With second year assessments all wrapped up at uni, the weather and surf reports were looking as good as it gets on Cornwall’s north shore, and so a contingent loaded with surf boards, body boards, skim boards, power kite and Axiom 8.5 settled in at Gwithian Bay for a weeks worth of epic conditions.
Since the Axiom came out I’ve had my eye on the 8.5 as an all round machine due to wanting a fast flat hull for blasting the local runs and using in races but also wanting a boat that doesn’t leave you lagging in good surf.
I’ve used it on rivers with the seat in a middle position, giving a bit more stability and momentum, but moving the seat all the way back for surf put a grin on my face.
This wave earned some cheers from a couple of local surfers, not what I was expecting as I’d been managing to pick up waves a lot earlier than them all day and was sensing a little frustration.
The Axiom blunt. Despite it’s size, this boat has a playful edge due to an agile hull, it’s freestyle forte is definitely in throwing the fattest kick-flips around! With 8’5″ of boat you can get a lot of speed to rocket you into the air off the back of on coming waves, I went more than the full 360 on numerous occasions… although the guys at HQ tell me they’re working on their kick-flips in the Alchemy touring boat!
See you on the water
Ed
Moving on with the techniques, the boof is a skill which can open up a new level of white water. If it isn’t new to you, then a bit of time brushing up won’t be wasted!
Prerequisites
Being comfortable on grade 3 white water, with confident and effective use of strokes and body positioning to make your way smoothly down rapids. Although you don’t tend to need a boof to paddle grade 3, there’s often a little ledge around to practice on and get the timing right before you move to grade 4 where technical manoeuvres are more essential and mistakes are more severe. The final and regularly overlooked prerequisite is outfitting, you need to make sure you fit snugly in your creek boat with plenty of comfortable contact on your footrest, thigh grips and hip pads!
Positioning
First of all, with ledges, which require a boof, it’s best to have a think about positioning. I rarely boof a drop directly in the middle but instead always aim to boof at the edges, generally because this is where the hole that waits below will be weakest. In the case of angled ledges my general rule is to boof on the side furthest downstream as this will also be the weakest and quickest exit from the hole.
Boofing on the side of the ledge furthest downstream in case of any mishaps!
Timing
Before you charge at a ledge in hope that speed will save you, think about your timing. A good boof requires finesse, not a flurry of brute force and ignorance! Think about your strokes leading up to the ledge so you can make sure you’re ready with the placement of a long powerful stroke at your toes when you reach the lip of the ledge.
Body positioning through the stroke
The stroke planted at your toes puts you in a forward, aggressive body position. That’s good, as while your blade is the power, your body is the leverage to lift the bow and in it’s forward position, is wound up ready to ping back and lift!
Leant forward waiting for the right moment.
As you pull the stroke through keep it close to the side of your boat, to avoid doing a powerful sweep stroke and landing sideways in the hole – a common mistake. The stroke has to be long, to see you over and past the hole. Stopping the stroke short is also a regular mistake, leaving you motionless and with no leverage or power in a nosedive!
Torso moving back with the stroke and legs following to pull the bow up.
As the stroke goes through, your torso position starts moving back, beginning to lift the bow. As you feel your body going through it’s central position pull on your knees as if pulling them into your chest. This uses your thighs and core muscles to powerfully lift the bow better than any amount of speed or paddle power could.
Long stroke holding the line and angle.
Follow through
Having a well timed, long stroke is vital, not only to aiding body positioning and power but also in the follow through. If your boof stroke was long, then your opposite blade will be forward ready to be planted for a powerful stroke away from the ledge. This is very good practice and has certainly spared me a few beatings when it hasn’t gone to plan.
Left blade forward ready in case it’s needed.
In a nut shell
- Position near safest edge of the ledge
- Plant stroke at the lip
- Let torso go back with the stroke
- Pull knees to chest as torso goes through central position
- Make sure your stroke is long
- Opposite blade ready for powerful stroke out
See you on the water… surf is epic in Cornwall at the mo!
Ed
Over the next few months I’m going to be posting up some technique breakdowns from the back issues of Canoe and Kayak UK Magazine. The techniques have been revised where needed, although this applies more to the freestyle technique which will come later. In the mean time I thought it would be best to start from the ground up with a bit of stopper stability which everyone can get something from re-visiting.
Learning how to blast in and out of a stopper whilst keeping control is a highly valuable skill which will aid confidence, safety and enjoyment for any river runner. Whether you want to learn how to control a trashing and avoid swims or if you’re looking to build a freestyle repertoire this article will provide you with a solid base.
Paddling into the stopper:
The aim of the game is control from the start so with this in mind paddling into a stopper is more of a delicate matter than first meets the eye. You want to settle into a stable side surf so think about how you will be most comfortable getting there… This maybe by using the shoulder of a stopper to guide you in or by paddling on to the tow back so you have a moment to settle before the stopper gets full hold of you.
The stopper will force you into a side surf one way or another so if you are not already sideways as you cruise in then a gentle sweep stroke to turn you will help. If you do not help by turning you may find that your bow purls in the trough of the stopper causing some beat down. If you’re finding yourself out of control from the start then you are probably using the head down, paddle hard approach which can cause you to be unprepared for the stopper grabbing you.
Paddling in on the back of the foam.
Helping the boat settle into a controlled side-surf
Moving around in the stopper:
When trying to gain stability in a stopper always keep your body upright with head over your boat and remember your paddle is there if you need it, not as a crutch to lean on. Use your hips and knees to tilt the kayak downstream so that water flows under your boat. This means that in between low braces (when you need a little support) your paddle is free to be used for what it was designed… propulsion.
At this stage in your paddling it should be fairly apparent that putting a stroke in on your upstream side whilst in a stopper is not a good idea. To move in the direction you’re facing use forward strokes on your downstream side and look where you want to go, not at the bow of your boat! As you want to move the boat forward, try not to lean too far forward as this will load the bow, causing it to sink into the seam line and give you more resistance which will prevent you from getting anywhere fast. Keeping body weight centered is best.
When trying to move backwards across a stopper all the same concepts apply, but obviously a reverse stroke is used at the same time as turning head and torso to look over your downstream shoulder to spot where you want to be. Also leaning over the bow slightly more will give the stern less resistance whilst maintaining your stability so your strokes will be more efficient.
Weight over the boat, using the paddle for propulsion, not as a support crutch.
Using the paddle for support in a moment of instability. Getting weight over the boat to gain control again.
Getting out of the stopper
The majority of natural stoppers have weak spots, these maybe the corners, a tongue through the middle or a less retentive part. At weak points water close to the seam line will be flowing downstream away from the stopper as opposed to being recirculated back into it.
Using our stability and strokes to get to these weak points can provide an opportunity to get our boat pointing downstream and paddle hard out of the stopper. A common mistake when desperately trying to exit is getting to the weak point and forgetting to keep your body upright and stable, the result could be many combinations from a back loop or just being spun back in. In some cases it may be an idea to get to the weak spot then purposefully turn your kayak to sink either the bow or stern in an attempt to grab the undertow which flows downstream and can push you out.
Using the shoulder to turn downstream. To either head out or let it take me full circle.
Summary
- Head over boat at all times
- Paddle is not to be used as a crutch
- Look where you want to be
- Paddle with a group and have safety
Photo’s courtesy of Dave Martin
Flicking through my pictures I came across some from Jen and I’s trip Slovenia late last summer which I’d fully intended on putting up here. It’s nearly six months down the line but it’s getting to that time of year where everyone’s looking forward to the weather warming up and being excited by booking summer boating trips. So if you’re browsing the net from the office and it’s cold outside, maybe these pics will provide a little food for thought.
We came across flights with Ryanair, flying into Trieste, for £1 each way per person but then with boats and the ticking of a few necessary boxes this escalated to around £120 each. Booking a rental car from Trieste airport in advance was best as some of the companies don’t cover you over the border into Slovenia, Europcar seemed to be good…
… The only down side being that they don’t do roof racks so after a bit of debate we were directed to the local shopping centre about 5 mins drive away where we picked up a 40 euro rack which nearly fitted but was secure with a couple of straps through the doors.
There’s loads of accommodation scattered up the Soca valley, but finding somewhere between Kobarid and Bovec puts you on location for the best sections. We stayed in Tronovo ob Soci near the Alpin Action shop, I’d recommend visiting to pick up a Soca River map which shows grades, distances, put ons and take outs of each section. There’s also the slalom section here which runs level with the small village and is good for those who are into a bit of down river training.
If you do choose to have a blast on the slalom section do make sure you know the take out, just before the blasted bridge (you’ll easily spot it), as this is the lead into the Syphon gorge where employing a river guide is recommended for the first run.
River info wise, apart from what I’ve mentioned above, a detailed guide – anything more than the river map – would only take away from the mini adventure that this grade 3/4 paradise offers. Although it is worth noting that there’s an awesome pizzeria in the little village of Srpenica!
More info for the Soca valley and a lest detailed version of the river map can be found here – MAP GUIDES TO THE SOCA REGION OF SLOVENIA
Enjoy!
Ed
After the biblical downpour on the Saturday night of the Gene 17 weekend some of the masses headed towards the Upper Plym in search of something a little steeper. It’s a very unique little run with very few eddies meaning a group of four makes things a little tight.
Notorious for being awkward to catch at the right level, some sunshine is a welcome novelty! Due to the sun we nearly wrote the Plym off as being too low but following the local boys and girls turned out to be a good choice.
Keep your eyes peeled for eddies!
Dave Carroll shaking off a headache in a borrowed boat.
Craig Ayres enjoying his boof. As the guidebook says; you don’t seem to notice and appreciate the unusual scenery this sections winds through.
Mr Westgarth showing some local knowledge on the last splash of steep fun. Not long after this rapid, towards the end of the run, is a nice looking rapid with a ramp at the top… unfortunately, just before the end of the rapid most of the flow diverts through a syphon which is about the right size to jam a paddler and boat.
Simon heading down the run out of the same rapid above.
On the same afternoon, Rob Harris Pikey and myself did the distance run of the west Dart into the Upper Dart into the Dart Loop where my car was conveniently parked. We definitely got our moneys worth from the water!
Happy Christmas and a wet New Year to all!
Ed
It’s been a little while since my last post and now I’m back in the south west I thought it was about time I did a time trial on my adopted “home” run, the upper Dart. So here it is, my time from just below the put in where it opens up into the river, to the eddy below surprise surprise took 19 minutes 10 seconds in my Nomad… so who’s up for breaking it?
For anyone wanting to smash the time, I’d guess the level was on the upper end of low, although I don’t know it well enough to give an accurate gauge. Those that know the section well, will be able to tell the level from the pics above.
… and those that don’t can judge the level from the slab at the take out of the upper/loop put in.
I hope some people are up for having a blast at it and getting the banter going! I’ll keep updating my times as I get fitter and when my AT’s arrive 
… and of course I’ll set a Green Boat time soon!
Catch you on the water
Ed
Back from Slovenia, I met up with Matt Tidy in a well moisturized Glen Etive. Although the rest of the country was looking fairly dry, the Glen Etive micro climate was holding out on the upper side of medium, the most optimum level of the middle section. It seemed too good to be true and it was as the river level dropped slowly the day before and then plummeted over night.
Still, the low level allowed a pretty much carnage free event on the middle section and with little water to spare the level held consistent for a very fair event. Adding to this, the dry skies meant a happy day for spectators.
It was against the rules but we were adamant about using Green boats.
Red Bull provided the smallest pinnacle in Glencoe.
Tim ‘hovercraft’ Hamlet on right angle. Rumor has it he didn’t hit a single rock.
Matt and I coming into view at the rock slide. With no holes in low water, keeping on line was very easy…
… however, sprinting the flats and avoiding rocks was not.
Myself on the dog leg… slight change of plan from coming over the right hand ledge the day before.
Matt on the lip of right angle, definitely not about to boof!
All in all, it was an awesome event and thanks to James everything ran like clockwork. It was great to have a UK event up in the mountains! In the sponsored category Milton and Scutt won followed by Matt and Myself then Small boy and Bob. However it was revealed we had all been wooped by Team White Water Active, the non sponsored, overall winners! Good job guys!
Catch you on the water. Pictures from Slovenia coming soon!
Ed
Had a load of water through lately and felt like giving my Nomad a quick breather while I spent a day playing on the Orchy waves.
These waves are a little temperamental in terms of level as they need a lot of water and when that happens the road down the side of the river tends to flood, although it does drop very quickly once the rain stops so you shouldn’t be stuck for too long. The wave pictured below has no eddy service and is down stream of the main wave, walking up either bank is easy and worth it.
Not wanting to waste a load of energy, as the main wave is awesome, chilling in the car and munching some food while the river drops a bit is a good option. At the levels in the pics above you won’t get on the main wave in anything short of a surf boat, it’d be great fun if you have/could get your hands on one though!
Main wave being worth the wait and dishing out air! It has a nice little foam pile to catch you on some of the bigger moves but it isn’t the steepest thing around so having a boat with plenty of speed is a winner… if you have a crazy 88, it will rock your world here!
Helix’s and everything go on both sides once the foam gathers as the levels drops.
Beat that for a clean blunt gurn! I’ve mastered a new technique where I use my chin to lead moves
All in all another wicked day on the water to add to summer 09. Bring on a wet autumn and winter!
Ed
Had a great day on the Leven yesterday with Rich Waterworth, Dave Martin, Chris Bell and Dave Biggin. Miraculously the day was carnage free, despite good levels and some trib huckage on the walk up to the river which provided a good warm up/slap in the face!
The trib, seen on the left as you walk in to the Leven, has a short but pretty horrendous walk in through thick bracken (should be called the bracken burn!). In hind sight, wearing shorts sucks for this walk but the up shot is that you’re not going to back out of running the drop.
Dave, thinking of his career as a leg model and certainly not about to walk back through the over growth… rumor has it those legs are insured for over £10,000,000.
… and off he goes. This ledge right above the slide adds a bit of spice, although the best solution is to not look at the drop for too long from this angle, instead scramble down the right bank and get a much more appealing view looking down on the whole thing.
The river level view from my ‘carnage cam’ of Mr Biggin completing the warm up routine.
A scared Biggin is a happy Biggin. On the Leven in anticipation of ‘End of the world’ and ‘Mackays falls’.
Yours truly lining up for the second drop of ‘End of the world’ having just resurfaced from the first.
… and heading into the third and fourth drops which form the crux of the rapid.
Dave Martin holding his line through the crux on the fourth drop.
Rich taking a deep breath on the fourth, quickly followed by a sigh of relief!
Biggin on the drop directly below ‘End of the world’, aptly named ‘I’m feeling fine’ while Rich and I collect boats having taken our turn setting safety above.
… Chris keeping it clean through the tricky slot below.
Rich flying down ‘Mackays falls’, staying well away from the cave behind the drop.
… and myself on the same drop, the last of the day. Certainly a highlight of the summer so far, Scotland will have to get flooded to top yesterdays Leven session, although I’m hopeful for some freestyle action soon!
Hope you got out on a wet weekend!
Ed
Mr Biggin gave Rich Waterworth and myself a call last wednesday, trying to rally a small crew who were game for the painful hike in and paddle out of the River Kinglass. Dave had been working so hard in the office to get ahead of schedule, which allowed him two and a half minutes to check the weather reports which were looking good for a friday night hike in and saturday morning dawn patrol.
Due to the Kinglass being west of Bridge of Orchy, flowing into Loch Etive, we dropped a car at the head of the Loch with dry clothes for the following day. Just before setting out on the hike, Dave brought out a bag and confessed to having bought five subways, apparently you can tell a lot about someone from the food they pack… whilst Dave had bought out the Fort Bill subway, Rich now had shares in the Balloch Co-Op and I was seriously lacking man points with a Warburtons seeded batch loaf full of jam and humous (not combined!).
Rich in a midgie swarm… The map had a building marked about seven and a half km’s up the track which we hoped would be a bothy. On arrival this turned out to be an old cattle shed. It did the job though with a three foot by six foot patch which was dry-ish. The only problem was the midgies in the morning.
Dave on the final three km push to the river. He pushed through, despite all the blisters on his fingers from the non ergonomic keyboard at work.
Although it had rained hard in the early hours of morning, it didn’t seem to be enough and we realized on reaching the river that it wasn’t anywhere near optimum level. Despite that, the first rapid (above) got our hopes up that we weren’t going to have to bump and scrape.
Dave cruising in above the twenty foot ledge. Numerous streams and burns joined the river, picking up the flow but unfortunately not enough for what could be a nice twenty footer in higher levels.
After a fairly good continuous section we came to the first decent horizon line formed by two slabs. The first was good fun with no real hazards.
Rich in the middle of the second slab. The ledge has a fairly considerable hole at the bottom but the slide that leads in gives plenty of speed to clear it. At this level we just had to make sure we missed the rocky outcrop which backed up the hole but otherwise great fun!
Getting boosted off the ledge. After this the river leveled off quite a bit, but still had some nice ledges and rapids which we all said we’d love to see in really high levels.
The last two km’s of the river is just a simple grade two paddle to Loch Etive. We timed it to make sure the tide was going with us for the final straight up the loch. If you are going to do this run, make sure to double check the tides as it wouldn’t be that fun if you got it wrong.
All in all a fun mission. Dave did eat all of his subways, despite Rich’s best efforts.
Catch you on the water
Ed
