From the 18th-20th the Kanumesse trade show will be open! It’s held in Nuremberg, Germany and is one of the biggest trade shows in paddlesports.
Today was the final set up day for the show, so everyone at Palm was putting the stand together, talking over the new kit & getting everything ready for tomorrow.
During the show me and Katya will be putting up photos and videos on the kit range & what Palm has to offer for the upcoming season. I’m working on a video wrap up of the day right now where you can get a closer look at some of the new Palm items coming out, in the meantime check our photos:-
Pringle & Katya
We have spent the past week paddling on Lake Athabasca. After making our way off of the Tazin River through a series of lakes and portages, we came out onto the big lake near the community of Camsell Portage. It is a very small town, but they do have all the modern conveniences – electricity thanks to nearby hydroelectric dams, phone service, and even internet via satellite.
Dave and I were thrilled to have a chance to spend some time talking with Phillip and Mary Stenne. We learned about life in Camsell Portage back in the old days. It used to be much bigger when the El Dorado mine near Uranium City was functioning. That is actually what brought Phillip to the area 60 years ago, but he left the mine rather quickly in favor of living in Camsell Portage, fishing, trapping, and cutting survey lines for mineral exploration. Now Mary and Phillip are 2 of the 8 people living in this tiny town.
We left Camsell Portage in a light headwind. Little did we know that headwind, from the east would be with us basically the entire way. The north shore of Lake Athabasca reminded us very much of home – that is, the north shore of Lake Superior. The coast is almost entirely granite. Wave action keeps even lichen from growing on several meters of the pink rock along shore. We have enjoyed the varied scenery of many points, bays, and islands.
Being out on this big body of water, it has been a great spot to view the surrounding landscape, enjoying seeing the green healthy spruce and jack pine in patches. However, we have also seen several large sections that have burned not too long ago. Just a little dusting of green shrubs are visible among the blackened rock and standing dead timber, as the forest slowly returns.
We chose to take a short cut near Uranium City, following the river and a series of lakes through the peninsula instead of paddling all the way around. This way was significantly shorter, but the water in the river was really low and we portaged a bit more than we would have liked. It was a relief to cut from Beaver Lodge Lake, following the winter road, back out to Lake Athabasca.
Since the shortcut, we have been on an evening paddling schedule in order to avoid the stronger wind that seems to pick up during the day. This works well, as it never gets completely dark. The sun dips below the horizon around 10:30 PM but there is still a faint glow in the northern sky until the sun rises around 3:30 AM. Fennel has been well fed on fish. The other day, Dave caught a really big lake trout – the biggest one he’s ever caught.
We passed by Fon du Lac, stopping briefly to pick up a couple treats at the grocery store. Last night we paddled through Pine Channel and now we are within a day’s paddle of Stony Rapids. From there we will leave the big water behind for a while.
We’re sad to be leaving Sri Lanka. In our short time here the island has provided us with an uncountable number of clean slides, boofs and flares in amazing settings. Not to mention a culture of hospitality and generosity.
Admittedly we’ve also come across our share of dammed rivers, a difficulty for kayakers that will only get worse.
Slides and falls are all through out Sri Lanka, this time on the Kokmole
Seans dreads really needed a trim by the end of the exped
We have tried to give back to the country as much as possible and leave something lasting behind in various forms… inluding a Niamh, who is currently working for Borderlands and will be for the next 2 months!
Returning hospitality the only way we can – with a postcard of Will & Kate
Though our kayaking sessions we’ve tried to inspire the locals to view kayaking as a hobby, not just a job. We really want to change the mentality of the staf to playing the river, not just surviving the rapids. We’ve also starred in an adventure travel documentary to be aired around Sri Lanka and South Asia in the hope it will provide more exposure to adventure tourism.
Kayak coaching in the monsoon rain
Successful kayaking is all proportional to the size of your bust...at least this is the suspect advice Niamh gave to the MTV presenter!
Then there’s the pictures and advice we have offered the Ministry of Tourism who are keen to promote adventure tourism in the Sitawaka valley (a valley with so much potential, but we were the first Western tourists to have found ourselves there).
The last of the 7 waterfalls in the Sitawaka valley
Our first meeting with the Tourism Board out on the road
We’ve also managed to help Borderlands out directly. Again, the kayaking and safety sessions, but also we’ve been able to offer a couple of recommendations of potential alternative rafting runs which will be required when the Kelani river (Borderlands current base) is dammed (building has not started yet).
Bridge jump at the start of the Sitawaka - potentially Borderlands new base (along with the Upper Kokmole)
Something else we’ve managed to do with Palms help is to kit out the raft guides and safety kayakers with some of the best gear around. With better gear hopefully they will be able to push themselves harder and progress beyond the Kelani.
Mahesh our driver (photographer, chef and all round legend) with his new shiny Palm Extreme BA
Boderlands is also trying to build an outdoor community of people with similar interests. With this in mind Wade (Director of Borderlands) set up an expedition wrap up event with some press, and many friendly faces of people we’ve met along the way in Sri Lanka and have helped us out in any way they can.
Will describes why we love the type of kayaking that we do to the audience
With half a day to make a video and slideshow (due to power cuts in Colombo), I reckon it was a massive success! The night out that followed was also pretty entertaining…
Will with the poster of his descent down the 7th Sitawaka waterfall
Check out our website for more information on our expedition: http://www.kayaksrilanka.co.uk/
There’s also the previous Palm Blogs for an overview of what we got up to:
http://79.170.40.166/palmequipmenteurope.com/blogs/ww/steep-creeking-with-leeches-sri-lanka/
http://79.170.40.166/palmequipmenteurope.com/blogs/ww/first-descents-and-last-descents-sri-lanka/
http://79.170.40.166/palmequipmenteurope.com/blogs/ww/the-country-that-keeps-giving-sri-lanka/
What a place! Be sure to get in touch if you want more information on the island – still so much more potential to be discovered.
Cheers, Dave Burne
Have you ever seen a forest fire up close? Well we hadn’t until this past week. On Tuesday as we left Hill Island Lake, we could see smoke toward the south but we figured that it was a long ways away. On Wednesday, the plumes of smoke grew closer and closer as we paddled south on the Tazin River.
By lunch time we were pretty sure that the fire was near our route. The view upriver was one thick, low-lying cloud of smoke. We called the ENR (Environment and Natural Resources) in Fort Smith to see if they knew of any fires in our area. We found out that there were three fires not very far away from us. The one of concern was burning near the Northwest Territories, Saskatchewan border.
We were about five miles from the border. We proceeded with caution, but only made it another couple of miles after lunch. The eastern side of the river was on fire. Not only did we see thick clouds of smoke billowing up from the spruces, but we saw patches of flames here and there. Fortunately for us, the wind was blowing the smoke away from us.
A gravel bar provided us with a perfect spot to stop and watch what was going on upriver. We waited there for several hours. We set up our tent and ate dinner as we observed the smoke and flames creep ever closer to the eastern shore of the river. After several hours the fire had reached the river’s edge and a small stand of Jack Pine ignited in a plume of flames and smoke. In less than a minute the ¼ mile section of the river near us had erupted in flames. The raw energy of the fire became very real as we felt the heat and listened to the inferno. All we could to is stand in awe.
Within 10 minutes the flames were gone, leaving a giant stand of black smoking tree trunks. We decided the fire was getting too close for comfort so we packed up the canoe and retreated north, hoping the fire would die down overnight and let us pass in the morning.
As we slept the fire jumped the river and continued burning to the west. Small fires burned on both sides of the river and the smoke-filled river channel was not very inviting. We called the ENR again and learned that they were sending a helicopter out later in the day to get a look at the fire. So we decided to take it easy and wait. Around 3 PM we heard the drone of the chopper and watched as it came in for a landing on the gravel beach 100 feet from us. Two ENR officers in yellow jumpsuits hopped out and explained that the fire had burned out along most of the river and that the “head” of the fire had moved several miles west of the river. They advised that we paddle through the recently burned area right way because the winds were predicted to change overnight.
We casually chatted for a few minutes and then they hopped back in the helicopter and flew way. We were left a little dumbfounded, but excited about continuing our journey. As we paddle through the smoke filled channel, we marveled at the blackened trees and patches of green left by the fire. Small fires still burned on both sides of the river, but we never felt in danger. We paddled well into the night talking about the natural phenomenon we had just witnessed, finally stopping to pitch out tent many miles from the fire at 1 AM.
The day began with everybody thinking that the weather was for once going to be very nice.
We all met at the car park for 8:30 and the sun was already out and it was very warm.
After the briefing at 8:45 the first heat got on the water for 9:30. I had hours before my first heat so I went out for a free surf after helping take all the judging equipment down to the beach and then up onto the cliff.
The surf was very big, messy and extremely powerful. I took awhile to get used to it as it was the biggest surf I had been out in and the first wave I took was a bit of a disaster. I went flying down the face of it and then bottom turned and went for the lip. I hit it and I came down and was instantly turned upside down and I was tossed about quite a bit till I was released off the back of it. After that I choose my waves very carefully! Sadly the weather started to make a turn for the worst. The sun went in and dark clouds appeared though it didn’t start raining till later on in the day.
I went up the cliff to the judging area and watched everybody else surfing till my heats came up and I was able to see whereabouts the best place for surfing was.
My first heat was the junior short semi-final and the surf hadn’t dropped off any at that stage so it was still extremely big. I only had a couple of waves both of them long rides but sadly I miss-timed all of my ”off the lip moves ” so I didn’t score as highly as I could have done although I did well enough without them to win that heat and put me in the final. I had to wait quite a long time again for my next heat and I debated going out again for another free surf but in the end decided against it.
The tide had really gone out when the time came for my next heat which was the junior long final.
It was quite dumpy and still big so it was hard work to paddle out and to get a good ride. I don’t think it helped having a boat with lots of water in it either! I’m going to have to check it and make sure I don’t have any holes in it as my deck fits it pretty well. I didn’t really have any good rides so I wasn’t very happy at the end of it!
I had about an hour till my last heat of the day (which was the junior short final) and it was now raining so I took the chance of getting to the van and getting warm and also having something to eat.
The organizers were wondering whether to leave the rest of the heats till the day after (Sunday) as it was still dumpy and it would take several hours for the tide to come in enough to make a difference but in the end they decided to carry on as the forecast for Sunday was not very nice. – Bigger surf and horrible weather.
At last the time for the junior short final arrived and we got into the water and paddled out back. It was still big and it was hard to get a good wave. I had a couple of waves but wasn’t too happy with them but considering the conditions I didn’t think I had done too badly.
There was now a couple of heats left so I had enough time to change and deal with all the boats and kit before the prize giving. I was able to watch the last two heats and a couple of people had some swims which wasn’t too surprising as everybody was getting tired.
At the prize giving there was a box of ‘goodies’ kindly donated by AS Watersports for the people who had come first and second. Also there were some very nice shields for the ones who came first but sadly I just missed out on one as I came 2nd in the Junior Short and I came 3rd in the Junior Long.
Next competition is the World Championships in America in three weeks!
Live’N'Deadly
On Saturday morning myself and the GB Youth Rafting Team were guests on BBC2′s & CBBC’s Live’N’Deadly Tv show, a great show promoting Adventure, Nature & Wildlfie. Presented by Steve Backshall & Naomi Wilkinson.
Check out the show on the BBC I Player link below:-
http://www.bbc.co.uk/i/b014smh7/
It was actually really fun and so good to be able to get kayaking and rafting out there to one of the most popular kids Tv shows! I actually started kayaking after seeing it on TV so if it inspires some youngsters out there to give it a try i’ll be very very happy! Look put for the Palm Harlequin rocking it with the Crocs 
Photos by:- Gavin Layton
Saturday Youth Freestyle
Straight after I was done with the Live’N'Deadly show I drove as quickly as i could back to Nottingham on Saturday afternoon to go help out at the finals of this years Youth Freestyle event and to compete in the League event on the Sunday.
The drive is meant to be about 3 hours from Lee Valley to HPP however after a very early morning to do two rehearsals before the show aired at 9 I had to stop for a little sleep…
I got their just in time to do a little filming for Bren, who’ll be putting together another event edit from the day and also to help out at the Prize Giving. The place was packed with young talented kayakers, the scene in the UK is growing so well!
The young paddlers were also lucky enough to have EJ there as well as the usual helpers he was their coaching and running an “impress Ej” contest along with dishing out the prizes with myself at the end of the day.
This was the last event of the series and its a real shame its come to an end for 2011. Each event i’ve been to this year has been bigger and better than the last and the real stars are all the young up and comers who keep coming along to each event! Come next year, spread the vids around to everyone and drag your friends too! Its a really fantastic series of coaching/ competitions so get involved!
Sunday Brit Champs/ League Event
The Sunday was the League Series Finale, the comp was divided into Novice, Open & Expert Categories. In the morning myself, Claire O’hara EJ & Palm’s Junior ripper Bren all ran a few little coaching sessions for the Novice classes and then went onto compete ourselves.
The hole used for the main event was ‘Twin Waves’ its such a sick little hole, I’ve spent the last few weeks sessioning the hole everyday till its got dark pretty much paddling with the next generation coming up to the top James Benn’s, Bren Orton, Ryan Liquorish, James Weight & David Wild. Their actually kicking ass! We’ve been getting a ton of new moves, not your little usual linked stuff but full on combo moves, we’ll be putting together a new Nottingham sessions vid later in the year to showcase some of what we’ve been working on 
James Benn’s was even hitting tricky whu’s, mc’nasties and Tricky Loops without his paddle just using his hands today…incredible!
Now back to the event, i can’t remember full results but they’ll be up soon enough on the GB Freestyle Page The standard was super high with scores right up there! I was mostly impressed by all the young one’s rides:- James Benn’s won the Juniors with Palm’s Bren in 2nd & Matt Rodgers 3rd.
In the men I had an absolutely terrible 1st run 
Thankfully I pulled together an alright 2nd & 3rd run to take the win, James Weight got 2nd with some very big mc’nasties and Alan Ward was 3rd.
In my eyes the the star of the show was Ryan Liquorish who has been ripping it this summer working on all our new moves that we’ve been playing with and was the only one in the event to nail one in the comp hitting a entry kickflip linked to “Trick Loop” into ends…Very sick!
Also was really great to see Sam Ward on the water competing, he really inspired me when i used to paddle with him in Uganda and was one of the main reasons I bought my 1st Guigui, he was so sick then but the last couple years he’s had some unlucky injuries and hasn’t been able to paddle too much himself and has devoted a lot of time to coaching and helping the GB team. So its about time and very nice to see him with a big grin hucking himself around in the hole, he had some pretty sweet rides so I can’t wait to see how he’s doing after a few months training in the top class holes in the UK…keep your eye on him!
Overall another good day on the water! with sick paddling, the standard is ridiculous here! as is the Cold wind…
Thanks to Bren for the Pics, if you’ve got any young paddlers in your area tell them all about the Youth Freestyle Series and bring them down next year! Check the videos on my video page for more…
bye for now,
Pringle
The ‘Walruss’ !!!
The swellie wave seems to be working again . A very high tide meant an early start . Its also been known as the 5 oclock wave because when the tide is right its roughly 5am or 5pm, This was about 7.30 am about an hour and a half after Low water and its was just starting to work , plus nobody else was there except Rodger chandler and myself on a lovely morning
Always awkward to get hands on coaching for this skill . Luckily this venue a good drysuit and a keen student meant we could progress quickly . The only distraction was the usual fantastic Scenary of the Lofoten Island in Norway
Our last week in Si Lanka has been just as busy as the first. The exploration has continued and the quality rivers have kept flowing.
Still more highlights on the map that we just don't have time to explore
Convenient rainfall has come at the right time and in the right places, it is almost as if the country is guiding us up the right valleys and making sure we make the right choices to get the maximum possible boating done with our limited time. Life is more than alright right now!
Sean squeezing through a tight line on another river less than an hour from Borderlands camp
Another scenic river
But watch out for this guys bigger brothers!
Not all super hardcore, but variety is all part of the game!
The only real disappointment we’ve had is that we missed high flows in a little creek near to the Borderlands (Rafting Company) camp. A scouting mission showed us a clean 30 foot park and huck with some more slides downstream, some nice, others a little on the dirty side!
Inspecting from the top...
This super sweet little gem we’ll have to leave for a future expedition to conquer. Or who knows, with the coaching sessions we’ve provided for safety kayakers at Borderlands maybe it will be a Sri Lankan who claims this first descent!
...and from the misty bottom!
Check out our website for more info: http://www.kayaksrilanka.co.uk/expedition-blog.html
As the good(ish) weather officially comes to an end here in Europe, I thought i’d put up a post with some of my favourite pictures of the spring/summer season. I managed to squeeze in two trips to the Piemonte/Ticino regions, before heading north, as ever, to Norway. This season we did some more exploration, both in central Norway, and further north, as well as paddling a number of rivers which have been secretly documented in some detail over the past few years, and since the publication of this online guidebook are set to become classics.
These are some of my favourite shots, huge thanks go to the photographers, as well as the people in them!
First up – I finally caught the Devil’s slide at the perfect level, in the right mood. Huge thanks to Adam Dumolo for taking this photo whilst simultaneously doing safety for this one.
Next, an excellent shot from Tom Parker of a sweet boof in the Lower Sermenza Gorge. I’ve been absoulutely loving my Harlequin Fuse Jacket, definately the comfiest shell garment ever, and coloured to match everything!
Lakeside camping in Hattfjelldal, Norway. Is this the best paddling destination in Europe?
Next up a shot by Hugh Graham, of Finn Burrows lining up for a rinsing. Dusj-boof (Shower-boof in Norsk)on the Susna. One of the most fun rapids anywhere, especially in high water, when it becomes Wipeout-boof.
This shot was taken by a friendly local, who regularly fishes the pool below this fall. Yours truly, on the first descent of Storfossen, on the Herdalselva, near Valdal.
Due to the trees being harvested on the right hand bank of the Mikkemus-elva, there was excellent light for photos for the first time tis year. Here Hugh Graham hits the perfect line. Watch out for Hugh, he’s one of those people who makes everything look a bit too easy.
Finally, a shot of Finn I took on the incredible Tverraga, another first descent and a true gem of a river way up inside the Arctic Circle.
I’m now back in the UK for a while, waiting for storm fronts to roll in and dump their goods in the hills. The new Mambas will be arriving soon and I can’t wait to get mine out and flying.
See you on the river!
Nick
