Hurley champINTERVIEWNick TROUTMAN
KayakPaddlerRegularPaddler SaltyPaddler SUPPaddler CanoePaddler
ThePaddlerezine.comThePaddlerezine.comInternational digital magazine for recreational paddlers
RememberedJUANITOde UGUARTE
Matt CookePYRANHASEuro TOUR
ThePaddler 4
Juanito de Uguarteremembered
Marianita, why like this? Juanitos seemingly serious voice made me turn. Afew of us were gathered around a fire on the shore of the Futaleuf river,enjoying a traditional Chilean asado. The Futa community is tightly knit weare all whitewater gypsies from around the world who spend season afterseason on its magical waters, hollering as we go past each other on the river,either guiding rafts, safety kayaking or simply enjoying the whitewater in ourkayaks. Juanito was one of us, and has been for more than a decade. Buthowever much we all shared the love for the mesmerizing waters of theFutaleuf, Juanito would never cease at every opportunity to make us gonorth. Man, there is no place like Peru. If you want to paddle real white water,you have to come to Cusco. The Apurmac is the shiiiit, man! Then he would
laugh and so would we. That is what Juanito did to the world around him. Hecarried so much happiness and positivity within himself that it was impossibleto not get smitten. He also carried his beautiful homeland in his heart and
soul, generously sharing the love for his home with all of us.
Words by Mariann Sther Photos by Seth Ashworth
Main photo left:Juanito de Uguarte poses for a portrait during the Red Bull First Descent:Michoacan project, in Uruapan, MI, Mexico, on 24 November, 2013
Photographer: John Rathwell / Red Bull Content Pool
ThePaddler 5
ThePaddler 4
Juanito de Uguarteremembered
Marianita, why like this? Juanitos seemingly serious voice made me turn. Afew of us were gathered around a fire on the shore of the Futaleuf river,enjoying a traditional Chilean asado. The Futa community is tightly knit weare all whitewater gypsies from around the world who spend season afterseason on its magical waters, hollering as we go past each other on the river,either guiding rafts, safety kayaking or simply enjoying the whitewater in ourkayaks. Juanito was one of us, and has been for more than a decade. Buthowever much we all shared the love for the mesmerizing waters of theFutaleuf, Juanito would never cease at every opportunity to make us gonorth. Man, there is no place like Peru. If you want to paddle real white water,you have to come to Cusco. The Apurmac is the shiiiit, man! Then he would
laugh and so would we. That is what Juanito did to the world around him. Hecarried so much happiness and positivity within himself that it was impossibleto not get smitten. He also carried his beautiful homeland in his heart and
soul, generously sharing the love for his home with all of us.
Words by Mariann Sther Photos by Seth Ashworth
Main photo left:Juanito de Uguarte poses for a portrait during the Red Bull First Descent:Michoacan project, in Uruapan, MI, Mexico, on 24 November, 2013
Photographer: John Rathwell / Red Bull Content Pool
ThePaddler 5
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On this very day some of us had been paddling together on the Futa, others, like Juanito, had shown up for the asado in the evening. Hepaddled down from Cave Camp to join us after work and would be returning to work again early morning byfoot. He would not miss an asado with friends even if he had to solo all the 35 kilometres of whitewater thatFutaleuf consists of and walk the same length back to get to work early next morning. To Juanito this wasnatural he took nobody for granted and was never scared of showing it.
We had just opened a beer each when his voice caught me off guard. Upon turning around and seeing hismischievous smile, I also started laughing. Si, hermanito, para la Pachamama", I dutifully replied and poured asmall part of my freshly opened beer onto the ground. It was a ritual he introduced me to many years ago,when we were still in our early twenties and after just met on the shores of the Futaleuf.
He told me there should always be a small sacrifice to the beautiful Mother Earth, to appreciate her love andto show gratitude for what she gives us: life and Juanito was so full of it. He had the ability to walk into aroom or paddle into an eddy and illuminate it with his joy for life, his stoke and charisma. He loved his life,and he loved the path he had chosen to follow.
ThePaddler 7
ThePaddler 6
On this very day some of us had been paddling together on the Futa, others, like Juanito, had shown up for the asado in the evening. Hepaddled down from Cave Camp to join us after work and would be returning to work again early morning byfoot. He would not miss an asado with friends even if he had to solo all the 35 kilometres of whitewater thatFutaleuf consists of and walk the same length back to get to work early next morning. To Juanito this wasnatural he took nobody for granted and was never scared of showing it.
We had just opened a beer each when his voice caught me off guard. Upon turning around and seeing hismischievous smile, I also started laughing. Si, hermanito, para la Pachamama", I dutifully replied and poured asmall part of my freshly opened beer onto the ground. It was a ritual he introduced me to many years ago,when we were still in our early twenties and after just met on the shores of the Futaleuf.
He told me there should always be a small sacrifice to the beautiful Mother Earth, to appreciate her love andto show gratitude for what she gives us: life and Juanito was so full of it. He had the ability to walk into aroom or paddle into an eddy and illuminate it with his joy for life, his stoke and charisma. He loved his life,and he loved the path he had chosen to follow.
ThePaddler 7
ThePaddler 8
Some years back we were sitting under another starry skybasking in the light from another fire. I was headingout early morning to run the Rio Pascua in southernPatagonia, while he would stay behind to surf anewly discovered wave that he had baptized ElPistola.
Nothing would make him smile more than surfingthis wave in those days, perfecting his freestylemoves. Just before going to bed Juanito quietlyhanded me a little plastic water-gun. I smiled whileclosing my hand around it, but Juanito was in hisserious mood. It was his lucky talisman and he toldme he always kept it in his lifejacket, My friend, fillthis up with water from the Pascua and it will keep yousafe, so you come back to us.
As it happened, I took the worst swim of my life onthe Pascua. Upon returning to Juanitos company onthe Futa we shared a bottle of Pisco and celebratedlife and the magic of his lucky water-gun. In manyways this shows the essence of who he was: a deeplyembracing soul with a caring heart for peoplearound him. He was always more worried aboutothers on the river than himself.
While he always had an immense appetite for lifeand loved being with his family and friends, he wasalso a very driven and dedicated athlete. His pathwas clear and he knew where he wanted to go. Hewanted to become as good as possible and to loveevery step of it. It was not always easy for him totravel out of South America, as visas sometimeswere tricky to obtain for a Peruvian.
However, after having paddled for years on theFutaleufu with many of the big names from theOttawa Valley in Canada, he finally got a job workingon the Ottawa River two years ago. I remember hismessages were ecstatic during that first season hetruly loved the river and the people he got to paddleand hang out with.
In later years he had been getting more recognitionfor paddling challenging whitewater with projectslike the Amazon Express project and Red BullsMichoacan project in 2013. Thus this year he becamea fully sponsored athlete and a proud member ofTeam Jackson with Jackson kayaks. His drive to excelin all aspects of kayaking was always inspiring, fromhis slalom competitions around the world in theearly 2000s to big wave freestyle competitions andextreme creek racing.
ThePaddler 9
As he himself simply put it, The onlythings that give meaning to my life arethe sports I practice
ThePaddler 8
Some years back we were sitting under another starry skybasking in the light from another fire. I was headingout early morning to run the Rio Pascua in southernPatagonia, while he would stay behind to surf anewly discovered wave that he had baptized ElPistola.
Nothing would make him smile more than surfingthis wave in those days, perfecting his freestylemoves. Just before going to bed Juanito quietlyhanded me a little plastic water-gun. I smiled whileclosing my hand around it, but Juanito was in hisserious mood. It was his lucky talisman and he toldme he always kept it in his lifejacket, My friend, fillthis up with water from the Pascua and it will keep yousafe, so you come back to us.
As it happened, I took the worst swim of my life onthe Pascua. Upon returning to Juanitos company onthe Futa we shared a bottle of Pisco and celebratedlife and the magic of his lucky water-gun. In manyways this shows the essence of who he was: a deeplyembracing soul with a caring heart for peoplearound him. He was always more worried aboutothers on the river than himself.
While he always had an immense appetite for lifeand loved being with his family and friends, he wasalso a very driven and dedicated athlete. His pathwas clear and he knew where he wanted to go. Hewanted to become as good as possible and to loveevery step of it. It was not always easy for him totravel out of South America, as visas sometimeswere tricky to obtain for a Peruvian.
However, after having paddled for years on theFutaleufu with many of the big names from theOttawa Valley in Canada, he finally got a job workingon the Ottawa River two years ago. I remember hismessages were ecstatic during that first season hetruly loved the river and the people he got to paddleand hang out with.
In later years he had been getting more recognitionfor paddling challenging whitewater with projectslike the Amazon Express project and Red BullsMichoacan project in 2013. Thus this year he becamea fully sponsored athlete and a proud member ofTeam Jackson with Jackson kayaks. His drive to excelin all aspects of kayaking was always inspiring, fromhis slalom competitions around the world in theearly 2000s to big wave freestyle competitions andextreme creek racing.
ThePaddler 9
As he himself simply put it, The onlythings that give meaning to my life arethe sports I practice
Grateful to be a paddlerBy Christian Wagley
As with so many of us working to make theworld a better place, many times its the badthings that drive me to action. Whether itspollution in our local rivers, elected officialswho favour dirty industries, or the globalchallenge of climate change, whats wrong inthe world often evokes the most passion.
Yet the paddling community is made-up of mostlycaring, kind, and thoughtful people who favour positiveaction. We want good things for our families,communities, and the special places where wepaddle especially actions that protect our favouritewaterways or build community.
With the holiday season upon us, that makes me thinkof all the good things that I and probably many otherpaddlers are grateful to have in our lives. Im refiningmy own gratitude practice by reminding myself ofhow paddling brings so much good into my life. Afterall, if were out paddling, that means were breathingfresh air, stretching our muscles, and exploring thelarger world.
Im grateful that I have favourite places to paddle herealong the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico.Theres an urban waterfront where I can marvel atlarge ships in the port, and explore the ballast stonealong the shoreline left by wooden sailing ships over acentury ago. My favourite remote paddle is along anisolated bay shoreline where pines and palmettosstretch along the shore, seagrass beds are lush, andthrough the clear waters I see an abundance of fish,squid, and other marine life.
Im grateful for the way that paddling connects mewith other people who care about nature andcommunity. Some of the best people I know areregular paddlers, who find the same connection withnature and relaxation that I seek. We are socialcreatures, and Im grateful that through paddling I havemore good people in my life.
Im grateful for how briskly paddling my kayak loosensmy shoulders and makes my heart beat fast. I feel theendorphins surging, and my body gets stronger as itslimits are tested.
Im grateful for how paddling brings me experiencesthat I could never have in any other way. I can quietlyfloat beneath a tree where a bald eagle feasts on afish, and watch a dolphin glide beneath me.
Im grateful for how paddling is so easy on the waters Ilove. I leave behind nothing but a gentle wake thatquickly fades away.
Im grateful that time on my kayak simplifies my life. Ina world in which the course of civilization tendstoward more complication, paddling keeps megrounded in the simplicity that I value.
The holiday season can itself be a source ofcomplication as a frenetic pace and excessive spendingon gifts can detract from the religious and spiritualfocus. Be sure to get out on the water this holidayseason if you can. Whether you do or not, bringgratitude into the season by recognizing and givingthanks for the many wonderful things that paddlingbrings to our lives.
ThePaddler 12
Leslie
Kolovich
For more information on howyou can participate whereveryou may be on the Planet visitwww.supradioshow.com/wpftp
Stay tuned for my weeklypodcast of The Paddlers
Planet with my guest hostChristian Wagley on
www.supradioshow.com,
Where we are Standing Upfor the Planet!
Photo: Joan Vienot
To advertise email: [email protected] or call +44 (0)1480 465081 ThePaddler 13
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?
Standard Full Cut FlowDistribution: www.systemxeurope.com
Grateful to be a paddlerBy Christian Wagley
As with so many of us working to make theworld a better place, many times its the badthings that drive me to action. Whether itspollution in our local rivers, elected officialswho favour dirty industries, or the globalchallenge of climate change, whats wrong inthe world often evokes the most passion.
Yet the paddling community is made-up of mostlycaring, kind, and thoughtful people who favour positiveaction. We want good things for our families,communities, and the special places where wepaddle especially actions that protect our favouritewaterways or build community.
With the holiday season upon us, that makes me thinkof all the good things that I and probably many otherpaddlers are grateful to have in our lives. Im refiningmy own gratitude practice by reminding myself ofhow paddling brings so much good into my life. Afterall, if were out paddling, that means were breathingfresh air, stretching our muscles, and exploring thelarger world.
Im grateful that I have favourite places to paddle herealong the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico.Theres an urban waterfront where I can marvel atlarge ships in the port, and explore the ballast stonealong the shoreline left by wooden sailing ships over acentury ago. My favourite remote paddle is along anisolated bay shoreline where pines and palmettosstretch along the shore, seagrass beds are lush, andthrough the clear waters I see an abundance of fish,squid, and other marine life.
Im grateful for the way that paddling connects mewith other people who care about nature andcommunity. Some of the best people I know areregular paddlers, who find the same connection withnature and relaxation that I seek. We are socialcreatures, and Im grateful that through paddling I havemore good people in my life.
Im grateful for how briskly paddling my kayak loosensmy shoulders and makes my heart beat fast. I feel theendorphins surging, and my body gets stronger as itslimits are tested.
Im grateful for how paddling brings me experiencesthat I could never have in any other way. I can quietlyfloat beneath a tree where a bald eagle feasts on afish, and watch a dolphin glide beneath me.
Im grateful for how paddling is so easy on the waters Ilove. I leave behind nothing but a gentle wake thatquickly fades away.
Im grateful that time on my kayak simplifies my life. Ina world in which the course of civilization tendstoward more complication, paddling keeps megrounded in the simplicity that I value.
The holiday season can itself be a source ofcomplication as a frenetic pace and excessive spendingon gifts can detract from the religious and spiritualfocus. Be sure to get out on the water this holidayseason if you can. Whether you do or not, bringgratitude into the season by recognizing and givingthanks for the many wonderful things that paddlingbrings to our lives.
ThePaddler 12
Leslie
Kolovich
For more information on howyou can participate whereveryou may be on the Planet visitwww.supradioshow.com/wpftp
Stay tuned for my weeklypodcast of The Paddlers
Planet with my guest hostChristian Wagley on
www.supradioshow.com,
Where we are Standing Upfor the Planet!
Photo: Joan Vienot
To advertise email: [email protected] or call +44 (0)1480 465081 ThePaddler 13
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?
Standard Full Cut FlowDistribution: www.systemxeurope.com
JetBoil Sumohttp://www.jetboil.comBy Scott EdwardsAs someone who truly loves camping, doingso from a kayak was a natural progression forme, especially with the plethora ofopportunities that are available virtually allover the globe. I am particularly fond of theMaine Island Trail, which I have mentioned in aprevious article. Only members of the MaineIsland Trail Association (a non-profitorganization see: http://www.mita.org/) cancamp on these islands, some of which areprivately owned and they all have strict rulesabout leaving the island as you found it, whichmeans as if you were never there. In fact, Ihighly endorse the leave no trace credo whenit comes to camping, making fires, if allowed,below the high tide line, practicing a carry in-carry out habit of leaving my site as I found it,no signs of human encroachment.
One of the things I enjoy about camping is preparingmeals outside, and I dont mean barbecuing. One thingyou need to have to do this is the proverbial campstove. The world of the camp stove has evolved fromcooking over an open fire to stoves that can nowcharge your electronic devices. We've used every fuelimaginable and pumped pressure into reservoirs until
our arms fell off. We've had to use windscreens, and wehave forgotten windscreens only to have our efforts toeven have a cup of coffee foiled just when you need itmost, much less get enough nutrition to power a day ofpaddling. Spilled fuel is always a concern, especially in akayak, where it would get all over everything in thehatch, and perhaps react with the kayak itself. And ofcourse, the smell of some of the fuels can be downrightunpleasant. However, I think those days are over,especially for me with my penchant for camping out ofa kayak. Enter into my world the JetBoil line of stoves.Small, self contained, no fuel to spill and will heat a quartof water to full rolling boil before you can get yoursmartphone stop watch initialized.
Fits in a small dry bagFirst, let me say that I will be talking about the Sumosize of the JetBoil. Yet, despite its name, denoting sizeand girth, still fits in a small dry bag along with a couplefuel canisters. Now, one of the initial push backs I goton this system is the empty canisters that one will haveto pack out during your trip. JetBoil uses a proprietaryJetPower to optimize its cooking system. JetPower fuelcontains a blend of propane and iso-butane. Propaneprovides higher vapour pressure to the fuel, whichmeans better performance in cold weather. Iso-butaneprovides more constant pressure as the fuel level getslow. The JetPower fuel canister is also designed to stowconveniently within the cooking cup. I have also beenasked can you travel with JetBoil. The answer is yes youcan, but, you need to make sure you have fuel sourcesat your destination. Airlines are prohibited fromtransporting pressurized flammable containers. Visithttp://www.jetboil.com/Support/International-Distributors/ to find fuel wherever your journey maytake you.
Keeping to my desire to minimize, if not eliminate myimpact on my campsite; I have no problem carrying outthe fuel canisters. The Sumo comes equipped with alarge main pot,' three cups/bowls, fuel mountingsystem with integrated sparking unit and flame control,folding stability legs to go on the fuel can that attachesto the base and lids for everything.
As I said earlier, everything fits easily into a small drybag, making transport a breeze and leaving you plentyof room for the rest of your gear. Which if you arecounting on your kayak to carry everything, every inch
ThePaddler 18
Testing,
w
gThePaddler ezine test station. If youwantyourproductreviewedanditwillbeofinterestto paddlers - email us: [email protected] 01642 520234in association with
www.nswatersports.com
01642 520234
in association with
in association with www.nswatersports.com 01642 520234
counts. Especially on multi day trips where youll need tocarry more than a days worth of food, a tent, water,changes of clothing, sleeping bag and whatever elsemakes up your cant do without kit.
Robust constructionThe construction is robust, I have no fears of anythingbreaking in transit and set up is simple and fast. Onceassembled you are literally a couple of minutes from asteaming cup of a hot beverage, which can be a hugeboost when paddling in less than balmy conditions.
One of the things I like best about the Sumo is the factthat you have enough bowls/cups for not only yourselfbut also another camper. Meaning, quite simply moreroom in another kayak for more food, water, and gear, orwhatever will make your trip more enjoyable. For thoseof you who do camp out of kayaks you are well aware ofhow every inch is precious and can make the differencebetween bringing something and leaving it in the car.
Everything you see in the accompanying photographscame out of that one small dry bag. If you are going tobe responsible for cooking for a larger group, you willobviously need larger pots and pans. The parts stayedcool, the contents of the large pot stayed hot making itthe ideal vessel for a one pot meal, soup, chilli and thelike. The JetBoil system has accessories enough to satisfythe most hardcore gear junkie (like me) including acrunch it key to make the empty fuel canistersrecyclable! A major plus for me it makes the factthere is no fuel to spill and even bigger plus for theJetBoil. The one caveat about JetBoil accessories is thatthey often need the Pot Support Kit which allows youto use taller or larger cooking vessels with appropriatesafety and stability.
I have used a lot of different camp stoves in my life, fromsingle burner multi-fuel models to large table topmodels for 'car camping' and by far and away the JetBoilis the most efficient, most compact and easy to use andtransport cooking system Ive encountered. I have hadno difficulty finding an ample supply of the fuel and doplan ahead so I know I have enough for my trip thensome. As far as a compact, efficient, easily used andremarkably small, allowing easy, space saving storage, theJetBoil system seems to be designed perfectly for kayakcamping or anywhere that size is a factor, butperformance cannot be compromised.
ThePaddler 19
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.nswatersports.com
01642 520234
in association with
in association with www.nswatersports.com 01642 520234
JetBoil Sumohttp://www.jetboil.comBy Scott EdwardsAs someone who truly loves camping, doingso from a kayak was a natural progression forme, especially with the plethora ofopportunities that are available virtually allover the globe. I am particularly fond of theMaine Island Trail, which I have mentioned in aprevious article. Only members of the MaineIsland Trail Association (a non-profitorganization see: http://www.mita.org/) cancamp on these islands, some of which areprivately owned and they all have strict rulesabout leaving the island as you found it, whichmeans as if you were never there. In fact, Ihighly endorse the leave no trace credo whenit comes to camping, making fires, if allowed,below the high tide line, practicing a carry in-carry out habit of leaving my site as I found it,no signs of human encroachment.
One of the things I enjoy about camping is preparingmeals outside, and I dont mean barbecuing. One thingyou need to have to do this is the proverbial campstove. The world of the camp stove has evolved fromcooking over an open fire to stoves that can nowcharge your electronic devices. We've used every fuelimaginable and pumped pressure into reservoirs until
our arms fell off. We've had to use windscreens, and wehave forgotten windscreens only to have our efforts toeven have a cup of coffee foiled just when you need itmost, much less get enough nutrition to power a day ofpaddling. Spilled fuel is always a concern, especially in akayak, where it would get all over everything in thehatch, and perhaps react with the kayak itself. And ofcourse, the smell of some of the fuels can be downrightunpleasant. However, I think those days are over,especially for me with my penchant for camping out ofa kayak. Enter into my world the JetBoil line of stoves.Small, self contained, no fuel to spill and will heat a quartof water to full rolling boil before you can get yoursmartphone stop watch initialized.
Fits in a small dry bagFirst, let me say that I will be talking about the Sumosize of the JetBoil. Yet, despite its name, denoting sizeand girth, still fits in a small dry bag along with a couplefuel canisters. Now, one of the initial push backs I goton this system is the empty canisters that one will haveto pack out during your trip. JetBoil uses a proprietaryJetPower to optimize its cooking system. JetPower fuelcontains a blend of propane and iso-butane. Propaneprovides higher vapour pressure to the fuel, whichmeans better performance in cold weather. Iso-butaneprovides more constant pressure as the fuel level getslow. The JetPower fuel canister is also designed to stowconveniently within the cooking cup. I have also beenasked can you travel with JetBoil. The answer is yes youcan, but, you need to make sure you have fuel sourcesat your destination. Airlines are prohibited fromtransporting pressurized flammable containers. Visithttp://www.jetboil.com/Support/International-Distributors/ to find fuel wherever your journey maytake you.
Keeping to my desire to minimize, if not eliminate myimpact on my campsite; I have no problem carrying outthe fuel canisters. The Sumo comes equipped with alarge main pot,' three cups/bowls, fuel mountingsystem with integrated sparking unit and flame control,folding stability legs to go on the fuel can that attachesto the base and lids for everything.
As I said earlier, everything fits easily into a small drybag, making transport a breeze and leaving you plentyof room for the rest of your gear. Which if you arecounting on your kayak to carry everything, every inch
ThePaddler 18
Testing,
w
gThePaddler ezine test station. If youwantyourproductreviewedanditwillbeofinterestto paddlers - email us: [email protected] 01642 520234in association with
www.nswatersports.com
01642 520234
in association with
in association with www.nswatersports.com 01642 520234
counts. Especially on multi day trips where youll need tocarry more than a days worth of food, a tent, water,changes of clothing, sleeping bag and whatever elsemakes up your cant do without kit.
Robust constructionThe construction is robust, I have no fears of anythingbreaking in transit and set up is simple and fast. Onceassembled you are literally a couple of minutes from asteaming cup of a hot beverage, which can be a hugeboost when paddling in less than balmy conditions.
One of the things I like best about the Sumo is the factthat you have enough bowls/cups for not only yourselfbut also another camper. Meaning, quite simply moreroom in another kayak for more food, water, and gear, orwhatever will make your trip more enjoyable. For thoseof you who do camp out of kayaks you are well aware ofhow every inch is precious and can make the differencebetween bringing something and leaving it in the car.
Everything you see in the accompanying photographscame out of that one small dry bag. If you are going tobe responsible for cooking for a larger group, you willobviously need larger pots and pans. The parts stayedcool, the contents of the large pot stayed hot making itthe ideal vessel for a one pot meal, soup, chilli and thelike. The JetBoil system has accessories enough to satisfythe most hardcore gear junkie (like me) including acrunch it key to make the empty fuel canistersrecyclable! A major plus for me it makes the factthere is no fuel to spill and even bigger plus for theJetBoil. The one caveat about JetBoil accessories is thatthey often need the Pot Support Kit which allows youto use taller or larger cooking vessels with appropriatesafety and stability.
I have used a lot of different camp stoves in my life, fromsingle burner multi-fuel models to large table topmodels for 'car camping' and by far and away the JetBoilis the most efficient, most compact and easy to use andtransport cooking system Ive encountered. I have hadno difficulty finding an ample supply of the fuel and doplan ahead so I know I have enough for my trip thensome. As far as a compact, efficient, easily used andremarkably small, allowing easy, space saving storage, theJetBoil system seems to be designed perfectly for kayakcamping or anywhere that size is a factor, butperformance cannot be compromised.
ThePaddler 19
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.nswatersports.com
01642 520234
in association with
in association with www.nswatersports.com 01642 520234
https://www.liquidlogickayaks.comBy Phil CarrThe Squirrel is Liquid Logics latest whitewater kayak and the second designed throughthe companies Automatic For The Peopleinitiative. Demand for a boat similar to LiquidLogics successful Remix but with additionalbow rocker and volume in addition to anoverall increase in volume was high. In factLiquid Logic used the original Remix modelas the starting point for the Flying Squirreland built in many of the features that bothteam members and Liquid Logic fans hadbeen calling for.their heads in wonder.
I have been lucky enough to get hold of one of thefirst Squirrels to land here in the UK and have beenpaddling the Squirrel each week over the last coupleof months. Over the years I have owned a number ofLiquid Logic boats including Vision, Ronin, Biscuit andthe Stomper, so I was very interested to give this new#automaticforthepeople kayak a try.
The Squirrel was super easy to set up. The seat wasleft as was with only the hip pads added to theBADASS system. The footrest system is that same asfound in the Liquid Logic Stomper and consist of athick foam pad on a plastic plate. The position of thefootrest can be adjusted via a set of bolts located onthe side of the hull. Before paddling a kayak I like tomake sure that it is fully set up. For a creeker this also
includes the addition of a set of air bags. The rear ofthe Squirrel 95 will happily accept a pair of 35 litre airbags and the bow will take a pair of 15 litre air bagspositioned beyond the footrest.
Newer version of the BADASS systemOn getting in the boat I noticed that the BADASScovering for the hip pads didnt move. This wassomething that you needed to be careful of whenusing previous versions. This newer version of theBADASS system seams to offer greater coverage andstays in place very nicely. I did find that the backrestinitially sat quite low on my back compared to theWave Sport Recon, which has been my main boatover the last couple of years.
Those paddlers who have owned or have tried theLiquid Logic Stomper will be familiar with the facilityto tip the backrest up to allow full access to thestorage potential in the stern of the boat. This featurehas been removed from the Squirrel backrest system.Overall I like the BADASS system but think that itcould be made even better if there were some way ofeasily adding padding to the base of the seat.
On the bow of the boat I added a GoPro flat mountjust in front of the first grab handle. The deck at thispoint is virtually flat so an ideal/easy place to install the
ThePaddler 20
w
gThePaddler ezine test station. If youwantyourproductreviewedanditwillbeofinterestto paddlers - email us: [email protected] 01642 520234in association with
www.nswatersports.com
01642 520234
in association with
in association with www.nswatersports.com 01642 520234
Liquid Logic Sqirrel
ThePaddler 21
https://www.liquidlogickayaks.comBy Phil CarrThe Squirrel is Liquid Logics latest whitewater kayak and the second designed throughthe companies Automatic For The Peopleinitiative. Demand for a boat similar to LiquidLogics successful Remix but with additionalbow rocker and volume in addition to anoverall increase in volume was high. In factLiquid Logic used the original Remix modelas the starting point for the Flying Squirreland built in many of the features that bothteam members and Liquid Logic fans hadbeen calling for.their heads in wonder.
I have been lucky enough to get hold of one of thefirst Squirrels to land here in the UK and have beenpaddling the Squirrel each week over the last coupleof months. Over the years I have owned a number ofLiquid Logic boats including Vision, Ronin, Biscuit andthe Stomper, so I was very interested to give this new#automaticforthepeople kayak a try.
The Squirrel was super easy to set up. The seat wasleft as was with only the hip pads added to theBADASS system. The footrest system is that same asfound in the Liquid Logic Stomper and consist of athick foam pad on a plastic plate. The position of thefootrest can be adjusted via a set of bolts located onthe side of the hull. Before paddling a kayak I like tomake sure that it is fully set up. For a creeker this also
includes the addition of a set of air bags. The rear ofthe Squirrel 95 will happily accept a pair of 35 litre airbags and the bow will take a pair of 15 litre air bagspositioned beyond the footrest.
Newer version of the BADASS systemOn getting in the boat I noticed that the BADASScovering for the hip pads didnt move. This wassomething that you needed to be careful of whenusing previous versions. This newer version of theBADASS system seams to offer greater coverage andstays in place very nicely. I did find that the backrestinitially sat quite low on my back compared to theWave Sport Recon, which has been my main boatover the last couple of years.
Those paddlers who have owned or have tried theLiquid Logic Stomper will be familiar with the facilityto tip the backrest up to allow full access to thestorage potential in the stern of the boat. This featurehas been removed from the Squirrel backrest system.Overall I like the BADASS system but think that itcould be made even better if there were some way ofeasily adding padding to the base of the seat.
On the bow of the boat I added a GoPro flat mountjust in front of the first grab handle. The deck at thispoint is virtually flat so an ideal/easy place to install the
ThePaddler 20
w
gThePaddler ezine test station. If youwantyourproductreviewedanditwillbeofinterestto paddlers - email us: [email protected] 01642 520234in association with
www.nswatersports.com
01642 520234
in association with
in association with www.nswatersports.com 01642 520234
Liquid Logic Sqirrel
ThePaddler 21
sticky mount. The grab handles have a very slighttexture feel and are great for carrying the boat andvery easy to clip a carabiner into. Handles can befound on the bow and stern as well as mid-bow andon the stern x2 just behind the cockpit.
I sit within the middle portion of the suggested 170 270lb range for the Squirrel 95. For a 95 gallon boatthe Squirrel doesnt seem to feel that big and asexpected behaves very much like the Remix. That isntsurprising as the Remix was the basis of the Squirrel.The addition of extra volume in the stern is verywelcome and makes the Squirrel very forgiving. Evenwhilst sticking in some dodgy edging the Squirrel wasdetermined to stay the right way up. In many respectsthe stern feels very much like a combination of aRemix and the Stomper. Whilst the edges of theRemix have been softened a little, the Squirrel stillmaintains a good level of agility combines with a surefootedness that Jefe and Stomper paddles willrecognise.
Try both the 85 and 95 before fully committing I would imagine that if I were at the bottom end ofthe suggested weight range for the 95 that I wouldfind it to be a very large boat and possibly one that Iwould feel swamped in. The 85 and 95 do have quitea large cross over for suggested paddler weight and Iwould encourage anyone in that range to try both the85 and 95 before fully committing to one over theother. For me the 95 is absolutely ideal.
I have been using the Squirrel on a range of differentwater conditions from dry ditches to relatively highvolume flood and everything in-between. The Squirrel
rides high over waves and punches well throughstoppers. Yet at the same time I havent felt theSquirrel being pushed dramatically off line which canbe found on kayaks that ride high. As expected itboofs very well and resurfaces very well. Stability isextremely good and it rolls like a dream.
The Squirrel seems to combine a number of greatfeatures including the ability to turn really tightly andfeels stable whilst doing so. The Squirrel is ever soslightly longer than the Remix and shares its great turnof speed. This can catch some paddlers out at first butdoesn't take very long to get used to. Throughout mytime with it the Squirrel has been a delight to paddle.It may share a number of features with a significantnumber of previous Liquid Logic kayaks but dont letthat put you off the design has been carefullyconsidered and very well executed. The Liquid LogicSquirrel is a great kayak in itsown right and so much sothat a Squirrel 95 is now mymain kayak.
ThePaddler 22
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.
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] 01642 520234in association with
www.nswatersports.com
01642 520234
in association with
in association with www.nswatersports.com 01642 520234
sticky mount. The grab handles have a very slighttexture feel and are great for carrying the boat andvery easy to clip a carabiner into. Handles can befound on the bow and stern as well as mid-bow andon the stern x2 just behind the cockpit.
I sit within the middle portion of the suggested 170 270lb range for the Squirrel 95. For a 95 gallon boatthe Squirrel doesnt seem to feel that big and asexpected behaves very much like the Remix. That isntsurprising as the Remix was the basis of the Squirrel.The addition of extra volume in the stern is verywelcome and makes the Squirrel very forgiving. Evenwhilst sticking in some dodgy edging the Squirrel wasdetermined to stay the right way up. In many respectsthe stern feels very much like a combination of aRemix and the Stomper. Whilst the edges of theRemix have been softened a little, the Squirrel stillmaintains a good level of agility combines with a surefootedness that Jefe and Stomper paddles willrecognise.
Try both the 85 and 95 before fully committing I would imagine that if I were at the bottom end ofthe suggested weight range for the 95 that I wouldfind it to be a very large boat and possibly one that Iwould feel swamped in. The 85 and 95 do have quitea large cross over for suggested paddler weight and Iwould encourage anyone in that range to try both the85 and 95 before fully committing to one over theother. For me the 95 is absolutely ideal.
I have been using the Squirrel on a range of differentwater conditions from dry ditches to relatively highvolume flood and everything in-between. The Squirrel
rides high over waves and punches well throughstoppers. Yet at the same time I havent felt theSquirrel being pushed dramatically off line which canbe found on kayaks that ride high. As expected itboofs very well and resurfaces very well. Stability isextremely good and it rolls like a dream.
The Squirrel seems to combine a number of greatfeatures including the ability to turn really tightly andfeels stable whilst doing so. The Squirrel is ever soslightly longer than the Remix and shares its great turnof speed. This can catch some paddlers out at first butdoesn't take very long to get used to. Throughout mytime with it the Squirrel has been a delight to paddle.It may share a number of features with a significantnumber of previous Liquid Logic kayaks but dont letthat put you off the design has been carefullyconsidered and very well executed. The Liquid LogicSquirrel is a great kayak in itsown right and so much sothat a Squirrel 95 is now mymain kayak.
ThePaddler 22
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.
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] 01642 520234in association with
www.nswatersports.com
01642 520234
in association with
in association with www.nswatersports.com 01642 520234
In the Flowhttp://performance.sportscene.tvBy Ian BaileyFour years ago, I found myself in myfinal year at university studying foran outdoor degree. Sat in front ofme was a sports psychology essay,with no words on the page. Theproblem was that at that point,there was very little written workon kayaking-specific sportspsychology. The odd journal articlecould be found on competitiveslalom paddlers, but otherwise, Ilooked to other sports for myreferences.
Many paddlers will have heard of InnerSkiing, a book dealing with the issues ofhead games and the psychology side ofrisk sports. However, there has been veryfew (if any) sports psychology booksaimed solely at paddlers. Until now
In the Flow by Jonathan Males finallyaddresses this gap in the sportspsychology literature and I can see his work being quoted for ever more by outdooreducation students More importantly though, the book offers easy to understandadvice for all paddlers, covering everything from rebuilding confidence after a bad swim, tokeeping engaged with paddling in later life.
Drawing on his experience coaching both the British and the Australian Olympic slalomteams, Mally presents his four fundamentals for paddlers to work on to improve theirpaddling self-confidence. Citing a number of examples across different disciplines, as well asquotes from some of the worlds top kayakers, he shows how any paddler can make smallchanges to their mindset, to increase their performance.
The book is set out in an easy-to-read format, starting with the fundamentals of self-confidence, before moving on to look at how to apply them as either a recreational orcompetitive paddler. Each section is then neatly summarised with a series of thoughtprovoking review questions.
Although there is a wealth of information here for the budding slalom paddler, or highperformance coach, I was able to find an equal amount of good advice to apply to my
more modest river paddling. Towards the end ofthe book, Mally tackles some of the harderquestions in our sport Why do we do it? Whatdo we get from wilderness experiences and arethere gender differences in the way peoplebehave of the river?
I can fully recommend this book for anyonethats interested in the psychological side ofpaddle sports, whether they be a coach, athlete,or just trying to achieve their full potential.
In the Flow can be found athttp://performance.sportscene.tv/ as well asAmazon, available in both paper-back and e-book formats . For more of Jonathans work onpaddle sport specific sports psychology, checkout his blog: Diary of a Middle Aged Kayaker
Tiderace in ScotlandAfter three years hard work and havingsold a huge number of Tiderace SeaKayaks (many to those who paddled onhis trips), Roddy McDowell of Kayak Butehas decided to focus on the paddling,guiding and training part of his business.
Tiderace wish him every success in his futureendeavours and thank him and his team for suchan effective dealership over the years.
With immediate effect the new Tiderace SeaKayak dealer for Scotland is the Glenuig Inn onthe Sound of Arisaig on the west coast ofScotland, run by Steve Macfarlane,
The Inn was featured in the last issue of OceanPaddler Magazine, showing the fabulous paddlingto be had in the area as well as the wonderfulfacilities at the Inn. Having built the water sportsside of the business with a fleet of Tiderace SeaKayaks, it is a natural progression to provide andthen sell some of the worlds best sea kayaks.
In Steves words: We are delighted to becomepart of the Tiderace dealer network and tointroduce even more paddlers to the joy ofTiderace Sea Kayaks from our ideal location onScotlands iconic west coast.
To arrange a demo, to order a boat, or simply tohave a chat about the available range, contactSteve at Glenuig Inn:Phone 01687 470219 or 0795 735 6099www.glenuig.com/[email protected]
ThePaddler 24
w
gThePaddler ezine test station. If youwantyourproductreviewedanditwillbeofinterestto paddlers - email us: [email protected] 01642 520234in association with
www.nswatersports.com
01642 520234
in association with
in association with www.nswatersports.com 01642 520234
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
In the Flowhttp://performance.sportscene.tvBy Ian BaileyFour years ago, I found myself in myfinal year at university studying foran outdoor degree. Sat in front ofme was a sports psychology essay,with no words on the page. Theproblem was that at that point,there was very little written workon kayaking-specific sportspsychology. The odd journal articlecould be found on competitiveslalom paddlers, but otherwise, Ilooked to other sports for myreferences.
Many paddlers will have heard of InnerSkiing, a book dealing with the issues ofhead games and the psychology side ofrisk sports. However, there has been veryfew (if any) sports psychology booksaimed solely at paddlers. Until now
In the Flow by Jonathan Males finallyaddresses this gap in the sportspsychology literature and I can see his work being quoted for ever more by outdooreducation students More importantly though, the book offers easy to understandadvice for all paddlers, covering everything from rebuilding confidence after a bad swim, tokeeping engaged with paddling in later life.
Drawing on his experience coaching both the British and the Australian Olympic slalomteams, Mally presents his four fundamentals for paddlers to work on to improve theirpaddling self-confidence. Citing a number of examples across different disciplines, as well asquotes from some of the worlds top kayakers, he shows how any paddler can make smallchanges to their mindset, to increase their performance.
The book is set out in an easy-to-read format, starting with the fundamentals of self-confidence, before moving on to look at how to apply them as either a recreational orcompetitive paddler. Each section is then neatly summarised with a series of thoughtprovoking review questions.
Although there is a wealth of information here for the budding slalom paddler, or highperformance coach, I was able to find an equal amount of good advice to apply to my
more modest river paddling. Towards the end ofthe book, Mally tackles some of the harderquestions in our sport Why do we do it? Whatdo we get from wilderness experiences and arethere gender differences in the way peoplebehave of the river?
I can fully recommend this book for anyonethats interested in the psychological side ofpaddle sports, whether they be a coach, athlete,or just trying to achieve their full potential.
In the Flow can be found athttp://performance.sportscene.tv/ as well asAmazon, available in both paper-back and e-book formats . For more of Jonathans work onpaddle sport specific sports psychology, checkout his blog: Diary of a Middle Aged Kayaker
Tiderace in ScotlandAfter three years hard work and havingsold a huge number of Tiderace SeaKayaks (many to those who paddled onhis trips), Roddy McDowell of Kayak Butehas decided to focus on the paddling,guiding and training part of his business.
Tiderace wish him every success in his futureendeavours and thank him and his team for suchan effective dealership over the years.
With immediate effect the new Tiderace SeaKayak dealer for Scotland is the Glenuig Inn onthe Sound of Arisaig on the west coast ofScotland, run by Steve Macfarlane,
The Inn was featured in the last issue of OceanPaddler Magazine, showing the fabulous paddlingto be had in the area as well as the wonderfulfacilities at the Inn. Having built the water sportsside of the business with a fleet of Tiderace SeaKayaks, it is a natural progression to provide andthen sell some of the worlds best sea kayaks.
In Steves words: We are delighted to becomepart of the Tiderace dealer network and tointroduce even more paddlers to the joy ofTiderace Sea Kayaks from our ideal location onScotlands iconic west coast.
To arrange a demo, to order a boat, or simply tohave a chat about the available range, contactSteve at Glenuig Inn:Phone 01687 470219 or 0795 735 6099www.glenuig.com/[email protected]
ThePaddler 24
w
gThePaddler ezine test station. If youwantyourproductreviewedanditwillbeofinterestto paddlers - email us: [email protected] 01642 520234in association with
www.nswatersports.com
01642 520234
in association with
in association with www.nswatersports.com 01642 520234
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
www.drytech.noBy Frode and Wivian WiggenDrytech is a Norwegian company, establishedin 1989 with a long list of excellent clientsincluding the Norwegian armed forces,police, fire departments and some of thegreatest explorers in the world.
Drytech produce Real Turmat, which is a high-qualityfreeze dried food that comes in three different mealvarieties for food throughout the day.
A breakfast muesli in two recipes. Lunchtime soups in three recipes. Dinner casseroles in 13 recipes.
Several of their products are gluten-free and withoutmilk and they even have a vegetarian casserole. Perfectfor all outdoor activity and for kayaking we give it twothumbs up! Why? It is very easy to make and all youneed is hot water and a spoon!
Tear bag open, no tools required. Add water to level indicated on the back of the
bag. Stir, close the bag with the zip lock. Wait for five minutes, or do some moves to get
your body heat back. Eat and enjoy your hot meal. Roll the bag together, no dish washing. Paddle on!
The food is high in nutritional value whilst providingplenty of energy. The vacuumed packed bags are low involume and weigh in at only 140 grams ideal forexpeditions or multi-day trips. If are you are planning totravel around the world, you can bring some of thesemeals to be sure that you get enough energy and foodyou are familiar with without too much baggage.
And yes, of course it also tastes good the mainreason why we enjoy Real Turmat! Our personalfavourite for paddling in cold conditions is the MeatSoup, which also warms your hands for five minutes onthe hot bag, before you enjoy your meal.
Read more about Real Turmat and the nutritional valueon their webpage www.drytech.no
ThePaddler 26
w
gThePaddler ezine test station. If youwantyourproductreviewedanditwillbeofinterestto paddlers - email us: [email protected] 01642 520234in association with
www.nswatersports.com
01642 520234
in association with
in association with www.nswatersports.com 01642 520234
Real Turmat
www.drytech.noBy Frode and Wivian WiggenDrytech is a Norwegian company, establishedin 1989 with a long list of excellent clientsincluding the Norwegian armed forces,police, fire departments and some of thegreatest explorers in the world.
Drytech produce Real Turmat, which is a high-qualityfreeze dried food that comes in three different mealvarieties for food throughout the day.
A breakfast muesli in two recipes. Lunchtime soups in three recipes. Dinner casseroles in 13 recipes.
Several of their products are gluten-free and withoutmilk and they even have a vegetarian casserole. Perfectfor all outdoor activity and for kayaking we give it twothumbs up! Why? It is very easy to make and all youneed is hot water and a spoon!
Tear bag open, no tools required. Add water to level indicated on the back of the
bag. Stir, close the bag with the zip lock. Wait for five minutes, or do some moves to get
your body heat back. Eat and enjoy your hot meal. Roll the bag together, no dish washing. Paddle on!
The food is high in nutritional value whilst providingplenty of energy. The vacuumed packed bags are low involume and weigh in at only 140 grams ideal forexpeditions or multi-day trips. If are you are planning totravel around the world, you can bring some of thesemeals to be sure that you get enough energy and foodyou are familiar with without too much baggage.
And yes, of course it also tastes good the mainreason why we enjoy Real Turmat! Our personalfavourite for paddling in cold conditions is the MeatSoup, which also warms your hands for five minutes onthe hot bag, before you enjoy your meal.
Read more about Real Turmat and the nutritional valueon their webpage www.drytech.no
ThePaddler 26
w
gThePaddler ezine test station. If youwantyourproductreviewedanditwillbeofinterestto paddlers - email us: [email protected] 01642 520234in association with
www.nswatersports.com
01642 520234
in association with
in association with www.nswatersports.com 01642 520234
Real Turmat
Getting the theory behind what we need to do, why we needto it and how we need to do it is important. It helps us aspaddlers formulate a set of rules that can aid us in theappropriate selection of techniques or tactics for a particularsituation. When we are under pressure it gives us a base to fallback onto. However, without practice it is perhaps wastedinformation and something that doesnt help in ourperformance.
Whatever the theory is we need to trust it. We need to takeownership of the information and make it our own. If we ownand trust the theory it sticks and we are happy to have it asour fall back.
However, paddling is dynamic, fluid and rhythmical. We paddlein dynamic environments where we need to respond quicklyand efficiently to achieve the desired outcome. The backgroundinformation aids us in our planning and helps with the startpoint. This is where we need to have flair and creativity in ourperformance. This is particularly true in the advancedconditions. The more advanced the conditions the quicker thedecisions required in the constantly moving environment.
The dynamic nature of the environment requires us to be ableto adapt the our rules and find solutions often in the middle ofactivity. To help us with this we need to look at the types ofpractice we do.
ThePaddler 28
If you get out boating often enough you must improve. How many have said or hold this true?
By Dave Rossetterpaddlesport instruct
After all practice makes perfect! Right?This article is about practice and more especially the quality of the practice. I aim here to look at:
types of practice challenge and context within practice
A few quotes to get us going:
In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is.Yogi Berra - baseball player
Practice does not make perfect. Only perfect practice makes perfect.Vince Lombardi - American football coach
Knowledge is of no value unless you put it into practice.Anton Chekhov - Russian physician
When you are not practicing, someone else is getting better.Allen Iverson - basketball player
Its all about the
Three main types of practice:BlockedVariedRandom
Blocked practiceSame skill, same effort, same environment repeated over and over
Brilliant for grooving and gaining skill development especially good for early stages of skill development as well aslater stage development when looking to solve a particular problem.
The challenge of blocked practice can be in that dynamic environments things dont happen the same. The waterlevel is higher/lower, the wind is a slightly different angle, the boats packed differently etc.
Therefore we need a different approach. The skill we have been practicing is what we will fall back onto because thatworked in the past. That is no guarantee of the outcome this time. That can lead to frustration and/or lack ofmotivation to continue.
Varied practiceSame skill with changes speed, effort or environment.
A great way to test the skill in different environments. Dueto paddling in an ever changing environment we need tohave slightly different blend of techniques and tactics toachieve the desired outcome.
For example the outcome is crossing the eddy line. If wepractice doing the same thing in only place and one waywhat happens when we move to a different type of eddy?
By having the skill at a level where the paddler can thentake it and apply it to a different situation. This is vital forpaddlers as the conditions we are in vary. Therefore addingvariety to your practice will aid you in the long term.
The experiences that we have if they are varied will give usgreater options for our paddling. This is recognised by theNational Governing Body where for example, askingpaddlers to paddle in different geographical areas is helpingwith them having variety of options to achieve differentoutcomes.
Random practiceSkill is practiced and then left as different skills are beingworked before coming back to the original skill.
When we paddle we have to blend a lot of skills together.Using the river example we paddle out of the eddy, downthrough the rapid which may include avoiding differentobstacles, break out before having to then break in again.This using the skill, storing the skill and then recalling it isvital when the environment demands so much from us.When there is so much interference then having thestrategies that allow us to recall what we need when weneed is the key to a successful performance.
ThePaddler 29
ctor at Glenmore Lodge
practice!
Getting the theory behind what we need to do, why we needto it and how we need to do it is important. It helps us aspaddlers formulate a set of rules that can aid us in theappropriate selection of techniques or tactics for a particularsituation. When we are under pressure it gives us a base to fallback onto. However, without practice it is perhaps wastedinformation and something that doesnt help in ourperformance.
Whatever the theory is we need to trust it. We need to takeownership of the information and make it our own. If we ownand trust the theory it sticks and we are happy to have it asour fall back.
However, paddling is dynamic, fluid and rhythmical. We paddlein dynamic environments where we need to respond quicklyand efficiently to achieve the desired outcome. The backgroundinformation aids us in our planning and helps with the startpoint. This is where we need to have flair and creativity in ourperformance. This is particularly true in the advancedconditions. The more advanced the conditions the quicker thedecisions required in the constantly moving environment.
The dynamic nature of the environment requires us to be ableto adapt the our rules and find solutions often in the middle ofactivity. To help us with this we need to look at the types ofpractice we do.
ThePaddler 28
If you get out boating often enough you must improve. How many have said or hold this true?
By Dave Rossetterpaddlesport instruct
After all practice makes perfect! Right?This article is about practice and more especially the quality of the practice. I aim here to look at:
types of practice challenge and context within practice
A few quotes to get us going:
In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is.Yogi Berra - baseball player
Practice does not make perfect. Only perfect practice makes perfect.Vince Lombardi - American football coach
Knowledge is of no value unless you put it into practice.Anton Chekhov - Russian physician
When you are not practicing, someone else is getting better.Allen Iverson - basketball player
Its all about the
Three main types of practice:BlockedVariedRandom
Blocked practiceSame skill, same effort, same environment repeated over and over
Brilliant for grooving and gaining skill development especially good for early stages of skill development as well aslater stage development when looking to solve a particular problem.
The challenge of blocked practice can be in that dynamic environments things dont happen the same. The waterlevel is higher/lower, the wind is a slightly different angle, the boats packed differently etc.
Therefore we need a different approach. The skill we have been practicing is what we will fall back onto because thatworked in the past. That is no guarantee of the outcome this time. That can lead to frustration and/or lack ofmotivation to continue.
Varied practiceSame skill with changes speed, effort or environment.
A great way to test the skill in different environments. Dueto paddling in an ever changing environment we need tohave slightly different blend of techniques and tactics toachieve the desired outcome.
For example the outcome is crossing the eddy line. If wepractice doing the same thing in only place and one waywhat happens when we move to a different type of eddy?
By having the skill at a level where the paddler can thentake it and apply it to a different situation. This is vital forpaddlers as the conditions we are in vary. Therefore addingvariety to your practice will aid you in the long term.
The experiences that we have if they are varied will give usgreater options for our paddling. This is recognised by theNational Governing Body where for example, askingpaddlers to paddle in different geographical areas is helpingwith them having variety of options to achieve differentoutcomes.
Random practiceSkill is practiced and then left as different skills are beingworked before coming back to the original skill.
When we paddle we have to blend a lot of skills together.Using the river example we paddle out of the eddy, downthrough the rapid which may include avoiding differentobstacles, break out before having to then break in again.This using the skill, storing the skill and then recalling it isvital when the environment demands so much from us.When there is so much interference then having thestrategies that allow us to recall what we need when weneed is the key to a successful performance.
ThePaddler 29
ctor at Glenmore Lodge
practice!
ThePaddler 30
Bi-lateral One that we should all be aware. What side do youpractice on? How many have a roll that only workson one side?
Practicing consciously on both sides is a great wayto transfer information from one side to the other.You know when one side is working and the otherisnt. Focusing on what those differences are is agreat teacher.
The environments that we paddle in demand thatwe need skills on both sides regardless of what craftwe are in. Turning left and right to avoid obstacles,surfing a wave or a move that is better going leftinstead of right. As much as anything it keeps thebody equal and uses all muscles ranges and not justone side.
Challenge and context withinpractice Having knowledge of different practice structuresgives the ability to understand the context of ourtraining. We know that we can change how we traindepending on what the problem is that we need tosolve.
If we are looking to groove a skill, add flow orrhythm to our paddling then we can change thepractice to suit. However, we can also add challengesto the practice.
Examples of challenges:
Easy environment - hard moves. On easy grade water look to add the challenge bymaking harder moves. Looking for effective paddlingthat leads to efficiency.
Easy environment - easy moves. Improving the efficiency of the move seekingperfection.
Challenging environment - easy moves.Problem solving blending a mix of factors to solvethe problem.
Challenging environment - challengingmoves. Planning a blend of skills to solve the problem thatrequire different tactics in the trail and error phase.
Dave RossetterDave is the full time paddlesport instructor at Glenmore Lodge Scotlands National Outdoor Training Centre. Hehas been involved in the development of the new awards and provides expert advice throughout the industry on allthings to do with coaching, safety, leadership and personal paddling. He is passionate about all things paddling andspecialises in white water kayak and open canoe where he will most often be found. He is supported in his paddlingadventures and coaching by Pyranha Kayaks, Mad River Canoes and Palm Equipment.http://www.glenmorelodge.org.uk/ http://www.pyranha.com/ http://www.palmequipmenteurope.com/http://www.madrivercanoe.co.uk/
Use of features to createproblems to solveRecently while working with canoesand looking for a suitable challengefor boat control we used a pier. Theenvironment was benign but weeneeded to test boat control andensure the students had ways toturn, accelerate forwards and moveleft and right. This ability to userandom practice to challenge boathandling skills aided the student intheir planning of tactics, strokechoice and paddling side. The blendof skills using the pier gaveimmediate feedback on theappropriateness of the selectionmade along with the opportunity togo again and find another or adifferent option gives great learning.
ThePaddler 31
SummarySo how do you practice? Is it structured?Do you have plan?
By asking yourselves these questions then your practice will be more focussed and thus youcan start to solve those little niggling paddling problems that we all have.
Choose your type depending on what you need to do either by your skill level, theenvironment that you find yourself in or the problem that you need to solve.
Coaches:What type of practices do you do with your students? Why do you choose one type overthe other?
By asking yourself what is you use can help you focus and use the practice time well.
ThePaddler 30
Bi-lateral One that we should all be aware. What side do youpractice on? How many have a roll that only workson one side?
Practicing consciously on both sides is a great wayto transfer information from one side to the other.You know when one side is working and the otherisnt. Focusing on what those differences are is agreat teacher.
The environments that we paddle in demand
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