Issue 13 - October 2013
ThePaddler ezine com .
International digital magazine for recreational paddlers
JAMes Pringle BeBBInGtOn cOnnOr BAXter descent of Mt everest Freestyle interview
SUP interview
Darren Clarkson King
RegularPaddler
KayakPaddler
SaltyPaddler
SUPPaddler
OCPaddler
contents
Ubaye Gorge section Southern French Alps Inspecting the Lion’s Den Rapid Photo: Alex Kay editor
Peter Tranter peter@thepaddler.co.uk Tel: (01480) 465081 Mob: 07411 005824 www.thepaddler.co.uk
Advertising sales
Anne Egan Tel: (01480) 465081 advertising@thepaddler.co.uk
cover: James Bebbington Additional photo contributor credits: Wolfgang Glowacki, Starboard, Christian McLeod, Joan Vienot, Jessica Drujko, Katie Kowalski, Jackie Hennessy,.
Not all contributors are professional writers and photographers, so don’t be put off writing because you have no experience! ThePaddler.co.uk ezine is all about paddler to paddler dialogue: a paddler’s magazine written by paddlers. next issue is november 2013 with a deadline of submissions on October 25th. Technical Information: Contributions preferably as a Microsoft Word file with 1200-2000 words, emailed to submissions@thepaddler.co.uk. Images should be hi-resolution and emailed with the Word file or if preferred, a Dropbox folder will be created for you. ThePaddler ezine encourages contributions of any nature but reserves the right to edit to the space available. Opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publishing parent company, 2b Graphic Design. The publishing of an advertisement in ThePaddler ezine does not necessarily mean that the parent company, 2b Graphic Design, endorse the company, item or service advertised. All material in ThePaddler ezine is strictly copyright and all rights are reserved. Reproduction without prior permission from the editor is forbidden.
Issue 13
October 2013
004
Eight of the Best
006
the best film from around the planet
016
Perusing new gear from Germany
030
rafting the Franklin river - duke Peterson
048
Fish finding - Mark crame
Testing, testing
010
new kit reviewed
020
sweet Protection Intergalactic dry suit - Phil carr
038
the ten commandments - scott edwards
060
Lands end to scilly Isles - simon everett
062 070 080 086 094 098 106 112 120 130 136 142 152
Paddle expo Kit review Australia
Kayak transport
Sea fishing England
Paddler’s Planet christian Wagley
Interview connor Baxter
Ireland
the beauty of the emerald Isle - Annette carsing
England
Last of the summer surf - tez Plavenieks
England
river thames restrictions by Paul Hyman
SUP Fins
By tez Plavenieks
Cambodia
Anne Pizey interview by Leslie Kolovich
Siberia
Looking for tigers - simon chapman
Coaching
Open canoe key areas by dave rossetter
Interview
James ‘Pringle’ Bebbington
Canada
Ontario Lakes - rick Wise
Kayak review
Pyranha Burn - George Harrap/Paul Mcdonnell
Nepal
descending everest - darren clarkson King
Canada
riding Ottawan giants - seth Ashworth
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Dark Water
Lee visual International
Turtle Bay Finals 2013
theWatermanLeague Hawaii, UsA
River Gambia Expedition
Jason Florio Gambia
Off to the Races Episode 1
christopher Lockyer canada
‘Tameless’ - Rivers of Siberia
tomass Marnics russia
K2O Trip of a Lifetime III
charles stewart Australia
Best of TWIXTOR 60fps
devyn scott International
Late Season Madness
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Quebec connection Quebec, canada
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Tel: 01841 540 346 www.manoractivitycentre.co.uk
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Testing,
Hennessy deluxe explorer www.hennessyhammock.com By Jody Dymond
After speaking with the guys at the Hennessy HQ about my up and coming canoe trip to the Bowron Lakes in British columbia they agreed to send me one of their hammock systems for review. A few days later I received a Hennessy deluxe explorer – Asym Zip hammock, a Hex-Fly, a set of snake skins and two sets of the treehugger straps.
The Hennessy Hammock system is one of the ‘must have’ pieces of canoeing equipment for solo use. The first thing I noticed was how compact and lightweight the sleeping system is compared to a one-man tent. The hammock weighs in at 3lbs 3oz with a load rating of 300lbs and has a pack size of 10 by 8 by 6 inches.
The Hex-Fly is larger than the standard fly. It’s an extra cost but well worth it due to its larger size
allowing plenty of room for sorting kit and cooking under when the skies open. A big pro point is if it is raining you can put the fly up first for shelter whilst hanging the hammock.The only con to this is it does mean you have to pack the fly separate which does take a slightly longer to put up and pack down and takes up slightly more space when packing it into kit barrels or a dry bag etc.
The attention to detail is evident right throughout the whole system down to the little pockets for the guylines. A centre line runs through the inner hammock, which helps to keep the mosquito net up and gives you space to read and relax. It also has several kit clips on it and a mesh pocket attached for your GPS and head torch etc.
expect to pay: $260.00 £170.00 €190.00
Hennessy have come up with a snake skin add on, which stays on the hammock lines and makes setting up and packing down a simple, quick and very effective task. Once the hammock is attached to your chosen anchor points all you have to do is slide the snake skin out from the middle to the ends of the hammock, and vice versa to pack down.The snake skins not only act as a waterproof shell but also help keep crud and debris off the hammock itself.
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Getting into the hammock is very easy. Like most hammock systems with an integrated mosquito net, there’s a zip that runs along the one side. Once opened you can sit in the hammock, swing your legs in and zip the hammock shut. If you’re not a fan of zips, the original hammock comes with Velcro enclosures.
The asymmetric shape allows you to sleep at a slight angle, which in turn helps to keep you flatter whilst in the hammock compared to other systems that generally stay banana shaped.There’s also an elastic cord attached to either side of the hammock that once stretched out and pegged down help keep it stable and stop it from swinging too much, preventing the feared sea-sickness that people believe accompanies sleeping in a hammock.
My personal thoughts: I found putting a Thermarest or similar sleeping mat into the hammock gives you greater insulation and helps to keep you level whilst sleeping. Hennessy do make a separate insulation system that I’ve yet to try out but hope to soon so watch this space for info on that. I also suggest purchasing six good quality aluminium tent pegs for pegging down the elastics and guy-lines. If you only have the standard fly you will only need four pegs.
m .co
dle rs - e mail us: r eviews@t hepad dler ezin e
Summary
Overall I can honestly say I love this hammock. every night’s sleep was great and the ease of setting up and packing down really makes the difference when you have a busy scheduled trip and want to get moving AsAP.
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Aquapac launches two new sizes of popular Wet & Dry Backpack
Joby Ultrafit sling strap http://joby.com/camera-straps By Dale Mears
http://store.aquapac.net
due to customer demand Aquapac has extended its range of Wet & dry Backpacks with the launch of two new sizes.the 25L Wet & dry Backpack has proved so popular that Aquapac has introduced two more sizes – a smaller 15L and a larger 35L.
The Wet & Dry Backpacks are part of the company’s Stormproof™ range and are waterproof, highly versatile and bursting with features. Ideal for a range of activities from commuting to canyoning down a waterfall they are lightweight, fully adjustable, with handy pockets and a genius internal pocket that divides the pack into two sections for keeping your wet and dry or clean and dirty gear separate. Aquapac has made the inner pouches on all three bags removable via zippers for extra versatility – a new feature. Made from TPU-coated fabric with taped seams, water can’t seep in even where they are sewn. It has a roll-top seal for quick and easy closure and excellent sealing against the elements – handy for our damp conditions.
Sternum and waist straps (there’s no waist strap on the 15L bag) keep the backpack securely in place and the back-support pocket can be used to carry a hydration bladder to help quench your thirst while out for the day. Simply add in the bladder and clip the hose to the carabiner supplied with the pack.Twin external mesh pockets will conveniently hold a 2L water bottle, tripod or magazine and the removable back support can be taken out and dried quickly if you’re caught in the rain, or can be used it to sit on.
When it comes to camera straps I have always stuck to my manufacturer supplied strap from nikon. I was always happy with them thinking that it did its job was fairly comfortable and was strong and reliable.
When it comes to camera straps I have always stuck to my manufacturer supplied strap from Nikon. I was always happy with them thinking that it did its job was fairly comfortable and was strong and reliable. For the last month now I broke the mould and have been using the Joby Ultrafit Sling Strap instead of my standard Nikon strap. Photographing around whitewater always worries me; having nearly lost my camera a few times I wanted a strap that would give me some added security. A month in and I can safely say, “What was I doing for the last four years”.The Joby Ultrafit Sling strap is a great piece of kit. I will start with the advantages of making the switch from your standard strap.
The Ultrafit sling offers Joby’s SpeedCinch system, which allows you to quickly grab your camera and pull it from your side with ease and it really works. It is quick and effective. Due to wearing the sling across your chest it wants to naturally swing into position as you grab it. In reverse the strap is also really easy to pull up close to your body so it is not swinging low by your side. I found pulling into my body when around water very reassuring indeed and you can lock the strap off easily in a split second.The strap is also really nice to run with if you need to reposition whilst chasing racing paddlers or change position.
The Ultrafit sling is very comfortable which makes long shoots easier too.The strap has been really good
when waiting around for different paddlers runs or even just to sit wearing the strap.The strap allows your camera to sit on your side using its natural weight meaning that your lens will face downwards settling and not putting any strain on your lens mount. I have used this strap with up to a 300mm lens and it is really well balanced and does not feel heavy like the manufacturers straps. Build quality is good and the strap looks stylish too. I also like the fact that aesthetically this strap doesn’t stand out like the Nikon yellow and Canon red on the straps so attracts less attention.The strap attaches on the bottom on your tripod mounting hole and if worried that you often shoot on a tripod don’t worry you can buy a plate to allow you to use both without having to unscrew the strap.The attachment has a screw with a small tightening plate to secure your camera quickly. I have also used a coin to double check and ensure the strap is secure and it has been solid as a rock.
In terms of usability the strap allows you better control of your camera as the strap mounts on the tripod mounting hole allowing easy access to the top of the camera. I tried to find some negatives but as yet I am struggling. I think the only negative is that I can’t sit my DSLR flat on a table due to the positioning of the mount, but the positives overwhelm this so it does not bother me in the slightest. For about £30 from most retailers this is a real bargain if you want a strap that is great for around white water or any paddle sports check it out at http://joby.com/camera-straps/ultrafit-sling-strap-formen/ for videos and further information.
expect to pay: £39.99; $49.99 and €42.00 from most retailers
Zet Raptor: Still the fastest, toughest, lightest, most responsive creekboat around Fastest hull in its class (won Teva Freeride World Champs 2012)
Closed cell foam seat = a warm bum and no private puddle
Front and rear buoyancy retention pillars – so foam cannot slip out
Small also no er version w (called available the Vel oc) Bigger ve (the Dirrsion too ector)
No holes drilled around the cockpit
Bomber plastic
2 year warranty on the outfitting 2 year warranty on the hull
303L volume but it feels like about 250L Displacement hull with just enough edge
itting C1 outfailable now av
Variable hull thickness so it weights only 19Kg
Free airbags
To advertise email: ads@thepaddlerezine.com or call +44 (0)1480 465081
New boats and Demo boats available at: CIWW, Tees & Sues Canoes.
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RETAILER SHOW. EXHIBITOR LIST, VISITOR REGISTRATION AND MORE DETAILS AT PADDLEEXPO.COM
Palm introduced the Lofoten women’s specific paddling suit.
With all the premium features of the popular Aleutian suit, combined with a drop seat relief zip, the Lofoten brings premium quality all weather protection to the female ocean paddling market.
Lightweight, waterproof, and shaped for paddling, the Atlas is both a paddle jacket to keep wind and spray off, and a rain jacket to wear on land. It packs down small to stow away for emergency rain showers, and features stretchy inner wrist gaskets to keep the water from running up your sleeves when loading boats. Available in two bright colours.
Kokatat released their new Icon Dry Suit. The rear-entry suit is part of their Jackson Collection.
The suit was developed in collaboration with whitewater paddling legend Eric Jackson and his son Dane Jackson, the reigning Junior World Champion.
The Explorer Suit has had a full makeover, and now features a tougher, more robust hood and much improved Velcro tabs on the waist and sleeves.
A firm favourite with all paddlers, The 2014 Explorer comes in a stylish bright red jacket with black and grey pants.
Also on show was Peak’s brand new 2014 Cockpit Cover. Constructed from light but tough 3mm lined neoprene this is quite simply a must have. Not only will the cover keep rain, bugs and stowaways out of your kayak when in transit, but it could reduce your fuel consumption too, saving you money (and the planet!). The 2014 Cockpit Covers (£35 RRP) are also available right now!
Tel: 01753 655455
Email: rapidkayaks@gmail.com www.rapidkayaks.co.uk
To advertise email: ads@thepaddlerezine.com or call +44 (0)1480 465081
RAPID KAYAKS
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ThePaddler at PaddleExpo
Great time at the expo and thanks to all the manufacturers and distributors who kindly gave us their time. Thanks also to the organisers on such a magnificent show and to the German people in Nuremberg for their hospitality.
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ThePaddler at PaddleExpo
All that’s left to say is that we will see you next year. 28. - 30. September 2014.
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Sweet
Protection (indeed)
I'm very fortunate to be in the position of getting hold of new kit well before it is released.this now includes the Intergalactic dry suit from norwegian company sweet Protection.
By Phil Carr
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Sweet have
been in the whitewater game for years but the Intergalactic marks their first and long awaited move into the dry suit arena. The Intergalactic is built from Gore-Tex Pro material and is backed onto a fabric that is both supple and tough. The Gore-Tex used is the three-layer performance variety that is designed for extreme and extended use. I have a number of bits of kit, including a Sweet Shadrach made out of the same material and although it feels quite soft I know that it will take a beating and come back for more.
Good quality latex gaskets provide water protection at the neck and wrists. To protect the latex the neck seal also has non-adjustable neoprene gaskets and the wrists have hook and loop adjustable neoprene protection. I am not a big fan of such adjustment on the wrists as it can create quite a lot of bulk that I simply do not like. However I soon forgot about this feature, which must mean that the design is low profile enough to make it un-noticeable.
the construction of the suit is superb
Looking at the inside of the Intergalactic you will find a very neat and solid finish. All of the fabric/latex joints have been glued and taped. Both the neck and wrist seals feel pretty substantial. A pair of shaped fabric socks provides foot protection. On first looking at the suit prior to trying it on the socks looked far too small and I thought that I might have an issue trying the Intergalactic
out. However, I have found that they are great for my size 10 feet (UK) whilst wearing a pair of hiking socks. Paddlers with feet a little large or smaller than mine will also find that there is plenty of room in the socks without a huge mass of excess material that needs to be dealt with when you put your footwear on.
Front zip entry dry suit
Unlike many paddle sport dry suits the Intergalactic is a front zip entry dry suit – the zip lies at the front of the suit and runs across the chest area.This means that the suit is really easy to put on and take off without the assistance of any one else to help with the zip. Sweet have chosen to use a TiZip, which is a plastic zip rather than the brass zips that are often found on dry suits.
I have a couple of suits that use TiZips and have found them to be incredibly well designed as they have a chunky feel that gives confidence, yet lay flat and are unrestrictive. But most importantly provide really good protection against water. The chest entry zip runs from underneath the right arm, across the chest and over the bicep area of the left arm. A hook protects the zip and loop fastened flap to give that little bit of additional protection. What is really nice is the fact that there is a pull-tab at each end of the zip attached to the suit. This gives you something to pull against when opening or closing the zip.
The zip sits high enough so that it doesn't impact upon the effectiveness of the body tube for the spray skirt. The body tube is of a good size and allows the
Unlike many paddle sport dry suits the Intergalactic is a
front zip
entry dry suit – the zip lies at the front of the suit and runs across the chest area
tube of the spray skirt to be fully protected. The hook and loop adjustable body tube is snug when done up to give a good seal against your deck, but opens up wide enough that the Intergalactic is super easy to get off. The relief zip is also a TiZip but this time does not get any additional protection.
This seems to make sense as the inclusion of a sewn flap would create a greater need for stitching and taping. From a kayakers point of view the relief zip sits below the spray deck so will get protection from the deck in all situations other than during a swim.
Sweet have included two pockets on the Intergalactic. One can be found on the left arm and the other on the left leg. Although not fully waterproof the seal provided by the brightly coloured orange zips do keep the majority of water out. Whenever I use pockets of this type for my keys etc. I tend to use an Aloksak zip lock bag to make sure that water ever I do put in the pocket does stay dry. If I was storing an item that didn't have to stay dry, for example a set of ear plugs, then this would not a be a concern.
For the record I have a large Intergalactic. I’m 6’1” and 210lbs and the suit fits really well without any excess/flapping fabric and without any feeling of restriction. In the past I have worn suits that have been a little short in the leg.This is not the case with the Intergalactic.The leg length is superb and allows me to seal the top of my boots off to help prevent grit and stones getting in and potentially damaging the fabric
Gore-Tex socks.The unmapped hook and loop closure on the ankles means that you are not restricted by how tight or slack the manufacturer thinks the closure should be.The user has the choice and is not limited by the positioning of the fastener on the fabric. All key areas that are prone to heavy impact and potential damage are made from a much heavier Cordura black ripstop material. These areas include the elbows, knees, thighs, ankles and seat.
On the water
The suit feels just like wearing a dry top. I was concerned that I would not like the front entry zip and although I did notice its presence, particularly over my left arm the zip does not feel restrictive at all and the suit performs really well. Range of movement is never compromised by the cut or design. It just feels right. The Intergalactic will be available in two colours the Gun Metal Blue shown here and a Scorch Orange. Various other bits of Sweet kit will also be available in the same colours including the Sweet Strutter white water helmet.
What is clear is the cut and fit of the Intergalactic is superb, it has to be one of the best suits that I have worn. For those paddlers looking for a top end fully featured high performance dry suit and had thought they had made their final choice may find themselves having to think again. The Intergalactic dry suit may be the most sort after piece of white water kit over the next year.
In a nutshell… ●
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Diagonal zipper for easy self supported entry and exit Super elastic Yamamoto neoprene, lycra on both sides
Thick latex bottleneck neck gasket inside Engineered for unsurpassed freedom of movement in GORE-TEX® Pro Neck tube drain
Articulated arms for unrestricted movement
Thick latex bottleneck wrist gaskets inside Wrist cuff and gaskets with moulded cuff grab made of un-napped Velcro Yamamoto neoprene
All-new Hypalon Velcro waist adjustment for a tight and secure fit
Waist seal tube of unnapped Yamamoto neoprene with grippy rubber inside
Arm pocket with zipper access
Extra wide and secure TIZIP relief zippers
Seat area engineered for unsurpassed freedom of movement in waterproof Cordura® laminate
Handy thigh pocket ensures easy access even while seated, with drain mesh
Waterproof Cordura® laminate reinforcement in critical areas
¾ length Yamamoto neoprene ankle cuffs ensures a snug fit from ankle to mid calf. Double layer shin protection area in neoprene. Extra wide ankle cuffs with unmapped Velcro flat-lock adjustment to give you the exact secure fit you need Sealed GORE-TEX® Pro socks
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Shaping the landscape… Both naturally and politically
In the September issue of ThePaddler, we ran a feature on how paddlers were helping to save the Futaleufu River. Here’s a shining example of a river that was saved from being dammed. Long live the Franklin River,Tasmania!
M
y classmates were exactly the sort of inbred degenerates you would expect: an unusually short and hairy yet bald mainlander hippy Jew with a ferocious appetite for alcohol and unhinged women, an irritating contortionist/undertaker who liked to crossdress, a dead-eyed ASIO assassin turned vegan environmentalist, a pompous pommy git who had made a fortune selling porn for mobile phones, a self-appointed Tasmanian hard man who would ride his unicycle through the night hundreds of kilometres to the start of each trip listening to Bette Midler’s ‘Wind Beneath My
Wings’ on repeat and so on. It was 2003 and I had decided to do a course in adventure tourism in Hobart, Tasmania. I had no real interest in working as a guide or working at all at the time but I did like to go bush. I learnt many valuable things on the course – how to lather one’s self in mutton bird fat as demonstrated by one of our intrepid leaders, how to induce vomiting via dahl, and a little about white water rafting during a week long rafting course on the Mersey River in the snow.
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ThePaddler 22 One of the more significant acquaintances I was to make was a scrawny Austrian bogan from Lilydale. It was at the white water rafting course, I was sitting in a dingy shed on the banks of the Mersey River having a beer and some capers with the Austrian and arguing with some Nazi wannabe cop chick about their right to bash hippies when we spotted the ad: dolphin bucket boat, baffles blown, $500. I said to the Austrian, “We should buy that boat and raft the Franklin River.�
For the last 50 years it has captured our imagination, awed us, inspired us, we have gone to gaol for it, it has moved us to violence and it has shaped our political landscape. In 1982 the Tasmanian government at the time had approved an extensive hydroelectric scheme that would flood the entire valley with three different dams. The bulldozers were rolling in and the catastrophic possibility that the river could be lost forever seemed inevitable.
The Franklin River looms large on the mind of any aspiring Tasmanian adventurer. For one thousand million years, since the aboriginal spirit Moihernee cut the ground and made the rivers, or for all one knows a millennia of earthquakes and molten lava formed the landscape, the Franklin has run free, indifferent to and unmolested by human kind.
The campaign that followed was fought with unprecedented passion on both sides, from the mud in front of the bulldozers to the rainforest to the Australian High Court. No matter where
For the last 50 years it has captured our imagination, awed us, inspired us, we have gone to gaol for it, it has moved us to violence and it has shaped our political landscape
than we are asking’, ‘but it has no baffles, it will sink like a god-damn stone if it gets punctured, no one in their right mind would take this thing near a river.’ I handed over $350 and the boat was ours. My brother and the Austrian’s German cousin were sufficiently unsuspecting and had agreed to join us. We were ready.
But at the time we didn’t care about that stuff. We wanted adventure and everybody knew it had truckloads of that, particularly for a crew armed with Albert’s ‘a little knowledge’ and a 40s series troop carrier full of substandard gear and beer.
When we arrived at the river it was in flood at 2m so we retreated to Derwent Bridge for more beer and food poisoning. The next day the river was still at 1.8m, above the level we has been advised to put on but we put on anyway. The days that followed were some of the most amazing of my life. The river is stunningly beautiful and the rafting was terrifying, it awed and humbled us. Each day we learnt more about how little we knew.
The chap from the Tas Uni rafting club made no effort to conceal his contempt when I offered him $150. ‘The materials alone are worth more
Story by Duke Peterson Photos:Wolfgang Glowacki: http://wolfgangglowacki.com.au
you stood it became undeniably clear that this river was of profound importance. The culmination of the campaign saw the fall of a federal government and the birth of a global political movement. Today, almost 30 years since the campaign that saved the river, it has lost none of its allure.
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We flipped in a rapid in the middle of the Great Ravine, the boat was surfed upside down in a hole and our gear came apart and went everywhere. We lost our pump and a lid came off one of the barrels and my sleeping bag got soaked. Needless to say this made for an uncomfortable night. With a boat that could not be deflated and without the knowledge to avoid the high portages we spent hours high portaging the fully inflated raft over treacherously steep high portage tracks. At Rafters Basin, once we had escaped the Ravine, the sun came out and we were able to dry our gear and recover. Life was good. The lower Franklin was a dream – breathtaking reflections, stunning cliffs, sunny weather, ancient rainforest and the satisfaction of knowing we had survived. When we arrived at Sir John’s Falls, a couple of our friends, a raspberry farmer and an illegal immigrant, had come across Macquarie Harbour in a 12foot tinny to meet us. They’d already caught several massive sea run trout, which we feasted on hungrily and washed it down with fine boxed wine. Once back in Strahan we headed straight for the pub – a wilderness in its own right. The German cousin picked up a 180 kilogram pink haired Queenstown beauty and took her back to his ditch. The rest of us crashed on a jetty while the farmer and the illegal immigrant were nearly killed in large swell on Macquarie Harbour. Luckily the illegal immigrant’s considerable experience with small dodgy boats in large seas and the farmer’s life sustaining produce saw them pull through. Now, almost ten years later, you can go up on a steep treeless hill in Queenstown and with the right kind of eyes you can look back and see that what we had done was arguably stupid and dangerous but it was also awesome, a true adventure and bloody good fun.
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Rock Island Bend
Irenabyss
The lower Franklin was a dream – breath-taking reflections, stunning cliffs, sunny weather, ancient rainforest and the satisfaction of knowing
we had survived
The Great Ravine
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Lining The Churn
any illusions
In years to follow I soon gave away
I may have had of becoming a guide. I was too rude and lazy and given my strong dislike for people in general I became a doctor instead. The Austrian was to follow a different path. He continued to guide, raft and kayak all over the world, returning to the Franklin every year to work as a professional guide. Armed with all this experience, in 2012 he returned to the river with his wife to set up their own company, ‘Franklin River Rafting’. This was to be quite a turn of luck for me as it led to another trip down the river, something I had wanted to do for years. This was to be a very different trip. This time we had a brand new state of the art expedition rafting kit. In place of our 12 foot baffle-less bucket boat were two brand new 14 foot Incept self-bailers. The river again was high but with years of experience guiding us it was notably less terrifying. There were no gear losing flips and no high portages with inflated boats. In fact there were no high portages at all as over the years ingenious tricks have been developed for sneaking the fully laden boats through the most dangerous rapids that cannot be paddled. The food was also of a notably higher standard, as not portaging the rafts means there is little restriction on the luxuries that can be taken.
Left to right:The brother, the cousin, the author and the Austrian.
Highlights included fresh fruit, cheese cake and rib eye steaks. Most importantly the river was unchanged, still wild, majestic and free. No matter how you do it the Franklin River 30 years on from its near destruction remains one of the world’s greatest adventures, a veritable phantasmagoria of inexpressible natural beauty, adventure, ancient history and exhilaration. With an outstanding company like Franklin River Rafting the river is now accessible even to those not sufficiently lacking in common sense to attempt it in our original style. This is a fact that to be honest offends me to core, that these smug bastards can now experience such a spectacular adventure without the suffering, the fear, and the night freezing my balls off in a wet sleeping bag. Anyway as the late Dr Thompson once said ‘if a thing like this is worth doing at all it’s worth doing right’, no doubt it’s worth doing but I leave it to you to decide how to do it right.
For details on rafting expeditions on the Franklin River visit – www.franklinriverrafting.com Below: High water Newlands Cascade
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By Scott Edwards
The
Ten Commandments of kayak transport
In my years of paddling and doing it all in Penny the Kayak-Mobile, who generously allowed me to take the pictures that accompany this article, I have never ceased to be amazed at the myriad of dangerous ways people transport kayaks on cars. I have also seen my fair share of disasters with kayaks that haven’t even made it to the water yet! It is in this spirit that I write avoiding even ONE travelling mishap is worth the countless discussions of what is and is not the proper way to take your kayak for a ride on your car. So, maybe they are not ‘commandments’, but, a collection of techniques to keep you, your kayak AND the other drivers on the road safe. 1. thou shalt allow plenty of time to ‘boat up’
Loading your kayak on your car in a rush is the first step on the road to not getting to your put in with everything in one piece. Most of us plan our paddles and you need to plan when you ‘boat up’ or get your kayak ready for transport. I tend to get my kayak on Penny the night before a paddle. I put the cross straps (the ones that work with the racks) and tie them down as I would have them while I am driving. The bow and stern lines are attached, but left slack overnight, so not to put any downward stress on the kayak while still safe in the driveway. The downward stress factor applies regardless if the kayak is composite or roto-moulded. Bottom line is leave yourself plenty of time to properly secure your kayak.
2. thou shalt always use a cockpit cover
This is one of a few that make my blood run cold. Not using a cockpit cover, which is properly secured, not only lets all kinds of goodness knows what getting blown into your kayak, but, it’s turning your kayak into a long drag ‘chute. Imagine the amount of force driving at 60 miles per hour (96.5kmh) is (hopefully) hitting your rear bulkhead, and how much your kayak wants to try being an airplane. I have seen the lack of a cockpit cover contribute to the kayak becoming a fast moving missile that is probably aimed at the unlucky person driving behind you. I do not know what the actual speed the car was travelling; you’d probably have to ask the State Police who responded or the lawyers who litigated the situation later.
Cockpit covers are relatively inexpensive and many come equipped with a karabiner to attach to your deck lines and even a strap to hold it down even tighter. Not only can this help avoid situations like the one I just mentioned, but in this day and age of ever increasing fuel costs, I wish I were an engineer so I could calculate how much fuel efficiency is lost driving with an uncovered cockpit as opposed to one that has a cover on it. Logic would say it has to be a substantial amount as well as taking an unnecessary risk that could cost even more.
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ThePaddler 32 3. thou shalt always use bow And stern lines
This is the one I always get pushed back on. However there are sound reasons why they come standard with practically every rack set up and if they didn’t there are plenty of aftermarket models available. Bow and Stern lines are to keep your kayak from turning into an airplane wing. I cannot begin to count the number of times I have seen kayaks on cars bouncing up and down and I’m just waiting for a gust of wind to turn it sideways or come flying off, or for the driver to have to stop short and watch the kayak become a missile.There is a tremendous amount of force passing over, around and under your kayak.Your kayak is hydro dynamically designed, meaning to efficiently move through the water, which uncannily is not too far removed from aerodynamics. So, basically your kayak really wants to be a wing and give into the force of driving at highway speeds combined with any wind that may be blowing.
The most popular design of bow and stern lines are of the ratcheting variety. These work wonderfully, but can put a lot of torque on the ends of your kayak. This is why you need to carefully secure them so that you do not wind up bending or cracking your kayak. When you are not driving, you should release the pressure and let the lines go slack. These lines are hooked into the straps provided to go under your hardlines, putting them under the bungees is not very effective, they bounce as well. The other end is hooked to the underside of your car. Hopefully your manufacturer has given you places to do this. I am very lucky, my kayak-mobile has two welded D rings in the front and one in the back, making it very easy to secure the straps. In most cars hooking something to the back is fairly easy, but the front can pose more difficult. One of the best bow line tie downs are straps that are either bolted under the hood (bonnet) and have the loop come out of the sides of the hood, or more temporary ones that uses the locking of the hood to hold loops attached to a round piece of plastic, again using the locking of the hood to hold them in place. These are very hard to describe with words, so I am hoping they pictures clarify how they work. These are also very inexpensive and easy to use.
There is a word of caution to be given here. Please always make sure your bow and stern lines are secure, tight and not dangling in any manner. Especially in front of your car because they have a nasty habit of getting run over, and then tangled up in your wheels, which can cause a lot of damage both to the car and kayak. If your front bumper does not offer a way to secure the lines from sliding off into the wheel well, consider using two bowlines that come together forming an inverted ‘V’ to keep them pulled towards centre and not to the outside of the vehicle. I recently heard a horror story from a person who ran over their bowline and it snapped their composite boat almost in half. Again, ample time and diligence is called for.
Above: F tie down
Front right n anchor
Left: Rear D ring for tie down right: make sure all lines are secure and not dangling
Left: Front left tie down anchor
Above: Hood (bonnet) loop anchor
Above: Hood loop secured
4. thou shalt periodically check your lines while travelling
Ever wonder what else you could be doing on your road trip while watching the fuel pump ring up untold amounts of money on your way to wherever you’re going? How about checking your kayaks and the straps to make sure nothing has managed to wiggle loose over the last couple of hours since your last stop. Check your knots, your bow and stern lines to make sure they have not unacceptably shifted. Gently try and move your kayak and if it doesn’t feel secure, find the weak link. Your tie down is only as good as your worst knot. THIS is the time to find out, not half an hour up the road when you see your prized kayak bouncing around or you hear that nagging sound coming from the rear that you just can’t quite put your finger on. The key to successfully securing your kayak to your car is a system of redundancies. Checking en route is part of that system. When you stop for fuel, lunch or just to stretch your legs, check your lines. It’s a worthwhile couple of minutes invested into making sure everything arrives at your destination.
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ThePaddler 34 5. thou shalt perform an extensive annual inspection of all tie down related gear
Of all the things one ought to do, this one is key. What good is it if you have done all of these things with gear that is worn, frayed, rusted or in numerous other forms of disrepair? You could tie knots like a sailor of old, and if the strap is fraying, or the buckle rusting out, it is all for nothing. And this does not just apply to the straps, cords and lines. This goes for your entire rack system. It is put under a great deal of strain every year. It is more than worth the time to make sure all manner of screws are properly tightened. I go so far as to apply a fresh layer of Loctite, a fluid that you squeeze into the holes where the bolts are inserted to insulate them from vibrating free over time. I’m pretty sure there is a similar product on the other side of the pond. One word of note when using Loctite (or something similar), do not use the ‘permanent’ bonding formulation. It will make it VERY difficult to remove a rack to another car, or a different model. The ‘blue’ comes undone with just tools, while the ‘red’ requires heat and tools, and quite a bit of torque. Once a year inspection of everything that gets you to your favourite put-ins near and far is not a lot to ask.
6. thou shalt proceed at a reasonable pace
Or to put is simpler, the faster you go, the faster things can go wrong. If you do the math you’re not going to get there all that much sooner by stomping on your gas peddle and flying down the road.Take your time, every now and then glance up at your kayaks and make sure they are still pointed straight ahead and not bouncing. By easing off the accelerator you incrementally lessen the forces in play on your kayaks. It is far better to be safe than sorry. Slow down a bit when you are under load.
7. thou shalt never leave extra tie down gear at home
This is one of those cases where forewarned is forearmed. Despite your diligent inspection of all your straps, buckles, bow and stern lines, et al; sooner or later you are going to have one malfunction on you, or blow away, or just plain wear out. How are you going to get back? You have extras in a bag in your vehicle. If you don’t have spares, make the investment; it is a very inexpensive insurance policy. Also, extra straps come in handy for a multitude of purposes both in transit and while camping, towing a trailer that comes apart at the worst possible time (personal experience here), you name it. You cannot ever have enough straps and tie downs, throw a bunch of bungee cords and karabiners in there as well. This is your transport first aid kit keep it well stocked.
8. thou shalt affix a caution flag to the stern of your kayak
Depending on where you live (see #9) this is not only a good idea; it may very well be the law. Unless you are carrying only shorter white water kayaks, there is a very good chance that your kayak is going to overhang the rear of your vehicle. It is prudent to hang a red caution flag from the end of your kayak to keep other vehicles that might not notice it from running into it. Not all drivers look up and from the rear it is a very narrow profile to see. A caution flag can go a long way to preventing an accident, there are even a few available for purchase for just this purpose.
9. thou shalt check the ‘rules of the road’ afore venturing out
If you are travelling outside of your home area, it is a sound idea to find out what the rules are for transporting your kayak safely, as I know the laws on this side of the pond vary state to state, sometimes even between different counties. I can only imagine the difference in the regulations travelling between countries in Europe. Some require a minimum of three points of contact between what’s on top of the vehicle and the vehicle itself. Nothing can ruin a perfect trip than getting pulled over and cited for improper transport and the incumbent fines. Not to mention just the overall buzz-kill that comes with being stopped for something you could have prevented.
Now this may seem like a lot of different things that you have to do to your vehicle and kayak, and some may seem redundant. But a successful and safe transport is a system of redundancies. If one part of the system fails, there are a multitude of back ups to make sure your precious kayak doesn’t wind up bouncing down the road, causing untold carnage or having it become a wing and pull the hardware right out of your roof and damaging your car. This is why in the very beginning I wrote of allowing yourself plenty of time to get your kayak set up and tied down properly on your vehicle. A good rack system for the top of your car is not a modest purchase. There are many lesser set ups available, but they are basically just padding for the roof of the vehicle. If they slip, the whole thing comes undone. A proper set of saddles, rollers or J-hooks will insure that you and your kayak get to the put-in and enjoy your day on the water.
10. Arrive safely
ly and enjoy your paddle!
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Mark crame gives us an introduction on
“
Kayak, tackle, bait…the weather’s good, the sea state is fine and the fish are out there.
But where?
Though fish roam and move with the tides there are areas that will typically attract or hold greater concentrations for various reasons. Understanding these, how to locate them and how to reach them or perhaps return to them will pay dividends and in open sea there are few visual clues to help with watercraft. This is where rudimentary navigation comes into the mix. By Mark Crame
FISH FINDING
“To capture the fish is not all of the fishing.” Zane Grey,Tales of Fishes
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A brief look at visual watercraft first though
Let’s say that I’m targeting bass. Bass hang around structure, favour fast and turbulent water (or the slack just outside of these) and actively hunt anything from shrimp and crab to fish throughout the water column. Of course they can be chanced upon in open water but to consistently catch it is worth looking for a suitable haunt. Locally, I have my favourites.These consist in the main of two inshore, shallow water wrecks (both partially visible during much of the tide), a man-made artificial reef and a manmade harbour wall.The latter both consist of jumbled rocks, the former of tangled debris; conditions conducive to the growth of flora and fauna adding to the nooks and crannies that provide shelter to crustacea and small fish.
Think of it as a restaurant, a concentrated supply of food for all tastes and sizes. Any structure at the right time of year will attract fish, it’s just a case of finding it; a classic example is the groyne on the beach at the end of my road. During a quick Sunday morning swim with my children last summer I noticed the water was particularly clear so walked along the groyne to check what the bottom was like. Halfway along I noticed the cruising grey shapes… ten minutes later and I was back with a rod and a lure and half an hour after that fresh bass was served up for lunch. There were hundreds of people on the beach, groynes for two miles and no-one fishes this particular beach because it’s shallow, featureless and doesn’t produce fish but there they were, on the structure. Sometimes visible by surface disturbance, if not exposed, sandbanks are also effective fish attractors with predators actively cruising and
others taking shelter from waves or flow. The slope on the lee side of a bank will often hold rays in summer, especially on the weaker tides. Gullies often form around banks and many items end up here, washed along the bottom until becoming trapped. Gullies, like holes and rough ground, become fertile spots for colonisation by marine life and thus attract fish to cruise and feed from them. Another submerged larder. Ground like this, however, is less easy to spot visually from the surface especially in coloured water or choppy seas. So how could effective location be achieved?
will attract fish,
Any structure at the right time of year
it’s just a case of finding it
C
t
Catching Bass in rock sea defences
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In the beginning comes the famed ‘Eyeball, Mark I’. That’s okay locally but has many limitations, least of all perception so how it becomes beneficial to turn to artificial aids of which there are many and it’s time to make use of them. I’m sat at home in the middle of the week. It’s night time and I’m miles from where I’ll fish a few days hence. I’ve gone online and checked the weather, wind and swell forecasts, the tide times and moon phase and know that my 6am launch will see me drifting from north to south on the last two hours of the flood tide. Following the approximate half an hour slack that comes with a neap I shall then have a couple of hours to head back north as the tide reverses onto the ebb. Allowing for paddling out and in, dropping anchor and so on this bodes well for an 11am landing back where I launched. It’s autumn so I can expect a good range of species. The whiting shoals are in with a few cod chasing them, the bass haven’t left, the rays have yet to move off, the smoothound are still present and there are reports still of mackerel and the arrival of herring.
Shipwrecks
The water is still relatively clear from the summer, the onshore wind is slight, smoothing the sea and conditions will allow me plenty of options. The plan then is to paddle out to some deeper water avoiding any shallow sandbanks where overfalls occur, drift south for a couple of miles with feathers then anchor up somewhere suitable and drop some baits down before moving to structure with lures over slack water, returning to anchor as the flow begins and drifting home with feathers again once the flow becomes too strong. Complicated and varied, this will need planning so it’s time to get my tools.
The water is still relatively clear from the summer, the onshore wind is slight,
smoothing the sea
and conditions will allow me plenty of options.
Paper charts
At a scale of 1:25,000 there is plenty of detail to be found here. I have a few suitable launch spots available, typically a couple of miles apart so I can chose which to leave from dependant on the features I intend to hit. The first thing Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m looking for is a suitable wreck within range (using a pair of compasses I have marked my charts with one, two and three mile radii from each launch point). I want one in relatively deep water, as it is more likely to have a reasonable amount of structure and colonisation suffering less impact from the effect of waves. I have a few to choose from in the area; this is for my slack water lure fishing.
The second consideration is the clear water. For bait fishing I want to negate this as much as I can so again deeper water is desired; I want to drift down with feathers too so need to get out a bit first. My decision in this instance is to launch at the slip to the north of the Harbour, troll down to the outfall and then the harbour wall for bass and take the rip tide that forms from the flood flowing onto the wall to push me out into open water with the assistance of the offshore wind and a bit of paddling, heading towards the West Corton Cardinal Marker.
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With tidal drift I’m going to glide to the south but should have the feathers ready to drop by the time I pass over the wreck as I reach the deep channel. A 20-minute drift (flow predicted at 2-3 knots) will hopefully see mackerel and possibly herring (perhaps even a bonus bass) before I drop my anchor just before drawing level with the South Corton Cardinal to the east and holiday camp to the west and to the north of the wreck at the end of the deeper channel. The baits will go down here and it should see whiting, ray, cod, smoothound and bass all potentially in the frame; deep water and lower light, a rapid drop off inshore of a sandbank and the channel ending just downtide with food from the north washing down and piling up.
Sonar
I have my fish finder or echo sounder or SONAR (Sound Navigation And Ranging) unit on the kayak. This can be called into assistance in a limited way. As I cross contour lines into different depths I will get an approximate idea of where I am and this will be especially precise when I pass over smaller holes or wrecks. But it’s just not quite precise enough to get me exactly where I plan to be…so what else do I have?
Come slack water the baits come off and I drift down to the wreck, working feathers, wedges, shads and pirks over the structure in the hope of cod and bass before returning to my anchor for the start of the ebb with a fresh supply of foodstuff being washed in and through the channel. With fishing now coming to an end, I up-anchor and drift back towards the north with feathers again before rounding the harbour wall, changing back to lures and trolling back to the launch site, a distance of perhaps five miles covered with four types of fishing for a large number of potential species. I’ve used the chart to find details of depth, bottom type, structure, wrecks, channels and banks as well as navigation aids (the buoys identified by colour or markings relating to their position and purpose). However, it’s a bit of a pain to work with a paper chart once I get on the water; it’s going to turn to mush and the ink will run unless I waterproof it but even then I will need to use a compass to take bearings and triangulate my position from buoyage… unless…
I will get an approximate idea of where I am and this will be
especially precise
when I pass over smaller holes or wrecks
GPS
Global Positioning System. However did people catch fish in the old days? It must have been luck. I return to the paper chart and get out a rule. Using the longitude and latitude lines I work out the precise location of the position I intend to anchor in and input this onto my handheld GPS unit. It looks somewhat sparse though so I add the wreck, other wrecks in the vicinity and, in case of a sea mist descending upon me, the navigation buoys and cardinal marks and the position of the harbour mouth which could be a potential danger. My launch site will be added once there by simply pressing the MARK button to record it precisely…what more could one want?
Shipwrecks
Chart plotter
Open water search
This is the ideal. Between my feet sits a combination SONAR / Track plotter / Chart plotter unit loaded with detailed electronic charts that show the same information as my paper ones. I have the choice of manually inputting the waypoints of wrecks, anchor points and buoyage as I did with the handheld unit and had I got a plotter that didn’t take detailed charts this is what I’d have to do; many come loaded with a base map only. In the menu settings I have preloaded the features I want visible – such as depth soundings, contour lines, navaids and so on – so it remains only to locate the anchor position and wreck with the cursor, select them and hit the MARK button to store them, naming them suitably. This one unit is my box of tricks; I have an illuminated, scrolling, detailed chart which can be zoomed in front of me which shows all the information I’ll require and pinpoint my own location in relation to my marks. It will record a track showing the route I have taken. It shows the depth, speed, my course and direction and the undulations of the seabed. As long as I have power I can go anywhere I chose.
Sandy hole
Rising sandbacks
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In use
It’s 6am and I’m at the beach ready to launch. I switch on, wait for the satellites to be acquired then hit the MARK button for a safe return to my launching spot. I paddle, assisted by the tide, south towards the outfall towing lures, do a circuit and then continue to the harbour wall, doglegging to seaward once I arrive and allowing myself to be pulled along by the rip current. Clearing the harbour I visually site the Cardinal Mark and move the cursor towards it on the plotter and hit the GOTO button. I now follow the indicator, seeing the distance drop off as I approach the waypoint. On arrival I switch over to feathers and, moving the cursor to the anchoring waypoint, hit GOTO again and begin my drift, estimating the time I have available from my drifting speed and the distance to go; I deploy a drogue to slow my drift and stabilise the direction. As I approach the waypoint the alarm sounds to inform me of my arrival within a selectable distance and, cancelling this, I wind in and, judging the direction of drift, split screen the charts with SONAR; I look for a likely spot from real-time ground information and drop anchor. I wait for the kayak to settle and hit the MARK button so my precise location is stored and set a drift alarm so I am aware if my anchor pulls. I fish and then, with slack water, I release myself from the anchor and hit GOTO, heading for the wreck and split-screening to SONAR to verify its exact location as there are often discrepancies and I may wish to fish a specific part of the wreck or locate the start and end points of the structure in relation to my drift so that I can keep on track. Were the tides still moving I would predominantly fish just downtide of the structure, in the sheltered
ising sandbanks Thornback Ray
Rock sea defences
Of course while moving I also have the SONAR returns on screen and should I locate anything of interest, say structure or concentrations of fish, I can press the MARK button to store this waypoint and, with Snapshot mode selected, I can record a copy of the screen so that I can refer back at a later date. Hopefully everything went according to plan however this isn’t always the case. If, while I am on the water, fog descends, I have to jettison my anchor or it fails, I become ill or injured or some other situation arises then it will become necessary for me to return to shore. Dependant on the tidal flow I may not be able to get back to my launch point at this time so I will instead set course for the closest safe landfall. Initially travelling in the general direction of the coastline, once close the charts need to be checked more closely to ascertain where it is safe to land. A busy port, rocky area, headland, cliff face are all areas to avoid and are visible on the charts. A chart plotter really is a useful tool.
Reefs
Sandy hole Whiting
water where fish may be resting but on slack I can drop down and jig my lures up and down with only the wind to move me around. Once the ebb has begun I return to my buoyed anchor, clip on and begin bait fishing again, pressing the MARK button once more once I have stabilised in position. I fish on until it is time to return and, with the launch location waypoint selected, I press GOTO so that I know where I am in relation to it at all times even though I am not intending to head straight there; off-course alarm is deselected and I drift north again, monitoring speed, time and my heading home.
t
reAcHer
By simon everett
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Lands End to the Scilly Isles
The 26 miles of water between Lands End and the Scilly Isles is one of the most treacherous stretches of water anywhere in the world. Five tides converge here and the water becomes confused at the best of times, with the different currents pulling in various directions. Add a bit of wind and you have an eclectic mix, which creates turbulent waters like you cannot imagine. Even on relatively calm days the waves created by the uneven bottom and rushing water can be ten feet or more in height.
With the power from an internal combustion engine behind you it is a fairly easy crossing to make, if you pick your weather. Paddling a kayak across though, that is a different matter, with only your own efforts to get you there. Now, consider the same scenario but instead of using modern, composite expedition kayaks you factor in using folding, skin-on-frame kayaks which are held together with Velcro seams and a zip fastener, but that is what our intrepid duo decided to do.
rOUs
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The Atlantic swells that crash onto the rocks here can som
We learned a valuable lesson, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t try and launch a small boat at
Sennen Cove
metimes be 80-feet high
The plan was hatched with just a year for Rob and Raif to train for the ordeal and to drum up a decent amount of sponsorship for their chosen charities of the NSPCC and the RNLI. On the day of departure the weather was perfect. There was just a slight breeze from the Northwest, about a force 3, to give some movement to the water without churning it into a maelstrom. The safety escort was provided by Powercat, one of their 17’6” catamarans powered by a pair of Yamaha 40s. These boats originate from Bryher boatyard on the islands and are perfectly suited for the conditions. The fun started when we came to launch the boats at Sennen Cove, just round the corner from Lands End and the site for the most westerly lifeboat station on the south coast. The Lifeboat ramp points straight to Florida, with nothing in between. The Atlantic swells that crash onto the rocks here can sometimes be 80-feet high. The slipway for the fishing boats leads onto the sandy beach and a tractor is employed to push them out and haul them back up. It is a precarious life in a precarious spot, but it is the most convenient launch for a paddle trip to Scilly. At 06.00, whilst the two paddlers prepared their kayaks for the crossing, we backed the Powercat down and the trailer immediately sank up to its axles in the soft sand at the waters edge. We managed to push the boat off easily enough, but the Land Rover struggled to try and move even the empty trailer. With tyres spinning on the granite slipway, it couldn’t and the clutch began to smell. In the end we had to manhandle the trailer and then winch it up to the car park in stages, using the trailer’s boat winch to take it up the slope a few yards at a time. We learned a valuable lesson, don’t try and launch a small boat at Sennen Cove, but we were at last afloat and on our way by 06.40 As we left the shelter of the breakwater a regular groundswell was crashing onto the rocks of the reef, which helps to take the sting out of Atlantic seas and protects the little fishing village. The kayaks bobbed about in the waves while the Powercat just gently moved up and down to the rhythm of the sea. These really are incredible boats that make the journey from Scilly to Penzance or Falmouth on a regular basis in anything up to force 5 and on the odd occasion beyond that, but not as comfortably as we were making progress and we were only at tick over, not even on the plane so as to keep station with the pair in their kayaks.
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of Lands End the full effect of the meeting of the tides between the Longships Lighthouse and the last point of land before America started to make their presence felt. The lighthouse stands proudly upon its rocky outcrop, a phallic symbol warning shipping to stay well clear of the dangers that lurk hereabouts. The kayaks were making good progress but the pull of the tide sucked them in towards the fang like rocks.
One minute they were about half mile off the lighthouse, then the next they were paddling for all they were worth to prevent themselves being sucked into the white water foaming around the base of the reef. The tide rip could be clearly seen on the surface of the water and at one point Raf was less than 50 yards off the rocks. It was a close call but they cleared the lighthouse and the reef by 07.00. Once out of the effect of the Longships things began to settle down a bit. The big, sloppy swells and peaky waves caused by a mixture of the converging tides and reflected waves off the rocks, gave way to a more regular pattern of swells from the west. After paddling for an hour they stopped for a short rest, rafting up to take on liquid and energy, they had covered exactly four miles even through the strong pull of the tide and had past the worst. An average of four knots was pretty good, even at the start of the trip. With energy levels restored and rehydrated the lads picked up their paddles and returned to the relentless onslaught of paddle stroke after paddle stroke, lifting and falling with the waves and occasionally having to brace against a sharper than usual wave face.
As they got further offshore, so the swells decreased and we had a wonderful crossing. They stopped each hour for a break to replenish their tired bodies. At the half way stage, at around 09.40 and with 12.2 miles covered, they had to pump out their kayaks. The seams on these craft are not totally watertight and the odd wave over the deck had caused water to accumulate in the hulls. They rafted up and pumped out several gallons from each kayak. This made things very much more comfortable as their feet and backsides were no longer being washed by the water on the inside of the hull. At the next stop we were joined by a pod of Common Dolphins, not the more usual Bottlenose variety. They came right alongside the boat and the kayaks, rolling on their sides and looking at us with their great big, bright eyes. They stayed with us for about 10 minutes, swimming to within touching distance of the boats and playing around us before becoming bored and moving off together to go and hunt some squid for lunch.
The Powercat
As we got clear
They were paddling for all they were worth to prevent themselves being sucked into the
white water foaming
around the base of the reef
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Lands End cornwall
England
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the two lads in
their kayaks continued their onward plod, still making a respectable 3.75 knots, a little slower now that the distance they had already covered began to sap at their glycogen reserves. By 10.40 they had covered 16.4 miles making an overall average of 4.1 mph and the low lying Scilly Isles were in sight on the horizon! By 14.00 they had reached the eastern isles and could truly say they had made the trip to Scilly under their own steam. Now it was just a case of carrying on to the beach at St, Mary’s through the inner sound and the hot shower and comfortable beds that were awaiting them. The boat had done the trip having burned hardly any fuel whatever, the Powercat with twin Yamaha 40s had used about 15 litres of fuel in total, that’s all.
The entire trip was made in just less than eight hours and the boys covered a total distance of 29.8 miles. In the process they found out much about themselves, their inner strength and raised their confidence and over £4,000 for their chosen charities. The lifeboat at Sennen Cove and St. Mary’s on Scilly and the NSPCC. They are already planning their next escapade, which involves icebergs. As regards the return trip, well that was made on the deck of the Scillonian.
Below: Eight hours and 29.8 miles later â&#x20AC;&#x201C; safe and sound on the Scilly Isles
The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea
With 92% of our total income coming from generous donations and legacies, we depend on our dedicated volunteers and supporters to save lives at sea.Your support means our lifeboat crews can reunite the 22 people they rescue each day with their families. So however you choose to get involved, you can feel good knowing youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re making a difference. http://rnli.org
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SUP Paddler
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For more information on how you can participate wherever you may be on the Planet visit www.supradioshow.com/wpftp stay tuned for my weekly podcast of the Paddler’s Planet with my guest host christian Wagley on www.supradioshow.com,
Photo: Joan Vienot
h e c i i l y s B e ov L ol K
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Storms bring new life to beaches and shores. By Christian Wagley
P
addlers enjoy such an intimate view of nature that we see things that many others never notice. One of those things is the change we see following natural disturbances like storms and floods.
We notice the plants that are washed away or buried; the whelks, clams, and other animals strewn across the shore; and the floodplains coated in fresh mud. So it’s important that we understand what this means for the waterways and natural systems where we paddle.
“Where we are standing Up I live along the sandy beaches of America’s Gulf of for the Planet!” Mexico coast, where occasional hurricanes blow ashore
and rearrange the coastal landscape.TV news crews show-up with satellite trucks and rush on-air with reports of beach erosion and flooding, always cast in a negative light. Now we know that disturbances like storms actually bring many benefits.
One of our best lessons comes from the barrier islands of the North Carolina coast. In the 1930s, large sand dunes were built and planted with millions of sprigs of dune plants—all of it designed to face the mighty Atlantic storms with a solid line of man-made order.
And it worked, or so it appeared. The high waves of storms were blocked by the dunes, which made it easier to develop behind them, bringing more roads and houses to places formerly seen as too risky to build. Only decades later did scientists fully realize the impacts of trying to stabilize the dynamic coast.
With rising sea levels, barrier islands must migrate toward land to avoid drowning, and over thousands of years storms actually move islands by washing sand from the ocean side across to the back side of the island. The large man-made dunes in North Carolina blocked storms from moving that vital sand across islands, actually increasing erosion by holding the naturally-wayward islands in place.
Biologists have also learned that when storms flatten dunes they create broad sandy areas that many shorebirds need for nesting. Recognizing the benefits of these storms and the healthy disorder they create, coastal managers no longer build sand dunes along most undeveloped coastlines, instead letting natural processes rule the beach.
Along rocky shores, paddlers see the many invertebrates that cling to the rocks, competing for space. Storms often dislodge some of these, opening-up new space for other animals and preventing any one species from dominating. And the kelp that often grows along rocky shores breaks free and washes ashore in storms, bringing food and nutrients to beaches.
For those who paddle rivers and streams, we see floods where waters rise out of the channel and spill into lowlying areas. These floods help disperse seeds, deposit nutrients, and open up areas where young fish can take shelter and grow larger amidst the tangle of trees and plants.
Where natural disturbance harms our waterways, it is generally because humans have significantly altered the environment. For example, if rains that once fell on forested slopes now strike the bare soil of a farm, sediment can wash into nearby streams where it smothers aquatic life.
For healthy natural systems, storms help add the disorder and diversity they need. So the next time a hurricane or big spring flood hits your favourite waterway, stay off the water and stay safe. But after the storm, paddle with a new eye for the changes you see, as disturbance is a regular and healthy part of the natural places we love.
Ryan James 1st 2013 Head of the Dart
TUSHINGHAM SAILS LTD Tel: +44(0)1803 712140 Fax: +44(0)1803 712141 e-mail: sup@tushingham.com
Sean Poynter 2013 ISA Champion
Packages now available for AST white 11’2” Blend and 12’0” Big Easy, the perfect all-round boards!
Marie Buchanan 1st 2013 Battle of the Thames
With W ith light, dur durable able aw award ard winning performance performance designs, Starboardd continues as the trendsetter Starboar trendsetter and world world leader in SUP.
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12’6” X 30” 12’0” X 36” 12’0” X 33” 12’0” X 32” 11’2” X 36” 11’2” X 30” 11’2” X 30” 10’5” X 32” 10’5” X 30” 10’5” X 30” 10’0” X 36” 10’0” X 34”
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www.tushingham.com/sup www .tushingham.com/sup www www.facebook.com/StarboardSUPUK .facebook.com/StarboardSUPUK
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Come and meet th
c
he
Paddler on the Planet #1 Junior Paddler of theYear 2011
#1 Male Paddler of theYear 2011
#1 SUP Athlete of theYear 2012
#1 Male Paddler of theYear 2012
connor Baxter #1 Fastest Paddler on Earth 2013 ThePaddler 63
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W
hat boards are you using?
I am currently using my Starboard 12’6 x 25” Allstar Turtle Bay for my all around racing and I am using my 7’1 x 24” Inzane model for surfing. These are the boards I use for everyday fun.
Where and what was your first surf and what got you hooked?
My first surf session was in Maui, Hawaii at about two-years old and I was immediately hooked on surfing. Both my parents are ocean fanatics – so I was in the water at a very early age.
Where was your first competition?
My first competition was surfing in Maui, Hawaii.
Can you talk about your training? Greatest inspiration? Who/what kept you motivated?
I train two to three times a day. My greatest inspiration would have to be seeing other kids and people my age doing better then me. My parents are also always a huge inspiration to me and my passion for the ocean keeps me motivated.
How does SUP give you satisfaction?
SUP has allowed me to be in the ocean and travel the world. I get to meet a lot of new people and get to experience lots of different things because of this sport.
Waterman connor Baxter was born in Maui, Hawaii on September 15th 1994. At 19, he is 6’1” tall and weighs 155 lbs. Since beginning to stand Up Paddle just four years ago, Connor has over 60 first place finishes. On the podium at virtually every race he enters, he has earned over 100 trophy finishes. Connor's discipline and focus fuel his success, but no less important is his attitude, “Always have fun and never give up.” His unique paddling technique is now named after him: ‘the connor Baxter choke stroke’.
Only early doors but what is the biggest accomplishment in your career to date?
Crossing the Kaiwi channel at 14-years old in the M2O event was my biggest accomplishment so far.
connor Baxter Can you explain the ‘Connor Baxter Choke Stroke’
My “Signature” Choke Stroke paddling technique is for sure one of a kind. Not having participated in any of the paddling sports, I had no background or training on how to paddle. One day I just started using my technique – and it stuck. It is super useful for short sprints to buoys, for upwind, for the starts and coming into the finish line. What I do for this paddle stroke is I slide my hands down the paddle and bend over a little and then paddle my brains out. It is very simple and really allows me to go faster. For a race, I normally start out with my paddle stroke to get ahead of the racers and then I put my hand back to the top. I will do my stroke whenever I feel it is needed. My hands can be like 4-12 inches down the paddle shaft. It’s all in the feel of what I need at the time.
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What would be your ultimate achievement?
If the sport ever made it to the Olympics it would be a huge achievement to compete at that level.
Are you naturally competitive?
Yes I am very competitive.
What advantages are there to being a Starboard rider?
They make the best boards and they treat you like family. Our Starboard team is very supportive of each other – and we enjoy travelling and helping each other out at all the events. Starboard is the most innovative company with windsurfing and now with SUP. They put a lot of time into R&D – and it shows with all their boards, inflatable’s, paddles, etc. I have been with Starboard since I was 5-years old, that’s 13-years – they are obviously doing everything right in my books!
In SUP competition – who would you say is your closest competitor? My closest competitor is Kai Lenny.
What's next in the next 12 months for you in the growing sport of SUP?
I am planning on surfing big waves and doing plenty of races, possibly leading to World titles.
Where do you see yourself in 20 years?
In 20 years I see myself married with a family and an Olympic Champion.
I’m into SUP and going on vacation, where would you recommend?
I would recommend my hometown Maui, Hawaii. It’s got everything you need to enjoy SUP at its fullest.
Besides SUP and Wind Surfing, what other watersport disciplines interest you?
I like big wave surfing and surfing, basically anything to do with the water I love to try.
www.connorbaxter.com
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OK Connor let’s finish with something short and snappy…
If you could paddle with anyone in the world dead or alive who would it be? Michael Jackson.
Pick two celebrities to be your parents Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt.
What’s on your TiVo recorder? I don’t watch TV.
Favourite movie? Avatar.
Favourite iPod track? What Does the Fox Say?
If you won $20 million on the lottery, what would you do with it? I would give half to charity and invest the other half in property.
Cats or dogs? Dogs.
Facebook or Twitter? Facebook.
What would I find in your refrigerator right now?
Right now I have all organic spinach, kale, carrots, chicken, beets and milk.
What one luxury item would you take with you on a desert island? I would take my iPad.
What do you get really angry about? When there is no wind or waves on Maui.
If you were an animal, what would you be? I would be a giraffe.
If you could be a superhero for one day, what superpower would you choose and why? I would be Ironman so I can be a badass and have a lot of money.
Favourite team? The Denver Broncos.
On a scale of one to ten – how happy are you? Eleven.
What three words would you use to describe you?
thanks for your time Connor:) Goofy, intelligent, and optimistic.
connor Baxter
Watch Connor Baxter doing what he does best. http://youtu.be/Bd-Db1Z-YBc
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Experience
with your board and paddle
Danish JPTeam rider Annette Carsing went to Ireland with he weeks to discover the beauty of Ireland that has more than 8
Ireland
e
her SUP JP 7’4” PRO for almost two 85 well known-surf spots. ThePaddler 71
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I heard from friends within the sport that Ireland is beautiful and has huge numbers of great spots, and I always wanted to explore it with my board and paddle. And it is so easy and simple to pack a 6-kilo SUP in a bag and bring it in the plane.
Inset photo: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Caught in a momentâ&#x20AC;? enjoying the beautiful surroundings while waiting for the perfect wave.
Main photo: Annette Carsing with her JP 7'4" P
These photos are from an early morning session at Tullan Strand, Northwest of Ireland, where Annette went sup surfing with Emmet O'Doherty, former Irish wave sup Champion, and photographer Christian McLeod www.cmcleod.com. Tullan Strand is known for its consistent wave during summer. At low tide it is a fast barrelling left-hander. There are one or two secret spots further down the beach as well at high tide. The photos are taken on a beautiful morning, the sun was shining and the water temperature was coming up to 19 degrees. “I was very excited because I had Christian McLeod coming to take the water photos. I knew the waves would be small that day (about 0.8) but I also knew that they had predicted a wave period of about 10 and just a slight offshore wind – and the waves turned out to be just perfect for a sup sess. Not big but very clean and quit powerful. I kept pushing myself to the limit to give Christian something to work with and I have to say that it was fantastic to work together with Emmet O’Doherty and Christian Mcleod. A trip I simply have to do again! “
PRO at Tullan Strand
Ireland is also called ‘a surfer’s paradise’. Its location on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean means that there are beaches ideal for beginners, competent surfers and massive big wave spots for the expert. During summer you can be lucky to surf with Dolphins and there is a unique, rustic, beautiful nature along the whole coastline. Besides all the fantastic surf spots there are plenty of surf schools, hostels, surf shops and friendly local surfers that all provide the perfect surf culture for a surf trip. During summertime all you need is your surfboard and a 3/2 wetsuit. According to Killian O’Kelly, the owner of the TurfnSurf Lodge and Surf School that is situated in the centre of Bundoran, Ireland has a brilliant selection of beginner beaches and advanced reefs – there is something for every kind of surfer. Killian has more than 25 years surf experience and would recommend a sup surfer to go to ‘The Peak’ and ‘Lisadell’. Both point breaks, making it easy to return out back again, Killian says.
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Tullan Strand county donegal
Ireland
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they love it.
Everybody wants to try it out, and when they do, SUP has got very popular on the east coast of Ireland and in dublin
Emmet O’Doherty
who runs the SUP DUDE paddle-boarding school in Mullaghmore, says about the SUP scene in Ireland, that when he two years ago started SUP DUDE paddle-boarding school there were only two other places in Ireland teaching SUP – today there are over 20. Back then people didn’t know what SUP was but now everybody has seen it or read about celebrities SUPing so it has entered into mainstream consciousness.
Everybody wants to try it out, and when they do, they love it. SUP has got very popular on the east coast of Ireland and in Dublin, but Emmet doesn’t think SUP has exploded in the rest of Ireland like it has everywhere else around the world. One reason according to Emmet might be that the economic recession has prevented people from buying expensive boards, but also because when there are waves in Ireland they can be too big to learn to SUP in. For the last two years he has been running weekly race nights, these have been really popular for people interested in fitness. Emmet has been surfing for 23 years, and got into SUP in 2007 so that he could paddle into bigger waves. He loves big wave surfing but has never been into tow-in, so after reading an article by Laird Hamilton in 2006 about him being able to paddle into bigger waves on a SUP he got one straight away. For the first few years all he did when the waves got big was SUP, the buzz of catching big waves on a huge board and the intense wipeouts were amazing, he says. Emmet predicts that SUP will continue to grow in Ireland. It is such an accessible sport for people of all ages and abilities. He is currently coaching some kids that he thinks will make great SUP surfers and others who are going to be really excellent SUP racers. But what is important is that those who chose to SUP, “Really enjoy the unique experience of SUP in Ireland, our beautiful coastline and waterways,” says Emmet.
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Bio
Name: Annette Carsing (https://www.facebook.com/annette.carsing) Residence: Denmark, Klitmøller (also called The Cold Hawaii)
Best results: Danish Champion for women Wave SUP 2012 and 2013 Sponsor: JP Australia (www.jp-australia.com)
Annette Carsing lives in Klitmøller, Denmark, that is well known for its great surf. She was involved in the organization of the Danish SUP Championships that took place in Klitmøller 31st August - 1st September and she went to Peru this February to participate in the World Championship representing Denmark. She also won the Danish Championship women wave SUP 2012 and 2013.
Photographer: Christian McLeod
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The last waves of
summer
The milky sun hangs lazily in the sky as wispy sea mist rolls off the salty water intermittently. In due course the orange ball of fire in the sky will buck up its ideas and shoot for the apex, eventually bathing us in his warm glow. Until then the dew underfoot will remain; and as we trudge fuzzy headed towards the chilly waterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s edge, the sound of waves rush in and out of our ears. We shiver, take a moment and then plunge headlong into the flotsam and foam â&#x20AC;&#x201C; paddling out to ride those last waves of summer.
ByTez Plavenieks
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Time for a hol
liday
Summer has been a gift this year – everyone is in agreement on that. Days of endless sunshine doused the masses and delivered a much needed shot of Vitamin D. Beaches were packed, roads to the coast clogged every weekend and visitors rediscovered the joys of frolicking in saltwater. After consecutive summers of downpours, dreary conditions and washouts, 2013 has been a welcome respite. And yet, marching lines of corduroy have been conspicuous by their absence. Apart from the odd window of opportunity there’s been next to nowt to froth over – especially on the fickle south coast.
West is best
Our destination would take us to St Ives. Having different facing coastlines in close proximity helps when deciding on the best spot for each day. Godrevy, Gwithian, Carbis Bay and the harbour all work on a variety of wind directions and swell angles. Chuck into the mix the south facing beaches of Marazion and Praa Sands and we were feeling optimistic. Making a trip across to the east facing coast wasn’t out of the question either – if the charts lined up.
Lucky and not so…
The first morning dawned with mizzly conditions after a night of torrential downpours. Heaving the side door of the van back a blast of crisp air wafted in and the faint odour of late summer rain filled my nostrils. I listened to the rustling leaves on trees and made the decision to head straight to Gwithian (but not before some freshly brewed coffee!)
Hitting the cliff car park it became apparent the juice was pulsing. The sticking point was the onshore blow. Nothing significant in terms of windsurfing but enough to cut up wave faces and cause unwanted chop. A holiday was therefore needed. Some juice sought, lips bashed, walls hacked and shacks navigated – if possible. We were in search of one last soiree before Jack Frost takes centre stage and blasts us with his icy breath. If God was a surfer, Cornwall would be his local. Choosing to head here was a no brainer…
surf yes, but wind as well
Surfing in the UK is a fickle beast. Tides, swell angle, wind and other local effects all come into play to make or break your session. As the day of our trip dawned the forecast was looking mixed to say the least. Waves were almost definitely on the cards, but how big and the quality of which was still in balance. Even before I put peddle to the metal, we were determined to score, but a degree of trundling around and checking spots would be needed.
Having checked the swell size it became apparent it wasn’t big enough to make it round to south facing beaches, where the wind would be offshore. So I made a call and decided to hit it…
chilly willy
After the summer we’ve just experienced the sudden drop in temperature, even though it wasn’t really that cold, was enough to send shivers coursing through my body. Suiting up, my teeth began chattering and a few star jumps to get the blood pumping were in order. I practically ran down the goat track onto the beach – Fi choosing to wait for later in the day when it warmed up. Paddling into the lumpy Atlantic I made it out back and enjoyed an hour or so of cruddy waves that were oh so close to being clean and perfect – if only the wind would naff off!
Throw into the Cornish mix our windsurfing addiction and any sane person will be wondering why we go to all this effort. Scoring a sweet session is such a sublime feeling though – surfers call this stoke, and we wanted to fill our boots.
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Unfortunately the breeze didn’t disappear. Not windy enough for windsurfing and too much for surfing perfection. We managed to find shelter at Carbis Bay during one session but the waves were hardly epic. Our best SUP session we scored came during Monday morning.
The day!
The breeze had ramped up a notch and we were considering heading elsewhere. We decided to check Praa Sands first – just on the off chance… As we drove along the main road the bay below came into view and Fi and I became animated and excited. We could see clean groomed lines sweeping in and it looked like we’d called it right. We literally sprinted down the lanes and were greeted with 3ft clean peelers upon arrival. In double quick time we were suited and sweeping out back. Everyone who surfs will recognise the feeling of dropping into that first smooth liquid wall. Racing along sections, bashing lips, hacking faces and slicing arcs is what it’s all about. Trying to get covered up was supreme fun, even if the chances of making it out of the shack were slim. With the receding tide the swell started to slack and we bailed. The breeze was picking up and we had an appointment with a windsurfing session. Later that afternoon we rolled into Daymer Bay car park and enjoyed a sundown sail. Maximum Monday certainly delivered and we hit the boozer for some refreshments feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. Days like this are what surf trips are about.
Best of the rest
For the remainder of our Cornish adventure the conditions stayed average. The swell dropped off slightly and the wind died down, but not quite enough. We scored one more day long windy session and the rest of our time was spent bashing lumpy sections. It certainly wasn’t disappointing as we got wet every day and actually had some great sessions.
the last few
As the curtain falls on summer 2013 I look back on this few days as being extremely successful and rewarding. After such a long period of flatness even bumpy SUP surf conditions were welcome, and let’s be honest, light on shores aren’t really that bad. The last waves of summer were incredibly sweet and as we watch in awe as North Atlantic swell action starts to build we can but hope for a great autumn/winter season.
tez Plavenieks is a freelance writer who loves windsurfing, SUP, surfing, snowboarding, drums, art and beer. If he’s not out sliding sideways then you’ll find him producing articles, stories and content revolving around his passions. Check out more at www.tezplavenieks.com
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O
entrY Following the Port of London Authority’s decision to restrict SUP paddlers of all skill levels from going below Putney Bridge without a passage plan and risk assessment, we asked Paul Hyman to assess the risks compared to other unrestricted watersports. Up until September this year paddleboarders, have been permitted to paddle unrestricted from between Teddington and Wandsworth, provided paddleboarders comply with the guidance contained within the Stand Up Paddleboarding guide. However following amendments to the SUP guidance (byelaw 13) paddleboarding has now been restricted past Putney Pier by the Port of London Authority (PLA). “The tidal Thames is not a safe place for unrestricted paddleboarding. It is therefore not permitted west of Shoebury in Essex (West of Sea Reach 1) However the PLA has agreed that if this guide is followed carefully, then paddleboarding is allowed between Teddington and Putney Pier. Paddleboarding downstream of Putney Pier is not allowed. In very exceptional circumstances, the PLA will consider one off ‘Special Event Proposals’ to paddle east of Putney Pier but no further than Wandsworth Bridge. Such event proposals would need to be submitted well in advance of the proposed event, together with full navigational risk assessment and passage plans. In any event, stand up paddleboarding will not be permitted in any circumstances on the Thames in central or east London.” Port of London Authority
Thames Byelaw 13
classifies SUP in with a range of unrelated activities rather than as a paddlesport with similar safety issues to kayaking and canoeing. 13.
Water-skiing and other similar activities.
13.1 A person must not engage or take part in water-skiing, aquaplaning, paddleboarding, swimming with a board, kite-surfing, wake-boarding, parakiting, or any similar activity within: a)
A fairway or a designated anchorage; or
b)
200 metres of a wharf, jetty, pier, berth, terminal, public beach, bathing place or residential property except in an area authorized for that purpose by the PLA.
www.pla.co.uk/pdfs/maritime/120529_thames_Byelaws1.pdf
The restrictions on SUP downstream of Putney do not apply to other paddlesports, or to rowing and sailing. A person with no paddlesport experience can buy any type of kayak and would be allowed to paddle it through central London. If an experienced did the same journey on a paddleboard they would be made to leave the river and potentially fined. The river does get a bit more tricky downstream of Putney with a bit more commercial traffic at times and more moored boats to contend with. However, it is still quiet and underused above Battersea and even the proposed Thames Tunnel work starting next year will only add 2-4 more boats per tide. Downstream of Vauxhall Bridge the previous limit for paddleboarders is more difficult and in our view not a place for novice paddlers of any type unless well supervised.
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Safety of SUP
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compared with other
tidalThames watersports
As a relatively new watersport, the risks and relative safety of SUP are not well understood by authorities and administrators outside the sport. All watersports participants are at some degree of risk from injury or drowning, particularly when they are in fast moving or open water. Risk varies across each sport and each depends on weather and tide conditions etc. On the Thames Tideway and other slow moving waterways, deaths or serious injuries as a result of involvement in watersports are very rare. Most deaths on the river are the result of suicides or from intoxicated people and weak swimmers falling into the river. In all established watersports the risks are accepted as reasonable and manageable to the participants. However, as people die and are injured in watersports from time to time it is right to regularly assess, compare and review safety and risk management. The following reviews the risks of SUP on the Thames Tideway and compares them to risks in other watersports prevalent on this part of the river.
the risks to participants in each sport are:
Kayaking
Good advanced/intermediate kayakers able to roll and brace a kayak are able to self-rescue easily and deal with risks from within the kayak. A sea or high volume whitewater kayak paddled by a skilled kayaker is a very safe craft and can deal with most hazards on the Thames Tideway. Being pinned against moorings and trees is the main hazard. A beginner/intermediate kayaker is unlikely to be able to roll or self rescue confidently and would require assistance from a more experienced kayaker following a capsize. Novice kayakers are at greatest risk in the tideway when the current is strong, particularly in the first hours before or after high tide when there are few egress points. Kayak rescue of a novice by another kayaker usually takes a few minutes and during this process both the rescuer and rescued kayaker and other novices in the group are at increased risk from drifting into moorings, overhanging trees and other river users. Unskilled kayakers not trained to escape quickly from their boat can be temporarily trapped in a capsized kayak. This can be an uncomfortable
and potentially dangerous situation as the kayaker can drift into trees moorings etc. still underneath the capsized kayak. Racing kayakers require a high skill level to be safe on the tideway because of the instability of their craft and inability to self-rescue. Racing kayakers also do not generally wear PFDs. All kayakers have quite good all round vision on the tideway and can move easily away from danger provided they have a high enough skill level. They can move into shallow water to avoid larger craft. The rate of beginners capsizing is quite low and most novice kayakers can expect to stay dry on their first session but this will vary depending on the type of kayaks used and wind and flow conditions.
Rowing Rowers are unable to self-rescue easily and have limited view of the river in front of them (unless coxed). Some rowing boats are unstable and they are difficult to turn and change direction in strong currents. Some rowers tend to collide with moored boats, the shore and other river users from time to time because of the difficulty in seeing ahead and manoeuvrability. Some rowers increase the risk by failing to look around regularly to see whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ahead (behind) them. In addition to being a risk to themselves, rowers can be a risk to other river users. In my experience injuries caused by collisions with rowers tend to be minor although I have witnessed a teenage kayaker suffer a head injury from an oar by careless scullers.
Sailing The narrow width of the Thames makes sailing a difficult and quite hazardous sport requiring high skill levels or good supervision. Capsizes are fairly frequent in high wind conditions. Self-rescue is a requirement and is taught to everyone involved through clubs. During strong current conditions there is a significant risk of capsized sailors being swept into moorings etc.
Canoeing (open or Canadian canoes)
Manoeuvrability is limited and very dependent on skill level and conditions.
Only a skilled canoeist can roll an open canoe fitted with buoyancy bags. Boats used on the Thames Tideway would not generally be fitted with buoyancy bags. A skilled canoeist trained in rescue techniques can rescue them. This generally takes a few minutes, as the capsized boat has to be emptied by the rescuer before it is re-entered. There is no risk of entrapment in the canoe and the capsized canoe is a useful but not ideal flotation aid. Although generally quite stable craft, open canoes are difficult to steer safely in windy and choppy conditions and are susceptible to being swamped by wash. They are difficult for a novice paddler to steer in strong wind conditions and only a good canoeist can progress against the current in mid-tide. Unless paddled by a skilled canoeists, open canoes are only suitable for Thames Tideway use in fair weather conditions near low tide. An advanced paddleboarder has very good stability in all Thames conditions. Stability of beginners on the Thames is generally higher than most would expect.
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Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP) In our experience an average 10-20% fall in on the first lesson on the Thames sometimes because of wash from passing boats but this quickly reduces to less than 5% after one lesson. We always teach beginners how to face and safely ride over wash or to kneel if in doubt. When conditions become difficult with gusting winds or wash from boats paddlers can kneel paddle or sit in a similar position to a racing kayaker to achieve very high stability. Kneel paddling is very stable on almost all types of paddleboard. In nearly three years only one or two beginners of the thousands we have introduced to the sport have fallen off their boards from a kneeling position. Prone paddling can further increase stability but visibility is greatly reduced. Very high gusting winds increases risk to paddleboarders and such conditions are best avoided by novices,
particularly when the river is busy and near high tide. Experienced and skilled paddleboarders can cope well with windy and choppy conditions. Paddleboarders can move into out and of shallow water (20-30 cm deep) without risk â&#x20AC;&#x201C; so can use the shallows to avoid larger craft when appropriate. All paddleboarders can self-rescue quickly (generally it takes a few seconds but rarely more than 20 seconds). The board provides very good flotation when the rider is swimming alongside it. If the rider temporarily loses her/his paddle it can be recovered by prone paddling. A knee or waist leash can help to recover the board quickly although this would slightly increase the risk of becoming temporarily entangled with a moored craft or overhanging tree. With a PFD and waist leash a paddleboarder is very well protected from drowning even with a low skill level.
They have the best visibility of all watersports and can turn to see
in all directions
and also be seen easily by others
Paddleboarders can turn quickly and easily after a few hours of coaching. They have the best visibility of all watersports and can turn to see in all directions and also be seen easily by others. Speeds are similar to kayaking. A fast race board travels at a speed slightly slower than a sea kayak but much faster than a shorter or whitewater boat. An intermediate paddleboarder on a long cruising or race board can make good progress against a strong tidal flow. Because basic SUP skills (self rescue, kneel paddling, turning and paddling in a straight line) can be learned very quickly (within the first few hours of coaching for most people) the transition from complete beginner to competent/intermediate paddler is generally rapid. Progress after this is at a similar level to kayaking/ canoeing.
Conclusions
Paddleboarding on the Tideway is inherently safer than rowing at all levels.
It is slightly safer than kayaking at all levels except for advanced when it is at a similar level of safety. It is significantly safer than open canoeing at beginner level and about the same at advanced level if the canoeist can roll their canoe.
Although the likelihood of an SUP beginner falling in the river is higher than a beginner to kayaking this is more than compensated for by the ease and speed of self-rescue. The ability to clearly see approaching craft and to be seen from a longer distance also increases the relative safety of stand up paddlers to all other recreational river users.
The growth of SUP on the Thames Tideway is unlikely to increase the number of safety incidents. There is evidence that it will increase river safety. Having more skilled and water confident people around the river can generally increase the safety of the river environment. In 2012 SUP coaches on riverside clearing up duties, after an event on the river, rescued an intoxicated drowning girl following her suicide attempt at Twickenham.
This was recently repeated with an intoxicated 16-year old girl who attempted suicide at Strand on the Green and was rescued by two novice SUP paddlers under Active360 coachâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s supervision.
This paper is not advocating any restriction on other watersports on the Thames Tideway. It is making a case for all watersports to be treated rationally and in a way commensurate with the risks involved.
As well as making the Tidal Thames a more interesting, lively and safer place, the availability of watersports increases opportunities for Londoners to be physically active. This should also be a consideration when placing any restrictions on their development.
download the Standard Passage Plan from Putney to Westminster. The plan is a starting point for planning a journey downstream of Putney Bridge and should be sent to the PLA. ThePaddler 91
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How do you feel about the new restrictions?
do you think they are fair and reasonable – or should there be more pragmatic restrictions in place that prevent novices/beginners in any watersport from travelling through this sometimes tricky stretch of river without the supervision of a qualified and locally experienced coach? Or do you think there should be no restrictions on any form of paddlesport in this area there are few incidents involving paddlers (none to our knowledge involving paddleboarders)?
Let’s get a discussion going
All views are welcome Contacting the PLA
If you disagree with the new restriction you can use the PLA’s web enquiry link to contact them and express your views. Their risk assessment has ever been made public so you could ask to see one. This may help to explain why they think SUPs are more risky than other paddle craft.
http://www.pla.co.uk/contact/index_enquiry.cfm/site/contact
Sample letter Dear PLA
I hear that SUP is to be banned past Putney Bridge (apart from special exceptions) while rowing, canoeing and sailing are allowed. Would you be kind enough to supply me with the detailed risk assessment comparing these different sports that has led to this decision. I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.
Information:
On the Thames Tideway from www.active360.co.uk info@active360.co.uk T: 07761 015360
Alternatively you could contact your Local MP, or write to the newly appointed PLA Chief Executive Robert Mortimer who takes up post in March 2014. He is currently a director in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
You could also ask permission to paddle down to Wandsworth Bridge and submit a passage plan and risk assessment in advance. If enough people ask the system may get slightly overwhelmed.
Note
the Port of London Authority (PLA) has announced the appointment of Robin Mortimer as chief executive, succeeding Richard Everitt, who has held the position since December 2004.
Robin Mortimer will join the PLA in March 2014. He is currently a director in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs where he led the transformation of British Waterways into the new Canal & River Trust, directs the Major Infrastructure and Environment Unit and set up the UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Adapting to Climate Change Programme. Previously Robin has been private secretary to the deputy prime minister and to the three Transport and Environment secretaries, where he advised on ports, aviation and London transport issues. He has also been seconded to the NHS as an operational manager for surgical services. Alistair Gale, PLA corporate Affairs, Mob: 07711 440 736
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Fins are a vital part of your stand up paddle board set up but are usually overlooked.Those swept back ‘things’ that come as part of your SUP package are, by many, never given a second thought.They were supplied ready and fitted so why confuse the issue by faffing around with them? If you’re already up and riding along a green face then experimenting with different fins is one way your paddling will improve.
For those just starting out on their SUP surfing journey, Tez Plavenieks delves into the subject and gives us a beginner’s guide to SUP fins to help you along your way.
Fins – what?
First and foremost fins provide us with directional stability and tracking. In some cases they can even add to the overall stability of your SUP, although this shouldn’t be relied upon.
Once on a wave, however, fins (and how you have them set up) can help, or prohibit, your riding, stomping moves or how you tackle different types of surfing conditions. Whether you ride at a perfect right hand point break, a gnarly grinding slab or a mushy gutless beachie, there’s a fin set up out there for you, your environment and your style.
By Tez Plavenieks
Typical set ups common set ups for fins are – •
• • •
single – one fin placed in the middle box – mostly used by old school cruisers and nose riders as single skegs give lots of grip, directional stability and help when hanging 10 over the front.
twinzer – two fins placed towards the rails of your board offering a loose and skatey feel – perfect for tail slides and busting your skegs out.
thruster – classic three fin arrangement which gives the best of all worlds – drive, grip, slide (depending on size) and tracking.
Quad – four foils located towards the rails placed to enhance grip and drive – mostly preferred by those who ride in clean and powerful waves.
Fins 101 the basics of SUP skegs
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ThePaddler 96 tYPIcAL tHrUster set UP PrOdUcInG PrOJectIOn UP IntO
Size matters
Once you’ve decided on the type of fin arrangement you require you’ll then need to set about deciding on the sizes you want to use.
Experimenting and playing about with positioning and measurements will give best results and allow you to get a better understanding of what you’re looking for. There’s an almost infinite number of different set ups that you can use and what works for one board, rider type and wave conditions doesn’t necessarily mean the same for other paddlers, sticks and environments.
For instance, a 75kg paddler riding at a small and mushy beach break may opt for a twin fin set up using 12”s. He could be wanting maximum slide in his turns rather than drive off the bottom. His lightweight means he shouldn’t spin out as he projects from the trough towards the lip.
If you put a 90kg paddler on the same set up then chances are he’ll have a nightmare. His weight will possibly contribute to spinning the board out as his SUP cavitates off the bottom and he’ll also have little drive and speed towards the lip. In this instance he’d be better off with 16”s.
This is just one example of how fins can help or hinder but worth keeping in mind is that it’ll be different for everyone.
Position
Without getting too technical there are other factors to consider when searching for your perfect fin configuration.
Once you’ve got a grip on how many fins you need and the sizes you’re going to use then you need to understand where best to place them in the box. Generally speaking you’ll end up with fixed position fins on the side – usually incorporating either Futures or FCS fittings. This means that there’s little room for alteration if you’re opting for quad or twin set ups. With single and thruster configurations you get a degree more room for tweaking.
The central fin is usually a US box fitting which allows for forwards and backwards positioning. In broad terms, moving the skeg towards the back of the box will help with grip and drive while placing it further forwards will loosen up the board and give a slidey feel. Playing about with the location of the fin will give you the best results. Just remember that small movements results in big performance differences. Making the tiniest of tweaks will give wildly varied performance.
cArvInG OFF tHe BOttOM WIt
tHe LIP
tH A QUAd cOnFIGUrAtIOn
Other considerations
For a wealth of fin information check out www.k4fins.com
There are other things to consider with fins but these are something to focus on at a later date when you’ve found an arrangement that works for you and have advanced wave riding skills under your belt.
• toe in – the amount of angle the side fitting fins have – more toe in enhances manoeuvrability but increases drag.
You can find more scribbling’s from Tez at www.tezplavenieks.com
• rake – the amount of rake or how swept back the fin is will help with loosening up the board but could be detrimental to other parts of your SUP surfing experience.
• Flex – some fins are designed to flex more than others. More flex gives a looser sensation while stiffer foils help with drive and grip.
Experiment, experiment, experiment; try as many different types as you can. Some companies (such as K4 Fins used in the accompanying photos) are designed with SUP in mind while others were born in a pure surfing stable. Some will suit your preferences while others won’t.
sInGLe FIn crUIsInG
Fins can be a minefield, but when you find that magic set up you’ll thank yourself for persevering with the testing process.
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Anne
Pizey
has stand-up paddleboarded most of Cambodia’s waterways, including over 500 miles of the Mekong and it’s tributaries. She is the founder and director of the U.S. based non-profit organization Stand Up For Rivers. She is also the owner and operator of SUPASIA, a standup paddleboard tour outfit based in Cambodia focused on volunteer and educational adventures.
Whether she is teaching SUP for the blind, reforesting mangroves, rallying against dams, or planting gardens in floating villages, she happiest when she is paddling with a purpose.To learn more about her adventures or to join one of her teams in S.E. Asia go to her website www.supasia.org.
Leslie Kolovich, host of ‘The Stand Up Paddle Radio Show’, interviewed Anne at her studios in Florida and you can link to the podcast on the following page.
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Anne Pizey is the founder of stand Up For rivers, a non profit organization that aims to coordinate projects which will raise awareness about issues that face rivers and the people who rely on them.
group helped to count healthy dolphins for research information. She also discusses the environmental issues facing the people who live literally on this river in floating villages.
The environment is of most importance to Anne, and helping to raise the awareness of the people Anne talks about falling in love with Cambodia when she experienced paddling down the Mekong that live along the river is the goal. She said most River on a 22-day adventure with six other paddle of the people that live on the river are unaware of what is happening upstream, and through her boarders and one kayaker. She goes on to talk education, are now taking action to protect the about the Irrawaddy Dolphins on the Mekong, which have been declining in numbers. She and the water they rely on for life. Kampot River
STAND UP FOR
sUP bivvy
A beach on the Mekong sangkar river blessing
resting on the Mekong
Floating village hitchhiker
Kampot river boats
Anne and a friend
Leslie Kolovich podcast interview with Anne Pizey
RIVERS
Anne spends most of her time now in Cambodia and leads eco tours through mangrove forests to pagodas, out to islands or through the floating villages. Her tours are unique in that they also give you the opportunity for volunteerism and giving back to this beautiful country. Anne describes the simplicity of living on the river, and commented on how much she could feel the happiness from the people in the villages. The villagers had never seen a modern paddle board, as they don’t have recreation. They work on the river, fishing, planting, building, they wondered what she was going to do with the board. She showed them how to ‘play’ and how to work with the boards. Anne makes a difference with the people here, and Stand Up Paddling seems to have been a very nice bridge to help.
To learn more about Anne’s eco tours to Cambodia visit www.supasia.org
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Tiger Spirit of the
The plan we told everyone was to look for Siberian tigers. We realised the chances of actually seeing one in the vast forests of the Sihote Alin mountains of the Russian far eastern seaboard were minimal but ‘looking for tigers’ was easier to explain than saying we were following one of the routes of a Russian explorer who no one in Britain had ever heard of. The explorer in question, Vladimir Arseniev, mapped the ‘Taiga’ Forest north of Vladivostok between 1901 and 1910. In 1975, his
exploits gained some degree of fame in the west when Japanese director Akira Kurosawa made an Oscar-winning movie, Dersu Uzala, named after his tribal guide. Dersu was like a Siberian version of Crocodile Dundee. He could a shoot a deer though the eye at 400 metres, live off the land and track with unerring accuracy the tigers that stalked the forest. One of our aims was to find out if there were still people like Dersu in the Taiga today.
By simon chapman
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Longhorn beetle
Anatoli fishing
We were paddling a swift-flowing mountain river through for
Victor keeping midges at bay
orest wilderness
Our intention was to follow Dersu and Arseniev’s route across the mountains then canoe the Armu River back down to civilisation close to the Chinese border. There would be differences of course. Getting over the mountains to the coast in Arseniev’s day involved weeks of trekking with pack mules; our journey on levelled roads with a jeep would take us two days. Canoeing the river, Arseniev and Dersu hired a dugout canoe from Udege woodsmen. My companion, Photographer Dave Clark and I took a 17’ Pakboat made of aluminium poles and a green neoprene skin that we built up once we got to the river. We also had a backup raft comprising a pair of blimp-like inflatables strapped to a framework of metal tubes.
eagles occasionally plucking salmon from the water in front of us; we camped every night on shingly shores and baked salmon with forest mushrooms on our campfires.
The Russian state funded tourist organisation had insisted on this and on us taking two guides – Sergei and Anatoli – and though the raft proved useful descending the rapids at the Armu’s headwaters it was like running with the brakes on once the river became flat enough to paddle the canoe continually.
On one of our first nights we attracted a bear. Not that we saw it. Anatoli was charging us slugs of vodka to tell us his tiger stories when the bushes behind us started cracking and heaving. All of a sudden, he and Sergei were yelling at the trees and throwing rocks.
Other than differences in transport our trip was much like Dersu and Arsenievs; we were paddling a swift-flowing mountain river through forest wilderness with ospreys and sea
“We want to see the bear,” Dave and I slurred.
Arseniev
“No you don’t”, Anatoli hissed, “if it comes out, that’ll be the end of this trip”.
Dersu
lo
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Anatoli was like
our own Dersu. True, he was a Russian, not indigenous Siberian like the original, but he was a man of the Taiga, every winter setting off for two months on skis to hunt sable. Anatoli had seen wild tigers seven times. I kept up with him on mugfuls of vodka as far as tiger number three, the mother that jumped out at him when he came across two cubs on a logging track. Anatoli, had been carrying a stack of firewood and ended up on his back flailing arms and legs in the air like a flipped over cockroach as he vainly tried to retrieve his rifle (tied to the wood pile) to fire off a warning shot.
“And look!
“My hair stuck up on end,” he smiled.
It’s been grey like this ever since.”
A couple of days later, we came across our first signs of a big cat. We were camped at a sudden drop in the river, a cross between a waterfall and rapids that we thought was best tackled the next morning when tiredness wouldn’t force us into making stupid errors. The tracks were right behind our camp. They were the size of my hand; four-toed, no claw marks, unmistakably those of a tiger. Fourteen of them were dented into the reddish earth where a tree had fallen. Tigers and bears, however, were the least of our worries at the top end of the river. There were rapids at every bend. Mostly minor, these added to the thrill of being in the wilderness, but by the end of day three, bearlike Sergei and I in the Pakboat has ‘lost our edge’. At a zig-zag where the river cut around some house-sized boulders we lined up badly, shipping water as we hit a line of standing waves then snagging the front end on a large rock midstream. Suddenly we were side-on to the flow. I jumped on to the rock to stop us capsizing. Sergei nearly fell out as he clambered up too. The canoe was now filling up and I could see a drybag (which I realised with a start contained my passport) starting to float off.
The rapids after that were easier or maybe we were more skillful at negotiating them. Thankfully, Dave and Anatoli soon turned up on the raft and agreed to set up camp. By that time I was getting too cold to think straight. After two weeks we reached the confluence of the Ubilnaya and Armu rivers, close to the village of Dalniy Kut where we had arranged for a jeep to pick us up. Over the last few days the weather had changed markedly. Rain had raised the level of the river and a cold, gusting wind had driven the midges away. Strange to consider this was August, yet already the leaves were turning Tiger skull yellow. Without the Gulf Stream to regulate the temperature, this place would be freezing by late October, under two metres of snow by December. Even the daily weather had showed an almost absurd variation from scorchingly Mediterranean (when Dave would sunbathe) to autumnal (we had spent two whole days sheltering from driving rain). When was like this, Siberia felt like a more forested version of Scotland. Canoeing down a wilderness river, we had rain, we had drizzle, we had midges in their thousands. Even the birds – the dippers and grey wagtails, the mergansers that scooted off each time we passed – were Scottish. But, judging from a solitary paw-print, the size of my hand, that I found squashed over one of my own footprints on my way back from collecting fire wood, there was one major difference. If Siberia was like Scotland, then Scotland has tigers.
i on the river, Me and Serge
My next move – a lunge forward – saved the bag but pitched me right into the flow. For some seconds I was swimming, bashing (feet first, luckily) into boulders then running back up the river’s edge and diving back in to get back to the
rock where Sergei was still clinging onto the canoe. Somehow, we emptied the half-sunken boat and carried on.
Two fishermen who turned up at the camp with the tiger tracks
Climbing a mountainside for a view ahead
valley ( u m r Ar Lowe
u ning o e d a bro
t)
Viper
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By Dave Rossetter –paddlesport ins
The four key a Fundamental to your success as a canoeist
The canoe has been around for a long time. There are reports of early canoes being used from Scandinavia, North America, South America and the Pacific Islands. Wherever it has been and whatever it has been used for – the true beauty of the canoe – is that it is the craft for all occasions!
Moving the canoe
The canoe is versatile and can be found being used in many different environments. Be it for hunting, travel or pleasure the canoe can cover it all. Depending on the environment you find yourself in you may need to move the canoe by: Use of: pole; sail; rope and paddle. Not forgetting – you.
In future articles we will cover specifics for each of these skills.this article aims to give four key areas to cover regardless of the environment you are in or the skill being used.
Momentum Angle Trim Tilt
Momentum
You need to be able to do a few things here: gain it/maintain it/change it/loose it. Being able to either alter or maintain your momentum is fundamental to successful canoeing. Whether it’s your first time working on the J stroke to running a hard rapid momentum is going to be critical to the outcome.
Too many paddlers fail to get the boat up to speed while learning. Time is spent doing a huge amount of correction with little momentum being gained. Get the canoe up and running and you will find it will respond much easier to your strokes working. However, we often need to loose momentum. Have you ever seen someone crash straight into the back
of the eddy or another canoe? The ability to slow the boat down, especially on white water will ensure that you stay in control and even keep from getting water in your boat.
Understanding where to place the paddle and use of your body will help with your understanding of momentum.
Technical
Vertical paddles will aid in generating power to speed up or slow the boat down.
Top tip here is to ensure that your top hand is out over the gunnale.
Use of knees. Look to generate force through your knees while paddling. If you don’t kneel and prefer to sit then push off your feet / furthest forward part.
nstructor at Glenmore Lodge
areas to canoeing Angle
Once an understanding of momentum has been gained then being able to maintain our angle is next. The angle that I am talking about is that of the canoe to the environment. This would be on the river crossing flow. Paddling on the open water the angle the canoe is to the wind.
of the canoe. Once you have this understanding mastered on flat easy water take it out into harder environments.
Change the side you are paddling on. Learn to paddle the canoe from both sides. Don’t limit your options of the angle the boat is by the fact you can only paddle on one side.
Once you have chosen your angle then maintain until you decide it’s time to change. So often it’s the environment that decides for us leaving us out of control.
Technical
To aid maintaining this angle be conscious of where you steer from. Too many paddlers steer only from the stern of the canoe.
Learn to steer through your strokes by varying how far the top hand is out over the water and by changing the way the paddle is orientated to the side
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Trim
Arguably the single most talked about subject between canoeists. Whether paddling solo/tandem or on the open water/river you need to get the canoe working for you.
Trim is about the footprint the canoe leaves in the environment from bow to stern.
Canoeists generally understand dealing with wind on open water - bow down going upwind versus bow up going downwind. However, going across wind not so sure? What about on the river? Going downstream is it the same as going downwind?
Trim is a dynamic thing and needs to change depending on the circumstances. Paying attention to what your trim is doing and ensuring that the canoe is working for you will aid in your performance and comfort during your journey.
Technical
While testing your trim on the river or open water move little bits at a time and see what the outcome is. Measure this against the amount of effort you have to put in.
Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just use your bags in the boat to effect trim. Move yourself as well.
When the paddle is in the water in can also help your trim. The next time you are out in wind or current place your paddle in the water in front of you and pause before doing anything. Notice the change. Link this with the change of side that you are paddling on along with the way the blade is orientated as indicated earlier.
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Tilt
The way the boat sites side to side is just as important as trim. Hulls have a variety of different characteristics to them. This could be the amount curvature in the hull front top back and side to side. Whether it has a keel line and edges to it or not. This will effect how the canoe reacts to you and your strokes.
Understanding the hull shape will help you change the canoes direction or hold it on line much easier. There is no specific answer here that I can write because there are so many variables. However, I can point you to few exercises to help you see what works for you in whatever canoe you paddle.
Technical
With each exercise ensure that you are sitting upright and not leaning over the side. While paddling forward keep the paddle vertical with the top hand outside the gunwale. Measure each exercise in terms of the amount of effort you have to put in versus the outcome.
Exercise 1 On a flat calm section of water paddle in a straight line with the canoe flat then same section with the canoe on a slight tilt. Try this a couple of times with a slight increase in the edge each time.
Exercise 2 This time when turning try start with the canoe flat then with each further attempt slightly increase the tilt each time.
Once you have practiced the exercises ensure that you have a way to get into the correct position each time. Piece of tape on the gunwale, pressure on the knees or where the hip is in relation to the side would be three examples.
Dave is the full time paddlesport instructor at Glenmore Lodge – Scotland’s National Outdoor Training Centre. He has been involved in the development of the new awards and provides expert advice throughout the industry on all things to do with coaching, safety, leadership and personal paddling. He is passionate about all things paddling and specialises in white water kayak and open canoe where he will most often be found. He is supported in his paddling adventures and coaching by Pyranha Kayaks, Mad River Canoes and Palm Equipment. http://www.glenmorelodge.org.uk/ http://www.pyranha.com/ http://www.palmequipmenteurope.com/ http://www.madrivercanoe.co.uk/
Summary
These four areas are absolutely fundamental to your success as a canoeist and regardless of how you move the canoe. For example:
Poling – Experiment with tilt and trim
sailing – Experiment with momentum / speed up and slow down
ropes – Experiment with angle and trim while lining or tracking
Happy Paddling and hope to see you on the water. Dave Rossetter
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PrIn
Jamesâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC; Interview with
â&#x20AC;&#x2122; nGLe
Bebbington
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W
hat kayaks do you own at the moment?
I have a Carbon Dagger Jitsu 5.9, a plastic Jitsu 5.9, a Dagger Mamba 8.6, and an Axio. In the rafters of my parents garage my Worlds winning Guigui Easymix still lives ;-)
Where and what was your first paddle?
My first ever paddle was in Ashton swimming baths, around 17 years ago. My first whitewater trip would be about 15 years ago I guess and it was surfing the Arneside bore shortly followed by a trip down the Burrs a week or so later – I was very quickly addicted to it.
FIrst kayaking competition at Tryweryn
What and where was your first competition?
My first competition was the tag team rodeo held on Tryweryn; I was teamed up with PYB coach Pete Caterall and Chris Ford. I'd just been taught to spin and then our team came third so I was ecstatic – I think my teammates helped quite a lot! Then after that I started going to Peak challenges as often as they occurred, they were a great series to get you good at competing and also a great place to meet other paddlers!
After paddling over most of the planet - where is your favourite river and why?
I grew up in a little town outside of Warrington, england not too far from North Wales. I started out in my local Wigan canoeing group aged nine or ten and got into it from there. My dad joined me in paddling after seeing me do it and still goes out every weekend, my mum isn’t so interested in getting cold and wet though but their both very supportive. I have a wife Katya, we met competing at the World Cups in 2008, she’s a paddler on the russian Freestyle team and now we travel/paddle together full-time.
The White Nile, Uganda before the dams – it was perfect! You could enjoy blasting down some really fun big rapids or go surf for a few hours on one of the best waves in the World (Ugly Sisters, Malalu, Nile Special) and all surrounded by luscious jungle, the place had it all! Now with the latest dams it's still a good destination but it's lost a bit of it's sparkle. However, maybe now that some of it's gone forever, it's cemented its place as my all-time favourite – I'll never have the opportunity to get bored of it.
Well I’d say I enjoy kayaking much more than making films ;-)
I kayak for a few reasons, in the beginning it was because of the pure fun I had doing it, then the joy and satisfaction of learning new tricks and perfecting rides, now I enjoy it most of all because of what I learn about myself through training hard and trying to compete at my best. It forces you to become a better person. When you make some significant progress and learn your lesson fast that’s when I end up winning stuff, when I don’t paddle my best it happens to teach me something. Either way it’s a success. I just love kayaking and being in the outdoors doing what I love and what that brings into my life. Film-making is often a very frustrating, time consuming process – trying to get the moves you want to show, the shots you'd like and the idea for each clip but when you finally get it how you’d like, the satisfaction washes away all the time, effort and frustration. Obviously some videos I spend more effort on than others so that makes a difference but I do really enjoy what we (me and Katya) produce together when we put our full talents and effort into it. She has a great eye and is very good at directing me and envisioning how everything should look (she's a professional artist). I’m good at all the technical stuff so together we’re a very good team.
James ‘Pringle’ Bebbington
Kayaking or film-making – how do they both give you satisfaction and does one give more than the other?
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Katya and James
Sahara cycle
First Worlds win
For the love of animals
Which film do you hold as the best you’ve ever made?
I think our best work was my last Uganda video: http://youtu.be/Ax6gaJKpE_8 For showing the whole feel of a trip though one of my favourites is from Galicia: http://youtu.be/WNVPvZ1gDRk
What is the biggest accomplishment in your career?
Winning World Champs in 2011 and the World Cup in 2010, those are my two best moments definitely.
What are your goals for the next 12 months?
I made so much progress this year in my skills and techniques (see http://youtu.be/dmPRUkWX1lA) but I didn't really show that progress in competition yet. Over the winter I plan on really getting those skills consistent so that next season I can really show what I can do and paddle my best. My main goal for 2014 is to win the European Championships in Slovakia and the World Cup series in Spain.
What would be your ultimate achievement?
Ultimately I want to be able to show my best in every competition I enter, if I can get to that point that would trump all my previous achievements. Competitively though I dream of hitting a 2000 point ride and winning seven World Champs.
Any advice for those starting out in freestyle?
Enjoy yourself and persevere! To do well in freestyle you just need to love falling on your face, and never give up. If you combine those attributes, paddle regularly and keep up your love for the sport you'll go far and learn all the moves you wish to do.
Which paddlers out there are currently pushing the freestyle boundaries?
There are too many paddlers to name who are pushing freestyle right now – the sport’s booming with talent at the moment! Notably though Mathieu Dumoulin really impressed me this year with his new style of linked rides – it certainly gave the sport a big push in terms of how to make a ride flow. Dane Jackson has been flying and I really like his style – no one is yet to match him in going huge or clean. In terms of innovating, I've been very impressed with some of the moves GB’s Bren Orton’s been coming up with. My favourite paddler who is really rising at the moment is Tomasz Czaplicki from Poland. He came third at the Worlds and ever since has been hopping in a Jitsu and tearing up every feature he's gone in.
What are the benefits of being a Team Dagger kayaker?
I'm one of only five kayakers who get to use a Carbon Dagger Jitsu - surely the biggest benefit ;-)
http://riverzoo.com
Watch James on a training session in Spain..http://youtu.be/47SOAitaDQo
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Can you talk about your training? Greatest inspiration? Role models/who/what kept you motivated?
This season I started working with Dennis Newton (GB coach and Sweetwater coaching) so I added in a strength training program, had much more structure to my on the water sessions and made a huge leap forward in my skills largely thanks to him. This involves two sessions on the water a day and strength training three or four times a week. This year I really trained the hardest I ever did. I peaked a little bit early for Worlds but I can see the potential this approach has. So for next season I'm increasing the amount of time on the water each day and adding in more intense strength training & hopefully doing more regular sessions with Dennis if he has the time. I also like to do some other sports to keep me fit and give me a break from kayaking – especially cycling. This year I even did an expedition cycling from Marrakech to the Sahara and back! My biggest inspiration in the past came from Peter Csonka – he showed me what you could do if you focus and train hard! He still really inspires me for the same reasons. He's the best competitor in the World and the reason I got back into competing in 2009. My motivation comes from a desire to reach my potential in the sport. I’m pleased with what I've achieved but I know I’m capable of much more if I train in the right way. I just love the process of training for a goal.
I’m a paddler and going on holiday, where would you recommend?
If you've never been there I'd still recommend Uganda - even with the dam it's a dream freestyle location!
Where do you see yourself in 20 years?
Living in a house me and Katya built ourselves, somewhere close to a good playspot in beautiful nature, growing all our own fruit and veg surrounded by rescued animals & wildlife with a few kids running around. We'll both be multiple World Champions and still paddling hard and helping others to do the same!
Any regrets?
Nope - life is pretty much a dream come true so far.
And finally - where does the nickname ‘Pringle’ come from?
No real story. I turned up for the summer kayaking in Nottingham when I was 14 with just a couple packs of Pringles for food. A few of the guys started calling me ‘pringle’ to annoy me and thus it stuck – now I like it.
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James ‘Pringle’ Bebbington
OK let’s finish with something short and snappy…
If you could paddle with anyone in the world dead or alive who would it be? Gandhi or my wife Katya ;)
Pick two celebrities to be your parents
Kelly Slater the surfer and… I can't think of any female celebrities I like, can I just keep my real mum? (Go on then:)
What’s on your tivo recorder?
After googling what TiVo is, I don't really watch TV (or have one) – I follow surfing and cycling events livestreams online and like documentaries though.
Favourite iPod track?
Queen - We are the champions – I just watched a Freddie Mercury documentary on a flight so he's my new hero.
If you won £10 million on the lottery, what would you do with it?
Build a sanctuary for rescued farm animals – I'm a passionate vegetarian ;) Sponsor all the freestyle kayakers I like and go on a big World tour to the best spots. Go watch all the ASP World Tour surfing events. Design and build a fully solar powered car. Start my own carbon kayak company, build a few home's… I have many ideas, so if you have a spare £10m I can help you spend it for sure!
cats or dogs? I like both!
Facebook or twitter? Facebook.
An ideal night out for you is?
A night in watching the ASP World Tour – (I'm a big fan of surfing) – I don't drink or like clubs.
What one luxury item would you take with you on a desert island? My Juicer - my mum got us a fruit juicer for my birthday, it's AMAZING!
What would I find in your refrigerator right now?
Carrots, celery, fennel, spinach, beetroot, pineapple, tomatoes… did I mention we got a juicer? (Yes, think you did:)
What do you get really angry about?
How hard it is to get Katya a proper UK spouse visa! Our immigration is confusing, difficult and a pain in the ass!
thanks for your time James:)
If we came to your house for dinner, what would you prepare for us?
I'd make you Gazpacho for starters, a raw Courgette Pasta for the main and a Raw Chocolate Gateau - I'm a raw vegan but you'd be surprised what amazing stuff we can make!
If you could be a superhero for one day, what superpower would you choose and why? I'd choose to be able fly – must be the best feeling ever!
Favourite team? Sky Procycling ;-)
What three words would you use to describe you? Determined, optimistic and kind.
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Some classic paddling destinations on fresh
water oceans in Ontario, Canada Some world-class paddling can be found on Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fresh water Great Lakes, and Ontario is blessed with exceptional destinations.
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Georgian Bay, Lake Huron’s North Channel and the North Shore of Lake Superior rival the world’s best paddling, offering anything from calm protected bays and islands to exposed explosive and rugged coastlines. Here are three of my favourite areas for sea kayaking. I’ll follow up this article with specific trip articles of each area outlined here. Watch for them in coming editions of ThePaddler.
Georgian Bay North Shore
Phillip Edward Island area close to Killarney Provincial Park. Highlights:
Thousands of rocky islands set against white quartzite and limestone La Cloche Mountains. Rugged, with a great combination of protected waters and exposed coastline. Lots of camping and close to Toronto (three hours north by car). Killarney Provincial Park has excellent hiking and camping nearby and the town of Killarney has some interesting accommodations with a wide price range and service levels, souvenirs and great fish and chips.
Downside:
Can be very busy in the summer months, rattle snakes, expensive parking in the Provincial Park. ($15/day)
Outfitters available:
North Channel, Lake Huron Killarney Outfitter, White Squall, Horizons Adventures, and Ontario Sea Kayaking Centre.
Whales Back and Benjamin islands to the Bay of Island.
A 100km stretch of rocky islands and bays along the north shore of Lake Huron, west of sudbury, Ontario.
Highlights:
Warm water (20+ degrees Celsius). Easy access, yet quiet and relatively untouched. Rocky islands punctuated by white and black sand beaches. Stores and supplies available. Nice quiet towns close by provide reasonably prices accommodations and restaurants.
Downside:
Further travel from Toronto, (that’s why it’s less visited). Limited campsites.
Outfitters available: Horizons Adventures,
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Parks:
Killarney Provincial Park: www.ontarioparks.com/en Pukaskwa national Park: www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/on/pukaskwa/index.aspx Lake superior Provincial Park: www.ontarioparks.com/en Ontario Parks: www.ontarioparks.com/en
Lake Superior North Shore
Pukaskwa National Park, Lake Superior Provincial Park and the North Shore area.
Big enough to contain all of scotland within its shores, Lake superior lives up to its name as the world’s largest fresh water lake.
Highlights:
Cold, clear water, high relief and rugged remote shore. Less protection in many areas and prone to wind and wave, it can be a very challenging coastline. An excellent choice for experienced paddlers. Two government parks manage much of the shores and take campsite reservations* on a first come, first served basis. Campsites have a ‘Thunderbox’, tent sites, bear box and good landing areas. *Pukaskwa National Park restricts camping to designate sites only. Hikers can reserve campsites only, and paddlers have to take what’s left over. The Lake Superior Provincial Park does not accept reservations but issues permits based on the area of the park you paddling in and so any particular campsite is first come first served, making finding a suitable campsite challenging at times.
Downside:
Long travel distance to travel (at least a day from Toronto). Flights to the area are also expensive.
Outfitters available:
Naturally Superior Outfitters, Superior Outfitters and Horizons Adventures Outfitters. www.horizonsadventures.ca www.naturallysuperior.com www.ontarioseakayakcentre.com www.whitesquall.com www.caribou-expeditions.com
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! T I N R U B
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g n lo a in t s e t la e h al of t iv r r a e h t s k r a m nha. a r y P The Burn III m o fr s k a y a ll k line of planing hu
nell n o D c M l u a P d n ap a By George Harr
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www.pyranha.com
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Perhaps only a redesign of the legendary Dagger Nomad would carry more pressure, given the popularity of the Burn with beginners and pros alike. Precise edge control, even volume distribution and ease of use are huge factors behind the success of the series, so it’s important the Mk3 doesn’t stray from these core principles.
At a glance, it doesn’t appear a lot has changed, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. However, upon further inspection you begin to appreciate the thought process behind the new boat. The first thing is the lower deck profile and narrower knee position. This was one of few criticisms of the previous model, with smaller paddlers often raising the seat to achieve a position from which they could really drive the boat.The results are fantastic, creating greater connectivity without lengthy outfitting sessions.
In addition to tweaked dimensions, the new outfitting from Pyranha is undoubtedly responsible for the improved ergonomics. Although still under the Connect branding, as per the previous model, the seat has been overhauled to provide greater adjustment without the need for tools. As well as forward and back movement, Pyranha have added the ability to raise the seat, most likely in response to Dagger’s Ergo Contour outfitting. Although not as flash as their US competition, Pyranha’s lightweight solution ticks all the boxes for the current trend of race orientated paddlers. Our only negative comment would be slight lateral movement when edging hard. This is
largely due to a gap at the boat sidewall, allowing the seat to slide side to side, yet is easily rectified with a foam block between the two. After speaking with Pyranha, this is likely to be factory fitted on new production models. Finally, the move from fabric to aluminium handles will be well received, making a snag free durable finish that’s totally dry due to captive inserts. This is great news to anyone who’s previously damaged Pyranha handles, as the loss of the tubular plastic insert could make it difficult to successfully attach a line.
The edge of the previous Burn was arguably its greatest attribute. A flat hull combined with aggressive edge gave brilliant crossover performance, creating the feel of a playboat but with enough volume to get you through pushy rapids unscathed. Paddlers could push their limits on familiar local runs, catching micro eddies they didn’t think possible. To change this fundamental feature of previous models is probably the most critical change to the Mk3 and a make or break moment.
While the rail has traditionally run tip to tail, the new boat softens towards the stern. The thinking behind this is to provide grip whilst driving the boat, while the rear no longer offers the potential to catch an edge when the going gets tough. Those in the know will feel the similarities in the redesign of the Mamba, the most fierce rival to the Burn market.
The third generation Burn is the latest in Pyranha’s long line of cutting edge river runners. Paddlers have come to rely on the Burn’s combination of playful hull, precise edges and forgiving deck profile for everything from the beginnings of whitewater to Class V creeks.
The new Burn refines these features further to give you more speed and drive, more precise tracking in turbulent water and effortless boofs. The Burn’s combination of stability and precision make it a proven all round performer-whether you are a beginner running Class II or an expert firing up big drops. small
Sizes TBC
Medium Length: Width: Volume: Weight: Paddler weight:
250cm 65cm 284lts TBC 55-105kg
Large
Sizes TBC
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www.roho.co.uk
What Pyranha says…
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the final noticeable
feature is the changed rocker profile. The recent trend of fast kayaks such as the Raptor, Remix and Granate, the latter winning the infamous Sickline event with Yorkshire legend Joe Morley, has not gone unnoticed by Pyranha. The Mk3 has followed up with a flatter stern giving speed, while increased bow rocker allows drier lines. It doesn’t boof quite like a Stomper, yet is certainly no slouch in the steeps.
You’ve probably heard this all before though, paddling history is littered with boats that had great hype but no on the water performance to back it up. The Dagger FX, who wants flames on their kayak? Speaking of bolting things to your kayak, did anyone ever use the hull plate on an S6X? The only way to settle this was to get off the internet and onto the rivers, so with a fairly mediocre forecast we headed to Wales.
While we would have ideally liked to paddle the Wnion, Ogwen or Glaslyn, the rain never turned up so it was straight to Bala. This didn’t turn out to be such a bad thing, as unlike artificial courses it realistically represents the features found on natural rivers. So, after many laps of the course and plenty of plastic left on Welsh rock what was the verdict? Changing such a commercially successful and well liked design was inherently risky and might not be to everyone liking initially, simply because so many paddlers are so familiar with how the 2010 Burn handled on the river. The new boat and particularly the revised rail really rewards dynamic paddling and edging hard. It gives fantastically tight turns across the eddy line and lets you catch and use even the smallest features with ease.
The lower deck and narrower knee position give an instant connection with the boat straight out of the packaging. However, we feel that the additional length and associated volume increase has not compensated for the losses in other dimensions. In an environment where boat manufacturers can be tempted to widen recommended weight limited to unrealistic figures it’s fantastic that Pyranha have acknowledged the reduced capacity of their latest design. As such, while the previous medium Burn
was capable of performing with paddlers up to 95kg, you should consider stepping to the large size in the Mk3 if you top 85kg.
Even if you already own a medium Burn and would like to upgrade to the latest incarnation, we would recommend demoing one from your local dealer before you part with your dosh. Despite these changes to the sizing it’s clear the Burn Mk3 will become a classic river running choice for UK and international boaters alike. The fact that the boat was designed and produced in Runcorn is brilliant in a time of declining UK manufacturing. The prevalence of Pyranha boats in Europe during the summer season gives Brits abroad a common identity that makes us easy to spot. It’s something we should be proud of and support, let’s buy British!
Maverick the whitewater paddle from Palm
Three year limited warranty on all Maverick paddles: G5, G3 and G1 models
Search online for Palm Equipment
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MOUNT
I see raw beauty in each passed stroke DARREN CLARKSON-KING, 1 MAR 2013
Even now sitting alone, looking out of the rain stained window of my cottage in Wales I find it hard to identify with what I have achieved on the solo descent on the rivers of Everest in the spring of 2012.
I
had dreamed about this expedition for over 10 years, the descent the Dudh and Arun back to back and solo. In this journey for myself, I knew I would find the truth. That moment, when you are with, your God. As a truth I do not want to share the trip. Now I have internalized it. I know that you would never understand – how could you? It was more than the water, it was always going to be. It was magic and peace, meditation and action, love and hate, romance and lust. It is a selfish indulgence that means more than I can write and less than the world should ever care. Cold concrete scattered with old trodden in chewing gum, littered with days old cigarette butt ends and plastic vending machine coffee cups. This station floor in England’s black country, is hardly the best place to bed down for the night. A cold wind blows across the platform. I left my jacket and shoes in Kathmandu. Flipflops and a t-shirt that is all. I would have paced the windy platform to keep warm, but my trousers keep making a descent to my knees, they don’t hold anymore – guess I lost weight. I shuffle on the balls of my feet – the left heel is cracked and bleeding worse than the right, I can’t stand still. It has been a long night of thoughts. Like Walter Bonatti, I am very disgruntled with the whole expedition ethos, I want to make this as pure as possible – just to go alone with skills and intelligence and simple basic equipment. The morning air is fringed, no sun yet this is an early start. No reason to hang about and wait, I don’t want the gaze of the tourists walking up or out of the Sagamartha National Park. This water is frozen in the eddy and cold. Slalom moves behind rocks call out – class 4 I expect. I don’t
want to grade it. It matters not, on this trip the grade is simple, either yes – or no. Phakding and its not even lunchtime – I was going to call it a night here, but this seems a shame. Not wishing to waste the day. It’s down to Ghat and beyond. The ride is fun, just the boat, paddle and me. The smooth rapids roll in and out, no hidden unwanted surprises. Boulder passes to be made, left and right. Too many tight lines the alpine style. Ghat creeps up all too quickly, the bridge I am set to take out from. I paddle past. Why? I just don’t know? I keep going. I know that this section down to Lukla is rough and who knows if it goes. Smooth tongues of water slide past the rocks. The gods own hand scatters the rocks in a maze. One eddy passed, one portage as the river goes too steep landing on a jumble of rocks. Sliding back in the eddy it is a slow paddle into the flow – skipping from wave to eddy and back again, reading and running. Twist and turn the river dances. I sneak a small eddy on a cushion wave close to the cliff; my line of sight is lost. Then I remember. Least I think I remember. A larger eddy sits just behind this shallow bend. Had I glimpsed it on the run down? Only 50% sure it really existed. A stroke, a tight move and I am out in the flow, I reach the next eddy and paddle to the far edge. Over my right shoulder the water sumps out. Natural rock arch and a disarray of rocks. One false stroke, one missed move and I would have been sucked under the rock – a certain death, no escape route. The liquid pours and sucks, finding least resistance. The emotion came quick, the cold sweat, the heart-beat.
t
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“Stuff it.” It took me less than a minute to ratio through letterbox slots and cascades in Lucife I was one step from ending not just my expedition, but also my life. In my pocket I could feel my spot device, press the button – wait for rescue. No good. Looking at the cliffs on either side, I look down the flow for an escape route. I look right and left, back up toward Ghat. That is one hell of an attainment to make, to cavort – opposing the flow and chancing the paddle upstream. Above I can see the lowest houses at Lukla, but no means to get to them. Attaining it must be until the fisherman’s footsteps form a trail near the almost dry river, a sanity of this unnamed tributary. It’s a heavy grunt up back to Ghat. Where the familiar taste of dhal bhat and tea where boiled rice and vegetables will bookend this day. My feet are already blistered and sore, cracks in my heels make walking up the small ladder to the bed, in a Sherpas tea house, difficult. Blood races from my heart, I can feel it – like the beating sounds of a haunted civil war drummer alone after the battle. Thudthud-thud. It’s dark in the dusty room, as sleep comes. The moment to end rest comes without notice. I open my eyes quickly, breathing heavy. All around the world is suck and fizzed into the sump I avoided, all at once the world and its contents annulled and dry. It’s a flashback, a war wound. Panting – how to rationalise, so close, so close. Sleep comes uneasy, the black hole of reason and doubt – enough – enough. Slow sun again this morning, it struggles to get over the ridge. It mirrors the emotional ebb and flow of each personal hour, each minute. From the small home, I can see the clear blue, snaking lines in the valley floor. Decisions over the previous days and months have brought me back to this place – back to the engaging flow, the launch back to Everest’s tears. I struggle to get my boat to water level as the bank is higher than the length of my rope.
Blood races from my heart, I can feel it – like the beating sounds of a haunted civil war drummer alone after the battle.
Thud-thud-thud
onalise my predicament as water was forced er’s garden, where no man is meant to be.
No matter how I try the boat clipped to the rope swings, in the cool air. Ten feet and more of empty space – it hangs like a pendulum. What choice? Letting the rope slip from my grasp the kayak falls, that slow motion fall, of cartoon scenes, were the bank collapses and the coyote struggles to regain a hold.
Payment made with interest that now cannot be counted. It has no fixed sum but simply holds the risk of bankruptcy of the heart, mind and moment. Although the reward is more, as much as this dance this ballet will ever be. Nervous energy that has come to pass the gauge is empty – time to rest for the night.
Watching I want the kayak to piton, to settle in the rocks, it takes time, skidding on the smooth bedrock, it skids and lurches. Coming to rest when it flips and the cockpit catches a boulder. The sight is perfect, each move settled and precise. This moment is all it could ever be. It is a gift. The payment for this isolation, a fleeting yet paradoxically everlasting moment, a simple credit in an account riddled with debt.
Looking left the beach looks homely, warmth will come from the wood scattered and quiet. That’s important to just be, me alone. It takes no time to undress from the wet thermals and light a fire. This time it is easy, a few candles, dry leaves and some dry wood. In my down jacket and leggings I lay exhausted on the sand. I can feel the earth open up, to welcome me into her, as sleep comes.
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I shake awake, sun is still alive and I have yet to pouches of ready meals sit waiting. I’ve only th One has food, that sits between my legs when I paddle – it’s tied to the central pillar of the boat, the others in the stern have the following split between them, sleeping bag, down jacket, wool hat, two lighters, note book, wallet, gaffa tape, first aid kit, shorts, thermal and a spoon. Never did I think it would be easy to eat well, whilst this limited space has meant I cannot carry sufficient food and calories for the day, the food I have got is nutritious. Foil packed and ready to eat I lean the packet on a small branch close to the fire. The flames lap curls of amber heat, that fade and fight, as the breeze picks up. Soon the foil is charred black. I know the pasta in tomato sauce will be hot enough to eat. No sooner is the last mouthful rested in my gut, slowly digesting, then sleep over takes the will to sit and stare. It is no surprise the GPS read average speed 10km, I just paddled for eight hours. From the slumber I wake, it’s positive, quick, 0530. Shaking the sand from my hair and a mouth of dry oats and water, then without fault it’s water time. 0600 stroke-stroke, it is all automation unconscious and driven. The willingness just to get out of the Dudh Kosi and then to the familiar waters of the Sun Kosi before I make the journey to the Arun Gorges perhaps that’s the fuel I need. Within two hours I cruise to the confluence, left turn in to join the river of gold on its route to the Terai and India. Sun Kosi, memories of my first trip on the river, conversations, the prayers friends and I sent to Dr Jones on subsequent trips. To friends gone now is not the time for melancholy. All the strokes in the world don’t seem enough to race away from emotions. It’s a simple head down paddle that forces the mind to amble. I must centre the thoughts, to place it on the breath – at peace. Each stroke brings the trivia of my daily life to a crashing soap opera. The laundry pile, the unpaid bill, the work-a-day ethic of family, and friends each breath centres this, to the here and now. No moment but that which is, not the one gone or the one to come. It is all meaningless now, this is a time of beautiful isolation, a simple pleasure in this world we construct around our modern lives. The Sun Kosi plods along, slack pools and friendly rapids I know by heart. The named and shamed commercial runs, Jaws, Dead man eddy, Rhino rock. I have run them as a customer and a guide for over a decade.
o eat. In my dry bag, hree dry dags.
Helmet off now and glasses on. The warm wind wafts up from India, the hidden smell of exotic spices and eastern promise, causes angel wings of spray to dance in the air. I stay in the flow, no eddy, no rest, no time to let the thoughts in. It is just me and the water. It’s a long paddle, but I don’t want to find a beach and camp. Just keep going and paddle through the blistered pain and cramp.
The warm wind wafts up from India, the hidden smell of exotic spices and eastern promise, causes angel wings of spray to dance in the air.
My favourite rest day beach, where the waterfall cascades on a river left, deep in the jungle is long gone. Just a memory now. One of the places I have passed along the way. With only an hour of daylight left, camp routine returns with too much haste. I build my fire too close to my sleeping mattress, and that’s a mistake – it melts the corner and the air escapes. Too foolish a mistake, sleep for the rest of the trip confined to be uneasy. For now I don’t care, the angel of dreams comes quick.
The unnatural end, at Chatra, where the water is sucked into the concrete irrigation pipes, is all too obvious. All this before it is leaked out on the Terai where it seeps merging the forced border of India and Nepal. Here this one journey is over, although the next one has yet to start.
Here the dust and dirt cannot be washed clean in the ashes of times past. Here one too many bus rides home to Kathmandu litter my over lapping memories. The once thriving administration town of Dharan waits, on my route to the Arun. To relive a journey I made with friends. It was my first major expedition in 2002. Without the success or failure of that Arun Gorges trip with peers would I have continued to journey on these rivers? As is usual for a bus station in Nepal, chaos and pandemonium appears to engulf the solitary bus. The engine is silent, although we all know it will not be long before the black smoke coughs from the tail pipe as the engine is raced past idle. For now, in this darkness, a small crowd has gathered around a fire built from trash.
As is usual for a bus station in Nepal, chaos and pandemonium appears to engulf the
solitary bus ThePaddler 147
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Sitting close to the heat an old woman squats Here 10 rupees is enough for a hot, sweet m It is supposed to have tea in it, although I don’t think this one does. With my kayak and gear now neatly tied on the roof, this breakfast comes easily, before the mad rush to board. I have played this game before, inside is always too cramped – this is no different, so I climb out of the window as the bus moves slowly through the still dark streets. Pulling my weight out over the roof rack rim is easy. Although getting past and the basket of ducks and other assortment of luggage tied to the roof proves tricky. To get settled I untied a rucksack and a few sundry items, tying myself to the bare metal, I try to sleep – just as the bus speeds up and over the pass towards the Tamur. Within an hour the sun is out and the roof starts to fill with people, Tibetans, Indians, Nepali but I am the only scruffy Englishman. The road gets worse and worse, from tarmac to dirt and dust. Conversations repeat to fade. ‘Only one? You are alone? Are you married?’ Cramped next to me on the roof are four government officials, data collectors. Even they are astounded by the roads existence. They don’t expect it to be finished – although it is drivable by these buses and jeeps. Plumes of dust and diesel smoke cover those of us sitting at the back, on the roof. We all have sore hands from holding on tight, as each bump and bend offers a new challenge. Still the bus tried to race on this dirt road. All dust and confusion, where even 20km/h appears to be light speed. Khadbari the end of the line is reached, in a cloud of fumes, just as the market is packing up. I can glimpse from my roof vantage point a fine selection of fruits, vegetables, electronics and clothes you wouldn’t wear if you were naked. It is another run down hotel that offers the only place to stay, where power failure and insufficient sanitation is the lasting echo. Here porters, whose work has been cut because of the road, drink whisky from Kathmandu whilst asking too many questions of strangers. In the silence, between thoughts about the Dudh Kosi and family at home I wonder about the advancement of the road. How the Arun III Hydro project once shelved, is forcing this road up the valley. Here the trucks are raping the land and scorching the traditions of the villages. Here any benefit from the hydroelectric station will undoubtedly not be felt in these small communities. The jeep bounces along in the dirt breaking my train of thought as each bounce forces my head to contact with the unpadded roof. This waterlogged dirt track a tattoo on the nation, once here, it cannot be undone. Now is a time to return – a pilgrimage of the heart. The peaceful put in from yester-year has gone now. A small village – fast becoming a town – is moving forward, it will be yet another roadside truck halt when the project is finished. The bank is creased with waste, broken glass and tears. Late in the day, but I don’t want to spend the night in the village, quick change and then a launch in the flow.
s over a pan of boiling milk. milky brew.
In minutes the rapids get steep, not too obvious. The Arun is flowing brown and rushing along. Retrospective images flicker in my vision. I can remember where we portaged a decade ago, although the water is so much higher than before. My mind flicks and stalls. It jumps from the images I have as slides and tries to fill the void of vacant memories. I remember the jungle we walked on the left bank, the long portage and the camp spots; all in order.
open up. Scuttling to the bank memory returns, I have stood here before, I have looked at the jaws of this horizon only once before. We portaged then. I am running on empty now, this jungle with all its noise, will offer me shelter for the night. Silence is covered by the roar of the horizon. This roar grows and builds, again and again. An orchestra of crashing cymbals and timpani where the pulling of my wool hat over my ears cushions the sound sleep becomes me.
My body begins to weaken. It has been a long few days and my concentration is also suffering. Once deep in the flow the gorge walls begin to slowly close in. Once fully in the gorge I remember camp spots are uncomfortable at best. The left wall opens and small pockets of jungle
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It is not the natural light seeping in through the This time it is the breeze. Not the breeze of na
Darren has kayaked on extreme rivers for over 20 years and has been a m along with countless other world class rivers. Darren is the only person to returning from an audacious undertaking, to paddle the rivers of Everest o Sadly the breeze of doubt. It is still only half-light as I walk to the rivers’s edge and look onto the horizon. Where the water slips and rolls in a hydraulic maze. In this half-light I can still see the line, hug left to the undercut and gamble that the run out is clean. Too early and too dark to start paddling I lay back in my sleeping bag, breakfast and thoughts. I lay still, sipping water and conserving energy. Getting kitted and leaving the safety of the eddy. To feel the smooth carbon shaft of the paddle again, as it slices and pulls the water. Risk and chance, that what it boils down to now, that is the route.
bulbous nose into an undercut allowing the flow to take me. The water halts against the cliff, a swirl of water cushioning against the bare rock wall. It begins to hold me in a waltz. Fighting to pass around this bend, my heart does not beat the notes of fear. It is settled, I can feel it, my breath slow. No point in stress or panic now. It is a situation I brought myself in and one that I myself can solve. A choice, that is no choice at all, I have to paddle down river – to chase the waves. From left and right diagonal crashes of water explore and fade. My heavy kayak is thrown around, a flip, a roll, all in a few seconds of descent. It does not halt or stop the descent. Rapids roll and tumble, stroke and again adding more and more – not a pause or rest, just a decision to keep in the flow.
Experience should mean I can read the subtle peaks and troughs. I’ve taught them long enough. Etching an existence flowing from left to right Not now. It is a pure educated gamble. I know no caught between jungle clad gorge walls. The portage route is open. Minutes pass slowly as I mind, my own private Citadel is cast strong. It is visualise the problem, cutting out all improbable bold and anchored – solid. The gates guarded for options. The line cannot possibly hold a gaping some time. The muscles across my chest are tight siphon like that of the Dudh’s nightmare. The run after the long hours in the flow. Grey slab walls out is too horizontal, although rocks and bad are been hydraulics could easily It is a situation I brought myself in and one that I drawn back, like curtains at barricade the myself can solve. A choice, that is no choice at all, I dawn. pathway. It is a sneak nudging the kayaks
to chase the waves have to paddle down river –
e trees, that wakes me, like all the days before. ature whose wind I would welcome.
member of the GB team of athletes. He has run the raging rapids that fall from Everest and K2 o have kayaked all rivers that flow from Everest along with those that flow from K2 recently on a daring 8,848 metre descent solo – an adventure never achieved by anyone before. know that the conclusion of the expedition sought to abandon all future plans. That was a falsehood. It takes the Drawing back the breath I see raw beauty in passing of the each passed stroke, my reset button pressed on meal cart and the screaming each breath and a belly that dined on toddlers opposite to wake me.
They make way for a pavement of uneven rocks that litter the banks. No place to stop and rest.
Each fresh rapid is a new and complex problem. Where all choices are mine. I have paddled some rapids I shouldn’t have, where a safer option would have been to walk around. I have walked where the river looked like it was in the jaws of hell; only to find it flatten out. I have run hard rapids I had no choice over. I paddled faster than I ever imagined, the GPS reading 10km/h that’s about 120km some days.
majestic sunsets
Although I find that of no interest. Drawing back the breath I see raw beauty in each passed stroke, my reset button pressed on each breath and a belly that dined on majestic sunsets. The station master calls for the train doors to close. The lullaby rocking of the carriage and I drift to sleep. Homeward now – but I feel not settled. Changed – I know the fire is not going out. I
The cold cup of tea, the one I bought before slumber took hold, tastes bitter. Just one sip and a slow scanning of the carriage, then truth in all its costumes flash forward. I was back to the paddle strokes and isolation in the Himalaya. The path alone is the truth. Taking the result as the path – where once was nothing.
This was never a trip that would lend itself to a retelling. It was never going to be written as a linear encounter. It was personal and parts will remain untold. I have expected lots from the reader. Although I also would rather you decided not to read it. In the construction of language, that which is signified, the written word will always miss the point.
Darren runs http://purelandexpeditions.com.To call Darren Clarkson-King about expeditions, talks, consultancy or guiding call +44 7752234173 or email: bookings@purelandexpeditions.com ThePaddler 151
By Seth Ashworth Photo: Jessica Drujko ThePaddler 152
GIANTS RIDING
Springtim e in Otta wa/Que bec
I arrived in visit to O Canada on Mar ch tt spring h awa and I was b 1st ready for a n owever, had othe oth excited and ice early star t o n ner vous r plans! to hit up the high water sp the sprin g melt w ring. This was m y second aters as soon as I could â&#x20AC;&#x201C;
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ThePaddler 154
It was a snowy, bleak frozen waste ground Cold weather endured for most of April until all at once the water levels on the Ottawa began to spike. Mini-bus came in and went out again as quickly as an express train passing through a station, in just one day it had come in and then gone too high and washed out and like a fool I had been working and missed out – typical! Two days later and after many hurried early morning Facebook messages I had all my paddling gear on top of a car with a few others and we were on route to the ‘Ruins Wave’, close to downtown Ottawa.
Photos: Seth Ashworth and Katie Kowalski
It was a snowy, bleak frozen waste ground, more like the planet Hoth from Star Wars. Frozen water, sub-zero temperatures and waist deep snow all around was more than just a little off putting. As I layered up and complained about the cold weather I was informed that this was in fact “not that cold” and “earlier in the winter was much worse.” When we could finally start paddling it was early April, and the ice on the Ottawa still hadn’t broken enough for the fabled ‘Mini-bus’ wave to be in yet. So patiently we paddled at the Blakeney Rapids, every day knowing the weather would gradually improve, which would melt the ice and let us loose on the giant waves of our dreams!
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ThePaddler 156
entire enormity
Here I can feel the raw power and finally see it in its
Photos: Jackie Hennessy
y
the wave is located
a few hundred metres out from the shore, and as we ferried closer you can hear this giant growing in power, but we are yet to catch a full glimpse of it (It is impossible to see it from the bank where we put on). I climb out of my boat onto the island next to the wave. Here I can feel the raw power and finally see it in its entire enormity. When it comes around to my go, I fight my way back through the hundreds of seagulls which nest on this island back to my boat. I splash some water on my face and tug my mittens on a bit a tighter.
Peeling out of the eddy all other thoughts leave my mind, only lining up paddling hard, sitting forwards, paddling, paddling, paddling, BOOM, catching the wave feels like being kicked in the back by a horse. But wow is it worth it, zipping down from top to bottom with so much speed. Up and down, up and down, bouncing like a stone skimmed across
the water until I catch an edge and flush off the wave. Missing the eddy I take the long ferry and even longer walk back up the shore to car park put-in to go again. As the next six weeks continued I was treated to a similar experience at numerous other big waves around Ottawa and Quebec. None of the waves were as scary as Gladiator, which is situated halfway down the giant Coliseum rapid on the Ottawa. To ride the giant of all giants requires an enormous and exhausting ferry move, which if you do not fully committed yourself to, rewards you with a surf. Regardless of catching the wave or not, little under 100m behind it looms â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Ledgeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; a terminal hole where rescue would be impossible. Just seeing it is enough to turn even the most seasoned of boater around and send them home feeling emasculated.
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ThePaddler 158
Other spring treats Other spring treats included the ‘Big Bus’, which is Mini-bus’s big brother, a wave which has to be hiked back to every time. This beast is crashing and violent and awesome all at the same time. It is possible to be having a great ride then have the wave crash over your head with the force of a small car crash. All in all this spring was by far one of the scariest I have had for a long time, it felt like I was in constant survival mode, but what a spring. Better than anyone could have predicted because of the large volume of snow combined with cold conditions, which went well into late April. It would be tough to get such good water levels again and a tough trip to plan, but if you can be ready to drop everything at a moments notice and get yourself to Canada when its all going off, the rewards are rich indeed.
small car crash
Photo: Seth Ashworth
It is possible to be having a great ride then have the wave crash over your head with the force of a
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