Let's learn to Kayak! - The saga begins...
ARNOLD ASSESSMENT
Date: 02/10/12
Mission: Kayak aseessment
Crew: Group 2 and Philly J, Keith, Tui and Astrea
Plot: Rescue's
Flow: Medium
STEP UP ARAHURA
Date: 28/07/2012
Mission: Step Up Arahura
Crew: Luke, Ari, Jake, Ru, Me
Plot: A big crew hit the Arahura this weekend with a number of thirsty 1st years deciding to step up to some West Coast grade 3 whitewater, including myself. The run was awesome down to the swingbridge, then eased up down to the takeout, will run a few shuttles next time down to the swingbridge to make the most of it. Dirty little swim near the end in shallow water.
ARNIE FLOOD RUN
Date: 15/07/2012
Mission: Still raining
Crew: Luke, Eckies, Watson and I (Arnold/Grey) Kristin, Rebecca Alice (Arnold).
Plot: With the rain still falling we hit the Arnie again, originally intending to paddle continuously into the Grey and down to the Cobden Bridge. We ended up taking out at the raft takeout because of nervousness about bridges, but jumped back in at Stillwater and got down to the bridge in 50mins! Really fast and a lot of debri and unpredictable water. Peak Level!
ARNIE FLOOD RUN II
Date: 14/07/12
Mission: Arnold Flood Run
Crew: Luke and I.
Plot: Luke and I paddled the Arnie at the highest level I'd seen it. Was really washed out and the usual features were either underwater or really big waves/holes. Learning was that swimming is not an option on a flood run due the speed and nature of the trees on the banks.
MURKY MURCH
ARNOLD ASSESSMENT
Date: 02/10/12
Mission: Kayak aseessment
Crew: Group 2 and Philly J, Keith, Tui and Astrea
Plot: Rescue's
Flow: Medium
STEP UP ARAHURA
Date: 28/07/2012
Mission: Step Up Arahura
Crew: Luke, Ari, Jake, Ru, Me
Plot: A big crew hit the Arahura this weekend with a number of thirsty 1st years deciding to step up to some West Coast grade 3 whitewater, including myself. The run was awesome down to the swingbridge, then eased up down to the takeout, will run a few shuttles next time down to the swingbridge to make the most of it. Dirty little swim near the end in shallow water.
ARNIE FLOOD RUN
Date: 15/07/2012
Mission: Still raining
Crew: Luke, Eckies, Watson and I (Arnold/Grey) Kristin, Rebecca Alice (Arnold).
Plot: With the rain still falling we hit the Arnie again, originally intending to paddle continuously into the Grey and down to the Cobden Bridge. We ended up taking out at the raft takeout because of nervousness about bridges, but jumped back in at Stillwater and got down to the bridge in 50mins! Really fast and a lot of debri and unpredictable water. Peak Level!
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| Image courtesy of www.greymouthgolf.com |
Date: 14/07/12
Mission: Arnold Flood Run
Crew: Luke and I.
Plot: Luke and I paddled the Arnie at the highest level I'd seen it. Was really washed out and the usual features were either underwater or really big waves/holes. Learning was that swimming is not an option on a flood run due the speed and nature of the trees on the banks.
MURKY MURCH
Date: 12/06/2012
Mission: O'Sullivans run, Mangles
Crew: Jake, Jake (2nd), Ari, Me
Plot: With a sick crew consisting of Jake and Jake, Ari and I, we headed to Murchison for some higher level paddling (for me anyway) on a flooded Buller area. O'Sully's was my intro to bigger water, and I managed a few swims in the confusion and helical flows - cheers for the rescue's boys!! Was exhilerating though. Then we hit Mangles, and before that found an awesome waterfall in a side creek, about a 3m drop and a great intro to dropping off!
MIKONUI MAGIC
Date: 03/06/2012
Crew: Alice, Ari, Lenny, Ru, Tim, Kristen, Rebecca, Jono, Jake, Logan, Watson, Me
Plot: What was originally a planned overnight trip turned into a comfortable one-day paddle for 12 of us from tech. Awesome river and great weather mixed with a few challenging rapids meant for a sweet Sunday. Cheers Alice.
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| Lining up. Photo: Alice Payne |
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| Goat in a boat. Photo: Alice Payne |
CROOKED DEBUT
Date: 20/05/2012
Mission: Crooked Paddle Debut
Crew: Kristen, Rebecca, Ari, Jake, Connor, Eckies, Watson,Ru, Owen, Me.
Plot: Finally got to the Crooked with a kayak. A low flow and and many combat rolls. At least I've got them sorted.
ARNOLD CANOE SESSION
Date: 13/05/2012
Mission: Arnold without a deck
Crew: Watson, Rhys, Kristen, Rebecca, Connor, Me, Julia
Plot: Arnold run on Sunday - managed to forget my deck so paddled without. Godd for edging, not so good for rolls!
ARNOLD WITH CONFIDENCE
Date: 12/04/2012
Mission: Arnold Confidence Booster
Crew: Jonno, Dylan, Alice, Eckies, Me
Plot: Did the Arnold again. Hit up the new jump for the 1st time. It set the tone and I had my most confident paddle to date. Hit everything and my roll was working finally. Definitely the key to my paddling. Did the seal launch also.
APRIL ARNOLD
Date: 29/04/2012
Mission: April Arnold
Crew: Lenny, Watson, Rebecca, Kristin, Jeremy, I
Plot: On a overcast Sunday we went to the Arnold for a much-needed paddle. A good flow and the Autumn scenary made for a good time.
TE TAIPO
Date: 15/04/2012
Mission: Taipo Refresher
Crew: Ari, Christy, Rob
Plot: Paddled the Taipo with Christy, her 1st run here. Low flow but still fun. 50 minute run. Need to slow down!
STORMY ARNOLD
Date: 24/03/12
Mission: Stormy Arnold
Crew: Large
Plot: Went out on a torrential Greymouth morning with a big crew. Water level was surprisingly normal. Uneventful.
TECH WEEK II
Date: 09/03/12
Mission: Taipo River
Weather: Clear and fine
Plot: Our 2nd week culminated in running the Taipo River, en route to Arethur's Pass. It was a bit of a step-up with some gorge sections, slightly harder rapids and stronger eddylines to contend with. Needless to say I produced some classic Rob Bruce moments, including eddyline flips and some dramatic T-rescues. Awesome day out.
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| Taipo put in |
Date: 08/03/12
Mission: Arnie River Rescue Day
Plot: Hit the Arnold to learn river rescue techniques. The morning involved deepwater rescues, swimmer rescues and self rescue. Afternoon included hazard identification and escape, and throwbagging.
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| Strainer!!! |
RAISE YOUR FUCKIN' PADDLE!
Date: 07/03/12
Mission: Arnold River
Plot: Arnie run again. Spent the day under the eye of Peter Ketering, kayak legend who took Rush Sturges on his first grade 4 paddle. Definitely improved on eddylines.
ROLLS AND PADDLE STROKES
Date: 06/03/12
Mission: Hokitika Pool Session; Lake Leslie Flatwater Session
Plot: Day began with an awesome surprise. We went to Greymouth High School to attend a presentation by the Flowhunters, including none other than Rush Sturges, Ben Brown, Rafa (insert names). These guys are the pinnacle of whitewater kayaking globally, and to meet them in person and see some of their recent footage shot on the West Coast was special indeed. Then it was another pool session and Lake Leslie for paddle stroke refining.
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| With the FlowHunters crew. Legends. |
TECH WEEK I
Date: 02/03/12
Mission: Arnold River
Plot: First run of our "local" pub of a river - the mighty Arnie. Another river experience to familiarise us with eddies, rapids and hazards.
RIVER VIRGIN
Date: 01/03/12
Mission: Lower Arahura River
Plot: Biggest paddle of my life to date. After a Hokitika Pool rolling session we hit the Arahura for the real deal. Windy day and some very wobbly nervy moments as I hit my 1st grade 2 rapids haha.
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Date: 29/02/12
Mission: Grey River
Plot: First 'real' river I paddled. Practiced some mellow eddy line crossings which seemed like raging torrents to me. Good to feel the river at last.
PADDLE TIME!
Date: 28/02/12
Mission: Taylorville Flatwater Session
Plot: Wet exits, T-Rescues, Sweep strokes, Carving, Flatwater paddling
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