution of the sport. Donica, in addition to being a badass waterwoman, is a massage therapist, culinary experimentalist, bathing suit seamstress, and full circle living specialist. She infuses everything she does with light and love, and when she’s not in the ocean, she’s finding new ways to cook and eat delectable dishes. She believes that, “Food is the best medicine, and well worth the time.” She also developed and teaches a paddleboard yoga program. She makes it look effortless – it’s not. When they’re not in the water, they’re focused on work, food, and how to improve on daily life by continuing to live full circle and reducing their impact on the environment.
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They started seeking sponsorship by sending out surf resumes, an ingenious avenue to spread the word about their talents and intentions. A secretary has a resume, why not a surfer? They’ve joined the Imagine Surf Team, and have picked up other sponsors as well, which include: Organik Clothing, Imagine Surf, Odina Surf, Kaenon, RareForm, and of course Paddle HI.
They intend to continue educating people on SUP safety and etiquette, promoting the development of the sport, and pushing the limits on performance driven SUP surfing and manufacturing. However, above all, they seek to follow their hearts, open themselves to new ideas and live life through fun and love.
Abe Shouse
SUP safety and etiquette, They intend to continue educating people on
Donica Shouse
promoting the development of the sport
PADDLE HAWAII .com
Made to Order Ecologically Built High Performance SUP Paddles & Skateboards -- Donica & Abra --
||| So many OPTIONS |||| 808.987.8153 |||
To advertise email: ads@thepaddlerezine.com or call +44 (0)1480 465081
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BUY & SELL STANDUP GEAR
LOCAL + STOKE + FAST GOSUPGEAR.COM
STABILITY
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is the key
BIC 12.6ft Wing Ace – Tec
BIC SUP have started to gain considerable momentum within the stand up paddle board world and now boast an extensive line of models that cater for all types of paddler. UK stand up racer Pete Holliday recently made a sponsorship switch to the brand and we were keen to see what the fuss was all about. By Tez Plavenieks.
*** We used, BIC sponsored rider, Pete Holliday’s 12.6ft Wing for the purpose of this review ***
A
fter a brief chat with Pete (and Brand Manager Ed Broom) we decided that the 12.6ft Wing Ace – Tec would be the best choice of stick for review. Billed as a stable and all round touring SUP we were keen to get our grubby mitts on one and see how it fared.
First look
After a winter of mainly riding surf SUPs, with the odd iSUP session thrown in for good measure, it was a bit of shock to the system to be presented with such a large piece of kit. At 12.6ft long and a whopping 285 litres the BIC is a substantial piece of gear.
Described as a touring, fitness, cruising and intermediate race design the Wing looks like it’s definitely up to the job. Cramming in 76cm (30”) of width and benefitting from a very flat deck, this is a board that’s aimed squarely at medium to heavy weights – up to 260lbs (185kg).
Manufactured in Ace – Tec construction, an exclusive thermoforming process, the Wing is bomb proof and resistant to all sorts of knocks and scrapes that you may pick up along the way. The substantial and comfortable Ergo – Grip carry handle completes what is a well-priced (£899 in the UK) and performance orientated bit of kit.
On the water
The first thing of note, once floating, is just how stable the Wing is. We were blown away by this trait – you really would have to run off it to fall off! In fact, during one session we got two ‘newbies’ out on the Wing, for the first time, and although the water was super flat, it was still no less impressive the fact that they managed to get straight up and paddling. Heading off for a ‘sweep’ the high riding nose of the BIC cuts through chop smoothly and even with lazy paddle strokes the glide is endless – perfect for covering distance without too much effort.
Put the hammer down and the 12.6ft transforms into a rocket ship, burning up the miles in the most efficient manner. Although the Wing isn’t billed as a hardcore racer it would lend itself to first time event entrants who want an easier ride. If you’re a fitness junky then the Wing would be a great choice allowing you to get out and bang in the miles whatever the weather. The FCS fin that comes supplied as standard with the Wing does its job well and keeps the board tracking straight and true. Paddlers may wish to upgrade this in time but there’s no real advantage gained unless racing when a lighter weight version will help to reduce drag.
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www.bicsportkayaks.com
Upwind/downwind
Taking the Wing into open sea swell and chop it was interesting to note how ‘yacht like’ the bow feels. The nose pierces swells with minimum ‘bounce’ to the rider ensuring a composed paddling posture remains intact during sessions. Pinching upwind is particularly rewarding as the overall plan shape of the 12.6ft is aerodynamic – funnelling the breeze along its rails – which combined with the board’s glide characteristics, makes for a great rider experience.
Coming back downwind the Wing picks up ‘runners’ effortlessly and just keeps on going. The bow does have a tendency to bury itself into the back of ‘rollers’ and you’ll have to make a concerted effort to hang off the tail to stop this from happening.
The swells we encountered were only small to medium in size and although the Wing coped admirably, downwinding is not this stick’s forte.
Back on the flat
Getting the Wing back in familiar flat water territory the glide and stability come back into their own and having been out in open water it’s clear where the 12.6ft excels.
Exploring secluded coves, bays and hard to access areas, smashing out the miles in harbours, inlets and estuaries or paddling on the open sea during calmer periods –all environments you’ll have the most fun on with the BIC Wing.
Other points
Also worthy of note is how the Wing would make a great fishing or yoga platform. With this stand up paddle activity gaining popularity, you’d do a lot worse than a BIC Wing if this is your bag. Heading out and dropping a line, tackle/bait box perched in position, couldn’t be easier.
Watch the video >
Specification
Length: Width: Weight: Volume:
12'6'' / 381cm 30.0'' / 76cm 34lbs / 15.5kg 285L
Summing up
With sights set firmly on the recreational paddler, BIC’s Wing Ace – Tec SUP is the perfect choice for anyone looking to explore their local stretch of water, indulge in some fitness paddling or just cruise around.
Boasting unrivalled stability – perfect for bigger boys and girls – great tracking and glide the Wing would sit neatly amongst a quiver of boards or do the job as a stick for all types of flat water. Storage and transportation needs to be thought out as the 12.6ft is a large toy, but the amount of bang you get for your buck and the performance attributes far outweigh these minor issues.
Also worth pointing out is that you can buy accessories for your Wing so you can ‘pimp your ride’. Bungee cord for securing camping gear, a waterproof deck bag for keeping everything dry and even an integrated seat for when you fancy taking your little ones off on a SUP trip; all available as optional extras… In an age when stand up paddle boards are getting ever more expensive, BIC kicks the trend by delivering performance in an affordable package.
As the leading brand in sit on top kayaks BIC offers a model for everyone; from the playful Surf Ouassou to the more serious Adventure Sit in range. Innovation and affordability is at the forefront of BIC Kayaks design.
from
With almost the largest range of boards available from any one brand BIC SUP’s unique DURA-TEC and ACE-TEC technology offers unrivalled durability and performance, ridden by European Champion paddlers.
from
£
279
£
499
For your nearest retailer please visit:: www.ultrasporteu.co om Ultra Sport Europe Ltd. Carnival Way, Castle Donington, Derbyshire DE74 2HP
Te l : 0 1 3 3 2 8 1 3 1 5 0 info o@ultraspor teu e .com
www.ultraspor teu.com
The Linville Linville River lies tucked tucked away away in the Linville Linville Gorge Wilderness Wilderness and has long been called “The Canyon forbidding nature of Grand Can yon of the East..” The forbidding terrain has made resource extraction the terrain or some, lik e TTyy Cald well, that is a impossible, and ffor like Caldwell, like none other. other. Land only Mother Nature calling like can touch. Who could possibly pass that up? Standard Full Cut Flow Distribution: www.systemxeurope.com ope.com e co
Brand New Kayaks at Demo Boat Prices! Buy top quality sea kayaks at incredibly low prices making way for new stock in our warehouse Some slight cosmetic seconds with minor blemishes offer the ultimate bargains and huge reductions on exdemo boats. Plus FREE custom made Aquatherm* deck with every discounted boat purchased. Huge choice of over 60 sea kayaks in stock. Extensive Demo Fleet - try before you buy. Eddyline – Rockpool – North Shore – Nigel Dennis. Great range of colours. Expert advice - buy the right kayak for the right conditions.
Call Chris Reed for technical advice & guidance or to arrange a visit and test the best kayak for you +44 (0)1271 815828
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Open Canoe festival Despite the weather, there was a fantasic weekend of open canoeing in the Dr么me valley, France. By Greg Spencer
Robson Brooks review By Chris Leesmith
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O C F 1 3 I
f approached over the ruggedly alpine Parc Naturel Régional du Vercors, and through the short tunnel at Col de Rousset, Paul Villecourt’s beloved Drôme valley offers one of the most stunning vistas in all of France. Leaving behind the alpine forest (legendary bastion of the French Resistance), we find towering walls of limestone basking in the Mediterranean sun, and a vertiginous drop down to the gently rolling southern foothills which stretch away, seemingly endlessly, into Provence.
Story by Greg Spencer
Open Canoe Festival 2013 FRANCE
Between Le Massif du
Photos by Paul Villecourt, Julien Gontard, Philippe Bouvat, Martin Strunge and wilderness-canoe.co.uk
u Vercors and Provence... ThePaddler 59
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From Die, the river winds westward in sprightly fashion through St. Croix, then opens out beyond the charming Lamysvillage of Pontaix before diving into a delightful gorge that extends from Vercheny to Saillans. As an approach to Mirabel-et-Blacons, this cannot be bettered... but for the visiting canoeist, entering at Easter, this is just the (delightful) apéritif to what has, from its low key inception in 2010, grown to fully merit its billing as the ‘premier canoe rendezvous in Europe’.
night, the tradition is now of a paella party (with live music, featuring quality French musicians). Sunday evening's ritual revolves around more produits du terroir, a huge prize draw and a campfire on the beach. These, like the nowiconic Tentipi structure around which everything revolves, all matter: they are key elements of the hospitality – to be savoured.
As the first UK-based participants at the Open Canoe Festival, our initial encounter (in 2011) was perfectly timed. The year of the spring-drought was also one of gloriously sunny days and mild nights: ideal for a tandem pairing led by a six-year old! What we discovered, and went on to report on the Song-of-the-Paddle forum, was a joyous occasion. A veritable host of ‘touring’ canoeists had come together, learnt from one another and shared knowledge and experience in an event with a very special atmosphere.
The canoeing programme revolves around a free shuttle service, run by local canoe-hire companies and facilitating private descents of this consistently engaging but singularly forgiving river. The centrepiece has always been the Easter Sunday Descente de la Drôme (25 Km): Pont de Sainte Croix / Mirabel et Blacons: a carnival of paddling as just about everyone explores the river from right up near Die down to the campsite.
Those ‘Touring’ canoeists are at the heart of what makes the OCF so special. This is no C-Boats Armada for elite paddlers. Nor does it echo the English Canoe Symposium, with its massive instructor-base and plethora of workshops. The participants attend as the special guests of the instigator, Paul Villecourt, and of his local partners, including la Communauté de Communes du Crestois, le Département de la Drôme, la commune de Mirabel et Blacons, Gervanne Camping, and Clairette de Die Jaillance. From the wine tasting through the morning raids to the boulangerie to the local-produce tasting, the OCF showcases the region. On the Saturday
Easter Sunday
Around the river descents, the international instructor team generally runs a small programme of workshops, invariably (and always inspirationally) led by the ever-smiling partnership of Peter Stokx and Armelle Van Hauwaert of Canad.Be. In 2013, unprecedented water-levels prompted a diversification into safety clinics and shore-based sessions, but the programme typically has something for everyone, from introductions to tandem whitewater to ‘trad-skills’ clinics on lining and poling, and from training in river leadership to assorted classes (including an introduction or taster session) for those interested in specialist white water canoes.
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and experience in an event with a very special atmosphere
shared knowledge
A veritable host of ‘touring’ canoeists had come together, learnt from one another and
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Around all of the canoeing, the OCF has off-water workshops in outdoor cooking, firelighting, bivouacking and the like. Then there's Pierre Orban of Canoe Diffusion: a stalwart of the Open Canoe Festival, leading sponsor and purveyor of a multitude of demo-boats which are commonly worked hard, from morning to night, throughout the three days! Last but not least, you've got a a few sponsor's trade stalls: nothing major, as it's not that kind of event!
The mercy of the elements
Of course, even with the best preparation in the world, every festival is at the mercy of the elements. The OCF has been no exception. What's been deemed ‘beginner's luck’ in 2010 was followed by drought conditions in 2011, and then everything from brilliant sunshine to fierce storms in 2012. Right up to the arrival of the first participants, the 2013 event looked like being a chilly but wonderful weekend, with near optimum river levels... though we soon found that the Drôme has other ideas! In the end, the 2013 festival more than lived up to its billing! Spate conditions meant a radically revised programme for the “touring” canoeists. Many took to the river anyway, with the most experienced participants enjoying the unexpected challenge. Others opted for negotiating the river by professionally-guided raft (care of Loic Martinet, Valentin Grollemund and Richard Dorlencourt) and huge numbers took advantage of a programme extended to offer a wider than usual variety of dry-land sessions.
The drought conditions in 2011
Open Canoe Association group taking a break during a ‘grande descente’ of the Drôme
Watson Bridge Blue Grass band
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Rich Wright of the OCA
2013: year of the flood
Kylah, from Kent
Tandem workshop by Canad.Be ThePaddler 65
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The revised programme
included some classic British elements from Matt Thompson of Wilderness Canoe, whose tracking and lining sessions made use of the Drôme without endangering participants. His dryland session on open water canoeing was another new departure for the OCF and covered rafting canoes using the half diamond, the full diamond, and classic rafted pair (complete with improvised sailing rig). Cultural differences were highlighted by Jean Lamy’s contrasting session on Couplage de canoë.
The more prominent focus of the revised programme was safety and rescue. Jean-Francois Dao, Valentin Grollemund and Jean Lamy all ran workshops, and throwlines were flying around all over the place. Peter Stokx emptied the camp with his session on ‘quick and dirty’ ways to rescue a pinned or wrapped canoe: word had got out that we would pin (and recover) one of Raphael’s canoes! As ever, Peter and Armelle (ably assisted by Richard Dorlencourt) managed to get participants in canoes for a technical workshop, if only for a short run along the beach from the tributary that enters alongside the Festival campground. Meanwhile, Raphael Kuner encouraged interest in Stand Up Paddleboarding, and our ACA Europe colleague Heinz Götze teamed up with Raphael Thiebault to lead more experienced paddlers on wilder adventures. Heinz was later spotted playing in the sand with Playmobil canoes (discussing group organisation on the river) ahead of a workshop on securing gear in one’s canoe.
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Elsewhere in the festival, life went on as usual. Peter and Armelle waxed lyrical about their passion for home food dehydration (and doubtless much else). Katia Dao ran sessions on canoe camping and camp cooking. Jean-François Souchard ran sessions on Les castors (beavers) and on Photo en rivière. Jean-Baptiste Coviaux ran sessions on fire-making and knots. Pierre Montaland ran workshops on bivouacking and ‘tarpology’. Oh – and as ever, Gervanne Camping ran a much appreciated Easter Egg hunt!
Whilst the OCF only lasts for the Easter weekend, participants from further afield typically extend their stay. This year, as Matt and I led a Grand Descent for one party, some tackled more restricted stretches of the Drôme, and others headed to the Roanne and elsewhere. In the evenings, we met up with those who had opted for land-based alternatives: along the valley, immediately south around gems like Saou, or north, up on the Vercors Plateau. Unsurprisingly, many make the OCF as a stepping stone to (or from) other areas of the Massif Central. As anyone familiar with Peter Knowles' classic guide will appreciate, the canoeist is spoilt for choice in neighbouring areas. In 2011, many of us headed to the Ardèche and Allier. In 2012, several Brits headed further west, to the much-vaunted Gorges du Tarn. One highly commended option to the south is the Gard. Livelier options which come highly regarded include the Sorgues, Chassezac and Durance. Riches abound! Location, ethos and hospitality are just some of the factors that go into the Open Canoe Festival already standing (after four short years) as the premier open canoe rendezvous in Europe. Looking on, one wonders why it's taken so long for someone to make it happen. Knowing the work and effort that Paul Villecourt has had to put in behind the scenes, one appreciates just what was always missing: hugely commendable passion, vision and commitment!
dry land target practice on the Gervanne Camping beach
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ThePaddler 70
By Chris Leesmith
I’m ashamed to say I’d been out with Robson only once since a challenging and enjoyable 5 Star canoe training at the back end of 2012 with Jules Burnard of Voyageur Coaching, so I had some trepidation in getting back in the canoe.
TheRobson bags of fun
BROOKS Quick and
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I’m ashamed to
say I’d been out with Robson only once since a challenging and enjoyable 5 Star Canoe training at the back end of 2012 with Jules Burnard of Voyageur Coaching, so I had some trepidation in getting back in the canoe. In fact on our last mid-January jaunt with kayaking self-styled guru Daz Clarkson-King and friend Nigel Conway, we took a dip on the Dee’s tricky and as it turned out; sticky Serpents Tail in bitter, snowy conditions.
the next. At times we hunkered down low in our canoes when the wind lifted with hurricane blasts, only to drop down again enough for us to proceed to the next destination. Robson Brooks is a big volume canoe with high gunwales, excellent for chunkier pilots but putting lighter paddlers at a distinct disadvantage on open water in these conditions and it’s worth noting that with so much rocker, Robson is inclined to turn unless harnessed.
After a 2½ hour drive up the M6 and feeling the unfitness of the January gloom I met the rest of my group for the two day assessment. I was to be a mock student to gain useful tips and ideas for my own assessment later in the year and clearly to blow the cobwebs of the cold, wet, snowy, windy winter out of my stiff joints.
Trim would be key if the wind would make up its mind as to which direction it wanted to blow and plenty of it. I started the day with a large rock in my bow and the girls had opted for dry bags filled with the wet stuff in their canoes. This was what I was here for and I was enjoying every minute!
Ullswater in the top East corner of Cumbria’s stunning Lake District was the venue for day one of the assessment and would prove to be a challenging paddle, with winds gusting in everdirection changing squalls. These really were five star conditions for the three candidates! My ongoing personal relationship with Robson Brooks requires me to paddle as often as possible in varying environments with the aim of making conclusions on characteristics of construction, materials, design and features. I’m like a test pilot or semi-pro demoer. I’ll come to that bit later!
Relaxed couple of days
If as a paddler, you’ve never experienced being a mock student on the path to personal improvement then surely you have missed a trick. Neither paying for your role nor being assessed makes for an economical and relaxed couple of days in the hands of candidates who you’d hope could look after you in the event… and a couple of ‘guru’ assessors whom you can pick and glean information from in the satisfaction that you are not paying them a pretty penny. So, the three assessment candidates led Emma, Bex, Ken and I in challenging winds, clustered and rafted crossing the lake from one island to
Descending darkness
Expecting to carry on into the descending darkness I think all were relieved to be told that due to the challenging conditions of the day a night navigation exercise would not be required and that all the candidates had completed day one satisfactorily. Relief ensued from all and we packed up boats and gear to return to the bunkhouse via food at the pub. Day two and we met at Chollerton on the Upper Tyne which is a big, wide river fed by Kielder water. Additional assessor Kim Bull and another mock student, Stuart had joined us and shuttles were run, kit was donned and the sun even made an appearance. Four of the mock students were to be led by one candidate at a time starting with Ben. After a sloping river wide weir just below our get-in, the first few kilometres were easy, wide grade 1-2 rapids with no particular challenges for us mock students or Robson Brooks. In fact Robson made easy work of the eddy hopping and ferries with its generous rocker giving easy, capable turns. After the candidates proved their
skills and judgement with some upstream travel we broke for lunch below a long wave train. More cheap white bread sandwiches were shovelled down and more flask tea and onto moving water rescues. This gave us mock students a chance to watch and relax whilst candidates Ben, Chris and Rick got wet rescuing themselves and each other. Time was pushing on as we returned to our canoes to complete the last section of the trip and the crux rapids in Wardens Gorge. The English white water guide suggests grade 3-4 through the gorge so this would create challenges for both assessment candidates and mock students alike. Due to the SSSI status we were unable to inspect the gorge from the banks. Each candidate was given two mock students each and off we went. As I started to descend into the gorge behind my leader and Stuart, I was surprised how large the holes where. My best description would be that there was a series of great playable holes and waves (for kayaks). Those that have paddled beyond grade 2-3 in canoe will know that your
lines need to be tight and accurate to avoid filling your canoe like an overflowing bucket, thereby rendering the craft virtually uncontrollable...capsize follows swiftly after. Robson did not let me down as we danced with the waves and stoppers teasing the edges as we found a line through.
Easy work of the rapids
Robson Brooks generous rocker and high freeboard made easy work of the rapids keeping me dry enough to negotiate the worst of the chop. I ran a right hand line skirting the boatsized cauldrons until a half enforced breakout into a V shaped, walled in eddy on the right. My leader was by now chasing Stuart, the mock student and his canoe around the corner, so I broke back in and followed. We retrieved Stuart, boat and paddle and continued to the egress at Hexham (the base for the Tyne Tour) What a climax to a great couple of days canoeing. So how did Robson Brooks stand up to the two days? I liked it. I liked the speed both on the flat and through the chop. The generous rocker means I can spin into and out of eddies with ease and the bow lifts over small waves with ease and remains dry when other canoes bury the bow and take on water. The deep gunwales can catch a blade as you switch to your offside on cross-deck strokes but I love that it keeps dry when running rapids. My previous Wenonah Prospector 15 was a smaller boat, similar characteristics but crucially a much wetter boat and remaining dry was challenging on steep white water. When I want to track a line
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on the flat bits I could heel Robson right on its edge, kneeling into the curve in the hull and it will be both directionally and laterally stable. As I’d dragged the Robson out of the van on day one, those that hadn’t seen the Brooks before were intrigued. The stealthy black looks, the unfamiliar Armerlite construction which looks very much like carbon fibre, the hull shape, all drew questions and admiring looks. The Brooks certainly stands out from the hum drum staple of green and red offerings. Its wood and web seats slung below vinyl gunwales and ash carry yoke perhaps the only universal canoe parts, otherwise Robson certainly looks different enough to be interesting. Pick Robson Brooks up and you’ll be surprised and relieved at the weight (around 27kg without kit), of course this one is the 15ft version so I am bound to compare it to similar sized canoes in its class, the Mad River Explorer 15 and the Novacraft and Wenonah Prospectors. If your thinking 15ft Royalex that does pretty much everything; flat, white water, sail, carry loads, tandem and solo, Robson Brooks should certainly be close to the top of your pretty-short list. On my two days up North and on previous outings I have grown fond of Robson and I’ve been impressed with its performance and solid durability, despite looking to some like a carbon fibre canoe. I now look forward to my next adventure with Robson as I make mental notes of Scottish multi-day trips on lochs and rivers. Surely Robson Brooks (15) is the canoe to take?
Specifications (15)
Length: Width: Bow height: Side height: Weight: Material: Capacity:
15' / 456 cm 34'' / 87 cm 21'' / 55 cm 15" / 38 cm 59 lbs / 27 Kgs Recyclable Armerlite 550 lbs / 250 Kgs
Many thanks to Jules Burnard of Voyageur Coaching and Whitewater Consultancy.
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Kayak Paddler 78
84 90
Choosing a fishing kayak By David Morris K Largo review By Darren Harrison
Chile – South America Avocados, volcanoes and so much fun whitewater… Chile has it all. By Seth Ashworth
102 Chile – South America Top tips for travelling through the water wonderland that is Chile. By Andrew Regan
114 Ohio – USA From burning river to paddling paradise: The evolution of the Cuyahoga River. By Dave Herpy
126 New York state – USA The spare seat expedition that ran from Niagara Falls to NYC in 2012. By Richard Harpham
136 Dagger Jitsu review By Phil Carr
142 Lake Como – Italy The small town of Bellagio is ideal for kayaking and SUP. By Barry and Olivia Ide
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ThePaddler 78
When I started fishing from a kayak 10 years ago, deciding on which kayak was reasonably easy. At that time there was less than a handful of sit-on-tops suitable for the job and even less were bespoke fishing kayaks.
In 2013 every kayak manufacturer has a fishing kayak in their range, I just had a quick count up of manufacturers and got to 27 brands which I’m aware of and I’m sure there are others, so where do you start.
CHOOSING
A FISHING
BYDavid Morris
KAYAK
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Firstly by answering a few easy questions…
What type of fishing do you do, bait, lure or fly fishing?
There are kayaks specifically aimed at lure and fly fishermen and there are those that are better suited to bait fishermen. If you fish with lures or flies you might want to consider going hands free with a Hobie or Native Watercraft kayak both with their own unique pedal propulsion systems. Or bait fishermen, a kayak with a centre console to store bait, rods, end tackle etc.
Where do you intend to fish, still waters, rivers/ estuaries or open sea? A 10ft kayak is less than ideal for the open sea as is a 16ft kayak on a small river. An ideal all-rounder length for both fresh and saltwater use would be in the 13ft range.
How tall are you, how much do you weigh and how strong are you?
If you are over six-foot then you will need to sit in a few kayaks to find one that fits your leg length, it’s surprising how many SOT’s have short cockpits. Being vertically challenged I’ve never had any problems in this area!
Weight
All kayaks come with a maximum carrying weight; this weight limit includes you and all your gear. Something to bear in mind, an overloaded kayak can become unstable. Equally if you are to light then you won’t get the best out of some kayaks. A few years ago I was lucky enough to have one of the first Ocean Kayak Prowler Trident 15’s in the UK, this was a big kayak with a carrying capacity of 550lbs, the kayak sat too high in the water when I first paddled it, so like a jockey I had to carry extra weight on board to increase the waterline and get the best out of the kayak.
How strong are you?
At the end of the day you are going to be tired, but there is still the kayak to load back onto the car roof rack, some kayaks are easy to load, others are almost impossible to load on your own, or without the aid of a lifting and loading aid. It’s not just the weight of the kayak that can be an issue, some kayaks come with solid side handles, these make lifting much easier than those with flexible handles, it’s also worth checking where the handles are positioned, amazingly some manufacturers still get the positioning wrong and the kayak is not balanced when lifted.
Finally storage, where are you going to keep the kayak?
I had a friend that had his kayak suspended from the ceiling of his dining room and another had his strapped to the stair rail in the hall, pointing upwards!
Do you want a polyethylene kayak, strong, durable, and relatively cheap, or composite, light, fast, easily repaired but slightly more expensive? So now you have the answers to the questions above. Get online, do a little research, join a forum such as AnglersAfloat.co.uk, see what other people are using in your area, or for your type of fishing. Don’t be afraid to ask a few questions, somebody will have asked the same question as you a million times before, but you’ll still get an answer. One thing to remember, everyone thinks their kayak is the best, well it might be for them, but not necessarily for you, so listen to a few other points of view, ultimately make up your own mind.
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If you have chosen
to buy a new kayak then find out what brands your local kayak shop sells, and ask for a deal if you are buying all your gear from the one source. Remember if you have a problem it’s far easier to deal face to face with a retailer.
I’d suggest you sit in a few kayaks, move around, adjust the seat and footrests is it comfortable. Imagine you are fishing and the kayak has the rod holders and fishfinder installed. Can you reach the finder to adjust settings? Sit side=saddle, many of us do at sea, is it comfortable, does the gunwale dig into the backs of your legs. Can you reach around to the tankwell and flush mounted rod holders? If the kayak has a hatch or rod pod, can you open it easily, does it rub on your legs. I would also move your arms about as if you were paddling just to see if there is anything along the sides of the kayak which might wrap your knuckles during the paddle stroke. All this sounds a bit mad, but I’ve done it many times, even now if a new kayak comes out and I see it at a show or in a shop, I give it a dry fish.
Check over the fixtures and fittings
Ask if the fittings are bolted/riveted through the skin or the nuts are blind fitted into the polyethylene so there is no chance of any leaks. Whilst mentioning leaks, all kayaks are subject to taking on a little water whilst at sea, usual culprits are hatches when not sealed correctly, or due to a flexing of the cockpit when loaded up. A couple of cup fulls are an inconvenience, more than that, have it checked out where you purchased. OK so you have a couple of kayaks on your list. Ask on the forum if anyone will let you have a paddle, come along to one of the meets or look out for a demo day, the store you hope to buy from may even have a demo fleet to try before you buy.
One you are happy all you have to decide on now is the colour.
David Morris has been fishing from a kayak for 10 years, and has fished, paddled and peddled from a multitude of kayaks over the years including most of the Ocean Kayak range, David is a member of the Hobie UK Fishing Team. Photos by kind permission of Hobie and Simon Everett
K Largo ThePaddler 84
RTM’s ultimate fishing kayak
I was asked byTerry Wright a few months ago to put a review together for the RTM K-Largo kayak. So far I have used the K-Largo on freshwater, such as Llangorse Lake and Rudyard Lake, in some very testing conditions.The K-Largo was designed by anglers, for anglers, and it shows. By Darren Harrison (http://coarsekayakfishing.proboards.com)
Let's start at the bow, which has a moulded carry handle. This is very useful as you can get a secure grip and there is also a recess for a compass. There is a large front tankwell with two scupper holes, the included bungs make it water tight. There are also two integrated rod holders included and caps. A handy 8" dry hatch
which has a dry-bag on the inside for stowing keys, money and alike whilst paddling. this is what RTM call a "front fishing water tight case with hatch". Inside the water tight case there is easily enough room to fit a summer tent and sleeping bag, or enough ice to keep your catch fresh all day.
Further down the deck there is a rod holder which is manufactured by RTM. The quality is as good as any I've seen or used. Pre-drilled holes on the deck make fitting it a doddle with the supplied stainless steel screws. The rod holder is conveniently positioned on the deck so it is out of the way whilst paddling; this also makes it ideal for
trolling or bait fishing. Furthermore you can see the peddles for the RTM rudder system.These are made out of very strong nylon and are adjustable for all sizes. The recessed area is great for tackle boxes (also supplied with the kayak).The recess measures 8.5" x 4.5" so could be used to store batteries for your electronics.
The Moulded-in ruler is ideally situated under the left leg. This is very useful for measuring your catch or tying rigs.
Located in between your legs is a black plastic tackle box, which is plenty big enough to keep days worth of fishing tackle or bait. It has a sealed lid and drainage holes in the bottom. The quality of the box is strong with good hinges and a bungee to secure it to the deck.
very sleek
Looking from the stern, this is a
looking kayak considering it is 30" wide
Further down we have the seat area, which I found comfortable even without an additional foam seat. There are plenty of places along the sides of the kayak to fix your favourite seat with eight
solid loop deck fittings. However, there are no scupper holes in the seat area, so could be a wet ride if you take on water. To the rear of the seat there are another two integrated rod holders.
Between the rod holders there is another 8" dry storage hatch with a dry bag.The recess area directly above is used to store the supplied tackle boxes. Next to this is the cord that lifts and drops
the rudder. Here you can see one of the two paddle keepers.There are also solid handles, which make lifting this kayak easier and are balanced as long as you don't have the dry hatch fitted at the bow.
The rear tank well is large enough to fit boxes, tents and all manner of kit for a weekends fishing. There are two scupper holes with bungs, which fit well to make the rear watertight.
Also included are bungees to keep all your kit stowed safely.There is another sturdy handle to the rear of the kayak.
The RTM rudder system is easy to use and set up. However, as the K-Largo tracks very well without it I didn't find the need to use it.
Looking from the stern, this is a very sleek looking kayak considering it is 30" wide.
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On the water, it is obvious that this kayak has been designed for both the newcomer and the experienced kayak angler. The K-Largo provides a stable platform with lots of additional extras to fish from. Even though there is lots of legroom and excellent stability it is still easy to manoeuvre due to RTM's hull design. As the kayak is 13ft 7" long it paddles straight and cuts through the water with ease. The carrying capacity of this kayak is at 200kg, so can accommodate any person wanting to go kayak fishing, fresh or salt water. The anchor system, which is supplied with the kayak, seems better suited to the freshwater kayak angler. I would not hesitate in buying this kayak as it has excellent build quality and offers great value for money with all the added extras. Despite the kayak weighing 30kg, I did not struggle with loading it onto the roof of my car due to the sturdy well-positioned handles. The main importer of RTM kayaks in the UK is Total Options www.totaloption.com, who gave me the opportunity to test this top quality kayak. One of their stockists is www.kayakfishingshack.co.uk on Hornsea seafront, run by Alex and Mich Symmons who are very friendly and knowledgeable on all aspects of kayak fishing. If you are in the market for a new fishing kayak, I would personally take the opportunity to have a look at the great range of kayaks that RTM offer.
Specifications
Length: 13’6” / 415cm Width: 30 ½” / 78cm Weight” 55 lbs / 25kg Capacity: 400 lbs / 180kg
Manufactured In Europe
Sit-on-Top Kayaks Angling Kayaks Stand Up Paddleboards
Kayaks from ÂŁ325 SUPs from ÂŁ599
Dealerships available in certain areas around the UK Trade Suppliers fast delivery sales@totaloption.com 01543 411 333 See the review of the RTM Abaco in the April issue of ThePaddler and watch for the K-Largo in the June issue.
The Conoflex Jedi Series of boat rods are all suitable for kayak fishing
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If you missed‌
Testing, testing
The fatyak Kaafu from issue 4
Then see the online magazine at http://issuu.com/thepaddler/docs/thepaddler_4
ThePaddler.co.uk
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Avocados, volcano so much fun whitew
By Seth Ashworth
Choppy Chile Part 2
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oes and water…
Chile
Flag illustrations by Garyck Arntzen
has it all!
The ferry from Puerto Monte to Chaiten takes 11-12 hours. It is one of only two easy ways to get into Patagonia and onto the Rio Futaleufu. Our Ferry was a night ferry, and with the help of a few hands of UNO and a little rum and coke I slept soundly for most of the trip. Waking up with just an hour to go. When we arrived in Chaiten I was unsure what to expect. We had heard the town had been affected by ash from a nearby Volcano two years previously and that there was not much there. Driving off the boat a heavy white cloud stood over the town. We drove round parts, which seemed to be the heart – a school, supermarket, and restaurants. But just a few blocks away it was like something out of a zombie movie. Devastated buildings filled with ash, barely standing. Through the heart of it all a new paved road to the next big town. It only takes us 30-minutes of driving to get out of the mist, which stood, over Chaiten. The view that greeted us was mind blowing. Green grass, tall trees, mountains and volcanoes, which made the ones around Pucon, seem tiny and pathetic. But also so much dead vegetation, crippled and dead trees all the while on this perfect paved road. The paving didn’t last forever and we eventually slowed onto a dirt road on route to our destination, Futaleufu. Arriving at our campsite we get settled in, organize fresh bread for the morning and hit the river for the first time in what feels like forever. The weather is finally hot but this only seemed to make the dust road to the put in of our warm up section ‘Bridge to Campsite’ feel much dustier. The Rio Futaleufu itself was a fantastic shade of blue, the stuff that big volume dreams are made of. We all take turns figuring out the way down and trying desperately to adjust to the different style of paddling than what we had experienced in the north of the country. Marco is suffering from some kind of illness and has spent most of the day feeling bad, he elects to sleep this one off and take a break from kayaking, for today at least.
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The Terminator, Inferno Canyon, Zeta and Throne Room
Futa day two is hot again and we have a fairly solid plan in place. Gradually building up to a Todo Futa day later in the week. After a quick stop in the picturesque town of Futaleufu we hit the bridge to end section and luckily we even manage to pick up a hitch hiking local kayaker on the way there who volunteers to drive our shuttle. The section deals out some carnage to Marco who takes an unlucky swim as he adapts to the different style of river.
The section is longer and has a couple of noticeably bigger rapids but we take it slow, scouting and working our way down through fantastic waves and chunky holes.
Day three is a slower start and the plan is to head up to the Terminator section and finish at the camp. Some of the crew are suffering from tiredness and decide to sit this one out leaving just me and Wookie Joe to head up to the put on and ‘Get her done’. Taking it slow again we opt for the sneak line on the Terminator. One of the biggest rapids I have ever seen, the river is so wide the line looks confusing even from the bank. Right after the sneak we tackle another set of sweet rapids, slightly bigger than the previous day and just as fun.
The morning of day four, there is a palpable tension in the air as we eat breakfast and drink tea. Marco has already decided not to do the whole but to meet us at the Terminator section put in. At the put in, Wee Joe decides he doesn’t really fancy committing to Inferno Canyon either, so we hatch a quick plan for the two of them to run the Rio Azul and meet us at the river confluence. We float off on the easy flat paddle to the start of Inferno Canyon. We are all excited and nervous. Wookie Joe has told us the story of how he swam here a year ago and it sits in the back of our minds as we paddle on.
The entrance to Inferno Canyon is tall and ominous, the river constricts into a tall gorge and the grey day only adds to the tension. We scout and dispatch the first rapid pretty quickly, then rally down the second without a problem. The third takes a little more scouting and a lot more climbing to see the rapid. Back to our boats and we all take down the rapid, which caught Joe out last year without a hitch. The last rapid is fairly straightforward and we make our way out of the canyon on an adrenaline high through the next
flat section before the next big rapid named Zeta. Zeta is really big and we all elect to portage and head on down the flat section to the next big rapid, Throne Room. Throne Room is big and takes us a while to scout but I decide to fire it up first. I paddle my line perfectly but it still feels like being a tiny boat in a big stormy sea. As I crash through waves and avoid the big hole I am buzzing and excited to see Pundy go next. As I wait with the camera he seems to take a long time, we later learn that Pundy had hiked through the bamboo jungle back past his boat and had to swim downstream to get back to it. Anyway Pundy styles the line as well and Wookie Joe has elected to walk. We all rally at the end and grab a quick cookie break before heading through even more flat water to meet with Wee Joe and Marco.
One of the biggest rap
I have ever seen, the rive looks confusing
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When we meet them it seems they have had a bit of an epic and Marco has taken a couple of swims on the Azul. But they have had a rest and decide it will be fine to continue. At Terminator we take the sneak line again but Marco decides to try and portage altogether. I knew this was a bad idea but was too tired to argue. An hour later and after a lot of climbing back through the forest we eventually find Marco and can continue onwards. One more swim on these rapids from Wee Joe and we eventually make it back to camp. Tired, hungry and so happy. The Rio Michamueda is between Chaiten and Futaleufu. It is a remote steep creek run, which sees the river bending far away from the road, and away from human existence entirely. Since we had to drive past it to get the ferry back to the
north of the country it seemed rude not to go check it out. Camping at the put in we got an idea of how remote the run was. There was only one viable place to put on the river and then it bent away from the road immediately into the first gorge. With Marco and Wee Joe deciding to drive the shuttle, Pundy, Wookie Joe and myself loaded up with split paddles, rescue gear and some biscuits and headed out for another long day of paddling. The river was long and alpine in style going through numerous steep, technical class 5 and class 4 gorges. All the while surrounded by huge valleys, which showed not a single sign of human life. No distant farms, no roads, just three kayakers in the wilderness. Hiking out here is not really an option. Five and a half hours
later, of which four was on pretty continuous quality whitewater we made it back to the truck at the take out bridge, where the river finally bends back. This left us just enough time to head to catch our ferry at 6am the next day. The whole crew shared high levels of winning. Our next stop was scheduled to be the Rio Petrohue, which the guide book had lead us to believe was a fun class 4 with a clean 30ft drop at the end. It did mention that park rangers were not super keen with people running the drop but we decided to risk it. Needless to say upon arrival at the waterfall after some ok paddling, the park rangers instantly shut us down and kicked us off the river before we could run it. But they did kindly drive our shuttle for us so maybe it’s not so bad.
Not too downtrodden we headed to our next destination the Rio Golgol. Sunny weather and high water levels greeted us, but we were confident in a good day paddling the following day. We headed to the put in drop called Los Novios in the morning. I fired the fun 10ft boof first but a momentary lapse in concentration saw me get pinned to a tree on the easy grade 2 run out. Wookie Joe came hastily to the rescue to pull me off. However, this was less than ideal and caused me to flip under the tree and through my paddles, which got wedged between me and the tree. Luckily it all came good and I didn’t swim or get hurt. Pundy went next, styled the drop and avoided the tree. Although I was keen to get my spare paddle and carry on not every one else was so the group decision was to walk away.
This river is definitely one I will be back for in the future.
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“The world is charged with the grandeur of God…” – Gerard Manley Hopkins
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So down to my last set of paddles we headed to the Rio Fuy. This had, in spite of the carnage, been one of my favourite rivers on the way down south. This time water levels were lower but it was much sunnier so we took it slow and enjoyed taking a few pictures along the way. The problem with that was that walking back to do multiple runs for photos plants ideas in your head, like do a freewheel. Said freewheel on one the smaller drops lead to me breaking my other paddle – great! I paddled with the longer half all the way to the first waterfall where it is possible to hike out. But not before setting up the camera and trying to snap a few synchronized kayaking shots. Marco even lent me his paddle so I could have a go and although I didn’t get exactly the shot I was looking for we did snap some cool ones. Now the plan was to A new set of paddles in many paddling destinations can be tricky. rally back to Pucon and buy a new set But luckily for me Pucon is host to a range of different places to of paddles. get new paddles. I managed to snag a set of Werner Powerhouse fibreglass straights from Lakes, Rivers and Oceans.
Back in Pucon – final installment of the Avocado crew in Chile…
Pucon is also a meeting ground for groups of paddlers, so we managed to hook up with a crew of Austrians and one American that we met at the hostel we were staying in and head back down to the Rio Fuy. This is easily one of my favourite runs in Chile and the more we run it the more new lines we begin to explore and new things we try to do. This time down the river someone had suggested a back freewheel off the first 25-foot drop. After some intense scouting Todd Wells and I elected to give one a shot.
Both of us threw down pretty well, my one went fairly over vertical but bounced out nicely with a soft landing at the bottom. With just a couple of days of rental left with the truck we decided to hit up a few rives that still had water around Pucon. First up the Upper Trancura and then we headed off with our camping supplies up to the Upper Palguin where we spent our final days together doing laps and boater-X racing. After returning the truck we had a couple of chill evenings together in Pucon, hanging out, playing mini golf, sampling local beer and exploring the town. Honestly I still get lost. After the Avocado crew split I had a couple of days with the Austrian crew, Lukas and Cristoph Strobl, and Matty from Wales. We followed the water south, and then the rain started. After walking away form Salto de Nilahue because it was way to high I headed back to Pucon, in search of a new crew to chase down the rivers which had come back in with all the rain I went to the only good place to find other kayakers in Pucon, Pucon Kayak Hostel.
On the road again in Chile
The heavy rain had been set in for a day or so already and showed no signs of stopping. This was great news for the local runs, which had been very low since my arrival in October. The following day I managed to hitch a ride with the Whitewater Grand Prix crew up to the Rio Puesco where there was a race scheduled the next day. The 30-person crew had split into smaller groups and I headed off first with a strong crew. Since I was one of the only ones in our group that had paddled the river I lead the way. It didn’t take long to find the level a bit higher than previous runs and considerably pushier. We made it off the river with Canadian Ben Marr as the only swimmer from our group. Heavy rain continued to fall all the way home, all night and showed no signs of letting up. A few days later I rallied together a crew to hire a truck and head south to the Rio GolGol. This river was an itch I had wanted to scratch since walking away from it three weeks previous. Our crew of two new American friends, Zach Shucster, Jorden Poffenburg and fellow Ottawa Kayak School coach Kalob Grady wanted to paddle as much as possible on the way down there. So our first stop was a couple of speed laps on the Rio Fuy. A night of camping then a short drive and we found ourselves at the park and huck, Salto de Nilahue. The water was higher than when I had paddled this 60ft waterfall previously. This led to me
crashing out pretty hard. I was too far right at the lead in, came down the ramp part of the drop almost sideways. Reconnected with a rock half way down which spun me backwards. All I could do was throw my paddle, tuck up tight and hold on to what I was expecting to be a fairly hard impact. When reality came it was like falling backwards into a marshmallow. I rolled up, retrieved my paddle and set safety for the others who learnt from my mistake and made the lines stylishly. Arriving that evening at the Rio GolGol we were excited and hungry. We drove to the put in to find water levels slightly higher than when I had been here previously. We decided to take it slow and continue and by the end I was completely in love with the river. It has a great mixture of fun rapids and technical drops with high consequence, big undercuts, caves and a few trees chucked in for good measure. However, even at high water the run was very manageable. All drops were portageable. Once our mission was complete we packed up and headed back to Pucon.
Palguin race and Christmas in Chile
The weekend before Christmas 2012 was host to the annual Palguin Race. A boater-X event, which pits contenders against one another four at a time. After spending almost a week camped up at the Palguin take-out doing laps every day I felt pretty fired up for the event. However an unfortunate and long swim the day before on a high water Rio Nevados had left me tired and sore. I was still excited to race but I knew the only way I would progress from my heat to the final would be by getting ahead early. I could feel that I did not have the energy to race pass multiple other paddlers. I had WWGP 18th finisher Daniel Rondon (Peru) in my heat. At the start ramp I was a bit late and got put in the far left spot. This was definitely not the most ideal starting position as it had the longest distance to get onto the fastest line down the right of the first rapid. As the flag dropped I was speeding down the ramp, which lacked a kicker at the bottom. I did my best to crunch up and keep my bow above water. Taking my first few strokes as hard as I could I could feel myself pulling away from the pack. Coming into the first rapid I was alone and ahead giving me time to focus on each stroke.
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Photos: Katie Kowalski, Mary Katherine Fields, David Huges, Zoe and myself.
In the first part
▲
of the double drop I took my boof a little too early and stopped suddenly between the drops. Paddling frantically to try and regain speed I knew the others were gaining fast. As I reached forward to take my third stroke I saw Daniel landing just to my left, we tussled for position coming into the second part of the drop but Daniel managed to come out slightly ahead. All I could do was keep paddling and hope I could catch him out on a mistake. Sadly that mistake never came and that was me out of the race. I spent the rest of the day filming a quick video and enjoying the six-pack of beer, which is included with the entry fee.
Christmas eve took my crew and our sweet rental truck to the Upper Palguin. After days of rain we were not surprised to see how high it was at the put in. The run was fun and fast with no rocks, the drops were pushier than normal and everyone took their fair share of beat down. When we came to the normally relaxed ‘Weir Hole’ rapid, the hole, which is normally flushy, dished me out a large beat down. I probably surfed/survived for around 20 seconds before being flushed out. Since I was going first I knew I should set safety for the others. As I was clambering out with my throwbag I saw Americans Carson Lindsey and Ike Holden breeze through the hole without an issue. Canadians Katie Kowalski and Kalob Grady followed them. Katie paddled in and her boat exploded back upstream and into the hole. Kalob narrowly avoids her and manages to paddle through. I throw Katie a rope, which she grabs but the rock I am on is slippery and I have nowhere to step to down stream to pull her out. She is still holding onto the rope in her boat but is taking a beating. Finally she pulls her spraydeck and I manage to swing her to the side. It takes us a while to recover her boat and paddle but we finally get to the take out, tired and happy.
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Christmas day itself was a fun and rainy day and after shooting photos of Carson, Ike and Kalob on the Middle Palguin 70 footer, we headed back to the Pucon Kayak Hostel. Where I worked hard to cook a Chilean Asado (Meat BBQ) for our crew and some of our friends. Cooking a feast for 10 people was pretty rewarding!
Then, it was time for home!
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COME ON IN!
Andrew Regan’s top tips for travelling through the water wonderland that is Chile As soon as fellow Palm paddler James Edward Smith suggested Chile to a group of us online back in October, I was determined to do anything I could to get there. One by one people dropped out of the trip for various reasons but James and I were determined to make it happen. I was so determined in fact I sold both of my kayaks and lots of other personal effects!
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Research
We spent a tedious amount of time researching many different airlines and baggage policies to find the cheapest option. The majority of airlines had a restriction on kayaks or charged $150USD each way to bring them. This cost seemed high and unnecessary. Nevertheless I rang up James one evening with the flight codes to the cheapest flights I could find with American Airlines and we booked them. With very little thought put into it, we were committed.
For kayaks we explored other options including rental from local dealers in Pucon, which also proved expensive at 10,000 Pesos or 16 euros a day. Luckily we both knew people who were in Chile at the time and contacted them with regards buying their boats off them second hand. This worked out great, they were keen to avoid the hassle and charges associated with flying boats and we both worked out good deals. Sorted! Now all we had to do was to find somebody to buy our boats before we went home, but sure that was a long-term problem!
Tip: To save your self a lot of money on baggage cable tie and duct tape your paddle bag to your normal bag, I did this on both legs and nothing was said!
As the trip grew closer we began to do some real research with the primary goal of our research being how to survive on as little money as possible while we were there! This research proved difficult however, as we couldn’t find any written pieces by dirt-bag kayakers on how to live cheap! There you have it, the idea behind my writing!
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Top 10 tips
1 First things first, Chile is the most developed country in South America with the highest standards of living. It is a first world country and therefore expects first world prices for a lot of things especially around the capital Santiago.
2 Essentially nobody speaks any English whatsoever, however, I found Chileans to be very welcoming and helpful despite having no idea what they were saying!
3 Buy a phrasebook and learn some basic Spanish before you go, especially numbers, it will make your life a hell of a lot easier!
4 Everything and anything touristy will be expensive, it would probably be a great experience to climb a Volcano or visit the hot springs but our financial situation didn’t allow it.
5 Luckily however, beer and wine is a lot cheaper then at home especially if you are buying from a supermarket.You can get two litres of delicious Chilean wine for 2 euros; I suggest Gato or Santa Helena! Oh and definitely get some Pisco. Pisco to Chileans is what vodka is to Russians!
6 Spend a night or two in Santiago, it’s a cracking night out. Go to the Bellavista area and party the night away, the clubs usually start to get going at 2am!
7 Food is also marginally cheaper but not much cheaper. On the road we lived on eggs for breakfast, ham and cheese sandwiches for lunch and vegetable and sausage stir-fry for dinner. It got repetitive but between four of us we saved plenty of money!
8 Empanadas are great for on the road snacks, pretty cheap and you can get them everywhere! They are a pastry with some fillings, for instance the Napotina has ham cheese and tomato inside and tastes exactly like pizza! 9 Petrol again is cheaper then home at around 1.31 cents a litre but it gets more expensive as you go south on account of it being harder to transport.
10 Boating season lasts from November to April in different places as the country is over 4,000km long and experiences different climates. In November, high water steep creeking is in; you can generally start boating from just outside Santiago in the Maipo Valley and catch all the water down to Pucon. Expect high levels especially if melt water is complimented by rainfall! Levels gradually decrease around Pucon during December with many people deeming this month to be optimum for the area. We arrived in early January and caught the end of the Pucon season and worked south towards the Futaleufu from there. Levels tend to be low by March.
The Toyota Hilux
steep creeking is in; In November, high water
you can generally start boating from just outside Santiago in the Maipo Valley and catch all the water down to Pucon
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We stayed in Pucon for around a week before leaving basing ourselves at the Pucon Kayak Hostel. It is easy living there with great cooking and showering facilities. We camped at a cost of 6.50 euros a night (4,000CLP). Be warned though the area is often referred to as a siphon as it tends to trap boaters there, if you are going to Chile you need to travel to get the best experience.You can get shuttles from the hostel to rivers at various prices depending on the length of trip but if you plan on staying for more then a couple of weeks in Chile, then car rental is the way to go.
• On our last days in Pucon we met with Hugh, Finn and Adam from the UK who sold us some very useful items on the cheap to travel south to Patagonia with. This included a small gas cooker; a few tarps, pots pans and cutlery as well as a petrol can, which proved essential, as fuel is scarce in the Futaleufu region! Thanks lads!
• Unfortunately within the first few days of our trip we needed a hospital trip, with James sustaining a back injury. The closest real hospital to Pucon is in Temuco just over an hour away. If you need to make a trip here make sure you bring identification, insurance details and cash. The language barrier is difficult to breach even in a hospital.
• To best experience Chile you need a vehicle, full stop. You can buy a vehicle but that seemed to be quite a lot of hassle as you need to go through lawyers and have to get previous car owners permission documents and so on. It seems to be worth it if you are there for a very long trip but we only needed a car for 25 days. We heard of people hiring cars in Santiago for quite
Photo by Guy Genge
Pucon
expensive prices but we managed to get a great deal on a Toyota Hilux from the shop Sierra Nevada in Pucon. She was old and had been used by paddlers on many occasions before but she did the job despite having a leaky fuel tank and a dodgy battery! Lucky for us we found two other wasters from the Czech Republic called Martin and Jann who were in the same predicament as us and wanted to travel, they are great guys! So there was five of us for the first week in the Hilux and then four of us for the remainder and it cost us 28,000 CLP a day altogether. This worked out as being around 250 euros each for the 25 days, a great deal!
• Once we hit the road south things became a whole lot simpler, lots of driving, some great paddling on rivers like the Fuy and Petrohue and living like homeless people. We slept wherever, bus stops, viewing platforms, beaches. We never had any issues, the police even pulled up once and just told us to make sure our cooking fire gets put out, happy days! Make sure to buy a decent map for your journey!
• Temperature wise when we were there it was either very hot or slightly cold and it definitely got colder as we moved south. It didn’t rain for the first four weeks we were there but we got pretty heavy rain in our last week. Definitely bring a change of warm clothes and a decent sleeping bag!
• A top tip is to bring a fishing rod if you own one! The rivers there seem to be teeming with fish, especially the Futaleufu River; we saved a lot of money and ate some delicious meals this way.
Futaleufu River
Go to the Futaleufu, it is a river scheduled to be dammed by the Chilean government and it is an absolutely incredible place! We stayed at Camp Del Indio near the bottom of the river, which costs about 4.50 euros a night, it has a great cooking area and even free wireless internet! Expect to live with pigs, cows, horses, chickens, turkeys, dogs, cats and ducks – it’s a farm! The river is high in December and is prime from mid-January until the end of February. We spent 10 days there but we could of spent much longer!
We discovered that there are a few options to get to the Futa and simply driving south through Chile isn’t one of them.You either need a ferry or need to cross the border into Argentina. You need to pay a fee to get your car permitted into Argentina, which we decided to save money on, but it could definitely be worth it if you plan to paddle some rivers there like the Manslow! Next time!
Bring a fishing rod!
Small, shorter ferries are the cheapest option by a good bit! You get three ferries starting in La Arena and the big ferry leaves from Hornopiren which suits perfectly as there are two great rivers just outside town, the big volume Rio Blanco and the steep creek Rio Negro. Also be sure to have a night out there and go to the nightclub Tsunami, mental craic!
The first 20-minute ferry only costs 7 euro between everyone and the four hour one costs 72 euro (45,000clp) or 18 euro each, well it was for four of us in a pickup truck! After another two-hour drive on gravel roads you reach Chaiten your last petrol station.You need to fill up fully here and get some stuff to feed you in the shop. The campsite is three hours on gravel roads from here and its another hour to Futaleufu town where there is no official petrol station but it is possible to get some expensive fuel.
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Futa River
When we first arrived the Futa River was low but still very big volume, then overnight the river rose about a foot and a half and the rapids changed quite a bit! Generally speaking the river has more sticky holes but less consequence on low water. It has quite a few great sections and you can run all 44km or so in one day! Here’s a quick guide of what to expect!
Inferno Canyon
A 15-minute paddle with a couple of small rapids here and there from the put in. It is marked by big black walls and is a little intimidating as you realize how inaccessible the place is. It was quite manageable and fun on the levels we got but a swim in there wouldn’t be a great idea and there are definitely some big holes to avoid! The first and last rapids are the biggest in what is quite a short section, which takes about 15 minutes.
Zeta
From here there is about an hour and a half of flat water until you reach the next rapid, Zeta. It’s the one rapid on the river I walked, there is definitely a manageable line but there are also quite a lot of nasty pockets and undercuts. Risk outweighed reward for me but worth a scout. After some more flat the next up is Throne, this is a huge rapid where the line changes with the level, scout on the right!
Terminator
There are some filler rapids and some more flat before the Terminator section. Terminator rapid itself is a minefield of holes but even on the centre line the horrible looking terminator hole is easily avoided. Once past that hole everything flushes although there is a sneaky big hole at the end as I discovered first hand! There is a fun, full on creek line on the left on low water as well. Scouted from the left! Son of Terminator Rapid is next followed by Himalayas, which give some of the biggest breaking waves on the river, amazing fun!
Bridge to bridge
The most accessible and best section on the river, expect around 40 minutes of continuous rapids, features a ton of fun moves and massive wave trains, yeeehaw!
Below the take out bridge you will find a huge rapid, very long with huge waves, it’s pretty difficult to scout! Point straight and shoot and try to stay upright! There is one last rapid, which on the level we had it was quite manageable as we skirted it right but I can imagine consequences would increase with high flows, pretty technical but a great run! Expect a whole run from the top to take several hours so start early!
Relatively cheap ferries.
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with your technique You really have to be religious
on any drops over two metres as a back injury could really mess up your trip!
Safety
Being safe on the water over there isn’t too difficult, but here are some tips from my experiences.
• Generally speaking the water is glacial and very cold and the weather is quite hot. I suggest wearing a cag at all times but a drysuit can be unbearable in the heat. I feel I found the perfect combo with a Fuse cag from Palm and neoprene shorts!
• Bring good split paddles in the back of your boat at all times. If you get stranded with a broken set of blades a walk out on certain rivers could take several hours.
• Wood in the water is a much bigger issue over there then it is at home, make sure to scout if in any doubt. Rapids, which are often clean in high water, can become more dangerous in low water as log jams are exposed.
• A few times on the trip I got a kick up the ass on waterfalls. You really have to be religious with your technique on any drops over two metres as a back injury could really mess up your trip! Landing sitting upright off a drop is really a cardinal sin; make sure you are crunching forward when landing those boofs!
• Having somebody who knows the river you are on is always an asset but in Chile it saves so much time on scouting and faffing, we were lucky enough to paddle with guys and girls like Guy, Lowri, Finn, Hugh, Adam, Tema, Kalob, Jakub and some Austrian guys who knew the lines, thanks guys!
• Don’t rely the Whitewater Chile guidebook in any way, while some parts of it are useful, on the most part it is outdated and the quality of information is not great.
• http://riversofchile.com/ this website provides a much better guide for rivers.
So that is pretty much all I can think to write about for now and in case you are wondering we managed to offload our boats to Ben May at Kayak Chile before we left, a really nice guy! He has our boats for sale in his shop right now for a small commission and it worked out to be a perfect solution for us!
Sorry for keeping you so long but if you are planning a trip there I hope this comes in handy! Amazing place, amazing boating!
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From burning river to paddling paradise: On June 22, 1969 the Cuyahoga River caught fire when molten steel spilled into the river as a freight train crossed over a bridge near its mouth in Cleveland.The Cuyahoga River was one of the most polluted rivers in the entire United States.
Cuyahoga River
The evolution of the
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ThePaddler 116 This event caught the attention of Time magazine, which stated the Cuyahoga as the river that “oozes rather than flows.” The Cuyahoga River gained national attention as the ‘river that caught fire’ and was the centre of many songs and even has a beer named after it, ‘Burning River Pale Ale,’ brewed by the Great Lakes Brewing Company in Cleveland. BY DAVID HERPY
This event helped to
launch the environmental movement of the late 1960s and helped establish the Clean Water Act, Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, and the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as well as the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA).
Today, over 40 years later, the water quality has improved tremendously due to environmental regulations, as well as the removal of a couple dams, providing a plethora of outdoor recreational opportunities, including
g literally every type of paddling along its 100.1 mile journey from its headwaters in Geauga County to its mouth at Lake Erie in Cleveland. In fact, there is now discussion among many agencies and organizations about developing the Cuyahoga River as a designated water trail in the state of Ohio. The unique aspect of the Cuyahoga River is that within a one hour drive paddlers can enjoy a scenic float through the Upper Cuyahoga state scenic section, a recreational paddle through suburban areas of the middle section, a class V whitewater drop through the Gorge section, a recreational trip through one of the top ten most visited national parks in the U.S., or some of the best sea kayaking in Ohio around the mouth of the river within Cleveland Harbour. It is for these reasons that the Cuyahoga River is not only regionally and nationally worthy of exploring, a In addition to providing exceptional paddling opportunities, there are also operations that offer rental services and trips along this waterway, so paddlers don’t even need to have their own equipment. Camp Hi Canoe Livery, which services the Upper Cuyahoga state scenic section, is a family owned and operated livery that has been in business for almost 50 years. Kent State University’s Crooked River Adventures, which services the middle section, is a student run
operation that offers paddling trips, bike and inner tube rentals, and paddling instruction. 41° North, which is one of the top sea kayaking schools in the Great Lakes region, offers ‘Cleveland Rocks’ guided sunset tours of the Cleveland Harbour. The name Cuyahoga is a blend of several indigenous names. The combination is usually translated to mean ‘crooked river’ and looks like a giant jawbone on a map of Northeast Ohio. The river officially begins in Burton, Ohio by flowing south, then sharply turns north in Cuyahoga Falls where it makes its way through the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and eventually into Lake Erie in Cleveland. The river is divided into three main sections: the upper, middle, and lower. The upper section begins at its headwaters and ends at Lake Rockwell on the north side of Kent, which supplies drinking water to Akron’s residents. The middle section begins below the Lake Rockwell dam and ends at the Ohio Edison dam in Cuyahoga Falls. The lower section begins below the Ohio Edison dam and ends at its mouth in Lake Erie.
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The Upper Cuyahoga
was designated a state scenic river on June 26, 1974 and includes 25 miles of designation. The glaciers between 9,000 and 11,000 years ago formed the entire watershed. The area is abundant with wetlands, many of them retained to enhance water quality. This glacier-shaped watershed provides plenty of ground water, even during the dryer summer months, so river levels are always good for paddling, regardless of precipitation. Around the turn of the 20th century, a channel was constructed to try improving the drainage of the wetlands, but proved unsuccessful due to the low gradient of the river. However, it is partially due to this channel project that the river remains narrow and straight above the Hiram Rapids, which has made the river a wilderness with hardly any development along its shoreline, offering an incredibly scenic paddle. The wetland that was created provides plentiful wildlife, wildflowers, and plants, including willow, sycamore, elm, and button bush.
The Middle Section
It is a very scenic
of the Cuyahoga River begins below the Lake Rockwell Dam on section of river offering a variety of the north side of Kent and continues to the Ohio Edison dam in Cuyahoga Falls. The river level through this section varies, as dam wildlife, with many parks and public releases at Lake Rockwell affect river levels downriver. Although lands that create this natural this section of river is in a suburban area, it is a very scenic section of river offering a variety of wildlife, with many parks and public riparian area. lands that create this natural riparian area. The river classification varies from gentle class I to class II+ on the whitewater section in downtown Kent during spring flows. With the portage hike, bike trail, summit bike and hike trail running along the river; this section makes for an ideal paddle/pedal destination. Two dams, one in the City of Kent and the other in the City of Munroe Falls, once restricted this section of river. However, due to environmental concerns, the dam in Kent was modified in 2004 and the dam in Munroe Falls at Brust Park was removed in 2005. The removal of these two dams has not only improved the water quality in this section of river, but has also enhanced and increased the recreational opportunities on the river, specifically paddling. In addition, since 2007 there has been discussion about developing a whitewater park in downtown Kent, making modifications to the river and creating a ‘park and play’ area for whitewater paddlers. An initial assessment was conducted by Recreation, Engineering, and Planning (REP) out of Boulder, Colorado in 2007 and presented to the community in 2008. The proposed cost for the complete project was $292,000, which the city of Kent lacked the funding for. However, Kent Parks and Recreation applied for and received a $250,000 cooperative boating facility grant through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Division of Watercraft, to develop Riverbend Park across SR-43 from Kent Roosevelt High School on the north side of town and includes a canoe/kayak launch ramp and small pervious parking lot for vehicles. In addition, the grant provided improved access to the Cuyahoga River below the Main Street Bridge in downtown Kent, as well as improvements to the Franklin Mills Riveredge Park to provide better access for paddlers and anglers.
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The ‘Sheraton’ section
of the Cuyahoga River in Cuyahoga Falls, named for the adjacent Sheraton Suites, which cantilevers over the river, is rated as a class V section, with a steep gradient of 75 feet per mile and sheer banks. This section is also known as the Upper Gorge and features three distinct drops, including Rookie Drop, Welcome to the Jumble, and The Jumble. This section is for experienced whitewater paddlers only and paddlers should use extreme caution when paddling this section. After years and years of discussion and studying, the two dams in this section, the Sheraton Dam and LeFever Dam will be demolished in June and July of 2013, respectively. The Sheraton section and upstream portions of the Cuyahoga River will be closed during their demolition. Once these two dams are removed and the river has reclaimed its original course, the potential for another mile of Class III-IV whitewater will be opened up to paddlers. For more information about the Sheraton section or any of the whitewater sections of river, check out American Whitewater’s website: http://www.americanwhitewater.org Below the Sheraton section lays the 57-foot Ohio Edison Dam and its mile long dam pool within Gorge Metropark. Now obsolete, this dam has also been the centre of attention and controversy for the past several years. However, this dam is being studied for removal, although it will be many years before the demolition of this dam once again allows the falls for which the City of Cuyahoga Falls is named after to be seen for the first time in almost 100 years. In the meantime, the dam pool creates a unique flat water paddle that is bounded by 100 foot sheer cliffs on each side making one forget they are in Ohio. A paddle in this dam pool not only allows one to enjoy the beauty of this gorge but also observe portions of the historic four mile Chuckery Race designed to convey water to the proposed Summit City in 1844.
This section is for experienced whitewater paddlers only and paddlers should use
extreme caution
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Lower Gorge
The section below the Ohio Edison Dam is known as the Lower Gorge, which is rated as a class III-IV section of river, as it makes its way downriver through Cascade Valley Metropark. The Lower Gorge offers whitewater paddlers the option of running the 15 foot falls below the Ohio Edison dam and the remainder of this river section is characterized by shale ledges and slides as the river makes its characteristic turn north. Once the river makes its way through the Cascade Valley Metropark and joins the Little Cuyahoga, the river heads north through the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, which is one of the top ten most visited national parks in the United States.
A special thanks goes to David Hill, a Cuyahoga Falls resident, American Whitewater and Keelhauler member, as well as Elaine Marsh, Conservation Director for Friends of the Crooked River, for their assistance with this article and for providing photos to supplement this article, as well as their influential stewardship of the Cuyahoga River.
Although the National Park Service does not currently promote paddling through the Cuyahoga Valley National Park due to the variable water quality of the river throughout the park, especially after heavy rains, that is changing. The new trail plan for the park includes a designated water trail with formal put ins and take outs for paddlers to enjoy a trip through one of the top ten most visited national parks in the U.S. There are two dams located within the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, near the Lock 29 Trailhead in Peninsula and below S.R. 82, but both dams can be portaged around over a short distance. Although there are no canoe liveries that service this section of the river, the CVNP offers incredibly scenic paddling throughout the park and paddling increases almost exponentially each year.
Cleveland Harbour
A break wall protects Cleveland Harbour, where the Cuyahoga River flows into Lake Erie at its mouth. There are many points of interest around the harbour, including Burke Lakefront Airport, Cleveland Browns Stadium, Great Lakes Science Centre, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as well as the West Pierhead Lighthouse. The harbour also lies within Cleveland Lakefront State Park, which includes Edgewater Park, East 55th Street Marina, Gordon Park, Euclid Beach, Villa Angela, and Wildwood. Other parks include Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve and Wendy Park on Whiskey Island. A sea kayaking trip around Cleveland Harbour provides scenic sightseeing and a look at the Cuyahoga River where it ends its 100.1 mile journey and helped establish environmental protection, as we know it today.
As the Cuyahoga River makes its way from the Cuyahoga Valley National Park to its mouth at Lake Erie in Cleveland, it passes through some landfills and major industrial areas, including the flats of Cleveland. The river also passes through RiverGate Park, once a privately owned property, but recently acquired by Cleveland Metroparks and home to the Great Lakes Rowing Association. Paddling through this section of river requires extreme caution through the tight channels that freighter ships routinely navigate through. Also, because of the bulk-heading, exit from the river in this section is nearly impossible. However, with careful trip planning, paddling along this section of river offers a unique experience for paddlers alongside freight ships. The Cuyahoga River ends at its mouth in Lake Erie within Cleveland Harbour.
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INFORMATION The Cuyahoga River drains 813 square miles of Geauga, Portage, Summit and Cuyahoga counties.
The U-shaped river flows both south and north over its 100-mile course which ends at Lake Erie just 30-miles from its headwaters.
Cuyahoga River 37 tributaries travel a total of 286 miles into the Cuyahoga.
A 25-mile stretch of the Upper Cuyahoga is designated as a state scenic river by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
www.cuyahogariver.net
The name ‘Cuyahoga’ is a blend of several native peoples’ names for the River.This combination of names is usually translated to mean ‘crooked river.’
Google Map
The Lower Cuyahoga was part of the first known inland road on the continent.
The first Christian church on the river was built by the Delaware Indians and two Moravian missionaries in the mid 1700S.
The Cuyahoga River was the western boundary of the United States from 1795 to 1803.
Around 1790, Captain Samuel Brady jumped 22-feet across the Cuyahoga at Kent escaping Indians. Brady Lake in Kent bears his name.
The first bridge across the Cuyahoga was built in 1803 at Brady’s Leap.
‘Standing Rock,’ just north of Brady’s Leap in Kent, was an important native American landmark on the river. It was used by various tribes for the exchange of information.
The Cuyahoga River became infamous in 1969 when its surface caught fire.This was not the river’s only incendiary experience.The first occurred in 1936.
During the century following 1850, the river and its tributaries contributed to the economic growth of Northeastern Ohio by providing industry with water for manufacturing, a means of waste disposal and an avenue for shipping. During this period, the natural quality of the river was sacrificed.
In 1972, Congress passed the Clean Water Act and the Ohio EPA was established.These were major events in the ongoing process of turning around the Crooked River’s water quality problems.
In 1974, Congress authorized the Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area. The area was designated a National Park on October 11, 2000. Currently, the park occupies a 32,000-acre tract along 22-miles of the river between Akron and Cleveland.
Over 90% of Ohio wetlands have been destroyed, primarily by development and agriculture. Wetlands provide habitat and food for many, many species of animals. The natural dikes and settling ponds of the watershed, they provide no-cost erosion control. Less than 4% of the Cuyahoga’s land area is currently in wetland, mostly in the Upper River. Originally rich with marshes and bogs, the Lower River in Cuyahoga County now has less than 1% of its land area in wetlands.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources preserves 1,361 acres of
Bren Orton, River Trent, Nottingham, photo Dale Mears
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PARE SEA
Richard Harpham and Iain King (spare Seater) from Scottish Sun
NYC TO
The Spare Seat was the brainchild of Richard who has completed over 6,500 miles of human powered adventure by canoe, kayak and bike in the last three years. The route encompassed 363 miles of the historic Eerie Canal (an heritage corridor) and then a right turn at Albany to paddle down the Hudson River to the ‘Big Apple’. The idea of the Spare Seat was to share the adventure with communities and people from different walks of life along the way and let them become part of the story. Each day a new ‘spare seater’ would join in the front seat of our double NDK Triton kayaks and we would make new friends and swap stories. We had no idea who would be joining us, if anyone and how it would all turn out. We met up with Glenn in Niagara at one of the natural wonders of the world excited and not quite sure what to expect. Glenn is home grown American and our travels began at about the same time and we literally crossed paths paddling up the Inside Passage from Vancouver to Alaska in 2010. We had talked of doing an adventure together ever since and this was it, the talking was over.
YC
ITY
Simon Bevan, Glenn Charles and Iain King approaching NYC
The first leg of the Spare Seat we had Rosie, a journalist from Adventure Travel magazine in the UK to experience life on the water. What followed was a whistle stop tour of Niagara with us walking some of the infamous rapids, visiting the falls, the Cave of the Winds and fitting in some final preparation. The next day we went for a small warm up lap on the Buffalo River close to the Commercial Slip, the original end or start of the Erie Canal. We paddled alongside the old grain elevators and silos of Silo City and were truly mesmerized by their vast scale and endeavour. We met the owner Rick Smith, who resembled a cowboy and was great fun, shared a beer and planned our departure the next day. We were told that a few people were going to give us a sendoff on our trip. This proved to be the understatement of all time as we arrived the next day to find serving governors, former senators, 5-6 TV crews and over 300 young people. It was incredible and slightly daunting. From our little seed of an idea to find so many people supporting us was truly humbling. I met my Spare Seater, Tim curator of the local museum and we were ready for departure, next stop New York. Glenn and I decided to ‘Paper, Scissors, Rock’ for who spoke first at the press conference and then it was into our sea kayaks to paddle down the Buffalo River towards the canal. One of the people observing asked us if we always had this much media attention when paddling and getting into our boats. “Not usually’ came the embarrassed reply. We actually had to paddle around the bend away from the cameras and stop to fix spraydecks and footrests.
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BY RICHARD HARPHAM
T
he Spare Seat Kayak Expedition involved two adventurers Richard Harpham and Glenn Charles paddling 510 miles from Niagara Falls across New York State to the Statue of Liberty, New York City.
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The first section
on the river was super quick with a strong flow whipping us downstream towards the Erie Canal and of course the falls. We wanted to make sure we didn’t miss the all-important right turn at Tonawanda. We had a few paddlers with us at the start as a little flotilla but they were quickly left in our wake as we passed the first lighthouse. Arriving at Tonawands had taken a couple of hours and the first community along the Erie Canal greeted us. This set the scene and the tone of our trip and was replicated all the way along our journey.
Every community responded to our adventure with huge generosity and shared their local history, heritage and with places of interest with us. We in turn become ‘a mirror’ to witness the stunning beauty of the region and its communities and returned their kindness. Whilst this might sound
slightly contrived it never felt like that at any stage of the journey. We simply engaged, as our forefathers would have done in past times, sharing stories and making friends whilst passing through. So as we tell this story I will endeavour to share many of the incredible places we visited by kayak and tell you that this part of the world is worthy of a long paddle or a short few days with hired kit. We progressed from west to east along the initial stages of the canal heading for the first lock system at Lockport. My ‘spare seater’ was now the local head of tourism and so I got to hear about some of the fantastic fishing and trips. Lockport gave us an idea of the huge scale of the waterway we were passing along. The two level lock gates replaced the older seven-stage lock system and were massive. We
We simply engaged, as our fore-fathers would have done in past times,
sharing stories
and making friends whilst passing through
Lockport with Rosie Fuller of Adventure Travel Magazine and Glenn Charles in the old lock system.
Finger Lakes Stand up paddle boarding Cody White
paddled into our first lock full of excitement and watched as the huge doors shut behind us and the water drained like an over sized bathtub. The locks are 2-3 times the size of the UK canal systems and look like the ‘Gates of Mordor’ in The Lord of the Rings. We were hosted by the local community at Lockport and enjoyed a great buffet. Before the end of the first day we had already decided we would need to return one day to share the entire story and thank our new friends. The pattern for the morning rush to put on our kit and get on the water plagued us for the entire journey with 25-35 mile days each day. The first few days on the canal saw us pass sleepy little towns and communities with incredible stories and firsts. Medina tailors had supplied shirts to Winston Churchill for example.
Pirates
As the journey continued we passed more and more interesting locations including Rochester that was the original home of the Kodak camera and processing plants, now a casualty of the digital
revolution. The canal took on more winding twists and turns and we continued to carry different Spare Seat passengers including a 74-year old pirate, Rick Smith, the cowboy, and also groups of other paddlers. We began to experience the same feeling as the Forest Gump film where we would turn around and find groups of paddlers following us. Several of those joining us had memorable stories including Casey who had recently had open heart surgery and had driven seven hours to paddle with us (he also owned an original signed Johnny Cash guitar) and Cody who runs Finger Lakes Paddle Boards.
The locks are 2-3 times the size of the UK canal systems and look like the
‘Gates of Mordor’
in The Lord of the Rings ThePaddler 129
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Federal Lock at Albany joined by paddlers from Florida.
A significant change in the landscape was our arrival at Oneida Lake, which is a huge inland water and a hefty paddle. In the pouring rain and windy conditions Glenn and I paddled in the same boat. Known for its lumpy waves we enjoyed relatively calm conditions and surfed the final sections down to Sylvan beach at the eastern end. The beach resort is a fantastic blast from the past with a small fun fair, incredible beachside houses and a traditional diner called Eddies.
We also had one of our most spiritual moments of the trip when we visited Fort Rickey Discovery Fort and got to walk with wolves and howl with them. Spine chilling but so beautiful. We were sad to leave Sylvan Beach and had two new Spare Seaters with Len Cross, the zoo owner and Leanne who ran a motel and written a book about its nocturnal goings on! After long days of paddling we arrived at Seneca Falls and the Finger Lakes area, which signalled one of our rest days. We spent our time visiting the wineries including The Three Brothers Brewery and were hosted by brother number two, Dave. Senecca Falls and the Finger Lakes area was another gem along the Erie Canal and a place worth exploring by canoe and kayak further. Senecca Falls had another first for the region and is recorded as the First Women’s Rights convention in 1848 in the world and now is home to the Civil Rights Museum. As we reached Little Falls the landscape changed again and we had reached the section of the canal, which runs parallel and includes the Mohawk River. The scenery now included lush green hills and valleys on either side and in some places a little flow. We arrived at Amsterdam that boasts a picturesque waterfront and a large castle, which we were invited to stay the night in. All
too quickly we had arrived at the end of the Erie Canal, which had been so instrumental to trade into the US interior. Albany saw the Federal Lock at Troy into the Hudson River Valley and two lovely kayak guides, a husband and wife, joined us up from Florida Keys.
The weather was shocking and it was liquid sunshine at full power. The torrential rain did not deter the welcome committee of kayakers, gig rowers and even a large amphibious duck with an army of school children. We put on our best smiles despite the downpour and hopped out to be welcomed by the Mayor who the day before had hosted President Obama.
The Hudson River also offers so much and features many fantastic landmarks including the Clearwater Sloop, West Point Military Academy, the largest pedestrian footbridge in the world and many beautiful lighthouses and buildings. Originally it had been an
environmental disaster
with paint and chemicals polluting the water.
This was the start of today’s environmental movement and campaigners such as folk singer, Pete Seagers and the Clearwater Project had harnessed people power. Today it is a showcase of how we can manage a broad range of interests without causing a deleterious effect on the environment. At many of the waterside sites there are lockers, canoe racks and facilities to make canoe and kayak trips more pleasant. Glenn Charles and Iain King
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As for the spare seat, 29 different people joined us for to paddle and share their stories and over
300 people brought a seat
to get on the water
As we approached the Big Apple we began to see the iconic Manhattan skyline and a huge increase in marine traffic and helicopters. In fact the weather was so poor we postponed our finish for 24 hours as getting run over by a harbour taxi in the rain and fog was not part of the plan. We had done it. The next day saw us paddle in front of the Statue of Liberty to complete the Wedding of the Waters. When De Witt Clinton had built the canal in 1825 in seven short years it had been known as Clinton’s Folly. We had been asked to re-enact the Wedding of the Waters, by pouring water from the Erie Lake back into the Atlantic which was the ceremony performed in 1825 to signal the canal opening. The canal has
been a great success and was extended twice before larger ships using the Saint Lawrence Seaway had seen its demise. Of course the Erie Canal is still perfect for messing around in smaller boats such as canoes and kayaks. The Hudson River Valley was also an amazing place to explore by kayak or small craft. It was such a simple conclusion to our stunning paddle through this green paradise. As for the spare seat, 29 different people joined us for to paddle and share their stories and over 300 people brought a seat to get on the water. A great many more people came out or supported us and made it such a great adventure. A million thanks to each and every one who made it so special.
Photos by Richard Harpham, Glenn Charles and Simon Bevan
The trip was supported by New York State, Aquabound Paddles, NDK kayaks, Vango Tents, Leatherman, Garmin GPS Products, Sunwise sunglasses, Paramo Clothing, Bamboo Clothing and Reed Chillcheater
Richard Harpham is a human powered adventurer who has completed over 6,500 miles by bike, canoe and kayak. www.big5kayakchallenge.com, www.thespareseat.com and www.inspiredlife.org Glenn Charles is an American Adventurer follow his story at www.thetravellingvagabond.com
Glenn and Richard doing the wedding of the waters at the Statue of Liberty
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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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Website Administrator Job description Applicants must have previous experience within a similar environment. Must be very computer and IT literate as you will be required to update website with company data ensuring all items are logged into the database. Your main duties will include sales of goods via website. Ensuring website and social media site are updated regularly. Ideally you will have a knowledge of canoeing and kayaking and the outdoor industry. Your own transport would be an advantage due to the location of employer. You may also be required to cover some retails shop sales. Hours of work 40 per week 5 from 7 days between 9am and 5.30pm To apply please phone 01267 223555 or email sales@wwc.co.uk Old Village Hall Bronwydd Carmarthen SA33 6BE Tel: 01267 223555
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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 run a number of sea kayak expeditions each year.
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The Dagger Jitsu is the new playboat from Dagger. It's been a long time (in my opinion) since Dagger was at the forefront of playboat design. Many of the recent designs have been popular but have never tempted me back to the brand.
The Dagger
By Phil Carr
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www.daggereurope.com
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One of the biggest developments
in kayak design over the last couple of years has been the in the quality of the outfitting available. Both Dagger and Wave Sport use an outfitting system that includes a fully adjustable seat, hip pads and leg lifter system. Dagger call this Contour outfitting. I personally believe that this system is the most comfortable and versatile one on the market. There are two distinct Contour outfitting systems. One for creek boats such as the Mamba and Nomad and one for playboats such as the Jitsu. They are in many ways the same, however, where the Contour outfitting of the Jitsu differs is the way in which the seat rail is fitted/fastened to the hull. In the Jitsu the rail is welded to the hull creating a pretty stiff boat. This helps transfer power from the paddler to the boat to the water. At present a plastic boat will not be as stiff as a composite model but the gap is being narrowed and this can be seen with the Jitsu. The new Contour 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. The hip pads come supplied with a range of shims that can be added/removed to provide the optimum fit. A couple of quick release buckles allow easy access to the back of the pads to add/remove the shims. The backrest provides a broad support base and adjusted via two ratchets positioned near the front of the cockpit. Although the newer crop of playboats are great for loops and other fancy aerial moves I prefer playboats that carve and are able to pull off some of the more old school moves as well. Having the best of both worlds in one boat has been the Holy Grail for kayak designers over recent years. This is due to the fact that the design features required for greater hull speed are quite different from those required for looping ability. In the Jitsu design Dagger have managed to combine a progressive rocker and low stern rocker for speed. The double edge design also helps to give the Jitsu the kind of speed you would expect for a boat of a much longer length. When I found myself paddling through stoppers the Jitsu would actually accelerate and it felt like the shape of the stern actually encouraged the water to push the boat forward.
At present a plastic boat will not be as stiff as a composite model but the gap is being narrowed and this can be seen with
the Jitsu
Blisteringly fast and loose on a wave, offering poise and balance on all play features, the Jitsu will make you the true master of the river. Jitsu 5.5 Length: Width: Weight: Paddler Weight: Volume:
Jitsu 5.9 Length: Width: Weight: Paddler Weight: Volume:
Jitsu 6.0 Length: Width: Weight: Paddler Weight: Volume:
5'6" / 168cm 25" / 64cm 29lbs / 13kg 90-155lbs / 41-70kg 48gal / 182L 5'9.5" / 178cm 26" / 66cm 31lbs / 14kg 140-200lbs / 64-91kg 57gal / 215L 6' / 183cm 27" / 69cm 34lbs / 15kg 165-245lbs / 75-111kg 63gal / 239L
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www.unsponsored.co.uk
What Dagger saysâ&#x20AC;Ś
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Despite the sharp
edges and steep side walls there are no nasty surprises with how the boat performs when you transfer from the horizontal to vertical plane or from edge to edge. The Jitsu feels like a much longer boat when you cartwheel and feels very balanced when on end.
Setting up the Jitsu was super easy but I did find that the seat was not correctly fastened in. This was due to the fact the plastic ‘puck’ that sits in the seat post rail was actually sitting above the rail! It took around 20 minutes to get the seat secure and to ensure that everything was as it should be. For most boats this won’t be a problem and the only messing around with the seat will be when you want to tweak it forward or backwards to adjust the trim. Moving the seat forward and back was very simple with only a couple of Allen bolts and a nut behind the seat needing to be loosened off. What is quite nice is that the seat system has a gauge that allows you to adjust/position the seat with a high level of accuracy. I always like to try the seat in a number of positions to get the correct trim and feel. In the Jitsu's case I found that moving the seat too far forward made the Jitsu a little too twitchy. For me the best position for the seat is just forward of centre. The amount of foot room in the Jitsu is great. Rather than wearing my normal low profile Teva shoes I was able to wear a pair of much chunkier Astral Brewers without losing feeling in my feet or legs. The footrest is made from one key block of foam with a number of shims that can be added or removed depending on your height and/or preferred fit. I wasn’t convinced about the shape of the footrest foam before putting it in the boat, but after spending hours using it I am
convinced. This might be the first time I haven’t had to trim/customize a foam footrest. The Jitsu feels pretty wide when you are sat in it with the bulk of the volume centralized around the cockpit. This makes the cockpit area feel very much like a creek boat. I find that this is quite good as it makes the transition from the Jitsu to my Wave Sport Recon and back again quite easy. The remaining volume in the Jitsu appears to be evenly balanced between the bow and stern. The gives the Jitsu quite a great deal of stability when vertical and whilst flat-water cartwheeling this can definitely be appreciated. The Jitsu feels more like an older slicer playboat than a bouncy poppy modern day and from my point of view this is definitely a good thing. I have paddled the Jitsu in a number of locations over the last few months. Many of them have been out in the surf, and despite its short length the Jitsu is unbelievably quick, both to pick up a wave and to stay on/move across the face of the wave. On small river features the Jitsu is nimble and stable. Crank it up and the Jitsu simply flies. Whether it is on a small or big feature the Jitsu is super nice to paddle.
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The pearl o Lake Bellagio is a small medieval town on the point of the promontory that divides the two southern branches of Lake Como, creating the water’s characteristic upturned Y shape. Because of its location and the variety of attractions it offers, Bellagio can be chosen and remembered for different kinds of holidays, from the quiet and relaxing on the lakeside to the more sport orientated, especially where kayaking and SUP are concerned. Bellagio is the perfect vantage point to explore the glorious Lake Como, ringed by towering mountains, jewel-like picturesque towns, magnificent parks and historical villas. For the paddler with a thirst for gentle exploration, there’s the chance to find your own route and enjoy a different view and approach to the lake’s natural beauty. Kayaking along the shore may be the most unfettered and unspoiled way to experience the joy of this world-renowned destination.
of e Como
By Barry and Olivia Ide Olivia on Lecco branch of Lake Como.
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BellagioWater Sports, Bellagio Water Sports, located in the pleasant hamlet of Pescallo, is just five minutes from the town. Owner Michele Gandola, a former professional rower, offers unique kayaking experiences, navigating along the coast with any of four guided routes or renting your own kayak to chart your personal journey.
When we arrived Mich was very welcoming and you could tell he was excited to get us all out on the water. There was our twosome and another and you felt as if the day had been customized just for us. Mich is local and very knowledgeable about the lake - no questions went unanswered. He is also very friendly and even offered to tow us back to Pescallo if we were tired! As with any activity on the water, safety is of utmost importance, and Mich took that very seriously, in a
good way, and provided the perfect balance of fun, local touring and knowledge with a bit of physical fitness. We were lucky enough to have a good group and weather so we paddled along the foreshore of Bellagio township and to a local restaurant for a coffee. It was the perfect break and we enjoyed it so much we returned to the restaurant for dinner. The morning was excellent and a great way to see the area. The tour is very reasonable in price and especially with the quality of the guide, location and good, stable, well maintained equipment. Dry bags and water are provided as is a lock up space for the belongings you dont wish to carry. Michele has specially crafted his tours to appeal to beginners and advanced kayakers, with all necessary safety and accessory equipment. Michele personally guides the tours, offering hidden views, exclusive looks at the dramatic Pescallo cliffs, crossing to nearby beautiful Varenna, slipping along the Bellagio skyline
and outstanding villas and parks and even reaching the marvelous Villa del Balbianello, which featured in the James Bond film, Casino Royale. Michele also orchestrates lunch in one of the lake’s fine traditional restaurants. The kayak excursion was the ideal complement to a vacation on Lake Como and an experience for eyes, body and soul. As Michele of Bellagio Water Sports said: “Enjoy Lake Como from the best possible place – your very own boat!”
Pescallo Bay (BWS launch point)
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Italy offers a wonderful
series of lakes, which have always attracted tourists and visitors. These ancient glacial lakes vary from the great expanses of Lake Garda (370 sq. km) to the tiny lakes of Olginate and Segrino (less than a single square kilometre each).
Lake Como’s upturned Y shape was carved out by a glacier that was forced to split into two by the mountain that stood in its path. The lake offers the visitor the longest and most indented coastline of all the Italian lakes (170 km) as well as some of the most delightful natural, architectural gems of the peninsular.
Balbianello Sunset
Bellagio, known as ‘the Pearl of Lake Como’ occupies the most scintillating spot in this paradise; the extreme point of the promontory which divides the two southern branches of the lake. The result is truly surprising: a delightful little town with its perfectly preserved architectural treasures and the perfect spot from which to paddle and explore the rest of the lake.
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www.bellagiowatersports.com
Bellagio town centre and Villa Melzi Rockefeller Cliffs
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INFORMATION WEATHER: Despite the fact that it is so close to the mountains, Lake Como enjoys a constant, mild climate thanks to the great mass of water, which mitigates any changes in temperature, just like the Ligurian Riviera. Olive trees grow on the lakeshore and an enormous variety of flowers are cultivated in gardens, which also display palm trees, cypresses and citrus fruits. Thanks to these conditions the winters are milder and the summers cooler than regions of the same latitude and altitude. The annual average temperature is higher and the daily range lower (the range is always less than 14 degrees C). At Bellagio, this fortunate climate is emphasized by the position of the town at the very centre of the lake. It is sufficient to think of the numerous gardens with their exotic tropical plants.
www.lakecomopages.com
Lake Como Google Map
LOCATION: Lake Como or Lago di Como in italian, lies in the northern region of Italy known as Lombardy (Lombardia) bordering on Switzerland and is approximately 40km from Milan (the capital of Lombardy region).
HISTORY: The remarkable landscape was formed at the end of the last Ice Age when the Alpine glaciers retreated, leaving deep lake-filled valleys. Lake Como is the most dramatic of the three great lakes and has a depth of 410 metres, it is one of the deepest lakes in Europe. Although smaller than Lake Maggiore and Lake Garda, it has the longest perimeter at 170km (106 miles). Lake Como is approximately 29 miles (47 km) long and up to 2.5 miles (4 km) wide.
BELLAGIO, LAS VEGAS: After his visit to Bellagio, Steve Wynn, the president of Mirage Resort, decided to build an enormous Hotel Bellagio in Las Vegas. He declared that the hotel is “the most romantic hotel in the world”. It has 37 floors, 3,421 rooms and 8,000 staff. The entire complex occupies 83 hectares and has an artificial lake with fountains, dozens of gardens and a ‘village’ with small boutiques and shops, which resemble those in the town on Lake Como. Some scenes of 007 Casino Royale and Star Wars were shot in Villa del Balbianello.
SEASONS: The holiday season runs from Easter to October. Ideal times to go are May, June and September when it’s still warm and sunny but not as crowded as in the midsummer months.The lakes often have a gentle breeze therefore making it slightly cooler than the cities.
OTHER LAKES: The four most important lakes are, from west to east, Lake Maggiore, Lake Lugano, Lake Como and Lake Garda. Between and around these are several minor lakes - such as Lake Orta, west of Maggiore, and Lake Iseo, midway between Como and Garda - as well as countless Alpine tarns trapped in the high valleys.The region offers classic images of Italy: balconies over blue water, sleepy cobblestone villages and stone cottages, secluded gardens and exotic flora.
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