The Paddler Issue 26 Autumn/Fall 2015 Canoe cover

Upper Reisa RiverNORWAYLaurie Gullion

PADDLERThe International digital magazine for recreational paddlers

Issue 26 Autum

n/Fall 2015

ezinePreventing a

Paul BullCAPSIZE

Principles ofLEARNING

Dave Rossetter

Principles ofLEARNING

Dave Rossetter

Contents

Not all contributors are professional writers and photographers, so dont be put off writing because you have no experience! The Paddler ezine is all about paddler to paddler dialogue: a paddlers magazine written by paddlers. Next issue is Winter 2015 with a deadline of submissions on November 20th.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. The Paddler 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 Limited. The publishing of an advertisement in the Paddler ezine does not necessarily mean that the parent company, 2bGraphic Design Limited, endorse the company, item or service advertised. All material in the Paddler ezine is strictly copyright and all rights are reserved. Reproduction without prior permission from the editor is forbidden.

Dane Jackson, Nich Troutman, Mat Dumoulin and Bren OrtonICF Freestyle World Championships, Quebec, Canada. Photo: Dave Wortley

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

Advertising salesAnne EganTel: (01480) [email protected]

CoversKayak: Ute Heppke, Duerrach River,

Germany by Steve BrooksSUP: Casper Steinfath with Kai Lenny, Turtle

Bay, Hawaii by Waterman League/Donovan Bebout

Salty: Costain Lonard Pacific northwest coast by Jaime Sharp

Canoe: The Upper Reisa River, Norway by Laurie Gullion

Contents

Issue 26Autumn 2015

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004 The Paddlers PlanetBy Christian Wagley.

006 John Rob Roy MacGregorBy Steffan Meyric Hughes.

012 CoachingPrinciples of learning by Dave Rossetter.

018 Testing, testingKit reviewed and tested by our contributors.

032 Enjoying wild adventuresBy Richard Harpham.

044 Favourite locations and why26 world-class sea kayakers give their answers.

074 My first expeditionBy sea kayaker Markus Wiggin.

084 The Vikings are coming - part 3Greece Turkey by Chris Paton.

094 ICF Freestyle World ChampsFrom Quebec, Canada by Margaret Anthony.

110 Bavaria, GermanyThe great little rivers of Bavaria by Steve Brooks.

122 CataloniaThe Noguera Pallaresa by Rebecca Skirrow.

134 SUP SloveniaSUPing, exploring & indulging by Marko Senegacnik.

146 SUP coachingLanding waterfalls by Corran Addison.

154 Interview withDenmarks Casper Steinfath.

160 PortugalThe endless search by Ollie Denton.

168 CoachingPreventing a capsize by Paul Bull.

172 NorwayThe Upper Reisa River by Laurie Gullion.

A recent trip to the middle of thePacific Ocean gave me a first-handlook at our future a better

future. Its one with clean renewableenergy, respect for nature, each otherand a smarter sharing of resources.

It was my first visit to Hawaii, and one that wastruly spectacular and life-changing as my familyand I explored the special nature of a chain ofvolcanic islands rising from the remote oceanblue. What inspired and informed me was thenatural beauty of the tropical islands and theways in which people can live in a moreconnected way with their surroundings in thiscase an isolated island environment.

Many things are special about ecology and humansettlements on islands. There often are fewerspecies of native plants and animals than we find inmainland areas, but the ones here are more likelyto be rare or even endemic found only on oneisland or a chain of nearby islands. For humans, theisolation historically forced island cultures tosubsist pretty exclusively on what they could growand catch on and around their island.

But for modern humans, our ingenuity and spirithave allowed us to get around some of theselimitations by bringing to islands many of thethings we need or in some cases think weneed. The original settlers were Polynesians whosailed thousands of miles across the open Pacificto get here and they brought along favouredseeds and roots and a few other select thingsthey knew they would need on their new homeisland. In todays Hawaii, industrialization and

cheap energy have brought foods and productsshipped from the mainland U.S. that havesupplanted much of the traditional Hawaiianisland culture and economy.

The historically-limited resources of the Hawaiianislands necessarily forced islanders to createsystems for sustainably managing the land and seaso that there would always be enough to survive.Hawaiians developed some very special attitudesabout sharing with and respecting their fellowwoman and man attributes that are actually fairlycommon in many traditional cultures, butespecially helpful on an island where space andresource constraints mean that its in everyonesbest interest to get along.

As for sustainable living, Hawaiians maintained asystem of land management called ahpuaa,which typically divided islands into pie-shapedsections that extend from a broad area at theocean edge and taper to a point inland atop themountains. These areas were chosen becausethey followed the natural climatic and geologicboundaries, usually covering a valley with astream running down from the mountains to thesea. Within each ahpuaa was a source offreshwater, land for both agriculture andharvesting of wild food sources, and access tothe fish and other resources of the ocean.

Local chiefs restricted access to certain fish andplants at times to maintain a sustainable balanceof resources. It was a system that made beautifulsense for the islandsa perfect response tolocal conditions that traditional societies had tomake or they perished.

For more information on howyou can participate wherever you

may be on the Planet visitwww.supradioshow.com

Stay tuned for my weekly podcastof The Paddlers Planet with myguest host Christian Wagley on

www.supradioshow.com,

Where we are Standing Up for the Planet!

PADDLE

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Islands bring us lessons for p

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In modern Hawaii, one of the most tangibleenvironmental indicators is the spread of solarenergy. Looking out across the rooftops of anyneighbourhood in the islands I saw more solarpanels than Ive seen anywhere in my life. Thats asimple response to the highest electric rates in thenation, once again driven by the isolation and thehigh cost of bringing fossil fuel energy to the islands.Theres also a huge movement for local food in theform of farmers markets full of local produce.

Creating a sustainable future depends on peoplejust as much as nature, and the native Hawaiiansdeveloped ways of sharing and respecting eachother that persist to this day. They live the valuesof oluoludescribed as compatible, mellow,and non-dominating. Then theres the familiaraloha, today used as a greeting but traditionally

meaning caring, sharing, inclusiveness, and love, asdescribed by Poka Laenui, executive director ofthe Waianae Coast Community Health Center,in the Spring 2013 issue of YES! Magazine.

On our visit these values were reflected in thesimple way in which Hawaiians share the road.When we arrived we were told by an island friendnever to blow our car horn in anger and no onedid. Everywhere we went drivers waived-in driversahead of them and immediately stopped for anypedestrian looking to cross the street.

The sustainable culture that Hawaiiansdeveloped can inform the rest of the worldsisland dwellers such as those who reside on aliving planet surrounded by an abyss of the cold,dark lifelessness of space. That island shouldsound familiar, since its planet Earth the islandthat we all call home. All the same elements offinite space and resources apply just as they doin the Hawaiian islands.

As the paddling community continues to worktoward a sustainable future for both people andnature, we can take lessons from Hawaii andother islands that were pushed toward betterways of living on the land and with each other.With that, whats happening first on remoteislands around the world can be brought to ourown communities all across the living islandplanet we share.

people and nature

The Marine Conservation Society (MCS), the UK charity that protects our seas, shores and marine wildlife, needs your help.

With one of the longest coastlines in Europe, the UK has around 1,300 beaches and 8,000 species of marine animals. Yet just 0.01% of our seas are fully protected.

By becoming a member of MCS, your support will help us to:

Protect marine wildlife

Clear beaches of litter

Reduce pollution in our seas

Promote sustainable seafood

Why not join the Marine Conservation Society?Join us today and claim your free Rapanui marine-themed organic cotton T shirt.

When you join you will also receive a welcome pack full of information and gifts, plus four issues of Marine Conservation magazine every year.

www.mcsuk.org/joinMarine Conservation Society, Overross House, Ross Park, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire HR9 7QQ. Telephone: 01989 566017Registered Charity No: England and Wales: 1004005; Scotland: SC037480.

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The time was 1865, the voyage was a longmeander through the canals and rivers ofwestern Europe, the man was John RobRoy MacGregor and the book was 1,000Miles in the Rob Roy Canoe. Of course,kayaks and canoes both predate thisVictorian adventurer by millennia possiblyby up to 4,000 years or more. But it wasnot until the 1860s that MacGregor, aScottish patent lawyer living and working inLondon, was taken by the idea of having acanoe built solely for the purpose ofenjoyment.

In fact, his canoe bears little resemblance tothe craft of today: it was designed byMacGregor, a man of many talents who wasamong other things a reasonabledraughtsman, and built by Searles ofLambeth, more accustomed to the buildingof rowing skiffs. Rob Roy chose Searlesbecause skiff builders were, at the time, atthe limit of light-displacement boatbuilding.

Happy birthday kayakingSteffan Meyric Hughes switches his attention tothe best and most influential kayakers the worldhas ever seen, starting with the first John Rob Roy MacGregor.

STEFFA

N MEYRIC HUGHES

Photo:Exhibition of RobRoy held at thePyranha stand at theICF Slalom WorldChampionships atLee Valley.

Photo: Peter Tranter

Happy birthday the sport of kayaking. You are 150 years old this year (2015). What, youdidnt know? Well, its official. Kayaking, unlike many sports, can trace its origins fairlydecisively back to a particular time, a particular voyage, a particular man and the bookthat he wrote about his experiences.

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size calculated by MacGregor to fit inside theguard vans of trains for ease of transportation.

And so he set off, in the summer of 1865, downthe Thames, across the English Channel and intothe waterways of Europe for 1,000 miles ofplacid water touring. The following year, hepublished his first book 1,000 Miles in the RobRoy Canoe and it sold 2,000 issues in five days.

Royal Canoe Club That same year, 1866, he established the worldsfirst canoeing club, the Royal Canoe Club inTeddington, just west of London on the Thames,which is still active to this day. And the crazeexploded almost immediately

And the craft they built him, 15ft (4.6m) long by2ft 6in (76cm) wide in cedar planking on oakframes and weighing about 35kg (77lb), waspaddled in a sitting position by a double-bladedpaddle or propelled by a small lugsail, in whichinstance the paddle was put to use as a rudder,but with a very large, open cockpit, such that youmight have to debate whether it was, in fact, acanoe or kayak.

It was in essence, according to David Lawrenceof the Royal Canoe Club, a mixture of skiff,canoe and kayak, although well refer to it as akayak here. Compared to the kayaks of today,many of which will fit in the back of a hatchbackif you fold the backseats down, it was enormous,although it would have been considered minuteat the time. It was, in fact, of a

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Hurley WierPhoto by

Antony Edmonds

Photo:Rob Roys canoe atthe Pyranha stand at

the ICF SlalomWorld

Championships atLee Valley.

Photo: Peter Tranter

among the upper reaches of Victorian society:converts to canoeing included Edward VII, theDuchess of Sutherland and Robert LouisStevenson, who went on a similar voyage of hisown in 1878, which resulted in the book AnInland Voyage. MacGregor himself would go onto own a succession of at least half a dozenmore Rob Roy type canoes, and take them onvoyages to the Baltic and Middle East, publishingthree more books on his travels.

To claim that Rob Roy invented the modernsport of canoeing is no exaggeration. He wasclearly a dynamo of energy. In addition to his life

as a kayaker, he was a mover and shaker ofVictorian London. He

was a

moderate, but very devout, Christian (he was infact secretary of the Protestant League no lessand believed in a muscular Christianity basedaround exploits like kayaking), a widely-publishedtravel writer (he wrote of his voyages in Punchand the London Record) and chairman of theHumane Society.

Shoe-Black BrigadeHe moved in high circles counting CharlesDickens and Robert Louis Stevenson among hisfriends, both of whom he persuaded to take uppaddling. More than anything, MacGregor wasinstrumental in social reform in VictorianLondon, by association with another importantfriend, the Seventh Earl of Shaftesbury. Togetherthey set up the Shoe-Black Brigade to offer

better education prospects to the

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Joe Morley Photo by Jordy Searle

sort of wastrels that Dickens wrote about andwould take MacGregor to see on his famouslong, London walks.

Gun-toting paddlerMacGregor was a champion marksman (we willreturn to gun-toting paddlers when we covermy favourite of all, Walt Blackadar!), a competentmusicologist (from a later journey to the MiddleEast, he brought back the first notations, by hisown ear and hand, of Arabic wailing songs), aCambridge graduate and could write in Latinand Greek.

These days, his paddling exploits seem tame inthe extreme and his writing, while clearly relatingthe joy of his muscular and spiritual existence, aswell as some of the ecstasy of freedom afforded

by his novel form of transport, is a little stiff forreaders of today. But if he wasnt the bestpaddler of all time (and he certainly wasnt), hewas definitely the most influential. Hisachievement on the water was practicallyinventing the sport of kayaking (BCU).

The seed he sewed grew into all the branches ofkayaking we know today, and also had a biginfluence on the development of sailing yachts,leading to the lovely cabin yawls designed by

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Eric Jacksonon the Zambezi

George Holmes and, later, the likes of AlbertStrange. But more than that even, he was amongthe first, if not the first, to see the rivers, canalsand lakes of this world as a playground.MacGregor was such a singular figure, with sucha strong legacy; what a worthy foundation stoneto the sport we practise today.

Future issuesIn future issues, we will move beyond thewooden kayak era to folding boats, thedawn of whitewater river running, thefirst serious expeditions in the GRP eraand the indestructible age of plasticboats that we know today. Thank youDavid Lawrence and Graham Mackerethin researching this article, particularlyDavid, who was good enough to ply mewith wine and pasta in his flat on a coldwinters night while relating hisenthusiasm for all things MacGregor.Further reading: John MacGregor, ABiography by Edwin Hodder (1894) andExplorers Extraordinary by John Keay(1985).

Marcio R. Pereirasouthern Brazil

register now register now

By Dave Rossetter Head of Paddlespo

Introduction

The previous articles have focused on different areas to do with coaching.These have covered areas such as what we do to improve, psychologicalaspects of paddling, technical skills along with tactics and planning.However, as a coach one of the critical areas is that of the learner. Whatfactors or baggage do they bring to the coaching session? Consideringthese factors I want to look at some critical areas that have been found tounderpin successful learning.

The conditions that we create for our learners are vital with the emphasis oflearning being on the student who is learning. (Jarvis 2006)

Principles of learning

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Studies (Race (2014) ) have beenundertaken with students from all agegroups over extended periods of timesand crossed many cultures. Thisresearch stands a testament to theneed for these key principles to beevident for effective learning.

These principles are as follows:

Wanting to learnThe need to have high intrinsic motivation forthe area to be learnt. If the want is powerfulenough, success is likely to follow.

Needing to learnLearners often have specific areas that arerequired. The learner however, needs to takeownership of this. Without the ownership thenneed wont be established and learning willstruggle.

Learning by doingI have talked through this area in previousarticles but we need to do. Paddlesport is anactivity that needs repetition and trial anderror.

Making senseDigesting the information and processing it toallow you to understand and use it. If learnerscant make sense of something then it could bethe best information but it is rendered useless.This light bulb or eureka moment is aboutmaking sure the learner has digested theinformation so that it can be used whenrequired.

Learning through feedbackWithout feedback how can we move on?Learners need to ensure that feedback isavailable and available quickly to aid thelearning. This is of course closely aligned to thedoing area and especially the trail and errorphase.

Verbalising orallyThe ability once a learner has made sense oftheir learning to converse with others deepensthe understanding. It smooths off the edges,helps the learner adjust and explain theirlearning. This is so much more powerful thanjust writing.

Assessing: making informedjudgmentsThis is where our learning intensifies anddeepens and is the ultimate test for thelearning. By making judgements we are able toassess our own learning and again deepen it.

orts at Glenmore Lodge

Principles

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On discovering these I looked at my ownjourney in learning. Immediately the relevanceand specifically my frustrations going throughschool were evident. I wanted to learn but didnot feel the need to. I loved the doing and stillto this day I learn best when I am doing andengaged.

Entering further training and reflecting on whatI do as a coach has certainly helped with themaking sense of me as a learner. What aids mea learner has been the intrinsic motivation tosucceed, the strong community of thosearound me and the ability to put learning intopractice via making judgements (whether this ison assessments or training sessions). Thisability to gain feedback and verbalise mythinking with peers and learners has been anamazing journey and one that I believe has hadan impact on those that I coach.

When I think back to coaching sessions andlearning situations now I wonder whether oneor more of these areas was missing from thelearner.

Relevance training sessionsI found the text enlightening around the want,having a high intrinsic motivational factor whereit is so powerful that students are likely to gainsuccess because this want is so strong. What isimportant is ensuring that there is also a need.When working with paddlers that have acceptedthat there is a need to achieve then these havehad degrees of success. This is due to therebeing individual ownership of the need.

Paddling is a doing activity and most paddlersdo not have any issue with the doing part. Thereference though to the trial and error as wellthe repetition was the bit of interest.

During a recent coaching episode where I wasobserved it was noted that this trial and errorand time for repetition was something that Ishould focus on. This can often be a struggle inshort contact or episodic sessions.

I reflect back on my early delivery and nowrecognise the process that I went through. Iwould aim to run whatever the course was avariety of times in short succession beforefeeling that I had a strong secure product. Thisled to plenty of trial and error along the way,however once at this stage it gave plenty of

reflection and allowed a secure platform toadapt and move the course on. This of coursegave plenty of opportunity for feedback. I wasstruck by what Race states, The quicker thefeedback, the better it helps learning and this issomething that we should take note of.

The last three principles are around thecognitive understanding. The analogy thatcomes through is one of digesting. This abilityto turn whatever it is into something that canbe used is a very powerful one. Just because wesay we have it or we understand is a bit likeeating something that doesnt fuel us. There isinformation going in but we dont get thebenefit from it. This ability to turn theinformation into something useful that can berepeated, articulated to someone else or usedto make judgments truly measures the successof the learning.

For example do you conclude training sessionswith any discussions? Are these group discussionor smaller groups such as pairs? This could makethe difference in ensuring that everyone has tobe involved in the conversation and allowedpeer review, feedback and the ability to vebalisethe learning.

Relevance

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ExerciseTo aid you in focusing your own learning havea go at the following:

Think of something you are good at. Now write down how you became good at it.

Think of something that you struggle with or dont do so well at.Now write down what went wrong in your learning of this.

Think of something that you do well now but at the time youdidnt want to learn. What kept you going? Why did you persevere with it?

Think of something that you have taught / helped someone todo something. In particular the first time you had to do it. How did you get on putting it into words?

Thinking of that time you taught / helped someone think backto the moment you attempted to see how well they got it. How did it aid your understanding?

Once you have completed the questions compare your answers to theprinciples. Convergent?

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Learning EnvironmentWhen looking into these factors there are aconcept of ripples. This analogy that one rippleeffects another is something that comesthrough when I reflect on my own learning orthat of students that I have taught. With thedoing comes the feedback but adding in theverbalising changes the needs, wants and so on.The ripples also work for me from a depthpoint of view. This depth shows that we candeepen our making sense of it or how strongour want is. The notion of depth is one thatMoon (2004) describes when looking atreflection where it is not just surface level. Thisdeepening and making sense has been evidentin the discussions with peers where theverbalising our take on something and how weare applying it has been invaluable in moving mylearning and understanding on. This is alsoaided by the peer reviews where makingjudgments has deepened our thinking.

What if there is not a need or want though?The seven principles give us a framework to helpengage with a learner. By providing theinspiration and the context where things areneeded helps the learner by doing and bringsthem back into making sense of what they havebeen doing. This creates the need for somethingand so the want to continue can be established.

Dave RossetterDave is Head of Paddlesports at Glenmore Lodge Scotlands National Outdoor Training Centre. He has beeninvolved in the development of the new awards and provides expert advice throughout the industry on all thingsto 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.

http://www.glenmorelodge.org.uk

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SummaryA question to the coaches: How do you ensure that the learning environmentyou create adheres to the principles of learning?

To finish with here are a series of suggestions thatall learners should adhere to whatever the skillbeing learnt -

1. Want to succeed. Be determined to achieve.2. What are the outcomes and do you

understand them enough to use them?3. Create some goals along the way to help you.

Every journey needs to start with a small step.Build it up as go.

4. Dont avoid doing the things that you dontwant. Keep going one stroke at a time.

5. Keep records of your feedback. Awesome wayto reflect as well as motivation to see theimprovements.

6. Build up a network of friends to help you andlearn together. Chat with them along the wayabout what you learning.

7. Use your friends to help with makingjudgments but dont forget to assess yourself.

These principles and suggestions have becomeimportant to me as a learner and as a coach.Remember though learning to paddle should beactive and fun!

Happy Paddling and hope to see youon the water.

We are Scotlands 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.www.glenmorelodge.org.uk

InspiringAdventure

White water | Open canoeing | Sea kayaking | Surf kayaking | Qualifications

Photo: Ed Smith

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Pyranha 9R Largewww.pyranha.comBy Phil Carrwww.unsponsored.co.ukI was hooked up with a pre-productionprototype of the new large Pyranha 9R afew months ago. The boat is essentiallythe same as the production model withthe exception of some of the Connectoutfitting. The boat has been paddledextensively since that time so it is nowtime for a full Unsponsored review.

Now if you were to sit this 9R large (9R L) nextto the already released model it would be veryclear that the 9R L isnt simply a scaled upversion of its little brother. Almost every area ofthe hull has been changed in some way yet theystill have stayed true to the purpose of theboat, i.e. a fast fun boat that sits under the magic9ft length.

Pyranha have spent a fair bit of time looking atthe performance of the smaller model and havesignificantly changed the profile of the kayak in anumber of key areas to produce this version.

The most noticeable change is the shape of thestern. The grab handle has been moved to thevery end and the scoop usually associated withthe grab handle has essentially gone. In additionthe drain bung now sits on the side that willmake it easier for paddlers who carry the boaton their right shoulder to drain. Great for thosewho carry their boat on that shoulder.

Other changes at the stern can be seenincluding a revised rocker and slight V at thevery rear. The side wall transitions have alsobeen softened out. It can just be seen in theimages but is far more evident in real life.

The aim is for the stern of the 9R L to be morethat little bit more responsive making turningmuch easier. The rocker at the front is fairlysignificant. Add in the bow fins (aka wavedeflectors) and you have a design that is prettynippy on the turn and will ride high overstoppers. I found the 9R to be agile, responsiveand stable. Which to me is a superbcombination.

The hull is planning with relatively soft edges, thisaids with the stability but also means that thislarge boat surfs pretty well. It paddles a lotsmaller than it actually is if that makes sense. Aswith many of the boats I have paddled recentlythe 9R comes alive when it is driven hard and forsomeone in the middle of the suggested paddlerweight range the 9R is a pure joy to paddle.

On the front deck (just behind the grab handle) isa system that will allow the secure attachment ofan action camera mount in the same way as youcan with the Jackson range of kayaks.

The other notable change is a much-neededupdate to the Connect outfitting system. Iwould normally spend quite a bit of timedetailing the outfitting system but as the boat I

Testing, in association with

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01642 520234THE UKS ULTIMATE ONLINE PADDLESPORT STORE!in association with www.nswatersports.com 01642 520234ThePADDLER 18

Specs:Volume: 340 litres Length: 272cmWidth: 68cmWeight: 22.7kgPaddler Weight: 75-125kg

paddled had the older system it would detract from therest of the review. Suffice to say the Connect outfittingworks really well, great contact points and plenty ofadjustability.

One of the major changes that Pyranha have made to theoutfitting in the production model is the Stout seat that canbe seen within the red 9R. With revised padding and a raisedprofile I think that this will take the Connect outfitting to anew level. This seat will also be available in a number of otherPyranha kayaks that are in the current line up.

The 9R L feels damn light on the shoulder. The newoutfitting, Connect C4S with the Stout seat, will no doubtadd a little weight but as it stands it is very impressive forsuch a large boat.

testinin association with

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01642 520234THE UKS ULTIMATE ONLINE PADDLESPORT STORE!in association with www.nswatersports.com 01642 520234

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

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Rollei Actioncam 410 http://www.rollei.comChris StubbsThe POV camera market is a busy butcongested one. The companies who got infirst like GoPro are those that havedominated the arena but there are manycompanies now who have similar productsthat are just as good and like many techcompanies before GoPro that have heldthe majority of market share, they aregoing to have to keep on their toes remember Netscape, Nokia or Kodak?

Rollei are one of those companies leading thechase with a strong line of products to challengeanyone in the POV market. The one we weregiven to test is the middle of the rangeActioncam 410 and you certainly get a lot foryour money. Its perhaps the only camera that Iam aware of that can be used for any activitystraight out of the box without having topurchase additional add-ons.

So along with the camera you will find varioushelmet/bike mounts, waterproof case and a wristmounted remote-control, which comes in veryhandy and is a bonus at this price range. Thecamera itself is unremarkable and looking veryGoPro like with its boxy appearance and hasthree buttons to control on/off, recordingmodes, which are mounted on the top plus aWifi button located on the front.

On the reverse is the LCD screen that containsthe menus etc and on the sides are located thepower and USB input and outputs plus themicroSD card slot (up to 32GB) and a batterycompartment. The screen is a little disappointingas its grainy and not touch screen and thereforeyou have to rely on repeated pushing of buttonsto gain access to certain areas etc but perhapsIm expecting more than I should do when thecamera can be bought for just under 100.

I preferred to connect to my iPhone over theWiFi and set the menu from there through theRollei App very easy to setup. You can alsocontrol the camera from the phone up to adistance of 15 metres. If the phone isinconvenient, then the included wrist remotecontrol is a real bonus. No screen included butthe three buttons means you can take video andphotos and switch the camera off to savebattery life - a very nice addition on a camera inthis price range.

Box containsCamera

Remote controlUnderwater housing

BatteryCamera frame

Bike mountHelmet mount2-pin-adapter

2 helmet straps1x flat adhesive pad

1x curved adhesive pad2x3M sticker

1 quick release mountUSB cableManual

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Along with the camera we also received the safety mount, whichmeans that in the event of a collision with the helmet for instance,the camera detaches in a manner that doesnt cause injuries dueto increased forces to the head or the camera when enoughforce is applied it detaches itself from the helmet.

Enough of looks and own to the nitty gritty of what the camera isfor: to record pictures. The video output is either 1080p at 30fpsor 720hd at 60fps, which are perhaps the two most popularrecording modes and for photos there is a 4MB stills processor.

Theres nothing extraordinary about the image quality of bothvideo and photos but they stand up to the competition at thisprice level. The video is sharper outside of the waterproofhousing and of course you can hear the sound that much better.Stills are good enough size for postcard printing and does have aburst mode to compensate for the lack of slow motion on video.

Thats what you have to remember though. You can spend alot more money and arm yourself with many more recordingmodes (see the 4k Rollei 420), more megapixels, etc but if youwant a straight out of the box camera for under a hundrednotes, that can record anywhere including up to 40m belowthe waterline with reasonable results, then you cannot gowrong with the Rollei 410. Well be reviewing the 4k Rollei 420in the New Year issue of the Paddler.



Zipka Headlamphttp://www.heinnie.comPeter Tranter

A really neat andsimple idea in somany ways from thepeople at Zipka. Ashead torches go, thetwo LED light modesare up there with the

best at 100 lumen brightness but what makes thislittle device stand out from the rest of the crowdis its compactness.

The elasticated retractable drawcord eliminates the needfor any bulky head straps and you finish with a torch thesize of a small plum. Looking at the string cord at first andyou feel it may be a little uncomfortable by cutting into theskin however, its not in fact the opposite is true itsvery comfortable and snug. The torch is kept in place verywell, so well in fact, that I have started to wear it on myupper arm when going out for an evening run.

The other neat idea is the phosphorescent reflector thathelps you find it in the dark. A very effective solution as thewinter draws in.

See the full range of Petzl headlamps at:http://www.heinnie.com/lighting/headlamps/f/brand/petzl

Features:Weight: 68 gBeam pattern: wideEnergy: 3 AAA/LR03 batteries (included)Watertightness: IP X4 (weather resistant)

https://youtu.be/ruQpwHAXQYs

Crewsaver Petfloatwww.crewsaver.co.ukBy Anne EganDogs on board, well not quite a boardor a canoe, we tested the Petfloat fromCrewsaver with our two Havanesewhilst enjoying a Sunday afternoon puntin Cambridge. Now Frosty and Boboare not exactly renowned for their loveof water. However being part of thePaddler family it was only fair that theydutifully donned their beautiful floatsand set sail on the River Cam.

Petfloat is an attractive piece of kit, red andblack, with reflective strips and a zipped pocket,designed to assist your dog to float should theyfind themselves overboard. It consists of apaddled jacket that sits on the back and sidesand is secured to a more thinly padded chestpiece via a system of straps secured by buckles.The sensitive areas like underarms are free andthe fitting allows the dog to move normally.

The float is easy to fit, especially if your dog co-operates and stands nicely whilst you position the

float and fasten the buckles. For ease of rescuethere is a central grab handle which can be usedto hold onto the dog and to help haul the dogback into/onto your boat and out of the water. .

We are unable to say how it is to lift the dogsout of the river using the handle as neither of ourdogs went in on this occasion. However we didlift the dogs using the handle whilst on the puntand felt that in the event of needing to grab andlift it would be perfectly easy to do thisparticularly as our dogs are small at around 7kgs.

We passed many other canoes, small boats andpunts that afternoon with two or three otherswith dogs on board. This stimulus could havebeen enough to encourage one of our dogs,Bobo, to take a flying leap into the water. It wasvery reassuring that they were wearing thefloats. We felt that should they jump, or fall in,they would not come to any harm before theycould be helped back out of the water. Thusthe experience of having the dogs on the craftwith us was more relaxing.

The dogs took a few minutes each to adjust totheir new attire but then happily wore themand moved around the punt for around two

ThePADDLER 22 in association withw


hours. In retrospect now I realize that I should have orderedthe smaller size as perhaps they were a little too big for ourdogs. That was my mistake as there is a sizing guide on theCrewsaver website.

Towards the end of the journey I removed the jackets as Ithought perhaps that after a few hours on they might be a littlehot on what was a very pleasant warmish afternoon.

I would definitely use the floats with the dogs again and hope totake them paddleboarding with me in the Spring. Should your dogbecome tired, or if the water was very cold, the PFD would givethem some buoyancy and warmth in the very same way as abuoyancy aid does for paddlers, whilst waiting to be rescued.

Available in red and black and five sizes ranging from extrasmall to extra large.

For more information and pricing seewww.crewsaver.co.uk/Leisure/p/578/petfloat Here you mayalso watch a video of the float worn and being actively used bya variety of dogs in a swimming pool.

Main features: l Comfortable soft closed-cell foaml Easily adjustable and quick to fitl Integral handle to safely lift your pet aboardl Pocket for lead and disposable bagsl Size measured from collar to base of tail

https://youtu.be/bAiV6RjdIMY

w

01642 520234THE UKS ULTIMATE ONLINE PADDLESPORT STORE! www.nswatersports.com 01642 520234

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Joby Action Jib Kithttp://joby.comBy Dale MearsThe Action Job kit is the best accessoryI've found for your action camera. Itallows you to achieve a range of shotswith your Contour, GoPro, Sony or anyother action camera with ease. A jib kitis used to gain a wide range of shotsfrom crane shots, low and high vantageshots, ability to track a subject, getshots from above your subject andmany more.

The product itself is two bolt on attachmentsthat can clamp onto any diameter pole ormonopod. I personally use mine on mymonopod as its is then easy to fold up andexpand when I want to use it. This makes it anideal companion on the river or in he boot ofyour car. Once set up on a monopod it takesno longer than 60 seconds to have set upmaking it easy to get out at a drop and quicklyget the shot you want.

The mount for the camera has a GoPro mountand a screw on 1/4 inch attachment making itsuitable for any camera or device. The rubberstrip keeps it secure so there is no slip. Thehandle is plastic and rotates so as you moveyour arm the camera rotates so that it is always

pointing at your subject. This allows for dronelike shots, super smooth panning and greatangles you previously couldn't achieve.

The jib kit is supplied in a drawstring bag withboth pole attachments and a variety of bungeecord to suit a range of pole length. If you don'town a monopod I recommend you buy onebut Joby also sell the jib kit with a pole pack.

It's super easy to use once you get the hang ofit and weighing only 320 grams it's light tocarry and move around.



https://vimeo.com/124706373

To advertise email: [email protected] call +44 (0)1480 465081ThePADDLER 25

Palm Arcadia multisport/ touring jacket wwwpalmequipmenteurope.comBy Richard M HarphamThe Palm Arcadia is a lightweightventilated touring jacket which zips upwell to provide good protection from theelements, wind, rain and spray. It comesin a choice of colours for men of green(on test) and sherbet (orange colour),whilst the womens version comes in avibrant red.

First and foremost the cut, colours and featuresof the jacket are fantastic. On test we had twoother paddlers come up to us wanting one ofthese. The chest pocket is useful for bits andbobs and the hand warming pouch is perfect forcolder days or in between paddling sessions. Ithas the usual features of an adjustable hood,double waist for spraydecks and Velcro cuffs.

The votes are in and the decision is unanimous,everybody from the team who has tried theArcadia has loved it. Our test jacket has beenout on an SUP Safari, sea kayaking at theNeedles, on the Duke of Edinburghs schemeand for general activities. It is a good looking andcomfortable technical jacket that would be athome cycling or as it would be on the water.

Features: l Palms XP fabric with 2.5 layer configurationl YKK AquaGuard zipped kangaroo pocketl Handwarmer pocket with fleece liningl zip neck for ventingl Exoskin gaskets with Velcro adjustable cuffsl Twin waist for spray decksl Drawcord adjustable waistl Adjustable zip off hood (helmet compatible)l Reflective detail

OptionsMen: l Colours: (Green or Sherbet)

Sizes: S-XXLWomen: l Colours: (Red)

Sizes: WS-WXL

Paddler review: l Durability 4l Features 4l Value for money 4l Comfort 5l Look/feel 5



E-Case iSeries www.cascadedesigns.com/e-caseBy Richard M HarphamE-Cases are designed to keep your mobile phones,tablets and electrical products safe in wateryenvironments. We have tested the product over thelast few months on kayaks and SUPs as well as anovernight coffee wet/dry test.

The overnight coffee wet/dry test was designed to simulatethe immersion test with an E-Case left filled with good Italianblend coffee underwater. After 24 hours below the surface ithad not allowed any moisture in through the seal.

The E- Case and SealLock system is simple and robust keepingyour phone dry for all watersports activities particularly foranywhere salty. It fits neatly into a BA pocket or you can attach alanyard to the last points. The smart phone and camera featuresworked well through the clear screen window and porthole!

Check out their other products for smart phones, tablets andother electrical products.

Features: l Model-specific, high-clarity windows allow direct access to

touchscreens, cameras and voice functions with full protection.l Every case is individually tested to meet IPX7 standard of

withstanding submersion in one-metre of water for 30 mins.l One-step, waterproof SealLock zipper and rugged RF-

welded seams guarantee protection.l PVC-free materials and UV-resistant windows.l Die-cut lash points for tethering.l Fits all iPhones up to iPhone6 Plus.

w

01642 520234THE UKS ULTIMATE ONLINE PADDLESPORT STORE! www.nswatersports.com 01642 520234

AlphaThe Alpha is our minimalist PFD, trimmed down

to the essentials, easy to adjust and cleanly

styled. The same ripstop shell material as the

Fuse jacket, with 60 N of fl oatation, and our 3D

waist to hold it fi rmly in place. ICF accredited

for use in slalom competition, its just as smooth

competing on whitewater as it is cruising around

the bay on your SUP.

0:6JLY[PLK0*-YLNPZ[LYLK*VTMVY[-P[+HU[PYPKL\W^HPZ[ILS[,HZ`.SPKLZ[YHWZ:SPTSPULPU[LYUHS]LSJYVWVJRL[

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The pump mechanism is in the lid and is easy togrip even with wet hands. It's also very sturdy topump, at no point have I thought it would snap.From a full the bottle the Aquabot takes just 6pumps to pressurise sometimes less. You knowwhen it's ready as you can't put the handle backdown so have to release a bit of water using therelease button which is located at the back ofthe bottle (the grey part in the photos). Torelease the water you press the grey button andcan either hold the button down or use shortbursts of pressure. To alter the water betweenJet, stream and mist settings is easy simply twistthe nozzle on the bottle it couldn't be any easier.

The lid has two gear mounts to attach a lanyardor strap if wanting to clip to gear or in a boat.

There is also a neat little feature of changingyour bottle between a blast mode and stealthmode. Inside the bottle is a small rubber tubethat can be altered to make the bottle lesspowerful and silent for drinking and hydrating, asopposed to the burst mode which is used forday to day cleaning.

All in all this is a well thought out bottle designthat really does the job if your out and about inthe great outdoors. For more information checkout the videos on President and Founder NickRheas Youtube channel

Lunatec Aquabothttp://lunatecgear.comBy Dale MearsI first saw the Lunatec Inc. Aquabotdoing the rounds on Instagram andthought what a great idea. Theconcept of having a standard bottlethat can spray shower, stream andmist patterns is great, I've seen largerversions of this concept at the gardencentres but to have a bottle that issuitable to carry around is amazing.

The product itself comes in a range of stylishcolours, however if you just want to buy theAquabot lid this will fit on a number ofbottles such as the Nalgene On The Go, OnThe Fly and 32 48 ov and Camelbak Eddyand Chute 63mm wide-mouth bottles. Thebottle itself is also BPA free.

The version I've had to test is the 24 ouncebottle and it is a great size, what I wassurprised with is how long the water lasts.For a product that has a 25 ft range, fill thisbottle up and it seams to give you consistentspray for a long time! You can really use it toclean, refresh or re hydrate. Ive found ituseful for cleaning gear, drinking from andnow lives in the boot all the time.

https://youtu.be/qbipt5ahcMM

www.heinnie.comPeter TranterYou will be seen with this hi-visibility,quality backpack and whilst not alwaysthe deal clincher when using whilstpaddling, it is a huge bonus for whenbiking etc. You have to be seenparticularly in these coming wintermonths.

Its rated at class 3, which means it can betemporarily submerged without the contentsgetting wet and that works perfectly fine.basically you chuck your stuff in, roll the topdown, clip it up and off you go.

So its an all-rounder really, perfect for a varietyof uses and not paddler specific but a greataddition for when you do go paddling due tothat class rating and the very fact that isobviously splash proof etc.

One nice big compartment does the job ofstorage and there is a smaller zipped insidepocket for the smaller items. Its very

comfortable to wear too. Theres also a D ringand attachments loops for additional lightingetc plus two handy mesh side pockets for quickto grab items.

Overall, a quality backpack, ideal for keepingyour camera, phone, spare set of dry clothesand wallet etc dry while kayaking orpaddleboarding

Features:l Roll-top 100% waterproof backpack - Class

3 - IP66l High Visibility PVC tarpaulin so can be seen

day or nightl Floats safely if dropped in waterl Top carry handlel ventilated back panel with air-flow designl Adjustable waist strap and sternum strap

with emergency whistle buckle

Available at:www.heinnie.com/carry/dry-bags-stuff-sacks/f/brand/overboard



OverBoard Pro-Vis Waterproof BackPack 30L

Gripping

stuff

palmequipmenteurope.com/camberRubber you can rely on. We use the stickiest

compounds from Vibram for our water shoes.

CAMBER SHOES

palmequipmenteurope.com/camberR

ThePADDLER 32

By

Richa

rd H

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am w

ww.can

oetrail.co

.uk

Paddlespor

Paddlespor

ThePADDLER 33

I love being outside and for me one of lifes simplest pleasures is to paddle a canoe,kayak or stand up paddle board with my camping gear and spend the night or nightsin a remote location. My adventures, great and small have seen me canoe, kayak,bike, SUP and ski almost 8,000 miles of trips and expeditions, plus of course lots ofday to day paddling. Each one is special for a multitude of reasons, the team sharingthe journey, food cooked on a stove or campfire and of course stunning colours,wildlife and other shared moments.

My canoe trips have seen me paddlethe Great Glenn Canoe Trail twiceincluding the river sections, the length ofthe Great Ouse (140 miles), The RiverTill, parts of the Tweed, much of theWye, parts of the River Severn andThames as well as various otherlocations further afield. In 2010 our Big5 kayak challenge team sea kayakedalmost 1000 miles from VancouverIsland to Alaska and also canoed 700miles of the Yukon River.

One of my most memorable jaunts wasto canoe around Holy Island, Lindisfarnewith my expedition buddy and owner ofActive 4 Seasons, Olly Jay. This resultedin time canoeing with dolphins and alittle swim after surfing in a big wavearound the Northern sand bar. Morerecently I headed out to Mallorca withCody White of Nomadic SUP toattempt a circumnavigation, whichclashed with the worst storms in 10years. Wild Camping skills have beentransferrable to other expeditions suchas Cycling the Sahara on fatbikes whereagain we used tarps for shelter.

This article is intended to provide someideas and tips to help inspire you todust off your paddling weapon, canoe,sea kayak or Stand Up Paddle Board(SUP) and plan a journey.

rt and enjoying wild adventures

rt and enjoying wild adventures

ThePADDLER 34

Planning your routeMany of my adventures are dictated by tightschedules due to pressures of modern life.Personally I am happy to paddle long days andthen make camp, eat and sleep. Other peopleprefer a more leisurely pace. For longer trips it isbetter to know your preferred paddling rate anddistance before you start. This can be determinedwith a few training or short overnight trips.

Like most people I enjoy exploring differentpoints of interest on the route such as historicsites, finding the perfect campsite, wildlife andmoving water or rapids for playing.

It is also important to consider the ability andfitness of any paddlers in your group. Part of theplanning is also to understand the river grade ortidal conditions and how it might change duringdifferent weather. Prior to starting your trip youshould of course get an accurate local forecastand keep relevant people informed of yourjourney for safety and risk management. PesdaPress in the UK have great books covering somecanoe, sea kayak routes and destinations.

Packing to avoid the kitchen sinkOne of the benefits of a canoe for camping trips isthat they have a huge load carrying capability andretain relatively good handling characteristics. Inshort canoes such as traditional prospectorsdesigns evolved to be the Mule of the paddlingworld. Conversely sea kayaks and the newgeneration of touring kayaks can really cover largedistances at speed with a fair amount of kit onboard. They do of course handle differently. SUPsoffer another adventure craft although you needto pack even lighter for these. Our Mallorca tripwas planned with tarps, no tent, one change ofclothes and one stove to share.

Over the years through my adventures I havelearnt that no one thing seems to weigh verymuch but the combination of kit soon mountsup. Deciding on the right kit for you can make areal difference and ensuring you have talked toyour paddling team mates to avoid two or threeduplicates can really help.

It then becomes a series of trade off s of space,weight and comfort. The new generation ofcamp mats are super lightweight and increasethe likelihood of a good nights sleep.Alternatively if the terrain is suitable then ahammock or bivi bag is also very light.

You can reduce weight by adopting some ofthe following ideas:l Using water purifiers such as the Katadryn Water Bag. l Opting for freeze dried foods. l Using a tarp or hammock rather than a tent.l Selecting thinner drybags as opposed to heavy duty.l Consider the weight of each item of kit and alternatives.l Cutting up Life Venture pack towels for different purposes

(drying pans and drying yourself).l Removing packaging and using sandwich or similar bags.l Powdered milk.l Opting for versatile footwear for daily paddling and

possibly flip flops or sandals for evenings. l Reviewing kit amongst your team to remove duplicates.l Reviewing kit list and identifying needs versus wants and

which items are essential.l Identify shops or towns where you can resupply and or

organize supply boxes at specific locations.

ThePADDLER 35

On some expeditions we have eaten dehydratedBe-Well Expedition Foods and packed MountainFuel drinks for additional energy. These optionsonly need simple cooking facilities such as anMSR reactor stove.

On less remote trips then we might opt for acooking set and create culinary treats as part of thejoy of camping and sharing good times with yourpaddling group. A bottle of tobasco, some ParmesanCheese and a few herbs makes a real difference.

Top tip:

Herbs keep astash of simpleherbs and spicesto add flavour toyour recipes andfood

Top tip:

Herbs keep astash of simpleherbs and spicesto add flavour toyour recipes andfood.

It is a strange fact of adventure lifethat generally nothing weighs very much at all

but collectively it all seems to weigh quite a lot

Top tip:

Make cookingpart of the magic

rather than achore. Its a real

social activity andsomething

positive long afterthe memories ofcold or rainy days

has passed.

ThePADDLER 36

Developing your adventure andpaddling skillsIt is incredibly rewarding to develop and usepractical and adventure skills on your paddlingtrips and journeys. It provides a real sense ofsatisfaction to tie the appropriate knot, put upshelters, light fires with flint and steels or cook afeast on the campfire or stove.

Similarly developing your canoe skills to includelining and tracking if there are whitewatersections or poling shallow sections can be greatfun. Sailing your canoe is also a differentchallenge with either a formal rig or impromptusail made from a tarp or emergency shelter.Often when you look back at trips it is these bitsthat spice up the tales of daring do and fondmemories of time in the great outdoors.Paddling on the sea with a loaded SUP alsoprovides a real sense of satisfaction but bewareof strong winds against you. Quite literally onour SUP adventure in Mallorca we had 25 knotwinds and two-metre swell pushing us in thewrong direction and spent most of the days onour knees to reduce windage.

It is also worth developing your paddle skills onmoving water particularly if it involves a changefrom your normal preferred paddling option.Surfing a canoe or sea kayak on moving water orbreaking in and out of eddies is equally fun anduses many generic principles and paddle strokes.For me personally learning to solo a canoe indifferent conditions and learning the song of thepaddle has been great.

ThePADDLER 37

ThePADDLER 38

choice of kayak wings and an Aquabound sea kayak blade give me different options for the conditions. Building

might want to experience both tandempaddling and soloing and also different types ofblades. In canoes I love using a deep waterblade and knifing the blade back through thewater for each stroke. In sea kayaks then a

For your trip you

time for these elements in your trip will helpmake you a better paddler and coach, if you gothat route, and ensure each micro adventure orjourney is a more rounded experience.

As part of this article I have included some toptips and hints for simple things to improve yourwild camping trip. You can see a full kit list on ourCanoe Trail website at: www.canoetrail.co.uk

I have included three golden rules for trying toreduce our impact on the environment andensuring safe and friendly trips are organizedand enjoyed. Finally there are some suggestionsfor places to try out your paddling and wildcamping skills.

Top tips:Develop your paddling and adventure skills try poling,lining and tracking and sailing as part of canoe adventures. Try movingwater, rock hopping, surfing, and different conditions in sea kayaks orSUPs. Camp Skills such as fire lighting and shelter building are alsogreat fun.

Paddle full paddle your boat, kayak or board fully laden in similarconditions prior to experiencing it during a bigger trip. It does handledifferently so being able to pick your line or knowing your limitationscan be important.

Top tips:Treat yourself find thesimple treats that really floatyour boat, from malt loaf tocampfire popcorn, Green andBlacks chocolate or a simpledram of single malt. Embracethe concept of a reward strategy.

Ask the locals hire kit,book guides and speak to thelocals if your are not sure of riverconditions or need help. Itremoves a large part of thestress.

Richard is a human powered adventurer and paddler www.richadventure.comwho has completed over 7,800 miles of adventures by kayak, canoe, ski andbike. He runs www.canoetrail.co.uk with his wife Ashley and co foundedwww.inspiredlife.org which inspires young people and communities. He is amotivational speaker drawing on his stories from adventure, in corporate lifeand managing the Ghana Ski Team at the Vancouver Winter Olympics.Richards adventures test equipment in the harshest conditions and he is proudto be supported by: Paramo Clothing,, Valley Sea Kayaks, Up North Adventures,www.bambooclothing.co.uk , Leatherman tools, Scott Skis, Mountain Fuels,Canadian Affair (airlines), Aquabound Paddles, Reed Chillcheater, Surly FatBikes, USE Exposure Lights, Garmin GPS systems, Sealine Drybags. Richard andAsh are members of Viking Kayak Club based in Bedford.

ThePADDLER 39

THE GOLDEN RULESLeave no traceIt is important to protect our planet and leave campsites and rivers as you would want to find them.You should consider whether an open fire is allowed, use a stove if not. Find suitable a location for thetoilet and of course take everything with you. Better still collect rubbish and plastic on your journeyand reduce the burden on our environment.

Respect other usersThere is no doubt that you will almost certainly have to share your journey with other animals andpeople. A smile and a pleasant greeting are the best form of response to any negativity. Ultimately wehave to share our rivers and coastline with rowers, fishermen, wildlife, tourists to name but a few. Onrivers then check any local access agreements and try to stick to them. If you are going to wild campthen seriously make yourselves invisible otherwise you might enjoy yourself and ruin it for futurepaddlers.

Paddle safe The best adventure is the one that you take. But it doesnt make a great story if you are injured orput yourself or your group at unnecessary risk. Make sure you understand the conditions, havesufficient safety equipment and paddle within your ability and that of the group. Understand selfrescues and how to help others when needed.

ThePADDLER 40

Canoeing and kayaking the RiverTill and Tweed

The Till and Tweed in Northumberland,United Kingdom is a great river for canoeing

and camping. The normal section paddle includesGrade 3 and plenty of Grade 2 and 1 sections.There are some incredible campsites the localwww.active4seasons.co.uk can provide kit,shuttles and the best advice on camping andpaddling.

Canoeing SUPs and Kayaking theRiver Great Ouse Canoe Trail

The River Great Ouse is the fourthlongest River in England at 143 miles of

which half is navigable from Bromham, nearBedford, to the coast at Kings Lynn. The stretchnear Bedford offers stunning rural paddling withwww.canoetrail.co.uks woodland campsiteaccessible from the river and also a secondcampsite downstream run by the Camping andCaravan Club. Contact Ashley at the awardwinning Canoe Trail for more information.www.canoetrail.co.uk

Sea kayaking the Inside PassageThe Inside Passage is one of NorthAmericas most challenging sea kayakroutes stretching from Seattle in the south,through British Columbia into Alaska and

up to Juneau, Skagway and Glacier Bay(UNESCO World Heritage Site) in the north.You can hire sea kayaks in many of the placesalong the route from local outfitters accessiblefrom the brilliant ferry system. You can alsocheck out:Comox Valley, Vancouver Islandwww.comoxvalleykayaks.comAbove and Beyond, Juneau, Alaskahttp://beyondak.com

Canoeing the River YukonThe River Yukon is a mighty Canadian riveroffering a vast fast moving conveyor belt of

water with incredible camp sites, Gold Rushhistory and plenty of wilderness. It is located inone of the last great wilderness areas on ourplant and people usually paddle fromWhitehorse down to Dawson City, some 420miles. Speak to the team at Up NorthAdventures for more information.www.upnorthadventures.com

Great Glenn Canoe TrailThe Great Glenn Canoe Trail is an iconicScottish paddle spanning Scotland from

Fort William in the south and 60 miles north upto Inverness. There are some great Grade 2/3river sections as well depending on the directionyou choose as well as the incredible 26-mile longLoch Ness, with Castle Urquhart and so manymagical views. There are trail blazer rests, wildcamp sites and hostels to ensure great campingon your trip. www.greatglencanoetrail.info

Exploring Key West by SUPCody White and Ryan Saca of NomadicSUP provide bespoke tours, tuition and

adventure in one of the most incredible paddlinglocations, at the southern tip of the UnitedStates in Key West. As the name implies they canalso organize trips further afield and have plentyof paddling experience.www.nomadicsup.com

Check out other UK canoe trails You can find more trails by visiting:www.canoe-england.org.uk/our-sport/places-to-paddle/

40

Canoe and camping locationsto cut your teeth on

Top TipsKit list

review your kitlist and ensureall the essential

items areincluded and

packed such assuncream,

mosquito nets,spare torch,

insect repellent.Pack light for

SUPsparticularly.

Using tarps pack a tarp and

paracord formaking camp inrainy conditions.It makes such adifference to beable to set up a

shelter.

Bromham

The Embankment

Great Barford

Call Ashley on 07960 087235 or Richard on 07710 616520Proathlete ltd trading as Canoe

Trail

Bedfordshire Canoe Trails

Canoe & kayak hire Stand up paddle board safari Wild campsite located next to river Tuition, guided tours & multi day trips Canoe & kayak sales Group deals, kids parties & corporate days Activity vouchers, bushcraft & adventure activities Other locations including the River Thames, River Ivel & River Wye

bus

Salty

044 Favourite locations and why26 world-class sea kayakers give their answers.

074 My first expeditionBy sea kayaker Markus Wiggin.

084 The Vikings are coming - part 3Greece Turkey by Chris Paton.

PADDLER

ThePADDLER 42

To advertise email: [email protected] call +44 (0)1480 465081 43ThePADDLER

The UKs largest sea kayak shop and so much more

i>`iii>i>>>L>V

National Kayak SchoolTrips, expeditions and courses for all levels of ability.

The UKs largest sea kayak shop and so much more

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ThePADDLER 44

W e a s k e d

W h i c h

l o c a t i o

i s y o u r

f a v o u r i t e

W o r l d - c l a s s

t w o

ThePADDLER 45

w h y ?l n

s e a k a y a k e r s

q u e s t i o n s

&

FEATURING

Adrian Harkin

Barry Shaw

Bill Vonnegut

Christopher Crowhurst

Christopher Lockyer

Derek Hairon

Erin Bastian

Frode Wiggen

Gordon Brown

Greg Paquin

Helen Wilson

James Manke

Jamie Sharp

Jarrod Gunn McQuillan

Jason Self

Jeff Allen

JF Marleau

Justine Curgenven

Leonardo Esch

Marcio R. Pereira

Mark Tozer

Martin Rickard

Ollie Jay

Sean Morley

Simon Osbourne

Tara Mulvany

My favourite place to seakayak is Malin Head, themost northerly tip of theIrish mainland with cliffs andcove beaches washed byAtlantic swell and swept bytides racing to and from theIrish Sea to the east.

Fantastic scenery befits this remotecoastline with caves, arches, stacks,tunnels, cliffs and the Garvan Isles, arocky offshore archipelago. Wildlifeabounds: seabird colonies, seals,otters, dolphin, leaping tuna, minkewhale and the occasional orca andbreeding ground for basking sharks.

Offshore (and further north again)lies Inishtrahull and the Torr Rocks.The crossing to the island takescareful planning, an exercise thatevery time satisfyingly tests the seakayakers skills.

Out there, alone from the rest ofthe world, the kayaker rests after anarduous sea journey, having battledtidal race, pitting mere mortal witsagainst the energy and vagaries of aboundless ocean.

With only the company oflamenting seals and the primevalchurring of that ocean wanderer, thetiny storm petrel, calling a mate fromnests in stone walls, the sea kayakercan sense the wildness of an islandwith no boat service, deserted byman for 90 years.

ThePADDLER 46

Adrian Harkin

Malin Head, Co. DonegalRep. of Ireland

www.inishadventures.com

ThePADDLER 47

The South Island of New Zealand certainly offers the expedition paddler afew challenges. The relentless west coast surf and the exposure on the outsideof Fiordland have given me memories that will probably stay with me forever.

Anglesey, Wales United Kingdom

The wilderness of Tierra Del Fuego on thesouthern tip of South America has to be the mostremote place I have ever paddled. Its SouthAtlantic coastline made me feel incrediblyvulnerable as did the channels and passages whereday after day we would be alone.

Yet still after week upon week throughout everyyear I never become tired of paddling on theAnglesey coastline. Probably the most excitingtrip for me is a day around the Stacks with achoice of tidal races to play in. Penrhyn Mawrone day can be a place where beginners would

think nothing of passing through and the verynext day it can become anything from achallenging playground to somewhere that themost experienced sea kayaker would not evenconsider venturing.

My first ever day of kayaking was a trip to theSkerries from Cemlyn Bay on the north coast ofAnglesey and I have been completely hooked onsea kayaking ever since. The very next day I wastaken on a journey around the Stacks and for methese two trips still have to be the finest kayakingdestinations in the world.

Barry Shaw

I would rate this area number one in the Bay Area for rock gardening play!

The rock gardens are located just north of the Russian River on Californias Sonoma Coast. Thereis access to this area nearby at Goat Rock State Park. I recommend launching at the sheltered southbeach. There is a one mile paddle north to what I call the 'entrance to the rock gardens which is adouble tunnel that then opens to the next two miles of entertainment.

Beyond the entrance there is at least a full day of fun in this short section of coast. With many ofthe features located off shore in fairly deep water, access to play spots can be found whenconditions are too large for shallower areas where waves could break.

I have included a clickable Google map below showing most of the play spots in this area.

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Goat Rock, Sonoma CountyCalifornia, United States

Bill Von

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https://youtu.be/btv95tAY4rA

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NPali Coast State ParkKauai Island, Hawaii

United StatesThe N Pali Coast State Parkruns along the north east edgeof the Pacific island of Kauai. Wepaddled the 16-mile length inAugust at the end of the touristseason.

Huge lush green prehistoric volcanic valleysplunge from the wettest peak in the world tothe pristine blue Pacific Ocean. The trade windsdrove long deep swells that picked us up and werode them, seemingly for miles.

Between magically waterfalls and mysterioussea caves, the beauty of untouched landscapeshewn by volcanic eruptions combine with thepower of the prevailing ocean conditions tomake an amazing day trip the likes of which Ihave never found anywhere else.

http://qajaqrolls.com/profile

Living in Jersey means Im spoilt with so many great sea kayaking locationson my doorstep. My favourite is Les Minquiers, a 12-nautical mile open seacrossing from Jersey. At low tide the reef dries to the size of Jersey but at

high tide only a few hundredsquare yards remain. A fewfishermens granite huts cling to theislet. To awake in a hut and watchsunrise through the salt encrustedwindows is fantastic.

The trip across istricky and in the pastIve had a few epics. Atsome stage youll besix miles from land soyou have to cope withfeeling very tiny andexposed. For me thebest bit is when oceanand horizon merge and on a calm daypure silence surroundsyou. Once at Matressele, the waters are

invariably Caribbean like in colour. You caneven use the most southerly toilet in theBritish Isles. Here I always feel like a visitor,even the seagulls strut about with attitude.

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Les MinquiersBailiwick of Jersey

www.jerseykayakadven

tures.co.uk

Pete Astles. D

orset. UK

. Image: Paul Ram

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QUALITY PERFORMANCE DESIGN

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Newfoundland is a province rich inhistory and a strong connection tothe sea. The ocean was a means ofincome, recreation and exploration.

Its rugged shore are littered with ghost townsfrom the past. Many of these towns weabandoned and left as if there was a naturaldisaster. Clothing still hangs in the closets and thebeds are still made. Visiting these areas is a peekinto the past as well as an eerie view of the wayspeople used to live in these communities.

I have a special place in my heart forNewfoundland as it is the place that I grew up asa child with both my parents being bore inNewfoundland when it was still part of theUnited Kingdom. A world-class paddlingdestination that would thrill any sea paddler.

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Christopher L

ockyer

Newfoundland, Canadawww.com

mitted2thecore.com

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Erin Bastian

Hundreds of islands toexplore. Crystal clear water,teaming with wildlife. Thecliffs and caves add anotherdimension to Scottish seakayaking. Ive paddledthrough subterraneanpassages over 200 metreslong, tunnels which cutthrough sea stacks androunded headlandsdecorated with everypossible size of sea arch.

You can find excitement andrelaxation, high seas and flat calm.The wildlife never fails to take mybreath away. Colonies of sea birdsperch chaotically in cliff cities,dolphins and basking sharks glidepast only metres away from youkayak and on a low spring tide youcan explore shore lines riddledwith marine creatures.

I love to travel with my kayak but Ican't say there are many places thatbeat the wonders of Scotland.

Scotland, United Kingdom

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BergsfjordenSenja, Norway

Talking about the water, its crystal clear! Somepeople think this is the Bahamas when they seethe photos, until they see the snow on themountain tops. The colour on the water changeswith the weather and season. In the winter itbecomes dark green and blue its magic.

Because of the 99 islets and reefs in thearchipelago, you can either have a calm and easyday on flat water or you can paddle on theoutside to get big water surfs and rock hopping its up to you. Eat your lunch on one of manybeaches with white sand and green water whileenjoying stunning mountains. Most likely you willsee a curious seal and a eagle or two.

In the summer is does not matter what timeyou paddle, the sun never goes down. In thewinter you can paddle with Humpback whalesand Orcas and be sure to look into the skywhen you strap your kayak on the roof of yourcar, you might see northern light if you are lucky.

All this at one place. Could you ask for more?

See you on the water.

Photos: Wivian Wiggen

This is our favourite place to paddle, no doubt! You have easy access fromseveral places just park your car, drag the kayak 30 metres and you are onthe water!

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Gordon B

rownIsle of Skye

Scotland United Kingdom

My most favourite place to kayak on the oceans of the earth has tobe the Isle of Skye. I am fortunate to be able to live and work on thesea and have travelled most of the world doing just that.

What I love about Skye is the absolute variety of paddling that exists here. From farmlandto vertical rock to mountains to tide races to caves, stacks and arches to surf beaches andreefs It really does have everything in a compact area. Oh it also has a distillery.

www.skyakadventures.com

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Long and Fishers Island New England, USAOne of my favouritepaddling grounds is my backyard or my home waters.Shouldnt any paddler positionthemselves in a dynamicplayground? My home watersare the entrances to LongIsland and Fishers IslandSounds in southern NewEngland.

It looks like a placid basin of water, buttake another look. Its entrances look likethe bottom of funnel and look again andyou will see what the glaciers left behind huge sea bed ridges, otherwise calledTerminal Moraines that form numerousover falls and tidal races. Our tidal rangesare not huge, but with the restrictionsboth vertical and horizontal we certainlyhave some flow moving around.

These coupled with Atlantic swell andapproaching weather fronts andsystems, and you have quite aplayground. All the more reason to be aBCU/UKCC coach in these waters,helping paddlers stay safe by promotinga high level of seamanship, personalpaddling skills and leadership.

Photos: Kayak Waveology, LLC

Greg Paquin

www.kayakwaveology.com

The world is a big place, and with so many bodies of water, it's really difficultto pick a favourite paddling location. My favourite is often the place that I'm inthe mood for. This could be somewhere warm and tropical, or somewherecold and icy. It might be exciting rock gardens, or a calm, quiet lake.

All that said, two places fall into my mood quite frequently. They are Greenland (all of it)and Trinidad, California. Greenland is, simply put, magical. The culture, majestic glacier ice, seaice and clear Arctic water are all things that contribute to the sense of awe that a paddlerexperiences in Greenland.

Equally, Trinidad, California is home to me. It's where I learned to paddle, and it's the waterthat I know the best. I travel over 300 days a year, and it's always nice to know that Trinidad'srock gardens, whales and play spots are waiting for me when I return.

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Trinidad, CaliforniaUnited States

Helen W

ilsonwww.greenlandorbust.org

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Jordan River British Columbia, Canada

If timed right, Jordan River can offer upsome big steep long rides which somehave claimed rides of up to twominutes in length! It is an ocean pointbreak allowing kayakers to ride bigwaves then cut out without evengetting your head wet! The river itselfpushing out heavy flows helps definethe shelf and also offers a free ride backto the lineup.

Flow and swell direction play a keypart in timing this magical place. Manypaddlers get skunked coming herewhen forecasts read high. But when itsgood, its GOOD. There are definitelydedicated areas for crafts and surf

education is a must. Run a circuit if youare at this super busy venue and lookout for others. If you dont have theskills, this is not the best break topractice at.

Surfers tend to stay right at the point,SUP tend to hug surfers left andkayakers favour deep centre jumping onlarge swells which forms three definedbreaks on the big days with the first setclosing out heavy and generally twodefined breaks on smaller days whichtend to be the classic JR days.Notoriously known for its big longsteep green waves for a kayak surfbum theres not much better than that!

The west coast of Canada offers some pretty diverse paddling and to narrowdown a specific spot if a pretty tough thing to do. For myself personally, I reallyenjoy surfing and tend to spend most of my time during the winter at Jordan Riverjust down the road from my house.

Photos: Rowan Gloag

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jaq.ca

Over the years I have paddled the world, from the southern hemisphere to thenorth, the tropics to the high Arctic and all sorts in between. However, despitecoming from one of the most beautiful countries in the world (New Zealand), stillthe place that sits close to my heart as one of the most spectacular areas to seakayak in (as well as just be one with nature) is the Pacific northwest of Canada.

What keeps me coming back? The large expanses of true wilderness packed with wildlife, the shelteredinside passage or the exposed west coast, tranquil paddling with whales to 14 knot currents with waves youcan push your surf skills on.

Then there is the amazing fishing,and copious large marine life; allcoupled with stunning scenery andamazing camping areas. Now morethan ever with the threat ofindustrial development, we need tocherish and preserve this magicalcoast for generations of humans andwildlife to come.

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Pacific northwest coastCanadaJaim

e Sharphttp://w

orldwildadventure.com

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Brier IslandNova Scotia, CanadaA long ridge of basalt bedrockthat forms North Mountainstretches along the Bay of Fundyfrom Cape Blomidon to thewestern most part of NovaScotia, Brier Island.

This offshore island juts out into the mouthof the Bay of Fundy and provides what I thinkis one of the most dynamic, diverse andbeautiful paddling locations in Canada. Iremember my first time visiting this Island as atourist on a whale watching tour and beinggreeted to a wonderful display of humpbackwhales.

The area offers a diversity of sea birds andmarine life, bringing out the nature seeker inme. On the opposite end of the spectrum,the significant tidal range at this location andtight passages are what truly bring me to thisIsland. While this area doesnt boast the 50plus foot tidal ranges found in the Upper Bayof Fundy, a healthy 20-feet on springs providesplenty of moving water for a fun filled day.

I also love the area as there is theopportunity for a full day of playing in tidalraces, as there are play spots on both theflooding and ebbing tidal streams. I have foundit to be the perfect spot to get away with agroup of paddlers to have some fun on andoff the water.

Jarrod Gunn McQ

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www.com

mitted2thecore.com

The far northern California coast is a challenging place for sea kayakers.With hundreds of miles of sheer cliffs and unforgiving boulder strewnbeaches, there are very few opportunities for all but the most skilled andbrazened paddlers to experience the magnificent beauty it has to offer.

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Northern CaliforniaUnited StatesJason SelfTrinidad Head is one of very few places thatoffers protection from the Pacific's constantonslaught against the shore. Towering seastacks and offshore reefs provide ample habitat

for seals, sea lions, thousands of migrating seabirds, otters, porpoise, whales, and a myriad ofother incredible sea creatures. Enormous coastredwood, eucalyptus, cypress, and spruce treescling to the edges of cliffs, themselves crumblinginto the ocean!

Paddling south from the protected harbour willgive you a gradual increase in exposure tonorth west swell and wind for two to threemiles before you get to Moonstone Beach,where a long, sandy, exposed shoreline beginsand runs south for 20 miles with several rivermouths along the way before you reach the

jetties of Humboldt Bay near Eureka and yournext opportunity for protection from dumpybeach break landings.

For those with proper skills and a sense ofadventure, paddling north of Trinidad Head willnot disappoint. With full exposure to theprevailing north west swell and wind, exploringthe miles of cliffs, hidden pocket beaches, coves,sea stacks, arches, caves, offshore reefs, surfbreaks, and pour overs is something not to bemissed. This stretch of coast is rugged andunforgiving, but for those willing to face itschallenges, the rewards are overwhelming.

www.pacificoutfitters.com

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Northern NorwayBeing asked where is the best place you have paddled is to anexpedition paddler a nightmarish question. Why? Well, the thing withsea kayaking isnt about where youve been but where you are going,we sit forward facing in our sea kayaks, leaving the places we havebeen before, in our wake, we are quite different to ocean rowers whoare continually looking backwards to where they were.

But if in all the thousands of miles I have paddled I were forced to make a recommendation foryou to go and visit, I would offer you one location which is very close to my heart and thiswould be northern Norway, this is not just because of the Tolkienesque Mountains, which run allthe way down to the ocean and it would not be because of the many hidden white sandybeaches and crystal clear waters.

The thing that entrances me the most about northern Norway is the contrasts of light,something ever changing and quite entrancing, I can sit for hours and just watch on how the lightchanges the way we perceive our surroundings.

The area is a continual archipelago of islands and the coastline is deeply riven by fjords cuttingcleanly through the mountain peaks. Its a beautiful place for any paddler to aspire to.

www.seakayakingcornwall.com

It is difficult to single out one specific place as my favourite destination.Depending on whether I want to play, socialize or travel, I will opt for differentlocations.

Clayoquot Sound and the Canadian Arctic for sea kayak touring are deeply inspiring, kayak surfing athome in Ucluelet on the west coast of Vancouver Island is a much needed therapeutic routine, forplaying in the currents and socializing with friends and clients, Surge Narrows and the charm andwarmth of the Discovery Island Lodge on Quadra Island is truly a magical place.

However, there is one specific place that is absolutely outstanding and world class to surf an almostendless green wave pending appropriate tides and currents' speeds. This place is calledSkookumchuck. It is a First Nation name meaning turbulent water or rapid torrent. True to its name,you can play on a large green wave formed by high flowing water rushing underneath your kayak. Iam amazed by the power of nature. The rush created by surfing this powerful tidal wave isoverwhelmingly good.

But don't be fooled... What awaits you,not if but when you miss your exit willmake your eyes go wide and your heartskip a beat.

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Skookumchuck, BritishColumbia, Canada

Photo by Alix Albertini featuring Rowan Gloag

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Bardsey Island, Wales, United Kingdom

I love travelling the world and paddling inunknown, untouched places. Im always wantingto know whats around the next headland. Buttheres beauty and magic all over. When Imhome in north Wales, I always know Ill have aspecial day if I head to the charming island ofBardsey at the tip of the Llyn Peninsula.

The Welsh name, Ynys Enlli, means Island in thecurrents as currents of up to 6 knots swirlaround the island, apart from a brief slackperiod. In wind and swell, a turbulent wave trainblocks the way to the pretty island. Despite this or perhaps because of this Bardsey used tobe a destination for pilgrims. Seven visits to Enlliwas equivalent to one visit to Rome and 10,000saints are said to be buried on the island.

Bardsey is only a few miles in surface area andjust a couple of miles from mainland Wales buttheres magic crammed onto that little island. Astripy lighthouse adorns one end and a bulboushill stands proud opposite it.Over a 100 seals,36,000 nesting shearwaters, choughs, guillemots,puffins and many other birds make it their home.

One family lives on the island year-round,looking after the sheep and cattle who graze theland, watching the winter storms, making honeyfrom bees and weaving rugs from wool. I alwaylook forward to my own pilgrimage to Bardsey, Iwear a quiet smile the whole time I breathe inthe fresh island air and I leave with a deepcontentment. There are magic places all over ourworld, but theres something extra special aboutyour own local piece of magic.

Justine Cur

genv

en

The Queen Charlotte Islands has its blended culture and natural beauty, NewZealand challenged me with her ring of surf and the Aleutian islands dazzledme with her wild remoteness, rich wildlife, unknown currents and stark beauty.

Bardsey Island, Wales United Kingdom

Photo by Steve Porter

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www.kokatat.com l www.systemxeurope.com

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South east BrazilImagine paddling in a place withmild weather, where the mountainsare covered by lush forest thatcomes down to meet the sea. Ordo you want white sand beaches,protected from bad weather ormaybe open challenging waters?Caves? Rock gardens? Do you wantmore islands than you could everexplore in one lifetime? Or want topaddle in a tropical fjord?

In south east Brazil all of this is possible, andyou will never need to paddle wearing a drysuit! Please look a little video about the SugarLoaf of Mamangu (tropicalfj

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The Paddler Issue 26 Autumn/Fall 2015 Canoe cover