Firing up Gene17’s Generation Next

In the last week of March, Gene17 hosted a training week for potential new staff. It rained all week, the river was very high and the banter too…..

Here are a few accounts of the week from some of the guys.

Bonney
I arrived ready for action! Wer planned to go snowboarding on the first day, but unfortunately it was raining, so went to see the source of the Soča and ended up sliding down an avalanche it was great fun. On the first day’s paddling, the river was at 100 cumecs and was very chunky, yet great fun but a bit of brown pants!!!!!!

The next day the river just got bigger to 150 cumics but by then it was just fun. The rest of the week we worked personal paddling getting into shape and as the week goes on it got better as the river dropped and worked on guiding, great new skills simplified. I would recommend this to any guide or 5 Star paddler to come learn of these guys who know what they are talking about .

Sean
So this was my 1st trip to the Soča and Slovenia for that matter… and I have to say that I’m impressed, and yes I will be coming back for more!!! We arrived and the river appeared to have no water in it, although Matt assured us that there was more than enough to run everything! However, it then proceeded to rain for the next two days brining the Soča up nearly 5 times higher then the norm for this time of year!!! So naturally, we got on anyway! Once the Soča had returned to a more manageable level we the got stuck into the course content! I would recomend this location to anyone who is looking to further test their ability and confidence on Class 3 water plus the local food is awesome!!!

Will
It’s been my first time to the Soča Valley and I’m sure it wont be my last. I’ve just returned after a weeks paddling on the famous crystal blue water.
I arrived with three others a day early so we could head to the hills and get some skiing in before our intense weeks paddling with Matt Tidy and Simon. Unfortunately the weather turned for the worst and closed the lifts and made the river a disappointing dark grey.
Day One, We were all eager to get onto the river so we were up early and headed to the put in. On our arrival we confronted with the river running at 100+ cumec’s where it normally runs at 15- 20 cumec’s. We had a super nice morning and afternoon running some sweet lines though this now rising river.

Though out the week we had Matt focusing on our paddling in which we all gained some much from. As the rain started to ease and the levels started to drop and letting the river turn from a cloudy grey to the famed an electric blue, rocks in the river started to appear and the river features came into play. This river is the perfect training ground and I wish we could have stayed longer so we could paddle all the sections of the river in all levels. However im sure it won’t be long until im there next. Take it easy. Will King