River Time!

Finally!!!  Winter Whitewater season has arrived!!!

Whitewater Kayaking on Mendocino's Eel River!

This week's river runs reminded me what I love about river kayaking - the amazing scenery, intriguing geology, and technical paddling.  I encourage everyone to get out on a river sometime - boat, raft, canoe, kayak, inner tube, or maybe even SUP.  The perspective of a river canyon from the water is amazing.  On slow stretches, it is ideal for contemplation as one goes along with the flow. I marvel over the geology.  I often day dream about what the river might have looked like 10,000, 100,000 or a million years ago.

Logs way up on the rocks are remnants of floods.

I like the technical aspects of kayaking rivers and feel that river running has enhanced my sea kayaking skills.  It is fun to play with the currents and hydraulic features.  Zipping in and out of eddies, ferrying across the river, and surfing river waves are a few of my favorite ways to play on the river.  Jeff and I often play a game of tic-tac-toe on rapids - seeing how many times we can cross a rapid or how many eddies we can catch.

Honing in our river running skills with a little Tic-Tac-Toe.

My ideal river trip comprises a combination of scenery and technical paddling.  I especially enjoy whitewater overnight runs and am dreaming up ideas for our 2018 Spring Run Off Trip.

Camping on the Eel River - Spring Run Off 2016

In Mendocino County, we need rain to get our rivers flowing.  We have been getting regular rain and now our rivers are primed and flowing.  This week, I got to run 3 of my favorite local runs and am super jazzed that whitewater river season is here.

Eel River - Outlet Creek Run
The Outlet Creek Run on the main fork of the Eel River is a fun 7 mile Class III stretch and the stretch that we kayak the most.  Here is a post that I wrote describing it - Eel Below Outlet Creek.

Whitewater kayaking on Mendocino County's Eel River

Bald Eagle soaring over the Eel River.

Rancheria Creek 
Imagine kayaking on a creek through the redwood forest.  It is beautiful, and I never feel like photos do it justice.

A river otter spies on us from a cave on the creek.

The peanut gallery of foul weather friends cheering for Allen on "All Day Wave."

Willows n Rocks keep paddlers on their toes on Rancheria Creek.

Eel River - Hearst Run
The Hearst run on the Eel is a 17 mile wilderness run.

Jeff entering Shotgun Rapid.

Jeff at Ramsing Corner.

Watching for bears, pigs, deer, bobcats, and cougars on the hillsides.

Meandering through huge boulders and marveling at how the channels were created.

It is raining again today!!!  I am looking forward to more whitewater this week!!!

Playing around in whitewater!!!

Paddle Out Techniques

For this post in my surf kayaking series, I have surf guru Jeff Laxier sharing his tips for Paddling Out.  Jeff has a lifetime of playing in the surf and is a sea, whitewater, and surf kayak instructor for Liquid Fusion Kayaking.

Jeff Laxier surfing on the Oregon Coast.

Paddle Out Techniques by Jeff Laxier

There are many ways to get out to the waves and here we will explore the three methods I use most to paddle out:  Bunny Hop, Turtle Dive, Route Finding.

All three methods have four of the same components.

1.       Speed - We need to be moving to get through a wave.

2.       Angle - Boat angle to the incoming wave.

3.       Timing - When to paddle hard, when to hold position, and when to run away.

4.       Awareness - Of route, waves, other users, wildlife, wonder

The Bunny Hop: This is a fun way to blast up and over a foam pile (this can also work on river hydraulics).

1.       Generate speed with 3-5 strokes as you approach the foam pile.

2.       Change the boat angle to angle away from the wave (No more than 45 degrees)

3.       Lift wave side edge (drop shore-side edge)

4.       Forward sweep on shore-side

5.       Once over the foam pile, lunge forward and paddle, repeat when necessary

Bunny Hop - Generate Speed.

Bunny Hop - Angle/Edge Boat

Bunny Hop - Lunge forward and paddle away.

The Turtle Dive: This is a great way to avoid a dumping wave on your head, getting hit in the gut by a powerful wave or foam pile, and decreases the likelihood of the wave pushing you back to shore.

1.       Speed - Generate as much speed as possible (don’t get winded you will need that air)

2.       Flip - Capsize with precision so your bow will bury into the seam where white and green water meet then push up with your paddle (this brings the bow deeper).

3.       Pause (feel the wave go by)

4.       Roll up and GO! Do not be plankton - Dig in and paddle away!

Turtle Dive - Generate speed and capsize so bow buries in the seam.

Turtle Dive - Push with paddle to drive bow deeper and wait for wave to pass.

Turtle Dive - When wave has passed over you, roll up.

Turtle Dive - Dig in and paddle away!

Route Finding: Look for an easy path out to the line up with the possibility of a dry hair paddle out.

1.       Find a rip that will take you out to the outside.

2.       Establish reference points. These will help you make route changes as well and help you avoid the most severe sections. This can also help in reading your progress.

3.       Find the soft spots - Smaller or less consistent waves breaking (path of least resistance).

4.       Wait for your window of opportunity (wait for a lull).

5.       Be patient and aware.

Route finding - find a rip and ride it to the outside.

Route finding - find the soft spot of the wave or where it isn't breaking.

Conclusion:

Surfing waves is great fun, and getting out past the breakers is necessary in all types of craft. Whatever your craft (surf kayak, whitewater kayak, sea kayak, surfboard, stand up paddleboard), we have to paddle out.  A seasoned paddler will make this journey out to the lineup easy, effective and efficient and have more energy for surfing. We must plan and prepare both mentally and physically. The more challenging the paddle out the more physical and mental toughness is needed.

Surfing into 2018!

New Year's Day 2018

We were guiding day 3 of Liquid Fusion Kayaking's Whitewater n Surf Safari.  The goal of this 3 day trip is maximum fun in whitewater kayaks and obtaining the Mendocino Whitewater Trifecta - whitewater river running, rock gardening, and surf kayaking.  Unfortunately we had a beautiful warm and sunny December which meant no water for a whitewater run on the Eel River.  As usual, we make do with what mother nature give us and we had 2 days of really fun rock gardening.  Now on day 3 it was time to find some surf.  The swell forecast was very small and our students were skeptical if we would find any waves.  We found some.

Here are some shots from my first wave of 2018 -

Thanks Jeff for capturing the shots and sharing the stoke! We are going to rock n surf in 2018!

Drysuits

Winter is coming.  For many kayakers that means drysuit season.  I have to admit that I am not a huge fan of drysuits but find them necessary for winter whitewater kayaking and multi-day sea kayak events in areas with cool water and air temperatures.

Over the years, I have had drysuits from several different manufacturers.  My current drysuit is the best so far - Immersion Research Shawty.  Of course I love the awesome purple color.  Technical and practical features of the Shawty drysuit that I like include a rear/shoulder entry, comfortable fit, and the material.

Loving my Immersion Research Shawty Drysuit!

I like the fabric of my Immersion Research (IR) drysuit.  It is a bit stiffer than goretex but seems to be tougher and doesn't "wet-out" like a gore-tex suit does over time.  I often hear the comment, "But it isn't gore-tex."  I have had gore-tex drysuits and dry tops and don't find them to be as durable or comfortable.  My biggest issue is that the gore-tex fabric wets out after the dwr (durable water repellent) wears off (read the link for more on dwr and environmental related concerns).  When the dwr wears off, the suit feels damp.

Also, the hype over the breathability of gore-tex doesn't make sense to me.  I sweat when I am paddling.  The main areas where I sweat are my core and feet.  Life jackets and sprayskirts pretty much negate the wicking of any drysuit in the core area.

Latex booties provide slim, seamless comfort in paddling shoes.

Did you know that you can get latex booties put in your drysuit?  I was skeptical when I first heard but now I am a convert.  Regardless of the material, fabric drysuit socks are bulky.  They bunch up in your paddling shoes, and often you have to buy a larger pair of shoes for the socks to fit.  Latex socks are a lot slimmer and are seamless.  I find them to be much more comfortable.  They definitely fit in my paddling shoes better.  I usually wear a pair of wool socks under them and then a neoprene booty over them for warmth and protection.  There is usually an added charge to have latex socks put in.  Both Immersion Research and Kokatat will do it.

I am happy to see drysuit companies offering a variety of entry systems.  I am a fan of the rear entry with the shoulder zipper.  I never found the large metal chest zippers of front entry drysuits to be comfortable.  Relief zippers are improving as well, and it is nice that women have the options of front zip or drop seat relief zippers.  I am a fan of the drop seat.  Currently Kokatat and NRS are making women's drysuits with drop seats.  For 2020, Immersion Research has a new women's drysuit with a drop seat that also works as an entry.  It is called the Aphrodite - check it out and stay tuned for my review.

If you are shopping for a new drysuit, I encourage you to try some out before buying.  Figure out what type of entry and relief system works for you.  Don't just buy what you see everyone else wearing.  Drysuits are like shoes - one size doesn't fit all and all brands have their advantages and disadvantages.  A good way to try a drysuit out is to rent one.  Immersion Research has a drysuit rental program.  Kokatat drysuits can be rented from Pacific River Supply or Kayak Academy.

Drysuit maintenance and repair - this is a topic for another time, but the good thing to know is that both Kokatat and Immersion Research offer drysuit leak testing and repair.  Both companies also can do alterations to make suits that fit better.

It is good to have options and great to have a drysuit when you are paddling in cool/cold weather.