Unsponsored

Paddling tips, tricks, news and gear reviews from an Unsponsored point of view

Tag: Readers Rides

Reader’s Ride 2015 – Nick Pearce

16 March 2015 / / 0 Comments

portage

Name: Nick Pearce

Location: I split my time between Somerset and Voss, Norway

I have been paddling for the last 11 years and during that time, I have been lucky enough to paddle in some of the coolest locations around the world from the UK to Chile, France, India and New Zealand. My personal favorite and the place that constantly draws me back is Norway. It’s a land full of amazing rivers with still so much undiscovered potential. For the last 5 years I have spent my life working as a raft guide which allowed me to be closer to the river and to get as much boating in as possible. I also have the pleasure of being supported by some of the best companies on the market: Zet UK, AS watersports, System X and Silverstick.

Continue reading

Reader’s Rides 2015 – Tom Davies

24 February 2015 / / 1 Comment

Name: Tom Davies (http://tom-davi.es)

TomDavies2

Location: Manchester

Origin Story:

I first started paddling when I was 10, in Newport, South Wales.

TomDavies1

I kind of fell out of love with the sport for a bit, until I went to University in 2012, and joined Manchester University Canoe Club. Since then, I’ve rapidly grown from a full time student into a full time kayaker. I try and get away to a river every weekend, and sometimes I succeed.

Continue reading

Reader’s Rides 2015 – Jon Wyles

10 January 2015 / / 0 Comments

Name: Jon Wyles
Location: Scotland
Kayaking ability: Questionable

Profile

4th year Geography student at St Andrews. Grade 3/4 uni boater with 3 years experience.

Boats:

I’ve never owned my own boat, almost entirely due to lack of funds and also due to the fact that the University has quite a large inventory of boats. I first frequented an old Liquid Logic Huck, which saw me through the first few trips I’d been on. This unfortunately was involved in a swim on a high Knaike while in use by another member of the club who shall remain unnamed (James McMahon), and was not seen again.

First Trip

Above: Me on my first river trip (Grandtully), on one of the Huck’s last voyages. Photo: Jonny Hawkins

Continue reading

Reader’s Rides 2014 – Aaron Kendall

23 November 2014 / / 0 Comments

10676623_10205480021908679_990915877_o

Name: Aaron Kendall

Location: Loggerheads, Mold, North wales

I’m currently a outdoor instructor for Kingswood, based at the Colomendy outdoor centre. What seems to be the perfect location, although I seem to of missed most of the rain due to other commitments. Still getting plenty of low water runs in and the odd bit of water too.

Continue reading

Reader’s Rides 2014 – Eddy Mead

21 November 2014 / / 0 Comments

Unsponsored_eddymead8

Name: Eddy Mead

Location: Cardiff, South Wales

Boat: Liquidlogic Remix 79

I’ve paddled the Remix for a year now and have loved every minute. It’s super long with a narrow hull so it accelerates quickly and maintains speed. It’s got soft edges so it’s really forgiving but at the same time carves into tight eddy’s and into strong currents with ease. The Remix doesn’t have masses of rocker so boofing can require a little more effort but if the boat is being driven it cruises over everything. What’s unique and cool about it is the scoop on the tail, if dipped in the green whilst punching a big hole, it will give you a boost and accelerate away from the feature. Also the LL Badass outfitting if fantastic, super easy to adjust and super comfy without adding too much weight.

Unsponsored_eddymead7

Continue reading

Reader’s Rides 2014 – Ben Hawthorne

19 November 2014 / / 0 Comments

10548051_10152503903386824_6095841078626412600_o

Name: Ben Hawthorne

About me: Been paddling for a while now, maybe 24 years?? Christ I’m old!!! I have however been fortunate to take my passion all over the world and paddle in a whole lot of places including New Zealand, Nepal, Chile and Canada. For the last 2 summers and next I have been running the Sjoa Kayak Camp in Norway along with my beautiful wife and the Gene 17 boys. I’m lucky enough to be supported by Colorado Kayak Supply in the US, super cool guys, check em out.

Location: Currently, Chamonix for the winter. Stoked.

Boat: ZET Raptor. Now when these came out I thought they looked a bit industrial, rough around the edges and wasn’t that keen. Then I ended up paddling one for a bit, and after a couple of runs was completely converted. It does everything a creek boat should do. Fast (for a creek boat), boofs and rolls easy, light, comfortable and most importantly, bomb proof. I do think its not really a great beginners boat, it definitely needs to be driven around the river and will kick your arse pretty fast if youre not a pro-active paddler but I love it. It really suits my paddling style. I’m pretty excited to see the new boat they’ve got lined up, details boys details!!! Also a Bliss-stick Smoothy for my play boat, like a project in my size, love it.

Continue reading

Reader’s Rides 2014 – Dave Brown

17 November 2014 / / 0 Comments

Name: Dave Brown (aka Redneck Dave, Full Face Dave, Small Head)

Dave Brown

Location: Barrow or North Wales

Boat: Currently an XL Burn Mk3 in the sickest colours you’ve ever seen – Rasta

Dave Brown

I really like the way the rails allow you to carve hard without stalling and tripping you up unlike the old burn, making it easy to fine tune lines and snap into eddies. It has quite a flat hull which allows it to surf easily, staying high on features and keeping you in control as you move laterally across the flow which is really cool. It has the Connect 2014 outfitting it comes with which allows the seat to be varied in both height and pitch. I have this set in the highest position, with the largest block installed under the front of the seat to really lock me in which works well, even though I’m the bottom end of the weight range. Seeing as I have the attention span of a gnat, I’m considering swapping out for a 9R to get some speed in my life.

Continue reading

Reader’s Rides 2013: Robert Kierans

19 July 2013 / / 0 Comments

Name: Robert Kierans

Country: Ireland

Age : 15

DSC00291

Boat: I’ve been paddling a Medium Burn for four months now on everything from flat water in Ireland to Grade 4 in the alps. In that time if found it to be a gem of a boat. The best part being the rails which work extremely well at getting the boat in to and out of eddy’s as well as ferry gliding.

Continue reading

Reader’s Rides 2013 – Mark Mulrain

13 April 2013 / / 1 Comment

Name: Mark Mulrain
Location: Glasgow, Scotland

mm4

Boats

Dragorossi 88 (big boat) – I wanted a boat that had the speed of a Zet Raptor and boofed a little easier like the Liquidlogic Stomper. The 88 seemed to do meet this criteria. I was blown away by how easily it punched water features and the speed it carried out from the bottom of a rapid. Continue reading

Reader’s Rides – Darren Clarkson-King

27 March 2013 / / 0 Comments

Reader – CHRIST DO YOU NOT KNOW WHO I AM.
Country – Wales and Nepal

Unknown

I have a few sets of gear at the moment, I use a Mamba in Wales and a Phat, Everest or Remix in Nepal. I have a Gus in India and an RPM. I use a Jimi Styx on soul days, and use Lightning Gradients on expeditions (200). I wear a Sweet Wanderer on creeks and a Strutter in the sun/cruise days. Sweet drytop/pants and base layers. Chaco footwear, IR pogies in the cold. Snap Dragon/Playboater/IR/Palm skirt depending on boat. Pfd, I have a Langer AKC shape in Nepal, Nookie in UK, Peak in UAE and a Stolquist in India. I also have a Hydraulics. As for safety kit. I always carry 2 throw bags, a waist mounted Salamander or NRS Guide along with a longer line in my boat. All my lines are stripped and have Krabs and prussiks as part of the system held within.

Continue reading

Reader’s Rides 2013 – Kirstie Macmillan

26 March 2013 / / 2 Comments

Name: Kirstie Macmillan (Kmac)
Location: Scotland

kmac1

Above: Falls of Feugh, Banchory

Current Kit: Wavesport Diesel 65/Wavesport EZG 50, Playboater Workdeck, Werner Sherpa 191, Sweet Wanderer, Palm Naiya Cag and Sidewinder Pants, Astral Bella, Palm 15m throwline, Palm Granites/Lomo boots. Continue reading

© 2024 Unsponsored

Theme by Anders Norén — Up ↑