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Kayak Paddler Regular Paddler Salty Paddler SUP Paddler OC Paddler The Paddler ezine . com International digital magazine for recreational paddlers The Paddler ezine . com International digital magazine for recreational paddlers Issue 16 - February 2014 Third in series by Ian Smith WW SUP creek TACTICS Kerala’s coastline and inland by SUP INDIA’S two FACES Interview with World #1 ANNABEL ANDERSON

ThePaddler 16. Feb 2014 SUP cover

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The International paddling magazine for recreational paddlers, canoeists, kayakers, stand up paddlers, rafters. Read expedition features on white water, sea kayaking, expedition kayaking, open canoeing, SUP, river running, creeking and recreational paddling. Canoeing magazine, kayaking magazine, SUP magazine, sea kayak magazine, kayak, canoe, watersports, paddles and paddling.

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  • KayakPaddlerRegularPaddler SaltyPaddler SUPPaddler OCPaddler

    ThePaddlerezine.comInternational digital magazine for recreational paddlersThePaddlerezine.comInternational digital magazine for recreational paddlersIssue 16 - February 201

    4

    Third in series by Ian SmithWW SUPcreek TACTICS

    Keralas coastline and inland by SUPINDIAStwo FACES

    Interview with World #1ANNABELANDERSON

  • Contents

    Not all contributors are professional writers and photographers, so dont be put off writing because you have no experience! ThePaddler.co.uk ezine is all about paddler to paddler dialogue: a paddlers magazine written by paddlers.Next issue is April 2014 with a deadline of submissions on March 5th.Technical Information: Contributions preferably as a Microsoft Word file with 1200-2000 words, emailed to [email protected]. Images shouldbe 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 expressedin 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, endorsethe 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.

    Photo: Will Pruett paddles under a rare snowbridge formation after a high snowfall year on the Middle Fork of the Kings River, California.Barny Young

    EditorPeter [email protected]: (01480) 465081Mob: 07411 005824www.thepaddler.co.uk

    Advertising salesAnne EganTel: (01480) [email protected]

    CoversKayak: British Columbia by Andra KrpicSUP: Kerala. Carine Camboulives by Pierre BourasSalty: Alaska by Jeff AllenOC: Drme Valley by Paul Villecourt

    Additional contributor credits: Matt Thompson, Greg Spencer, Matt Corke, Tomass Marnics, Christian McLeod, Annette Carsing, FrodeWiggen, Steve Arns, Ric Moxon, Phil Mitchell, Martyn Butler, Anthony Flatters, Nick Ball, Paul Mcdonnell,Pierre Bouras, Carine Camboulives, Rob Mazzetti, Lisa Brochetti, Lindsey Tucci, Morgan Hoesterey, PeterBenson, Paul Villecourt, Julien Gontard, Philippe Bouvat, Martin Strunge and wilderness-canoe.co.uk

  • ThePaddler 3

    Issue 16February 2014

    004 Eight of the BestThe best films from around the planet

    006 Photo of the MonthFlooded Salisbury

    008 Testing, testingnew kit reviewed by Paul hyman and Dale Mears

    014 Photo of the Year 2013The best of four categories plus overall winner

    018 CoachingDavid Rossetter on canoe poling

    022 PackraftingThe boat that can be stored in your backpack

    032 CanadaBritish Columbia whitewater by andra Krpi

    044 ReviewDragorossi 88 by Phil Carr

    050 FranceCevennes national Park by alex Kay

    060 Reviewliquid logic Remix by george harrap

    066 United KingdomKayak flounder fishing by Simon Everett

    074 Cold water safety part 3golden Rule no.4 by Moulton avery

    080 ReviewKokatat hydrus 3l Meridian drysuit by Richard Cree

    086 United Statesalaska by Jeff allen

    102 IndiaKerala coastline by Manu Bouvet

    124 The Paddlers PlanetBy Christian Wagley

    126 Interviewannabel anderson

    136 Whitewater SUPTactics for creeking by ian Smith

    146 Arctic Scandinavianorway, Sweden & Finland by Tim & Susannah gent

    162 FranceOpen Canoe Festival 2014 by greg Spencer

    I 1

    6 F

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  • ThePaddler 4

    Open Canoe Festival France

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    Mikel Sarasola Chile

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  • Whilst North Americafroze with some of thelowest temperatures ever recorded on the continent, Europewrestled with the aftermath of violent storms and floods. TheUnited Kingdom suffered its wettest recorded month of Januaryin over 100 years but it didnt stop Tim Gent from getting outand taking the opportunity to visit a flooded Salisbury with thisbeautiful shot of the cathedral. If you have an interesting paddlingshot, please email to us at [email protected]

    ThePaddler 6

    Photo of theMonth

    Copyright: Tim Gent. www.facebook.com/t.h.gent

  • Ocean Rodeo Soul Drysuithttp://oceanrodeo.comBy Paul Hymanactive360 recently had the good fortune tobe planning an SUP expedition in the SermilikFjord in East greenland (Polar Bears andPaddleboards project see September 2013issue 12). The fjord runs north to south and isfed a constant supply of icebergs calving offthe helmheim glacier at the northern end.This huge glacier transports ice from thepolar ice cap, which is never far from view.The late arrival of spring in 2013 meant moreice than usual in the fjord and on many partsof the journey we were carefully picking ourway through icebergs and lumps of ice (theremains of bergs which had broken up).

    Summer weather in East Greenland can varydramatically from a mild 10 C to less than 2 C withwind chill. The water temperature this August wasmeasured at -2.8 C, which could bring onhypothermia in a few minutes.

    On the cold days it was a great help to have kit thatwas comfortable to paddle in and fully wind andwaterproof. We decided that drysuits would beessential kit if the weather turned suddenly hostile andwatching the forecasts avidly in the weeks before weset off, we could see that some days the temperatureswere barely above freezing with winds blowing downfrom the Greenland ice cap adding to the wind chillfactor. We took a look at everything on the marketand discounted suits, which were either too heavy andnot breathable. Unlike whitewater kayakers or kitesurfers, SUP paddlers remain quite dry so the suit hasto work for full immersion but also for many hoursof dry paddling and therefore we settled on Soul one-piece suits from Ocean Rodeo (OR). Although the suitlooks like a two-piece jacket and pants quite like asnowboarding suit, it is in fact a full one-piece drysuit.OR were great to work with and shipped the suits tous in days.

    The OR suits are breathable so we could layer upunderneath and reduce layers later in the day if thewind dropped, this meant no risk of overheating after

    hours of paddling and no risk of chilling rapidly aftera swim or when taking a food break. There weredays when I wore my suit with just one thermal baselayer and others when I needed two or three. Onthe warmest days with no wind we didn't weardrysuits at all but it was comforting to know theywere with us in reserve as the weather was prone tochange rapidly and a few knots of wind made a hugedifference to the feels like temperature. The windalso created chop and thus increased the probabilityof a swim in sub-zero water.

    I found the cut comfortable for paddling, much moreso than any of the kayaking drysuits I've used over theyears. Ive since used mine on the River Thames on thecoldest days where I have demonstrated SUP rescuesetc. and recently on an early New Year kayaking tripdown to the London Eye. One thing that reallyimpresses me is how quickly I forget I'm wearing thedrysuit. The hood is also useful for warming up quickly although like most hoods it reduces peripheral vision.

    NRS ToasterMitts www.nrs.comBy Paul hymanit was cold and windyenough to test the nRSToaster Mitts, part of thepackage of equipment nRSsent us to review. i had goodexpectations of nRS havingimported some freestylekayaking shoes directly fromthem 10 years ago.

    First impression was good. Two ofus tried them and had warm hands.One of the group suffered frombad circulation (Raynaud's Disease)but still had toastie hands wearingthem. Mitts are also good for theprocess of warming up cold handsrather than just keeping themwarm I always find that when youput cold hands into gloves, they staycold for a longer time as the fingersare separated. Grip is good and itonly takes a while to get used tothe slightly clumsy feel of wearing amitt. Ive tried many mitts andgloves and found most to be quiteuseless or cumbersome. Somehave been worse than useless asthey impair your grip on thepaddle. I once discarded a pair ofexpensive whitewater gloves andpaddled bare handed to get bettergrip half way down a classic rapid inScotland in a snowstorm.

    If you want to get out in thewinter but get fed up with thepain of cold hands I recommendthem they are the warmest andmost effective Ive tried.

    Available in the UK fromwww.active360.co.uk at 37.50 +P&P

    Priced at $44.95 inthe USA

    ThePaddler 8

    Testing,

  • Its too early to tell how it will wear but the suit is wellmade and should last for years if looked after by rinsingoff salt water etc. Recommended for anyone whowants to SUP paddle right through the winter in a coldclimate (or in Arctic waters at any time of the year), orfor instructors who spend a long time on the water.

    Active360 have demo suits available in London foranyone who wants to try before investing in some topend kit and we would be happy to take you out for aThames paddle in one.Email: [email protected] in the UK from www.active360.co.uk

    ThePaddler 9

    testin

    View Ocean Rodeo video

    gThePaddler ezine test station. If youwantyourproductreviewedanditwillbeofinterestto paddlers - email us: [email protected]

  • gorillapod Focus + Ballhead Xhttp://joby.comBy Dale Mearsgorillapods have been around for years now and people havebeen enjoying the benefits of not lugging a huge tripod aroundwith them. i have been lucky enough to recently get agorillapod Focus and Ball head X combo, Jobys top specgorillapod for Pro DSlR with up to a 5kg weight limit. Whatcan i say; i wish i had owned one of these for years.

    For paddle sports especially and those river trips where theres a photoopportunity or two this is an amazing piece of kit. We have all been there,you reach a waterfall on the river, usually your hands are cold and youwant to get that top shot to show off to your mates. You havent got atripod because they are too heavy to carry or take up too much space inyour boat. Or worse there is no space to position a tripod. The GorillapodFocus is 29x9.2x9.2cm (11.4x3.6x3.6in) making it easy to store in yourkayak whether in the back of your boat or even between your legs.

    The Gorillapod has flexible wrappable legs that you can wrap around anyobject, tree branch, post, fence; you name it you can set your camera upon it! The Focus has machined aluminium sockets and high quality injection

    ThePaddler 10

    NRS waist leash www.nrs.comBy Paul hymanNext to test was the NRS waist leash. This was the best all-round leash we have tested to date with everything packingaway into a waist pack. The leash has a quick release belt so isideal for whitewater SUP. The 3.5m (138") leash also has a calfstrap for use in surf so if you are buying one for the first timethis package covers all options. A waist release is safer for riverpaddling in strong currents where there is a significant risk ofbeing pinned against overhanging trees, moorings, barges etc.

    The Thames tideway has many such hazards at certain stagesof the tide and when the river is was running fast withfloodwater. At the time of writing this review the lowerThames looks and paddles quite like a grade 3 rapid withoutrocks. In these conditions the ability to release yourself fromyour board quickly and effortlessly is important. NRS arespecialists in whitewater kayaking equipment, so are wellplaced to understand the specific needs of paddlesports instrong currents.

    This leash is very well made and therefore should last a longtime. Unlike a calf leash you completely forget you are wearingit (to the extent that I felt the need to look around and checkthat it was still there) and the waist pack can also be used tocarry keys etc.

    Also its likely to be a requirement to use one of these topaddle the Thames below Putney and recommended on theupper tidal Thames from Putney to Teddington. The new rulesare expected to come into force when a PLA working groupagrees them next month. This was set up as a result ofActive360s long campaign and discussions to get SUP acceptedas a safe sport on the Thames Tideway and to allow SUPdownstream of Putney with restrictions around tide and thelocal experience of SUP paddlers.

    Price is 43 from Active360 and other NRS retailerswww.active360.co.uk

  • moulded joints so you can rely on them rather than cheap knockoffs. Ihad a cheap version thats legs used to fall off, not good with expensivecamera gear.

    The Focus comes with rubberised feet for grip and support (you canbuy optional suction cups, wheels and spikes). As mentioned earlier theFocus will hold up to 5kgs meaning this is an ideal product for DSLR andprofessional video cameras.

    You can mount your camera straight onto the 3/8 screw thread or youcan opt for the Ballhead X too. The Ballhead X gives you that extraflexibility allowing you more movement once in place. Get your shot level,and lock into place. The Ballhead X also offers you a 360 degree panningoption ideal for filming and 90 degree tilt. You really couldnt miss a shot!

    Set up time is also quick as the Ballhead comes with a quick releaseplate, simply screw into the base of your DSLR and youre ready to go.

    Joby really have produced a range of excellent products here that willsave you time and of course prevent you from missing that shot!

    Are you drawn to the excitement of whitewater, but

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    Are you drawn to the excitement of whitewater, but

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  • lowepro Dryzone DF 20lhttp://www.lowepro.comBy Dale Mearsi have used a wide range of camera bags andaway from the water lowepro have alwaysbeen my chosen manufacturer with a greatrange of products available for all occasions.however around water i didnt have theoption until now.

    Lowepros new Dryzone range has brought theminto the water sports market with some fantasticnew products. The Dryzone 20 litre duffel, Dryzone40 litre backpack and the Dryzone 200 fullysubmergible backpack. I have been using theDryzone DF 20l for a couple of weeks now and Imreally impressed with it. It has some great features forphotographers and water sports enthusiasts who areregularly around water.

    One question that Im sure will be the first asked is thisjust another Watershed equivalent? Lowepro havegiven this duffel an IPX-6 rating and state that this bagis splash proof and submersion is not advised. Loweprohave tested the bag against high pressure water streamfrom all angles and they have proved it to be dry. I haveused mine in my kayak a couple of times, sitting itbetween my legs and would have no qualms taking it

    on the water if I knew there was no chance ofswimming. The duffel features a roll down top similar tothat of most dry bags and then clips at either side toprevent it opening. I guess the question is how muchdo you trust any roll top dry bag?

    I took it to Trent Lock on a night time surf missionwith Bren Orton and David Bain and it allowed meto get some great shots.

    The real advantage I have found over any waterproofbag/duffel is that the padded liner isnt anafterthought. Lowepro have really got this right andproduced another good quality product. Some bagswill protect your camera from bumps and knocksbut there is a lot of movement of your kit inside. Sizehas had to take a backseat as the Lowepro bag islarger than others but you know that your camera isfully protected. The bag offers a fully padded,adjustable camera case that can be removed fromthe duffel if you want to use it as a bag itself or topack. The duffel will hold a Pro DSLR with anattached 70-200mm lens according to Lowepro. Ihave been carrying my body with attached 70-300, acouple of extra lenses and two flash guns as well asother bits and bobs I like to carry. Not many bags ofthis size will let you carry this much gear.

    The duffel comes in yellow with reflective logosmaking it easy to see whatever the conditions. If youwant to carry more gear there are daisy chain loopsthat you can clip onto, I think I could clip on 16karabiners in total a number I would never surelyneed. The front of the bag features a small handy zippocket that you could keep small items in (not awaterproof pocket).

    I think this duffel is great forthose working around thewater whether on the bank orin a canoe. I see it as ideal forthose who regularly take tripsin their Canadian canoe, onthe beach with your SUP,coaching at activity centres, orthose avid walkers who wantto brave all conditions andwant more protection fortheir gear than just a splashcover. I have been reallyimpressed so far and lookforward to using this bag awhole lot more in the comingmonths. I will have it at theNational Student Rodeo foranyone wanting to come andhave a look.

    If you want something a littlemore serious check out theDryzone 200 a fullysubmergible camera backpack.

    NewPeak UKPFDswww.peakuk.com

    For 2014 Peak UK haveintroduced two new seakayaking PFDs, theadventure Vest and theExplorer Zip.

    Both these buoyancy aidsincorporate their Olympic Goldcut with figure hugging shoulderadjustments and snag freeconcealed side adjusters, givingthe paddler the best possible fitwith minimum restriction.

    Both PFDs have large frontpockets with separate radio andflare pockets, a large back pocketfor drinks bladder and removableshoulder pads with reflectivepiping and logos. Featuring theexcellent build quality that PeakUK have become renowned for,the Adventure Vest and ExplorerZip are available now. Alsoavailable is the new and improvedRiver Vest, which is a very goodoption for touring enthusiastseverywhere.

    For more information visit yournearest Peak UK dealer!

    ThePaddler 12

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    ler Photo of the Year 2013

    BEST WW PhOTO: by Matt Corke. PaDDlER: Tomass Marnics. SIBERIA, RUSSIABEST OC PhOTO: by Matt Thompson. PaDDlER: Greg Spencer. GALLOWAY, SCOTLAND

    BEST SalTy PhOTO: by Jeff Allen. CORNWALL, ENGLAND BEST SUP PhOTO: by Christian McLeod. PaDDlER: Annette Carsing. DONEGAL, IRELAND

  • ThePaddler 15

    Th

    ePadd

    ler Photo of the Year 2013

    BEST WW PhOTO: by Matt Corke. PaDDlER: Tomass Marnics. SIBERIA, RUSSIA

    BEST SUP PhOTO: by Christian McLeod. PaDDlER: Annette Carsing. DONEGAL, IRELAND

  • ThePadd

    ler Photo of the Year 2013

    BEST OVERall PhOTO: by Frode Wiggen. BERGSFJORDEN, SENJA, NORWAY

  • ThePaddler 17

  • When to polePoling in the UK often only gets covered whenpaddlers are going through the Star Awards.However, I believe that the pole can be used to addso much more to the options of paddlers looking tojourney when the conditions are not favourable forthe paddle i.e. moving upwind close to the shore,moving against flow or just when its too shallow forthe paddle. It can also give you a change of positionin the canoe so when your knees are sore its timeto stand!

    Using the PoleFirst option, which often gets overlooked is to usejust half a pole. This gives you the ability to stay inyour ideal position having considered your trim.(Figure 2)

    Getting the canoe moving you need to ensure thatthe pole is placed behind you in contact with theground. Short stabs then to propel forward.

    When using the half-pole ensure that the closed endcontacts the ground and not the open end.

    To use the whole pole it can be as simple as usingthe pole as a kayak paddle. Takes a bit of time to getthe boat moving however, it can be very effective.(Figure 3)

    ThePaddler 18

    This article is all about the traditional skills of canoe poling

    By Dave Rossetterpaddlesport instructor at Glenmore LodgeBack in September I looked at the four key areas for paddling a canoe:

    MomentumangleTrimTilt

    The focus here was to look at key areas that allow you to perform regardlessof the environment or task. In this article I want to focus in on one of thetraditional skills of the canoe poling and how these areas impact on yourperformance.

    PolingThe act of using a pole to propel the canoe. Generallypoling is moving upstream. We also use the pole todescend down shallow sections of river known assnubbing. This article will look at poling.

    TrimMoving upstream trim slightly towards the stern.Moving downstream Trim towards the bow.

    MaterialsThe choice of materials for the pole really falls intothree choices in the UK:

    Carbon Kevlar Aluminium

    My favoured choice is the aluminium ones. This is dueto them not only being the cheapest but for giving thebest performance in terms of:

    Ease of end sinking Overall stiffness Durability

    Poling

    Figure 2 Figure 3

  • ThePaddler 19

    By Dave Rossetterpaddlesport instructor at Glenmore Lodge

    Figure 2 Figure 3

  • ThePaddler 20

    StanceTwo choices for stance whenstandingFeet parallel which gives you the best position interms of stability and the ability to use both sides ofthe canoe. Ensure that the feet are at least hipwidth. You may find though that you want to getthem as wide as possible. This width really ensuresthat you can control the stability of the canoe aswell as giving you a wide base for balance. (Figure 4)

    The squared off stance allows you to steer morethrough your feet and control the angle and tilt ofthe canoe prior to pushing off the ground.

    Second position is having the feet off-set. This givesyou the ability to apply more power on the on-side,however, some paddlers feel less stable, which makesit harder to use both sides of the canoe.

    The off-set position allows you to apply weightforward and back as required to change the trim.

    While having your feet off-set you can choose howin-line and close to the side they are. The more in-line and closer to the side there is more chance ofyou being off balance. However, as everything is inline then the potential for delivering more power isthere. As with many things it is all about acompromise. (Figure 5)

    Whatever stance you choose it is important to keepthe knees soft/bent to allow you to absorb yourmovement and stay in balance. Keeping the kneessoft allows you to change your height, which in turnadds pressure to your pole which in turns providesmomentum without just using your arms.

    Holding the poleTo get the best out of your poling and allow you todeliver the most amount of power then having ahand position that allows you to get the front handoutside the gunnel is important.

    Front hand should be palm up with the pole on topof the hand. This ensures that the hand can getoutside the canoe and provides the best position fordelivering power. The lower hand should be palmdown. This will give you support when you feel offbalance as you can push off the pole.

    The hands tend to be either side of the joint on anormal 12-foot pole. They are roughly shoulderwidth apart. (Figure 6)

    Pole placementWhen pushing off the ground you need to ensurethat the pole is behind the feet with an angle ofabout 45 degrees. This will give the optimum

    position for contact with the ground and forwardpropulsion. Too low an angle and far back will resultin stooping and being off balance whilst too close toyour feet gives very little forward power.

    Top Tip: The direction of where the top of the pole is facingbefore you apply power to it is where you areheading. This control of angle will see you movingunder control.

    Gaining momentumAs previously mentioned, the first job is to sort outyour angle then provide the power. This can bedone by pressing down with the back hand and backwith the top or front hand. Combining this with aslight bending of the knees moves the canoe.

    Short stabs allows you to keep the pole in contactwith the ground for longer which prevents thecanoe going off course or having to do too muchsteering. Often polers provide too much power andwalk up the pole which means once you have usedthat power you need to control/correct it. Thisleads to the environment taking over be it wind orcurrent.

    Using these short stabs means that your hands dontneed to move along the pole, which will help withgaining speed.

    There will be a time when walking up the pole withthe hands will be appropriate such as going upledges. However, for the most part, I find that myhands stay fairly static on the pole.

    Figure 4

    Figure 5

  • Time topracticeThe next time you are out on flatsheltered water then have a shot. Practice using the half-pole in

    close to shore and push yourselfalong

    Stand up and use it as a kayakpaddle

    Stand up and push off theground and experiment withcontrolling angle before moving

    Then move onto either same skillsmoving upwind or: On a short section of easy

    moving water, try using the half-pole to ascend against themoving water

    On that same section stand anduse the pole.

    Then as your skill and confidenceincreases you can push theenvironment. Your last challenge isto use the knowledge gainedmoving against the flow is to tryand snub down river. This is allabout control/trim and controllingyour angle by keeping the speeddown.

    Good luck and dont leave homewithout your POLE!

    Dave is the full time paddlesportinstructor at Glenmore Lodge Scotlands National OutdoorTraining Centre. He has beeninvolved in the development ofthe new awards and providesexpert advice throughout theindustry on all things to do with

    coaching, safety, leadership and personal paddling. Heis passionate about all things paddling and specialisesin white water kayak and open canoe where he willmost often be found. He is supported in his paddlingadventures and coaching by Pyranha Kayaks, MadRiver Canoes and Palm Equipment.http://www.glenmorelodge.org.uk/http://www.pyranha.com/http://www.palmequipmenteurope.com/http://www.madrivercanoe.co.uk/

    ThePaddler 21

    Figure 4 Figure 6

    Figure 5

    Short stabs allows you to keep the polein contact with the ground for longerwhich prevents the canoe going offcourse or having to do too much steering

  • ThePaddler 22

    PaCK

    Imagine a small, robust raft thatunrolls from your backpack and

    inflates with the help of thebreeze. Agile enough to throwat all the white water you dare,

    you can just as easily accesswilderness areas where

    transporting or portaginghardshells is a drag. Fly overseasfully equipped without blowingyour baggage allowance, or just

    cycle to the water then stowyour bike on the bow for the

    ride back. Its all possible with apackraft: a portable but durableminiraft that offers a whole new

    way of enjoying the water.

    As Roman Dial, author ofPackrafting! An Introduction andHow-to Guide puts it: a packraftencourages amphibious travel.

    above: A quiet spell in remote Meghalaya, farnortheastern India: Meghalaya felt like class IV

    rapids with class V consequences. Luc Mehl

    Breaking through the misconceptions

  • ThePaddler 23

    PaCK

    By Chris Scott

    Breaking through the misconceptions

  • ThePaddler 24

    Cle

    arly

    whe

    n sp

    eare

    d, d

    ragg

    ed o

    ver c

    lam b

    eds

    or a

    ttack

    ed b

    y a

    grizz

    ly its

    less

    rob

    ustt

    han

    a ha

    rdsh

    ell c

    reek

    boa

    t

    A week on the Ardche Gorge and the Chassezac. All easily paddled with the Eurostar

  • ThePaddler 25

    Like any inflatable, a packraft bounces ratherthan slam into rocks, but clearly when speared,dragged over clam beds or attacked by a grizzlyits less robust than a hardshell creek boat. Andout to sea it wont cut through the waves like aslick sea kayak longer than your car. A packraftsunique benefits come in what you cant easily do

    with hardshells: take the bus to your local riverand hitch or walk back; traverse the wild cornersof the Scottish Highlands, trekking cross countryover loch and river. Opportunities are onlylimited by your imagination: the Amazon,outback Alaska, obscure African waterways allhave been packrafted. A couple of years ago wehopped into a tiny Cessna to explore the croc-infested Fitzroy River in northern Australia (seeissue 3 of ThePaddler ezine click here).Everything we needed: boats, a weeks food andgear, fitted in regular backpacks and luckily theywere the right sorts of crocs.

    isnt new, but in the 80s enterprising Alaskanadventure racers moved things forward. As with somuch outdoor gear these days, the advent oflighter, tougher and cheaper materials has creatednew forms of recreation and adventure travel.

    A packraft is made from a woven base fabriccoated in urethane. Once fully inflated, thisfabrics finite stretchability translates into a firm

    vessel that transforms paddling efficiency andresponse. Yes, a squeezed-from-a-tube pool toy(see box) will also float, but so does a knottedbin bag. Its this containment of high pressures,allied with sophisticated hull forms that producea boat you can take to far flung places, load upand set off with confidence.

    The lightest packraft made by Supai weighs 700gand rolls up smaller than a pair of jeans,Feathercraft make tough, self-bailing packrafts,just like full-sized Zambezi rafts. Alpackaproduce over half a dozen models weighing twoto three kilos. Add a spray deck for Class IV, or anairtight zip to store your gear inside the inflatedhull for added stability.

    The idea of portable rafts

    Far left: Alpacka Yak alongside a670-gram Supai. A quarter of the Yaksweight and volume but only suited toflatwater crossings.

    left: All the kit for a remote weekout bush in northwestern Australia.

  • Canoeable rivers and lakes offer no obstacles to apackrafting novice. And while more stable, thesame limitations of waves and more especiallywind, make a relatively slow packraft ill suited toa three-week tour of the Western Isles. Flatwatercruising speed is about 3mph, or whatever atailwind or current allows.

    Gear is the same as regular kayaking. I use thesame paddles, PFDs and dry bags as for my IKs. Ifyou use narrower hardshells and are short, youmay want a longer paddle of say 215-220cm to getaround a packrafts relatively high and wide sides.

    Shallow zig-zagsSat at the back of a buoyant raft not much longerthan you are tall, paddling will induce a left-rightyawing motion at the bow, something oftenconfused with tracking. A packraft with trackstraight across the water, but until youvemastered the knack itll do so in a series ofshallow zig-zags. A pack across the bow reducesyawing, but in a packraft youre not going to beimitating Donald Campbell streaking acrossConiston Water.

    ThePaddler 26

    gear andtechniques

  • ThePaddler 27

    The other tendency packrafts have is flippingbackwards or bandersnatching at the base ofsteep, sloping chutes. As the nose ploughs in andrebounds, water hammers down on the stern andover you go. As in a kayak, lunge forward as youlaunch and be ready with a brace. The elongatedstern of post-2011 Alpackas greatly reducedbandersnatching and had the added effect ofreducing yawing too.

    Other than that, youll enjoy a packrafts ability toflip through 180 with just a quick draw, as wellas the stability and low centre of gravity. Withthigh straps added, you can roll a packraft, thoughsome think the risk of entrapment makes straps abad idea. On the bright side, a 3-kilo miniraftthats as buoyant as a cork tends to skim overnasty hydraulics rather than get buried by them.

    Intrigued? Then check out some of the resourcesbelow.

    Resourcesalpacka Rafts Handmade in Colorado, the best range of packraftsapaddleinmypack Chris Scotts packrafting blogFeathercraft Baylee River Runner Feathercrafts rugged white water packraftPackrafting Store Only EU outlet selling Alpackas and Supai, plus all the gear. packrafting.blogspot.com Alaska-based author and adventurer, Roman Dial

    Far left: Shooting Sluice Weir chute on the River Medway.

    left: Bikerafting in Scotland. Bring the shuttle with you.

    Supai on a chilly day below Ben M

    ore Coigach, N

    W Scotland.

  • SlackraftsAlthough it looks similar, a packraft differsexponentially from the PVC beach toys you canbuy for 20 quid at holiday resorts. The cheapestpackraft will cost ten or 20 times that, but pumpsup firm, paddles efficiently and wont be burst by asharp noise. PVC is a stretchy plastic film that cantbecome taught like nylon or polyester fabric.

    Furthermore, these over wide slackrafts as I callthem, are actually designed for backward-facingrowing facing a flat stern while sat at a buoyant,rounded bow. Try kayak paddling forward andyoure either pushing that flat stern like a half-sunk pallet, or youre sat in the less buoyant stern,yawing dizzyingly at 1.3 mph.

    But slackrafts are a cheap way of sampling thepackraft experience. Ive done multi-day trips withmates in slackrafts and on all occasions theyveended up detesting or destroying them. Usuallyboth. But at least they got out there.

    ThePaddler 28

    A

    20 In

    tex

    slack

    raft

    along

    side

    a 6

    00 A

    lpac

    ka Ya

    k

    Rolling up at Saint Martin dArdeche

    Luc Mehl drops off theCascadas Micos in

    Mexico. Plenty more atthingstolucat.com

    Todd Tumolo

  • To advertise email: [email protected] or call +44 (0)1480 465081 ThePaddler 29

    Packrafts and equipment for amphibious travel

    Retail I Rentals I WorkshopAlpacka, Supai and Anfibo

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    Canoe to go.From 60 | 50 per weekend

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    Packrafts and equipment for amphibious travel

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    Packrafts and equipment for amphibious travel

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    The invisible boatWeight: 2.5 kg | 5.5 lbs

  • KayakPaddler032 Canada

    British Columbia whitewater byAndra Krpi

    044 ReviewDragorossi 88 by Phil Carr

    050 FranceCevennes National Park by Alex Kay

    060 ReviewLiquid Logic Remix by George Harrap

    066 United KingdomKayak flounder fishing by SimonEverett

    ThePaddler 30

  • To advertise email: [email protected] or call +44 (0)1480 465081 ThePaddler 31

    Displacement hull withjust enough edge

    Fastest hull in its class(won Teva Freeride WorldChamps 2012)

    Variable hull thicknessso it weights only 19Kg

    303L volume but itfeels like about 250L

    No holes drilledaround the cockpit

    Front and rear buoyancyretention pillars so foamcannot slip out

    Closed cell foam seat= a warm bum and noprivate puddle

    Bomberplastic

    New boats and Demo boats available at:CIWW, Tees & Sues Canoes.

    Free airbags

    2 year warranty on the hull

    2 year warranty on the outfitting

    Smaller version also now available (called the Veloc)Bigger version too(the Director)

    C1 outfitting

    now available

    Zet Raptor: Still the fastest, toughest, lightest,most responsive creekboat around

    Displacement hull withjust enough edge

    Fastest hull in its class(won Teva Freeride WorldChamps 2012)

    Variable hull thicknessso it weights only 19Kg

    303L volume but itfeels like about 250L

    No holes drilledaround the cockpit

    Front and rear buoyancyretention pillars so foamcannot slip out

    Closed cell foam seat= a warm bum and noprivate puddle

    Bomberplastic

    New boats and Demo boats available at:CIWW, Tees & Sues Canoes.

    Free airbags

    2 year warranty on the hull

    2 year warranty on the outfitting

    Smaller version also now available (called the Veloc)Bigger version too(the Director)

    C1 outfitting

    now available

    Zet Raptor: Still the fastest, toughest, lightest,most responsive creekboat around

    Displacement hull withjust enough edge

    Fastest hull in its class(won Teva Freeride WorldChamps 2012)

    Variable hull thicknessso it weights only 19Kg

    303L volume but itfeels like about 250L

    No holes drilledaround the cockpit

    Front and rear buoyancyretention pillars so foamcannot slip out

    Closed cell foam seat= a warm bum and noprivate puddle

    Bomberplastic

    New boats and Demo boats available at:CIWW, Tees & Sues Canoes.

    Free airbags

    2 year warranty on the hull

    2 year warranty on the outfitting

    Smaller version also now available (called the Veloc)Bigger version too(the Director)

    C1 outfitting

    now available

    Zet Raptor: Still the fastest, toughest, lightest,most responsive creekboat around

  • ThePaddler 32

    My encounters with the small hydro dams.

    POWER

  • Calling the European Alps my homeleft me stunned by the amount ofunpopulated nature and free-flowingrivers in British Columbia. Europeankayakers can only imagine how muchof our good white-water has beenlost to the dams. Yes, I know I useelectrical power every day and Imaware that theres a need tocompromise in contemporaryworld, but who can blame me forloving the untouched nature? BC stillhas plenty of it and I feel serenity andamazement every time I find myselffar away from anything reminding meof human civilization, except formaybe an old deserted logging road,which often tends to present theonly access to the rivers here.

    ThePaddler 33

    OWERBy Andra KrpiPhotos byJordan Bastin

  • While big dams im

    pacts are quite evide

    nt, from

    big populations of p

    eople having to be r

    elocated,

    huge changes to the

    environment and ev

    en

    effects on climate, th

    ere seems to be muc

    h less

    general public conce

    rn regarding small d

    ams and

    diversions. Why sho

    uld we care about a

    small

    creek in a middle of

    nowhere, right?

    Hydro dams and dive

    rsions do not fit bes

    t into

    the wild environme

    nt and they tend to m

    ake

    river sections unrunn

    able for kayakers. Th

    ose are

    good enough reason

    s to have me opposin

    g them,

    but they arent the o

    nly cons there are. J

    ust from

    environmental poin

    t of view, small dam

    s also

    fiercely affect fragile

    river ecosystems an

    d can

    have devastating eff

    ects on fish populat

    ions.

    Most of them being

    hidden from our sigh

    t of

    view doesnt change

    that fact.

    Just around Squami

    sh there have been t

    wo recent

    Incidents involving

    fish dying because h

    ydro

    companies didnt le

    ave enough water in

    river

    channels. It is also n

    otable, that many of

    these

    projects produce mo

    st of their power at a

    time of

    spring run-off, time

    when there is no sho

    rtage of

    power generated by

    existing facilities. Fin

    ding a

    right balance betwee

    n satisfying power n

    eeds

    while trying not to le

    ave major ecologica

    l impact

    is challenging enoug

    h, but there are som

    e deeper

    concerns involved w

    ith the trends of hyd

    ro

    power plant develop

    ment, not only in B

    C, but

    anywhere in the wo

    rld.

    ThePaddler 34

    Small dams also fiercely

    affect fragile

    river ecosystems and ca

    n have

    devastating effects

    on fish populations

  • So lets go back to a

    beautiful July morn

    ing, when a few

    kayaker buddies and

    myself decided to g

    o run a small

    creek named Skooku

    m, located just a few

    kilometres

    outside of Squamish

    . We knew that not t

    oo long ago

    Run of River Power i

    nc., a private compa

    ny, started

    building a diversion

    dam far above the c

    lassic kayaking

    section of this very s

    mall creek.

    Having experience w

    ith European constru

    ction workers

    and security procedu

    res involving such p

    rojects I

    expected being reject

    ed before even askin

    g about letting

    us kayak the section

    , on what would pro

    bably be a last

    attempt before they

    dam it. Instead very

    nice workers

    welcomed us, who w

    ere all trying to help

    us get to the

    river. I remember on

    e of them saying, w

    e are locals too

    and we are trying to

    work in the best inte

    rest of land

    and our community.

    At the end we didnt

    get to kayak, becaus

    e we couldnt

    find a put-in, after t

    he landscape has bee

    n changed so

    much by constructio

    n work, that we coul

    dnt match it

    to the old river desc

    riptions. It was my o

    nly day off for

    a while so sadly we

    didnt make it back

    before the water

    level dropped too m

    uch.

    Interesting is a story

    of Ashlu creek. Inne

    rgex is a

    private company th

    at owns the controve

    rsial Ashlu

    diversion. After stro

    ng opposition from

    a local kayak

    community, a comp

    romise agreement h

    as been made,

    which granted kayak

    ers flow release date

    s. At the end

    kayakers were left wi

    th even more days o

    f runnable

    water levels than be

    fore. It seems that a

    great battle has

    been won and a cas

    e example set for be

    tter relations

    between kayakers an

    d any energy corpor

    ation.

    ThePaddler 35

    Small dams also fiercely

    affect fragile

    river ecosystems and ca

    n have

    devastating effects

    on fish populations

    There are some deepe

    r concernsinvolved

    with the trends of hydr

    o power

    plant development,

    not only in BC, but any

    where in the world.

  • ThePaddler 36

    British Columbia

    Canada

  • ThePaddler 37

  • almost seems like we should applaud these corporations fortheir concerns for the local communities andkayakers, but who especially needs applaudingare their PR departments. This situationinherently reminds me of how philanthropicfinancial institutions, like Rockefeller foundationsince the 19th century, supportedanthropological researches to better understandand communicate with indigenous people infaraway lands. Of course the agenda there was toavoid any resistance and to optimize conditionsof exploitation of these lands.

    After asking what do local communities, localenvironment and society in general gain withthese interventions in nature, it is clear thatsomething smells fishy. According toHydropower Reform Coalition on a case ofWashington State, about twice as much electricitycould be made just by improving efficiency ofexisting dams, then as building new dams onpotentially exploitable rivers. Energycorporations major argument pro building theseis also providing jobs to locals. The fact is thatmost of workers on these projects arent locals

    it and the jobs are available only for a time ofconstruction. I believe that local communitiescan lose a lot more in the long term by scarringtheir beautiful untouched nature and making itless attractive for tourism.

    Do locals get cheaper power after construction isdone? Why do we all believe hydropower is greenpower? Who is making profit here? If energycorporations are making profit, they are makingit by selling power to faraway lands (because BChas enough power in time of spring run-off andthats the time when most excess energy isproduced by small hydro dams) and nobodybut they themselves seem to be making profit ofit. Learning all that makes it clear that somebodydid a really good job in educating locals,fishermen, environmentalists and us kayakersthat in fact we are scoring a good deal.

    Should we really let ourselves be silenced forgetting some treats? The big question is wheredoes this trend lead? If private financial entitiescan buy rights to exploit land, water, oil andother resources almost anywhere, where does itend? Maybe run-of-river projects arent as highprofile today. But imagine the world decadesfrom now. Who knows what can happen?

    ThePaddler 38

    Should we really let ourselves be silenced for getting some treats?

    The big question is wheredoes this trend lead?

  • Should we really let ourselves be silenced for getting some treats?

    The big question is wheredoes this trend lead?

  • northern countries have plenty of water now, but the climate is changing and the glaciersare melting fast. What does privatization of water sources lead to intimes when water cant be taken for granted anymore?Im happy to see there is more and more concern and awareness aboutthis issue. I love a short educational video Hydro Power Reform haspublished on the internet: Small Hydro Power. There has also been anoticeable revolt from the local kayaking community in the SoutheastBC, though it has been largely limited to the rivers that are often usedfor recreational purposes. Cheers especially to the efforts of Steve Arns,Ric Moxon and other local kayakers for their swift and strongopposition to Innergexs consideration of diverting one of southeastern BCs most kayaked and overall most impressive runs aroundthe Callaghan creek.

    If they can divert a river with such importance to us, kayakers will be shown to have

    no realpower at all

    ThePaddler 40

    Cheers, especiallyto the efforts ofSteve Arns, RicMoxon and otherlocal kayakers.

  • ThePaddler 41

    Cheers, especiallyto the efforts ofSteve Arns, RicMoxon and otherlocal kayakers.

  • ThePaddler 42If they can divert a river withsuch importance to us, kayakerswill be shown to have no realpower at all. Join a Facebook page Save the Callaghan andeducate yourself to help with the cause. TheCallaghan race saw the most competitors in itsfour-year history so far. Fifty-two competitorsshowed up, not just to compete, but also toshow tribute to this amazing creek and helpsupport the efforts to leave this creek freeflowing. We cant do much if we are few, butthese numbers and the efforts of some peopleleave space for optimism. And so do efforts ofespecially first nations and some localcommunities who have to live with negativeeffects of exploitation, while theyre obviouslynot the ones getting richer. Even though itseems like fighting with mills, we owe it to ourchildren and our planet to fight the fight.

    Join a Facebook page

    Save the Callaghan

    Andra Krpic - A taste of Washington and BC kayaking 2013

  • ThePaddler 44

    DRAGOROSSI

  • ThePaddler 45

    The Dragorossi 88 is the newest creek boat fromthe Italian kayak company. On first seeing the 88 Iwas quite impressed with its overall looks itsimply looks right! So I was very excited to get theboat on onto a number of local grade 4 rivers.

    Paddler: Phil Mitchell. Photos: Martyn Butler

    DRAGOROSSI

    By Phil Carr

  • ThePaddler 46

    Over the courseof just over a month I tried the 88on a range of different rivers, artificialwhitewater courses and even out inthe surf.

    So did the first impressions matchhow it performed?When I first sat in the boat on water it felt good.Initial impressions were that it was a good sizecreek boat without being huge and was stablewhen edged and turned tightly. The back deckdid feel quite high, as I was able to lean back justa little and rest my back against it. I tried acouple of rolls on the flat water to see whether ornot this would prove to be an issue and foundthat it wasnt at all. So putting that thought tobed I tried the boat on a little warm up set up Iuse that interlinks a number of left and righteddies on my local piece of whitewater.

    The hull has a good turn of speed and can bedriven in/out of eddies with ease. It picks upspeed well and holds it. These initial impressionswere confirmed when I took the boat furtherdown river and in to a bigger piece of whitewater.

    The 88 like most other creekers isnt made to be aplay machine but I did find that the 88 sits wellon a wave and was stable whilst side surfing in anumber of friendly stoppers. On finding a lessthan friendly stopper I found that the 88 waseasy to roll, and easily able to pick up enoughspeed to escape the clutches of the stopper!

    The 88 feels very stable, it sits well in the waterand really instils a sense of security. The volumeis well distributed giving the kayak a balancedfeel. The hull has a nice gentle rocker and doesntseem to present any nasty surprises, even whenon the roughest of water. The 88 is very easy toboof and to land. The hull shape works reallywell on the landing to help dissipate the forcesaway from the paddler. This makes the 88 idealfor both river running and creeking and puts itinto direct competition with the Dagger Mambaor Zet Raptor.

    The hull has a nice gentle rocker and doesnt seem to present any nasty surprises, even when on the

    roughest of water

  • ThePaddler 47

    Over the course

    What Dragorossi sayIts the new Dragropes creek boat, ideal alsofor river running. Its very fast and precise inthe manoeuvres; great habitability also forheavy paddlers.

    Al the outfitting system is completely newwith new seat, footrest, backrest and kneebraces all fully adjustable.

    It comes standard with hip pads, seat pad,drain plug, four carry handles, one metal bar,front and back foam wall+PE, slot for PeliCaseor WaterShread drybag. The 88 is the ultimateextreme creeker.

    Specs:Length: 259 cmWidth: 65,5 cmVolume: 315 litresWeight: 20 kg

  • outfitting of a boat very carefully as it is this that canoften ruin the feel of a boat. The outfitting in the 88is solid. It isnt revolutionary it just works. It alsomeans there is very little that could go wrong anddoesnt add a great deal of weight to the boat.Overall I like it and it functioned pretty well. Thebackrest isnt the most comfortable I have used but itis easy to adjust thanks to the ratchet system. A pieceof plastic helps keep the backband rigid and aids it tostay in place. The plastic both looks and feels like itmay be the same plastic used in the boat.

    The seat padding although on the face of it looksvery basic does work well and I had no issues withslipping around in the seat or any feeling of coldnessbeing transferred through. The hip pads can beplaced exactly where you need them with the help ofthe strap/Velcro system. Shims can also be added tohelp customize the fit.

    Safety wise the 88 is fitted with a total of four grabhandles. One is located at the bow, another at thestern and the remaining two just behind the cockpit.They feel comfortable with a good solid feel. There isalso a broach bar on the front deck, which is bigenough to clip a karabiner into. A good full platefootrest system is provided, which has a good rangeof adjustment to accommodate paddlers of differentheights. A couple of thumb screws hold the footrestbars in place and are easy to remove/re-install.

    Just in front of the seat is a large storage area that isperfect for even the largest of throw line or even aPelicase as demonstrated by my Peli 1120, whichslotted in nicely. I would suspect that even largersized Pelicases would fit without obstructing thepaddler. Two quick release straps are situated in thesame area so that kit can be secured within the boat.

    At approximately 20kg, the 88 is pretty lightcompared to most of other creek boats on themarket. However, I did find the edges on the inner ofthe cockpit on this particular boat quite sharp. Icertainly felt this on a long walk in during the firstweek I had the boat. A quick rub with some fine sandpaper should solve this in little to no time.

    in conclusionOver all the Dragorossi 88 is a fine boat that sits in aquite overcrowded market and could be overlooked.I would say that if you are looking for a river runnerwith creek potential or a creek boat that is also goodat river running then the 88 is definitely worthlooking at. It is a stable boat that can be pushed andalways managed to deliver a smile.

    ThePaddler 48

    Im always keen on looking at the

    Just in front of the seat is a large storage area that is perfect for even the largest of throwline or even a Pelicase asdemonstrated by my Peli 1120, which

    slotted in nicely

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  • ThePaddler 50ThePaddler 50

  • ThePaddler 51

    Springin the south of

    Boating season in theCevennes National Park.

    For two months during the spring of 2013, I was working as amaintenance assistant and making use of the spring water levelson the fantastic rivers of the Cevennes. With the national parkonly an hours drive away from where we were based it was onlyfair that we spent the majority of weekends loading up the van insearch of some classic runs...

    It is believed that Julius Caesar gave the name Cevennes whileconquering Gaul. Gaul was a region of western Europe during theIron Age and Roman era, encompassing present day France,Luxembourg and Belgium, most of Switzerland, northern Italy, aswell as the parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the westbank of the Rhine. Whilst crossing the Cevennes mountain rangehe saw seven courses spring forth; the Allier, Lot, Tarn, Gardon,Hrault, Ceze, and the Ardche. The General baptised it theMountains of the Seven Veins (seven rivers) from which came thedeformed name of Cevennes.

    France

    By Alex Kay

  • For our first trip our route went via Aubenas, along the N102, to a quaint, petite village called Astet, and the Haute Ardche (upper Ardche) catchment.

    ThePaddler 52

    The section we chose was only a few kilometres long butoffered impressive granite slides and drops, and a boater-xstyle run. With the evident paddling conditions we were morethan happy to be jumping out for a quick warm-up run back tothe top!

    Losing daylight, energy and the feeling to our fingertips, wereluctantly packed up and headed home, impatiently waitingfor our next adventure

    Taking our usual journey north towards the central Cevennes,this time we headed towards the village of Florac and the RiverMimente. We got there nice and early having only stopped forbare essentials... Pain au Choc of course.

    Located in the heart of a large basin of rivers, the Mimente isone of the hidden gems of the Cevennes, its beauty not visiblefrom the road. An intimate section lay before us. Brokensimply into three parts, the first a grade 3 gorge with one grade5 drop, the middle being easy going and the final part offeringcontinuous grade 4 contained within a steep sided gorge.

    The initial gorge was absolutely stunning luscious greenforests either side of a crystal clear flow, its perfection onlydisturbed by the darkening of clouds above. Entry was grantedby passing through a decrepit stonewall, beaten down by theriver. No turning back we were in it for the long haul. Doubledares, triple dares and I bet you cants enabled us to performthe most hilarious warm ups covering easier ground. Slowinground the final corner of the first gorge we eddied out,anticipating the grade 5 drop.

    We took the time to thoroughly inspect and weigh up ouroptions. The only line was river left, running over a veryshallow lip. The possibility of grounding out, losing speed anddropping sideways was quite high and with a deep undercut,limited bank support and dirty towback, we concluded this arecipe for disaster. We chose wisely to portage acknowledgingfurther fun to be had downstream.

    Our assumptions werecorrect and the final gorgeproduced rapids thick andfast. By now the darkclouds had caught us upand walls engulfed us. Bareskeletons swayed belowtowering cliffs as weskipped between theboulders. Before we knewit the steep sides hadfallen, replaced with brickwalls of the road beside us.Our get out was in sight;we had survived to paddleanother day!

    Hau

    te A

    rdc

    he

    Hau

    te A

    rdc

    he

  • ThePaddler 53

    The initial gorge was absolutely stunning

    luscious green forests

    either side of a crystal clear flow

  • ThePaddler 54

    Time flies when yourehaving fun. The final3km was swiftlycompleted and withsmiles on our faces wereached the take out.

    Make sure to take outat Nicoulaud bridge onthe D573 or else youllhave to paddle an extra4km down to theBarrage de Roujanel.

    I was Borne ready!Another day another river. Kit bags and boats were heaved into the back of the van andwith the foot on the gas we sped along towards La Borne,without doubt one of the most beautiful rivers of theCevennes.

    The Borne, located in the northern Cevennes, is not the mostdifficult river in the area but one of the most isolated and itsrecommended that a spare paddle is taken for this trip. Boating inthe Cevennes in spring and autumn, you will find that La Borneholds its water a little longer than the other rivers in the area.

    With the past weeks rain and snow melt from Mt. Tanargue, wehad our hopes set high for another great days boating. Theweather was looking bleak and the rain still had some time topass, but either way we were gonna be getting wet!

    The drive there was in itself worth the day out. The guidebooktold us that the landscape was extremely wild and shuttles willfeel like they are in the middle of nowhere. As we journeyedalong the D4 to Saint Laurent Les Bains the scenery wasbreathtaking. Stopping only to take some snaps, we drove highup into the mountains before descending to a remote campsiteand our put in.

    Our chosen section was la moyenne (the middle), given a gradeof 3-4. With high water levels we were intrigued to see what thissection had to offer, and whether it would fit the grade!

    The first couple of kilometres flow between thick woodland onboth sides. About 200m after the put-in we realised the effectsthat the high water levels had inflicted, avoiding debris andstrainers tucking and weaving down the first easy rapids. Weboosted quickly down the first 4km, in the mixture of it allwith closely spaced class 4 rapids all-runnable on sight.

    Beyond the debris ridden first half the ground steepened andthe view of the road slowly faded out of sight. The width of theriver was undecided from here-on, squeezing closer togetherbetween wide pools, producing horizon line after horizon lineand the most superb rapids.

    Sara

    sin B

    ridge

    Hau

    te A

    rdc

    he

  • ThePaddler 55

    Time flies when youre having fun.The final 3km was swiftlycompleted and with smiles on ourfaces we reached the take out.

  • ThePaddler 56

    of our maintenance season was spent havinga cracking time on one of the most notoriousrivers in the Cevennes. Only to mention itsname gets the heart of any creek boaterpumping. Its upper section holds some of thegnarliest runs in the area needing carefullychosen lines and balls the size of coconuts.We departed early, hoping to catch theprevious nights rainfall.

    The Tarn, situated in and being the maincatchment of the central Cevennes is a classicand a must-run if in the area when its in. Themiddle section being the most commonlypaddled, holds some exceptional class 4 rapidsbeautifully placed between large pools.Inspection of some of the more serious rapids,like the ex-portage at Cocures, isrecommended. A dirt track off the D998 fromLa Pontese Bridge makes for easy scouting. Oneof the more famous rapids; Machine a Laver(or Washing Machine) can be viewed from thebank, an easy walk down from the D998.

    We put in afew kilometresabove Cocures.The first rapidsprovided uswith a gentlewarm-upbefore therhythmincreased inthe last thirdof the section.

    The first major rapid we encountered was LeVelodrome, river wide it offered many differentlines down a large limestone shelf, the mainline being a fantastic rock slide. Here we areexhausting the numerous lines Le Velodromehad to offer.

    A few 100m downstream was the washingmachine, able to make any paddler put up afight. The hole at the bottom was extremelyretentive and my main line run went less

    Moy

    enne

    Tar

    n

    The final weekend

  • ThePaddler 57

    elegantly than I had hoped for! It isdefinitely worth setting safety river righthere as this hole is famously sticky.

    The ex-portage at Cocures lay just aroundthe next few corners, marked by theappearance of a old battered cabin on theleft bank. After inspection we decided torun it together. The first half was a bit of alabyrinth between large boulders, withnumerous pin potentials. The second wasa steep drop, hiding an undercut on riverright. Running the first right and thesecond left we cruised on down.

    Five hundred metres later we reached thetake-out at La Pontese Bridge. From here-on our Cevennes adventures were overand our weekends a thing of the past. TheCevennes was drying up and summer wason its way. I was to spend the next fourmonths guiding on the Ardche River andmaking new trips and new friends in thesouthern French Alps.

  • ThePaddler 58

    OCF 2013

    By Greg SpencerIf approached over the ruggedly alpineParc Naturel Rgional du Vercors, andthrough the short tunnel at Col deRousset, Paul Villecourts belovedDrme valley offers one of the moststunning vistas in all of France. Leavingbehind the Alpine Forest (legendarybastion of the French Resistance), wefind towering walls of limestonebasking in the Mediterranean sun, anda vertiginous drop down to the gentlyrolling southern foothills which stretchaway, seemingly endlessly, intoProvence.

    To read further visit:

    http://joom.ag/gdqX/p58

    The Strait ofBonifacio

    By David Truzzi-FranconiAn open canoe adventure, wildcamping in Corsica, crossing the Straitof Bonifacio and coasting Sardinia andback.

    After driving 800-miles across Francethroughout the night in relays, fuelledby coffee and sour jelly snakes, wefinally spilled out onto the pavementinto the already stifling heat of the oldport of Marseille. We were ravenous,thirsty and in bad need of a shave!

    To read further visit:

    http://joom.ag/F48X/p8

    French Flag Wallpaper by GaryckArntzen

  • By George Harrap

    ThePaddler 60

    Re mixRe mix

  • ThePaddler 61

    By George Harrap

    Re mixRe mixLIQUID LOGICThe best boat youve probably

    never considered

  • ThePaddler 62ht

    tp://

    liqui

    dlog

    icka

    yaks

    .com

    Browsing thelatest paddlingmagazine, whether online or in print, its great to see such arange of kit available to the current whitewatercrowd. There arent many bad boats on the market,with choice being mainly a combination of yourability, style and aspirations; as well as preference inoutfitting. While the Burn III, Mamba, Raptor andStomper dominate demo requests and Internetdiscussion, others are slipping under the radar.

    I can appreciate the lack of questions on thesuitability of a Nomad; if your paddling requiressuch a hardcore creeker you probably dont needthe approval of a keyboard warrior. The Remix, byLiquid Logic, doesnt fit such an extreme nichethough, so why isnt it on more peoples shortlist?The likely answer is the misconception that theboat is too long and has insufficient rocker.

    While I wouldnt claim its going to replace your Jefeas the perfect steep creeker, for the majority of UKpaddlers on grade 2-4 this isnt necessarily a badthing. In fact, a quick unscientific tally of boats in acertain glossy international magazine showed morepro paddlers using the Remix than any other model.This is mirrored in our own market, with groups ofhappy Remix paddlers in most UK whitewaterhotspots, yet seemingly missing the mainstream.

    a river runner for the massesIt is surprising given it wasnt designed for the elite.Instead LL enlisted regional coaches to create ariver runner for the masses, incorporating the fastcarving character of an old school long boat. Theresult is a truly excellent shell and should appeal toall, independent of ability. It prompted one forumuser to comment every time I paddle a Remix Iwonder why I havent actually bought one. Withcomments such as this, as well as glowing reviews,it must be frustrating for Liquid Logics distributor,System X Europe, that there arent more of thesefantastic boats on our rivers.

    The current downfall of the Remix is a reflectionon UK paddling as a whole, where relatively lowvolume runs are driving a movement for short,highly rockered boats. Examples such as theJackson Hero or Pyranha Nano provide paddlerswith playboat like manoeuvrability combined withforgiving volume, allowing paddlers to make quickadjustments and push their limits on our tight andtwisting rivers. Im sure this is driven, at least inpart, by the mass of GoPro footage now available

    online, eliminating the fear of the unknown andthus tempting us onto increasingly difficult waterwhen levels are low.

    While such boats offer advantages in theseconditions, it isnt such good news as the rivers rise.While the short waterline offers easy turning, theboats tend to be slow and have poor tracking, beingeasily pushed around by the flow. In contrast, theRemix isnt a story of instant gratification. Its overalllength and flatter profile combine to create a longwaterline in constant contact with the flow, resultingin fantastic tracking at the expense of easy turning.

    Forget your misconceptionsSome might grumble about the lack of a definededge and its fair to say the Remixs softer semidisplacement hull differs from popular riverrunning designs like the Mamba, where carving isachieved through an aggressive edge on a planninghull. However, forget your misconceptions abouthow your boat should look; embrace the Remixand youll be rewarded with a fantastically fun andforgiving boat.

    While primary stability isnt as good as a pureplaning hull design, youre safe to edge the boathard without fear of passing a pivot point as can bethe case with more aggressive edged designs. Forthose not looking to recreate an E.G. lean on yourlocal drop this might not seem such an importanttrait, yet it also makes the Remix incredibly easy toroll. Club paddlers take note!

    SpeedThe one thing Ive yet to mention is speed. Forthose in the know this will seem strange, as youwould expect it to be top of the list during a wordassociation game about the Remix. Anyonewatching the likes of the Whitewater Grand Prixor Moriston River Race will be well aware of theboats race pedigree. I was keen, however, not topitch the boat as a one trick pony and while speedis an attractive feature to the modern river runner,its not the be all and end all.

    The speed comes from the boats length, narrowwidth and flat rocker, which also makes it a slightlywetter ride than your true creeker, with the nosebeing slightly more difficult to lift over features. Youwont care most of the time though, crashingthrough waves and holes at speed! Most importantis the fact its stable while submerged, so youll besure to resurface predictably and still on line.Theres no doubt that such characteristics arefantastic when river running and thus ideal for thegrade 2-4 most UK paddlers enjoy on a weekend.They will also reward your efforts if you managethe annual pilgrimage to the likes of the French orAustrian Alps, where bigger volume classic riverrunning allow the boat to really come into its own.

    Paddler George Harrap, Photo by Anthony Flatters

  • ThePaddler 63

    Liquid Logic saysThe world works in cyclical ways andwhitewater kayaks have progressed tons overthe last several years. Change in the sport hastaken us to unimaginable places and we havebeen proud to be driving that change. Thatsaid, as boats have become shorter, afundamental concept is in danger of being lost.With the help of dozens of instructors, wedesigned the new Remix series to carve, toglide and to provide beginners, intermediatesand experts with that age old rush that comeswith speed. Perfect for novices and instructorsexcited about rolling and proper eddy turns,big water junkies wanting to safely push theirlimits or experienced racers looking to cash-in, the Remix is a new concept altogether thatcombines the clear advantages of a relativelynarrow and longer hull platform with modernchine placement to create an unrivaledcomfortable, stable and responsive package.Were not talking about a dud here thats toolong to turn or too wide to edge. Weretalking about a boat that travels smoothly andeasily over the water and, thanks to extrawidth at the ends, provides reassuring stability.Were talking about a boat that carves like aski when put on edge, stays on the surfacewhen running drops, has a fast hull forcatching waves that others just cant catch,rolls easily and inspires confidence. Like anupdated classic tune with its new, funky,progressive backbeat, the Remix blends thesoul of the past with the technology ofpresent in a vision for the future.

    SPECiFiCaTiOnS 69:Length: 8' 8" 264 cmWidth: 25.5" 65 cmWeight: 44 lbs 20 kgCockpit Length: 34" 86 cmCockpit Width: 20" 51 cmPaddler Weight: 130-240 lbs 59-109 kgVolume: 69 gal 261 L

  • ThePaddler 64

    start of the lower Oetz for instance and youll appreciate thespeed, tracking and stability of your new best friend. To take thisargument to the extreme you only have to look to expeditionson the mighty Stikine, surely the test piece of extreme kayaking.While footage has been sparse until this season, its alwayslittered with the large Remix, as was the Congo expeditionwhere Steve Fisher used the large version rather than anythinghis sponsors had to offer.

    While marketed as a river runner and certainly most at home inthis environment, its certainly capable of handling steeper waterwith an adjustment to your technique. Expect to roll towards adefined lip with no speed and haul out a snappy boof and youllbe disappointed. If thats your style then stick to the Jefe. Maintainspeed and use a long sweeping stroke with good torso rotation,however, and itll be dry lines and smiles all round. The beauty oftaking a Remix onto steeper water is that once youve perfectedkeeping the nose up, the boat accelerates out of the froth likenothing else, where traditional highly rockered boats would sitdown and kill the speed on landing.

    Whether youll be taking it on your local canoe club trainingground, the steep ditches of Snowdonia or an internationaladventure, Id encourage a demo from any of the great UK shopson a familiar run. Definitely play with the outfitting and trim, asyou should with any potential new purchase. It makes a massivedifference in the Remix given the low volume scooped tail, whichis more prone to changing characteristics based on seat position.The boat comes in four sizes, including one designed specificallyfor kids, so combined with the fantastic Liquid Logic Bad Assoutfitting theres literally no reason why you shouldnt give one ago. Im hoping to see many more of this extremely underratedwhitewater kayak on UK rivers, as well as the guidebook!

    Ferry out towards the bridge at thePaddler Nick Ball,

    Photo by Paul Mcdonnell

    Paddler George Harrap, Photo by Anthony Flatters

  • Ferry out towards the bridge at the

    Tel: 01753 655455 Email: [email protected] R A P I D K A Y A K S

  • ThePaddler 66

    Flounder fishing in aid of

    Heroes on the Water UKSimon Everett reports on this annual event, which drawscompetitors to Poole, in Dorset, from all over the country.

    Team HOW with their bag of eight flounders which put them all on the prize table

  • ThePaddler 67

    Flounder fishing in aid of

    Heroes on the Water UK

  • The Flounder competition was a landmark occasion for heroes On the Water because

    it was the first time they had a

    competition entrant

    ThePaddler 68

    October. He has done the training HOW provideand can self rescue happily. The Floundercompetition was a landmark occasion for HeroesOn the Water because it was the first time theyhad a competition entrant, the first time TeamHOW fished a competition and it was the firstsaltwater outing for a service user. The pressurewas on!

    The mass launch was at 09.30, after breakfastfrom the volunteers at the catering tent, withfishing going on until 14.30 to give fishing overthe most productive time between the two highwaters Poole Harbour has a strange tidal flowin that they get a bounce at high water, the tidefloods then there is a short period of the tidegoing out for about an hour, then the tide comes

    took place in December and it always gets agood turn out from kayak anglers up and downthe country who come to have the chance tocatch a decent flounder and support aworthwhile charity at the same time. This yearthe event was raising funds for Heroes On thewater UK who are a registered charity thatprovide wounded, disabled and traumatisedpeople with proven therapy in the form ofkayak fishing sessions.

    The combination of self-propelled travel, waterand fishing provides an equal opportunity for allinvolved. It has been proven to work where otherforms of therapy have failed over the seven yearsit has been running in America. The UK chapteris making a big difference to our own veterans,and other people injured in the course of publicservice. For the first time HOW fielded acompetitor in the competition and a team entry.

    Martin Payne is from Plymouth and was a RoyalMarine until he felt the full force of an IED inAfghanistan. He has only been fishing sinceAugust and kayak fishing with HOW since

    The 4th Poole kayak fishing flounder competition

    Paul Fennel and Martin Payne from Heroes On the Water at themeasuring table

    Martin netting his first ever flounder, on his first sea trip and firstcompetition. Well done chap!

    As the tide advanced the 28 competitors gathered with their kayaks ready for the mass launch

  • in again until the proper high water. We had aplan to fish a shallow bank that has a ragwormbed on it.

    When we got there many other entrants had thesame idea, but there was room for Martin todrop his anchor and cast over the extensive wormbed. Others caught a couple of flounders aroundus, but we werent getting so much as a bite. Itwas time to move and we headed over to a spotwhere I caught the winning fish last year.

    Our tactics were a little different to the others, wewere fishing very light and fine with a few orangeand yellow buoyant beads to lift the bunch ofragworms out of reach of crabs and allow themto sway in the tide. On ultra light tackle even thehumble flounder has a chance to show itssporting qualities and the fine presentation is anadvantage. We used the Dragonfly fish finder tolocate a small channel between two banks thatthe flounders use as a corridor. We anchored in

    ThePaddler 69

    shallow water about 20 yards from the channeland cast our baits to just over the edge of thebank. Within minutes the rods were rattling. Paulwas first in with a decent fish and we were off themark. Martin acquitted himself well, he hadseveral bites but missed them, and then helanded his first flounder! What a momentousfish that was, his first sea fish, his first flounderand it was the first fish in competition by a HOWparticipant.

    Many of the flounders caught were released to provide sport forother anglers. Adam Cain letting go his sixth place fish

    As the tide advanced the 28 competitors gathered with their kayaks ready for the mass launch

    heroes On the Water website: www.heroesonthewater-uk.org

    Follow Facebook page: HeroesOnTheWaterUK

    Twitter: HOW_UK

  • A message came over the VHF that there was just30-minutes left to the weigh-in time. We paddledback to find out how we had done. Of the 28entrants, 12 had caught fish with a few catchingmore than one, but it was the longest fish to win.The top spot went to Scott Ward with a fish of446mm, out of interest it was weighed at 2lb5oz, a good fish indeed. Second place wasawarded to Ben Chapman with a flounder435mm long. Ian Dizzyfish Harris has fishedthis event for the previous three years withoutcatching a fish, this year he caught three with thebest, a flounder of 423mm, giving him thirdplace. Team HOW did the best of the kayakfishing teams with eight flounders between us,Martins fish of 332mm was good enough for 9thplace, Paul was 7th with 376 and I was just 1mmbehind Ian with 422mm.

    The event raised over 200 for Heroes On theWater and Poole bay Small Boat Angling Clubpresented a further cheque for 500 fromdonations from their members. Heartfelt thanksmust go to Hobie for sponsoring the catering andprizes plus Wessex Tackle and Guns for otherprizes. Heroes On the Water is a totally voluntarycharity with all proceeds going directly to fundingthe kayak fishing sessions, if you or your club arehaving a fund raising event, or you could hold one,consider donating to them. They make a hugedifference to the lives of people who have alreadygiven so much.

    ThePaddler 70

    Ian Dizzyfish Harris with his brace of flounders. After three yearsof blanks he took third spot

    The winner, Scott Ward with his fabulous Daiwa prizes

    Father and son,Adrian Saunders

    and FinlayMayman-

    Saunders enjoysome quality, andsuccessful, fishing

    time together

  • SaltyPaddler074 Cold water safety part 3

    Golden Rule No.4 by Moulton Avery

    080 ReviewKokatat Hydrus 3L Meridian drysuit byRichard Cree

    086 United StatesAlaska by Jeff Allen

    ThePaddler 72

  • To advertise email: [email protected] or call +44 (0)1480 465081 ThePaddler 73

  • ThePaddler 74

    This is the third in a four-part series on coldwater safety by Moulton Avery an expert

    on heat and cold stress who gave his first public lecture on hypothermia in 1974. He wasexecutive director of the Center for Environmental Physiology in Washington, DC for 10years and is the founder and director of the National Center for Cold Water Safety. ForgOlDEn RUlES 1 and 2, click here gOlDEn RUlE 4, click here

    By Moulton AveryThEgOlDEn RUlESOF COlD WaTER SaFETy

  • On January 15th, 2011,a very experienced andskilled whitewaterpaddler by the name ofIan Walsh drownedwhile paddling theOgwen River in Wales,UK. The UK RiversGuidebook describesthe Ogwen as a true

    classic Grade 4 trip, one best undertaken athigh water after a heavy rain.

    Walsh was paddling with his long-timekayaking friend Phil Davidson and both menwere familiar with the river and lookingforward to making the five-mile run. Forprotection, they were equipped with helmets,drysuits and PFDs.

    Davidson reported capsizing and rolling upseveral times during the descent. Walsh doubtlesswould have done the same except for a smallbut ultimately critical oversight: the zipper on hisdrysuit wasnt properly closed. Thats preciselythe kind of problem that swim-testing isdesigned to reveal.

    What is swim-testing?Swim-testing is like a pilots preflight inspection a last minute safety-check to make sure thatyour thermal protection is working properly andthat youre wearing enough to keep you warm.Swim-testing is also is a great way to develop anexpert feel for exactly how much gear you needto wear at different water temperatures.

    ThePaddler 75

    Swim-testyour geareverytime yougo out4#

    This is the third in a four-part series on coldwater safety by Moulton Avery an expert

    on heat and cold stress who gave his first public lecture on hypothermia in 1974. He wasexecutive director of the Center for Environmental Physiology in Washington, DC for 10years and is the founder and director of the National Center for Cold Water Safety. ForgOlDEn RUlES 1 and 2, click here gOlDEn RUlE 4, click here

    By Moulton AveryThEgOlDEn RUlESOF COlD WaTER SaFETy

  • Valuable things that you candiscover via swim-testingThe following mistakes really do happen.Sometimes theyre amusing, sometimes theyremerely unpleasant, but every once in a while,they can be fatal.

    Your drysuit has a torn gasket. You forgot to close the relief zipper on yourdrysuit.

    You forgot to properly close the main zipperon your drysuit.

    You should have paid more attention to theinstructions on how to seal your two-piecedrysuit.

    All by itself, your drysuit provides about asmuch insulation as a shower curtain and youneed to find some nice warm stuff to wearunderneath it.

    The gear youre wearing on this particularouting is totally inadequate to keep youwarm in the water.

    You didnt burp your drysuit enough, so youfeel like a blimp in the water.

    You burped your drysuit way too much andsquashed all that fluffy pile insulation downto the thickness of a penny and now itdoesnt feel warm any more.

    ThePaddler 76

    How to swim-test: Put on your thermal protection, get in the water, and splash around. Sit, float, tread water, or swim whatever works best for you. Try holding your nose to see how it feels to get your head dunked. How long you stay in the water is up to you its your gear that youre

    testing.

  • More valuable things you can learn You were sadly mistaken when you thoughtthat a paddling jacket was the same thing asa drytop.

    Your neoprene gloves or the wrist seals onyour drysuit are a wee bit too snug. Theyreduce the flow of warm blood to your hands which