ThePaddler 17. April 2014 SUP cover

ThePaddlerezine.comInternational digital magazine for recreational paddlersThePaddlerezine.comInternational digital magazine for recreational paddlersIssue 17 - April 201

4

KayakPaddlerRegularPaddler SaltyPaddler SUPPaddler CanoePaddler

Through central Africa WILDLIFESUP ODDYSEY

Interview with VANINAWALSH

Dragorossi 88 and Liquid Logic RemixKAYAKCOACHING

ThePaddlerezine.comInternational digital magazine for recreational paddlersThePaddlerezine.comInternational digital magazine for recreational paddlersIssue 17 - April 201

4

KayakPaddlerRegularPaddler SaltyPaddler SUPPaddler CanoePaddler

Through central Africa WILDLIFESUP ODYSSEY

Interview with VANINAWALSH

The big Tamur River by Stan RickettsNEPALWW RAFTING

Contents

Not all contributors are professional writers and photographers, so dont be put off writing because you have no experience! ThePaddler ezine is all about paddler to paddler dialogue: a paddlers magazine written by paddlers. Nextissue is June 2014 with a deadline of submissions on May 5th.Technical Information: Contributions preferably as a Microsoft Word le with 1200-2000 words, emailed to [email protected]. Images should be hi-resolution and emailed with the Word le 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 thismagazine 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 thecompany, 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.

The 15th century Chteau de Chenonceau, Loire Valley, France.Photo: Paul Villecourt

EditorPeter [email protected]: (01480) 465081Mob: 07411 005824www.thepaddlerezine.com

Advertising salesAnne EganTel: (01480) [email protected]

CoversKayak: River Zambezi by Mat DumoulinSUP: Vanina Walsh by Ben ThouardSalty: Greenland by Sren TellingOC: Elba island by David Truzzi-Franconi

Additional contributor credits: Phil Carr, Richard Cree, Dale Mears, Jan Carol Phillips, Cuan Coetzee , P.Y. Photographic, David Pierron, Gael Kernin, Nick Troutman, Leslie Alsheimer, Jim Walsh, Philipp Klement, Simon King and Steve Seinet-Martin

ThePaddler 3

Issue 17April 2014

004 Eight of the BestThe best films from around the planet

006 Rivers under attackLinks to petition sites to halt the damming of rivers

008 Photo of the monthFrom the National Student Rodeo

010 Testing, testingTons of new kit reviewed and tested

020 Buying your second boat firstScott Edwards advice on buying your first kayak

026 Nepal raftingStan Ricketts blasts down the Tamur River

042 CoachingWW paddling skills by Dave Rossetter

046 UK National Student RodeoBy Nathan Ellis

054 MexicoMichoacn expedition by Seth Ashworth

068 ZambiaZambezi River paradise by Mat Dumoulin

086 InterviewDr Jessie Stone

098 Central AfricaAlex Sergisons SUP odyssey across central Africa

114 The Paddlers PlanetBy Christian Wagley

116 InterviewVanina Walsh

128 NorwayA year in Senja by Frode and Wivian Wiggen

144 GreenlandNortheast Greenland by Sren Telling

154 Cold water safety part 4Golden Rule No.5 by Moulton Avery

160 ItalyBeach hopping Elba Island by David Truzzi-Franconi

ThePaddler 4

Kevin CallanCanada

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Sebastian VilarioIndia So

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Neptun Kajakk AS Norway

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Jared MeehanSiberia, Russia

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Serrasolses BrothersBritish Columbia, Canada

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ThePaddler 6

Zambezi RiverZimbabwe and Zambia

Hid

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Pro

ject

Baker and Pascua RiversChile Be

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onte

Dam

Xingu RiverBrazil

The

Isim

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River NileUganda

Save

the T

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ple!

Tapajos RiverBrazil

Ret

urn

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iver

Jessica Plumb Washington state, United StatesBa

ram

Dam

Sarawak RiverMalaysia

Ilisu

Dam

Tigris RiverTurkey

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amUnder attack and time to fight back!On every continent, the planets river systems are under threat from dams andhydro schemes, which are seen as quick fixes for countries energy shortfalls. Heresa collection of dam/hydro projects that will kill not only the river but thesurrounding ecological system in tandem plus a few success stories:)

As paddlers, we have a vested interest in ensuring the worlds arteries remain freefrom these clogging dangers, so please sign the petitions to help the cause.

White water

Sea kayaking

Open canoeing

Surf kayakingWe are Scotland's National Outdoor Training Centre located in the heart of Cairngorms National Park. Learn, develop or qualify in an adventure sport of your choice. Our goal is to inspire adventure by teaching beginners, coaching intermediate/advanced and delivering training and assessment courses for leaders and instructors.

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retawteihW penO

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eu

National StudentRodeo 2014

ThePaddler 8

Photo of theMonth

Photo: Phil Carr. www.unsponsored.co.uk l

Palm FXr PFDwww.palmequipmenteurope.comBy Phil CarrThe FX PFD from Palm Equipment hasbeen around in one form or another foryears and has been one of Palms top sellersthroughout its lifetime. In 2013 Palm tookthe FX and totally overhauled its fit and thematerial used.

The new FX has been such a success that it seemedto make sense to move things up a gear and developa rescue vest using the same platform. Palm have doneexactly this and have released the FXr in early 2014.

I have used the FX for almost a year for playboatduties and have used a Palm Extrem River Vest whilstout in my creek boat of river runner. The FX is asuperb bit of kit and I was intrigued to see how theFXr would measure up against both the FX andExtrem PFDs.

In many respects the FXr is just the same as the FX.The majority of the features have remained thesame. However, some improvements have beenmade in a number of key areas. The easiest change to

spot between the FX and FXr is the addition ofPalms rescue belt. This is the same system used onPalms entire rescue PFDs and includes a metal O-ring for clipping in to. The belt is threaded throughthe fabric of the PFD, which gives the PFD a reallynice and clean look. Both the metal O-ring andrescue belt can be easily removed.

The FXr like the FX is a slab design that is put onover the head. The slab is a much better fit than onthe previous FX model, as it has been shaped tocontour with your torso. A better fit is a safer fit. Inaddition the low profile design of the FXr allows forgreat range of movement. Adjustment to all of thestraps is simple and straightforward. The waistband/belt is coated with a rubber material (3d antiride up), which helps to keep the PFD in place.

The fabrics used are pretty heavy duty 500D Cordura,the same as used in the more expensive Extrem RiverVest and match in colour to those used in the dry toprange. The FXr is available in Sherbet (a bright orangewith contrasting blue zips/stitching) and Aqua (a brightblue with lime green zips/stitching). Nice little toucheslike the contrasting stitching and reflective piping reallymakes the FXr stand out.

Peaks Pants www.peakuk.comPeak UK has two newwaterproof pants in therange for 2014.

The Tourlite/Multisport Pants areconstructed from tough x2.5ripstop fabric with reinforcementsin all the right places. The flatelastic and shockcord waist andneoprene/Velcro ankle seals makethese pants ideal not only forkayaking and open boating, butalso for other activities such aswalking and biking, saving youmoney and space in your luggage!

The new Semi Pants are madeout of Peaks eco-friendly recycledpolyester and feature an Aquaoutwaist seal with double Aquaoutouter/Superstretch neo coneinner ankle seals. The Semi Pantsare ideal for most scenarios andcomplement perfectly Peaks newSemi Jacket.

The Tourlite/Multisport and SemiPants are both available now andretail at 89 and 115respectively.

ThePaddler 10

Testing,

w

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

www.nswatersports.com

01642 520234in association with www.nswatersports.com 01642 520234

The front pocket is huge and is easily accessed via alarge zip. Inside is a useful clip in point, D ring and smallmesh panel for keys etc. The zip is easy to spot as it is ina contrasting colour to the rest of the PFD. The pocketand the foam slab sit low on your body, which againgives great levels of movement for paddling and dare, Isay it, makes swimming pretty easy.

In addition to the main pocket is a small knife pocket.This is located above the main pocket and runshorizontally at the top of the foam slab. The pocket iseasy to find/access and is fastened shut with a press-stud. I have tried a couple of folding knives in thispocket and have found that it works well.

Palm have made a really good looking and highlyfunctional PFD with the FXr. It has taken the FX, whichis a superb PFD to a new level. Palm has a PFD that Ithink will be a huge success with a wide range ofpaddlers who will love the fit and comfort of the PFD.Creekers and river runners will like the robust fabricsand addition of the rescue belt. You have therefore aPFD that can be used equally as well in a number ofdifferent scenarios. The only negative I have spotted isthe odd fact that Palm may have inadvertently createda lower cost PFD that is actually better in manyrespects that the Amp PFD.

Features include: Low profile foam panels. Slimline front pocket with inner compartment, key

ring clip. 3D anti ride-up waistbelt. Easy Glide strap adjustment throughout. Continuous loop failsafe shoulder straps with

strap keeper pockets. Reflective detail on shoulders, front and rear panels.

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Testing, testin

View Palm FXr video

gThePaddler ezine test station. If youwantyourproductreviewedanditwillbeofinterestto paddlers - email us: [email protected] front pocket is huge and is easily accessed via alarge zip. Inside is a useful clip in point, D ring and smallmesh panel for keys etc. The zip is easy to spot as it is ina contrasting colour to the rest of the PFD. The pocketand the foam slab sit low on your body, which againgives great levels of movement for paddling and dare, Isay it, makes swimming pretty easy.In addition to the main pocket is a small knife pocket.This is located above the main pocket and runshorizontally at the top of the foam slab. The pocket iseasy to find/access and is fastened shut with a press-stud. I have tried a couple of folding knives in thispocket and have found that it works well.





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Testing, testin

View Palm FXr video

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



Biolite stovehttp://www.biolitestove.comBy Richard Cree

I first saw Biolite stoves a couple of years ago, I wasinterested, although not enough to purchase with anprice of 150.00, I felt it was a lot of money for yetanother stove! Move on six months with 20% discount Ithought, I need one! The stove I am reviewing I have beenusing for 18 months or so, and the grill attachment forthe last six months. I paid for them both!

The Biolite stove is a genius piece of camping equipment; it takeswhat is usually a fairly inefficient dirty process and makes it cleanand efficient. It uses thermoelectric technology turning heat in toelectric, this electric in turn powers a fan aiding the combustionmaking the fire more efficient, the remainder of electricity that ismade can be used to charge small portable appliances for examplemobile phone, satnav etc.

The stove burns very hot boiling a litre of water in a very shortperiod of time, not much slower than my Primus multifuel. Afterfour hours of burn time the ash produced could be held in the

palm of your hand. It will burn almost anything; I found it to be mostefficient using small dry sticks and a small piece of firelighter to get itstarted!

We often camp using a tipi, previously we would carry a large firebox that burns although hot, very inefficiently it creates lots ofsmoke and uses a huge amount of fuel, the Biolite stove haschanged this, we now for almost the same heat burn a fraction ofthe wood without the smoke damage!

The addition of the grill makes it possible to BBQ, feeding the fire isstill as easy, just flip open the lid and drop your sticks in. The grill hasbeen designed so the heat output is zoned, one side being ideal forcooking the other for keeping food warm or much slower cooking,the grill isnt huge but big enough for four burgers.

The stove comes in a handy carry bag to keep it all together andsave your other kit from the inevitable soot, the grill comes with avery handy lid tat covers the cooking area so limiting the need towash it.

To summarize the Biolite stove and grill will never replace myPrimus multifuel, however, I am using it more and more. Its a greatpiece of kit and with the ability to charge my equipment, makes it anecessity on extended wilderness trips.

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Testing, testin

View Palm FXr video




FXr

One PFD

to do it all

The comfort and simplicity of the

FX freestyle PFD, fi tted out with a

rescue harness, extra fl oatation and

a knife pocket, making the most

versatile unisex PFD ever.

Removable chest harness Cowtail park Easy access knife pocket Failsafe shoulder straps Relective details





FXr

One PFD

to do it all





versatile unisex PFD ever.

Removable chest harness Cowtail park Easy access knife pocket Failsafe shoulder straps Relective details

Palm Ion Bib dry trouserswww.palmequipmenteurope.comBy Dale MearsI bought myself a pair of Palms new Ion Bib dry trousers last year ready for the coldwinter months. Now in their second season these dry trousers have had some serioususe. I love them!

The Ion Bib is the new version of the Sidewinder Bib; great fitting, tough wearing dry trousers for alloccasions. Mine have mostly been used in Nottinghams floodwaters and bearing that in mind I went forthe Saffron colour. I have been through muddy fields, waded through dirty Trent floodwater and when notpaddling, sat on the bank with a camera and they still are in pretty good nick.

The fit of these dry trousers is excellent. Im 511 medium waist (34) and have a medium in the Ion Bib.The legs are an excellent length and they dont ride up too high; they bag slightly over river boots, whichis how I prefer to wear them. The ankles feature a Velcro adjustment if you prefer them tight to yourankle, a feature I have never used. The Ion bib has the advantage of the waterproof socks, which are quitelarge I wear a size 9-10 shoe and there is plenty of room. That said the socks are flexible enough to foldup/move any unwanted sock without bulking up in your boots.

The dry trousers themselves are made of a three-layer fabric, which gives the trousers plenty of strengthand protection for your limbs. The seat and knees are re-enforced due to these being the areas wherewear would normally occur either in your kayak or on the bank.

Of course what you all want to know is how do I take a pee right? These trousers do come with aFlexible TiZip MasterSeal front relief zip in the necessary location, also quite handy if you want to let a bitof air in. The waist is extremely comfortable and not too bulky when combined with the Atom cag(obviously any dry cag will also link up with these trousers). The waist is stretchy neoprene with Velcroadjustment also featuring a twin waist making it excellent if using as a two-piece immersion suit. I prefer touse a two-piece over a dry suit, as it is easier to replace one part.

The Ion Bib come in two colours of Saffron and Jet Grey I own both, they are that good. The neopreneupper body adds a lot of warmth and the webbed braces do not get in the way whilst paddling.

All in all a great dry trouser for any paddler wanting to stay warm, dry and comfortable on the water.

Aprs the hotrecovery drinkwww.apresrecovery.comBy Richard CreeWhen Im not filling my spare timewith kayaking, I spend it training forIronman triathlons.

When doing longerdistance training daysthe fourth discipline isnutrition you have toeat to fuel your body ifyou dont you crumbleand stop. At the end youneed to eat to recover, oragain you crumble andstop! Bad recovery canresult in lost training days!

I first discovered Aprs Hot RecoveryDrink at a cycling event, and it got methinking, how many calories do you burnafter a big day on the water 3 to 4,000?Whats the difference between a big dayskayaking and a cycle race? In your bodysopinion very little. Glycogen has beendepleted, muscles are tired and sore,youre dehydrated and you need torecover. I spoke to Aprs and discoveredsurfers, runners, cyclists and anybodydoing anything that your body needs torecover from already use the drink!

The science behind Aprs Hot Chocolateis based on the 3:1 carbohydrate toprotein content along with naturalflavourings of quality organic cocoa andantioxidants of malted barley. It containsvitamins, electrolytes and L glutamine.

Studies have shown that there are up tothree times more antioxidants in a servingof cocoa than in green tea and twice thatof red wine. Malted barley has antioxidantproperties and has been shown to aidcirculation and reduce cholesterol. Lacticacid build up is like a rust, whichantioxidants help to remove, which is whyAprs has been fortified with antioxidantvitamins as well as B vitamins forcardiovascular health.

Aprs is available in 2kg pouches (59.99)for using at home and in smaller handysachets (1.99) for taking on your multi-day trips! I think it tastes great, isnt toosweet and does you plenty of good. Whywouldnt you have a cup at the end of adays paddling?

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Testing, testin

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Valke Outdoors successfully launched SylvanSports flagshipcamping trailer, the GO described by National Geographic asthe coolest camper ever at this years Caravan and CampingShow.

The SylvanSports GO is one of the most unique camping and travel traileryoull find, designed from the frame up to be a one-of-a-kind mobileadventure trailer thats possibly more versatile than a Swiss Army knife. Thisproduct is now available for the first time in the UK, exclusively through ValkeOutdoors.

Beyond its surface, no design element has been left untouched. The GO is amultifunctional camping trailer designed, engineered and built to give years of funand adventure.

A fully loaded SylvanSport GO includes: SylvanSport mobile adventure trailer and tent system. Bed/table panels - allows up to six different interior configurations. Four self-inflating mattresses a GO sleeps up to four, comfortably, on a king-

and-a-half sized bed. Awning kit adds 80sq. ft. of extra outdoor living space.

For kayakers and canoeists, the GO is a great shuttle vehicle. It will hold twokayaks underneath when in its fully closed, transport mode and you can stack asmany on top as your imagination will allow. Not only can you haul multiple kayaksanywhere you want, but with the GO, you can camp in a spacious, comfortableenvironment when you get there, offering an all-in-one base camp where youcan eat, plan, socialize and sleep in comfort.

With an easy, tool-free removal, the GO can be converted into an open-toppedutility trailer capable of turning your car into a pickup truck for day to day use.The GO offers a tough, durable platform for transporting anything from buildingmaterials, to refrigerators.

For more information about the SylvanSport GO, visit www.campingtrailer.co.uk,email [email protected] or call 0844 381 9255.

SylvanSport GO www.valke.co.uk

Astral Rassler shoes http://www.astraldesigns.comBy Phil CarrFinding a good shoe or boot that is robust enough for long walkins/outs, offers good levels of protection/support and iscomfortable to wear all day, is pretty tough. Thankfully a numberof big players have begun to expand the range of shoes available.For the last couple of years I have been using a pair of Five TenWater Tennies and really like them. But I also have a set of AstralBrewers, which are great in my playboat. The Brewers dry muchfaster that the Water Tennies but dont have the same level ofprotection or stiffness as the Five Tens.The Rassler is Astrals newest boot takes the Brewer and beefsit up for tougher walk ins/outs.

The Astral shoes come with Five Tens Stealth sole. Stealthrubber is superb and has a good balance between grip andlength of service. I have it on the Five Tens I wear both on andoff the water. The soles can also be easily replaced using a DIYkit available from Five Ten or can be done for you at one of FiveTens approved shoe repairer centres.

The Rasslers have good grip on wet grass and green concrete androcks, The grip is excellent which Id expect from the Five Tensole. They are definitely a bit stiffer than the Brewers and they feelas if they are made from tough Cordura fabric. A mesh tongueprovides a level of breathability and aids in the drying process.

The also drain really well with holes mid way along the sides anda larger hole at the heel. When I climbed pack in my boat Ididnt bring in a pile of water from the shoes.

A nice touch is the fact that the pull on loops at the heel willalso accept a regular sized karabiner. So hooking up to dry usingthe kit you normally carry on a river is very useful. I wouldntdemand such a feature as standard but its a great idea.

The Rasslers have a good compromise between support andbulk. The fit is pretty good for me although I did find the notchin the ankle cuff to be a little strange when I first put them onand I can feel it whilst walking but once sat in the boat it makesperfect sense. I can quite happily wear them within by playboatwithout much in the way of discomfort.

A car park poll found that most but not all of the paddlers likedthe black and striking lime green colour scheme. I personallylove it. Ive been using the Rasslers for around six months andhave been really pleased with the way they have held up.

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The FULLrange ofEsquifboats nowin stock

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40tude curing colon cancer is invitingparticipants to join its 26-mile endurance SUPcharity challenge on Saturday 14th June on theRiver Thames in aid of colon cancer.

The challenge starts at Shepperton finishes at Putneyand the course will combine tidal and non-tidalsections of the river passing through three locksand under 14 bridges while taking in some of theRivers most picturesque sights includingHampton Court, Syon House, Kew Gardens, HamHouse and Richmond Hill.

Our event safety standards require that all participantsmust have completed a minimum of three hourscoached training on the Thames prior to completingthe 40tude London SUP Marathon and there will beplenty of opportunities to join Active360training/practice sessions throughout the Spring aswell as to hire boards.

All fundraising, sponsorship and any profitsgenerated from the event will be channelled, via40tude curing colon cancer, to the St. MarksHospital Foundation and from there into 40tudesponsored projects. We fully recognise that somepeople are more able to raise sponsorship than

others for all sorts of reasons, and we will help everyone whotakes part to set up a 40tude charity giving page and providelots of encouragement to raise funds for this important cause without putting anyone under pressure

40tude curing colon cancer is an organisation that has beenestablished to fight the second biggest cancer killer in theWestern world. In the UK alone, there are over 40,000 new casesof colon cancer each year, and over 16,000 deaths. The goodnews, however, is that colon cancer is one of the easiest cancersto treat if it is detected early.

Daniel Clark-Basten will be kayaking 1,700miles solo down the River Danube - a 46day journey to raise 20,000 for his localhospice.

Dan will be setting off on the 7th July fromUlm, Germany and will be coveringapproximately 40 miles a day until hereaches the Black Sea, Romania. Having losthis mum to cancer and knowing friends whohave it, he decided to raise money andawareness for the hospice.

Most people are unaware of the amazingsupport and care that hospices offer atno cost to the patients or their families.Everyone knows someone who has orhad this terrible disease and if each readerdonates 1 then Dan will hit his target.

Follow Dan on his website at:www.onemankayak.com where you canalso donate, blog, Facebook him, or justbrowse. Dan needs further equipmentincluding a buoyancy aid, spare paddles,gloves and a cagoule so if you feel youcan be of help please get in touch.

Photo: Dan receives his kayak from Peterat the Whitewater Canoe Centre inShepperton.

40tude launches 2014 London SUPcharity marathon

Entry feeThe entry fee @195 (or 160 if

you own yourown

paddleboard,paddle and

buoyancy aid)includes all the

event costsincluding loan of

paddleboards,paddles and

buoyancy aids, anevent T-shirt,

qualifiedinstructors, full

marshalling, safetyboats, first aid

assistance, licencefees, transport of

equipment,snacks and

energy drinks,breakfast, lunchand party in theevening on the

riverbank inPutney (excluding

drinks).

To find out more about the ChallengeVisit http://www.40tude.org.uk/Events.html where you candownload further information. To take part, please contact:[email protected] for all the registration details.

20,000 River DanubeChallenge

20,000 River DanubeChallenge

ThePaddler

Buyyour secondboat first By Scott Edwards

20

Normal size cockpitwith thigh braces and

backband

Photos: Jan Carol Phillips

Cockpit cover

Hull rockerand chine

As I have watched and participated inthe growth of ThePaddler ezine, I havebeen taken on a virtual trip aroundthe globe and seen some of the finestkayaking going on. It was with this in mindthat I spoke with Peter the editor aboutwriting something for someone who is notgoing to kayak Viet Nam anytime soon, or trya first decent of a world class white waterfalls.

In fact, I am writing this for the person who maynot even have their first kayak yet! I have seen somany people buy their first boat and have theirmind filled delusions of grandeur, only to havethem dashed because the boat of their dreamshas in short order become inadequate to matchtheir rapidly growing skill set.

Unless your plan, going in, is to just float aroundthe lake at the summer place and thats it, it isprobably a good idea to avoid the big box storekayaks that are as suited to being a planter as akayak. There are a handful of things that Irecommend you look for when buying your firstkayak, and most of them will not be found onkayaks from Super Outdoor Store. Now mind you,getting the right kayak is going to cost you more,but, its still less than buying the wrong kayak andthen having to go out and get the right one a yearor so later (the average Ive experienced).

What kind of kayaking?Now, mind you, the first things you have to decideis what kind of kayaking you are going to do themost. If you are going to try your hand at whitewater kayaking, your needs are going to be differentthan someone going sea kayaking. What I am goingto discuss is a good all around kayak affording thepaddler a plethora of paddling opportunities. It isvery hard to have one kayak do everything well,which is why kayakers who paddle diverse types ofwater have more than one kayak. For instance, in

my area we have a lot of small, very twisty creeksthat wind through the woods. Trying to wrestle a17 sea kayak down these rivers is near impossible,while taking one of the hybrid white water boats,with a skeg and hatch across an open bay is goingto be exhausting, so, without splitting hairs toofinely, Im going to describe a good all around,multi purpose kayak.

A good starting point is length of the kayak, and12 is about the shortest you want to consider.Shorter will put you at a decided disadvantagewhen keeping up with whomever paddling with.Despite the fact that you can probably throw it inthe back of the mini van with no problem at all,move up to at least a twelve-foot (3.65m) kayak,youll be glad you did.

Event of a capsizeAn advantage of going with a longer boat and amajor safety feature is that most kayaks of 12 ormore will have a front bulkhead behind the footpegs. This helps keep your kayak afloat in theevent of a capsize by only allowing the cockpitarea to fill with water. Having two bulkheads,one in front and one behind your seat are all buta necessity if you are going to be in most anykind of moving water. It also increases theamount of storage space by allowing you to have(reasonably) dry storage both fore and aft.

Also, in the event of a capsize, a front bulkheadwill prevent your kayak from performing aCleopatras Needle, where the front of the kayaksinks and the aft end is pointing almost straightup. If the kayak you are considering does notoffer a front bulkhead, take heart! There areinflatable float bags that can be put into thekayak to displace water in the event you happento dump. All things considered, fore and aftbulkheads are a very sound idea.

Learn how to do a wet exitIn talking with folks looking at kayaks, one of thefirst things to jump out is the fear of a smallercockpit. People are drawn to the voluminous,wide-open cockpits of recreational boats becausethey are afraid they are going to become trapped.First and foremost, anyone who is going to reallykayak needs to learn how to do a wet exit as soonas possible. Youre going to dump someday. Its areality. The more you kayak, the more likely youare to tip over. There are only two kinds ofkayakers, those who have dumped and those thatare going to. And, if you have a personalfloatation device on, its going to pop you out ofyour seat like a cork!

ThePaddler 21

Buyyour secondboat first By Scott Edwards

of whyyou want to go with a real cockpit. The other is ifyour cockpit is huge and you are paddling and awave or wake comes over the bow of your kayak,youre going to have more water in your kayakthan you would ever want! A kayak full of wateris very unstable and very difficult to paddle. Thesmaller the opening, the less water that is goingto get in your kayak and make it difficult tomanoeuvre to a safe place to dump or pump outyour boat. You are safer in a kayak that you wearor at least truly fits you, than one that is like abathtub.

Bungees Another feature you want to find on a kayak aremore than a few elastic bungee lines. Bungeesare good for holding a limited amount of gear tothe deck of your kayak. However, they are notreplacements for hard lines or perimeter decklines. These are the lines that trace the outline ofyour kayak and do not stretch. These are the linesthat you will grab to help pull you back into yourkayak should you happen to fall out. If you arein the water and all you have are bungees, stopand think what will happen. They will stretchand you will go back into the water you were justtrying so hard to get out of.

A combination of bungees and hard lines arehow a kayak should be outfitted to best serve youin most any situation. One word of cautionabout bungees, people tend to put too much ontop of their kayak, while neglecting to put stuff intheir kayak. These leads to trim (how your kayaksits in the water) issues and your kayak being topheavy, guess what top-heavy kayaks have atendency to do? Thats right, they tend to want tocapsizesomething you obviously want toavoid. I also try and keep my back deck clear, as ifI need to re-enter my kayak, its going to be fromthe back deck, not the front.

As you consider your kayak choice, make sureyou can at least sit in it! And, if possible take itfor a test drive, um, paddle! A great many kayakdealers are located on or very near a body ofwater so you can see how the boat feels in thewater. Beyond that, make sure its comfortable.Youre going to spend hours in your kayak, mightas well be comfy.

This is also where you find out how the kayakfits you. If its equipped with thigh braces, doyou make contact with them in the correct spots?If they do not, are they adjustable. Does it have aseat back or back band and what is yourpreference. How do the foot braces feel? Explore

all aspects of fit and feel, and have the personhelping you assist in making sure the kayak is setup for you. There are many kayaks that havemyriad adjustments for your comfort in thecockpit, fine-tune them to fit you.

HandlesAn often over looked feature on a kayak are thehandles on the ends. Many people are drawn tothe luggage type handles that offer the most

comfortable way to carry your kayak to the water.You see, not only are the handles fortransporting your kayak to the water; but also,they are what you are going to use to hang ontoyour kayak if you should find yourself in thewater. While they may not be as comfortable forcarrying, the T shaped toggles on either end areeasy to grab hold of and most importantly easyto let go of! The luggage type handle can trapyour hand and take you wherever its going. I amalways going to opt towards something beingsafer rather than more convenient.

The paddleThere is one more factor to this equation and it isusually not considered until after the kayak hasbeen picked out, or sometimes it is a throw into complete the sale. And, I bet by now, youknow what Im going to sayits your paddle.This cannot be an afterthought, this must be anintegral part in your decision making process foryour kayaking. The variety of paddles available isalmost endless, ranging from aluminium shaftsand plastic blades, to ultra light carbon fibremodels, as well as Greenland blades and Euroblades. All making your decision making processall the more confusing. Add to that the question,are you a low angle paddler or high anglepaddler.

ThePaddler 22

As you consider your kayak choice, make sure youcan at least sit in it! And, if possible take it for a testdrive, um, paddle! A great many kayak dealers are

located on or very near a body of water so you cansee how the boat feels in the water.

So, thats part one

As you consider your kayak choice, make sure youcan at least sit in it! And, if possible take it for a testdrive, um, paddle! A great many kayak dealers are

located on or very near a body of water so you cansee how the boat feels in the water.

Bungy cords onthe front deck

Hatch cover withreflective deck lines

Carry handles

Bow bulkhead andadjustable foot pegs

the assistance of a knowledgeable kayakconsultant. They are invaluable in helping youpick out the right paddle for you, your physicalsize and that compliments your kayak. One ofthe major considerations for most people is theweight of the paddle. While it may only beounces on the shelf, multiply those ounces timeshow many paddle strokes you make on a dayspaddle. The difference increases exponentially.While you may not be inclined to go for one ofthe high end, ultra light space material paddlesplease do not go low end for the simple sake ofsaving a buck. After your first paddle or two, youwill be back in the very same place, looking forsomething that doesnt start to feel like yourlifting weights after a couple hours.

Now, I can hear you saying to yourself thatsgoing to add up to a lot more money, veryquickly. And, youre right. That being said, it isless than doing it twice. If you get gear yououtgrow quickly, the second purchase added tothe first is going to be substantially more than ifyou made the investment in a reputablepaddleshop who is looking to build a long termrelationship by recommending quality productsthan a big box store who is just looking to getyou in, ring you up and send you on your way.Not only that, by making an investment asopposed to just a purchase, you are also makingthat same investment in your safety (speaking ofsafety, youre also going to need a personalflotation device or PFD, but thats a topic foranother article).

A lot to considerThis is a lot to consider, and it should be,kayaking can be a lifetime sport to be enjoyedcountless ways. Over the years, I haveencountered far too many who gave up onkayaking because they quickly became frustratedby the limitations of their equipment. It bearsrepeating, if you just want to float around thelake at your summer home (or things of thatnature), well, youre probably not even readingthis. However, if you want to grow in yourkayaking and explore the wonders and beautythat are only accessible by kayak, do yourhomework. Talk to people, pick a realpaddleshop and take their advice. It will bemoney and time well spent!

ThePaddler 24

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ThePaddler 26

Nepal

BIGrivers.The third tallest mountain in the world,

Kangchenjunga, guards the far eastern border of Nepal, which is a Tibetan word meaning,

the five treasures of the high snow. But the real treasure that flows off Kangchenjungas western slopes is the

is home to eight of the worldstop ten 8,000m peaks, andwhere you find big mountainsyoull find

Tamur River, one of Nepals premiere whitewater journeys.

Stor

y by

Stan

Rick

etts

Photos by Cuan Coetzee and Stan Ricketts

ThePaddler 27

Nepal

BIGrivers.The third tallest mountain in the world,

Kangchenjunga, guards the far eastern border of Nepal, which is a Tibetan word meaning,

the five treasures of the high snow. But the real treasure that flows off Kangchenjungas western slopes is the

Tamur River, one of Nepals premiere whitewater journeys.

Photos by Cuan Coetzee and Stan RickettsLooking downstream from one of the many

hanging bridges over the Tamur River

ThePaddler 28

Bustling street scene in the town of D

obhan en route to the start of the Tam

ur trek

Nepal is where Buddha was born. The mostsignificant Hindu temples in all of Asia aremagnificent and fascinating to visit. Untilrecently it had been a kingdom since the 14thcentury so grand architecture, palaces and historyabound, not to mention the spicy (and cheap!)delicacies on every corner. There is also amazingmountain biking around Kathmandu valleythrough picturesque rice paddies. Kathmandu isa great place to find affordable Nepali home craftgoodies to take back as gifts, from silver jewelleryto hand woven clothing, paintings, carvings and

carpets! People on the street, seeing anyone wholooks like they werent born nearby, willconstantly try to peddle you hash, tiger balm,pocket knives. It seems you can find a little bitof everything in the noisy bustling capital. Itstruly a sight to see all the rickshaws, taxis, buses,pedestrians, porters carrying any manner ofgoods on their backs, and busses flying throughthe unmarked, unlit roads at top speed, honkingtheir presence and somehow averting what seemslike disaster at every turn. Its a great big slice ofcolourful humanity, and something not to bemissed.

Nepal travelThe real story of Nepal and its rivers begins onceyou leave the cities, however, and travel into thecountryside. There are a number of ways to get

where you are going, depending on your budget anything from a 24-hour bus ride packed withlocals and farm animals, to a domestic airlineflight over the Himalayas and into Biratnagar.Each comes with its own set of spectacularexperience. Ultimately, to get to the Tamur fromKathmandu, you will pass through Biratnagar,and then drive up through the sub tropical hillsto Basantapur, a small village where all buttractor transportation ends. Here, at 7,500 feet, iswhere the trek to the river begins.

Teaming up with local portersOften, the best way is to team up with localporters to manage all the rafting and campinggear for the expedition. The trail is ofintermediate difficulty, winding up throughRhododendron forests, following a 10,000-footridge line, passing through small farmingcommunities and offering superb views of theMakalu Massif to the north, and MountKangchenjunga in the east. There are options forlodging in classic Nepali tea houses, or to payfarmers for use of land for camping along theway. In any case, the locals always areaccommodating, ready with a Namaste, a cup ofspicy ginger chai and a smile. Gardens arebursting with fresh produce and local farmerswave and smile as we pass, happy and contentwith their lot in life.

ThePaddler 29

Kathmandu its a great big slice of colourfulhumanity, and something not to be missed.

The real story of Nepal and its riversbegins once you leave the cities

The typical starting point for the long journey to the Tamur is in Kathmandu.Kathmandu is a fascinating medieval city worth exploring so you might wantto consider flying in a day or two earlier for some cultural excursions in andaround the city.

Bustling street scene in the town of D

obhan en route to the start of the Tam

ur trek

As if the bus drive w

asnt Class V already! Spicing up the journey

with a traditional style seat w

ith a view

sandy beaches for building fires; many of thesebeaches are below small villages, and you will besure to have local children and villagers awaitingyou, or arriving shortly thereafter to curiouslygaze on everything you are doing.

Fisherman Cows and goats will wander through camp,along with the occasional friendly mutt. Localfisherman with all manner of traps electrical,cast nets, river wide nets, hand and rod-heldfishing lines all come around at first and lastlight to hunt and gather for their families. Thewomen come down in the sun to do the washand disappear back up into the hills. Childrenpose for pictures and peer with wonder at ourwhat-must-seem-like elaborate camps and gear.

ThePaddler 30

from Basantapur to Dobhan usually takes about four days,trekking about six hours per day at a relatively leisurely pace. Temperaturesrange from 32 degrees F at night and up to 70 degrees F during the day. Onthe fourth day, the trail descends from the cool heights to the lush tropicalvalley below where the river adventure awaits. As we near the river we seeribbons of white water around each bend.

The trek

The Tamur has some of the finest white water youll ever find, and in between therapids there is ample time to enjoy the scenery and abundant birdlife

The first camp is typically on the banks of theTamur, at the confluence of the Maiwa Khola, acrystal clear tributary that doesnt come from thesnow so its a great opportunity to cool off fromthe trek and have happy hour. Once you put inthe river from here, class III and IV rapids awaityou just after the first bend, and its longcontinuous white water for hours on end - notime for a cushy warm up float here! At lunch,many of the clients joked aloud if they weregoing to see a second rapid anytime soon. theentire morning felt like one big bouncy bouncysplashy splashy ride, paddling the entire time.

The Tamur has some of the finest white wateryoull ever find, and in between the rapids thereis ample time to enjoy the scenery and abundantbirdlife. There is often abundant driftwood on

The Nepali guide crew enjoying a fresh brew and some morning sun

The Tamur has some of the finest white water youll ever find, and in between therapids there is ample time to enjoy the scenery and abundant birdlife

ThePaddler 31

British guide SteveHammond gets in theswing of things duringsuper hero night

Namaste which country? Russia nice to know ya!

Packing dry bags and tentsbecomes a daily ritual

Local fisherman with cast net

Early morning views of Makalu and a strong cup of Himalayancoffee tends to put some bounce in your step!

One highlight is Dinosaur Rock providing adrenching ride through roller coaster waves onday two. In the middle, there is a good bit of flatwater, and several nice options for big beachesand a layover day to just enjoy or go for a hike upto a local village. Local kids will be happy to useyour gear while you lounge, or offer you a ride intheir dugout canoes. Its nice to have a little dayto relax, because the next day brings a surge inthe current where a healthy set of big bouncyrapids leads into the final canyon. There aresome fun warm-up rapids before the first class IVscout called Ashram. There have been more thana few big time flips and rolls in this long,technical rapid. The most recent early season trip

saw the river at high water after a typhoon, and itwas an exciting time, to say the least.

Sun Kosi RiverAfter Ashram, there are countless unnamedrapids from big bouncy straight-down-the-middle roller coaster rides to technical bouldergardens with must make moves. Finally, theTamur flows into the Sun Kosi River, where a nicebeach offers a good final camping option. Theriver volume is noticeably larger here, and theriver is now known as the Sapta Koshi (sevenrivers), with the Tamur being the seventh andfinal major tributary of the Sun Kosi. Before thetake out there is an opportunity to walk up to a

ThePaddler 32

There are several challenging rapids the first two days:

There have been morethan a few big time flipsand rolls in this long,technical rapid

View from the desk! Another

tough day in the office on

the Karnali River

Hindu temple called Bara Chatra, incenseburning, temple bells ringing and Holy Sardhus,devotees of Lord Shiva chanting their morningprayers. Theres a definite increase in traffic hereas you float the final few kilometres to take out,everything from dugout canoes to bamboo raftsto road construction and villagers doing thewashing; here is where you leave the hills behindand enter the Terai, fertile flatlands not far fromthe Indian Border. A local Dal Bhat and EverestBeer is always a welcome sight at any Nepalivillage, all you can eat rice and lentils withvegetable, meat, and achar while sipping a beerand telling tales of all that youve seen and donein just a few weeks.

ThePaddler 33

There are several challenging rapids the first two days:

Paddlers digging in for a fun roller coaster rice on the Sun Koshi

Steve Hammond dropping in to Ashram on the Tamur River

Marc Goddard with a prime viewing seat just before some fish finding action on the Tamur River

ThePaddler 34

Trekking through dense Rhododendron forest

Lunch spread on the riverLunch spread on the riverOne of many spectacular camps on the Tamur

Karnali RiverAnother great option is the Karnali River. In theremote western part of Nepal, this river offers bigwhite water off the beaten path. It, too, can beaccessed either by bus, car, or airplane toNepalgung as a starting point. From there, thedays trip along a bumpy road to the put-in isalways an adventure. My last trip offered a classicexample of transportation, Nepali style. Severalhours out of Nepalgung, in the middle of thejungle near Bardia National Park, a truck haulingrocks got a flat tyre and the driver left it in themiddle of the road while he hitched back totown for parts and a spare. In the meantime, twopassenger buses (one of which carried our groupof rafters and kayakers) attempted to pass thetruck and both ended up precariously tilted at45-degree sideways angles and stuck in ditcheson either side.

Trailers, vans, vehicles carrying chickens, andmotorbikes all attempted to pass through withmany also becoming more and more wedged inthe traffic jam. Hours later, the driver of the truckin question came back, waded through thehundreds of passengers/spectators, fixed histrailer and hauled his obstructing truck andtrailer of rocks away. Those in the passenger busscrambled to hitch rides, on the back, side, andtops of passing vehicles, while those bound forthe river eventually found a man with a thickcable and tractor to haul us out.

Just another day of adventure in Nepal! Wemade it to the put-in after dark and scrambledaround to set up camp, with the mighty Karnaliroaring us to a well-deserved sleep.

ThePaddler 35

Morning time in the village of Chauki

ThePaddler 36

For seasoned kayakers, the Upper Karnali boasts loadsof class V white water and should not be missed

Scouting one of many rapids

Kayakers surfing it up are Costa Rican Jorge Esquivel and local paddler Krish Shrestha

is well worth it. The Karnali boasts massive wave trains every day. Rapids with names likeGods House and Flip and Strip have massive holes, big pour overs, and lots of potential for fun.

The water is warm and the campsites, like the Tamur, offer spectacular views with sandy beachesand often driftwood for fires. This is one where, as one of our clients, said, you go big or gohome. For seasoned kayakers, the Upper Karnali boasts loads of class V white water andshould not be missed.

The beauty of the Karnali, aside from its consistent Class III-IV white water action, is in itsisolation. Sometimes we would only see one or two villages a day, or hear a few voicescalling Namaste from vantage points well hidden in the surrounding lush forests. Its

really such a unique honour to be able to share this part of nature with such a fewfamilies who have been living off of this rugged land for years, and who perhaps

see only a few rafts per year pass by. Amazingly, some of these locals,especially towards the take out, actually had camera phones taking picturesback at us! Technology does slowly but surely make its way into even themost remote parts of the world, these days, it seems. It is still a breath offresh air to be back to quite basic living and going hard in these areas while

they are still relatively untouched by the western cultures.

is well worth it. The Karnali boasts massive wave trains every day. Rapids with names likeGods House and Flip and Strip have massive holes, big pour overs, and lots of potential for fun.

The water is warm and the campsites, like the Tamur, offer spectacular views with sandy beachesand often driftwood for fires. This is one where, as one of our clients, said, you go big or gohome. For seasoned kayakers, the Upper Karnali boasts loads of class V white water andshould not be missed.

The beauty of the Karnali, aside from its consistent Class III-IV white water action, is in itsisolation. Sometimes we would only see one or two villages a day, or hear a few voicescalling Namaste from vantage points well hidden in the surrounding lush forests. Its

really such a unique honour to be able to share this part of nature with such a fewfamilies who have been living off of this rugged land for years, and who perhaps

see only a few rafts per year pass by. Amazingly, some of these locals,especially towards the take out, actually had camera phones taking picturesback at us! Technology does slowly but surely make its way into even themost remote parts of the world, these days, it seems. It is still a breath offresh air to be back to quite basic living and going hard in these areas while

they are still relatively untouched by the western cultures.

ThePaddler 37

The ride

For seasoned kayakers, the Upper Karnali boasts loadsof class V white water and should not be missed

ThePaddler 38

Pokhara And these are just a few of the exceptional riversin Nepal: the Khaligandaki, the Bhote Kosi andMarsyangdi. If you have some time to spend, alsotry the rivers around Pokhara, a more scenic andlaid-back alternative to the mayhem ofKathmandu. Its situated right on the lake ofPokhara in the shadow of the Annapurnas. Thereis also a wealth of opportunities for outdooradventure of all types in and around Pokhara,whether on the lake, in the surrounding hills andcanyons, or as a jumping off point for a trekalong the famed Annapurna circuit.

Dave AllardiceIn any event, there has never been a better timeto check out and paddle Nepal. One of theoriginal white water pioneers there, the latelegend Dave Allardice, spent his life navigatingthe waters and making paddling and canyoningaccessible all over Nepal so that we might allenjoy it for generations to come. As a recentshrine to his memory at the big scout in GodsHouse rapid on the Karnali River quotes him:

Namaste and enjoy.

Click for Nepal map

Why are you scouting. Its just read and run. Shell be right!

Rigging all thegear at the startof the Tamur. No

eddies withClass IV around

the corner

A happy team at the confluence with theSun Koshi and Tamur

Whitewater Suit. River Guide Vest. Bull Bag.

4XDOLW\ 3HUIRUPDQFH 'HVLJQ

Paul Ramsdale. River Dee. Im

age: Pete Astles

Whitewater Suit. River Guide Vest. Bull Bag.

4XDOLW\ 3HUIRUPDQFH 'HVLJQ

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The Linville River lies tucked away in the Linville Gorge Wilderness and has long been called The Grand Canyon of the East. The forbidding nature of the terrain has made resource extraction impossible, and for some, like Ty Caldwell, that is a calling like none other. Land only Mother Nature can touch. Who could possibly pass that up?




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ThePaddler 17. April 2014 SUP cover