I still wake at night with my fuddled brain uncertain whether our holiday in the big ditch was a dream trip or a trip in my dreams.
To paddle the Grand Canyon has been a lifetime ambition. Little did I realise what a special experience it would be. Little did I realise how totally I would be removed from the reality of everyday life and absorbed into the Canyon. Two weeks in a fantasy world Disney can only dream about - except it is not a fantasy, it is the most awe inspiring, humbling, beautiful, rugged, pristine place I have been. Two weeks without the pressure of work, the mechanical noise of the world we live in, the restless speed of traffic and all the mundane chores that we make necessary to our madcap existence.
The Canyon is a very special place, truly an unspoilt natural wonder of the world and it is kept that way through the diligence of the boatmen and the Park Authorities. “Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints.” The logistics to achieve this are well practiced and the boatmen have all the gear and systems needed to facilitate this in a very American way. Everything strong, solid and heavy yet functional. Tables (with table cloth!), barbeques, water boilers, gas cookers, water filters, ice boxes that kept food fresh for the full two weeks. It was truly camping in style - 5* camping. Sleeping under the stars unmasked by light pollution was memorable, watching the dawn light looming from the east extinguishing the stars one by one bought home to me the insignificance of man’s efforts to control his environment. 
The boating was fun, unadulterated fun. It could be enjoyed at many levels. Unlike British rivers the water was big and bouncy. A grade 3 paddler with bottle by the bucket full and who was happy with big water would have a ball. They could paddle most of the rapids in the Canyon, especially as many rapids have a sneak route or, if the bucket was empty, one can ride the bigger rapids on the raft. A better paddler can always find a challenge to test their mettle and improve their skills. The river is pool drop though some of the drops would be unpleasant swims. Seldom are there rocks to hurt bums and shins, but some lengthy down time is a reality
The boating was the icing on the cake. The star of the show is, without doubt, the Canyon itself. 1.7 billion years of geological history laid bare in layer upon layer of different coloured rocks sliced through by side canyons. Rock strata from horizontal through inclined to totally fragmented. Canyon sides barely 50 metres apart in places and 10 miles in others. Indian history written into the landscape. Places to explore on foot full of surprises – cool pools, cold waterfalls, hidden amphitheatres, challenging climbs. Views one could admire for hours without tiring. River views, mountain views and desert views in infinite combinations. The river provides easy access to this unique and magical place but, beware, it is a desolate and isolated wilderness should the careless get into trouble.Abiding memories are many and varied. The cold, clear and wondrously green water of the early days. The storm in Redwall Cavern that made the canyon look like Middle Earth on a bad day and that turned the river red. The excitement of mile upon mile of big, bouncy water. The clear night skies. The excellent food. The quality of the tuition and leadership. The camaraderie and friendship of a group of strangers all pulling their weight and intent on making the trip a success for themselves and the whole party. The professionalism of the boatmen.So no it was not a dream. I have the pictures to prove it.
I think that’s a phrase that is always somewhere on the forefront of my mind when I go paddling. So, not only for my progression in paddling related tickets and the safety of myself and my paddling friends and other river users, I decided to get myself on a White Water Safety And Rescue course to make my ‘River Time’ a safe one.
My original thoughts on keeping safe on the river were complicated tangles of karabiners, slings, pulleys and throw lines, but now I know how simple it is to keep yourself and your friend’s safe with such a small about of equipment. Four karabiners, two pulleys, two pursik loops and a good quality throw line is all that is needed to deal with a whole variety of scenarios, and those complicated set ups are actually very simple but extremely efficient systems for dealing with those nasty incidents.
The best tool I came away with from this course is that it is extremely simple to keep everyone safe on the river. Ensuring that you have clothing that is fit for purpose, you have the tools to deal with those bigger situations, alongside the knowledge for preventing these situations from occurring by making sure you and your paddling team are prepared, making sure you have protection on the sections of the river that may push abilities, but most importantly do not go into situations headlong. Take your time and always use your common sense and treat your environment with respect, which brings me back to that phrase that I started with ‘Prevention is better that cure’.
Sam Bracher on a Gene17 WWS&R in Devon
Gene17 can confirm the following for the forthcoming Adventure Paddlers Weekend in Devon:
60 Degrees North Expedition Presentation
Family Mad Digitally Re-Mastered Classic Creeking
A Premiere Surprise WW Kayak Movie TBC
Open Adventure Forum
Demo Boats from Dagger & Pyranha
All the above will take place on Saturday 6th December 2008 at the River Dart Country Park near Ashburton in Devon.
Keep up to date with event news at G17K’s Facebook Group Events.
Here is our new Flash Banner ad, being used on Playak and soon to be UKRGB.
What do you thing?
The D4DR Class V is all about taking your kayaking to the next level.
D4DR Class V gives you the opportunity to advance from occasional Class V kayaker, to kayaking challenging rapids on a regular basis and leading groups on committing white water adventures.
The D4DR Class V is held in Norway for a reason. This course cannot be run just anywhere. To make the next step in your kayaking you’ll need exposure to supreme white water so we could go no where else but Norway. Not only that, but we’ll be mobile too, so we can move with the best water conditions.
You’ll be kayaking with professional kayakers and guides. They are kayakers first and coaches second so you can be sure that what you learn, is what works.
For 4 weeks we’ll tour from classic bedrock runs in Telemark, and Sjoa to the steeps of Hordaland and the West Coast, covering a comprehensive programme, to squeeze the last drop out of the fantastic locations there are in Norway.
During the course we’ll sharpen your skills on white water, until you feel at home on steep rapids. We’ll teach you how to find your limits and to become independent so that you can feel confident and comfortable in any white water environment.
We will evaluate decision-making processes until this becomes second nature to you, to enable you to make sound judgments on the water for yourself and amongst groups of paddling friends.
The course culminates in Voss on the West coast during Extreme Sport week, where you’ll have the chance to acid test your kayaking not only on the steep classics of the area but also against the clock in the downhill sprint race on the Brandseth or face to face with other kayakers in the boater cross.
Whilst on tour you’ll learn advanced leadership on white water from the best guides in the industry. You’ll complete officially recognised tuition in REC for First Aid and Safety and rescue in the form of SRT Advanced, plus where requested BCY 5 Star WW Kayaking Leadership award.
Whether you would like to become a top-notch kayak guide or just want to become the kayaker of your dreams, the D4DR Class V can give you the tools and the techniques you need for the job.
More details to come……
I can now confirm that we will go ahead with the 4* Trainer Training;
>>Generic 4* Trainer Training day - 15th November
>>4* WW Kayaking Trainer Training - 16th November
All details how to become a 4* Trainer BCU 4* Trainer Training PDF. There are a number of pre-req’s required by anyone wishing to part take in this course, including central registration. The Generic Training Day is open to all disciplines. Each day costs £50GBP payable to the BCU.
Regards
Simon Westgarth
SLOVENIA, TRNOVO OB SOCI- AUGUST 2008
What a better start for a kayaking week in Slovenia, Soca river, than that.
But let’s take things from the beginning. It was May 2008 when a friend of ours and a great kayaker recommended one week in Slovenia with Gene17. Indeed it was an opportunity to visit Slovenia, ‘the Green piece of Europe’ and paddle with the Gene17 team in the crystal clear waters of Soca.
Our meeting point was Trnovo ob Soci, a beautiful small village by the Soca river where one can notice that people are really keen to sports such as kayaking, rafting, biking and paragliding.
That week had it all. Every single day was full of kayaking, good company, beautiful natural places, delicious cuisine and lot’s of fun. Every day a different part of the river was filling our desire for paddling, for new kayaking techniques and for more fun in the crystal clear waters of Soca.
From the Gene17 team, Matt, as the coordinator, had everything in place, always with a smile and with a feeling of safety, Deb was really inspiring her team for more fun in the river and Kim with her incredible patience managed to move her team to a higher skills level. Finally, Dave was only few hours with us but made his presence memorable with his jokes (in Greek).
We want to thank both Gene17 and the Irish team of kayakers for the great week we had this summer. We hope we meet again.
Christina Dimitradi - Greece
In a recent email from Graham Milton, Gene17 can confirms 60° North from the Fat Cats will headline this years Adventure Paddlers Weekend at the River Dart Country Park in Devon
Following on from Ali and Si amazing trip last year - infact I think it was APWE last year when they asked me if I was keen.
They had scouted out this river on google earth and it made for one river mission of an expedition.
After quite a mission getting boats and people to Narsarsuaq in south Greenland we set of on the 75km journey to get to the fjord where the river flowed into. This journey took 3/4 days, most of the distance was covered sea kayaking in our loaded Eversts but there were 3 land crossing which were very tough - one in particular involved shuttling our kit over the first hill and then slogging over shallow lakes and mosquito infested marshes, bashing down a stream to finish off a 15 hours day. The last 10 km sea crossing was none stop as the wind was heavily against us.
We re supplied with food in the down of Sletten for 9 days and managed to get a boat the 22km to the back of the fjord where the river came in. It was 2 days shuttling our kit base camp where the river split into two. Another 2 days of slogging our boat up the the glacier ( we returned in base camp each night). we found 10km of incredible white water and slides. From base camp down we did very little paddling few bits that weren’t mental we not worth the mission to get to which was a bit of a shame. We run out time time/food/energy to explore the other trib but from google earth it looked to loosed all the gradient in a few places!. We paddles the 22km back to sletten.
We spent a day or 2 looking at a hyro electric dam in the next fjord and them got a speed boat to the town of Qaqortoq where we hung out with the local kayak school and the only chap in Greenland who still makes the boat in the traditional way. We got a ferry back to Narsarsuaq - we met Olaf and team addidas at the ferry port who were off the do the same river- always good to beat the Germans to it. It was interesting to see how those boys do trips - they had an unbelievabele amount of kit - i think they just got speed boat every where cos they are a bit soft. They got stuck in the ice pack and had to hike to land as well!! hahaha
Ali and Si have put togtther a brilliant film about the trip - 60 degrees North, I have a few copies and i think its just about ready to go on sale.
and the trailer http://www.fatcatsproductions.co.uk/degrees.html
In addition Gene17 can confirm the recently remastered icon 1980’s steep creeking movie “Family Mad” will be showing to start the night off.
More details to come….
With the help of those nice people at Vimeo, Gene17 has managed to upload almost all past productions online, including;
Neva Foreva
Genetic
Destination Nowhere
Genotype
Adventures in Loonerland
Check out these and other new developments at G17K
I’ve had a few good days of paddling recently. In the UK! In summer!
Well, it was new to me anyway. Access problems seem to be mellowing and there’s been lots of summer rain. I’ve had a couple of weekends in Wales paddling drops and feeling comfortable in the creek boat. Part of this is down to another great trip with Matt Tidy, and Gene17, which I went on in July.
After enjoying the creeking adventure and culture in Val Sesia last year I was looking for another trip to challenge me and work on my river running and creeking skills. Simon offered the Road Trip starting in Sjoa. This offered flexibility of itinerary and sat somewhere between the progressive and steep creeking courses that have been offered in Sjoa over the last few years. I have been hoping to get out to Norway for a few years, but it still has an intimidating reputation in the UK so it seemed like a good idea to get some professional instruction and guiding. I arrived in Sjoa and was instantly impressed by the rivers, the people, the scene and the amazing grocery prices. The climate was not quite as exciting and reminded me of a dull day in Scotland or North Wales. Still, we are used to that. I was surprised to learn there were to be just 3 of us paddling with Matt as our guide and was pleased I had come prepared with a tent so we were able to travel where the water took us. After sorting out our boats and a quick chat about our past experiences and our aspirations for the week we headed out onto the water.
First, was the Sjoa play run. I always seem to find the warm up section of trip the most startling. Paddling bigger water in a creek boat is not always much fun and the slalom course would be a shock to anyone used to training at Teeside. Still, there were lots of pleasant waves and pop out spots and the boat felt good and the group seemed to get on well.The next day we paddled the Ulla. This was something I was expecting to work up to for the end of the week, it was the only river I’d heard of out there so I was expecting it to be pretty hardcore. I minced a bit, but also spent some time working on technique and confidence on the dazzling array of drops and slides. There is still plenty for me to run next time I get back there, hopefully soon as it is a breathtaking location.
Over the next few days we paddled a range of rivers, from bigger volume to steep runs, canyons and gorges, waterfalls and slides. We had a choice of what to paddle and what to concentrate on. Matt was always keen to carry out and impromptu safety seminar or boofing clinic. Cooking and evening entertainment and banter was a relaxing partner to the adrenaline of the river. My highlight was the Upper Jori, where I felt I really pushed myself and benefited from the coaching of this and the previous trip. Lowlight was finding a rip in my cag after laughing at Mads when he found out he’d ripped his dry suit on the Upper Bovra a river that reminded me of home for the best and worst reasons it was a cold but fun but rocky ditch with some great rapids.
Hopefully next weekend in Wales I’ll be paddling and thinking about keeping good form, getting some decent paddling strokes in and using some lateral momentum rather than worrying what hole or rock I will be stuck against getting beaten. If you are thinking too much about the second rather more than the first I’d definitely recommend some of the excellent coaching from Matt Tidy and the guys at Gene17.
The week after the course I stayed out in Norway to do a little more paddling, meet up with friends and explore the countryside. It was hot and sunny all week and still good water levels. What more could you want?
Phil