Paddling tips, tricks, news and gear reviews from an Unsponsored point of view
Nick Wright, engineer and all round carbon fibre repair guru has sent this slalom K1 repair in to the site. Many thanks Nick.
Once again, by poor old slalom boat was not doing too well, and it was time to fix it up (especially with BUCS just around to corner). The current problem was that the very end of the tail was cracked and leaking quite badly.
A nasty situation develops on this rapid on Wilson Creek. A good rescue!
Wilson Creek – Dental Work Rescue from Matt Dolian on Vimeo.
From time to time this will happen and is far more common than even the great boaters like to admit. Capsizing and swimming is what helps us all get better, it’s part of the learning curve no matter what level of the sport you are currently at.
There are two main goals if you find yourself in the water. The first is to stay safe whilst in the water and second is to get out of the water. Continue reading
As well as making sure I have all the necessary safety kit (PFD, helmet, throw line, whistle, pin kit) I like to have a range of kit with me that can be used in emergency situations. If a trip were to turn into an epic it is possible that someone may have been injured and/or we could be stuck out in the middle of nowhere.
Therefore my kit centres around three key elements/purposes:
I like to carry a range of kit that will help keep me and/or my paddling buddies warm and offer a little shelter.
If someone gets injured I’d like to go someway to help patch him or her up.
I’d like to ensure that morale stays high.
I have to weigh all of these needs against what is practically possible and the weight I can actually carry in my boat. Regardless this kit needs to be carried in my boat or on my person and needs to be kept dry. I am currently using an Exped Cloudburst dry sack for the bulk of the emergency kit that I carry. It is based around a traditional roll top dry bag but it has straps so that it can be used as a rucksack. It has a volume of 15 litres which means it is big enough to hold the essentials but will still fit in the back of my Liquid Logic Stomper.
I have been asked a few times about whether or not the Palm Rescue Waist Belt and Zambezi Utility Belt will accept throw lines/bags from other manufacturers.
Things can go wrong. When they do it’s important to have the skills, kit and quick reaction to deal with it. This great video from Liam Chambers shows just how important this is.
Grizedale Beck pin to swim, to unpin. from Liam Chambers on Vimeo.
Sometime about 18 months ago we were waiting for rivers to come up in the lakes and went to this, adamant to get on and paddle some for the sake of paddling myself and Greg ran the entry falls to the main slide.
Was it worth it? No. Was that safety course worth it? Yes. Could it have gone worse? Almost definitely. Here’s what happened.
Filmed using Nick Woodman’s finest.
If you are running whitewater I strongly believe that all members of the paddling group should carry and throw line/bag AND know how to use it safely/effectively. I would also say that if you are carry a line you must also carry a knife that is capable of cutting it.
The choice of throw lines/bags is vast and although they may look the same there are some distinct differences that you must consider before selecting the right one for you. Continue reading
What would you do in a situation like this pin on the Oetz?
Do you have a pin/rescue kit that can handle the emergency? Do you know how to use it safely and effectively?
Kayak design has moved on so much since I started to paddle. The level or difficulty at which people paddle is owed in some part to the change in kayak design over the years.
I currently paddle a Recon 93 and despite it being used for pretty much the same stuff as my first plastic kayak – an Ace Swing, yet the technology and features are simply worlds apart.
So if you are looking for a kayak packed full of safety features what are you actually looking for?
One of these landed at the weekend.
It’s a Exotac Matchcap Waterproof Firestarter in Blaze Orange
Made by CRKT and designed by knife maker Russ Kommer the Bear Claw is a rescue knife like no other.
Specs –
Full tang taper ground AUS 6M stainless steel blade with a fine bead blast finish.
Finger hole and friction grooves located on blade spine, choil and near tip for maximum blade control and safety.
The handle is contoured black Zytel.
Includes a injection molded black Zytel sheath that has seven lanyard holes and belting slots with lanyard and black stainless steel Teflon plated pocket clip.
AUS 6M stainless steel blade hardened to 55-57HRC, Blade length: 2″.
I picked up one of these knives from a climbing shop in Hailey, Idaho. I had been after a decent knife for kayaking for some time and was probably going to pick up a Gerber on my return to the UK. However after checking the Bear Claw out for a few minutes I decided it was going to be a better choice.
The HF Weasel is HF’s smallest and most compact throw bag. If space within your boat is at a premium then this bag may be the one for you. The Weasel fits even in the smallest kayak or can be fixed and carried on a waist belt (HF Swifty Belt).
If a throw bag is needed in a emergency you probably won’t have any time for a second go! Therefore the most important factors when using a throwbag is how well it throws, and how easy it is to get the bag to land on target. In both cases the HF Weasel fits the bill. I found the bag easy to throw both under and over arm. The rope pays out nicely during a throw and is also easy to repack if you do need (or have time) to have a second go.
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