PADDLER The International magazine for recreational paddlers Issue 48 Early Summer 2019
The Ionian Islands
GREECE Adriana Eyzaguirre Pitching your
BLADE Dave Rossetter
The hidden gems of the
GREAT LAKES Traci Lynn Martin A walk across
INVERPOLLY Mal Grey
The Godfather of British canoeing
RAY GOODWIN interview Students tackle
SCOTLAND Derek Burdett
ezine Mixing it up to be a better
PADDLER Corran Addison
Saving the Piatua River
ECUADOR Darcy Gaechter Kenya’sTana River
FESTIVAL Glenn Richards The importance of
WATERTRAILS
Scott Edwards
+
ICF Slalom World Cup Lee Valley, London
ICF Freestyle World Champs By Mike Shaw The human factor By Tom Parker Testing, testing
24-page early summer issue of
CANOE FOCUS
Interview with Steve Backshall Adventures in film making It’s all about the adventure
In PARTnERShIP wITh BRITISh CAnoEInG
CONTENTS
James ‘Pringle’ Bebbington at the ICF Freestyle world Championships, Sort, Spain. Photo: Bence Vekassy/International Canoe Federation Editor
Peter Tranter peter@thepaddlerezine.com Tel: (01480) 465081 Mob: 07411 005824 www.thepaddlerezine.com
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Dale Mears, Phil Carr, Darren Farrar, Ross Solly, Bence Vekassy, Lisette Nixon,Antony Edmonds, Rob Eade, Giorgos Lilas, Nick Pearce, Christine Pinsonneault, Mirco Garoscio,Yannick Larouche, William Pollock, Norbert Sattler, Colin Skeath
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The island of Meganissi, Greece. Photo: Rob Eade
Additional thanks to:
not all contributors are professional writers and photographers, so don’t be put off writing because you have no experience! The Paddler magazine is all about paddler to paddler dialogue: a paddler’s magazine written by paddlers. Next issue is Late Summer 2019, with a deadline of submissions on July 20th 2019. Technical Information: Contributions preferably as a Microsoft word file with 1200-2000 words, emailed to submissions@thepaddler.ezine.com. Images should be hi-resolution and emailed with the word file or if preferred, a Dropbox folder will be created for you. The Paddler ezine encourages contributions of any nature but reserves the right to edit to the space available. opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publishing parent company, 2b Graphic Design Limited. The publishing of an advertisement in the Paddler ezine does not necessarily mean that the parent company, 2b Graphic Design Limited, endorse the company, item or service advertised. All material in the Paddler magazine is strictly copyright and all rights are reserved. Reproduction without prior permission from the editor is forbidden.
006 The coach
Issue 48
Early Summer 2019
010 Testing, testing
Pitching your blade by Dave Rossetter
020 The Great Lakes, US and Canada Five pages of new kit
028 The human factor
The hidden gems by Traci Lynn Martin
032 Ionian Islands, Greece
Flawed thinking leads to danger by Tom Parker
040 Inverpolly, Scotland
The home of Ulysses by Adriana Eyzaguirre
050 Mixing it up
A walk across with canoes by Mal Grey
058 United States and Canada
How other sports help your paddling by Corran Addison
066 ICF Slalom world Cup
The importance of water trails by Scott Edwards
071 Canoe Focus
GB gold rush. From Lee Valley, London British Canoeing’s 24-page magazine
096 ICF Freestyle world Champs 106 Students tackle Scotland From Sort, Spain by Mike Shaw
116 Piatua River, Ecuador
Derby Uni paddle expeditions by Derek Burdett
124 Tana River festival, Kenya
The campaign to save this vital river by Darcy Gaechter
130 An interview with…
The rains came and Kenya turned green by Glenn Richards
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RIVER
WRAP
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t: +44 1629 732611 e:: info@peakuk.com w: www.peakuk.com
LADIES: L10/12 & 14/16
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MENS: LXL & XXL Ute Heppke & Kerry Old eld. Image: Pete Astles.
coach
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t h e
wITh DAVE RoSSETTER hEAD oF PADDLESPoRTS AT GLEnMoRE LoDGE
where the focus, is always on the paddler
Scotland’s national outdoor Training Centre
This article sees the start of a new chapter for the coming series. I am moving back into technical/ tactical components of paddling. These will be looking more generically at paddlesport and later ones will move discipline specific.
PITChInGyoUR BLADE InTRoDUCTIon
The most important stroke in paddling is often cited as the forward paddle stroke. There is a lot of information available for this including the excellent video from Ivan Lawler: www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqXIF4ToUcE. He does know a thing or two of moving a boat!
I am interested in looking at some of the smaller detail, which is often a crucial part that helps paddlers gain control.
Two parts: Pitch and Top Hand. This article will cover an understanding of these and then into applications of these in a few of the various disciplines.
DESCRIPTIon
Pitching a blade has been talked about with canoeing for quite a while. The Pitch stroke is one that is talked about as a solo or stern paddlers stroke to help control the steering. I know use and describe the Pitch stroke slightly differently.
Pitch The angle you choose to have the blade at relative to the side of the craft.
Fig. 1: neutral
Fig. 3: Closed
Fig. 2: open
In the examples above, I have shown on a paddleboard the three choices – neutral, open or closed.
Figure 1 Neutral: this would be perceived as normal if you like. It is where the blade is perpendicular to the side of the craft.
Figure 2 Open: this would be where the edge of the blade closest to the craft is slightly pitched forward. This leading edge is then slightly further forward than the furthest edge of blade. Thus, an opening blade.
Figure 3 Closed: this would be where the edge closest to the craft is slightly pitched back. This leading edge is then slightly further back than the furthest edge of blade. Thus, a closing blade.
So why? what does this achieve?
By changing how the blade is orientated then we can get some real interesting outcomes. These outcomes allow some control of the bow to be gained as we keep forward momentum on the craft. For single blade disciplines such as canoe / SUP then this means that we can worry less about bigger correctional or steering strokes and more on the forward generation.
To understand what it achieves we need to understand newton’s third law – “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” So equal and opposite is important to us as paddlers. To help with this have a look at figure 4 below.
Fig. 4: Direction of
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Fig. 5: open blade
Figure 5 shows this with the added arrows for a blade that is pitched forward – opening blade. Therefore, the direction of travel is indicated by arrow 2. Without putting the blade further out to the side we can keep the forward paddling rhythm and cadence to keep steering and powering our craft forwards.
See here for this in action while on a paddleboard: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjP5_ DhxIDk&list=PLrqtph4KNo5ftnNvifpGR vnha3s8woL3t&index=10&t=81s
Top Hand comes through as something that is very important to hold our strong posture and keep the resistance. This movement is fixed with the shoulders and is coming around with the shoulders. This is great for the pure forward paddling technique. What we however, need to do in many of our turning or drawing strokes, is to allow some movement in the top arm to help us steer.
Word of note: we generally don’t need a closed pitch in a kayak. It will turn quite happily using a sweep stroke. In a canoe or SUP however, it can keep us under much more control and can be useful to add to our repertoire of strokes.
Fig. 6:Top hand steering
1. Top hand further outside kayak and pointing finger/arrow showing direction of travel.
2. Top hand staying on its own side and therefore that is the direction of travel.
In figure 6 above, we have this shown with where the top hand is. An analogy I use to help this is that of a steering wheel. If the hand holds the wheel and doesn’t let it go then the direction of pull is the direction of travel. So in the picture 1, we see the right hand extending further over to the left and therefore the kayak is looking to go that way. while in picture 2, the top hand stays on the right hand side and therefore the kayak goes that way (like a sweep stroke).
SUMMARy
So our simple forward paddle stroke can have a few adaptions to help us maintain forward speed. This forward speed is crucial wherever we paddle. By changing how the blade is pitched we can keep a huge amount of control over the front of the craft.
By keeping the boat moving forward we can cross flows, disturbed areas of water, directional control to the wind or fine control at the front that keeps the craft moving and therefore maintaining efficiency of travel over the water.
Coaches: observe closely your paddlers and see if the paddler is inadvertently pitching their paddle. Canoe coaches particularly watch the bow paddler as they tend to do this without realising. SUP coaches: teach this when looking at controlling the board from one side.
Kayak coaches: teach the top hand and open pitch when looking to drive the kayak towards the paddling side. Dave 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.
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Testing, Bluefin Cruise Carbon 10’8 2019 https://bluefinsupboards.com Darren Farrar
Well, first off let’s get a little intro out of the way. I’m Darren Farrar. I’ve been paddling for a few years now along the UK coasts, rivers and abroad. I form part of the Instagram UK SUP page @StandUpPaddleUK. We like to think of ourselves as a promoter of the people, a place for UK SUP to share images, and an unbiased place that reviews equipment. Which leads us on to the business end.
I recently received the 2019 Bluefin Sup Cruise Carbon 10’8 and wow I’m impressed by the package. The Carbon is a dual weapon, both paddleboard and kayak. I had no preconceived ideas about this board, only that it looked very cool… which is important of course!
LOOKS AND FEATURES
when I unrolled the board I knew I had made the correct choice. Those tuna blues, and grading greys on the croc diamond deck pad. It’s such a cool looking board. l Dual cargo nets for stowing bags, and also you can connect bags to the rings (14x D mount rings in total). l A very comfortable board under foot also, which is a big plus for people that like to paddle for hours on end. l Rear kick pad for those sharp turns on the step back. Gives you a good boost actually l GoPro mount, a plus for GoProers! l Five grip handles. l Two main pump points, the rear pump for the bulk of the board, and the central point for the ‘kayak seat’ – such a cool idea. I’ve had 18PSI in both and it holds very well. l Travel friendly backpack which really does hold ALL the items that come in the box, and more! Can go in the hold on a plane, which is very cool.
g
testin l l l l
res t to pa
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The Cruise Carbon 10’8 with integrated GoPro mount. Kayak conversion kit. Backpack. Triple action pump. Coiled leash. Carbon fibre double paddle and fin.
e will b nd it ed a iew rev uct od
l
ou want y ion. If y o u stat rp st r
WHAT’S IN THE BAG?
The Paddle r ez ine te
m .co
dd lers - email us: review s@thep addle rez ine
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ThePADDLER 12 LET’S TALK STABILITY
I’ve come from riding the ultra stable 2017 Red Paddle Co 10’8 (also used the 2018 version), so it’s a great board to gauge against. now, there are different brands, boards and design but in my opinion, the Cruise Carbon rivals Red’s 10’8 for Stability. The FRS carbon composite rail, 1000 Denier Exo surface laminate and Pro-weave drop stitch materials make the Cruise Carbon so tough it holds up to 28 PSI! Bluefin say it will be, “The most rigid and stable inflatable stand up paddle board you’ll ever buy,” and I really have to agree with that. I always find jumping onto a new board a happy go lucky moment, you are either going to love the board – or hate it because you find it unstable. My first ride was on a very strong current on the River ouse in Bedford and I didn’t once feel like the board wanted to eject me quicker than a fighter jet. Comfortable and stable, two things of huge importance!
It also feels like a quick board, yes that really depends on how fast you paddle, but it doesn’t feel bulky or heavy through the paddle motion.
DO I NEED A GYM MEMBERSHIP TO CARRY IT?
nope. I’ve used boards in the past and carrying them from the truck to the water was a pain in the backside, due to being awkwardly shaped, lacking hand grips, the size! The Cruise Carbon is light, when pumped up it is manoeuvrable due to all the handle grips. I was very surprised at the ease of carrying and moving in and out of the river.
IS IT WORTH YOUR CASH?
In a word… yes. Currently retailing at £799.99 on their website – this is quite the package deal considering what comes out of the bag. The guys at Bluefin are even throwing in a free camera! And for a limited time, using the code DARREn10 at checkout will also gain you a discount!
Any questions please get in touch with Bluefin SUPS, myself on Instagram @darrens_visuals or @standuppaddleuk ! happy Paddling!
RRP Price: UK: £799.00
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FEATURES
1. Moisture wicking fabric keeps you cool whilst exercising. 2. Fast drying – dries four times faster than cotton. 3. Controls odours dri-release fabric helps prevent foul smells from clinging to the fabric fibres. 4. Soft and warm high performance fabric stay warm without overheating. 5. Flatlock seams reduces any potential skin irritation. 6. Cut for comfort, the stretch fabric will move when you move. 7. Long neck zip adjust to suit your temperature. 8. Look after your essentials – a convenient chest pocket is perfect for small phones, cash or keys whilst you are out enjoying the water.
Red Original performance top layer https://redoriginal.com By Dale Mears
What to wear when on the bank or out on your SUP board? I am not someone who wants to be paddling in a wetsuit or drysuit if I can help it. In the winter maybe a set of dry trousers and layers, summer a single top, shorts and boots/bare feet. I’d been paddling in a range of outdoor tops and base layers but you always have to question warmth and speed of drying if you take a dip.
I have been using a Red original performance top layer for a while now and have found this to be my ‘go to’ SUP wear. The design is simple, it’s a long sleeve top, with a zip neck approx 20cm down so you have to put on over the head and unzip if too warm. The top only comes in grey with red detailing to fit with the Red branding although as a non-Red paddler, the branding is not as overwhelming as some other products can be. The design is smart and does not look out of place if wearing off the water. In fact I have found myself wearing instead of a jumper when going on walks and other outdoor activities as well as on a trip to the pub.
The long sleeves feature thumb holes if you like to use them. The fit is good and not too baggy, yet the
material is stretchy so does not feel restrictive on the water. The material is thin and feels like it won’t be warm but it’s very surprising, the top is very warm on windy cold days yet surprisingly cool when the sun is shining thanks to some clever moisture wicking fabric.
I’ve generally been wearing this with a base layer underneath, however, as the temperature have risen, I have been dropping the short sleeve base layer and wearing it on its own. In a similar way to a rash vest the top has flat lock seams will not irritate the skin. Best bit is it doesn’t smell like most thermals even after a few uses on the water, which has always been an issue with base layers and tops. I’ve taken a few little dips whilst wearing the top and found it to dry quickly, even washes between use it’s the first item dry on the line.
There is a small pocket on the chest which although I have not used it I’m sure it might come in handy for most. Personally I get a little annoyed having things in these pockets but recently also found a secret pocket stitched into the seam of the top, which I was unaware of. This is great if wanting to stack some secret beer money! I image there are some paddlers who may be reading this who own the top but have not found the pocket as I do not recall seeing it in the tags.
All in all a great top, comfortable and super versatile, this will suit all outdoor and non-outdoor situations. Prices: UK £50.00; US $78.00; EU €59.00
A unique paddling challenge - take part in the first ever ‘Regatta London’ and raise vital funds to address mental health in the workplace. In the UK, three out of five employees experience mental health issues because of work. Mates in Mind believes this needs to change.
Mates in Mind is a leading UK charity driving industry change and enabling employers to improve their workforces’ mental health.
As a Headline Charity in Regatta London, the first ever mass participation paddle sports event taking place on the iconic River Thames on 29th September 2019, we have places available for rowing, kayaking, canoeing and stand up paddle boarding.
The race route will start at Hammersmith (rowing only, 14-mile route) or Putney (12-mile route), and finish at Greenwich or Putney depending on experience, taking in many iconic London landmarks including Big Ben, Battersea Power Station, St Paul’s Cathedral, London Eye, Tower Bridge and the Shard.
The date for holding this event is significant as 29th September is the only day when there is routine planned closure of the Thames Barrier. This means that for a set time there is no tide and also no other river traffic on the Thames, making this a truly unique experience on a major international river in a global city, as well as offering a safer environment for everyone taking part.
Paddle for Team Mates in Mind and #TakeontheThames
All of our places are available for a fee of £40 and a fundraising target of £300. Taking on this challenge and raising funds for us will enable us to continue our work to support employers to address the stigma of mental health in the workplace.
Tim Whittle who recently walked from John O’Groat to Land’s End to raise funds for the charity shared why he believes others should support Mates in Mind saying, “I have worked in the demolition industry since I was fifteen years old; I’m now forty and have both experienced and seen poor mental health in many degrees. In my case, that took me to the point of considering suicide. I knew I wanted to do something to help, so I decided to walk from John O'Groats to Land’s End solo to raise awareness. “What Mates in Mind is doing is so important, as I have seen the effects poor mental health can have first hand, it is so reassuring to see this fantastic charity striving to remove the stigma and support people.” James Rudoni, Managing Director of Mates in Mind says, “We are delighted to be involved in this first event of its kind on the iconic River Thames. It is a unique and symbolic event for Mates in Mind to be partnering.
“Overcoming the stigma and isolation so often associated with poor mental health can be incredibly hard work and personal. Here at Mates in Mind we understand the importance of sharing that difficult journey with others who can help and support individuals in overcoming personal mental health challenges in their own way. “So, why not join Team Mates in Mind, seize this unique opportunity and support our work that is all about starting those conversations about mental health in workplaces across the country? “There are limited places for this event so don’t delay, get in touch today to reserve your place.”
To find out more and register visit: www.matesinmind.org/join-theaction/regatta-london.html
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Palm Equipment quick release belt
https://palmequipmenteurope.com By Dale Mears
This really is one of those products that speaks for its self. A simple yet effective product to add to the line up of the ever popular quick-release belts on the market. With SUP growing and more awareness of bank safety, the need for quick release belts has grown. This offering from Palm, although functionality similar to rival products, actually sits at a slightly lower price point for a padded belt. The difference I think this product looks more stylish than the competitors without any compromise to the function.
Featuring two quick release fix lock buckles, one blue band to attach with a SUP leash or dry bag for quick access on the rear and one, which is the front fastening that is adjustable to suit paddler waist size or required fit.The webbing is 38mm, so reasonably thick plus the padding but when wearing with a BA sits comfortably below.
I have used this on white water a few times and it isn’t restricting and on the flat it is useful to waist mount a SUP leash preventing the leash dragging on the board or in the water.The quick release on the front is easy to grip thanks to a plastic toggle and when pulled quickly releases with minimal effort.The belt also floats thanks to the padded foam inside. I know some people like a simple webbing strap but having tried this I much preferred the padded belt.
PeakUK Adventure Single jacket http://www.peakuk.com
Peak UK’s most popular sea kayaking jacket has been updated for 2019 with a new, durable X3 mid-weight ripstop nylon with 20m waterproofing.
The classic articulated cut offers superb freedom of movement and total paddling comfort.The zip opening outer collar protects the Velcro closing inner neck, whilst double latex / neoprene wrists will keep your arms nice and dry.
Three zip pockets offer plenty of storage and two bright new colours and reflective stripes ensure you will be seen, whatever the weather.The Adventure Single is worn by many of the top coaches and guides in the country including the teams at Glenmore, Plas y Brenin and more.
Sizes: XS. S. M. L. XL. XXL
RRP: £220.
Colours: orange. lime
Also used by Antony Ing, one of the UK’s top white water SUP coaches and paddlers, it comes with a good vote of confidence. All in all a simple but highly effective product that does exactly what it should.
01479 861 256 www.glenmorelodge.org.uk
Join us on Scotland’s famous rivers, lochs and coast Offering the full range of British Canoeing coaching, leadership, performance, safety & CPD modules
qualifications
white water kayaking
open canoeing
Stand up paddle boarding
sea kayaking
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Nookie Hornet 18m rescue throwline http://www.nookie.co.uk By Phil Carr www.unsponsored.co.uk
A throwline is a must have piece of equipment for all kayakers and canoeists. We have had a Nookie Hornet 18m Rescue Throwline 8mm (9kN) in for review at Unsponsored for quite a few months. We are pretty familiar with Nookie’s throwlines having owned and used quite a few over the last 30+ years of paddling.
At 18 metres, the nookie hornet's 8mm floating line is the sweet spot length for most applications. Long enough to get across most UK rivers yet short enough and light enough, to actually throw.
The images of the nookie hornet don't really do the brightness of the hi-vis justice.This thing is super bright (in a good way). A piece of foam inside of the hi-vis area gives additional floatation to the bag as well as making the rope easier to deploy and repack. Clear labelling is in place on the hornet, and indeed on nookie’s full range of throwlines.This is a must on any bag. So much so that I would avoid buying a throw bag that didn't have details of what it actually contained. nookie have also included a simple three-cartoon set of throwing instructions, which is a nice touch.
Made in the UK, the hornet is constructed with a 500D Cordura base and back panel (red) which is super tough. A small loop of rope is created so it is big enough to clip into but not big enough to put a hand through.
The back area also has belt loops so the bag can be mounted on a rescue belt. I have used hF and Palm Equipment belts without issue.
The top of the bag has nice wide opening with red braid that helps keep it open.The braid is also used to create a set of handles for use whilst throwing.
The bag is closed with a length of black tape and is fastened using both a brass press stud and Velcro. I wouldn’t mind this piece of tape being a touch longer. The rope feels substantial and has been tied into the bag using a figure 8 knot. Plenty of tail has been left to ensure that it cannot pull through.
The free end of the rope has been wrapped in tape. when this particular length was cut the melted end was quite rough/sharp. A few seconds with a lit match sorted this out.
whenever I get a new bag (even before I buy it) I like to unpack the rope and then repack. Some manufacturers employ special rope packing ninjas that are able to pack throwlines so tight that the rope always fits. But when I try it's tough work getting the bag packed enough so it is easy to fasten.This is thankfully not the case at nookie as the rope repacks easily and the bag fastens up without fuss. The RRP of the nookie hornet is just under £40.
ONTARIO
THE LAND OF SHINING WATERS
With more than one million square kilometres of land, over 350,000 lakes, rivers and streams and a history spanning thousands of years, Ontario is the perfect destination for your canoeing or kayaking holiday. It really is no surprise that Ontario means ‘land of shining waters’. A paddler’s paradise and a rafter’s dream, enjoy a variety of experiences from fully guided, self guided, voyageur canoeing, rafting, kayaking and more. And off the water there’s so much more to discover from the bustling streets of Toronto to the stunning scenery and wildlife in Algonquin National Park. So come, explore and make memories in Ontario!
020 8742 1556 windowsonthewild.com
RaDaR
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U n D E R
T h E
hidden gems that no one talks about around the Great Lakes. Part one Words: Traci Lynn Martin In 2017 Traci Lynn Martin attempted to become the first person to circumnavigate the five Great Lakes in less than one calendar year, a feat which has been attempted by several, yet never successfully accomplished due to the unpredictability of rough water and dangerous storms, which the Great Lakes are known for. Traci, who struggles with an autoimmune disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis, was paddling to bring awareness to those who battle chronic pain to never give up. Martin paddled further than any other known person attempting this record – 3,592 miles – but was stopped on Lake Ontario by an early winter storm. In 2020 she plans to try it again.
Rooted in the soul of the bi-national Canadian-American midwest region, surrounded by a rich bio-diverse landscape, are five powerful inland seas.The Great Lakes, which includes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario Lakes, border much of the Canadian province of Ontario and portions of eight U.S. states.These five Great Lakes provide over 9,500 miles of stunning shoreline – most of which remain rugged and untamed. Many paddlers have written about their beauty and have described the more popular paddling destinations such as the Apostle Islands and Pictured Rocks. But what about the other amazing places that seem to get overlooked. After having paddled 3,592 miles of their shoreline in 2017, may I suggest areas that are under the radar – hidden gems that are truly dramatic paddling destinations.
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and spiritual
The rolling sand dunes created a space, both physical, emotional,
Sleeping Bear Dunes national Lakeshore - Lake Michigan This sacred place should be on every kayakers bucket list. For me, it was a spiritual experience. The water began as a brilliant turquoise, however, as the sun moved across the sky, the colour changed to the deepest, purest indigo blue. The outline of the rolling sand dunes created a space, both physical, emotional, and spiritual, that touched my soul – the beauty of which is impossible to describe. The spectacular expanse of water, all framed by the pyramid-like shape of the dunes surrounding it, was breathtaking. Enticing 450-foot tall pristine sand dunes lure paddlers to land their kayaks at the base and walk along the shoreline. There is a divine sense of peace and spirituality here.
SUMMER ISLAND LAKE MICHIGAN
welcome to your very own deserted island to explore. The Island can easily be seen from Fairport, Michigan. you will depart from the Fairport boat ramp and paddle two miles to Little Summer Island.There is not a lot of boat traffic to worry about as you’re crossing the open lake and the water around the island is rather shallow. From there, it's another two miles to reach the main Summer Island.This is an open water crossing and should only be attempted by experienced kayakers.
The shoreline of the island is mainly rocky, with beautiful cliffs to paddle past, yet there are also a lot of areas with tall grass that grows out into the water. one of the most visible shoreline features is called Gravel Point, there are also several small sandy beaches available to land on as well.
A person can spend several days kayaking between these two islands, exploring the remains of a historic native American settlement, hiking through the overgrown camps from long ago loggers, and hunting for the abandoned shanties of fishermen. For the truly adventurous, kayak another five miles to Poverty Island. This island is very rocky, however, there is a stretch of sandy beach that faces Summer Island on the east side, and if you kayak towards the southern point, there is a remote Lighthouse that beckons to be explored. If your desire is to spend your days on a deserted island and your nights gazing up at the Milky way, then this destination is for you.
GOVERNMENT ISLAND LAKE HURON
It's a good place to go hide if you just want to get away for a few days, yet still remain close to civilization. Government Island is the only public access island of the Les Cheneaux, a group of 36 small islands, along the Lake huron shoreline on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, out of hessel. Les Cheneaux is french for ‘The Channels’ and it feels like a winding maze as you paddle through this 12-mile section of scattered islands.
off in the distance, across the open water, are the picturesque images of both the north and South Manitou Islands. This area would be an amazing destination for both the novice and experienced paddlers. Day paddles could be achieved from Empire Michigan. Longer, multi-day paddles could be achieved from Leland to Platte River Point. It is worth noting that Leland is a quaint little town, which boasts the last working and thriving commercial fishing districts on the Great Lakes. historic Fishtown still maintains their weathered fishing shanties, smokehouses, and an interesting collection of fishing vessels inside of the small harbour.
I found myself paddling this area because Lake huron was stormy that day, and I did not feel safe in the open water. I was amazed at how well the islands blocked the wind and huge waves. It was a quiet paddle past unique cottages and marsh land. It felt peaceful to paddle past floating lily pads, blue herons standing in the grassy water, bright yellow marsh flowers, and turtles sunning on random logs. I was struck by the large number of antique wooden mahogany and Chris Craft boats that lined the shore of the small quaint cottages.
of the 36 islands, Government Island is the only one that you will be able to camp on. Its location makes it ideal to set up a base camp and do day paddles.There is a beautiful sandy beach on the west side of the island, as well as designated camping sites with fire rings available to use.
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Crisp Point
Lighthouse has been wonderfully maintained, along with a small park, museum, and visitors centre
WILDERNESS STATE PARK AND WAUGOSHANCE POINT LAKE MICHIGAN
This place is phenomenal. The paddling adventure begins at wilderness State Park in Carp Lake Michigan, which is located ten miles west of Mackinaw City. This state park is part of a peninsula that shoots out into Lake Michigan, the point of which is called waugoshance Point. Included in the state park are two large isolated islands: Temperance and waugoshance. Few people venture past the campgrounds of the state park, which means this entire area is open and wild. Paddle west along the shoreline towards waugoshance Point. This is an isolated eight-mile paddle into strong headwinds which will test your strength and determination. This is not for novice paddlers.
The optical illusion while paddling will cause you feel like you’re not making any forward progress down the shoreline as you mistake the distant outline of Temperance Island for waugoshance Point. however, after struggling against the wind for what seems like an eternity, you are abruptly rewarded with the view of Big Cut Canal, which separates waugoshance Point from the islands.This entire area is surrounded by reefs, shoals, and huge rocks which protrude out of the water. Fifty yards from the rocky shoreline is crystal clear shallow water with beautiful rocks visibly littering the bottom. In other areas, a strong headwind brought 2-3 foot waves pounding into my bow, making forward progress slow and challenging, however, once I made it to waugoshance Point, the remoteness and beauty enticed me to remain. The combination of ankle deep shallow water flowing between beautiful rocks scattered between grassy mounds and narrow sandy beaches truly touched my soul.The view from the point, looking out over the untamed Lake Michigan, huge waves breaking in the distance, was commanding and bewitching.
It felt like a wild, undiscovered world along this rocky shoreline - a deep awareness of isolation away from our modern life, a feeling which I cherished. The barren harshness of the terrain and its feeling of reclusiveness is what made it so beautiful to me. If you like feeling as if you're the last person alive at the end of the world, then this is the perfect spot for you.
MY PERSONAL RECOMMENDATION FOR THIS PADDLING ADVENTURE…
Day one: Fort Michilimackinac to wilderness State Park – 15 mile scenic paddle. Camp overnight at wilderness State Park Campground. Day two: wilderness State Park to waugoshance Point - hard eight-mile remote paddle. Set up a base camp at waugoshance Point. Days three and four: explore Temperance and waugoshance Islands – expect strong winds and rough water. There is also the historic waugoshance Lighthouse out past waugoshance Island.
CRISP POINT LIGHTHOUSE LAKE SUPERIOR
Crisp Point Lighthouse is located on the deserted shore of Lake Superior, north of newberry, about 15 miles from whitefish Point, in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. This lighthouse is one of the most inaccessible mainland lighthouses in the Upper Peninsula and can only be reached by taking a narrow
country road through the Lake Superior State Forest, or by boat. It has been wonderfully maintained, along with a small park, museum, and visitors centre.
MY PERSONAL RECOMMENDATION FOR THIS PADDLING ADVENTURE…
Day one: begin from whitefish Point. Enjoy the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum then head off from whitefish Point Beach. Paddle 10 miles to the Vermilion Point nature Preserve – this is a unique section of sandy beach and grassy flatland to stretch your legs and explore. Camping is not allowed here, but kayakers can remote camp further down on the sandy beach. Day two: five-mile paddle to Crisp Point Lighthouse.
This is your primary destination. Enjoy the beach, tour the beautiful lighthouse, visit the gift shop and nautical museum, or just use a real bathroom. Please bring a few dollars and purchase something at the gift shop, as this money is what keeps the lighthouse open.The lighthouse itself is phenomenal. of all the lighthouses that I explored around the Great Lakes, Crisp Point is at the top of my list because you are allowed to go to the very top and stand outside on the restored railing.The view is spectacular. Camping is not allowed here, but kayakers can remote camp further down on the sandy beach.The sunsets are magnificent and night time brings the darkest, most star-filled skies you can imagine.
TURTLE ISLAND, LAKE ERIE
This is a unique one-acre deserted island located two miles off the Toledo shoreline. I took the time to paddle out to this solitary island, and spent several hours exploring the old abandoned lighthouse and the wooded interior, where you will find the remains of a house that looked like it had been burned down. It is uncommon because half of it is located in Michigan and the other half is in ohio. Paddlers can stay overnight and either camp on the small pebbled beach or inside of the lighthouse. For me, this was an interesting day trip.
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PUKASKWA NATIONAL PARK AND NIMOOSH PROVINCIAL PARK, LAKE SUPERIOR
hattie Cove Campground to Michipicoten, ontario Canada – 125 miles (200 kilometres) of true remote wilderness.
Pukaskwa is the most remote stretch of shoreline of all the Great Lakes. This area is roadless and entirely inaccessible by land. If you have a medical emergency, the only way for the outside world to reach you is by boat. This is not a destination for novice paddlers to attempt alone.
Pukaskwa covers over 84 miles (135 kilometres) of granite beaches, intimidating cliffs, secluded coves, and small rocky islands which are commonly bare of any plant life. Several sections of cliffs can stretch as far as seven miles (twelve kilometres) – giving the paddler few options to land if strong winds and rough water should suddenly approach from the open lake.
A few small hidden sandy beaches can be discovered tucked between towering cliffs. Expect to discover
awe-inspiring waterfalls and amazing open water sunsets. Throughout this stretch of remote wilderness, a person can discover numerous granite islands to camp on. I personally preferred the open granite islands over the dense wooded shoreline.
Intimidating rocks the size of small houses create natural breakwalls against the harsh Lake Superior waves, yet it can also make it challenging to find a place to land. Along other areas, dense old growth forest invade the shoreline right down to the water's edge, making campsites in these areas impractical. In my opinion, Pukaskwa offers a once in a lifetime true wilderness terrain to explore.
There is very little change in the landscape as you paddle out of Pukaskwa and into the last 41 miles of unorganized ontario District land and nimoosh Provincial Park. outfitters will say that this entire section takes 12 days to complete. I paddled it in five.
Part two in the next issue will include: Hen Island, Twelve-Mile Beach, Sugar-Leaf Cove, Split Rock Lighthouse State Park and Keweenaw Bay.
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www.roughwatergear.co.uk UK dealer: The Rough Water Gear Company Stellar product range:
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Interview: Sarah Thornely (Supjunkie) Photos: Supjunkie, Brian Johncey, Dave White I spoke to Brian Johncey to gain an insight into his life and times on the water – May 2019 marked a pretty important anniversary for Blue Chip ...
An interview with… Brian
Johncey How on earth did you end up in Cheam with a windsurfing shop? That is where I have always lived, man and boy, from doing a Saturday milk round as a school kid to a shop owner. My career developed from working my way up from a printing machine operator to the marketing director in the printing industry, whilst also being a volunteer leader at a local youth activity centre. Then windsurfing came into sharp focus when one of my printing customers told me how much they enjoyed windsurfing and suggested I took a lesson at Princes water-ski club. I completed the lesson and I was smitten. That gave me the impetus to start my own windsurfing club. I used my business contacts to find a disused gravel extraction lake in Kent along with my experience of helping to run a youth activities club. I started the club, which ran on weekends only, as I already had a full time job in print. Then the printing company was sold and that gave me the push to go full time with teaching windsurfing and running the club at the lake. Soon after that, the right property (a store with workshop) became available on the high street in North Cheam, this soon became Blue Chip HQ and the rest is history.
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INTERVIEW Brian Johncey SHUTTERBUG (Emma Haylock) profile THIS IS SUP with Mike Lenane CROATIAN cruising PHIL PLUME'S Mallorcan circumnavigation CORRAN ADDISON'S subtle art of balance LAOS LOVING with Mark Rose PRONE PADDLING dabblings COASTAL lifestyle CORE STRENGTH building ISSN 2397-8597 June 2019
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HOW FLAWEDTHINKING LEADSTO DANGER ONTHE RIVER “People voted for the Nazis and like Coldplay.You can’t trust people, Jez...” Super hans, Peep Show
well, sort of. Training tends to focus on rescue (reaction to an incident) as opposed to safety (preventing or lessening the chance of an incident happening in the first place). I want to stress how important rescue skills are and that as white water kayakers we need to be proficient in them but we have to recognise that if we are having to use those skills, things have gone wrong. we are in a situation where at least one of our friends or clients is facing a real potential of injury at the very least. wouldn’t it be nice if we could reasonably reduce the chances of that happening in the first place?
Firstly, we need to understand why incidents happen. Consider the various incidents you’ve been involved in on the river. why did they happen? while you're doing that, let’s delve a little way into how we as humans decide to do the things we do. we already know that we can make decisions consciously and logically, gathering relevant information and evaluating it before arriving at our course of action. But, honestly, how often do we actually employ this mode of thinking?
Rarely, because it’s a huge mental effort and we have to make a vast number of decisions each day. Using this approach all the time simply isn’t sustainable. The approach we use most of the time is subconscious and reliant on emotion and intuition. we have developed a prevalence for spotting or assuming patterns and developing stock responses accordingly, lessening the mental effort we need to exert.
‘THINKING, FAST AND SLOW’
Daniel Kahneman refers to these approaches as system one and system two in his seminal work ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’. Kahneman states that both systems run simultaneously, with system one providing suggestions that system two generally adopts with little or no modification. however, system one is flawed in that it has a number of in built biases that can serve to trip us up and we can find ourselves
Bearing this concept in mind, let’s consider the various incidents you’ve been involved with over the years. It’s likely that you’ve identified the cause to be a series of intuitive or emotional decisions based on the biases in our subconsciousness, despite a level of knowledge about the hazards faced. Incidents in our realm are rarely due to an ignorance of the hazards involved or an inability to manage them.
They happen despite an understanding of the hazards and how to manage them because the decisions we make are often emotional and biased. I understand that this can make for demoralising reading because it leads us to conclude that expertise is certainly not a guaranteed defence against poor decisions. The vast majority of incidents involving aircraft can be attributed to pilot error and pilots undergo incredibly thorough training.
There are avenues available to us manage our decision making and make our time on the river safer though. whilst we can’t eradicate these biases, we can understand them and put in place strategies that limit their effects and that’s precisely what this series of articles aims to look at. we can’t stop incidents happening but we can stack the odds in our favour.
Join me next time, as we look more closely at some of the biases we hold and how they affect our decisions.
Tom Parker is one of the UK’s more active and experienced white water coaches. he is a Level 5 Coach, British Canoeing national Trainer and Rescue 3 International InstructorTrainer.To find out more about the courses he runs, head to
www.tomparkercoaching.co.uk
over the past 20 years of kayaking and coaching, I’ve noticed two consistent themes among white water kayakers; we consider safety to be an important subject and we consider ourselves to be reasonable people, used to making logical decisions in high-pressure situations. Safety and rescue training is widely available and well attended. In my experience, white water kayakers see the importance and value of these courses and are more than happy to attend a course. So far, so good?
By Tom Parker
The human factor
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INTERVIEW Brian Johncey SHUTTERBUG (Emma Haylock) profile THIS IS SUP with Mike Lenane CROATIAN cruising PHIL PLUME'S Mallorcan circumnavigation e/ b i r CORRAN ADDISON'S c s b ce u lan subtle art of ba /s k u . .co LAOS LOVING g a m e l with Mark Rose d d a p NG p LI DD PRONE PA u d n ta dabblings s / / : ps COASTALhtt lifestyle CORE STRENGTH building
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The islands of the Inland Sea, Greece D I S C o V E R I n G T h E
Words: Adriana Eyzaguirre Photos: Rob Eade and Giorgos Lilas no, not really.That is an enterprise for a life time and quite frankly, his seas have much to offer too. So what is it like to kayak in these old islands? well, it is not only about the kayaking. It is about the lifestyle to be had from a kayak in this part of the Med. It is about the things you can smell and see. It is about the balmy air scented with pine, the stars you see at night from your deserted beach camp after paddling for hours.There is a certain wilderness, a human wilderness, that creeps up as you paddle among the islands. Maybe it is people’s ancient Mediterranean roots that awake and the primitive human that surfaces far from modern life.
This area is an archipelago of many islands which make loading your kayak and setting off an adventure of discovery. Of course, there are many open water crossings but generally, there is a fantastic taverna with fresh fish, cold beers and local produce at the landing spots.The islands of the Inland Sea is where time has stood still. Rattly cars with number plates from the 80s drive around on the only road there is and the locals come out to say hello and watch these strange people that venture out to sea using these nutty crafts. https://goo.gl/maps/bXjDJJwvhU1nxrCb7
ULySSES
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Not all is stuck in time, there are young people coming back to the islands due to the lack of work in the big cities and the recession that has affected the country. They are setting up new businesses with an innovative take on the traditional Greek approach. So there are new vibrant bars, restaurants serving mussels spiced with pine needles and to die for cocktails with amazing sea views from newly restored windmills and ruined old stone houses.
The islands have lost a lot of the young population as work is seasonal and low paid and the old generation have cornered all the traditional businesses. So the ones coming back have to carve a special place for the product they offer and work hard to make something of quality and novelty. This also means that the islands get an influx of new blood and the small local communities have hope of growing once again.
In the Med it is hard to find places with tides and flow. In this area there are none but the conditions are driven by wind. The land is mountainous which makes the wind forecast one thing, but to interpret how it will actually affect a day’s paddling, requires the experience of having spent time in the area. Seemingly mildish winds of Bft4 can tumble down mountains and valleys and hit the water at Bft6.
There are different rules for different times of year, but generally when the land and the sea warm up, the mornings are calm and the afternoons brings strong NW winds that get sucked out to sea.
Depending where you are among the islands, you may be sheltered or exposed so route planning and launch times need to be carefully considered. The swell of the Med is fat and round and wind driven chop has a very short period. Unless it is very stormy and there are south winds, both the swell and the chop have little height which means paddlers have to deal mostly with only one or two strong conditions working together.
Looking at the fishermans’ boats and their wide hulls, you can see they are built to rock on the trough and ride the ridges of these fat waves. A good pilot will keep the boat on the ridge for ages before hitting a through, which is a bit hard to fully copy in a kayak but it is fun trying. For the open water crossings, we generally choose the mornings to cruise to our destinations and to ensure we have the opportunity to look at cliffs, explore the huge caves on the route, stop in coves to swim and eat and arrive before the winds catch us in the middle of the sea.
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The character of the islands has remained quite unchanged since the 50s when there was a very strong earthquake that destroyed many villages and caused many to emigrate to Australia, South Africa and the US. Because of the mountains and the rocky ground, putting up high rise buildings is so expensive that there are no large hotels or other mass tourism complexes. There are also a lot of rules about building, which have helped preserve the village character of the settlements. The long recession the
country has undergone has also played a part in keeping things underdeveloped. All in all, for an unspoilt, cosy and friendly escape from modern life in a warm environment, this place ticks all the boxes.
The experience here is not normally one of dynamic water handling although it can happen, but mostly one of a meditative contemplation on crossings, paddling to explore the coastline, visiting tavernas, sleeping in coves under a very striking Milky Way, enjoying the warmth, swimming with the fishes and discovering small deserted beaches with goats and turquoise waters. I can’t really understand why Ulysses left all of this behind and spent so long away from his kingdom fighting in the Trojan wars.
Maybe there are some parallels with young people today forced to leave this area in search of work or to satisfy the desire to discover the big world, only to yearn for what they left behind and end up spending years hatching the perfect plan to come back home.
We run island hopping trips as well as hotel and day trip format breaks to explore the area. We also do multi-activity breaks with hiking, kayaking, diving and night walks with yummy picnics and local wines to stargaze in the mountains.
For more info, contact adriana@outdoorithaca.com
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InFoRMATIon
Ionian Islands LOCATION: The Ionian Islands, are a group off the west coast of Greece, stretching south from the Albanian coast to the southern tip of the Peloponnese, and often called heptanesos (‘Seven Islands’). The islands are Corfu, Kefallonia, Zakynthos, Lefkada, Ithaca, Kythira and Paxos, with their minor dependencies. Together they form a periféreia (region) of Greece.
www.visitgreece.gr
PASSPORTS/VISAS: Visitors to Greece with EU passports are rarely given more than a cursory glance, but customs and police may be interested in what you are carrying. EU citizens may also enter Greece on a national identity card.Visitors from outside the EU may require a visa. Be sure to check with consular authorities before you arrive.
https://goo.gl/maps/KEhkaNt8hrL41Bfp6
GETTING THERE: The larger Ionian islands of Corfu, Kefallonia and Zakynthos have their own airports, while Lefkada is a short drive from Preveza airport on the mainland. All four of these islands are connected to each other by Sky Express (www.skyexpress.gr) and with Athens by olympic Air (www.olympicair.com) and all also welcome direct flights from northern Europe. Kythira has direct flight connections with Athens only.
Ferries connect each island with its closest neighbours, in some instances in summer only, and also with the Greek mainland. Paxi, Antipaxi and Ithaki do not have airports, and are thus accessible by ferry only. Kythira is not linked by ferry to the other Ionians, but it’s a stop for boats en route between Crete and the Greek mainland.
HEALTHCARE: If you're an EU citizen, a European health Insurance Card (EhIC) covers you for most medical care but not emergency repatriation or non-emergencies. Citizens from other countries should find out if there is a reciprocal arrangement for free medical care between their country and Greece.
Although medical training is of a high standard in Greece, the public health service is badly underfunded. and hospitals can be overcrowded, Relatives are expected to bring in food for the patient – which can be a problem for a traveller. Conditions and treatment are much better in private hospitals, which are expensive. All this means that a good health-insurance policy is essential.
WATER: Tap water is drinkable and safe in most of Greece but not always in small villages and on some of the islands. Always ask locally if the water is safe and, if in doubt, drink boiled or bought water. Even when water is safe, the substances and bacteria in it may be different from those you are used to and occasionally, can cause vomiting or diarrhoea..
RESOURCES: EoT (Greek national Tourist organisation; www.visitgreece.gr). Concise tourist information.
Greek Travel Pages (www.gtp.gr). Access to ferry schedules and accommodation.
Lonely Planet (www.lonelyplanet.com/greece). Destination information, hotel bookings, traveller forum and more.
Ministry of Culture (www.culture.gr). For cultural events and sights.
Viva.gr (https://travel.viva.gr/en/ferries). A new site, fabulous for ferry schedules and tickets, among other services.
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Words: Mal Grey As with so many of these trips, it all began whilst under the influence of drink, camped by the fire on the banks of a small river in Wales, at new year.A couple of us were talking about where we would be heading on this year’s ‘Pirate’ adventure at Easter, and the seed was planted without really considering how the reality might be. This would be the sixth Easter in a row, where the Pirates have headed with canoes for the wilds of the Scottish Highlands. The Pirates themselves are the kids, Tobey, Alex and Ben; the adults merely make up the crew. On the first of these trips, Loch Shiel, the youngest was merely three, the oldest six. Now they are a few years older, eight and 11, the trips are becoming more and more ambitious. On this trip, teenagers Nick, 14, and Matt, 19 would make their debut too, and prove a real asset to the expedition. The adult crew were made up of Lynne and Darren, Liz and Rob, Nige, Pete and myself.
INvERPoLLy A wA L K A C R o S S w I T h
C A n o E S
Atmospheric conditions on the final day
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ThePADDLER 42 There are several routes linking the lochs of Assynt, Inverpolly and Coigach, that wonderful land in the far north west where steep mountains leap skyward from a wild moorland studded with lochs of all shapes and sizes. Some of these are almost ‘popular’ these days, trips on the beautiful lochs of Veyatie, Fionn Loch and Sionasgaig. Mostly these are ‘there and back’ routes, or circles linking several lochs via portages. The line we had carelessly drawn on the map, though, was a linear one, albeit a rather convoluted one that wound its way from the main road at the east to the coast, though the heart of this magnificent country. on the way, we’d paddle on 13 lochs. Clearly this also meant many portages, and three of them would be big ones of a kilometre or more…
CARRYING THE GEAR
The long journey north from England over, 12 of us gathered by the Ledmore River, which leads into Cam Loch. with some cars dropped on the banks of Loch Lurgainn, roughly two thirds of the way through the route we’d planned, we kept our options open, for the weather would inevitably influence our route and timing. It also allowed for a cache of supplies. For we don’t travel light. one of the joys of the open canoe is the ability to carry gear to make the wilderness a little more comfortable. with kids along, having comfortable camps, where we actually spend a lot of the time, makes the trip much more enjoyable, for them, and for us. The Pirates can basically ‘go feral’ and make the most of living in a wilderness playground, whilst the crew sit around under tarps and socialise. This means a number of things. Tarps, several of them. Metal things, fireboxes and big pans. wood, bags of it. Proper food, for we need plenty of tasty fuel. And lastly, ballast, of the red liquid variety mostly, but supplemented with gin and whisky.
As we headed down the little winding river and onto Cam Loch, the day was bright, and the views to the remarkable spine of Suilven drew us onwards. It was, however, windy – and it would remain windy for, err, most of the week. now wind is the enemy of the open canoeist, and this would influence our planning many times in the week ahead. here though, it was behind us, and we made our way along the loch to the west. Most people portage from Cam Loch at its south eastern point, a short hop to Loch Veyatie. we though, fancied spending time at the head of the loch, then a longer portage out to the south west.
The little Lochan Fhionnlaidh
RISING WINDS
now though, the wind was rising. As we crossed the large bay on the southern shores, the waves were crashing against a headland ahead. with laden canoes and kids on board, the decision was made. we’d portage the heathery headland and find somewhere to camp. having followed the exploits of Graham of Moosehead Canoes, we knew of a portage route we could maybe follow the next day.
our first camp was a little rough and ready, sheltering in the tiny ‘key hole’ bay at the start of the portage. with strong winds forecast for the next day, we realised the portage would need to be from here, we would not be paddling. over the first of many excellent meals, pulled-pork and veg, cooked from scratch on fireboxes and complete with pudding including real custard, we plotted our route options.
Sunset at Loch an Doire Dhuibh Climbing over the hill to Lurgainn
wind is the enemy of the open canoeist, and this would influence our planning many times in the week ahead
The fabulous beach at camp six
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PORTAGE PLEASURES
Morning came after a breezy night. Bags were loaded, with the biggest log bag falling to me, and off we headed. Uphill, on typical terrain of mixed heather and tussock, with the odd bog thrown in. Climbing southwards, we fell into our usual routine; carry for a certain distance, usually about 3-400m, then make a bag dump and return for canoes. In this terrain, possibly to the horror of purists, we find dragging the canoe easiest, especially in this wind. Stumbling about in tussocks with a canoe on your head isn’t much fun, and it also means smaller lighter items can be left in the canoes.
It’s hard work. For some reason, though, I for one find it fun. Perhaps it’s because the idea of carrying canoes, gear, bags of logs and boxes of wine across some of Scotland’s least travelled bits of moor is pretty ridiculous. Especially when you consider that, over the week ahead, most of us were doing two bag trips and one canoe drag for each portage leg, so actually travelled five times the distance on the map. what really makes it is the camaraderie; if you can’t laugh at yourselves in this situation, then you’re doing it wrong, as far as I’m concerned.
The rest stops are particularly happy occasions, sometimes the guitar even comes out. It does take its toll though, and is physically arduous, we were burning off thousands of extra calories on the big portage days, even though they were fuelled by handfuls of ‘trail mix’ and chocolate ‘portage eggs’. here the teenagers proved themselves to be tough, strong and surprisingly not at all stroppy about being asked to lug bags of stuff over the hills.
THE SHORES OF VEYATIE
After several hours, we reached the high point. The terrain had been rough, but with the highlands so dry this year, the feared bogs were few and far between. now we would drag downhill, and this meant the gear could mostly go back in the canoes. It still wasn’t easy, as parts were steep, and combined tactics required to keep control using lines and brute force. we’d chosen a longer, diagonal route, to finish at a spot on the shores of Veyatie that looked to be sheltered by a hilly headland from the easterly winds. we never made it, for a flat area at the side of a lonely and rarely visited, let alone paddled, lochan, proved too tempting for our weary team.
That night I was on chef duty, as we take it in turns to cook for the whole group, and I cooked
Cam Loch
up a Chinese chicken meal under a flapping tarp, the only shelter around. we were all stumbling around the tussocks, which became a bit of a running joke.
The following day, the wind was still very strong, ending all hope of going on to Loch Veyatie and paddling to Fionn Loch to one of our favourite camp spots from a previous trip. And we were somewhat knackered. So, we declared a ‘rest day’ and merely moved our camp a few hundred metres to a lovely little curving beach partly sheltered behind the headland. Many of the best moments on these trips are the long evenings passed happily on loch shores, whilst the kids build harbours and the adults try to take on enough calories to fuel themselves for the difficulties ahead.
GRAB THE MOMENT
on these trips, you need to be ready to grab those moments when the loch becomes calm, and move onwards whilst you can, whatever the time of day. waking early the next morning, I peered out of my tent door, hazily making out pretty calm water and the figure of Liz wandering past saying, “We need to go.” So, we did, after a hasty snack breakfast and breaking down of camp.
heading down the wild and lovely loch, it was a joy to be afloat again, and the wind was tolerable, though still perhaps touching force 3. More importantly, the waves were modest, no whitecaps, and the breeze was behind us. we paddled on, turning into one of the wildest little spots I know in the highlands, the inlet of Loch a’ Mhadail, protected by a delightful little sandbar.The wind was now angry again, and into our faces suddenly, but we only had this short crossing to make, and we’re soon ashore once again.
This was the start of our next big portage, from here to Loch Sionasgaig, for we had cut short our original longer planned route by Fionn Loch to make up some time. This one we’ve done before, in the other direction, so knew what to expect; five or six hours of portage along a shallow valley to the old shieling at Clais, slightly downhill this time. By the time we reached the ruin, most of the day was gone and we decided to camp there. This was the end of day four. So far, the paddling had made up a total of just 2 ½ hours of our trip!
with a tarp over the end of the ruin, and tents nearby, we made ourselves at home. In the morning, the wind still pushed and pulled at the
First portage round a wave swept headland on Cam Loch
Bannock
Ben
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ThePADDLER 46 tarp, but the day was bright, wonderful warm sunshine reaching us in this magnificent wild spot beneath the towering flanks of Cul Mor. A scouting mission found us stood on a hill overlooking the island-studded waters of lovely Loch Sionasgaig, which we hoped to paddle today.The panorama of the isolated monarchs of Assynt and Inverpolly, Suilven, Cul Mor, Cul Beag and Stac Pollaidh, was simply breathtaking.To the north, the nearest bay of the loch was wild and bouncy looking, that wind had not yet given up.To the west though, after yet another portage from Lochan na Claise, the loch was calm.This was the
direction we would head, foregoing an exploration of this special loch to get safely to its head.
After dropping camp and lugging to a beautiful calm beach, we were greeted with an area of calm loch, across which our eyes were drawn to the rugged ridge of Stac Pollaidh. we knew that the wind would find us eventually, but for now we paddled happily on sheltered water. Beyond, a headland proved to be the cause of the calm area. on the southern side, the wind was quite strong, but with the fetch from the head of the loch now shorter, the waves were manageable.
The final road portage
Alex and nick paddling at camp five
ISOLATED
It was tough going to reach the beach at the south easterly corner of Sionasgaig, but we were happy to be paddling properly at last, beneath towering hills, in this vast stunning country. Journeying through these lands by loch and land takes you to places walkers rarely reach, for their routes tend to head straight to the hills. This was day five, and as yet we had not met a single other soul.
one of our shortest portages took us to Lochan Gainmheich and then on to windswept Loch an Doire Dhuibh. here we faced our hardest battle, a diagonal crossing to a sheltered cove on the far shore, during which we fought waves and wind, but the reward was worth it. For here, lying at the base of towering Cul Beag above, a little bay sat, perfectly sheltered from the wind. Ancient woodland clad the slopes with lichen-clad birch trees, and above the shore, a few flat spots were perfect for tents. with bodies feeling battered by portages and windy paddling, we instantly knew that tomorrow we would have a full day’s rest in this wonderful place, a true gem amongst wild camps.
EASTER EGGS
Last morning on Loch Lurgainn
The day that followed was perfect. These rest days in the wilds, time spent living outdoors in comfort, but in the most spectacular locations, are amongst the best times I’ve ever had. Some went for a walk, some explored the shores, some did a few chores, and some paddled empty canoes in the sheltered bay. Mostly we just relaxed in warm sunshine by sparkling waters. Across the bay, a small islet was a perfect target for the kids to paddle solo to, especially after I’d hidden Easter eggs on it, and the Pirates revelled in taking charge of the adults’ boats.
Tobey and Alex with my guitar at a rest stop
These are truly special times and make all the hard work getting there totally worthwhile.
Ahead of us though, was our biggest challenge. The following day, we would be taking our canoes and all those bags of gear, over the hill to Loch Sionasgaig. The route was a bit of an unknown, no information on the internet from other daft portagers, so all we had to go on was good old-fashioned map reading and Google Earth. It looked doable, but the climb to its summit was at first steep, as was the final drop to the road and the loch. At the top, a little blue circle on the map marked Lochan Fhionnlaidh, and we would take our canoes there, and paddle it. For no particular reason other than because it probably hasn’t been paddled before. I mean, why would you be there with a canoe?
The climb was tough, at first through the rough woodlands, but as we came out into the open, the angle eased.The dry conditions helped us massively; in a normal year I fear parts of this route would be a real bog-fest. Perhaps six or seven arduous portage legs got us to the lochan, which proved to be shallow and windswept, making our planned paddle brief and hilarious, as I tried to corral the seven canoes into one spot for a photo. It was hopeless, no way could they hold station in the wind with no depth to get a paddle in. It was, though, a superb spot for lunch. It had taken a long time to get there and the descent ahead could be steep and difficult. we then needed to get to camp, ideally at the far end of Loch Lurgainn. we looked over the edge of the slope and, miracle of miracles, found a shallow, grassy gully led easily downwards, winding its way like some slow-speed theme park ride. with canoes fully laden, we simply slid them downhill in under an hour to the loch shore.
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The route on Paddle Points: www.paddlepoints.net/Paddle Points.php?PP=963&r=949
Interactive route on OS Maps (try the ‘Fly Through’): https://osmaps.ordnancesurvey .co.uk/route/3273757/CamLoch-to-Garvie-Bay
The wonderful 5th camp on Loch an Doire Dhuibh
we met our first people in seven days, a lady with two kids, who’d told us that from the summit of Cul Beag, we looked like some sort of biblical migration, and that our progress had been quite the topic of conversation. we’d done it, we’d crossed Inverpolly, the initial target of our trip. however, we were now enthused enough to want to finish it, to follow the line of lochs northwest from here to the sea.
RELOADED
we paddled down Lurgainn, at long last the winds were only modest. Stopping briefly beneath Stac Pollaidh, where our cars were parked, we reloaded with logs, canoe trolleys, and of course, wine. once done, we returned to the loch, paddling beneath majestic mountains, past pine-clad islands, and along rocky shores, to our camp at the far end of the loch. This is one of our favourite campsites anywhere, a place we’d stayed the year before. A curving sandy beach, breached only by a little stream perfect for dam building, looks out on to the stunning mountains of Coigach and Inverpolly. Behind, a woodland area has room for tents, tarps or hammocks.
Sadly, since our previous visit, two fire scars had appeared. Please, if you visit this spot, leave no trace. we did our best to repair and remove them before we left. First, though, another day in paradise, for we would stay here two nights before our final push to the sea. I cannot think of a better place to spend time, in the evening round a fire in shelter with the stars wheeling above the trees, in the day sat on the beach with the guitar, or literally whittling away the time with knife and stick.
over the last few days, the starts of a song had come into my head, using the tune and words of the traditional song, “Over the hills and Far Away” as a framework. here I jotted it down, ready for a first performance that night, a song that would commemorate our trip. Later, Rob put a video together to go with the recording made by the fire in the most beautiful camp in Scotland; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGnsjbS3TE0
our final day dawned. Today, we would link four lochs and the portages between them, and then head to the sea at Garvie Bay. As we set off, the conditions were magical, the wind gone, clouds clinging damply to the towering hills, misting the pinnacles of Stac Pollaidh, giving us a dramatic farewell. A quick portage to the small Loch Bad na h-Achlaise, a simple crossing of that, then a very short but rocky haul to Loch Bad a Ghail, all went smoothly enough.
The efforts of the last week were taking their toll though, and we were all tired, and carrying various sprains and injuries. Loch Bad a Ghail is the last one that lies directly under the hills, and as we reached its far shore, the way ahead was empty of the silhouettes of mountains.The river from there to our final loch, osgaig, is not one that laden open canoes can paddle – tricky at first, then empty of water but full of rocks to finish.
This was why we’d picked up the canoe trolleys from the cars, for the road runs parallel to the river. with Rob carrying one boat, we wearily trudged onwards with our canoes on wheels, reaching osgaig without incident, until I realised the heat had melted part of the axles on my trolley just as we finished. oK, I had slightly overloaded it!
Dropping down to our last loch, we paddled quickly down it in a rising cross wind. The final landing onto a rocky shoreline was slightly comical, each canoe landing in strong wind and bouncing over hidden rocks, but finally we’d done it.
All that remained was a walk, with no gear, from there to the wild shore at Garvie Bay.This turned out to be the boggiest part of the whole adventure, but nothing was going to stop us now, after nine days of travelling, 13 lochs, 11 portages and 32 miles of travelling. Except it wasn’t really 32 miles, for by the time all the portage legs had been added up, it was well over 70.There, on the rocks of a lovely, lonely bay, we celebrated with a dram. I for one, was very proud of what we’d done, reaching that point across fabulous wild country, with kids in tow. we’d even paddled some of it.
As the chorus of our theme song goes: O’er the hills and o’er the bogs With whisky, wine and lots of logs We heave and haul canoes all day Over the hills to where they'll float
Loch Sionasgaig and Cul Mor
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MIxING It UP Words: Corran Addison It’s not because you’re old that you can no longer do the things you used to do. It’s because you stopped doing them.
From when I was a pre-teen, to my 30th birthday, I was squarely focused on kayaking. Sure, I snowboarded, and surfed, and rode bicycles, but those were distractions from kayaking. Every waking opportunity I had, I went kayaking.
It seemed to pay off. By the time I was 30, I’d been to the Olympics, I had three world championship medals, a world waterfall record, two dozen first descents and had invented the planing hulled kayak. That’s not too shabby I suppose!
The subtlety of edging and weight shift is something that can be learned only kayaking, but its much harder than transferring it across from surfing or snowboarding. Photo william Pollock
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I would argue however, that in many ways I’ve accomplished more since my 40th birthday (I’m now 50). I’ve raced superbike motorcycles with factory support, made finals in the world cup in hawaii for SUP surfing, won the toughest SUP race on earth (the Dusi Marathon), surfed 40foot waves, and run 20-foot waterfalls on a SUP.
In hindsight, if I’d done these things as well as kayaked as obsessively as I did when I was in my teens and 20s, I believe I would ultimately have been a better kayaker for it.
The evidence is there. I surfed and snowboarded just enough in my early career to borrow design ideas from both of those sports (the Fury had sidecut, and a surfing type hull), and many of the freestyle moves I invented in the 90s and 2000s were adapted from these sports.
More important than borrowing design or technique ideas from other sports however (unless that’s your job), is that doing other sports develops other muscles, new reaction times and solutions to new situations that can come up in your kayak, better balance and a wider perspective of your padding in general.
Slalom Paddling completely changed who I was as a kayaker. It is highly unlikely that I ever would have become the freestyle paddler and extreme kayaker that I did without the skills I learned in slalom. Photo: norbert Sattler Päl Lindseth, a world renowned extreme kayaker, took up surfing specifically to improve his paddling. Photo: Corran Addison
Dan Gavere, one of the 1990’s top freestyle paddlers, was also a professional snowboarder. Jimi Blakeney, also a top freestyle paddler was a pro-skater. Renowned extreme kayakers, Alan Ellard and willy Kern are top rate extreme skiers.
But even those that didn’t stray far from kayaking mixed it up. world freestyle medalists Scott Shipley and Eric Jackson were both olympic slalom kayakers. Steve Fisher was a flat water sprint and marathon kayaker. norbert Sattler, the 1973 world slalom champion was also an extreme kayaker, and is responsible for having invented the ‘splitwheel’ in the late 1970s (a cartwheel that changes direction in mid move). There are of course plenty of fantastic freestyle, slalom, or extreme kayakers who don’t dally much outside of their chosen discipline. But it is my belief that if they did, they’d be even better paddlers as a result.
Certainly, kayaking disciplines like slalom, or even better, something like sprint kayaking or surf ski paddling, improves fundamental baseline skills like the forward stroke in ways that are almost impossible to learn and perfect if you’re paddling only freestyle or creek kayaks. It’s one of the reasons I have my five-year old son paddling a surf ski; to work on his forward stroke and balance.These are skills that will serve him well later in his paddling career (as will his snowboarding, and even riding motorcycles). At five, his forward stroke is already better than half of all white water kayakers, regardless of how long they’ve been paddling.
Racing motorcycles taught me a whole new meaning to the concept of fear and how to handle it. I wish this had been part of my toolbox when I was pushing myself in kayaking. Photo: Christine Pinsonneault.
Allan Ellard, one of the most accomplished extreme kayakers of the 90s and 2000s, is a dedicated extreme skier who’s always used the two sports to compliment each other. Photo: Nick Pearce
Sharing a wave with ex-pro kayaker, turned kiteboarding designer, Julien Fillion. while he doesn’t kayak much anymore, when he does you can instantly tell he’s brought new skills across. Photo: william Pollock ThePADDLER 53
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Surfing big waves, even river waves, taught me a lot about balance and edging. But it also taught me to remain calm when the beat down begins. Photo: Mirco Garoscio
It’s impossibly difficult to learn how subtle edging and weight transfer can radically change how your kayak handles unless you bring it in from another sport. Photo: Corran Addison I’ve made a point of putting my five-year old in a surf ski so that he can learn a proper forward stroke. Already, his paddling technique is better than half the paddlers out there. Photo: Corran Addison
As multiple olympic sprint champion, Gregg Barton, once told me, “Learn to paddle a sprint kayak. It’ll improve your slalom paddling in ways no amount of slalom training ever will.” And he was right.
SUP paddling has in fact done wonders for my kayaking, in ways both foreseen and unforeseen. Racing paddleboards taught me a lot about reach, catch, rotation and balance all combined into one. Running white water on a paddleboard has vastly increased my balance, and more importantly, the subtly of balance and edging. while I’m ‘over the hill’ when it comes to any kind of serious competitive kayaking, I believe I’m a more subtle and refined kayaker today than I was at the peak of my career: if I’d had the skill toolbox then that I have today, I can only imagine where my paddling might have gone.
SUP paddling has also taught me to remain calm in the water. I never swam much as a kayaker. Since about 1982, I can count on one hand the number of times I swam out of a kayak, averaging about 10-15 years between swims. As a result, I was never a ‘good swimmer’. I don’t mean my swimming technique – I competed in high school. I mean my head. when I did swim, it was such a novel experience, that it was somewhat panicked.
POUNDED IN MASSIVE SURF
Spending weeks at a time in hawaii getting pounded in massive surf, along with pushing my boundaries in white water SUP paddling (which is paramount to swimming class 4-5 white water all day), meant that I got used to being in the water, in unpleasant situations, and I am now very calm as a result. where once I was terrified of swimming (and luckily never
swam somewhere that required a calm, settled mind to survive), it could well have happened, and I was illequipped to deal with it should it have happened.
Being held under for 20 seconds at a time at the north Shores’ notorious wiamea in 20-foot surf, taking wave after wave on the head, with no end to the beating in sight, forces you to remain composed and calculated.
Racing motorcycles taught me to deal with fear. you think standing at the top of a dangerous rapid is scary? Try sitting on a machine that has a higher power to weight ratio than a Trident intercontinental ballistic missile, approaching a 80km/hr hairpin corner at 260km/hr with another bike alongside, playing a game of chicken to see who can break last and get the position into the corner. That’ll re-define fear for you!
Racing motorcycles also taught me to multi-task; one foot is changing gears, the other is feathering the rear break, one hand is easing the clutch and the other is playing the game of rolling off the gas and applying the front break; your main stopping power.
while your hands and feet are doing that, your legs are shifting you off the seat so you can hang off the bike, your outer knee is gripping the tank, your inner knee is sliding along the asphalt giving you feedback as to what the bikes suspension is doing, while your mind is making lightning fast calculations about when to roll off throttle, break, slide off the bike, feather the break through the corner, all the while gauging your speed relative to the tyres ability to stick to the asphalt.
And all of that with someone else doing the same alongside, just inches from you – hopefully a willing dance partner. I swam no more than four times out of a kayak in 35 years. Lucky for me, none of those involved swimming in something truly dangerous, as I was ill equipped to handle scary white water swimming, despite loving challenging rivers in my kayak. Photo: Christine Pinsonneault
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I’m not saying you need to risk your life to be a better paddler. That’s just part of who I am – I like scary sports. But even something as simple as snowboarding inbounds, or surfing chest high waves, will greatly improve your paddling. Surfing has a weight shift subtlety that kayaking simply does not encourage. The smallest changes of foot position, weight shift, bending or unbending knees, makes significant changes to how a board will go through a turn. Learning this in a kayak is very hard, but transferring it to your kayaking is not. once you’ve learned these subtleties, and felt first hand how it changes performance, the motivation to apply it to paddling is natural. you’re also not limited to other extreme sports. Gymnastics or yoga contributes more than you would think to understand your body and what it can do. Diving competitively in high school allowed me to try new kayaking acrobatics (like the Pan Am for example) as I already had the muscle memory from similar twists and rotations acquired diving. Even sports like football or tennis help, improving hand/eye coordination.
Mixing it up has also helped me with age. Since I am well into the backside of the curve of my padding career, meaning basically that every day I am less good than I once was, doing all these other complimentary sports keeps my eye off that unfortunate reality, while still experiencing the excitement of learning; both the sports I’m doing, and what those newly acquired skills bring to my paddling, even this late in my career.
A BETTER PADDLER THAN I HAD BEEN
I found, briefly as I approached 40, that the reality that I could no longer do in a kayak what I used to be able to do, was affecting my desire to go paddling. The less I paddled, so the faster the inevitable downward spiral of paddling skills became. I realized that it’s not because you’re old that you can no longer do the things you used to do – it’s because you stopped doing them. As a result I drifted into almost full-time surfing, then SUP paddling (for my watersports). however, it was when I moved back to the greatest kayaking place in the world, Montreal, Canada, that I got back into a kayak, and realized that I was a better paddler than I had been when I almost quit a decade before, all thanks to the other sports I’d been doing.
Learn from my experience, whether you’re a young up and coming paddler who aspires to greatness, or an old cat like me, who just wants to feel like I still learn something every time I go out.
Not only has my foray into class 5 SUP paddling been a fun and challenging one, but I came back from it as a better kayaker. Photo: Yannick Larouche
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John Connelly, The Maine IslandTrail The northern Forest CanoeTrail, and the importance of…
watER tRaILS
Seventy-five days, 1,500 miles and two of the preeminent water trails in the world!
Words: Scott Edwards Photos: Brian Threlkeld, Nicole and John Connolly In April of 2016, John Connelly set out to do something extraordinary for his 60th birthday. he set out to do something epic, paddle in their entirety of the northern Forest Canoe Trail and the Maine Island Trail. Seventy-five days and 1,500 miles and John’s impressive skill set allowed him to paddle the nFCT through places others chose to portage. By any stretch of the imagination, this was an epic expedition, with John’s desire to inspire people to get outside and enjoy the wonders of the natural world.
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ThePADDLER 60 John started his journey at Old Forge, New York and paddled to the NFCT take out in Fort Kent, Maine. Once in Fort Kent, the challenge went from canoeing the lakes and rivers in New York, into Canada,Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, to braving the ever-changing conditions of the North Atlantic and the Maine Island Trail.
His goal: to be the first to connect the two magnificent trails and to avoid dying out there. Returning alive was, a promise he made to his number one trail angel, his wife Nicole, who spent a large portion of that 75 days making sure John was well supplied, well fed and well beered, as he covered the 1,500 miles. The weather was rarely exemplary, and despite it being the warmer seasons for most of the northern western hemisphere, those who live in the north eastern regions, know full well that spring can be interminably delayed and extremely fickle. However, John did complete his expedition and did not die out there much to the relief of Nicole.
MESSAGE
There was another message that John wanted to share, and that was how the importance environmentally and aesthetically important the water trails of the world are.
John had some very insightful thoughts about these water trails and was kind enough to pen these words, “Water trails like the NFCT and MIT demystify waterways and encourage people to experience sections of them.When people venture out to see what the trails are like and what they have to offer, most often they have unique experiences that touch them in very personal ways.When this happens, they have a visceral connection to the resources that translates into a form of ownership; owning the spirit of the place, interactions with it, and memories of it in its natural state, which is unique and meaningful for many people.This translates into caring about conservation and stewardship of these places and is why these trails are so important for the sustainability of the resources for future generations.�
There are close to 600 ACA recognized water trails in the United States. And, they are important not only to paddlers, but, to the environments they are a part of.With so many recognized water trails in the US, you are probably close to one in your area. I cannot stress enough the need for members who support the tireless efforts and superlative work done for the environs where water trails make their homes.
VOLUNTEERS
These trails are mostly staffed and cared for by a cadre of volunteers.They clear the trails of debris and fallen trees; on the Maine Island Trail they are the custodians of the islands.With nothing more than a handshake, MITA volunteers keep the host of privately owned islands clean and ready for members use and the islands’ owners get caretakers who truly care about the islands and the environment in general. I have been privileged enough to be a member and paddle segments of the Maine Island Trail and know what it means to me, personally.
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I thought it prudent to ask Doug Welch, Executive Director of the Maine Island Tail what the trail meant to him. This is what he so graciously shared, “Over 30 years, the Maine Island Trail has ensured recreational access to the wild islands of Maine and on-ground stewardship of those delicate properties. By giving visitors and volunteers’ access to these spectacular little worlds, we build awareness of the islands' environmental challenges and encourage people to lend a hand in their care. It is a virtuous and empowering cycle that has resulted in over 230 properties being part of the Trail.”
GUIDE
It is worthy of note that not only is the MITA the stewards of the islands in their care, but, they publish a trail guide every year in support of the local boating community.This guide is invaluable to people paddling the Maine Island Trail. It is a trusted resource for planning your trips along the coast.The guide gives you information on what islands are open to camping, where the campsites are and their capacity. Landing opportunities, guest limits and fire regulations as well. No Maine trip leader can efficiently create a float plan without this guide. It alone is worth the price of membership and then some.
The Northern Forest Canoe Trail that traverses 7,400 miles following traditional trade routes used by Native Americans and the early trappers, hunters and explorers.The NFCT is the longest water trail in the United States. It covers 23 rivers and streams, 59 lakes/ponds, 45 communities and over 70 miles of portages.There are many books about planning trips on the trail, both in segments and the through-paddler.
The mission statement of the NFCT, from their website is: ‘We protect and steward our water trail and foster community vitality to promote inspiring outdoor experiences in the Northern Forest Region’, which is a universal credo for the water trails throughout the country. One of the most unique characteristics of the NFCT is that it not only does it wind through several US states, it crosses the border between the US and Canada. The board of directors reflects this diversity by being from the states it passes through.
Karrie Thomas, NFCT’s executive director, says this about the NFCT, “The NFCT inspires people.The idea pushes people to consider the magnitude of crossing the northeast by paddlecraft. Once on the trail, whether for an afternoon or a month-long expedition, paddlers experience charming communities, deep wilderness, and conditions from flatwater to whitewater. Our organization provides access to these adventures and the beauty of the region.”
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ThePADDLER 64 John’s stated mission statement for Paddlequest 1500 was to encourage others to get outside and connect with the natural world. In speaking with him it was also very clear that he wanted to shine a spotlight on two prestigious water trails virtually in his backyard. Both he and I feel that the first step in protecting our waterways comes through connecting with them on a one-to-one basis.
It is true that we will only protect that which we love and treasure. John’s resume reflects both of these. It is my hope that wherever you are, you get out there, get in the water and find that connection for yourself. It is out there waiting for you. Embrace it and treasure that which nature gives us for free.
I would like to take a moment and thank John Connelly for his friendship and his willingness to contribute to this article despite the time pressures of getting his newest adventure off and running. At the time of this writing, the adventuresome couple have gone ‘walkabout’ with no end in sight! you can follow them on Instagram @Connellyoutdoors.
Thanks to Doug welch for taking the time to add his wisdom at a time when the staff of MITA is at its busiest. And, for always taking the time to be a good friend.
Karrie Thomas for her excellent leadership as the Executive Director of the nFCT and for her generosity towards writing this article and for her friendship.
RESOURCES
John Connelly has written a book on his expedition called ‘Dying out here is not an option’. It can be found on Amazon, with a link on his website. Part of the proceeds from the sale his book are donated to MITA and nFCT. It is available both digitally and in paperback.
His travelogue can be found at www.paddlequest1500.com/
Information on the Maine Island Trail Association https://mita.org/
Information on the Northern Forest Canoe Trail www.northernforestcanoetrail.org/
List of US water trails www.americancanoe.org/search/newsearch.asp
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13/04/2018 13:16
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Sophie ogilvie
Joe Clarke
I CF C Ano E Lee Valley, London
Photos: Antony Edmonds Three gold, two silver and a bronze in canoe slalom and a further gold in extreme slalom, highlighted GB’s best ever result at a world Cup and demonstrated the country’s growing dominance in slalom. Mallory Franklin (Windsor & District) led the way with double gold in the women’s single kayak (K1) and canoe single (C1). She was followed home in silver position by teammate Kimberley Woods (Rugby) with Australia’s Jessica Fox in third.
A delighted Mallory said, I was aware of what Kim did, hearing it when I warmed up, but I knew there were bits in my semi that meant I could get a quicker time out. I was just happy to put that run down and come out on top.” She continued, “Double gold is truly insane! When you go off last in the final you have that knowledge instantly of how it has ended up, but you don’t really have the time to take it in. I has been a crazy weekend but I have really enjoyed it.”
Kimberley, who narrowly missed out on the K1 bronze medal added, “I am thrilled, although it’s a bit bitter sweet losing out on Olympic points to Mallory, but it’s been two years since I have been on a World Cup podium with a few fourths since then. So to come out with a really good run when I wasn’t really feeling it this morning and make it through to the final and get through those emotions in the two hours in between makes me really proud of myself and my team for helping me through that.”
Scotland’s Sophie Ogilvie (CR Cats) also rose to the occasion qualifying for her second senior final in two weeks to finish tenth.
Kimberley woods
Bradley Forbes-Cryans
S L AL o M
Ryan Westley Extreme slalom start
Mallory Franklin
woRLDcUP
Fiona Pennie
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Below and right: the volunteers and BC’s william Packer and Rob Knott
Ryan westley Adam Burgess Mallory’s gold in the single kayak was matched in the men’s by teammate, Olympic champion, Joe Clarke (Stafford & Stone). He swept home in the last run of the day saying, “This is fantastic! I got into a bit of trouble round the oval section but that home crowd behind me all the way really pushed me to the finish. I felt pressure on the final run, off last and you know you are on good form and you expect things of yourself. I got good headspace on the start line and went out there and performed.”
It was nearly another one-two for GB as Chris Bowers (Stafford & Stone) but a touch on gate nine meant he had to settle for fourth in his first ever World Cup final. The event was also vital for Olympic selection for Tokyo 2020. Points for selection will go all the way through to the World Championships at the end of September and therefore Clarke and Franklin have established them selves as strong contenders from the start.
In contrast there was disappointment for Bradley Forbes-Cryans (CR Cats) who missed out on the K1 final saying, “I am absolutely gutted to be out the final.The run didn’t even need to be that special and from my qualification run I
Etienne Chappell
knew I was capable of doing that, but then little bits started falling apart.”
In the C1, Adam Burgess was delighted with his silver and best ever individual performance at a World Cup who, said: “I’m buzzing, it was a really intense final.We knew it was going to be exciting today, and up against two of the British lads in there with selection points decided on this one. I knew I had to see boats come down ahead of me but I was up for the challenge today.
Ryan Westley
Somerset’s Ryan Westley, still recovering from shoulder surgery, completed the C1 podium with a bronze and it was disappointment for three-time Olympic medallist David Florence, who finished in sixth place in the final.
Etienne Chappell claimed Great Britain’s first international Extreme Slalom medal, winning gold in the Men’s K1 in the final event of the day.
Mark Ratcliffe, Canoe Slalom Head Coach reflected on a fabulous weekend of racing saying, “We want to get to Tokyo with athletes in every class who are capable of winning.We are not quite there yet but we are certainly moving in the right direction and we will now look to move things on again for the World Championships.”
David Florence
Tomasz Furmanek @tfbergen Bergen, Norway
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Adventure is... ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup, presented by Jaffa.
Read more on page 14
Read more on page 6 & 7
Interview with Steve Backshall on his world first paddling expeditions Read more on page 8
Early Summer 2019
Image credit: True to Nature Ltd
Ajay Tegala, National Trust Ranger Wicken Fen Nature Reserve
In partnership with
“When I get to be out on the water it’s such a relaxing moment, with the sound of the reeds going past. The general calmness of being on the water makes me feel very relaxed and content. I’m very lucky.”
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Let’s go somewhere
Contents
3
Go Paddling!
Welcome Welcome note from Professor John Coyne CBE
4
News News
Record breaking numbers take part in Go Paddling Week!
13
Adventure is...
14
5
Adventure is... p14 Fun in the sun at Paddle in the Park 2019! p5
Adventure Adventures in film making
Performance World Cup Highlights
6
Thank you Canoe Crew!
7
16
Adventures in film making p16
Our Partners World Cup Highlights p6
Featured Interview Steve Backshall on paddling to rediscover the golden age of exploration
8
Jaffa - Word Search
18
Cotswold Outdoor - I am Ajay
20
Coaching and Leadership 22
The 2019 Coaching and Leadership Conference returns this November
23
Steve Backshall on paddling... p8
Access and Environment
The 2019 Coaching and Leadership Conference... p23
David Bain - It’s all about the adventure
10
First ever Clear Access, Clear Waters Community Champion
12
Upcoming Events What’s On?
24
Canoe Focus Early Summer 2019
Become a Stand Up Paddleboard Coach
4
Welcome
Welcome to the latest packed edition of Canoe Focus. Once again we have evidence of the energetic and active community that we represent and a full range of articles reflecting the depth and breadth of our membership’s interest.
It was a proud weekend for me to welcome the Canoe Slalom fraternity from across the world to the first World Cup of the season at Lee Valley on June 14th. We had all five continents participating and most of the major participants, indeed legends in action. It was hugely rewarding to have the largest medal haul in our history with four gold, two silver and a bronze across the six events. In particular, Etienne Chappell won the first ever gold in a World Cup in the UK in extreme slalom and Mallory Franklin won double gold in C1 and K1. Besides the success on the water I was enormously proud to be associated with the fabulous team of volunteers from across our paddling community and beyond that made the event so efficient, enjoyable and welcoming. They did not let the inclement weather dampen their enthusiasm. They were the finest example of volunteers in action that you could find anywhere. The Jaffa Canoe Crew in their Jaffa orange tops were ever present and a visible manifestation of our excellent new partnership with Jaffa. As I write this I am returning from a most positive meeting at DEFRA in support of our Access campaign and in order to further flag up to government the environmental credentials of our membership. We are blessed by terrific support from across our clubs and individuals who go the extra mile to ensure that we protect and preserve the environment. It is delightful to be able to celebrate our first Clear Access, Clear Waters champion in this edition. This work is gaining traction with our role and position within the government departments rising daily.
www.britishcanoeing.org.uk
Having good examples to point to and high profile champions helps. Speaking of champions we have appreciated the support of Steve Backshell and it is good to hear from him on the age of adventure in this edition. We have also seen fabulous support from one of our key trade partners - Peak UK and in particular Pete Astles’ leadership of the campaign to open up the River Derwent and keep it free from plastic pollution.
We appreciate the medal success of our athletes but we also never lose sight of the broad base of our organisation with its emphasis on adventure, an appreciation of the outdoors, environmental concerns, health and wellbeing and the simple joy of being on the water. It is very pleasing to be able to capture this sense of adventure in this edition.
I hope you enjoy this Canoe Focus and find something that captures your own spirit of commitment to British Canoeing. Professor John Coyne CBE Chair
N E WS
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For the latest news from British Canoeing head to our website! If you’re not a member sign up for free updates through regular newsletters www.britishcanoeing.org.uk/news
www.britishcanoeing.org.uk/membership/join-us-online-here
Mass paddlers descend on Brindley Place armed with rubbish collected from Birmingham’s canal network Almost one hundred paddlers braved the rain on Saturday 8 June to take part in Paddle to the Heart, an annual mass paddle event celebrating the waterways of Birmingham - and ridding them of rubbish. Paddlers donned their gloves and litter pickers, fishing out over 30 bags of rubbish and several large items from the water - including bollards, a fire extinguisher, a child’s ride on tractor and even a toilet seat!
Click here to find out more
Canoe Sprint World Championships team announced
British Canoeing Boater X Champions crowned
Congratulations to the winners of the inaugural British Canoeing Boater X series! Solomon Entwistle, Emily Buchanan, Gareth Farrow and Sennah NaderHumphries were crowned national Boater X champions, based on points awarded from three events which took place at Cardiff, Lee Valley and Holme Pierrepont.
16,878 people joined in with Go Paddling Week 2019!
Click here to find out more
Paracanoe Talent Club Partnership Programme British Canoeing is delighted to announce that Royal Leamington Spa Canoe Club, Norwich Canoe Club and Wey Kayak Club have signed up to the Paracanoe Talent Club Partnership Programme which is aimed at developing the next generation of elite athletes.
With back to back World Cup gold medals, Liam Heath will lead the GB Canoe Sprint team at the World Championships in Szeged, Hungary in August.
Click here to find out more
Fun in the sun at Paddle in the Park 2019! Paddle in the Park 2019 took place over the weekend of 1-2 June as part of the annual Go Paddling Week orchestrated by British Canoeing, at the National Water Sports Centre, Nottingham. The annual event, encouraging a mix of complete novices and seasoned pros, saw paddlers from across the UK descend upon the park for a weekend of family fun, alongside the chance to develop skills from some of the best in the business too.
Click here to find out more
Canoe Focus Early Summer 2019
Click here to find out more
Click here to find out more
6
World Cup Highlights After a fantastic three days at Lee Valley White Water Centre, Great Britain finished as top nation at the London Canoe Slalom World Cup, in front of a home crowd!
With a total of three gold, two silver and bronze in canoe slalom and a further gold in extreme slalom, this was
GB’s best ever result at a World Cup!
The ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup presented by Jaffa played host to the UK’s first international Extreme Slalom competition event
Almost
10,000 oranges is what it took to fuel athletes, spectators and our Canoe Crew.
Great Britain’s Etienne Chapell
Joe Clarke Mallory Franklin x2 Etienne Chappell Gold
won Gold! SELL OUT!
Friday’s event was SOLD OUT with 2000 spectators.
Adam Burgess Kimberley Woods Silver
Ryan Westley Bronze
1500 spectators
took to the water or ergo machines to have a go at paddling for themselves!
6325 tickets sold! 58,621 refills from our Thames Water refill stations across the site.
www.britishcanoeing.org.uk
There will be more slalom action as The European Canoe Slalom Championships will be taking place at Lee Valley White Water Centre between the 15th and 17th May 2020
You can sign up to receive information on the British Canoeing International Events website.
7
Thank you Canoe Crew! Holding a major event like the 2019 Canoe Slalom World Cup presented by Jaffa would not have been possible without the 225 volunteers who formed our Canoe Crew! From water safety and event operations to technical officials, VIP, hospitality and our very own mascot MacGregor - we couldn’t have done it without you! If you would like to form part of the Canoe Crew for future major events sign up to our International Events newsletter to keep updated on opportunities.
Canoe Focus Early Summer 2019
8
Steve Backshall on paddling to rediscover the golden age of exploration Following a busy year which has seen Steve conquer 10 world firsts and become a first-time dad, we caught up with him on how he has used paddlesports to rediscover the golden age of exploration..
“I’ve always thought of canoes and kayaks as being the perfect expedition tool, and on these expeditions more than any other this has proven to be true.”
You’ve been away a fair bit recently, what can you tell us about your expeditions? “Over the course of the year I have done 10 expeditions, each one having an element of a world first - something that has never been done before. “We have been to seven different countries and spent over 120 nights under canvas; we’ve spent weeks and weeks on rivers that don’t even occur on maps, discovered a waterfall not even visible via satellite imagery, and I guess, rediscovered the golden era of exploration now - which is kind of amazing. “An enormous amount of it has been done in kayaks, canoes, and on stand up paddleboards - we’ve done the lot.”
Expedition with Steve Backshall starts Sunday 21st July on Dave
What made you decide to do this in the first place? “This has been a dream of mine for a long time. It was back in 1997 when I started putting together a little black book of expedition ideas, and in 2006 I developed it into the idea of doing it as a compendium over the course of 12 months and I have been pitching it like that ever since. The thing is, when you pitch it to TV companies like that they look at you like you are insane! “Quite often in televised expeditions there is an element of set up and stage. Every part is risk assessed and that’s what TV companies expect. They’d ask me what we were planning on seeing and what was going to happen, and we just wouldn’t know, these expeditions were for us to go where no one had ever been before so trying to convince these companies for funding when we had no idea what was going to happen was a big gamble, it has taken 12 years of pitching to finally get it off the ground.
Could you tell us some more about the paddling elements? “We paddled two rivers in Suriname which have never been paddled before, and in fact neither of which actually occur on any maps. One of them we named ‘The Ghost River’ and the other is still very much named ‘No Name Creek’. Overall we spent about three weeks on these rivers in the middle of the rainforest and they don’t actually exist on record.
www.britishcanoeing.org.uk
“I’ve always thought of canoes and kayaks as being the perfect expedition tool, and on these expeditions more than any other this has proven to be true. You can take with you everything that you need, you move silently, and you’re in tune with the rhythms of the environment you’re going through, and that’s just sensational.
Image Credit: True To Nature
“I also tried my first ever expedition on a SUP which was great. It offered more elevation than a kayak so from the perspective of being able to spot wildlife and see your way on and through rapids, it was incredible. “We also paddled in the Himalayas, where we attempted the last undescended white water river in Bhutan. The chance to return to the country was an incredible honour, it is somewhere dear to my heart and the river was absolutely insane. “The river actually turned out to be a gorge with vertical rock walls hundreds of metres high, so we were totally locked in. It was impossible to portage rapids so we were having to run a lot of class 5 water, blind.
You mentioned that nothing was staged and you didn’t know what to expect, how did you stay safe? “Everyone I was with were superb - Sal Montgomery was my safety kayaker, she is just remarkable and has such an intuitive feel to the water. She was heading down the rapids and she was getting battered. “In Suriname we had to study the lay of the land from what we could see via satellite imagery which was mainly specs of silver, which was obviously sunlight reflecting off water so we used this so we could piece together a virtual map which was really exciting.
“It terrified me, but at the same time having that opportunity to go in to a place where no one had ever been, and knowing no one else will have the honour of seeing the stunning scenery with fresh eyes, without any map or logistics was a huge privilege.”
9 What were some of the biggest challenges? “The amount of dead fall, trees and vegetation blocking the way when you’re paddling is huge and is incredibly challenging. Hacking through it day in day out, meant progress was really really slow. The biggest day we had out of the entirety of the five weeks in Suriname was 10km and we had other days where we covered no more than 500 metres. “When we hit a massive tangled area of vegetation we’d have to hack through up to our chests in water, knowing that the water is full of massive black piranhas, electric eels, stingrays and crocodiles. “But obviously for me that was the biggest attraction. Because all the incredible wildlife have never been hunted or fished the quantities are how it would be in a primal forest, before we as human beings ever turned up. “What a privilege to be in one of the few forests left on the planet that is untouched by us.”
How did you juggle your expeditions with becoming a first time dad? “Logan was born about 5 days after I got back from my Artic expedition so the timing was pretty tricky. For it to happen the year I became a dad was a disaster if I’m honest but this whole project has been a dream of mine for so long I’ve been trying to get off the ground since 2006 so I really wanted to make it work. “I could have done with being in the country but instead I was, at times, away for five weeks without being able to speak to home, and it was so painful. But this is a project I have devoted my life to building up. All the stories and destinations are things I’ve spent years researching, I just couldn’t give it to someone else.
Steve Backshall Expedition book is available on 18th July, published by BBC Books.
Canoe Focus Early Summer 2019
“Helen was very understanding and encouraging of me to carry on and now it’s done and finished I’m very glad I did and I’m hoping to take a little bit more time now to be a dad.”
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Ex British Canoeing athletes take on plastic pollution in some of the most remote parts of the UK. Waves of Sustainability, an initiative created by ex slalom athletes Tommy Brady and David Bain, in collaboration with Breitling, saw the duo circumnavigate a harsh section of British coast, focusing on The Isle of Lewis and Harris in the Outer Hebrides, to raise awareness of nonbiodegradable plastic being disposed throughout the UK and undertake a series of beach cleans. Despite undertaking the 6 day mission battling 0 degree northerly winds and snow storms, David Bain shares how even when enjoying paddling and adventures there is always time to make small postive changes and work to protect the special areas which we as kayakers have the privilege to explore.
Why did you choose The Outer Hebrides of Scotland for your expedition? I think in the UK we are extremely lucky to live on an island with some of the best sea kayaking in the world and The Isle of Lewis and Harris really stood out on the map as they are completely exposed to the Atlantic. I wanted to show that even the most remote parts of the UK are still affected by our habits, even if we live in the middle of the country. That’s the key, trying to get people who are in big cities, when they buy their daily coffee to realise that their purchase decisions don’t just affect them or their local area, they actually have an impact on remote environments too.
What surprised you the most on your trip? “I wasn’t surprised at what we found, I knew how bad it would be but the interesting thing was the difference between the beaches. The extent of the plastic depended massively on the tidal flow and the direction of the wind. “By the end of the trip we could look on a map and we knew exactly which beaches would and wouldn’t be hit, but the ones that were hit were covered in layers of plastic. That was the thing that surprised us the most, there were layers and layers of it, as soon as you cleared the first layer you’d move the seaweed and it would reveal another layer. “
A lot of paddlers are taking on high profile expeditions to highlight the issue of plastic pollution, do you believe this is the only way to make a difference? “There have been a lot of people who have done these sort of expeditions really successfully and ours wasn’t about being any harder or easier than theirs; it was good to be amongst them and do something amazing ourselves to personally make a difference.
www.britishcanoeing.org.uk
11 “You don’t need to make your whole life purely about sustainability in order to make a difference but positive action is needed and good decision making is key. That said, paddling is about enjoying the outdoors going kayaking. As whitewater paddlers neither of us had actually spent much time on the sea but since starting I have realised that there is a whole discipline of kayaking that is yet to be explored for me, and so many others. “I wouldn’t consider myself an activist, but I believe that everyone can do their own little bit.
Outer Hebrides
Lewis
Harris
“If you’re going on a trip and you come across some rubbish; throw it in the back of your boat. It doesn’t take any time, it’s not going to hinder your experience so you might as well. “It can be frustrating, but for every item you pick up it’s still one less thing that’s going to be there, every little piece you pick up makes a difference.”
Are attitudes changing, do you think we will finally see a difference being made? “The popularity of clean ups on and off the water is on the up, and during our expedition they were really well received by the local community and other paddlers. People understand it now and get that action is needed. Nobody is asking people to go and clean someone else’s kitchen, projects like these are showing everyone that we need to take care of our own playground and the outdoors. “If people do something, it is better than nothing and it’s not about hindering anyone’s paddling experience to try and do litter picking everywhere, but just doing your part as and when you can is the right thing to do.”
Instagram: @davidpbain @tommybrady7 #WavesOfSustainability
Canoe Focus Early Summer 2019
Photos courtesy of Waves of Sustainability
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Clear Access, Clear Waters
Community Champion Congratulations to Bayley Sidall from Sheffield Hallam University Canoe Club who has been crowned our first ever Clear Access, Clear Waters Community Champion! We visited Peak UK, where Bayley and his canoe club were visiting for a factory tour and surprised him with an award presentation to congratulate him for all his hard work and present him with his Peak custom made buoyancy aid and certificate. Bayley, who himself had never tried paddling until 2018, was nominated for his work with Sheffield Adventure Film Festival earlier this year where he helped to organise a large scale clean up on the River Don, which saw over half a tonne of rubbish removed. The clean up saw Bayley take the lead working in partnership with a number of organisations and high profile paddlers such as Cal Major, and generate a significant amount of media coverage all whilst encouraging new and existing paddlers to take to the water and support the ethos of the Clear Access, Clear Waters campaign. “I had no idea about the award and am shocked to have won, I didn’t even know I had been nominated,” said Bayley
“I only began paddling in September 2018 after joining my university canoe club. As someone who had never paddled before I was shocked at the amount of litter and pollution in the water. I have always been aware of it outdoors, but since starting paddling I have definitely become more aware of it. “I am really looking forward to holding more events, and getting involved with Clear Access, Clear Waters and Paddle Peak in order to help spread the message.”
Could you or someone you know be our next Community Champion? Submit a nomination today! In partnership with Peak UK we are looking for Clear Access, Clear Waters Community Champions who can inspire a movement to campaign for fair, shared and sustainable open access!
Each month we will select one champion (either a club, group or individual) who has truly inspired others and really gone above and beyond to champion the cause.
www.britishcanoeing.org.uk
If you, or someone you know is worthy of a nomination you can find out everything you need to know here!
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A big thank you to everyone who took part in Go Paddling Week this year between 25 May - 2 June. Despite the weather being a little bit hit and miss during the half term break, a record breaking 16,878 of you took to the water and told us all about it!
“We went on a long paddle from Buxton to Salhouse broads and camped
people took to the water
overnight with my son. It made for great father-son time!”
paddles registered in Berkshire the highest number of paddles for a county!
“Great paddle! I saw a grass snake swimming across the river and eight cygnets!”
“Got up close and personal
Paddles as far south as Jersey, and far north as Isle of Skye!
with kingfishers and herons on a quiet bank holiday paddle.”
“ My boyfriend hadn’t tried kayaking or
canoeing before [the week], so he got to try several types of craft!”
“It was our family maiden voyage and we tested a new way to the children’s primary school! Come on summer we want to paddle to school!”
Canoe Focus Early Summer 2019
clubs and centres ran sessions
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Each day we read tales of people who have gone further, faster and harder than anyone else has before; stretching the limits of human endurance in the name of adventure. Seeing this it’s easy to forget adventure doesn’t have to be something which takes us far from home. It doesn’t have to be a world first or best. We can all choose to have an adventure, it can be right on our doorstep it doesn’t have to be an epic, but it is better if it’s in a boat!
From tiny acorns... We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures that we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open. - Jawaharlal Nehru An adventure is personal; it can be as small or big as you choose. It may be a first time on the water, it might be exploring somewhere new or a first weekend away with the boat. Getting the basics right is the first step to any paddling adventure. On the Go Paddling website lose yourself in hundreds of paddling trails, challenge routes and useful information. Alongside awesome articles you can find places to put your paddling into practise; by searching the Course Providers map for an organisation delivering the Start and Discover Paddle Awards.
www.britishcanoeing.org.uk
– Rachel Wolchin
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...mighty adventures grow Anytime I feel lost, I pull out a map and stare. I stare until I have reminded myself that life is a giant adventure, so much to do, to see
Exploring your local waterways or trying a new discipline may well be your chosen adventure. In case you want a nudge in the direction of a few ideas here are our current top three paddling adventures:
- Angelina Jolie One of the best things about any adventure is the planning. Poring over maps, getting gear together and working out logistics really brings an idea to life. All the British Canoeing paddling trails and challenge routes pull together bundles of information to help you plan. But these are independent adventures and it’s up to you, the paddler, to use this information to create your plan.
Londo
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Wye
Reading articles such as this one on preparing for the Three Lakes Challenge will give you some great pointers on how to plan your mighty adventure.
Windermere
The London Legacy Loop Challenge A six and a half mile route around the iconic Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. This route travels the oldest canal in London, celebrating victories of engineering and sporting glory. With no locks and a fairly short distance it is suitable for most paddlers. There is also the option to hire boats at the start from Moo Canoes, in Limehouse Basin.
The River Wye 85 Mile Challenge
Adventure is...out there, go find it!
Windermere Challenge There’s nothing quite like experiencing this beautiful lake from the water itself. The 11 mile challenge route gives you a brand new perspective of a sometimes crowded summertime spot, and the best bit? You can challenge yourself to set the fastest time on the leaderboard too!
Canoe Focus Early Summer 2019
We love to see you out on your adventures. Don’t forget to share them with us by tagging @britishcanoeing in your social media posts!
Our longest challenge route, designed to be taken on over multiple days. This beautiful challenge is a journey along the border of England and Wales. The route is mainly flat water with some simple grade 1 rapids and fast moving water as well as a grade 2 rapid at Symonds Yat. Enjoy the unspolit wonders of the Wye as you challenge yourself to complete this adventure.
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Adventures in Film making Charlie Fripp, Producer of the Yukon Assignment (www.yukonassignment.org) and Lecturer in Television at Falmouth University shares her top tips for capturing your paddling adventure on film. If you had told us five years ago that our canoeing adventure documentary, “The Yukon Assignment” would take this long to complete (almost two years!), or that it would screen to sell out audiences at cinemas across the UK from West Cornwall to Inverness, as well as having a tour supported Travel Yukon (the Yukon tourism board), we probably wouldn’t have believed you.
There are many parallels between adventuring and film making. You need to plan, be prepared and know where the final destination will be, but you don’t always know what will happen along the journey or how exactly you’ll get there. Perhaps most importantly, you need to have the grit to continue, in those moments when everything seems impossible and that road ahead of you seems too challenging.
Planning for the journey itself, began way before the concept for the film, when professional adventurer and outdoor instructor Chris Lucas, decided to take his father on an amazing journey in the Canadian wilderness. It was always going to be an intense adventure, full of risks and challenges, not least the 500 miles of paddling down the Wind and Peel Rivers and the risk of bears to whom the Yukon is home. As Producer, I didn’t know what Chris would come back with and it weighed heavily on me that it was a very genuine wilderness adventure. The result was nearly 100 hours of footage, which then needed to be crafted into a story. Chris is a natural cameraman and the first thing that struck me about the footage, was the awesome colour of the water and the scale of the landscape. It definitely felt like a film that needed to be seen on the big screen.
Would we recommend making a film of an adventure? It does come with compromises, you need to take additional kit and the means to charge batteries (we used solar panels) and of course, additional expense. It means making time to film along the adventure, especially in those moments that are more challenging, which are precisely the moments which are more difficult to capture. But it is amazing to be able to share the adventure and to inspire others.
www.britishcanoeing.org.uk
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Top tips for (adventure) film making: The Story: 1
Story is at the heart of everything. What is your story? What is it really about?
2
Who is your audience, who might be interested in your story and why?
3
Think about traditional feature films, does your story have a beginning, middle and end? Do the characters change or learn something about themselves or each other?
Filming Tips: 4
5
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Use a tripod, where you can, unless you are very sure of your filming ability, it will look more professional.
8
Film even if you don’t feel like filming. Especially if you don’t feel like filming, these are the moments you will be grateful for when you get back home.
9
If something happens and you don’t film it, capture your reaction as soon as possible, nothing can make up for the spontaneity.
Editing Tips: 10 Think about how you want to make people
Hold the camera still for at least 10 seconds WITHOUT moving anything. Film with your hands behind your back if you have to! Don’t be tempted to pan or zoom, until you have your basic shot secure.
feel, what is the overall tone of your film?
11 Think about every shot, does it add
something? If it doesn’t, lose it. 12 Does the edit make sense to
Make sure that you have enough shots from different angles, so that the footage will cut together, so you can shorten time – for example a reaction shot, a cut away to the landscape, a shot from over the shoulder.
someone who wasn’t there? 13 Remember, no one knows what is left on the
cutting room floor, sometimes your favourite footage doesn’t work within the film.
Try to run more than one camera simultaneously
Full details at www. yukonassignment.org
Canoe Focus Early Summer 2019
Above all, enjoy the process; just as with any adventure you need to enjoy the journey as well as reaching the final destination.
The Yukon Assignment is screening at cinemas across the UK on the 16th of June, including being released online for Father’s day.
Word
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Choose ‘lean’ meats We can’t get enough vegetables
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If you’re looking to coach Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP), then the NEW SUP Coach Award pathways are for YOU! Qualification Pathway
Direct entry
Core Coach Training
Discipline Specific Training
2 days
2 days
Assessment Consolidation 1 day
eLearning / Supplementary Learning / Experience
The NEW SUP Coach Awards allow you to coach anyone looking to start their journey into SUP or those looking to continue to develop and progress their SUP skills.
The FOUR NEW Coach Award pathways include: >> >> >> >>
Stand Up Paddleboard Sheltered Water Coach Stand Up Paddleboard Open Water Coach Stand Up Paddleboard White Water Coach Stand Up Paddleboard Race Coach
To become a SUP Coach, you would attend two components of face-to-face training, as well as engage in active, independent learning to
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The NEW SUP Coach Awards are available from the 1st August 2019. Find out more on the British Canoeing website.
develop your coaching skills out on the water. This is concluded by a 1 day assessment. Existing UKCC Level 2 or Coach Award coaches can bypass the Core Coach training and go straight to the Discipline Specific training.
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SAVE THE DATE:
The 2019 Coaching and Leadership Conference returns this November The 2019 Coaching and Leadership Conference will take place on the 23rd and 24th November at Eastwood Hall, Nottinghamshire. The conference brings together instructors, coaches, leaders and guides with varied experiences and disciplines. All are invited to engage, discuss and reflect on the insightful keynotes and workshops throughout the weekend, enabling you to think differently about how coaching and leading can enable your participants to thrive. This year’s theme revolves around the interpersonal relationships between the performer and coach. The focus will be on making a difference, through generating knowledge and understanding of the effectiveness of quality relationships - enabling you to develop strategies and practical applications in your coaching.
We are delighted to welcome our Saturday keynote speakers: Sophia Jowett In Coach Leadership, Coach-Athletes Relationships Matter Most
Marianne Davies
The Sunday programme will include a range of workshops to suit your own interests including: >> >> >> >> >>
Wearable technology in paddlesport Coaching in a dynamic environment Smash and Bash Open Water SUP Skills NEW Intermediate Paddle-Ability Workshop
This year’s diverse programme includes activities and unique experiences such as the interactive internet café to explore the British Canoeing eLearning, a Coaching Diploma hub to get your questions answered, as well as a range of exhibitors and paddlesport retailers. We are also delighted to include the 2019 Coaching and Leadership Awards on the Saturday evening. Early bird delegate packages start from £99 for the full weekend, with a variety of single day and residential options available.
Re-weaving the Coaching Rainbow
Steve Macdonald What’s best next?
For the full programme and to book online visit the British Canoeing website.
Canoe Focus Early Summer 2019
This is a great opportunity to update your CPD, network with fellow coaches and paddlers and reflect on your coaching practice at this not to be missed event.
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What’s On? SEPT
07
WMRDT Sea Kayaking Weekend: Anglesey Outdoors Sat 7th Sept 2019
NOV
15
Southern Region Film & Photography Festival: Abingdon, Oxfordshire Fri 15th November 2019
The fantastic Anglesey coastline, a positive learning environment & plenty of fun – join our next sea kayak weekend!
Come and join us for our Film and Photography Festival at the Amey Theatre with guest speakers including Ivan Lawler!
Delivered by coaches Charlie Miller and Sue Couling brave the waters of Trearddur Bay, Anglesey. Train on rescue procedures and safety at sea as well as test your limits and explore the incredible geography of Anglesey.
Celebrate the joy of epic adventures, amazing athletes, members, clubs and centres through sharing experiences and celebrating the many successes in our sport and other epic outdoor sports.
cwsm@freenetname.co.uk
james.hinves@britishcanoeing.org.uk
www.britishcanoeing.org.uk
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2 0 1 9 I C F C A n o E F R E E S T y L E w o R L D C h A M P I o n S h I P S
SoRt Words: Mike Shaw Photos: Bence Vekassy/International Canoe Federation and Lisette Nixon hosting the 2019 ICF Freestyle world Championships this year was the idyllic town of Sort in Catalonia, Spain.The town has previously hosted the 2001 world championships and, last year, two world cups, in a challenging, flushy hole. Since then the local government has invested heavily to create a new feature in the centre of town, almost unrecognisable from the year before.
This new feature, built with a million-Euro budget, has transformed the river and surrounding area into something reminiscent of a theme park. The dam release feature turned out to be what many expected: a feisty, powerful hole, shallow in places and difficult to set up in, making the linked combo and trophy moves incredibly difficult to pull off.
C ATA L o n I A , S PA I n
Mike Shaw started paddling at the age of 12 with his local Scout group. Turning it into his full time career, passing on his skills to groups of all ages and abilities.
Mike is most at home in his Jackson Rockstar. Turning his hand to freestyle, nothing is more satisfying that getting huge air!
He is supported by Jackson Kayaks, Mitchell Blades and Square Rock.
ottie Robinson-Shaw successfully defended her Junior K1 women’s title. Photo: Bence Vekassy/International Canoe Federation
The GB team. Photo: Lisette nixon
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Photo: Bence Vekassy/International Canoe Federation
Photo: Bence Vekassy/International Canoe Federation
white water warriors would battle
Photo: Lisette nixon
it out in their craft of choice. Many questions would arise and many more would be answered.
Would Team GB top the medal table once again? Would GB’s reigning world champions, Ottie Robinson-Shaw and Claire O'Hara retain their titles? How would our senior men’s K1 team perform? Would USA's Dane Jackson reclaim the title or would Quim Fontane defend successfully on his home turf? Would Japan’s multiple silver medallist Hitomi Takaku finally take the gold? Who would step up to fill the void in the junior men left by Tom Dolle and Harry Price? And how would those juniors now step up into the senior divisions?
Photo: Lisette nixon
The difficult nature of the feature and lack of training time levelled the playing field, bringing up the bottom end and tightening the top.The ICF judging would be as strict as ever, allowing no room for error.
The national teams of USA, France and Great Britain are the true powerhouses of freestyle with a depth of field unmatched by other nations. This world championships would prove to be a highly competitive affair.
Jackson Kayak released the Rockstar 4.0, specifically built with the feisty Sort hole in mind, retentive in its high-walled hull form and build for huge air! Meanwhile, GuiGui Prod had crafted a carbon Helixir built to the specification of Quim Fontane Maso, faster and slicier than its rival. The Helixir was also available in a plastic version. The shallow nature of the hole broke many a boat, and resin was in limited supply. Several paddlers made the switch from carbon to plastic opting for durability and the ability to throw down without fear, while others maintained the bonus of the stiffer, lighter paddling machines.
SQUIRT BOATING
Veteran America Clay wright took the squirt gold. Photo: Lisette nixon
Kicking off proceedings was the freestyle squirt boating event, bizarrely taking place before the opening ceremony, the action unfolding on an eddy line seam several miles upstream of the main feature.
For those who don’t know, squirt boating is the niche within a niche. Using ultra low-volume boats, the main aim is to use the underwater currents to propel the boat down into the depths, performing a ‘mystery move’ which is then used as a multiplier to modify the athletes’ freestyle score.
A routine would consist of one or two mystery moves (the longer underwater the bigger the score) combined with as many freestyle moves as possible. Some of these you might recognise if you
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In the women’s, hitomi continued her run of success finishing second.Just behind her, taking home a bronze medal was the young gun ottie Robinson-Shaw. USA’s Rose wall was the true master of downtime, storming into the lead with two huge mystery moves, scoring enough to have rivalled the top male score and taking the title.
Following on from squirt was the opening ceremony. A parade of nations marched through Sort while the locals watched and cheered.The squirt medal ceremony took place in front of the arrayed nations and Sort residents. A truly huge crowd for those squirt boaters who had earned their place atop the podium.
Riding high from the previous day’s GB medal success (two bronzes and a silver, but who’s counting;), another day’s team training was squeezed in before the main event started.
OPEN CANOE (OC1)
Possibly the only event to rival squirt boating in its truly bizarre nature, canoeists compete in open boats, reminiscent or otherwise, converted from regular freestyle boats.The rules require a boat to be able to hold at least 40 litres of water. Tactics would vary among the competitors, some opting for a single high-scoring move, others opting for a less risky approach using simpler, lower-scoring moves to rack up points.
Adam Ramadan was GB’s only competitor, treating the event as a fun break from the more pressing C1 competition. he had a very real chance at winning a medal after advancing through to semi-finals. his high-risk approach very nearly paid off but he just flushed on what was otherwise a perfect Mcnasty.
In the oC1 final, the first of the week, American C1 extraordinaire Jordan Poffenberger stormed into the lead with
GB’s Kim Aldred. Photo: Lisette Nixon
wilson put together an impressive routine, maximising his mystery moves to take third. Fellow Brit Alex Edwards stormed into second place.Veteran Clay wright, wearing goggles and utilising hand paddles, studied the seam line before his routine, slowed his breathing down and smashed out a 25-second mystery move. Enough for him to convincingly take home the gold medal.
GB’s Jennifer Teal. Photo: Lisette Nixon
GB’s Adam Ramadan. Photo: Lisette Nixon
Prelims saw every British competitor advance through to the next round. Particularly impressive was ottie Robinson-Shaw, who finished second in the prelims and semi-finals, before advancing through to finals. All three British men made it to finals, previous silver medallist David Roger finished in fourth by three pointss. Squirt newcomer and fan favourite Sam
GB’s Claire O’Hara. Photo: Bence Vekassy
follow float boat freestyle. you’ll see such moves as cartwheels, tricky woos and bow stalls, but others such as the one-armed bandit, washout and screwing around are exclusive to squirt boating.
GB’s Ben Higson. Photo: Lisette Nixon
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some big moves, Frenchman Jean Moustrou placed in second, while the young drysuit-wearing German Philip Josef placed in third with a solid air loop to the delight of many fans.
MIXED C1
Using the same freestyle boats as the K1 category, athletes compete in a kneeling position using a single-bladed paddle. England’s James Ibbotson (‘Ibbo’, organiser of the nFL/nottingham Freestyle League and the European open)
American Jordan Poffenberger won his second canoe freestyle world title, taking gold in the Men’s open Canoe. Photo: Bence Vekassy/International Canoe Federation ThePADDLER 101
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C1 newcomer Matt Stephenson made it through to the semi-finals in sixth place with an incredible score of 750 points. Unfortunately he missed out on finals, where the top athletes put on a spectacular show. Frenchman Tom Dolle narrowly beat Dane Jackson to take gold. Dane secured silver with his final ride while fellow American Jordan Poffenberger earned himself a bronze to go with his oC1 world title, with a varied routine featuring his signature trophy move the Vader flip.
As the athletes congratulated each other, Dane greeted his young protégé Tom Dolle in the eddy with a warm embrace, happier it seemed that Tom would be crowned world champion than if it had been himself.
JUNIOR K1 MEN
Dominated by the older American paddlers, our younger athletes put on an impressive display, particularly Toby Marlow, a Lee Valley Paddles ports club member who narrowly missed the cut to the semis in 11th place, closely followed by Asha Gurung in 13th and Ben higson, our youngest competitor at 14, finishing in 21st place.They certainly proved at their first worlds that GB Freestyle has a promising young team, with a bright future ahead.
Three Americans, one Australian and a lone Argentine competed for medals in the finals. The American boys stole the show: Mason hargrove had a spectacular ride to take gold, closely followed by his team mate and rival Dally Kellogg, while the Australian Jake newland finished third.
JUNIOR K1 WOMEN
After taking gold and shocking the world in Argentina, this would be ottie Robinson Shaw's last junior competition. Eager to prove that she can make the jump to the senior division for nottingham 2021, her aim was to put together a true show, one to rival the seniors.
The nations three other junior competitors: Jen Leal, Abby Goddard and Maya Ray Cross, competed hard, finishing in 11th, 13th and 16th place.
ottie stormed into first throughout the preliminary rounds in a class of her own, putting together impressive rides, while being chased by a trio of American girls and joined in the final by a lone German.
Flushing early in her first ride, she came back to throw down a flurry of moves, enough to comfortably take the lead just shy of 200 points in front of her nearest rivals, olivia McGinnes and Katie Fankhouser.
ottie continues her run of success, taking home the world title, the first junior to win gold at two ICF world Championships. She put together a safe, tactical ride knowing exactly what she needed to do in order to beat the competition. Knowing the moves she has been working on and what she can throw, the senior women will certainly be looking to her as a real medal contender at the next world championships.
SENIOR K1 WOMEN
A team of six senior GB women prepared to compete at this year’s world championships.our eight-time and reigning world champion Claire o'hara(MBE) would be looking forward to coming back to competition after recently giving
birth to baby Sky. not yet fully healed, it was a welcome surprise that Claire would compete. Surprising everyone including herself, Claire progressed through the rounds to the semi-finals. Expectations of another title however, would be curbed until nottingham 2021, as she ended up finishing in seventh place, the highest placing of the GB contingent.
Fellow long-time team member Lowri Davies and Islay Crosbie would be looking to contend for a podium finish. Unfortunately Lowri injured her back and was unable to achieve her full potential, falling to 14th place after making it through to the quarters. It was here that Islay made it through to semi-finals after a nail biting quarters where her deck popped during her first ride, resulting in the safety team collecting her boat after a brief swim. Islay was unable to move through to the finals and finished in eighth place.
Fellow team member Emma witherford proceeded through to the final 20, finishing a very respectful 12th place in her first worlds at senior level. whilst Kimberly Aldred and heidi walsh finished in the preliminary round 36th and 33rd.
The night-time final itself would feature five athletes from five separate countries spread across three different continents.
Japan’s hitomi Takaku took the lead with her first ride, but missing her loop at the end meant she had left points on the board that her fellow competitors took advantage of. Poland’s Zofia Tula took the lead with her second ride and seconds later France’s Marlene Devillez leaped into gold medal position before hitomi threw down a mega ride, scoring 646.67 points, enough to secure her the title of world champion!
Marlene placed second, Zofia Tula took third and rounding out the results was Germany’s Anne huebner and the USA’s very own Emily Jackson.
SENIOR K1 MEN
This was the most competitive category with a huge depth of field. our five senior paddlers all had a real shot at topping the medals table.
The British squad was a strong as it has ever been, featuring 2011 world champion James ‘Pringle’ Bebbington on his comeback tour, 2017 world Junior bronze medallist harry Price, and the oldest member of the team at 37, reigning British champion Gavin Barker, proving that passion and perseverance in this great sport is the great equaliser to youthful enthusiasm. Alan ward, the longest-serving GB team member of 16 years would once again be looking to equal his 2005 junior worlds gold medal performance, while allround nice guy and 2017 worlds finalist Robert Crowe, having narrowly missed out on a medal at the previous world championship, would be looking to prove that he has the skills to improve upon his fourth place finish in Argentina.
All five GB senior men proceeded through to the quarter finals, where the field would be cut to the top ten. harry price and Alan ward missed the cut, finishing 17th and 12th. The quarter finals also saw several other big names miss out, losing Canadian nick Troutman (18th), Americans Bennett Smith (13th) and hunter Katich (13th)
GB’s Pringle, Gav Barker and Rob Crowe all progressed to the next round. The semi-finals followed the same format as the women’s. A brutal cut ensued, and any one of the top ten could have made finals.
The first heat was made up of Polish competitor Tomasz Czaplicki, looking to follow his partner Zosia into the finals, with Slovakian Peter Czonka, winner of more than a few medals at world level wanting to do the same, sandwiched between the trio of British athletes.
GB’s Emma Witherford Photo: Lisette Nixon
GB’s Alan Ward. Photo: Lisette Nixon
American Mason Hargrove took the Junior K1 Men’s title. Photo: Bence Vekassy/International Canoe Federation
Spain’s Jaquim Fontane Maso. Photo: Bence Vekassy/ International Canoe Federation
Japan’s hitomi Takaku took the Senior K1 women’s title Photo: Bence Vekassy/International Canoe Federation
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American Dane Jackson claimed the Senior K1 Men’s title back from Spain’s Jaquim Fontane Maso. Photo: Bence Vekassy/International Canoe Federation
Taking place in the morning and unusually on the same day as the evening finals, the water was at a lower level and rising, a full 1.5 cumecs lower for the first men’s heat than the second.
Posting unusually low scores, not one of the athletes from the first heat could put together a ride to progress through. Gav Barker and Rob Crowe were cruelly unable to show their best when it mattered most and finished eighth and ninth.
Pringle proved that he has a head for competition, finishing in sixth. his comeback tour complete, will he now be here to stay?
K1 MEN’S FINAL
Moving into the finals, Dane Jackson had looked human, beatable, having been wrestling with Quim Fontane throughout the week for top spot. Quim had put on a show in the semis showing how this home feature suited his raw energetic style, and would be looking to retain the world title in front of the home crowd made up of fellow Catalonians.
The French duo of Sebastian Devred and junior world champion Tom Dolle, proved that France is indeed a powerhouse nation within freestyle and could easily take home medals.
Relative newcomer Irishman David McClure had thrown down some of the most fun rides of the competition. David has been training hard throughout the winter months, living for a period in nottingham to train at holme Pierrepont.
with the grandstands filled beyond capacity, the crowds watched Sebastian Devred throw down his best ride of the night under the spotlights of Sort, hitting all but one of his routine moves and in the process beating Tom Dolle’s first ride by a significant margin. This would be enough to cling onto third place with the young Frenchman snapping at his heels.
Tom could not quite capitalise on his earlier success finished in fourth, but still showing any naysayers that
he can indeed stand on his own among the more experienced senior competitors. he will certainly be a fierce competitor in years to come, and among the favourites for the title next time around.
Irishman David McClure was unable to put together the ride he wanted and is capable of. Unfortunately he never got into the groove during the final. nevertheless, finishing fifth was a truly impressive feat and one he should be incredibly proud of!
Dane Jackson and Jaquim Fontane Maso looked to be a cut above the rest of the finalists, and they battled it out with the crowds roaring heavily for the Catalonian.
Dane’s first ride was the one to beat, scoring 1406.67 with a flurry of moves: lunar orbits, tricky woos and huge air on the loops! Quim looked capable of upping that ante and looked closest do doing so on his second ride, ultimately falling just short at 1,260 points.The silver medallist critically missed on his tricky woo and the huge air bonus on other moves, showing just how fine the line is at the top end of freestyle. Greeted by his waiting friends and family, Dane was crowned world champion on the same turf that his father Eric had also won gold in 2001, some 18 years earlier.
After the fireworks had blasted into the night sky, the athletes, spectators, fans, support staff, trainers, coaches, judges and officials partied the night away together in the local bars.
Freestyle kayaking is unlike any other sport.To the outside world it is like most others, but those within the sport know otherwise. Athletes meet and mix, more friends than competitors. It’s less about the competition and more to be part of a celebration of freestyle. Competitors take time out of their own training routine to help each other, coach’s push on athletes from other nations, pushing the sport in new directions with the aim of improving freestyle as a collective whole, rather than worrying so much about personal gain.
Claire O’Hara with husband Jez and baby Sky. Photo: Lisette Nixon
Nottingham 2021 and beyond
With the 2021 Freestyle World Championships coming home to Nottingham’s Holme Pierrepont.
It is certainly an exciting time to be a British Freestyle paddler. We have arguably the best coaches in the world. Freestyle chairman and 2021 organiser Andy ‘Jacko' Jackson’s five-year plan is coming together, and for those looking to get involved in freestyle at any level, it is most certainly an exciting time!
Holme Pierrepont will be host to a world cup in 2020, an event open to all, not just the selected national teams. Before then, the European open takes place from Saturday 31st August to Sunday 1st September., an event catering to all levels of freestyle from true beginner to international athlete. If you feel inspired by team GB’s latest success, then even as a complete newcomer to freestyle, this is the event for you! GB’s Rob Crowe. Photo: Lisette Nixon
GB’s Lowri Davies. Photo: Lisette Nixon
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ScotLaND
Words: Catrina Green (kayak) and Nathan Greville (canoe) Photos: Derek Burdett and Jack Williams (kayak) Photos: Adam Robson and Matthew Turville (canoe)
At the end of their second year, University of Derby outdoor Degree students head off for a week-long residential trip, practising advanced skills in their choice of activity.This is the story from two very different paddling trips in Scotland, with one group undertaking a canoe expedition across Rannoch Moor, and the other kayaking over waterfalls and down technical whitewater. DAY ONE KAYAKING
Day one of the kayaking residential started the same way as many other adventures, with an early start and a very long drive. After a much-needed break at Burger King and a nap stop for our driver, we dropped off the canoeists in the middle of nowhere and finally made it to our cottage in Fort William. Once all the kit was unloaded, we all headed to Wetherspoons for dinner and a drink and discussed plans for our time in Scotland.
DAY ONE CANOEING
It was a constant challenge from day one. Sorting all our equipment for the week’s trip into our boats at the start of the expedition by the side of the A82, then a short navigation of the shallow waters and islands to our campsite for the night.
a tale of two craft
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DAY TWO KAYAKING
After a great lie-in we all jumped into the minibus and headed to the River Etive for our first day of paddling. We started off at Triple Falls and repeated this section over and over again. We took on board any feedback from our coaches, Derek and Tom as to how we could go down with more style or even just how to get down the section without having a swim! After some lunch and another run of Triple Falls, we packed up and moved down the river to Right Angle Falls, which it turns out is a 20-foot drop. As none of us had paddled down any drops before, other than triple falls that day, we were definitely thrown in at the deep end. Nearly all of us plucked up the courage to paddle down and it was AMAZING! Once we returned to the cottage, we enjoyed a BBQ and some Peppa Pig cake before heading to bed.
DAY TWO CANOEING
The natural rivers were low due to the fair weather that had preceded the trip.This meant a constant process of having to decide where poling, lining and wading were appropriate, making it a very physical and tiring journey over the first few days
As gruelling as these sections were, the reward was the sailing on Loch Laidon, which not only allowed us the respite from the tough wading and portaging of Loch Ba and Abhainn Ba but also allowed us to try some rafted canoe sailing.This was significant for me as it was the first time I had been able to try any canoe sailing, and was something of a highlight of the trip for me. At the end of this section was a beautiful campsite on the side of Loch Laidon, where we settled for the night with a warm driftwood fire.
DAY THREE KAYAKING
On our third day we woke up to a lovely sunny morning. On our way to the upper section of the Morriston we stopped at Fort Augustus to see Loch Ness and have a quick look for Nessie. Unfortunately, we couldn’t find him, so drove the rest of the way to the get-in for another good day of paddling. As the top drop was a bit more technical than the water we had paddled the previous day, only our coaches paddled down, and we observed their line in case we wanted to give it a try the next day.We all then carried on paddling down the upper section with opportunities to hop out and walk round any parts that we weren’t happy doing that day. After we had all passed the upper section, by kayak or on foot, we continued to paddle down the middle section of the Morriston, which was a lot less gnarly but equally as fun. Once we had finished playing around and spinning in holes we returned to the cottage, where we all had dinner and caught up on the latest episode of Game of Thrones.
i
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Everyone we met was so friendly, funny and encouraging and it’s great to feel part of the
paddling community
DAY THREE CANOEING
The next two days were as challenging as the first, in most cases we literally had to drag the boats over rocks to clear obstacles. Despite this, there was a great team spirit from my fellow students and Robson as we tackled the several portages required for the trip together. Often we would carry the barrels between us like a daisy chain for efficiency and grit our teeth to battle the uneven terrain with the canoes again as a team.
DAY FOUR KAYAKING
For our fourth day in Scotland we headed back to the Morriston for another go at the upper section. As the river levels would be dropping fast, those who wanted to do a quick run all the way down, including the top drop, jumped in and paddled down. Those of us who were tired from the last couple of days paddling (and swimming), walked around and got in at the top of the middle section. Those who paddled the section did awesome and made the rest of us proud at how well they were doing. We all then paddled down the middle section together, practicing fun skills such as surfing and spinning whenever it was possible. Just before the lower section, we all got out apart from our coaches, who paddled down whilst the rest of us took of the layers we regretted wearing and made the most of the sunshine. We then drove back to the cottage for a dinner and a very chilled evening.
DAY FOUR CANOEING
Loch Rannoch was a long slog through still water as there was no wind for sailing so it required a steady paddle to the dam on the eastern side. Sometimes monotonous, it required that patience of getting a solid paddling rhythm, a nice relaxing pace that could be managed. Then on to Dunalstair water which required a bit of thought before the quick trip along the river connecting the loch and the manmade reservoir. Preparation was key, as the small river was well covered in trees which presented an obvious danger and our boats had to be safe and ready in case of a capsize. A danger we saw almost catch out another paddler that followed close behind, though fortunately he was fine. Then it was a steady paddle until camp before another big day of trolleying and paddling.
DAY FIVE KAYAKING
The next morning, we were all up, fed, and in the minibus by 9:00 am, ready to make the most of our last day paddling. We headed to the River Garry where many of the paddlers we had met the previous days had also gathered. Everyone we met was so friendly, funny and encouraging and it’s great to feel part of the paddling community. We had an awesome morning paddling, enjoying every rapid and yet again playing in holes. However, this time the holes were bigger and definitely tested our skills and confidence. After some lunch and a bit more messing around on the final rapid, we packed up and headed back to Fort William. We spent the afternoon exploring the town, shopping, and enjoying fish and chips, before jumping back in the minibus and driving to the cinema to watch Avengers: Endgame. It was an amazing way to end an incredible week of paddling.
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Upper Tummel was yet another test of our decision making skills as we had to assess our ability to paddle the rapids or line down past them. Fortunately, we came to sensible decision of trolleying past, until the river settled into calm water for us to re-enter. Maybe we could have gone earlier onto the water than trolley, but that was the proof of the difficulty of predicting the river ahead, and how key the skill of decision making was for the trip.
Then after some significant trolleying we made it the start of Loch Tummel. This presented us with challenging winds head on, which slowed progress down drastically, leading to the choice of rafting together to tackle the wind. This was an interesting last day, and took a full team effort as it felt like we were literally having to drag the boats through the water to get to the end of the loch. It was gruelling task and could have been a very dull affair but, but some words games allowed for some distraction enough to get us through the dull winds.
Overall, the trip was extremely worthwhile and enjoyable and it was amazing to develop news skills in such a beautiful and dynamic environment that Scotland can offer.
DAY SIX KAYAKING
After five days in Scotland it was time to head back home. At 07:00 it was time to get up, pack, eat and tidy, and by 07:50 we were all in the bus ready for our long drive back to Buxton. we picked up the canoeists, enjoyed another stop at Burger King, and eventually got back to uni at 17:30, where we were all ready for a hot shower and a long sleep!
Scotland
It was amazing to develop news skills in such a beautiful and dynamic environment that can offer
DAY SIX CANOEING
It was a privilege to have the opportunity to accomplish the Rannoch Moor crossing by canoe. It was one of the most challenging and unique trips I have done so far in my canoeing career. It was a truly wild experience from start to the finish at the end of Loch Tummel, with picturesque panoramas all day long accompanying us as we conquered the myriad of skills needed to pass the rugged terrain and water.
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Kayakers:
CANOEING SUMMARY l
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Day one: A82 to Beach campsite (portage) 0.2km (paddling) 0.8km. Total: 1km Day two: Loch Ba (paddling) 4.2 km, Abhain Ba (lining, poling and dragging) 2.5 km, Loch Laidon (Sailing) 7.3 km. Total: 14 km Day three: Garbh Ghaoir (lining, poling and dragging) 4 km, Loch Eigheach (paddling) 2 km, Eigheach Dam to Bridge of Gaur (trolleying) 5.2 km, Bridge of Gaur to Loch Rannoch Camp (paddling) 1.8 km. Total: 13 km Day four: Loch Rannoch (paddling) 14.5km, Upper River Tummel (paddling) 4.5 km, Dunalastair water (paddling) 1.5 km. Total: 20.5 km Day five: Dunalastair water (paddling) 2.1 km, Tummel Dam to Bridge of Tummel (trolleying) 4.9 km, Upper Tummel (paddling) 1.5km, Loch Tummel (rafted paddling) 11.5 km. Total: 20 km
GRAND TOTAL: 68.5KM
Catrina Green, Macauley Joyce, Craig Ruegg, Glen Serafica, Kieran Staines, Jack williams, Derek Burdett (Senior outdoor Technician, University of Derby www.derby.ac.uk/staff/derekburdett),Tom Parker (Tom Parker Coaching & Guiding www.tomparkercoaching.co.uk).
Canoeists:
Vanessa Cromack, nathan Greville, Matthew Turville, Adam williams, Adam Robson (TnR Coaching www.tnrcoaching.co.uk).
Links:
University of Derby Outdoor Degree www.derby.ac.uk/outdoordegree
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S A V E
T h E
R I V E R E C U A D o R
Words and photos: Darcy Gaechter of Small World Adventures www.smallworldadventures.com
In the early 1990s when whitewater kayaking was just getting its start in Ecuador, it would have been easy to describe the Quijos and napoValleys as a vast, untouched wilderness.Though this wouldn’t have been true – Indigenous people, Spanish colonists and Ecuadorians had occupied the place for hundreds, if not thousands of years – it would have been easy to believe.Vast tracks of rainforest dominated the landscapes. Raging rain-fed torrents carved streaks down each crevice in the Andes Mountains.The roads were narrow, sinuous affairs, and the bridges were few. hardly any locals had seen a kayaker before and foreigners were a rare source of wonderment.A striking sense of wildness prevailed.
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Fast forward to 2019 and Ecuador has finally earned its place as an international kayaking destination, but its landscape is entirely different. Like most places in the world, progress has marched all over Ecuador. It was a combination of smaller farmers clearing the land for livestock and mono crops plus the more profitable and government-controlled realms of oil, gold and now hydro power (or unfathomably big construction contracts being offered up under the guise of hydro power) that most notably changed Ecuador’s countryside.This development has been driven in turns by local, north American, Italian and Argentinian investments. Lately, it seems most driven by Chinese money and the internal drive and ability to make a few Ecuadorian businessmen and bureaucrats very wealthy.
THE WAY OF THE WORLD
This progress, in large part, is what has helped drive and develop the white water industry; after all, who wanted to drive to Tena when it took eight hours on a single-lane dirt road from Quito? Today it takes 3.5 hours on pavement. But things seem to have taken a turn for the worse and what this march of progress looks like right now is senseless dams that will never produce the power they promise, open pit gold mines, and oil exploitation even in the country’s most biodiverse and protected areas. Much of the development happening doesn’t make sense from an environmental, financial, or even practical standpoint. This story isn’t unique; it’s the way of the world and you can find examples of it in any country on earth.
while the general story isn’t distinctive, the Piatua River is. It’s incredibly special and worth saving for the locals
who live along it, the animals who call its waters and riparian areas home, the ecological corridor it provides a vital link for, and the kayakers who grin from ear to ear as they make their way down it’s countless boulder gardens. Mostly it’s worth saving to send the message that freeflowing rivers have value.The future of environmentalism and conservationism in Ecuador is at stake here, and the Piatua has become the battle ground.
An Ecuadorian company has been awarded what many believe is a questionable concession to build a dam on the remote and wild Piatua River. This hydroproject is a trans-basin diversion that would significantly de-water the last 20 kilometres of the river before its confluence with the Anzu River—the entire paddling section of the Piatua River. This project was not in the country's electric development plan and it bypassed many requirements during the environmental permitting process, including the consideration of recreational uses of the river.
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS
Ecuador has a number of measures in place to protect its environment from these sort of short-sighted projects: Ecuador was the first country to give constitutional rights to nature, and new development projects must prepare an environmental impact statement and complete a process of public participation with the affected population before they can be approved. Sadly, we did not see these considerations and requirements met on the Piatua hydro-project, and there will be consequences of this dam that reach far beyond the paddling world. If built, this dam would cut off fishing and water supply for
The future of environmentalism and conservationism in Ecuador is at stake here, and the Piatua has become the
battle ground
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indigenous communities. It would endanger a species of catfish endemic to the Piatua River as well as nine species of frogs who live in and along the river and who are considered critically endangered and at risk of extinction. It would also cut off an important ecological corridor between the Andes Mountains and the lower Amazon River Basin.
LAST-DITCH EFFORT
Small world Adventures and the Ecuadorian Rivers Institute are embarking on a last-ditch effort to stop this project because we believe the future of environmental protection and of white water kayaking in Ecuador depends on the outcome of this case.The ERI is fighting
the dam in the courts and Small world Adventures is raising money to support this effort through a summerlong fundraiser and gear giveaway – 100% of the money raised will be donated to the ERI. Due in large part to the support of local Indigenous groups and two recent precedent-setting cases (the Kofan victory over big mining and the waorani victory over big oil), we believe that a positive outcome is possible in this case, and we are putting our all behind these efforts. on May 28, 2019, the napo River Foundation, together with the Kichwa Communities of Santa Clara (Ponakicsc), Pachamama Foundation, Confederation of Indigenous nationalities of the Ecuadorian Amazon (Confeniae), and the Defenders of the Piatua River, in coordination with
the Center of human Rights of the Catholic University of Ecuador and the Pastaza office of the Public Defender of Ecuador, presented a constitutional demand to the Provincial Court in Puyo, Ecuador.
The legal demand asks for protective measures to preserve the Piatua River intact in its natural state for the benefit of present and future generations.The communities feel that this hydroelectric project has serious deficiencies, errors, and omissions and that it did not follow government laws allowing public participation during the permitting process. Additionally, this project has violated the rights of the legendary Piatua River, and the rights of the people who use the river and depend upon it for their livelihoods.
on June 20th, the judge of the penal court in Puyo, Ecuador denied the motion to protect the Piatúa River. Ample evidence was presented as proof that the company bypassed many requirements when they secured their permit and in doing so, violated the rights of the Piatúa and the right of prior consent of the local communities, but the judge still sided in favour of the dam and against the free-flowing Piatúa.The decision will be appealed to the provincial court of Pastaza, and we are considering a public referendum to preserve the Piatúa River as a free-flowing Andean Amazon watershed. we are disappointed in the ruling, but not disheartened. we have legitimate arguments which demonstrate the violation of constitutional rights, and
A clear pool on Piatua
we believe the future of environmental protection and of white water kayaking in Ecuador depends on the
outcome of this case
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ThePADDLER 122 will continue the fight.The evidence and facts are on our side and we hope for an impartial ruling by the provincial court of Pastaza. we assume that regardless of who is victorious in Pastaza, that this case will be appealed to the constitutional court in Quito, so we still have a long battle ahead. Let's keep this fundraiser alive and kicking--now is the time to show wide-spread international support for the Piatúa River!
FIGHT FOR THE PIATUA
Paddling community, we are asking you to help us in our fight for the Piatua. here are some things you can do: 1.) Donate to our Save the Piatua fundraiser. 100% of the money raised in our fundraiser goes directly to support the legal action explained above. https://go.rallyup.com/savethepiatua when you donate to the cause, you’ll get chances to win awesome white water prizes (see details below). 2.) Sign the petition in favour of keeping the Piatua free-flowing. http://chng.it/bCNNFRqtm4 3.) Share both the fundraiser and the petition on your social media outlets. The more we can spread the word the better! 4.) Come to Ecuador and paddle the Piatua! we want to show local governments that tourism is a viable and sustainable form of development.
All of us paddlers have special connections with the rivers we love to paddle, we see them differently, and know first-hand the importance of keeping them wild and free. So please, spread the word on the Piatua, and for your own local river, and let’s all keep fighting the good fight.
Plus, there's potentially more in it for you when you help! when you donate to our Save the Piatua Fundraiser, you’ll have the chance to win one of these awesome prizes from our fundraiser sponsors: l l l l l l l l
week-long kayaking trip in Ecuador with Small world Adventures 2016 Rock Star from Jackson Kayak Surge or Strike paddle (your choice) from werner Paddles custom built for you Kokatat Mythic Shorty Top and Centurion Maximus PFD whitewater EXP skirt from Snap Dragon Design Flirt EXP skirt from Snap Dragon Design ocoee watershed dry bag from AS watersports one-year subscription to Kayak Session Magazine (five winners will each get a year-long subscription)
https://goo.gl/maps/jQPe7eqr9Eseuh3z7
ULTRALIGHT KAYAKS award winning design, class leading construction.
WWW.TOOTEGA.COM
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taNa T h E
R I V E R F E S T I V A L
Words: Glenn Richards This year, Kenya has been suffering through a drought and with water shortages in nairobi, rural farmers were unable to grow crops plus little food for livestock. Meteorologists were predicting that the 2019 long rains would skip Kenya, causing a humanitarian crisis. Consequently, the Tana River Festival organizers were concerned the event would not be possible on the original dates, so the decision was made to push the event back by two weeks.
Then it rained! The surrounding areas turned from to a dry and dusty yellow colour to a bright healthy green and river levels quickly rose to bank full, which made the competition a lot more challenging.Wrong line choice or an errant boil could cost you the race on what was now a big volume, technical and brown African stout!
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For the first time
in 2019, the festival included advance and intermediate kayaking groups, as well as an MTB enduro event making its second appearance alongside the BMX air ramp into the river. A triathlon consisting of an MTB ride, ducky paddle and a run also made its debut.
Kayakers needed to make good line choices in the full, fast and boil filled rapids and push their paddling on the flat sections so as not to lose position.
HEAVY RAINS
A great mix of nationalities were present. Kenyan and Ugandan paddlers went as hard as the Australians and British, proving that kayaking in east Africa is not the domain of purely foreign kayakers.
overnight the Sagana region received heavy rains and the next morning the river was even higher making the slalom course and Boater X events filled with their fair share of carnage, though everyone came through unscathed. Small mistakes could cost you the race.The slalom course had big moves, with gates above chunky holes. with his big water pedigree honed on the nile, Sam ward got the quickest time down the course.
The first event this year was the endurance race which consisted an eight-kilometre paddle of the main commercially rafted section of the Tana River with ‘any line goes’ rules. one of the choices is the classic eightmetre waterfall known as ‘The Mission’ (luckily no one landed on top each other… on that drop)!
The final consisted of Sam, Sammy, Kepha, David Moore, Musa and Sadat. Lots of carnage went down on the last class IV. A tricky exit move protected by a boil saw Sammy and Sam get worked in the ‘Baby Fish Eye’ hole after going over the drop backwards and upside down…
A big thanks must be given to Sam ward, owner of Kayak the nile, for bringing ‘Team Uganda’ across to the event. Special mention to owen a 16-year-old Ugandan safety kayaker on the nile, who had never left Uganda and came to compete in his first overseas competition.
Boater X consisted of two heats with two paddlers from each group moving through to the final. Paddlers fought hard for the lead and to get clean and fast lines through all the rapids. one paddler had a 20m lead in his group, but wrong line choice pushed him to last place.
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ThePADDLER 128 one of the aims this year was to increase paddlesports participants in the event, and ultimately in Kenya as a result. Intermediate kayakers took part in the slalom and endurance competitions and it was fantastic to see these upcoming paddlers taking part in the festival. The advance teams were shadowing and on standby for rescues, plus giving encouragement when needed, proving you don’t need to be a class V kayaker to participate!
Next year event will take place on April 30th-May 3rd, 2020.
RESULTS
Great for the spectators not too great for the paddlers as it completely changed the results. well done to Sammy Muturi for winning the final.
https://goo.gl/maps/SWjdB UbQ1aca4DKdA
The final river event was ‘The Mission’ showdown over the eight-metre high waterfall. Paddlers had to show their best moves off the waterfall. Team Uganda were going hard with reverse freewheels and a special mention to Sadat for attempting a Cobra flip: some courage in attempting that!
Another shout out to Moses Kaniaru for being the only intermediate taking part in the waterfall competition.
Advance kayakers 1) Sam ward (Uganda) 2) Sammy Muturi (Kenya) 3) David Moore (Uganda)
Intermediates kayakers 1) Moses Kaniaru (Kenya) 2) Alfred Maina wanjiru (Kenya) 3) Elijah wamwea Kamunyu (Kenya)
Female 1) Amina Tayona (Uganda)
SPONSORS:
Savage wilderness, Infinity outdoors, Immersion Research, Palm Equipment, USn – Ultimate Sports nutrition, Bike Shop Kenya
River basins of Europe, made by grasshoppergeography.com
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Paddling a birch bark canoe built by Ray Mears just before filming the Canoe Journey for his BBC series. Photo: Ray Mears
An interview with… Ray Goodwin MBE The
G o D f a t h E R of British canoeing Interview: Peter Tranter Photos: Ray Goodwin with over 30 years experience and a canoeing CV to match, Ray is perhaps the most established open canoeist in the UK. A British Canoe Union Level 5 Coach in Canoe, Inland Kayak, and Sea, Ray was the first coach to be assessed to Level 5 in three disciplines.To reflect his achievements, in the 2019 new year's honours List, Ray was awarded an MBE for his services to canoeing. however, you may be surprised to read that Ray’s career in the outdoors didn’t start on the water. Read on…
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ThePADDLER 132 At the end of that I had applied to join the British Antarctic Survey as a field assistant, got an interview but didn’t get the job, so I went back to working in an outdoor centre. Everyone there was a real activist and I was getting lots of climbing in but as the autumn arrived along with wet weather (yep we used to have water in the rivers) they started dragging me out kayaking and the following year I got into sea kayaking as well. My initial influences were Roger ward on the rivers and Bob Llewellyn on the sea. I was in my midthirties when Loel Collins came to work in the centre and in between paddling kayaks he introduced me to the joy of canoes. Lots of adventures, swims and straight out laughter – the canoe had got its hook into me. Then trips with Andy hall in Scotland, including one with an outrageous portage out of Loch Morar and up to Loch Quoich. The stage was then set for my circumnavigation of wales with Robert Egelstaff back in 1992.
WHAT CANOE AND EQUIPMENT ARE YOU USING?
I have a great relationship with Venture Canoes and was involved in the development of their new river boat the Afon. For harder rivers I paddle the Afon and on more touring type stuff and on the sea I use their Prospector. Freebird supply me with paddles and again I have helped in the development of a couple of theirs. Finally, I am using nRS gear for everything from drysuit, waterproof bags through to my thermals.
Buckingham Palace
YOU’RE BEST KNOWN FOR YOUR CANOEING BUT YOU DO ALSO USE A DOUBLE BLADE FOR YOUR EXPLOITS TOO – WHAT HAVE BEEN THOSE HIGHLIGHTS?
Sea kayaking: so much on the west coast of Scotland with years of guiding parties up there. I love Mull. Doing the entire coast of wales when I guided it back in 2010 as part of a circumnavigation. Circumnavigating Anglesey in a single 22-hour push: the scariest bits, in the dark, being hit in the chest by a fish! Paddling the Irish Sea in a tandem sea kayak with Terry Storry.
THE FIRST AND MOST OBVIOUS QUESTION IS HOW DIDYOU START OUT IN WHAT IS AVERY SUCCESSFUL CAREER IN PADDLING?
The start was in fact in climbing and walking. I was at teacher training college and managed to get a summer job working for the yhA on mountaincraft courses. So six days a week I was on the mountains of Snowdonia – a great introduction to instructing. while still at college I got my Mountain Leader Award and when I finished college in 1974, I went straight into working in an outdoor centre. Then a school gave me a job running outdoor activities along with a pretty full classroom commitment. nearly all of that was rock climbing and mountain work. Then I took a year off to travel and go climbing with some great adventures in Kenya, the Sudan and Morocco.
white water kayak: lots of exploring back in the 80s before guide books started coming out. Running Swallow Falls not long after the first descent. Many paddles in the Alps, the Grand Canyon as well as trip on the Tamba Kosi and Sun Kosi in nepal.
DO YOU HAVE AN ECO-MESSAGE FOR FELLOW PADDLERS?
Leave the place better than you found it. So much rubbish now that I make a habit of carrying a bag on my local river.
I think the hard questions are yet to come for most of us. we have accepted our ability to travel and fly about the world and it is now coming the time to question that.
WHAT’S THE MOST ENJOYABLE ENCOUNTER WITH WILDLIFE THAT YOU’VE HAD WHILST PADDLING?
I have been quite spoilt with so much on land and sea. Walking out of the mist on a Scottish mountain to find myself almost nose to nose with a stag.We both froze before each of us doing a quick retreat. On the sea to have a basking shark in the same small tide race but heading the opposite way within inches of my boat or to have a minke whale blow within a short distance from me (very fishy breathe). Seeing a grizzly bear from close quarters whilst on a narrow part of a river: six paddlers, six cameras and not a photo taken. Some very quiet but efficient paddling. We did have elephants at a campsite in Kenya but that doesn’t count as I slept through that!
HOW DOES OPEN CANOEING ABOVE ALL GIVE YOU SATISFACTION?
It’s a dual thing.You have the joy of expeditioning in a craft built for it, whether that be on a long trip in Canada or paddling the Spey or any other of the great trips in Scotland.Then there is the joy of movement whether training on flat water or dancing down a rapid using the water to make the moves.
www.raygoodwin.com
Sailing up the Sound of Mull. Photo: Colin Skeath
Ray on Left Unconquerable, Stanage
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Main: on the Spey with Maya Left: Cartoon by Bill Bental now used as my logo
Finishing a nine-day wilderness trip with my daughter in Algonquin. I was determined to get her first big expedition done in Canada and to share it with Maya. Getting older I am determined not to put things off but to get on and do them.There will come a day when I can’t do it, not here yet, but I am not waiting around.
Also I would highlight those times when I have been well and truly in the zone. I have had this happen rock climbing and in some of the hardest rapids I have paddled. Time slows and the mind seems to step aside from the body. It is almost like watching yourself climb/paddle. A wonderful Zen like state.
Dolphins on the south coast of Mull. Photo: Axel Schoevers
WHEN PREPARING FOR A MULTI-DAY EXPEDITION IN CHALLENGING CONDITIONS – WHAT ARE THE QUALITIES YOU LOOK FOR IN A FELLOW TEAM MATE CANOEIST?
Someone who is going to share the ethos of a trip.That we are agreed on the objectives and style we are going to do it in. Anything else and it leaves too many rub points when the going gets tough. on hard trips we even have identical plates so that food can be dished up equally.
Below Big Pine Rapid on the French River, Ontario
DO YOU HAVE ANY FAVOURITE CONDITIONS FOR PADDLING OR ARE YOU HAPPY WITH WHATEVER MOTHER NATURE BOWLS YOUR WAY ON THE DAY?
I like big water and sunshine but so often it is the ‘bad’ weather days that leave the biggest memories.Then there are those memorable mirror calm mornings with the sun burning through mist, those demand a quick launch.
DO YOU PREFER FLAT WATER OR WHITE WATER AND WHY?
Both.There is a real joy to carving through mirror calm waters and anyway some of the flat water trips I have done have been anything else but flat. I find a real joy in paddling well on white water trying to get that magical interaction of boat, paddle and water: it becomes a dance.
SOLO OR TANDEM?
www.raygoodwin.com
IF YOU COULD CAPTURE JUST ONE ‘FEEL GOOD’ MOMENT IN YOUR TIME PADDLING – WHICH WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
Ray on the Lava Falls in the Grand Canyon
with solo and tandem I love both. I am very lucky in that I have a great bow paddler in my partner Lina, mind I think Maya is aiming to replace her.
OF THE MANY CANOEING/ BUSHCRAFT EXPEDITIONS YOU’VE UNDERTAKEN,WHICH HAS BEEN THE TOUGHEST AND WHY?
The circumnavigation of wales, in canoe, with Robert Egelstaff. It was relentless and at times right out there. we did it some 26 years ago and it has never been repeated. Physically and mentally it was hard day after day. we nearly got caught out on a 21-mile open crossing at the top of Cardigan Bay. The forecast was wrong and a headwind of force 5 sprang up in the later part of the crossing. we were down to a mile an hour and taking on water even with a full spraydeck. we made it to the Tudwal Isles but were busted. The next day we only did five miles due to conditions. Fortunately the winds dropped after that for the final part of the trip.
Above: early morning, Canada. below: Lina in the Ardeche
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WHAT’S THE ONE FAVOURITE PIECE OF CAMPING KIT YOU COULDN’T DO WITHOUT?
A good tarp. It just makes my life comfortable whether I am sleeping in a tent or not.
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN SCARED OUT THERE AND BY WHAT?
My big swim on the Bloodvein in monstrous water. Lina and I were paddling well and so I made a dubious decision to run a line into an eddy on the right. I got the entrance wrong and got shoved left and into the main rapid. The swim was inevitable so it was just a case of keeping going as long as possible. we got almost to the end and a massive boil and fold just sucked us straight down boat and all. I lost contact with the boat and went so deep it went dark on me. I didn’t think I would come up in time. Eventually it lightened and I could see the bubbles in the water above me. Swimming up for all I was worth I was only thinking of buying a bigger buoyancy aid. Eventually I broke the surface for the first time and managed a gulp of air. It became a more ‘normal’ swim after that. once all was sorted Lina offered to go up for a second go. I declined most forcefully.
WHAT PROJECTS ARE YOU CURRENTLY WORKING ON?
Got a whole series of videos to edit for my youTube channel and I want to put much more effort into that in the next year. Also I am planning on doing a book of stories: some paddling but also covering my climbing days. Cherry picking the most interesting things.
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN NOT PADDLING?
Spending time with my family and doing everything from theatre and dance shows to cycling and walking. I do enjoy pottering in our garden.
I’M A PADDLER AND GOING ON A TRIP,WHERE WOULD YOU RECOMMEND?
If you are canoe paddler then you have just got to get yourself out to Canada. The scope is almost endless and there is everything from long flat water trips to full on white water expeditions. In the UK the River Spey for all of its changes throughout its length and those last few miles to the sea are unique.
ANYTHING LEFT ON THE BUCKET LIST?
Lots and the list is getting longer although I know my time is becoming limited. I want to get another Canada trip done with Maya. I have also got my eyes on a trip on the wind River up in the nw of Canada.
Paddling in Algonquin with Maya
Ray in a dugout on the Tana River, Kenya
when I have too many ideas floating around my head. But in reality, I sleep pretty well most of the time other than the old man thing of needing a pee at three in the morning.
YOU LOOK A VERY HAPPY AND CONTENTED MAN - WHAT’S THE SECRET TO YOUR GOOD FEELING?
Ah I can manage to fool most of the people… But in truth, family, a place I love living and success, which overcame the insecurities of my youthful days.
HOW HAS BEING AN ‘OLDER’ DAD INFLUENCED YOU?
Maya was a bit of a surprise; I was 57 when she was born. when she was just seven weeks old I set off on my second circumnavigation of wales (not as a result of her being born I can assure you). It was already booked in as a guided trip leading staff from the Urdd centre at Glan-llyn. By then I had already taken on Maya on her first little paddle on a little local lake; she didn’t take much notice I am sorry to say. My own father died when I was just 11 years old and this has driven me to share some of my world with her, to create those experiences and memories. we have paddled in a wide variety of places but the highlights have been four days on the Spey and, when she was seven, a ten-day wilderness trip in Algonquin. This year we will be off to the Ardeche. It has put a bit of fire behind me to get things done and not put them off to another year.
www.raygoodwin.com
ARE THERE ANY ISSUE THAT STOPS YOU SLEEPING AT NIGHT?
WAS YOUR BIG DAY OUT AT BUCKS HOUSE EVERYTHING YOU DREAMED OF?
Better. Maya, Lina and myself all went down to Buckingham Palace on the 13th February. I was wearing a morning suit, this was a once in a lifetime moment so I thought I would go the whole hog. At the Palace guests and recipients are separated. we were gathered in a gallery to the side of the ballroom where the presentation was to be made. Great to chat to fellow recipients who were the most amazing bunch and it felt humbling to be amongst them. I got to talk to the Deputy Master of Trinity house and compare notes on lighthouses, to assorted olympians, those from the arts as well as people in medical research or working with charities. At one point I was chatting to two ladies and there was a Rembrandt directly behind them.
In due course I was lined up at the door to the ballroom to see Maya and Lina seated directly across from me. I had been joking with Maya about me looking like a slightly rotund penguin. I couldn’t resist. My arms went down to side with hands pointing out horizontally I did a little penguin waddle for my daughter: she went into fits of giggles. Fortunately, no one else in the room appeared to notice. Then it was forward to be presented with my award by Princess Anne; her attention was totally on each of us in our turn as she chatted and made the awards.
The next morning, I was in Aldi in Llangollen. Part way around the supermarket I just stopped dead, took a breath and looked around. It all seemed surreal to go from the Palace one morning to supermarket shopping the next. Such are the rich contrasts of life.
The big day out on the Afon Dyfrdwy (River Dee) with Chris Charlton. we paddled the whole 60 miles of the river in a single day.
SUPing Mawddach Estuary. Billie was there to create more of a challenge
River Tryweryn
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Quickies…
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If you could paddle with anyone in the world dead or alive who would it be? Bill Mason.
Pick two celebrities to be your parents. I cannot imagine anybody other than my mum as my parent, my dad died when I was eleven. She was full of stories and jokes, which so influence me to this day.
Which one sportsman or woman has inspired you? hermann Buhl the Austrian Mountaineer. I read his book, nanga Parbat Pilgrimage so many times I could quote bits of it. As a paddler and writer it has to be Bill Mason. his books and films have been an inspiration and benchmark.
Are you a bathroom/shower singer and if so what do you sing? no! Even I don’t enjoy my singing.
Favourite film? Blade Runner. I love the ending with Roy’s monologue on how his memories, “will be lost in time, like tears in rain.” Mind I do like watching Guardians of the Galaxy with Maya, love the humour and we can quote several parts of it to each other.
Cats or dogs? Dogs and our Billie Bonkers has done so much canoeing with me.
Facebook or Twitter? Facebook
An ideal night out for you is? Good company and a great meal.
What one luxury item would you take with you on a desert island? My Kindle along with a solar charger. So easy to lose myself in a good book.
Paddling the Venture Afon on the Afon Tryweryn. Photo: David Bain
What’s in your fridge right now? Very little as Lina and Maya are away and I am off to the yukon.
If we came to your house for dinner, what would you prepare for us? Indian food. If I thought highly enough of you, I would marinate a leg of lamb in yogurt and spices and then roast it. Several sides along with fresh chapatis prepared by Maya and myself.
Who are your canoeing buddies? Colin and Katrina Skeath. Paul Kirtley and of course my partner Lina Patel.
What’s the most boring question you are asked? Is this your granddaughter referring to my daughter Maya. As an older dad I knew it was inevitable and truth be told I find it more amusing than boring.
Finally, any shout outs? yep. These are the folk that so influenced me along the way: Roger ward, Bob Llewellyn, Loel Collins, Stuart Bell, Rob Egelstaff, Ray Mears and Paul Kirtley.
Mental and physical exhaustion after the crossing to the Tudwal Islands on the first circumnavigation of wales. we had been paddling into a force 5 for hours on the open sea, after a totally inaccurate forecast caught us miles out to sea.
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Day-trips around Kefalonia, multi-day trips in Kefalonia, Ithaca and all central Ionian, BCU courses, accommodation
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I spoke to Brian Johncey to gain an insight into his life and times on the water – May 2019 marked a pretty important anniversary for Blue Chip ...
An interview with… Brian
Johncey How on earth did you end up in Cheam with a windsurfing shop? That is where I have always lived, man and boy, from doing a Saturday milk round as a school kid to a shop owner. My career developed from working my way up from a printing machine operator to the marketing director in the printing industry, whilst also being a volunteer leader at a local youth activity centre. Then windsurfing came into sharp focus when one of my printing customers told me how much they enjoyed windsurfing and suggested I took a lesson at Princes water-ski club. I completed the lesson and I was smitten. That gave me the impetus to start my own windsurfing club. I used my business contacts to find a disused gravel extraction lake in Kent along with my experience of helping to run a youth activities club. I started the club, which ran on weekends only, as I already had a full time job in print. Then the printing company was sold and that gave me the push to go full time with teaching windsurfing and running the club at the lake. Soon after that, the right property (a store with workshop) became available on the high street in North Cheam, this soon became Blue Chip HQ and the rest is history.
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INTERVIEW Brian Johncey SHUTTERBUG (Emma Haylock) profile THIS IS SUP with Mike Lenane CROATIAN cruising PHIL PLUME'S Mallorcan circumnavigation CORRAN ADDISON'S subtle art of balance LAOS LOVING with Mark Rose PRONE PADDLING dabblings COASTAL lifestyle CORE STRENGTH building ISSN 2397-8597 June 2019
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The Tank and Drum Experts
New & recycled lockable plas c containers for canoe safes etc. Available from stock. Also recycled steel drums for pontoons.
Collect from our Gloucestershire depot or na onwide delivery available. Visit www.smdd.co.uk or call on 01594 833308.
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Interview: Sarah Thornely (Supjunkie) Photos: Supjunkie, Brian Johncey, Dave White
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of the Forest of Dean Ltd.
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To subscribe to the digital copy with approx 60% savings over the print issue: https://joom.ag/YksY To buy a printed issue on top quality paper with varnished gloss perfect bound covers please visit: http://standuppaddlemag.co.uk/subscribe/ The printed paper copy costs £7.49 inc P&P for a single issue or £27.99 inc P&P for a subscription of four magazines. Please contact us: 01480 465081 Email: anne@supmaguk.co.uk
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ORGANISED TOURS – BEGINNER TO EXPERIENCED UK Base Exmouth
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