Paddling tips, tricks, news and gear reviews from an Unsponsored point of view
Luke Partridge and Jamie Greenhalgh return to one of their favourite White water kayaking destinations on the planet, Nepal.
This time with a big objective in mind, the mighty Humla Karnarli!
Follow this series of episodes as they prepare for their expedition and tag along on some of the best whitewater in the world!
Through the fog: Some reflections on the influence social media has on our motivations and sense of self achievement in kayaking.
Recently I read an article by a pal of mine I boated with in Italy this year, and its safe to say he knows his stuff and has the experience to back it up.
His article, however, has upset a lot of people.
Why?
He seemingly (whether intentionally or not) attacked social media and those that use it as a form of self promotion.
I must admit I had to re-read it several times to try and work out if it was a targeted rant or not, and seems to have hit a nerve with a few folk! Whilst I am certainly one of those that is an active user of social media and use it to both create myself more business, and maintain support deals, I’ve come to the conclusion that I agree with the point that (I think) is being made, at least in part, which is social media can have a hugely negative impact on our lives if we allow it to.
His article sparked a deeper reflection for me on social media and the influence it has on my self and my own motivation for kayaking.
Flowing from high in the mountains of Tibet, the mighty Upper Bhote Koshi winds it’s way across the border from it’s source on the Zhangzabo glacier into Nepal before becoming the Sun Kosi and continuing it’s journey in to India. In 2014 a landlside of gargantuan proportions occurred in the Lamo Sangho area, depositing an estimated 13.5 million tonnes of rock upon the town thats was there. The dam that resulted drowned much of the landscape upstream and the river was changed dramatically.
The river still offers world class whitewater, and is one of the most famous runs in the Himalaya, offering quality commercial rafting trips on the lower sections and harder test-piece kayaking in the upper gorges.
Despite being delayed by some car troubles, I finally made it south to spend a bit of time with my family before I head out to Nepal for three months.
It’s been beautifully sunny weather since I’ve been south, great for the soul, not so great for kayaking! However, all was not lost today as I drove up to Cardiff to the brilliant CIWW course, a fantastic resource next to the Cardiff mariner, offering indoor wave surfing, a climbing wall and of course the whitewater course. Unfortunately I missed the whitewater festival that was on the day before, but had a great days session in the stunning sunshine today none the less.
In the spring Zet kayaks UK and Canoe and Kayak Store were kind enough to hook me up with a Raptor, a boat which I cannot recommend highly enough. I popped in to say hi to the guys in the branch at CIWW today and was rewarded with a special treat!
I first became inspired to enter the outdoor industry on a trip to Val Sesia with Gene17 when I was working for a bank, feeling pretty lost in life and confused by what my future held.
An (almost certainly) off the cuff comment from one of our coaches at the time saw me on an intensive outdoor instructor training course less than a year later, and I haven’t looked back since.
Each year Gene17 invite applications to come and join them on a week of intensive training aimed at those wishing to improve, or enter high end whitewater guiding. This year Me, Bastien and Matt were all lucky enough to be offered a place, along with another six paddlers from the UK and Europe.
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