A rich, full weekend

What a great weekend; A rich, full weekend as I like to say. Over the weekend I managed four runs on the river Dart, each one in a different type of Boat. I started off on Saturday with a playboat run down the Dart Loop. The level was good, but just to low for Top wave to be Awesome, and just to high for Triple playwave to be ripping. Bit of a bummer, but good fun none the less. Then I switched to the squirt boat, for my first try at sinking at the 'Breathalizer' seam. I had a few 'so-so' mysteries, but I got my first taste for proper downtime, when I got sucked down into the depths! It really did take my breath away, but I can't wait to get in there again and get some more squirt boat action.
Then on Sunday I had an Upper Dart run with Tom and Andy, again a nice level, a fraction higher than when I ran it last week. Followed by a Loop run Tandem in the Open boat with Louise.
What a great weekend! Great weather, great water levels and great paddling!!

Great Autumn colours on the Loop

Tom and Andy Below Surprise Surprise

Andy, in the meat of Euthanasia

Dan and Andy testing new uses for creek boats!

More River Dart paddling.

I've managed a couple of runs on the Dart in the last few days. I managed to squeeze in an Upper Dart run with Andy and Simon Westgarth. The levels was ok, but it could have been just a little bit higher. But we had fun, and there was enough water to make it worth while.

Early on the Upper Dart

Andy, Just after the first steep rapid on the Upper Dart

And then a few days later I managed two runs on the Dart Loop. Once tandem with my wife in our open canoe, and once in the playboat. The level was a bit higher, covering half the slab at newbridge, possible the highest we've run the Loop tandem. But it did mean that all the rapids were really good, and the play wave a Triple fall was great. I did surf the wave in the open boat as well, but it did end with a small out of boat experience, check the picture below! Can you tell me what I did wrong? Then Ewart, Andy, Tom B and I had a good run in the playboats, with all the usual antics!! Check out why we call Andy the Fat-Man!

Me, about to loose control, can you see what I did wrong?

Tom B in his squirt boat, on the triple play wave

The one and only Fat-Man

Queuing for a go on the play wave

Yak Advert, featuring Me!

Some time last year Team AS Watersports was involved in a photo shoot for Yak Paddling gear. We spent a pleasant and sunny day paddling around at Exmouth, and at the Might Pots. It was a great day out, a great chance to try lots of shiny new Yak gear.
And Yak then went and used a picture of me, walking up the beach with a sea kayak on my shoulder, for an advert that went out in a number of Magazines. You can now find the advert online HERE.
Click for a good laugh at me!

All Quiet on the 3rider front?

I haven't posted anything in a while, but that doesn't mean I've not been busy! while I haven't managed to get in the surf in about a month I have been Mountain biking several times, canoeing once and trying out my new squirt boat lots! But the big problem is I haven't really taken any pictures to blog. I've either been too busy riding my bike to be snapping pics, or forgetting my camera, or, unfortunately squirt boating isn't exactly photogenic! But here is a few pics that I have managed to get.

Louise ripping the trails at Nant-y-airan in mid Wales. go there it rocks!

Cath, trying out her new Mad River Reflection 15

Paddling on Exeter canal.

Me Squirting at the Pots.

Dart Dawn Dash

With the weather forecast showing lots of rain Wednesday night/Thursday morning Ewart and I made the decision to get up early Thursday for a dawn run on the Dart Loop, before having to head to work at 9am.
The Dartcom online rain gauge was showing almost 50mm of rain in the previous 12hrs on Thursday morning, and when we got to the river we found it flowing through the third arch, and lapping up the first wooden step from Newbridge car park. So without hanging around we got kitted up and hit the river as the skies started to get light. We had a good blast down the river, but it was all over too soon, and before we knew it we were stuck in traffic trying to get back into Exeter.

The river, lapping up the steps at Newbridge

Ewart looking serious, about to put on the river while it was still fairly dark

And we're done, now just got to run back for the car!

Day Two: the River Walkham

We Paddled the Lower Walkham about a month ago and enjoyed it so much that we were keen to go and give it another go with a bit more water. Well we got the chance today. The overnight rain wasn't quite as heavy, and stopped earlier than we'd expected, meaning most Dartmoor rivers were paddleable, but already lower than we'd expected. However there was still a couple of inches more water than last time.

Clear skies, sunshine and water, perfection

We paddle the river with Ewart, Jemma and Andy. It was nice to have a little group of us on the river, and we had a great run down the Walkham. The Sun was shinning and the skies were clear, which was a great contrast to the low cloud and snow we'd encountered on the moor on the drive to the river!

Andy wins the pull a silly face contest!

The Extra couple of inches of water meant that where last time we'd hit the odd rock here and there, this time we floated through barely hitting any rocks. There was quite a few more inches of water in the Tavy when we got that far, but that just made the waves bigger and the rapids better!

Andy drops into the slot

The Surf wave just before the take out provided the usual vast amount of fun. Incredible considering how small a wave it really is!

Ewart boofs into the slot



Andy, enjoying endless surfing in a Pyranhe Z:one

Jemma and Louise chill while Ewart and Andy play

Synchronised shudder rudders from Ewart and Andy, stylish!

Dart Loop: Two runs, twice the fun!

After our long, cold, dry spell it has finally been wet this week. I didn't manage to get out for a paddle during the week, so I thought I better make up for it with a day on the river on Saturday. So Louise and I headed to the river Dart to paddle the 'Loop' section. The Loop does seem to be the place to be these days if your an intermediate. The Car park was crammed full, and so was the river!

Me trying to get a cartwheel out of the Pyranha Z:one on top wave

Louise and I kitted up and hit the water Tandem in our Open Canoe for the first run of the day. There had been a lot of rain over night, but it had stopped before sunrise, so the river was now on the drop. But it was still at a great level when we got on. The Slab at Newbridge, the usual rule of thumb gauge, was covered, somewhere around 6ft on the old gauge. This meant that the rapids would be big and bouncy, and with the odd hole thrown in here and there for good measure!

Grrrr, it wasn't this busy a few years ago.......!

We had a great run down, after we'd blasted down to spitchwick corner to avoid the crowds! Lovers leap caught us out slightly, there were some big waves, and we took on a fair bit of water, then the hole in the middle got us and that was us swamped! Oh well, we paddled into an eddy river left after the island, emptied out, and then ferried across above splat rock.
Triple once again posed a swamping threat, but this time we got the line, despite me shouting 'left' when I meant right, and 'right' when I meant left. But luckily Louise knew what I meant!

Jack Russel enjoying top wave

After making use of the shuttle service back to Newbridge, I swapped Canoe for Kayak and headed back to the river. The level had dropped quite a bit, but there was still water on the slab, and flowing over the top corner. I had the shops Demo medium Pyranha Z:ONE and was keen to see what it would do. First stop Top Wave. The Z:one surfed well, as you'd expect from it length and shape, but it would also spin. It took a couple of attempts to get used to its extra length but once you'd got accustomed to it it was fine.
I also bumped into local paddler, coach, inspirational speaker, and all-round nice bloke, Jack Russel. So we set off together to run the rest of the river.

Jack hand surfing the wave at spin dryer

The Z:one was fast, quicker than any other whitewater boat I've paddled in a while, but then it is longer than any other whitewater boat I've paddled in a while! It was great to use the extra speed to zip about, ferrying, eddy to eddy with less effort. It run all the rapids on the loop with ease, and I even managed to pull one of the smoothest rock spins I've done in it!
On the Wave at triple three it surfed well, but it span better, once it had gone round about three quarters of a spin there was no stopping the momentum! I just let it get on with it, it was only when I got dizzy and dropped an edge that I flushed off!
And that was it, all to soon I was back on the shuttle bus. The river was starting to look to low to make me want to do a third run. But with more rain forecast overnight it was time to head back home ready for another day on the river!

The Lower Walkham

Being at work on Saturday, I missed all the great river levels. But I managed to get out for a paddle on Sunday. Keen to try something different Ewart, Louise and I headed over to the far side of the moor to paddle the Lower Walkham, which also includes some of the Tavy as well. After driving round for quite some time trying to find the get out, because we'd all forgotten to bring a proper map, we finally got ourselves sorted left a car at the get out and got to the get on. The river was paddleable, but I wouldn't have wanted to try it with any less water.
It's a really fun little river, much smaller than the Dart, with numerous little rapids and drops which twist and turn through a wooded valley, and very little chance to catch your breath. Before you finally come to a solid little class 3 drop. Louise and I decided to give it a miss, tandem in the Canadian, but ran the rest of the little twisty rapid below. A few more rapids lead you down to the confluence with the Tavy. A couple of Bouncy class 2 rapids then lead you down to a great class 3 rapid, weaving between some large boulders and through a hole. Then some more bouncy class 2 brings you to a weir, Ewart ran it off a rock ledge on river right, but once again Louise and I decided that it just wasn't quite a Canadian Canoe line. Some last few rapids then lead you to a tiny little gauging weir, which produces a great surf wave. Cue lots of surfing and generally mucking about! And that's it. Its a great trip, if you fancy a class 3 river trip with a far more technical and river running feel than the loop, then the Lower Walkham could be for you.

The class 3 slot drop on the Walkham

Ewart surfing on the Tavy

Long arm shot, Louise cross deck ruddering while surfing

Louise and I surfing

Poser!

The Exe in flood.

This week we had some torrential rain. My rain gauge in my garden recorded 36mm in 12 hours. With Massive amount of rain falling all over Devon all the rivers shot up. The river Exe reached some huge levels. Maybe not as high as its ever been, but certainly about as high as its been this year. I managed to grab a few pictures of Mill on the Exe on my way to work, and some of Trews Weir after I got to work.

The wave on head weir

The middle of Trews Weir

Insane crashing wave, mid river, Mill on the Exe

Spy shots: New Yak Paddling gear.

I've got some great spy shots for you today. I was lucky enough to be involved in a photo shoot for the new range of Cags from Yak paddling gear that is about to be released. And I've managed to get hold of a few pictures to show everyone the great new stuff that they've got coming.

The whitewater lineup features a huge range of cags, from a great entry level cag with neo neck, all the way up to an awesome latex neck cag, that is chock full of great design features. All the cags feature new materials, that are more waterproof, more breathable, lighter, more flexible and far more comfortable to wear. They also feature details like neat colour coded splash proof zips, colour coded Velcro with hyperlon tabs, better latex seals than before, and more flexible neoprene seals, with a cunning spiral seam, that allows the neoprene to stretch all over with out being restricted by a straight seam. They also have a better cut, with articulated shoulders, arms and wrists for better movement, with less restriction, and no excess baggy material.
The top of the range whitewater cags also feature an all new four way stretch, waterproof, breathable, three layer fabric in a cool new colours, including the the Camouflage colour, or Yak-o-flage, as it's made from multi coloured yaks!

The top of the range 'camo' cag.

If your not sure about the 'camo' an alternative colour way is available

There is also a complete new range of recreational and touring cags. Also in new more waterproof, more breathable, lighter, more flexible and far more comfortable materials. They also sport the great features such as colour coded splash proof zips and colour coded Velcro with hyperlon tabs. The higher spec touring Cags also feature new latex seals, and the new cut, with articulated shoulders, arms and wrists for better movement, with less restriction.

new touring, and recreation cags

A full spectrum of new cags, coming soon!

The New Range of gear is expect in the shops in November. Check http://www.yak-paddling.com/ for more details and info on the whole range of Yak Gear that is available.

A Family Dart Trip, with the Hoppers

Louise and I managed to get out on the River Dart this weekend with our friends the Hopper Family. Yes, I said family, Mum and Dad Heather and Roger, and the kids, Ben (9) Jodie (11, this week) and Isabel (13, next month). Roger and Jodie went in a canoe together, but everyone else took to the water on their own. We hit the river early, and the weather was amazing, wisps of mist hanging on the river and lingering under the trees, all light up by the amazing sunshine.

Louise in her Canoe

Heather in her Kayak

Ben Ripping it up in his kayak

The glorious morning weather

Roger and Jodie in Their Canoe

Jodie enjoying the sunshine

Isabel in her kayak