Peak UK added a stainless steel ring to some of their throwline bags a few years ago.
For 2017 the range has been updated but still includes the ring. This great edit talks through the construction and setup of the 2017 throwline range.
Tag: rescue (Page 5 of 13)
Over the last few months I have had quite a few Watershed Drybags in for review. As part of the packaging the bags all come complete with two heavy duty elastic bands. If you are old enough and from the UK (may be the same in other countries too) these bands are very similar to the ones you got when you went to a public swimming pool.
We’ve had this Spyderco Spydersaw in for a while at Unsponsored HQ. We love sharp things at Unsponsored HQ and sharp things arriving from the guys at Spyderco are always very welcome. We’ve been using various Spyderco knives both on and off the water for years and have found them to be top performers.
However this new arrival is a departure from the norm. It’s not a knife that has multiple uses, quite simply put it’s a monster of a saw with the prime purpose of cutting through tough material really quickly. Think boats, trees/branches etc.
Rescue tapes are super useful pieces of gear and I would recommend everyone who paddles has one and knows how to use it.
This particular one (Python 5m) is from Whetman Equipment who have taken the concept a couple of steps further. This video is also useful for those who use other brands are have made their own as it shows a multitude of ways a tape can be used.
Another nifty invention from Steve Whetman.
The Krab Stick is a simple rescue device. It converts certain karabiners into hooks to enable a reach contact.
Over the course of the weekend a paddler got into difficulty on the Kisdon Force section of the River Swale, resulting in a need for medical help and helicopter extraction.
Thankfully here in the UK we have volunteers and paid professionals who can help us get out of sticky situations.
The limited edition Astral Greenjacket PFDs are always worth seeing, but this Astral Greenjacket LE9 in my opinion is the best yet.
I have just finished watching the full version of Chasing Niagara (just over 1 hrs worth of action). It has been available for a while via iTunes at a cost. However it is currently available to watch for free on Red Bull TV.
CHASING NIAGARA follows Rafa Ortiz, a celebrated pioneer of big waterfall kayaking, as he pushes himself to the limit and redefines his sport by daring to dream the impossible – successfully descending Niagara Falls. To prepare for this highly dangerous drop, Ortiz enlists a team of fellow professional kayakers, including Rush Sturges, Evan Garcia, and Tyler Bradt, to help him train and document the process. As they take on lightning fast rapids and massive waterfalls in exotic locales, they soon find that what started as one man’s epic quest, evolves into an intense three-year journey of self-discovery and friendship that forces them to redefine their own definitions of bravery, purpose, and ambition.
Huge waterfalls, near death experiences all captured in such a way that makes Chasing Niagara appealing to both paddlers and non-paddlers. In terms of the way in which Chasing Niagara has been put together and the action within it, it is probably the best kayak related video I have seen.
In the many years that I’ve been dabbling in whitewater kayaking technical rope work has always been the hardest thing for me to grasp – I’ve got it nailed now but not after constant repetition of reading the amazing Ww safety books and practice, practice, practice. I’m all for making things easy and I just wish all those decades ago the whetman equipment system was available. It take the mystique out of the black art of ropes and knots. Takes the worry away from do I have the correct kit and skills.
Rescue Essentials – The collection of gear and equipment that you carry to aid in a whitewater rescue is pretty crucial. It is a compromise between having enough gear, space available and the weight it involves.
My gear shifts, changes and evolves over time but the basic core of gear always remains.
Within my paddling group there will be several variations of this gear, it is important that the group is not reliant on one persons gear as it may be that person or that person’s boat that is in need of assistance. Do you know what emergency gear your paddling buddies carry? Should you?
It is also important that you know how to use the gear effectively. This is particularly the case with those items that carry an element of risk when used, e.g. ropes. If you are not sure book yourself on a good course.
Breakdown Paddle (Splits):
Two piece or four piece. What ever you choose is should fit in your boat and be capable of handling the types of water that you venture onto. For my money I’d go with a four piece Vertical Element or Werner setup (in that order!). My own personal set up is below.
We love the Lightning throw bag from Palm Equipment and got a the heads up that the older bags were ready to to redesigned earlier this year. So we are really glad to see that we know have the 20m 11mm Palm Equipment Bolt throw bag in the line up for 2017.
Analysis of one of many drops we lead folks down in Chile every year. See what it takes to operate safely and execute a seamless rescue when things don’t go according to plan. Thanks to the safety team of Chris Baer and Chris Wing, and Rose Wall for allowing her footage of the rescue to be used for educational purposes.
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