ThePaddler 19 Aug 2014 SUP cover

The ultimate SUP challengeNYC 100mile CHALLENGE

KayakPaddlerRegularPaddler SaltyPaddler SUPPaddler CanoePaddler

ThePaddlerezine.comThePaddlerezine.comInternational digital magazine for recreational paddlersIssue 19 - August 2

014

SUPDAN GAVERESdream BOARD

InterviewJENNY WaikikiLove LEE

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. Next issue is October 2014 with a deadline of submissions on September 1st.Technical Information: Contributions preferably as a Microsoft Word file with 1200-2000 words, emailed to [email protected] should be hi-resolution and emailed with the Word file or if preferred, a Dropbox folder will be created for you. ThePaddler ezine encourages contributions of any nature but reserves the right to edit to the space available.Opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publishing parent company, 2b Graphic Design. The publishing of an advertisement in ThePaddler ezine does not necessarily mean that the parent company, 2bGraphic Design, endorse the company, item or service advertised. All material in ThePaddler ezine is strictly copyright and all rights are reserved. Reproduction without prior permission from the editor is forbidden.

Antoine Albeau, MauritiusPhoto: Dave White http://davewhite.me

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

Advertising salesAnne EganTel: (01480) [email protected]

CoversKayak: Thilo Schmitt, paddling the Kruttga, Norway

at medium flow by Mariann StherSUP: Dan Gavere by Dan Gavere/Zach Mahone

Bird Bath drop, Homestake Creek, ColoradoSalty: Christopher Lockyer, Nova ScotiaOC: Andreas Reitner by Martin Strunge

Additional contributor credits: Phil Carr, Aidan Egan Tranter, Alan Ward, James Pringle Bebbington, Dan Crowley, Gemma Simons, Paul Caffyn, Belinda Mulvany, Lizet Hansen, Don Beveridge, Ute Heppke,Martina Wegman, Jakub Sedivy, Humberto Reyes, Rodrigo Lavin, Zach Mahone, Caren Forbes, Alfred van Gieson, Paul Teruya, Joe Thwaites and Gordon Ross.

ThePaddler 3

Issue 19August 2014

006 Eight of the BestThe best paddling films from around the planet

008 FUSEThe making of the ground breaking video

014 Photo of the monthFrom FUSE

016 Testing, testingTons of new kit reviewed and tested

026 LaplandJacksons kayak fishing team trip by Mark Radcliffe

036 United KingdomKayak fishing for pike by Simon Everett

042 United KingdomSitons.com beach survey results

052 New ZealandCircumnavigation of the south island by Tara Mulvany

060 Nova Scotia, CanadaBy Christopher Lockyer and Jarrod Gunn McQuillan

072 CoachingPsychological skills by Dave Rossetter part two

076 WW safetyThrowlines and pulleys by Flo Fischer

082 Amazon River, PeruPart one: the source in Peru by Darcy Gaechter

092 IndiaUttarakhand white water by Steve Brooks

102 InterviewNorways Queen of the waterfalls, Mariann Sther

110 Patagonia, ChileFutaleuf River in the winter by Patrick J. Lynch

122 United StatesCreating my dream WW SUP board by Dan Gavere

134 United StatesNYC 100 Mile Paddle - the ultimate challenge in SUP

142 The Paddlers PlanetBy Christian Wagley

144 InterviewJenny Waikiki Love Lee

152 United KingdomWindSup by Paul Monnington

158 CanadaCanoeing the Yukon River by Richard Harpham

170 DenmarkFreestyle canoeing moves by Martin Strunge

Two years onTime moves fast but in publishing it seemssomehow to shift faster. Maybe its aconsequence of always thinking severalmonths down the line, for instance at thestart of summer, publishers are alreadyplanning their Autumn/Fall schedules andthe year predictably begins to blur.

Well, the last two years have been just that a blurbut a blur where much satisfaction has been gainedalongside the vast amount of midnight oil to tiesomething together that originates from just aboutevery corner of our planet.

We have been truly inspired by you paddlers outthere who are ever-willing, generously, without

hesitation and with always the very bestof intent, to share your fantastic stories ofyour paddles and wanderings in the moststunning of locations and that in turninspires us to do our very best to makethat feature stand off the page.

There are those amongst you who justwant to share their experience, alongsidethose who wish to offer sound advice totheir fellow paddlers and others whowish to highlight their own very specialpart of our planet on which they live.

No matter which it is one thing is forcertain and thats without doubt thereare thousands of paddlers out there whojust love to lap up the information over20,000 of you now read the ezine eachtwo months a staggering numberconsidering that this time two years wedidnt exist. September 2014 will be oursecond anniversary and so it seems

appropriate to extend our thanks and deepestappreciation to all of the wonderful people, who,have provided us with their beautiful, insightful storieswith stunning photography to boot!.

ThePaddler ezine is free to all paddlers and thereforea very special thanks also to the companies who havehad the faith to back us by advertising their products,which have made it possible for us to roll on andbecome more adventurous in what we publish, gainmore readers and who in turn purchase morepaddling kit and so the cycle continues.

Our Facebook page is where we release our news inthe first instance, so please come and visit us athttps://www.facebook.com/ThePaddlercouk and alsofeel free to share your news too. The page hasalmost 5,000 likes as at the end of July all genuinepaddlers like yourselves. Use it to let us know howyou would like to see the ThePaddler ezine developin the future it is work in progress

One idea that has been developed in the last sixmonths and has really been appreciated are themultiple covers, where you can choose your ownflavour of cover. One of the beauties of digitalpublishing is that there are no boundaries.

Having said that, plans are in place to begin a paperversion towards the end of the year by subscriptiononly, as many of you have indicated that is what youwould like to see. Email us [email protected] to let us know of yourinterest.

So whether you are in South or North America,Down Under, Africa, the East, Middle East, Europe,and here in the UK, please keep paddling, keepsharing and well do all we can to spread your tales,recollections, advice and experience to fellowpaddlers here, there and everywhere

Heres to the next two years

ThePaddler 4

Foreword

By

Peter

Tran

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Photo: Anne Egan

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ThePaddler 6

Wild Side TVUnited States

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Its about the journey. CONQUER A RAPID. Ride a wave... Then drop skeg and CRUISE THE RIVER. When you need to cover some ground, carry all the kit + still have fun. EXPERIENCE THE ETHOS OF ADVENTURE. Why compromise?

They just dont mixDo they?Well if Dave Wortley, Alan Ward, James Pringle Bebbington,Dan Crowley and the good folk from Palm Equipment havegot anything to do with it

ThePaddler 8

ThePaddler 9

It does ThePaddler 10

We asked Dave Wortleyhow they managed it

Obviously a lot of hard work wentinto making FUSE, what is the aim ofthe project?

I wanted to make a kayaking film whichwas creative and visually inspiring. I knewit was going to be a challenge, but I enjoysolving technical problems like this andonce I discovered ElectroluminescentWire I knew it was possible. The guys atPalm Equipment Europe were impressedwith the idea and immediately offered tohelp with creating the glowing FXBuoyancy Aid and Cag, without these itjust wouldnt have looked anywhere nearas impressive!

What was the most difficultchallenge of the preparation andpaddle?

We had a few technical problems withtrying to waterproof all the connections.Dan used his electrical engineeringknowledge to get all the batteries andtransformers connected as efficiently aspossible and we used an entire reel ofMammoth tape to secure all the wiresdown. Shooting video in such low lightwas extremely difficult and I was luckyenough to have access to some great kit.James Bebbington from Pringle Mediabrought his Sony FS700 camera and Iborrowed some fast lenses. Alan Ward isone of the worlds best freestyle kayakersand with next to no visibility on the waveit was down to his skills to really makethis film stand-out with some incrediblemoves. It was very cold on the night weshot and with wires being fed under hisspraydeck he had to deal with waterleaking in as well!

ThePaddler 11

and its called FUSE

ThePaddler 12

What has been the response?

The response has been incredible, its been shared allover the web and been show-cased on some non-paddling websites which is great to see it breaking outof kayaking circles, even if a French-Canadian reviewcalled me a Stubborn Director.

Whats next?

It was really fun to create and if we make a part two,its going to have to some-how increase the wowfactor. Theres a few ideas in the pipeline, but alwayswith things like this you have to research and prepareto make sure everything will work and keep everyonesafe as being on moving water at night is inherentlydangerous. Were thinking the next instalment mightbe some kind of race

Thanks Dave

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ThePaddler 14

Photo of theMonth

Photo: Pringle Media http://www.pringlemedia.com

Immersion ResearchArch Rival www.immersionresearch.comBy Phil CarrI have owned the Immersion Research (IR)Short Sleeve Comp top for years. It onlysees the light of day when it warms up herein the UK. The cag is a short-sleeved versionof the Comp top and shares all of itsfeatures with the exception of the obvious(long sleeves and latex cuff seals). After yearsof loyal service I fancied a changed. Therewasnt anything wrong with the Comp, justwanted something new.

Now as it turns out, the search for a highspecification short sleeved dry or semi-dry top isactually quite a hard one with the number of

manufacturers offering

such a top, as part of their current line up beingquite small. So after much searching and consideringthe few alternatives, Immersion Research came tomy rescue with the Arch Rival.

In the UK, IR is sold exclusively online so the orderwas placed with IR's UK rep Mark Mulrain. The toparrived within a matter of days, the seals weretrimmed and the top was packed away for the nextspell of warm weather. I didnt have to wait that longto try the top out. We have been blessed with warmweather, surf and the odd downpour of rain that haskept a number of local summer runs topped up overthe last few weeks.

The Arch Rival seen here has the Gul three-waycolour combination that I think works really well. Thered stitching, logo and tabs on the Velcro adjustmentshelp make the top look a little special its a nicetouch that works well.

The materialfeels prettytough, tougherthan my IRComp topthat isactually still

going strong.Throughout, IR has

used breathable fabrics,which really does come into its

own on warmer days, the kind of days thatyou would want to wear a short sleeve dry top. In

addition to the bomber fabric, both the stitching andtaping used within the Arch Rival looks pretty good.Stitches are straight and precise and the taping is gluedsolidly to the top and everything looks like it will standthe test of time. In the event that something does fail,IR has a superb customer service and warranty policy.

The neck and biceps cuffs are snug with comfortableclose fitting neoprene gaskets. The outer neck seal hasthe Immersion Research name in black on black, whichis a nice touch. They offer great performance evenwhen playboating but I did find some water found itsway down my neck, just enough to make my thermaldamp. However, this is something I experience with allof my dry tops/suits. To date I have never had anywater find its way through the arm seals, which is

ThePaddler 16

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

pretty good given their vulnerability. IR has totallyredesigned the outer arm gaskets for 2014 as someearlier models had tight outer seals.

The latex gaskets seem to be of a pretty good qualityand glued solidly in place. However, on the top there isexcess glue around the latex seals that looks prettymessy and a little rushed. This is a real shame but it ispurely cosmetic, cant be seen from the outside and didnot impact upon the performance of the top.

The cut of the Arch Rival is great. It fits me well withoutexcess material, yet allows for a full range of movementwithout any restriction. The double waist seal with aVelcro adjustable outer waist seal married nicely to myIR deck nice and snug with no water finding its way in.Despite being quite narrow, the outer neoprene sealhas plenty of silicone strips to help keep it in position.The inner tunnel is elasticated at the bottom and againhas silicone in place to help keep it in place. During mysummer play boating sessions this year there hasn'tbeen a hint of the Arch Rival moving and given thetesting conditions I see little danger of the top riding up.

As we move towards the end of the summer I plan tocontinue using the Arch Rival until it becomes too cold.In summary, its a great top that does it job well.

ThePaddler 17

Testing, testingThePaddler 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.

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.

ThePaddler 11

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, testin

View Palm FXr video

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



www.coleman.comBy Anne EganA tent is a tent, is a tent or is it? I am new tocamping, so my perspective is that ofsomeone with little or no experience ofputting up tents and the difficulties that Ihave heard people getting into. Weve allheard the stories and seen the funny sketchesof puzzled campers surrounded by a myriadof poles and layers of polythene etc.

However the beauty of the Coleman Instant Dome 5man tent is that none of that matters. It does what itsays on the packet and with a minimum of effort andtime is ready to enjoy in fact it took just three minutesto erect. Its a simple matter of laying the tent out onthe ground, fold out the leg pole and then pull up onthe central hub, extent and click the legs in positionand like magic, you have a useable tent that just needspegging down as the fly sheet is already attached andin place.

The zipped door opened wide creating a lovelyairflow, the door panel includes a clear window panel.It would have been perfect if it opened independentlyof the door.

Once up, people up to 57 are able to stand uprightinside the tent, giving a very spacious feel inside. TheDome 5 as its name suggests is for up to five peoplebut I think that would be a little too crowded andthink four people would be better for comfort.

The ventilation windows in the roof of the tenthelped to keep the tent comfortably cool and freshand can be opened from the inside with a mesh guardto keep the bugs at bay.

There is a small gear loft for small items such as keys,mobile phones etc that can be removed and replacedby the torch hook for light. If further electrics arerequired there is a very useful zipped power cord vent.

The only problem we encountered was the doorzipper mechanism tended to snag on the fabric of thetent, which necessitating being freed to continueclosing the door.

Taking it down is even simpler and in seconds it isgently rolled up and back into the neat carry bag.

Over a two week period the tent was uses in threedifferent locations and overall was a dream to use. Myteenage son and myself were delighted with our firstcamping venture together and having such a userfriendly tent to sleep in, made the whole experienceeven better. If speed, ease of use and space are whatyou need, then look no further.

Technical specsPoles: Steel with fibreglassFabric: Polyester 75D/185TSeams: Taped SeamsPack size: 105 x 19 x 19 cmWeight: 5.9kg

ThePaddler 18

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Coleman Instant Dome 5

Watch the video

We 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.

Qualications Safety and rescue

White water

Sea kayaking

Open canoeing

Surf kayaking

Touring

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retawteih cpenO

gnieonac

a kSe

ginyakaa k akSurf

gnakiya

Qualications


Touring

Safety and rescue

We 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.


White water

Sea kayaking

Open canoeing

Surf kayaking

Touring

hW

retawteih cpenO

gnieonac

a kSe

ginyakaa k akSurf

gnakiya

Qualications


Touring

Safety and rescue

www.point65.comBy Peter TranterWe were first introduced to the modularsnap together SUP at Germanys Canoe Expoin October last year. At the time it was just apolystyrene model but seeing just how easy itwas to use Point 65s Snap Tap system ontheir kayak range, we couldnt wait to get ourhands on one.

First observation is obvious you dont need a roofrack. We loaded the Rum Runner into the back of ourever dependable Rav4 and off to the river we went.

When you get there, the three-part hull is as easy as1-2-3 to snap together and off you go (see the videobottom right).

The river is the natural environment for the RumRunner where you can pack plenty of items includinga small tent if necessary, into the forwardcompartment it gives you the freedom to explorewithout the worry of getting your belongings wet.

Regarding surf, Point 65 recommend you dont usethe Rum Runner with waves above three feet, as thiscan damage the Snap Tap system.

We used the 12.5 board that can carry up to 300lbswith its extended mid-section covered with a verycomfortable soft padded EVA foam that gives plenty ofgrip. This section is also equipped with a built-in Slide-Trax system which allows you to fully customise it toyour specific needs such as seating, fishing gear etc.

Aside from the watertight hatch, the frontsection also contains two cup holders plus acarry handle and the rear section has aretractable fin plus carry handle.

Performance wise, the Rum Runnerdisplacement hull excels in its role as anSUP tourer on the water ; straight trackingis spot on, stability is nicely balancedalongside a nimble turn of speed andmanoeuvrability.

Im still very much a beginner in terms ofSUP but I very soon became very much atease with the board and before long startedto have quite a bit of fun, attempting movesthat I hadnt tried before.

Overall the modular system of assembling andtaking apart worked very well, though I wouldrecommend you try it in your garden a few timesbefore your first paddle as it definitely improves withpractice.

Easy to live with, to transport and to store, Point 65havent missed a trick. The roto-moulded hull can beheavy when assembled but it is tough and impactresistant.

In the October issue we will have a more in-depthreview of the board after the local sea scout unit havegiven it a thorough testing over the summer.

ThePaddler 20

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.





ThePaddler 11












ThePaddler 10

Testing, testin

View Palm FXr video




Point 65 Rum Runner

Prices:Rum Runner 11.5:

750.00

Rum Runner 12.5: 830.00

Watch the video

here

Point 65N products are distributed in the UK and Ireland by Lyon Equipment - www.lyon.co.uk

here


here


Sweet Protection Shambala shortswww.sweetprotection.comBy Phil Carr

Sweet Protection are nostrangers to the paddlingworld and over the years Ihave tried and owned a fairfew items from their range.However, earlier this yearsaw the arrival of the newlyupdated Shambala shorts.

Compared to previous, the new 2014 models have a more fitted andarticulated fit. In addition to the improvements made to the overall fit,the fastenings and adjustments on the shorts have also been tweaked.

The pair I received is the gunmetal blue ones, which match the new range of 2014kit including the 2014 Strutter helmet. When looking out for a pair of kayak shorts itis important to me that they will last the test of time and of course that they fitreally well.

In terms of construction the Shambala shorts are very well made. The fabric has agood combination of soft feel and toughness. The inner short is made fromneoprene and has an articulated fit especially designed for sitting in a kayak orcanoe. The shorts are a little longer than the norm and sit just below the knees. Thisis great when portaging but it really comes into its own when you sit in a kayak asthe shorts still cover the knee/thigh giving a bit of extra padding between your legand the thigh braces within the boat. The articulation within the design helps keepthings in the correct place.

When sat in a kayak, the exposure of your lower back can often be an issue. TheShambala shorts sit nice and high at the back with a curved waistline and thewaistband can be adjusted via two Velcro tabs that are situated at the front of theshorts. These tabs are attached to an elasticated belt that allows for the short to besnugged up nice and tight around the waist yet still have some give when you aremoving around.

Overall I have been very pleased with the shorts as I did have initial concerns over thesizing, as I found that the neoprene inner shorts were pretty snug and I was havingdifficulty getting the shorts to sit quite right they have of course stretched a little overtime and now fit perfectly. They do offer both the protection and warmth that I require.

Immersion ResearchGuide Shorts

Around 15 years ago my favouritepaddling shorts were my Playboater

Neoprene shorts absolutely bombproof andcurved to fit when sat down etc. Unfortunately,too many pies forced the sale of those shorts andI have since been on the hunt for a long-termreplacement for years. I have owned kayak andnon-kayak specific shorts (mainly board shorts)and although all have done a great job, I havealways moved on to try something else.

My criteria for short choice is pretty simple: A good fit (both standing and whilst sat in a kayak). Bombproof construction and materials. Fast drying. Value for money.

I have therefore for the past few years settled on theGuide Shorts from Immersion Research (IR) and inparticular the neoprene lined variety.

The Guide Shorts are built in a similar fashion to surfingboard shorts. They have a lace-up waist with just a smallcircle of Velcro on the fly and deep gusset crotch for asiting position

They are constructed from quick-drying rip-stoppolyester microfibre and the signature brass grommeton the back leg - perfect for clipping the shorts to therest of your gear, or for hang-drying. The shorts for are agreat length, just sitting on the knee.

Inside is an attached set of neoprene shorts, which are supercomfy and give that added bit of comfort and warmth.

The material used on the shorts feels substantial and fromthe couple of pairs that I own, I can vouch that theconstruction is superb, they feel as if they could easily seeme well into the next decade without missing a beat.

IR have not changed the design since 1997 and to behonest they dont need to. They are a proven designthat I find work extremely well. So much so that Iown the neoprene lined, unlined and fleece linedshorts.

ThePaddler 22







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Northern Forest Canoe TrailThrough-Paddlers Companionhttp://www.nfctpaddler.comNFCT Through-Paddler, KatinaDaanen (left) has announcedthe publication of the NorthernForest Canoe Trail Through-Paddlers Companion. This isthe first comprehensiveresource guiding paddlers fromthe first put-in to the last take-out on the 740-mile NorthernForest Canoe Trail in the northeast United States.

Named in 2011 as Americas BestCanoe Trail by Outside Magazine andsometimes referred to as theAppalachian Trail of the Waterways,the 740-mile Northern Forest CanoeTrail (NFCT) begins in theAdirondacks at its western terminusin Old Forge, New York, ending at theeastern terminus in Fort Kent, Maine.It traverses 22 rivers and streams, 58lakes and ponds, passes through 45towns and villages, and requires 63portages, totalling 53 miles.

Daanen first learned of the Trail while attending a presentation in 2010 at Canoecopia, anannual paddle sport event held in Madison, Wisconsin. Within the hour, she was alreadyscheming about whom to recruit in order to spend the following summer paddling thiscompelling trail.

When asked Why a guidebook? Daanen explains, While I planned my own trip usingthe Northern Forest Canoe Trail official guidebook, maps and website, I found many of thepaddler blogs to be helpful from a through-paddling-specific point of view. I documentedmy own trip with the intent of providing more details and adding to the volume ofinformation available online. After my trip, I started fielding the same trail questions beingraised among prospective through-paddlers as well as noticing similar travel patternsamong those who had completed the trail. I recognized a need to create a through-paddler resource. Plus I like creating maps.

Drawing upon her research, organizational and design skills, Daanen has written andproduced a guidebook that navigates the Trail in its entirety from the perspective andunique needs of an expedition paddler or anyone looking for more detailed informationwhile following the official NFCT maps.

The Companion provides comprehensive and tactical advice about specific water bodies,including upstream paddling directions, portage (or carry) descriptions and distances, andmileage markers, while offering suggestions for ordinary, yet sometimes elusive matters,such as where one might spend the night. The 246-page guidebook includes: 36 consecutive segment descriptions documenting the entire Trail including 160-plus

miles of upstream paddling. 20 illustrated maps highlighting challenging trail sections. Details about every portage (or carry) with recommendations about how wheelable

each may be. Statistics about average paddle times. Tips for planning daily mileage goals. Lists of services found along the Trail.

North West EnglandCanoeing GuideBest Guide Book Award for Stuart Miller'sN.W. England Canoeing Guide.

At the 2014 Lakeland Book of the Year Awardsheld on 15th July Stuart Miller's Canoe & KayakGuide to N.W. England won the Striding EdgeAward for Best Guidebook.

Stuart said he was delighted and surprised to winwhen he looked at the quality of the books hewas up against. In their summing up, the judgescommented that they were especially impressedwith the quality of the maps and photos inStuart's book.

Pete Knowles, from Rivers Publishing commentedthat he believes that this is the first BritishCanoeing Guidebook ever to win a bookaward a worthy credit to Stuart's dedicationand work. This prestigious book award is anaffirmation of what the specialist canoeing presshave already said, this is the best quality UKpaddling guide yet produced..

Canoe & Kayak Guide to N.W. England isavailable from most canoe shops and online -368 pages, full colour. Price 22.50.

http://www.riverspublishing.demon.co.uk

ThePaddler 24







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ThePaddler 26

Jackson Team trip to LaplandTouching down in Stockholm is often the start ofa pike fishing trip for many visitors to Sweden,with the Baltic on its doorstep and the vastamounts of pristine lakes and rivers in the vicinity.For us, it was just the start of the journey with aten-hour drive straight north to our firstdestination of Blattniksele, deep into Lapland.

Planning for this trip had been ongoing for theprevious six months. Greger Jonsson of SalmoLapland has been looking to develop tourism inNorthern Sweden and one of the obvious areasof this is fishing. However due to the nature ofthe area, this environment specifically lends itselfto kayak fishing, with its limited bank access andboulder strewn waters. Being a dealer for JacksonKayaks his first call was to Jan Liska, team leader ofthe Jackson European fishing team and soonmyself, Sam Baxter and David Blair of the UKTeam were on our way to explore the areaspotential, along with Jan and two other membersof the Czech team.

By Mark Radcliffe Photos: Sam Baxter

LAPLAND: Land OFish

ThePaddler 27

By Mark Radcliffe Photos: Sam Baxter

LAPLAND: Land OFish

Mark Radcliffe chasing pike on the Aman River

28

just increased ourexcitement about what was ahead. Everywhereyou looked there was water. Vast lakes full ofpicturesque islands and reed fringed margins,small ponds overgrown with weeds and lily padsas well as powerful rivers which looked slow anddeep, just the place to find those large fish. Whennot staring at the passing waterways the time wasspent spotting Elk by the side of the road andtrying to avoid the local reindeer population,which we were later to learn are notorious fortrying to find new and novel ways of killingthemselves in front of passing cars.

We finally arrive at Blattnicksele Camping at 4amand after an all too brief sleep, Jan was knockingon the cabin door at 7am to see if we wanted tosleep or come and explore a local lake. This wasntreally a question that needed asking and soonenough, we were unloading kayaks and fishinggear outside a deserted house on the banks ofHuftasjon Lake.

This was probably our hardest days fishing. Thelake was large and shallow with bays filled withreeds and lilies. Unlike every other venue wevisited the fish werent evenly spread and wereshoaled up in the bays that had the wind blowinginto them. However once you found them theywere there in numbers and everyone finished onsix or seven fish for the day. For a UK angler this isa good days fishing but little did we know whatthe remainder of the trip was to hold.

ThePaddler

For the Brits the drive north

For a UK angler this is a good days fishing but little did we know what the

remainder of the trip was to hold

Jan Liska on the Aman River

ThePaddler 29

Ready for the day atBlattnickselle camping

Stopping off for lunchon boulder lake

Holmtrask camping

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sleep and rethink. In the evening our host at the camp Kalle Bergstrom treated us to a traditional

The main feature of this lake, as its new name may suggest

were the boulders. They were everywhere and they were huge, the

size of a house

was spent exploring the River Vindelalven,which ran right alongside the camp. Sam and Ifound a huge backwater away from the power ofthe current which looked ideal for pike, but westruggled to catch, only having a couple of fisheach. It was decided to head back to camp for a

home cooked meal. This also included a glass ofhis traditional home made hooch, flavouredwith beaver glands, which he distilled in theforest. I can honestly say it wasnt the mostdelicious liqueur I have ever tasted but as theysay when in Rome.

After the meal the evening was perfectly still. Theriver was glassy calm and the midnight sun stillshining. It would have been a travesty not tolaunch and gliding across this mighty river at twoo clock in the morning with the sun on thehorizon remains one of the abiding images ofthis trip. The fact that I caught my biggest fish onthis session also adds to the memory. I had beenfishing a fluorescent shad along the oppositemargins and caught three pike to 80 centimetres.

Then I had another take, as I was playing the fishthe line suddenly went slack. I thought I had lostit but realised the fish had suddenly swamstraight at me and winding in fast, the rodbuckled as I hit a solid weight. I really wasnt surewhat was going on but as I got it nearer to thekayak, I could see in the clear water that a muchlarger pike had attacked the one on my line andhad it clamped in its mouth. There was no way Icould land the larger fish so it was just a case ofadmiring it before I let go.

Day twoBonsai trees on Boulder Lake

Fishing in the midnight sun

Jan and Sam paddled over to have a look and thelarger pike held on for nearly ten minutes beforedeciding it had had enough and with a final flickof its tail it let go of its smaller relative anddisappeared into the deep. I thought that wouldbe the last I saw of that fish but a few minuteslater, was aware of a shadow underneath mykayak. As I drifted along the river the shadowkept pace obviously thinking another easy mealmay be coming its way. I couldnt resist anddropped a shad down which was immediatelyattacked by the toothy predator and after aspirited fight a 95cm pike was soon in the kayak,my biggest fish of the trip.

Our next three days were spent on the samevenue. Its true name was Abmotrasket but to thegroup it became known as Boulder Lake. Formost of us this venue was the highlight of thetrip. It had one access point 10km down a dirttrack. The lake was huge, each channel openedup into another stretch of open water with bays,islands and channels leading to yet more waterall of it edged by pristine forest. It was achallenge to keep track of where you were eachday and make sure you found your way back tothe launch site.

However, the main feature of this lake, as its newname may suggest were the boulders. They wereeverywhere and they were huge, the size of ahouse. You could be paddling in ten metres ofwater and then you were scraping the bottom ofthe yak as another boulder came out of nowhere.This meant that the lake was impossible for boatsto access without doing serious damage to the hullor propeller so it was perfect water for a kayak.

The fishing here was superb. The water was crystalclear and when fish live in clear water theirmarkings become brighter and more defined, likethey have been hand painted. This was especiallytrue for the perch with their sergeant major stripesand red fins. On my best day, I had 14 perch toover two pound caught on a drop shot rig andevery one of them was picture perfect. Eachmorning we all paddled off in our own directionto explore and you could go for hours withoutseeing each other again as the lake was so large.

ThePaddler 31

Boulders the size of a house

Sam Baxter with a pike

Fishing in the midnight sun

ThePaddler 32

I have never seen awaterway that holds such apopulation of pike and perch

Mark Radcliffe enjoying the solitudeof the Aman River

Sam Baxter in the afternoon sun Ospreys at Boulder Lake

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In reality only half thetime was spent fishing, the other half marvelling at the scenery and wildlife. Many of theprotruding rocks had miniature bonsai trees growing on them,one of the central islands had an Osprey nest with the parentscoming and going and occasionally surprising you by taking afish from the lake just a few hundred metres away. Anders, one ofthe Swedish team, saw a moose with calf come down to the lakefrom the forest to drink almost within touching distance of wherehe was anchored in a bay. Everything here was spectacular andthree days on this lake passed all too soon.

The second half of the trip was to be spent exploring the AmanRiver system. We moved camp a couple of hundred kilometres tothe east and the kayaks were moored in the tiny village ofHolmtrask as we explored north and south along the gentle riverand into the large lakes that it passed through. Unlike ourprevious venues, this area was fished a small amount by the localpopulation. Obviously here people fish for the table and the pikeand perch are a favourite meal so we werent sure what to expect.

Would the local fish population have been affected by thisharvesting for food or would it still be in good health. We neednthave worried. Within minutes of launching everyone wascatching pike. Not big fish but huge numbers of them. I havenever seen a waterway that holds such a population of pike andperch and over 30 pike a session became the norm with a similarnumber of perch taking the large pike lures.

The challenge on this water was to try and find the larger fish,and Sam Baxter led the way on this using a large casting fly onultra-light gear to find pike over 90cm every day. He even used hishome- made yellow rubber duck lure to great success deceiving a93cm pike into taking it from the surface. I spent all of my timeon this river system surface fishing with weed less frog lures in thereeds. It was a new method for me and is one of the most excitingways of fishing I have tried.

When you cast the lure into the reeds, you slowly twitch it backalong the surface imitating an injured frog. From the corner ofyour eye you see a swirl 20 metres away as a pike notices thedisturbance and then you just watch the bow wave getting closerand closer to the lure until a pike launches itself from the water,sometimes three feet into the air as it attacks what it thinks is aninjured frog. The hook up rate with this type of fishing was verypoor, but it was such an exhilarating and visual way to fish that Icouldnt resist it, and it resulted in many pike to 85cm.

Perch on the fly Sam Baxter with the smallest pike of the trip

After three dayshere our trip was over. The final evening was theobligatory barbecue where we repeated alreadyoften told stories, compared notes and madeplans for future Jackson Team trips. Thefollowing day we met Greger from SalmoLapland who wanted to know if we thought thatLapland was a viable destination for visitingkayak anglers.

Well really, what could we say? We had barelyscratched the surface having fished on only half adozen waters. Each water had offered superbfishing and spectacular scenery. On each wateryou had perfect solitude with minimal bankaccess and no sign of other watercraft. Did Ithink this was a destination other kayak anglerswould want to visit yes for sure. The long drive south to Stockholm with Sam and

Dave was a noticeably more muted affair than thedrive north had been. Each of us reflecting onwhat had been a fantastic trip. Everywhere welooked there was water and watching it pass by,we all knew that each pond, lake and river offeredfishing that could only be dreamt of in the UK.Would we be back to Sweden in the future?Absolutely, at the very earliest opportunity.

On each water you had perfect solitude with minimal bank access and no sign

of other watercraft

ThePaddler 34

The UK and Czech Jackson fishing teams

Mark Radcliffeplaying a pike

David Blairreturning from aday on the water

By Simon Everett

ThePaddler 36

A NEW STRETCH OFWATER

I like going to new waters to fish, thereis always an air of optimism and expectationabout that first visit. With everything so newthere is nothing that has become familiar andeven the scenery is a great stimulus. Therecould be a great slack, full of promise justaround the next bend. The landmarks areunfamiliar keeping all your senses alive whileyou soak in the surroundings and try to readthe water for likely fish holding spots.

I had a day like this the other week, out on the kayak to try anew stretch of water that I had been told was very lightlyfished, as there is no way of accessing it by land and fewpeople can be bothered with the effort that is required toreach it by water, a paddle of about 2.5 miles and with noboat launch for a conventional boat, so it makes it a perfectvenue for the paddling angler.

We arrived on the bankside early, hoping to get launched andfishing before the sun got too high. It was a calm, crispmorning with a clear, blue sky as we slid our kayaks into thewater and loaded up. I was using my fly rod and just had myfishing bag with the small gear, a drink and something tonibble on in it. The water had already started to warm up afterthe long, cold spell over winter. It was good to be back on thewater, exercising muscles that had had a long layoff, andgetting my paddling rhythm and casting arm back in action.

As we made steady progress on the two mile paddle aheadof us against the current of the big river we passed a fewpeople fishing from the bank and gave them a wide berthmaking a special effort to paddle cleanly and not make toomuch water disturbance traversing their swim. They mayhave spent several days feeding that swim in preparation forthis day of fishing and I am not into spoiling other peoplesleisure time.

In my experience fish are not bothered by a carefullypaddled kayak, which is one of the attractions of a kayak inthe first place, they are a very stealthy craft to fish from, butfish are definitely disturbed by splashy actions and noise,especially human voices. We pressed on, past stands ofpussywillow that were already coming into flower withmasses of the soft, fluffy, silvery buds. We made mentalnotes of various really good looking places for future visits,but as they were just out of the flow it would requireanchoring in the river to fish them properly and we were ona mission, so couldnt spend the time today.

ThePaddler 37

ThePaddler 38

The two miles soon slipped behind us as the Kaskazi kayaksglided almost effortlessly through the water,round various tight bends until uponrounding the last one, the entrance to theunfished water appeared. We turned off andglided into the calm offshoot from the riverand gasped at the prospect that faced us. Thebanks were totally overgrown with willow andalder, making it impossible to fish from theshore without some serious chainsaw work.We could now see why there was so muchexcitement about fishing the spot. I started toplumb the depths along the edge with the fishfinder, where the tree branches were hangingin the water.

The Dragonfly sonar showed it was fairlyuniform along this side at about four or fivefeet deep right by the trees and so perfect forpike to lay in ambush. The opposite side wassteep and inaccessible from the bank with avertical drop to the water of some eight to tenfeet, here the water was much deeper straightdown and the sonar showed masses of fishlying on the thermocline at 10 feet down,regardless of the depth of water the fish wereall at 10 feet. The sonar also showed the dropoff and structure of the bottom so we wereable to target good looking spots.

Mitch was casting lures, illuminated by sunlightagainst a backdrop of dark, leafless trees andbrooding clouds. His lure flew in an arc towardsthe tree-lined bank and landed with a gentlesplash. On about his third cast he gave a shout asthe rod bent into the first fish from this newstretch of water. It wasnt a big fish, but it was avery welcome one and gave us renewedconfidence.

I set up my drift with very little breeze to moveme, just enough to push me along very gentlyabout 25 yards out from the edge of the trees.The intermediate line took my 6 orange fly rightto the edge of the trees. Knowing there was fivefeet of water I gave it a count of ten beforebeginning the stop start retrieve. It felt fishy and Iwas in a positive mood, which is alwaysimportant. I was casting well and accurately,dropping the fly just short of the branches andthen working it back in a very consideredretrieve, with my mind picturing how the fly wasworking below the surface.

ThePaddler 39

I prefer to measure my pikenow, rather than weighthem, especially on thekayak where weighing ispretty impractical. I keep atape measure in my flywallet for the very purpose.This fish measured 86cmand I estimated its weight asI lifted it aboard as about8lbs, which is close enoughfor me. I am not that fussedby figures, I just enjoy myfishing, especially on a newand exciting piece of water.

me down the inlet a bit further and there was agap in the trees about ten feet wide. I didntanyone to tell me to cast as close to the bank as Icould in this gap. The water was clear enoughthat any pike would be able to see at least halfway and with the pulses from the fly would soonfind my offering. My first cast was just a bitwayward and landed the fly on the end of adrooping branch, one slight tug had it droppingoff and into the water right beside the branches. Igave it a pause and began to retrieve, expectingthe line to go tight at any moment. It didnt. Icouldnt believe it, a cast like that deserved a fish.I recast and landed the fly in the middle of thegap. I counted to five and started to bring the flyback in short, sharp jerks.

The fly was probably half way back to the kayak,certainly well clear of the trees, when I got athumping take and the fish bore off into deepwater. It really fought hard and I got it to the sideof the kayak where it went berserk, head-shakingand leaping clear of the water. The pike bore awayagain and I let it have some line as I slowed it up.Once more I got the pike alongside, but it stillwasnt ready and thrashed away sending a flurry ofspray everywhere. On the third attempt I managedto grip the pike safely under the chin and lifted itgently aboard to measure and photograph it. Thebarbless hook slipped out easily enough and thepike was carefully returned. It lay on my hands,right way up, just under the surface for a fewmoments while it got its bearings back, then it justmoved off gently back into the murky depths.

ThePaddler 40

The breeze pushed

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I ended up paddling about four miles and I have to say I waspleasantly surprised with the performance. I am not saying I am gettingrid of the P13 or my SINK but when I am looking to do just a bit of lurefishing and cutting back on all the gear or to take the wife or grandsonout then this is just the job. Others have reviewed the Kaafu as asaltwater vessel so I will only comment on it as a fresh/flat water fishingkayak. Hand on heart I found myself smiling as I paddled, it is a greatfirst kayak for people on a budget but also ideal for lure fishing, flyfishing. It is stable and deceptively fast and straight.

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beside the seaside, beside the sea

Sitons.com beach survey results

ThePaddler 42

Words and pics: Tez Plavenieks

Graphic: Sitons.co

m

UK summer is now in full effect. Birdsare tweeting, wafts of BBQ aromasfill the air, ice creams are licked,moods are buoyant, coastaldestinations are positively buzzingand the paddling fraternity have shedthat annoying winter attire (mostly).Cast your mind back to 2013s balmymonths and although it may be adistant memory there were plentyhitting the sands then as well. Sitons.com was keen to investigate visiting habits andlaunched their beach survey, in partnership withPerception Kayaks Europe, to an unprecedentedresponse. A diverse spectrum of beach goers all heardthe call even if they didnt have any intention ofdipping a toe which gave a broad range of data.

Many head for the coast during good weather evenwhen the sun doesnt have his hat on large numbersflock to the seaside for frolics in the sea, to buildsandcastles and maybe sink a cold one in the sun.Most stretches of sand during high season will beblanketed with visitors. Those wielding paddles willseek out golden beaches, shingle expanses and rockyshorelines anywhere for a spot of yakin under awarm sun.

Having sifted, collated and compiled; the insightsrevealed give an interesting snapshot of the nationsbeach visiting habits. Straight out of the blocksCornwall (possibly unsurprisingly) tops out at numberone for most visited beach county. Dorset and Devonfollow closely behind, giving the south west a cleanpodium sweep. Norfolk nips in at number five whilePembrokeshire makes the top 10, yet again provingthe magnetic draw of Celtic regions. Scotland makes agood showing and Sussex grips on tightly at numberfour even shingly beaches reel in the numbers.

beside the seaside, beside the sea

Sitons.com beach survey results

ThePaddler 43

to tell us why they made the pilgrimage totheir chosen spot and it seems when spendingtime afloat isnt a priority, having a good qualityand accessible beach is still important. 76.43%of responders were families who love an openexpanse of sand for kids to roam and parentsto relax. Sole travellers hitting the coast wereonly 9.46%, suggesting its preferable to bebeside the sea in a group, with friends oraccompanied by relatives.

Those actually splashing about in the drink(35%) gorged themselves with up to threehour stints; while 24.82% of visitors didnt getwet at all you dont need webbed feet toappreciate the coast.

Distance travelled to each venue was eyeopening the majority not trekking too far toaccess their chosen beach. 37.90% journeyedless than 10 miles while 34.72% completedbetween 10m-50m. Only 27.33% broke the50m barrier.

ThePaddler 44

We asked people

ThePaddler 46

As summer gets underway in the UK, were sure therell be the usual race for the coast as good weather bathesus. Wherever your favourite beach destination, and however you choose to spend your time there, wereconfident youll have a great time being beside the seaside, beside the sea

Sitons.com the website all about sit on top kayaking. Contact [email protected] for more info.

Cardiff International White Water6 September FREE to spectators This event is your chance to try out a range of water-sports for the very first time (including canoeing,kayaking and stand up paddle boarding) as CIWWspecial 'taster sessions' will be offered at a reducedrate of only 5 per person for a 1.5 hour session!

Or if you are an experienced paddler see the latest kiton sale and get some handy hints and technicalguidance at the trade stalls. Also the water will be onall day so why not park and play? Park and Playsessions are for experienced paddlers who have theirown equipment and want to enjoy all the course hasto offer! Warm up on the flat water, relax on theconveyor, and then experience the on demand whitewater! They offer a range of features to suit both theintermediate and advanced boater.

The action packed Indoor Surfing attraction will alsobe open so book your space now by calling 029 20829970. Prices start from 25. Otherwise just relax, graba drink and a bite to eat, in the caf bar, and enjoy livemusic on the bandstand.

All activity sessions include training and kit. Terms andconditions apply.

Find out more at www.ciww.comTwitter : @cardiffintwwFacebook: facebook.com/cardiffinternationalwhitewater

ThePaddler 48

White Water FestSupported by WRW Construction

To advertise email: [email protected] call +44 (0)1480 465081 ThePaddler 49

Available in digital and printSUP Mag UK is your one stop shop for all things stand up paddle related from our green andpleasant land. Printed on top quality 115gsm matt paper with thick laminated covers - its topnotch! Get BIG savings with the digital version that comes with support for mobile devices - noneed to install apps at all with HTML5! Optimized for all major mobile platforms including iOS,Android and Win8.To subscribe to a printed copy visit: www.standuppaddlemag.co.uk/subscribe.htmlTo subscribe to a digital copy visit: http://joom.ag/Z0db

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SaltyPaddler052 New Zealand

Circumnavigation of the south island by Tara Mulvany

060 Nova Scotia, CanadaBy Christopher Lockyer and Jarrod GunnMcQuillan

ThePaddler 50

ThePaddler 52

By Tara Mulvany

Sim and Tara. Photo: Paul Caffyn

Rounding the sea stacks off Nugget Point onmy way to the south coast

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On a cool, still morning in latespring 2012, my friend Sim and Ipaddled away from MilfordSound. Huge granite cliffs towered aboveus, and waterfalls spilled from hangingvalleys, plunging into the dark, tanninstained water below. A bubbling concoctionof excitement, expectation and fear filledme. There was so much uncertainty in whatlay ahead, and I suddenly felt very small,and the task ahead seemed so huge.

Huge cyclones down in the Southern Oceanforced violent south westerly fronts over thelower South Island, and along with thembrought a huge, powerful swell. With a briefbreak between these fronts, we slippedquietly out onto the Tasman Sea, eager tomake some headway north. We paddled pasta wild an untouched land, covered in ablanket of native forest. Sun-bleacheddriftwood lay scattered on sandy beaches, andswirls of seaweed clung to jumbles of rock.

Awintercircumnavigationof New ZealandsSouth Island

Sim and Tara. Photo: Paul Caffyn

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the ocean was calm, and the wilds slight. Butsoon, the storms moved in, and we were trappedon land for days at a time. From wind sweptbeaches we watched sooty shearwaters glidingpast us on the gusts of wind, carving sweepingarcs across the sky. Heavy rain belted down fromdark clouds, and the mountains slowly becamecovered in thick snow.

We tip toed lightly in the weeks that followed,slowly inching our way up the west coast in thebrief weather windows that we were given. But asthe days grew shorter and colder, I couldnt helpbut question our decision to have set off inwinter. Perhaps there was a reason it had neverbeen attempted at this time of the year before.There was nothing we could do but sit and waitfor the storms to pass, and the seas to ease.

On rare calm days, after a battle out through thesurf, we were treated to incredible views of afairytale land. The huge mountain range of theSouthern Alps stood tall beside us, with theirglaciers tumbling down like rivers of ice, into the lush rainforest below. Huge waves exploded on beaches of golden sand, and albatross often circled above us, gliding over the crest of the

For three days,

Battling with the south coast surf. Photo: Belinda Mulvany

waves with utmost control.

Further north, Nikau palmshung over beaches of purewhite sand, and the swell

smashed into rocky headlands,sending sheets of salty spray upwards.

There were no roads, no houses, and nocontact with the outside world.

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lush rainforest below. Huge waves exploded on beaches of golden sand, and albatross often circled above us, gliding over the crest of the

Then after nearly two months, we roundedFarewell Spit, a 35 km long, narrow strip ofsand that marked the end of the west coast. Wehad been tested like never before. Wed takenmore than a handful of rolls between us,survived a couple of big surf landings in thedark, endured days of sea sickness, and evenmanaged to loose each other for four days. But,we had survived, and in a moment of relief, weslipped onto the calm waters of the PacificOcean.

The swell smashed into rocky headlands, sending sheets of

salty spray upwards

A gloomy morning in theAcheron Passage,Fiordland

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Halfway round the South Island things took an unexpected turn,for better or worse, Im still not sure. Either way,our relationship came to an end, and I was facedwith continuing on alone. I packed my boat andpaddled away. With a couple of weeks of settledcalm, spring weather, and I made quick progressdown the east coast. I paddled for 12 hours, dayafter day, munching chocolate bars like never before. Rounding Nugget Point, and the end of the east coast, I paddled through towers of giant

Beaches were few and far between, and I was alone in this

perfect wilderness.

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rock, and onto a grey and bleak south coast.

In Bluff, the end of State Highway One, I wastrapped for 10 days while nine metre swells batteredthe very stretch of coast I was heading for.

Wild, remote and unforgivingEventually I set off, with my kayak fully loaded withwhat I hoped was enough food to get me back toMilford. I paddled towards the beginning of theFiordland coast feeling a little nervous, but hugelyexcited at the same time. I was back in familiarwaters, and on the home run. All that separated menow from Milford Sound was 500 km of the mostwild, remote and unforgiving coastline in all of NewZealand.

Massive granite mountains dropped straight into theocean, and rainforest clung to near vertical rockfaces. On the water, penguins squawked, andsplashed before disappearing deep below. Beacheswere few and far between, and I was alone in thisperfect wilderness.

It took me two weeks to paddle back to where myjourney had first begun. Rounding St Annes Point, atthe entrance to Milford Sound, I wound my wayfrom point to point, skipping between the sheerwalls as I made my way towards the inner fiord. Iwas filled with an overwhelming sense of relief. Ithad taken me five months to complete my journey,and despite all the storms and challenges that I haddealt with, I had somehow pulled it off. As Irammed my boat onto dry land, I was quietlycontent.

Halfway round the South Island things took an unexpected turn,for better or worse, Im still not sure. Either way,our relationship came to an end, and I was facedwith continuing on alone. I packed my boat andpaddled away. With a couple of weeks of settledcalm, spring weather, and I made quick progressdown the east coast. I paddled for 12 hours, dayafter day, munching chocolate bars like never before. Rounding Nugget Point, and the end of the east coast, I paddled through towers of giant

Sim and I paddling down the MahitahiRiver on our way towards the westcoast surf. Bruce Bay, Westland

A year after completing my circumnavigation of theSouth Island,

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ThePaddler 19 Aug 2014 SUP cover