tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20269077115465272972024-02-07T16:23:22.851-08:00Boat with PaulThis is a blog for those special people among us who boat, and to inspire those that hope to.Paul Kuthehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04439243549454681449noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026907711546527297.post-9441940301088306502014-02-09T04:56:00.002-08:002014-02-09T04:56:28.847-08:00Strictly Business<div style="text-align: right;">
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When you do what you love for a living it's important... no, crucial to 'check in'. Checking in with sponsors, media outlets, students, coaches and event organizers is all part of the game, but sometimes when you are out on the road, you gotta make the stops that keep you moving forward...<br />
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Fellow team paddler Matt Nelson and I took the long way home from <a href="http://kokatat.com/blog/2014/02/you-know-you-are-at-golden-gate-when" target="_blank">The Golden Gate Sea Kayak Symposium</a> again this year in the <a href="http://www.phseakayaks.com/" target="_blank">P&H Custom Sea Kayaks</a> rig. We made our usual stop in Mendo to visit our friends Bryant Burkhardt, Lindsay Grossman, and of course Jeff and Cate of <a href="http://www.liquidfusionkayak.com/" target="_blank">Liquid Fusion Kayaking</a>. They live in a magical place. After spending the weekend on the job, it felt good to cut loose and pull hard just for the FUN of it. We had two days, 650 miles, and countless waves to ride before getting back to the grind at <a href="http://www.aldercreek.com/" target="_blank">Alder Creek.</a> <br />
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I could see it from the parking lot. The locals know it well. Waves were rolling in from the open sea, welling up and then pouring over a large ridge of rocky exposed reef just up the way from the launch at Caspar. Once all were safely afloat and beyond the shore break, I went for it. Warm from the paddle out, and eager from a weekend spent scouting waves for students, I went right to "work".<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paddler: Paul Kuthe Photo By: Cate Hawthorne</td></tr>
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You can tell when someone is in there element. Few people I know seem so at home on the sea. Jeff Laxier makes his backyard seem like Disney Land. I tend to hang close to this guy to find all the best goods (and to stay out of trouble when the big sets roll in ;). <br />
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I love paddling out and setting up a circuit on a big pour-over on a rising tide with a solid team. What starts innocently enough as an exercise in timing to make it over the low point in the rocks becomes a rowdy game of good natured one upmanship taking all our boating up a notch. "Woot! Woot! Outside!!" As a big set moves in you get one last chance to check your position, and run the plan through your head. Your mind goes clear and sharp as the floor drops out from under you. The wave sucks you back as it gathers power then thrusts you up and over as it explodes against the rocks. Everything else fades away into the sizzling whiteness and becomes unimportant. All that matters is the now. Too few are these pure moments in everyday life. <br />
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We move between the rocks along the coast searching for more goods. We hopped like bull frogs from lilly pad to lilly pad; from treacherous frothy waters to the relative safety of deep dark pools and vertical rock walls. Taking risks, but never rolling the dice; we gathered at every arch, cave, sot, and impact zone constantly taking stock, balancing risk and reward as we push ourselves further into the writhing and unsettled paradise before us. There are endless lines to run. The hardest part is picking which way to go for more. Turning around and around, everywhere I look there is another corridor to experience and explore. <br />
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As the afternoon winds picked up, we made our way into the beach and ventured up a small winding trail on foot. It led through a large grassy meadow to an old, all but forgotten cemetery. This peaceful resting place in the woods served as a welcomed reminder of the brevity of life. While the "enter at your own risk" warning gave us pause we were sure to enjoy and take the time to check in with the local residence to see how they were doing. It may be short, but we all have time to stop and appreciate all who came before us. <br />
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The trail led to a wind swept ridge at the edge of the sea. We all took in one last look at our playground for the day. It would be back to the road and on to Trinidad for Matt and I the following morning. We stood silently as we leaned into the cool crisp wind and stared at the sea. We could all feel it. We were parting ways and bidding the day farewell, silently but intently. We won't be all together again until <a href="http://www.lumpywaters.com/" target="_blank">The Lumpy Waters Symposium</a> this October in Oregon. I'm going to miss my California crew and hope to paddle with some of them again sooner rather than later. <br />
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<span style="font-family: Times;">Matt and I rose early the following morning and headed out on "the
1" north to Eureka where we meet Jason Self from Pacific Outfitters to
deliver P&H boats to the newest dealer on the west coast. The line
between work and play are often blurred in this business but this task fell
squarely into the work category. We soon found ourselves hucking plastic
in a whole other way but made short work of things allowing plenty of time to really get down to business! <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Launching into beautiful light. Photo by Jason Self</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matt Nelson and Paul Kuthe paddling out past Camel Rock Photo by: Jason Self<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matt Nelson cutting right and threading the needle through the rocks Photo by: Jason Self<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paul crankin to catch the outside break... Photo By: Jason Self<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Paul breaking out after a long ride in Photo By: Jason Self<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtPgwJzsrEAzJN6aIIDhBPh9SCLhhhoanjmItDU8vJmygCpTh8D_iTxtCUtib1UWWLcNjfEl-Xo217W_Ob75ng1SVGvaWYkywqHhmxq97n4Jng5kCLMYGiveDgr_Ppg4DcRnI0PQyFK-On/s1600/paulsunsetshred.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtPgwJzsrEAzJN6aIIDhBPh9SCLhhhoanjmItDU8vJmygCpTh8D_iTxtCUtib1UWWLcNjfEl-Xo217W_Ob75ng1SVGvaWYkywqHhmxq97n4Jng5kCLMYGiveDgr_Ppg4DcRnI0PQyFK-On/s1600/paulsunsetshred.jpg" height="510" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">After pushin through the rocks all weekend it felt REALLY good to catch some green faces to wrap up our day. Photo by: Jason Self<br /></td></tr>
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Thanks again to <a href="http://www.phseakayaks.com/" target="_blank">P&H</a>/<a href="http://www.pyranha.com/kayaks.php" target="_blank">Pyranha</a> for making it possible for Matt and I to travel south for the event. Thanks also to <a href="http://wernerpaddles.com/" target="_blank">Werner Paddles</a>,<a href="http://www.kokatat.com/" target="_blank"> Kokatat,</a> <a href="http://www.keenfootwear.com/us/en/" target="_blank">Keen Footwear,</a> <a href="http://snapdragondesign.com/products-page/" target="_blank">Snap Dragon Skirts</a>, <a href="http://www.hilleberg.com/" target="_blank">Hilleberg Tents</a>, and <a href="http://www.outdoorresearch.com/en" target="_blank">Outdoor Research</a> for all your support and for understanding it can't all be...strictly business. </div>
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Paul Kuthehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04439243549454681449noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026907711546527297.post-4636202355011489532013-05-06T00:25:00.001-07:002013-05-06T00:25:26.817-07:00P&H Aries 150 Review: Oregon Tested Boater ApprovedThe NEW <a href="http://www.phseakayaks.com/kayaks.php?kayak=Aries%20150" target="_blank">Aries 150</a> has ARRIVED! P&H is stepping up the short sea boat game and is helping to redefine the word "sea kayak" as a whole. Some of the <a href="http://aldercreek.com/" target="_blank">Alder Creek</a> crew and I hit up the Oregon coast the other day for some boat testing and surf scouting at one of our favorite park and play spots. <div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photos by Andrew Romanelli Paddlers: Paul Kuthe, Malcolm Kelly, Rene Emch</td></tr>
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We headed out with the tide, gliding along on a perfect conveyer belt that stretched from the parking lot straight out to the the rocky headlands and cliffs of Cascade Head and the open ocean beyond. Small swell (about 4 foot) and a low low tide height allowed us entry into ALL the caves, tunnels, arches, and pocket coves; some of which rewarded us with some particularly sweet deep water reef breaks. Pour-over rocks could be found around every corner. Outside, there was wind and long period swell providing the perfect testing ground for this versatile coastal machine. <div>
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There was enough energy in the sea to make things interesting without pushing anyone beyond their limits. There were a few big rides and the occasional head rudder on one of the bigger breaks tucked inside one of the West facing coves. When we had our fill, we pulled up on one of the rocky cliffed out beaches to stretch our legs and lay in the sun for awhile. The late afternoon northwest winds picked up gusting to force 4 (about 16 knots) and would help carry us all the way back home to the Salmon River mouth just as soon as we were ready to let it. </div>
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I kept things light but still managed to pack the essentials into the much needed day hatch that was added by popular demand for this season! (It's nice to see companies respond to their coaches and athletes in the field). The Aries has 4 round hatches capped off with Kayak Sport hatch covers that seem to be super dry. At 165 lbs, 5ft 10in, plus about 20 lbs of kit I fit perfectly and floated at a great level in the water. The super handy fore day hatch aka "whiskey hatch" is cavernous. It in combination with the full size day hatch has me set up for coaching, surfing, or even the occasional "surfpedition"! </div>
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The boat was faster than expected pushing into the headwind on the way up the coast and was begging to surf on the way back down wind at the end of the day. The pick up and initial acceleration for dropping onto waves or sending over pour-overs was obvious. For a 15 foot boat, it really moves. I opted for a heavy lay-up so I was pleasantly surprised to feel how nimble and 'light' the boat felt on the water. I pearled the bow a few times on some of the more critical take-offs, but managed to carve out once committed to one edge or the other. The cockpit was set to the stern end of the boat to help prevent some of the issue and helped with tracking on the way back down wind at the end of the day. </div>
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The Aries has a plum stern line creating a long water line and unique look on the water. It was difficult to keep from broaching on the back surf, but overall, I'd say this boat is most at home in the surf. For the well timed rock hopper the Aries is just fine, but being a composite boat, I'd watch it on the thinner moves. (I DO look forward to The Hammer if you couldn't tell) </div>
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On the wave, it felt buttery smooth and greasy with plenty of holding power to drive the line, but still nimble enough to push around a little. The outfitting is super adjustable and made me feel right at home as it's basically the same set up as my Pyranha whitewater boats. The finish quality is top notch, and I gotta say I am LOVING the color choice. Check out a few photos from our day below. Be sure to stop by your local retailer soon for a demo this one. I know I can't wait to get it on a big tidal feature. Be patient though, I hear I have the only one on the West Coast of the U.S. for now. More on the way though!! More photos and footage available of this beauty soon. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Over the top...<br />Photo By Andrew Romanelli Paddler: Paul Kuthe</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...Clean as can be!<br />Photo By: Andrew Romanelli Paddler: Paul Kuthe</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo By: Andrew Romanelli Paddler: Paul Kuthe</td></tr>
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Paul Kuthehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04439243549454681449noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026907711546527297.post-53929017824479255422013-04-22T08:48:00.001-07:002013-04-22T09:11:39.950-07:00The Northwest Creeking Competition is a grass-roots volunteer run event. This year's race was no exception. Community groups and paddlers teamed up with local retailers, vendors, and other organizations to put on a whitewater family reunion like none other. Yes, we all hope for fast lines and that feeling of glory when you crush through the last big hole between you and the finish on your way to victory, but we all really show up for the family reunion. With 131 racers and a record 14 women racing in the event the Northwest Creeking Competition is growing fast! Way to represent ladies! It was awesome to see so many women stepping up to the challenge and crushing many of the men's times.<br />
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The course was at a great water level this year producing fast times and major carnage on occasion. The on water safety team was AMAZING! It was great to have such dedicated and professional support crew on the course. Everyone was back at the party by Saturday night (some just had a few more stitches than others). Overall folks did really well with the pushy water level. <br />
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Like many sports whitewater has a culture all it's own. The Northwest Creeking Competition brings together many of the best boaters in the West for a celebration of that culture and the places we call home...the river! Enjoy a few photos of this year's event followed by a short list of a few results. Full results will be out soon. Be sure to visit<a href="http://northwestcreekcomp.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"> http://northwestcreekcomp.blogspot.com/</a> for all the details and other blog posts on the event. <br />
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Un-Official Results:<br />
East Fork Lewis (Saturday)<br />
<u> Long Boat</u><br />
1) Darren Albright<br />
2) Louis Geltman<br />
3) Mike Gotleib<br />
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<u>Men's PRO</u><br />
1) Evan Garcia<br />
2) Louis Geltman<br />
3) Andrew Mcewan<br />
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<u>Women's Pro:</u><br />
1)Kim Becker<br />
2) Katrina Van Wijk<br />
3) Nicole Mansfield<br />
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<u>Raft (R-2)</u><br />
Winners: Tim Brink & Jamie Weaver<br />
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Canyon Creek (Sunday)<br />
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<u>Men's K-1:</u><br />
1)Louis Geltman<br />
2) Gerd Serrasolses<br />
3) Dan Rubado<br />
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Women's K-1 Overal All Champion was Kim Becker winning Canyon Creek and EFL!!! Nice Work Kim! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oregon Rafting Team members dropping in! </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Local Sponsors of the event. Not shown here was Andy & Bax, Kayak Shed, the Oregon Kayak and Canoe Club, and more vendors than we can list here. Thanks so much for EVERYONE's support to make this event a success!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">R-2 team pulling HARD. Jeffrey Steehler and Greg Babikoff </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Louis Geltman boofing to victory as Ross Henry looks on in the Long Boat race.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carnage happened even ABOVE the course this year. Everyone was ok though. Nice one Matt. That is NOT a warranty issue!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset Falls Start Line drop</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paddlers line up at the start lookin ready in the eddy!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Topo Duo BOOF!</td></tr>
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Hope to see ya'll back next year!!!</div>
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Paul Kuthehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04439243549454681449noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026907711546527297.post-89659216943294519082013-04-18T23:40:00.000-07:002013-04-18T23:40:16.076-07:00Tequila and Rock and Roll! The 1st Annual Baja Kayak Fest in La Bufadora Mexico was a great success! Yet another top notch sea kayaking event has hit the scene rounding out the trifecta! A recent surge in demand for high quality rough water instruction on the wild West Coast of America is being answered by some of the best coaches and organizers around. <a href="http://www.ggsks.com/" target="_blank">The Golden Gate Sea Kayak Symposium</a> in San Francisco and <a href="http://www.lumpywaters.com/" target="_blank">The Lumpy Waters Symposium</a> in Pacific City Oregon raised the bar 5 years ago and are now joined by <a href="http://www.bajakayakfest.com/" target="_blank">The Baja Kayak Fest</a> this year down in La Bufadora Mexico! <br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span"> Photo by: Kate Ross</span></td></tr>
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Students young and old are making the tour and taking their paddling to new heights, making friends, and partying along the way. Hitting up all three events may not be possible for everyone, but I would seriously consider joining the fun and excitement experienced when you dedicate an entire weekend to rock, tidal rapid, or surf break skills at a full-immersion-style event that brings together students and coaches from all over the world. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paddler: Paul Kuthe Photo By Rob Avery<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Each event is known for it's own specialty, but there is plenty of all the sea disciplines at each of these different events. Short boat surfing, rock gardening, surfing tide and swell, advanced rescues and more. </span></div>
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Baja has it all just like California and Oregon, but THIS event was mostly about rocking out. Paddling in the rocks by day and rocking and rolling around the campfire by night. Good friends, good tequila, and good tunes came together for an amazing weekend South of the border. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Mike Connell</td></tr>
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Victor Leon of <a href="http://bajaaquatics.weebly.com/" target="_blank">Baja Aquatics </a> opened his home, his community and his heart to our crew and showed us an amazing time. Thanks goes out to Jen Kleck of <a href="http://www.aqua-adventures.com/" target="_blank">Aqua Adventures</a> in San Diego for organizing the 1st of many Annual Baja Kayak Fests to come! (we all hope so anyway)</div>
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<b>For the rest of the photos and more info on the goings on at the event check out the slide show.</b><br />
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Paul Kuthehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04439243549454681449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026907711546527297.post-82632583888256245232013-04-10T17:16:00.001-07:002013-04-10T17:16:36.475-07:00This Is The Sea V filming with Justine!TITS V is out! This Is The Sea V is the latest from <a href="http://www.cackletv.com/sea-kayaking-dvds/this-is-the-sea-5/" target="_blank">Justine and Cackle TV Productions</a>. Copies went on sale at <a href="http://www.aldercreek.com/" target="_blank">Alder Creek Kayak and Canoe</a> last month. I'm honored to have a small segment. Enjoy a few seconds one of my days of filming with Justine over in Wales after The UK Storm Gathering. Be sure to visit the sites and pick up a DVD to see the rest! <br />
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Paul Kuthehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04439243549454681449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026907711546527297.post-79502772708959611042012-04-23T23:55:00.003-07:002012-04-25T11:13:37.309-07:00Northwest Creeking Competition 2012<br />
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White noise and thunderous boofs rained down filling the air at Sunset Falls with a fine mist all weekend as racer after racer stomped their landings and pulled toward the finish with everything they had. While kickin back with marinated tri-tip served up by Next Adventure and reminiscing under the
shaded cover of the Alder Creek event tent Saturday evening, I began to realize I wasn’t just experiencing another race. No…this was
something more; something bigger than any one event or shop could ever be. I was witnessing a family reunion. The Northwest Creeking Competition is much more than just a race in our region. It's a chance to come together as a community to celebrate not just the river, but the lifestyle it provides. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Racers anxiously gather at the start line on Saturday</td></tr>
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The Northwest Creek Comp has taken many twists
and turns through its long history.
Before the Oregon Cup, there was only the Bob’s Hole Rodeo. Back in the 80’s
the whole thing started primarily as a long boat ender contest (using the
shortest boats on the market at the time of course). As boat design evolved so
did the contest. Big enders were replaced by endless spins and cartwheels
before boats truly took flight with aerial acrobatics. By the mid 90’s the rodeo circuit
was running at full steam with a traveling road show. Eclectic boater teams wandered like nomads from festival to festival in pursuit of sponsorship,
fame, and bragging rights; not to mention free beer, food, and camping whenever it could be had.<br />
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The increased notoriety and blossoming marketing budget of the Oregon Cup allowed for an opportunity to make a difference for the entire Northwest paddling community. With impending hydro power projects looming The "Canyon Creek Extreme Race" increased awareness in the community while pushing the sport of down river creek racing to new levels. Boater-cross events and surf comps were soon added, creating what was to become The Oregon Cup in all its former glory. </div>
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By the time Keith Jensen laid the event in my lap during my first season at <a href="http://www.aldercreek.com/" target="_blank">Alder Creek Kayak & Canoe</a> in 2003 freestyle kayaking seemed to be terminally stuck in the same "retentive" hole. “The whole rodeo circuit imploded
for multiple reason” explains Dave Slover, owner of Alder Creek and an original founder of the Oregon Cup in the early 90's. “Consolidation in paddlesports manufacturing reduced brand competition
and sponsored whitewater paddler numbers dwindled..." Slover explains. The economy was slow and gasoline prices soared. Suddenly the nomadic tribes numbers dwindled to a few familiar faces while subjective and nuanced peer judging had limited any potential to reach a mainstream market. As
creeking became more popular it was “somewhat easier to be a high level
creeker than a pro rodeo star,” Says Slover. In 2005, High water shifted something in the river bed, forever changing Bob's hole itself and officially ending the widely celebrated play boating era in the Northwest.</div>
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Increased event costs, dwindling participation and decreasing sponsorship spelled the end for the Oregon Cup and was threatening to take the Canyon Creek Race down with it. The Canyon Creek Extreme Race was as good as dead until <a href="http://pdxriverexplorers.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Luke Spencer</a> of Next Adventure, OKCC members, and I came together for a meeting with other passionate community members to discuss the future of the race. We needed a plan. We found what we were looking for at the very roots of what made the original race great. It was time to return to local paddlers
enjoying a competition on local waterways; not for fame or fortune, but
purely for the enjoyment of boating hard with good friends in a beautiful place we all love.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lead organizer Luke Spencer making the move</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Event Co-organizer and OKCC member Shannon Crosswhite takes her well deserved turn on the course</td></tr>
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Things were looking good until 2009 when a MASSIVE landslide caused by clear cutting upstream, clogged the narrow canyon above the race course on Canyon Creek, Washington. Upon hearing the rumors, crews of local boaters descended into the canyon to investigate the effects of the jam up close and personal. Check out <a href="http://paulkuthe.blogspot.com/2009/01/terminatorterminated.html" target="_blank">my blog post</a> showing more of the first images that confirmed our worst fears. The slide ended not only the running of the race, but ruined a classic and beloved run frequented by the entire NW paddling community. Despite all the efforts to ward off a man made dam on Canyon Creek all those years, mother nature managed to dam up the river in a matter of minutes. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nick Jacob starts the dicy 40 minute walk over what use to be Terminator Rapid </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ty Overeem (below) and Nick Jacob (above) pause for a break and a quick photo</td></tr>
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We were forced to move the race to nearby East Fork Lewis River, much to the delight of local paddling legend Mike Olson who lives along it's twisting bank. "Oly" has long been an advocate and host of the event, literally making competitors and spectators feel right at home in his own back yard and paving the way with the locals to access the river. Mother nature giveth and she taketh away. Just as fast as flood waters filled Canyon Creek with wood, she returned to flush it clean again a year later... <br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Today the NWCC is a thriving 2 day event and one of the biggest races in the country! The event boasts 2 amazing race courses on both the E.F. Lewis R. and Canyon Creek. The event headquarters is set at scenic Sunset Falls Campground where participants can enjoy a great view of racers negotiating beautiful Sunset Falls, enjoy a great BBQ, music, and share stories of the river. Day two competitors head over to Canyon Creek to challenge themselves on one of the best creek courses in the nation!" - Luke Spencer. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">This year's race marked a new era. For one, Tao Berman did not sweep the entire event, but more importantly, the festival and competition was bigger and better than ever, with two full days of bright sunshine and quality creek racing on two world class courses! The free camping was all snapped up by Friday night and the party...oops I mean race...was ON! </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">We woke the next morning to wall to wall sunshine, rising temperatures with a near perfect water level. There was plenty of excitement for the dedicated and determined on river support crew Saturday. It's one thing to stay on line for a few rapids at a time with the occasional break, but pulling your guts out above every tall horizon line, through every deep hole, and swirly run out really takes it's tole, testing even the best paddler's skill and endurance.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Rafts, Inflatable Kayaks, hardshell kayaks, and long boats all charged down the course. Even some classic Topolino Duos were seen givin er' over the falls with varied success. Races were mostly run as individual heats, but the crowd pleaser is always the mass start where all the racers meet head to head as they come bounding over the falls as a mass of flailing elbows, blades, and boats. Darren Albright was the big winner sweeping the event on Saturday winning Long Boat, Short Boat, and The Mass Start. Official Results will be posted at <a href="http://www.northwestcreekcomp.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">NWCC</a> soon.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Mass Start!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Darren Albright long boating to victory<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Local Boater John Edwards takes flight.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rafters try a variety of techniques before finding the dry line<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">I had a great time racing both days. I certainly don't train for this type of paddling, and am always humbled by those that do. Due to issues beyond the control of seasoned veteran race timer and volunteer Jim Virgin, there were some issues with timing at the finish line but it's not about that for me. That feeling that comes boiling up from the pit of your stomach as the starter begins the count down from "ten...nine...eight...seven..." The sense of relief and accomplishment after a smooth run is in the books. I love the whole atmosphere that spirited yet friendly competition brings. Even some of the best paddlers express some feelings of anxiety and even nervousness as they line up at the start, but it all melts away as you hear the starter's voice ring out "three...two...one...START!" </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love my new Shiva. Thanks <a href="http://www.pyranha.com/" target="_blank">Pyranha</a>!!</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">Nothing feels quite like flying down a demanding section of river as friends cheer you on from all sides. The abrupt folds and protrusions of the canyon walls blur into a smooth grey twisting corridor leading you ever deeper into the gorge. The cheering fades into the background as the sound of the last rapid fades just for a moment before the next rapid begins to echo up through the gorge and then there it is... The last crux rapid presents itself as a defiant and ever vigilant guardian of the illusive finish line. As I flew over the last boat eating hole and pulled towards the line I couldn't help but smile. I had two good runs, but more importantly we managed to pull off an amazing event once again. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">A big thanks goes out to all the sponsors of this year's event. It takes months of hard work and lots of planning from the event staff, but none of it would be possible without companies like Next Adventure and Alder Creek Kayak & Canoe stepping up to make this community run, grass roots event possible year after year. I'm already looking forward to next year's "family reunion." Hope ya'll can make it in 2013! </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">For more information, a great video, and official results from day 1visit: </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">The </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://www.exploringelements.com/event-nwcc-2012-efl-race-day/" target="_blank">Exploring Elements</a> Blog brought to you by Bryon Dorr.</span><br />
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<br /></div>Paul Kuthehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04439243549454681449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026907711546527297.post-89526178714276881622012-02-28T08:19:00.000-08:002012-02-28T08:19:32.728-08:00Going big before going home after the Golden Gate Sea Kayak Symposium<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIZ5jop1YlPPtQUXS723nQJfOwTXwFGAa97Nne3uYiuEPN0dzyFk1hWJB0cT0k05tcE-pbWeoSmUkWe3_7d1tAw3LrEWk7HaRMVI7aSei_4xQiysQFeCP8HJeJWVvO108WZojLO3KjH2ae/s1600/meinhorseshoebay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIZ5jop1YlPPtQUXS723nQJfOwTXwFGAa97Nne3uYiuEPN0dzyFk1hWJB0cT0k05tcE-pbWeoSmUkWe3_7d1tAw3LrEWk7HaRMVI7aSei_4xQiysQFeCP8HJeJWVvO108WZojLO3KjH2ae/s200/meinhorseshoebay.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><a href="http://tideraceseakayaks.com/" target="_blank">Tide Race Sea Kayaks</a> recently sent me down to San Francisco as a guest coach for one of the best rough water sea symposiums found anywhere in the world. Made bright by warm sunshine and big smiles from some of the toughest, most enthusiastic students I have ever had the pleasure of coaching, <a href="http://www.ggsks.com/" target="_blank">The Golden Gate Sea Kayak Symposium</a> was again a great success. <br />
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The event attracted some of the best coaches and instructors from the West coast and across the globe. There was a touching tribute and memorial to Tsunami Ranger Commander Eric Soares. The amazingly entertaining explorer and professor Jon Turk presented his circumnavigation of Ellesmere Island. San Francisco it's self seemed to shine in the late day sun, but it was the students that proved to be the true stars of the weekend! <br />
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They were up before the sun each day ready for whatever challenges lay ahead; be it a dwarfing swell barreling in off the Pacific or whirling currents coursing through the bay. Unforgiving barnacle encrusted rocks continually emerged from the depths to transform the heavy blue water to a bright white foam, then disappeared again in an instant, leaving behind only subtle traces along the water's surface before re-emerging once again moments later.<br />
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Those who ventured outside "The Gate" often experienced an exhilarating combination of these forces. I was fortuitous enough to have the opportunity to coach rock gardening all weekend with good friends such as Matt Nelson and Jeff Laxier along with some new friends like Jake Stachovak, Rowan Gloag, Nick Castro, Roger Schumann, and Duane Strosacker. <br />
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In defining moments of well timed determination and commitment, our rock gardening students punched through slots and over shelves turning the sea into a vast playground filled with endless opportunities for personal challenge and exploration. I remain truly humbled by their passion, their courage, and the heartfelt expressions of appreciation shared after each day on the water. It takes a certain breed to do what we do, and the participants at the Golden Gate Sea Kayak Symposium have what it takes! I'm proud of you guys and I know Eric Soares would be to! I thought of him often as we were passing under the gate and entering Eric's favorite realm. I, along with a few others, had the opportunity to lead a class just like this one with Eric at last year's event. He will be missed. <br />
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</span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl0VGz2J3mv6739t7x1aGGTG_0rhOUBtAXAmDtV_U2JO8vglIAOjMu1d5j1A18gFCAkax0vEi1HHuJm_9rc1UepbS-fsWxMRLoXMWhGFwq75zRPPKoKE-gVsid9OCLfiwEUjkSMRtLsl8O/s1600/mygroup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl0VGz2J3mv6739t7x1aGGTG_0rhOUBtAXAmDtV_U2JO8vglIAOjMu1d5j1A18gFCAkax0vEi1HHuJm_9rc1UepbS-fsWxMRLoXMWhGFwq75zRPPKoKE-gVsid9OCLfiwEUjkSMRtLsl8O/s320/mygroup.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Photo By Anders</div><br />
Thank You: Tide Race Sea Kayaks for sponsoring this year's symposium and making my attendance possible. <br />
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After all the symposium action was wrapped up, Richard Davis and Nick Scoville of Saltwood Paddles gave Kate and I a lift up to Mendocino for our annual coaches after-party paddling sessions. We spent a couple days paddling the coast of Northern California with Bryant Burkhardt of CCK and Cate Hawthorne of <a href="http://www.liquidfusionkayak.com/" target="_blank">Liquid Fusion Kayaking</a> in Fort Bragg. Check out a couple parting shots from the symposium AND all the fun had after the event below:</div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw2abJCbFZnQ8Qk0JkE85M_h6z56y_9BhJ6qaS8Viwr9nmteEcFpjEcbvaRa_-F5_2L5nKWptnp3UlqjisLMkPSEI2oNXOpJA59z2WJK62QLnEZbJ2jbuAKPhfWKjqRVYz4EB8iX2rge9k/s1600/willjonesgoesbig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw2abJCbFZnQ8Qk0JkE85M_h6z56y_9BhJ6qaS8Viwr9nmteEcFpjEcbvaRa_-F5_2L5nKWptnp3UlqjisLMkPSEI2oNXOpJA59z2WJK62QLnEZbJ2jbuAKPhfWKjqRVYz4EB8iX2rge9k/s400/willjonesgoesbig.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Will Jones went big just outside the gate for my favorite photo of a student in action! Nice Job Will.<br />
Photo By: Paul Kuthe</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Event Organizers Matt Palmariello and Sean Morley makin it happen!<br />
Photo By: Kate Ross<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFgiF__cSNj1lXbYDHXbcY4O-T_ICZ-uo6zkxWZEVcQdyum6S3CJnE76QL0V68ptfrn7EmrJqivmPeSsNPcxGYT8s1ux84NMgBP19KABQDYtrQKXjMG5COVnpgoyRRVMqsP9xYddH0QJ6h/s1600/goldennight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFgiF__cSNj1lXbYDHXbcY4O-T_ICZ-uo6zkxWZEVcQdyum6S3CJnE76QL0V68ptfrn7EmrJqivmPeSsNPcxGYT8s1ux84NMgBP19KABQDYtrQKXjMG5COVnpgoyRRVMqsP9xYddH0QJ6h/s400/goldennight.jpg" width="392" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view back towards the city from the ridge behind the hostel. Til'<br />
Next Year San Francisco...<br />
Photo By: Paul Kuthe</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCmjRzom5K18tPrjpk2TMa5ak2uVTLFivGqgXxRKNsokPhnZTnak1nQ-2kpLG7L0utpAjPNbnomcJWIrM2UKLWz1w8eQfzs63BYvbkMfMfID2cyI-vn0M9PSXPTRgu0SOLci3IxsqhzYtX/s1600/truckad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCmjRzom5K18tPrjpk2TMa5ak2uVTLFivGqgXxRKNsokPhnZTnak1nQ-2kpLG7L0utpAjPNbnomcJWIrM2UKLWz1w8eQfzs63BYvbkMfMfID2cyI-vn0M9PSXPTRgu0SOLci3IxsqhzYtX/s400/truckad.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was time to hit the road and head North to the promise-land... Mendo<br />
Photo By: Kate Ross<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzdg36ruXBURMSxdoDZE5YwGcodNDRmzaZLFxtUKKi2m3QDYKDBf-ZTUvWVLytfB9KkW6CKe0nR_DJ1-pXTCyyU3CjvawFMipLVCnZxGsE1FIzffKnMB_YNKZ4QCF1ktCEEBdgfrIZj-Wq/s1600/dangersign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzdg36ruXBURMSxdoDZE5YwGcodNDRmzaZLFxtUKKi2m3QDYKDBf-ZTUvWVLytfB9KkW6CKe0nR_DJ1-pXTCyyU3CjvawFMipLVCnZxGsE1FIzffKnMB_YNKZ4QCF1ktCEEBdgfrIZj-Wq/s320/dangersign.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">This is always a nice sign to see at the put-in. Cate Hawthorne showed us the back yard spot for Liquid Fusion Kayaking at Noyo Beach. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Photo By Paul Kuthe</span></td></tr>
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</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0gYFYYdcgv2VxbOecB_WDVR-f7xPbA99pqQrNpPEY5pxDcnRmWqVS7IWzWreOLxLcK8SRTPmOIIOaVT-ncKYR87MCSnd1C8rA9APwtMDXFmROZndhaliigDJ5TJZ5ScnpHP7XF7G27TFl/s1600/noyo+beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0gYFYYdcgv2VxbOecB_WDVR-f7xPbA99pqQrNpPEY5pxDcnRmWqVS7IWzWreOLxLcK8SRTPmOIIOaVT-ncKYR87MCSnd1C8rA9APwtMDXFmROZndhaliigDJ5TJZ5ScnpHP7XF7G27TFl/s320/noyo+beach.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Photo By: Kate Ross</span></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJNoAFXZtf3kTjcFXi8DVO-7oStC0BBMMRts8PaUw1kYrU0bQCqxjwRDtwzNHFRUVW1XQ3T9TJ89S6vroOSDOFFeAkMNPN-Rny0QpARp3mIjliFEUO14KbtAKcnjK9KahjmYWSCGNQgdGq/s1600/nickshreds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJNoAFXZtf3kTjcFXi8DVO-7oStC0BBMMRts8PaUw1kYrU0bQCqxjwRDtwzNHFRUVW1XQ3T9TJ89S6vroOSDOFFeAkMNPN-Rny0QpARp3mIjliFEUO14KbtAKcnjK9KahjmYWSCGNQgdGq/s320/nickshreds.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">C<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">hicken Point was going off while we were there. There is no feeling like dropping into big waves that are peeling and bending through the reef and into the steep cliffs above. The closer to the rocks you were able to get the better the ride. <i>Almost </i>everyone won their game of chicken on this occasion. I did fine at the point, but I would not be so lucky at another spot not far away. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Photo By: Paul Kuthe</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidxwpgUAPZldYRyhS2wznYQhUQFSXfH5tcSfUnnFDCURx1TH9isfCQlQXvvrDIGHQbHREFgCA4EkOSOKiqVSn-7QYwr1-tK8vWZeqkbCv167RJQmX-BwBbFYIKPnkp7UHhfakHU8svpok9/s1600/breaking+boat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidxwpgUAPZldYRyhS2wznYQhUQFSXfH5tcSfUnnFDCURx1TH9isfCQlQXvvrDIGHQbHREFgCA4EkOSOKiqVSn-7QYwr1-tK8vWZeqkbCv167RJQmX-BwBbFYIKPnkp7UHhfakHU8svpok9/s320/breaking+boat.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">I was just poking around the rocks looking for fun little moves to make when I let my guard down. I caught a good wave pictured along the set of rocks above. I was almost beyond the rocks making my exit when another wave wrapped in at an angle pushing me high up on the rocky outcropping...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9bvzrie2FWppxvRKKhonIep2FD4rx0zm_RpE3T37FXPqgAKZ_OjqAD3vrDiYFzspcngIQ3cEzrLBCc3Z_iRGKsy0gbGZZBcwyNCa9mYLfeCGeT1lAJag2rFpqSxi5VC1_RhPBP0Somee6/s1600/my+ora.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9bvzrie2FWppxvRKKhonIep2FD4rx0zm_RpE3T37FXPqgAKZ_OjqAD3vrDiYFzspcngIQ3cEzrLBCc3Z_iRGKsy0gbGZZBcwyNCa9mYLfeCGeT1lAJag2rFpqSxi5VC1_RhPBP0Somee6/s400/my+ora.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Gelcoat is temporary...glory is forever!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Photo By: Kate Ross</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhECwV_zUmZKxXAvVxu2C6SZ14G5PBSam2djuh8omFm4nIcl7myyUu0W19b9OoR18JopaLRQG_i2GpdpepIKbSIwgnn60xZR3qzjWOmWre6J93Nkf0A6-KdGMovQ_KAGTUQD-5-uAx2kkEh/s1600/nickfixboat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhECwV_zUmZKxXAvVxu2C6SZ14G5PBSam2djuh8omFm4nIcl7myyUu0W19b9OoR18JopaLRQG_i2GpdpepIKbSIwgnn60xZR3qzjWOmWre6J93Nkf0A6-KdGMovQ_KAGTUQD-5-uAx2kkEh/s400/nickfixboat.jpg" width="392" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">A couple pieces of Nick's foil tape later and I was back on the water in no time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp2yRyH9R7471s0P_Xl4m1tyXLGMnsmUFWJsxMkdmcJStbGRScaQLZnojVHF5c1VsQ0C395LLlo9jJcugxLhLSQ8iuvhdR7wnJT-u6PvC0YYUhp2eNCEopyWdpApktrkidJ2tU2bMnR-98/s1600/me+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp2yRyH9R7471s0P_Xl4m1tyXLGMnsmUFWJsxMkdmcJStbGRScaQLZnojVHF5c1VsQ0C395LLlo9jJcugxLhLSQ8iuvhdR7wnJT-u6PvC0YYUhp2eNCEopyWdpApktrkidJ2tU2bMnR-98/s400/me+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Chicken Point was so good. Once we got the hang of it there were plenty of good rides to be had out there. We just had to warm up to the rocks a bit. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Photo By: Cate Hawthorne</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKeiYFEYdFJUqeTKlDboOXyOb95COhshmHWKQbVFxnTAOIpFYzaiavTQURgEReBUwcmccleuuUTtMQ96Wqw0xwmVYCDF6eiD0g5cHXBgNFcpJ3X9GLd4PLqd_hCY9yEUjuS56NdzluZbIu/s1600/me+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKeiYFEYdFJUqeTKlDboOXyOb95COhshmHWKQbVFxnTAOIpFYzaiavTQURgEReBUwcmccleuuUTtMQ96Wqw0xwmVYCDF6eiD0g5cHXBgNFcpJ3X9GLd4PLqd_hCY9yEUjuS56NdzluZbIu/s400/me+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">mmm...tastes like chicken.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Photo By: Cate Hawthorne</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBE-trlKYXyLV_ByvId4arUtagpR1Uj_Iya_YfVDhSexLPaqszNECali6ShWF74-3Obtn_VbX_hHaIppxBYUEXUC2REj6G8jlVbqSaC1BWQfe7AhQxtk6TDl65-VGiGYFAHaqDum3xRhu1/s1600/me+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBE-trlKYXyLV_ByvId4arUtagpR1Uj_Iya_YfVDhSexLPaqszNECali6ShWF74-3Obtn_VbX_hHaIppxBYUEXUC2REj6G8jlVbqSaC1BWQfe7AhQxtk6TDl65-VGiGYFAHaqDum3xRhu1/s400/me+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Just as the wave crashes over the rocks inside, we would come tearing down the wave carving hard left to avoid impact. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Photo By: Cate Hawthorne</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVEqIeMKiaq_hr-K_Rj98wMitv5Tc5bjslIzzPui6ehyphenhyphenWx6QSn22Gd7ChaSnqvSfelQvAG8RuD9uyXDHZqXHP00yT_X1bvkeV60_wueJtZPQ6CBJ_p_Flr1rrlP1THhbdD0Mf6XIEDalYV/s1600/kateblows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVEqIeMKiaq_hr-K_Rj98wMitv5Tc5bjslIzzPui6ehyphenhyphenWx6QSn22Gd7ChaSnqvSfelQvAG8RuD9uyXDHZqXHP00yT_X1bvkeV60_wueJtZPQ6CBJ_p_Flr1rrlP1THhbdD0Mf6XIEDalYV/s400/kateblows.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">The next day we were met with wall to wall sunshine. We headed a few minutes South to the Van Dam Access. There we explored caves, surfed through the labyrinth of slots, and found some cool blow holes. Kate edges ever closer to one above. Just as the big waves come in, the wall explodes into a foamy mist. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Photo By: Paul Kuthe</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Paddling in California is always a treat. Thanks again to all the participants at the event this year. Thanks to all the coaches, the organizers (Matt Parlmeriello and Sean Morley, and all the volunteers that made it happen once again. Thanks to Jon Turk for his amazing presentation. Thanks to Tom Shores for providing the event motor boat and giving my students a ride around the Gate on Sunday. Thanks to Cate and Jeff from Liquid Fusion. Thanks Bryant! Thanks to Richard Davis and Nick Scoville for being such great travel companions, and thanks to Kate Ross for putting up with me and joining me on my adventures. See you all next year! Or who knows, perhaps I will see up this way at this year's <a href="http://www.lumpywaters.com/" target="_blank">Lumpy water Symposium</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"></div>Paul Kuthehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04439243549454681449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026907711546527297.post-10048279122625661952012-02-01T10:19:00.000-08:002012-02-01T10:19:38.553-08:00Who invited THIS guy?I have to<i> try</i> and show a little class this month. I will be doing some sea coaching with some of the very best, at two amazing venues in February! Who's ready to get back on NW waters for 2012?<br />
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To start things off, I will be heading North into Washington's Deception Pass to teach with one of my favorite coaches, Gordon Brown over from Scotland. <br />
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</div>Gordon and I will be presenting helpful ideas and techniques for smarter paddling in dynamic waters. Everything from breaking in and out of swirling whirlpools to mopping up the mess with incident management will be covered. Follow all the action from the weekend or jump on last minute cancellations by visiting this link: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/148496055257573/">https://www.facebook.com/events/148496055257573/</a><br />
This is truly a unique opportunity. Gordon's classes always fill up fast. I can't wait to coach with him again. <br />
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After all the "Deception" you won't believe where we are headed next...<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ggsks.com/" target="_blank">GOLDEN GATE SEA KAYAK SYMPOSIUM HERE WE COME!!!!!!</a></div><br />
There are still a few spaces left at the big symposium in San Francisco. If you have not been before, I HIGHLY recommend the experience. Visit the site and sign up NOW before it fills up too!!!<br />
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I have been down for "Golden Gate" every year. This February, <a href="http://tideraceseakayaks.com/" target="_blank">Tide Race Sea Kayaks</a> and I will be heading back down to the city by the bay. San Francisco Bay offers some of the very best coaching and learning venues anywhere. Work on refining basic technique in the calm waters of the inner bay, or tackle the beginner tide rips off yellow bluff or tour around Alcatraz. Slip under the Golden Gate Bridge and out into the wild blue ocean beyond for more advanced training grounds with caves, rocks, and explosive swell. San Fran has it ALL!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">World class coaches from all over the world will be there including a special visit from the legendary Jon Turk! There is something for everyone down at the Golden Gate Symposium. It's a truly iconic backdrop to an incredible sea paddling event with some of the very best coaches from all around the world. Hurry...don't miss this opportunity...I'm not sure how long that dock will hold all the amazing coaching talent! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Visit <a href="http://www.ggsks.com/" target="_blank">http://www.ggsks.com/ </a> to get signed up! Don't wait!! It's filling up fast!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Paul Kuthehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04439243549454681449noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026907711546527297.post-36709843339220887692011-11-08T04:50:00.000-08:002011-11-08T04:52:42.526-08:00Farewell Scotland!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_W5b1cOQkEdPDKNM8jdyhC9Fw3q_Gw3azTrxm88K693o-3-jP9qpy5baPHsDwyLfdXZYSZP7uQn95IHm3-0wOH5nSTB5u2FEaQB1MLSfmy_V9Fk9c_StT5OMTzu_V3Mts7pcOu22gmOeT/s1600/lyonleaves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_W5b1cOQkEdPDKNM8jdyhC9Fw3q_Gw3azTrxm88K693o-3-jP9qpy5baPHsDwyLfdXZYSZP7uQn95IHm3-0wOH5nSTB5u2FEaQB1MLSfmy_V9Fk9c_StT5OMTzu_V3Mts7pcOu22gmOeT/s640/lyonleaves.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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I have had an amazing week of paddling here in Aberfeldy; Thanks mostly to the generosity of good friends like Steve Macdonald of <a href="http://www.beyondadventure.co.uk/" target="_blank">Beyond Adventure</a>. They are true professionals and river experts. If you are ever up over this way, check them out. You will not be disappointed. <br />
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Steve and his two oldest boys are all fantastic paddlers. It was a true pleasure to be on the water with them for my last trip down a Scottish river for awhile. (Hopefully not too long though). The last time I was here was 3 years ago. In that time, the boys have become giants. I have a feeling I will be back for another visit soon enough. Hopefully before Steve's youngest lad becomes taller than me too! <br />
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We had a friend's wedding to get to later in the evening, so we opted for a short run on the Lyon. The Lyon is a quintessential river in Scotland and is one of my favorites. It has a little of everything. It's tight twisting gorge provides enough entertainment to keep you on your toes without being too threatening. The banks are lined with beautiful autumnal colors and the shuttle is an easy jog or bike ride providing a great one car option close to town.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We arrived at the river just as the morning light was warming the hill tops. The air was clam and the water glassy smooth. The morning fog still hanging low over the river provided a touch of mysticism and intrigue. The stage was set for an amazing day celebrating life and good times with friends and family. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We slipped downstream deeper into the gorge. Struan, Ben, and Steve followed behind hopping in and out of eddies with slalom like precision. It's so fun to watch these guys ripping through curves and carving their way down the river. I have always and will continue to maintain that slalom paddlers make the best paddlers, but perhaps I am biased as a slalom paddler myself. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">While scouting and setting support along the bank I stumbled upon this cauldron of swirled rock. It's amazing to think how long it must have taken the pebbles and swirling water to carve out these pockets of granite. The special things we paddlers get to see are part of why I continue to explore rivers. I may never have seen this special spot had I not taken the time to get out of my boat along the bank. It's something that no hiker, hill walker, or mountain biker would ever have experienced. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The crux rapid was too low to get through so we made the short hike around and ended the day with a fun seal launch into the silky pete colored water below. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I will miss the rivers here in Scotland, but I will miss the friends I have made here far more. Aberfeldy will always hold a special place in my heart. I know I will continue to travel and explore other amazing places, but it's the people here that will keep me coming back in the years to come. Thanks Macdonald family and all the new and old friends I've made during my visits! I couldn't have done it without you. I will be back! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Paul Kuthehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04439243549454681449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026907711546527297.post-14843143608042565432011-11-07T13:51:00.000-08:002011-11-07T13:51:15.643-08:002 in 1One of my favorite parts about paddling Scottish rivers is the ability to easily paddle multiple runs in a day. While the rivers are typically short lived, they are often quite exciting. I had been keeping my eye on the rain forecast. When I arrived to pick Nell up from Grandtully he said it had been raining all night and his rain gauge (his topo left cockpit up) indicated about an inch had fallen. His boat was already at the gate when I arrived. Let's go boatin!!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Hermitage viewing room</td></tr>
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Nell had yet another new river to show me. I had paddled the easy section of the Bran before, but this time we were headed to the goods. The lower Bran was one that I have been meaning to check out.<br />
With only one rig we dropped the boats at the bridge then drove to the take-out below The Hermitage. There Nell showed me the observatory hermitage building that gives an amazing view point of Hermitage falls while channeling the deep roaring sound given off by the water cascading into the pool below. <br />
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The circular concave room in the gallery was said to be built to allow fair ladies (likely Victorian) to view the falls safely. The story was that the falls were considered so awesome that ladies could not look directly at them lest they should faint. The room it's self was fitted with several mirrors that would allow a "safe" viewing experience while protecting the ladies from the raw power of nature! I know at least one lady that would find that just a bit insulting. I know a few other ladies that may just huck themselves straight off the thing. Oh how times have changed...for the better.<br />
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Rumbling Bridge falls looks disgusting. It has a manky lead in that would drop you onto bedrock from about 30 feet up. From there you would be twisted down towards a nasty undercut cave and into the opposite bank with some force. Just after the base of the falls the river squeezes under a boulder that has fallen into the gorge from above. Needless to say, it does NOT get run and is considered a "grade 7"? I had to ask, but over here if it's considered "un-runable" they call it a 7. It always amuses me what gets called a 6 around here, but there is no doubt about what a 7 is. Just goes to show you that rating systems differ depending on region. A simple number can never tell you everything you need to know.<br />
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The run from the bridge down had a portage or two and was quick blast down, but was well worth the effort. With a bit more volume than the other rivers we have been exploring I felt right at home. Check out Nell giving the crowd a thrill. I chose the slightly slower route down to the river.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">For the afternoon we hit up a section of the Tummel below the dam. We took a gamble and it paid off! They were releasing a bit of water due to the overnight rain so we put on before they turned off the river for the night. I have run fish ladders in the past, but none quite like this.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The run it's self was pretty and secluded with a really good class IV drop in the middle. After a quick scout from the road on the walk up we put right on and were done within an hour or so. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My time in Scotland is quickly coming to an end. I have one more blog post from the Lyon to go. After that I'm off to Ireland for some quality time with my lady. Stay tuned for my last day on the river for a couple weeks. The withdrawals are going to be painful, but I have a feeling she will keep me sufficiently distracted until we get back home. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div> Paul Kuthehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04439243549454681449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026907711546527297.post-56312379448925235352011-11-02T16:49:00.000-07:002011-11-02T16:51:21.577-07:00Ben down The River Etive and Alt a ChoaruinnToday was another great day on the water here in Scotland. (My 13th day on the water in a row to be exact). We left Aberfeldy this morning jonesing hard. We felt a serious need to feed our vertical addiction. <br />
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One of my favorite things is taking someone down a section of whitewater for their first time. Not just any stretch, but one that they have propped up on a pedestal as being THEIR big goal; their personal benchmark on their road to whitewater bliss. Ben Macdonald, now just 15, has had his eyes set on the Etive for quite some time. Today was the day. So critical to his personal development infact, that his folks gave him a pass for the day off school. Here's to having your priorities in line!! Thanks Ben's Mom!!<br />
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Nell, Justin, Ben, and I made our way into the highlands to likely the most infamous piece of whitewater in all of Scotland. The Etive is a right of passage for whitewater boaters in the UK. It is not the hardest run in the land, but it is likely the most photographed and videoed runs around and is ALWAYS a blast to paddle. Check out my post from a few years ago <a href="http://www.wheresthewater.com/3-riversone-day" target="_blank">here</a>. <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ben drops into triple just below the put-in. If things don't go as planned here, you may as well call it a day. This drop is indicative of the rest of the run, and is within sight of the shuttle rig. He styled it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHOOPGi_GroBztljIAt5m46QBdoO5B_rxYn1acoR5mF8T90Tw81bG_nm1ZE5_CoQU7SGecOpbecUnv9CHz-h0eluoiTOh0gjKCJPfvt0_sICKr3DobKA9_buTa8MYDYxkwDkmvx0MHEp8R/s1600/Nellgetsair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHOOPGi_GroBztljIAt5m46QBdoO5B_rxYn1acoR5mF8T90Tw81bG_nm1ZE5_CoQU7SGecOpbecUnv9CHz-h0eluoiTOh0gjKCJPfvt0_sICKr3DobKA9_buTa8MYDYxkwDkmvx0MHEp8R/s400/Nellgetsair.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Nell hits his line on this sweet angled boof move. Is that a Topolino? Oh yes it is!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Justin styles the move here too. If you punch out too far you can nail the wall opposite the drop. He did well here with a sweet side boof.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdG1vZLbsoTd-U277j2UKqgVx7-sEE5gPlUvWnpuOQgysSY0WQElmXwTPWoKe-Z5uig1NvG9UhztIGByqVOLts1OXp89cZ5r-GxSmlAYpYhRnEsSj0zJCzDz6g_y1vNtCvrHZcQAJFrr_5/s1600/Bendropsr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdG1vZLbsoTd-U277j2UKqgVx7-sEE5gPlUvWnpuOQgysSY0WQElmXwTPWoKe-Z5uig1NvG9UhztIGByqVOLts1OXp89cZ5r-GxSmlAYpYhRnEsSj0zJCzDz6g_y1vNtCvrHZcQAJFrr_5/s400/Bendropsr.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The crux rapid on the run is Right Angle Falls. The lead in is tricky and technical involving a class IV move into an eddy right at the lip of the drop. Those that miss the eddy typically end up dropping over the falls with less than ideal results. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmkvb-MEayC6AX1zCyEpIfB2mkvwSAYx3tD-RIuaq5zqQyrE5M1eZGuFgrayAw1xKmStgZ_ZALHXhd6Mb1T6CHayFCHEENgXUQN6uxYuUSsshyphenhyphenNoEUEf-O11VvaGughlmZ18RbHf0M2P0k/s1600/fistpump.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmkvb-MEayC6AX1zCyEpIfB2mkvwSAYx3tD-RIuaq5zqQyrE5M1eZGuFgrayAw1xKmStgZ_ZALHXhd6Mb1T6CHayFCHEENgXUQN6uxYuUSsshyphenhyphenNoEUEf-O11VvaGughlmZ18RbHf0M2P0k/s400/fistpump.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"> Ben absolutely stuck this one. How's this for your first waterfall? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVj7eJ4Fm_be4L60RSTzSL77HH6g5vKVg9tehhqk1C57GrBNeHzHfOxHXy-3LCdiRDx-OdYPFFxr25x1o38n23pCbCTtzTeE4kWlBt5NjAM33ii-tU1eNCxp6_H0pR9JgHxSzEe4WrB3PG/s1600/start+hike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVj7eJ4Fm_be4L60RSTzSL77HH6g5vKVg9tehhqk1C57GrBNeHzHfOxHXy-3LCdiRDx-OdYPFFxr25x1o38n23pCbCTtzTeE4kWlBt5NjAM33ii-tU1eNCxp6_H0pR9JgHxSzEe4WrB3PG/s400/start+hike.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We just weren't done yet. When we got to the take out it seemed our vertical addiction was only made worse by the previous drops, so we hiked up the glen into the Alt a Choaruinn to find a fix. I remembered this one from my last trip. It's unbelievably fun. While it looks "a bit dodgy" it's good to go and go we did! Never before has so many feet per mile felt so welcoming. I compare it to a water park for big kids. It's a MUST if you've had a good day on the Etive. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The view down into the Etive valley is incredible from high atop the Alt a Choaruinn. Justin, Ben, and I posed for this shot after running "Speed" to start our descent. You can really get a sense of the gradient here. The horizon line is enough to raise even the most seasoned paddler's eyebrows. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJCwkX_hx_G-YOru-HdYJzZ5Gnv9an2C3EOUMKcpwCtkyGC9w16ZC0_mAL_lnkvZONBHNwYdnRHD5YHwnvzXFq4UawLJD492pbW3SX1stwAX_h2pNyvQDC_uHj8E-GALQkSq9D46R3AqAR/s1600/Benonspeed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJCwkX_hx_G-YOru-HdYJzZ5Gnv9an2C3EOUMKcpwCtkyGC9w16ZC0_mAL_lnkvZONBHNwYdnRHD5YHwnvzXFq4UawLJD492pbW3SX1stwAX_h2pNyvQDC_uHj8E-GALQkSq9D46R3AqAR/s400/Benonspeed.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is the first drop on the Choaruinn is called "speed". Hey diddle diddle...right down the middle! Ben drops in as Nell plays catch at the bottom. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKiI1ENEejTdYiFhclV_GxBkmR8RLHtOEXMgtWQJU0zOZOW4TBMYs0LVGDgyWKoKjf-u_m0y1vybES5QDubcnJ1KbzAnEgie4RN6sT1Fwd4k7_k4V9I2SMn-LT2Rpg_prslyFiwBQi16pl/s1600/benbelowextacy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKiI1ENEejTdYiFhclV_GxBkmR8RLHtOEXMgtWQJU0zOZOW4TBMYs0LVGDgyWKoKjf-u_m0y1vybES5QDubcnJ1KbzAnEgie4RN6sT1Fwd4k7_k4V9I2SMn-LT2Rpg_prslyFiwBQi16pl/s400/benbelowextacy.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I don't think he will be able to wipe that grin off his face for a week! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Pinball" is the crux of this trib. You basically come bouncing off the lip into a center rock that projects you down into the right wall and off a slide into the pool below. It was described to me my first time down as "a bit physical." (elbow pads are not a bad idea here).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Chasm is the last drop in gorge and is by far the easiest. Just tuck your paddle and hang on for the ride! Justin show us how it's done. I challenge anyone to drop into this one and not come out with a smile a mile wide. It's just too much fun!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1etZdtUP_GtXO8v-GRnrqRRomiAhFMTR_E0WH7MB21ja9QDmVJBRuY3reriozR6rNWXkSbuvd9_dveObn2iSaVqXUm-9knWC-7hFc1fM4ciTB0pN0Ua2Ujl_-Ng_07TdnvTVuA4MmnG8/s1600/bloodyjustin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1etZdtUP_GtXO8v-GRnrqRRomiAhFMTR_E0WH7MB21ja9QDmVJBRuY3reriozR6rNWXkSbuvd9_dveObn2iSaVqXUm-9knWC-7hFc1fM4ciTB0pN0Ua2Ujl_-Ng_07TdnvTVuA4MmnG8/s400/bloodyjustin.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A little flesh is a small price to pay for such a memorable experience. Justin is heading home today, so Nell and I will have to find someone else to boat with tomorrow. I'm crossing my fingers and hoping for rain. I need to get my 14th day in a row in tomorrow!! The addiction is like any other... it needs to be fed DAILY. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Paul Kuthehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04439243549454681449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026907711546527297.post-23153517898728816042011-11-01T15:47:00.000-07:002011-11-01T15:47:38.178-07:00Now for some proper Scottish Whitewater!!After an exhausting week at sea coaching, training, and passing my 5 star sea assessment under the British Canoe Union in Anglesey; I am ready for some light hearted fun in some shorter boats. I need to do some paddling just for ME!<br />
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3 years ago I came for the month of October to paddle all the rivers I could in Scotland. (check out the MANY blog posts from that trip <a href="http://paulkuthe.blogspot.com/2008/10/scotland.html" target="_blank">here</a>) Steve Macdonald and the<a href="http://www.beyondadventure.co.uk/" target="_blank"> Beyond Adventure</a> crew showed me the time of my life. When I was invited to coach at this years UK Storm Gathering this year I KNEW I had to take the opportunity to get back up north to visit my old friends in Aberfeldy.<br />
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I'm soo glad I did. This week has been amazing and it's only a few days old. So far I am at twelve straight days of paddling and have not had enough yet. I'm headed back out tomorrow, but I wanted to get a blog post out asap to share all the fun I've been having here in Scotland. <br />
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My first day here, we headed out to the River Tay for a quick morning run before blasting off to the Lyon. The Lyon is a GORGEOUS run with several fun technical rapids separated by brief calm pools. The fall colors are incredible in this the longest (and possibly the most beautiful) glen in Scotland. Around every corner awaits an even more spectacular view than the last. <br />
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Today we hit up a new river to me. The North Esk. The N. Esk is a famous salmon fishing river on the East coast of Scotland. It is fed by the Lee and the Mark rivers near Invermark. Just downstream from there, it is joined by the Tarf, another important spawning trib. The stream runs Southeast for about 35 miles before emptying into the North Sea. The river is known to produce about a thousand salmon and grilse each season<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #003366; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px;">. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">While we did not see any fisherman we DID manage to see several large salmon making their way up the river. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Justin even managed to capture one on "film" as he was shooting pics of us paddling the last rapid on our second lap. (yet another bit of proof that fish are not afraid of kayaks).</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Local river expert and guide Nell picked the perfect river for the day and I can't thank him enough for his expertise and willingness to get after it day after day. Thanks Nell!! See you again tomorrow... </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Enjoy the pics and check back soon for more from my Scottish River adventures...</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEsz9vW1IvnLgCJtirch1RgYB8x3fWJdPIbnqiOj0vM3Dd01XUTmmL69trntm6V6ZZpytEaU7YNg7WonQlNkY6gLcKGNNtEdwy-DahsdiwNJijMPWOWl-phL9RlmKS-tsMIwu_8v1y-fFN/s1600/justinstruan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEsz9vW1IvnLgCJtirch1RgYB8x3fWJdPIbnqiOj0vM3Dd01XUTmmL69trntm6V6ZZpytEaU7YNg7WonQlNkY6gLcKGNNtEdwy-DahsdiwNJijMPWOWl-phL9RlmKS-tsMIwu_8v1y-fFN/s400/justinstruan.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Justin and Struan have a look at the center wave at Grandtully my first day here</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifmNqJOmn4KinT7pwv1xCUxCMsX5LuxSYKX_vUrH11RPln_WHRfUB7MfJVqKcYw6xBFKzwGo1xDkKMH7y1SLqqnnkdOXs2ePaCCsn6tBg0kJd2g9IzOFsLmlPsTy6iI1-jCV4cf3vIUO-q/s1600/Justin+Surfs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifmNqJOmn4KinT7pwv1xCUxCMsX5LuxSYKX_vUrH11RPln_WHRfUB7MfJVqKcYw6xBFKzwGo1xDkKMH7y1SLqqnnkdOXs2ePaCCsn6tBg0kJd2g9IzOFsLmlPsTy6iI1-jCV4cf3vIUO-q/s400/Justin+Surfs.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Justin gives it a go</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFPbjMTJzJHOq9hvuaVElnxnx6zSNWXcmRLBVNljZSGKLRhYwDS6o__h3mrK8qCYPnKT9kZTsrVJbmoOpNUxmutJYKfc5eb0yJ_oo3ThA7b8uRVhBDRcDnyG_drRvSPG9S76Yxd0zgQ4x6/s1600/Struansurfs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFPbjMTJzJHOq9hvuaVElnxnx6zSNWXcmRLBVNljZSGKLRhYwDS6o__h3mrK8qCYPnKT9kZTsrVJbmoOpNUxmutJYKfc5eb0yJ_oo3ThA7b8uRVhBDRcDnyG_drRvSPG9S76Yxd0zgQ4x6/s400/Struansurfs.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Struan shows us both how it's REALLY done. (While his classmates sit in their first period classes)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">To his credit, Struan has worked hard enough throughout his high school career to afford himself a free period every Monday and Wednesday morning. He takes advantage by getting some "training" in as he is striving to join the Great Britain National Slalom Team as soon as he can qualify. It's amazing how far he and his brother Ben have come in the 3 years I've been away. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd0M0qtr68gV-Z33VqfBi0F7CeATap0aeufjU5rZwXoDt-Z0t3qsBtvNCpY5mcvabVAy1iH9JhbuGPNJANsNR2RGS7rUUorBbuHkg8h7NT7pF38ib7VWMdmqZigd3YCwDECKvLFRtmIkLb/s1600/Tomhorizonline.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd0M0qtr68gV-Z33VqfBi0F7CeATap0aeufjU5rZwXoDt-Z0t3qsBtvNCpY5mcvabVAy1iH9JhbuGPNJANsNR2RGS7rUUorBbuHkg8h7NT7pF38ib7VWMdmqZigd3YCwDECKvLFRtmIkLb/s400/Tomhorizonline.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tom Sibbald looks towards yet another blind horizon line on the Lyon</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFL6m-bLPhnSdYQ4_aUOYyRHavmAO9Yt5afJbkkpKmHEWyqfPWefO3NLmhzpjH0COtfVK3x9GnQf-wE1YE0a-LIvmlAOFSNmxP4PESmMEAADy2RZ82Fh7IcLfE2dRJl38GHrqZpDjGrW90/s1600/nelldropsin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFL6m-bLPhnSdYQ4_aUOYyRHavmAO9Yt5afJbkkpKmHEWyqfPWefO3NLmhzpjH0COtfVK3x9GnQf-wE1YE0a-LIvmlAOFSNmxP4PESmMEAADy2RZ82Fh7IcLfE2dRJl38GHrqZpDjGrW90/s400/nelldropsin.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Nell dropping into the double drop on the N. Esk as Justin sets support on river left</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx7K5CeMZ1UxjplIRu1j2yvVJ45zUa5KGJor_6fiX01cXR5ZdNUwJKkl193X-ayM5oy_E3Y-2r0jOv2S6blh4S1019NYI45z6JCP8i_8nUhyEo6zN7WDCx2GhJdq-eMaGOBtMBucenH4CC/s1600/justinboofs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx7K5CeMZ1UxjplIRu1j2yvVJ45zUa5KGJor_6fiX01cXR5ZdNUwJKkl193X-ayM5oy_E3Y-2r0jOv2S6blh4S1019NYI45z6JCP8i_8nUhyEo6zN7WDCx2GhJdq-eMaGOBtMBucenH4CC/s400/justinboofs.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Justin boofing the last ledge on the double drop</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijP5OTSC2X_6E7gzgLqIMb8SRbTsVA0Mik1jZJyCK70jrPBVxJFX1ugsoKXF9Q3MH-DOd_7UcMLhMbkojQ_K9jw8ajEX51PslVahX9ZH8GbVu9PEXhuOX9TAV5btJPBUcDPYx8yOzrAIND/s1600/meattop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijP5OTSC2X_6E7gzgLqIMb8SRbTsVA0Mik1jZJyCK70jrPBVxJFX1ugsoKXF9Q3MH-DOd_7UcMLhMbkojQ_K9jw8ajEX51PslVahX9ZH8GbVu9PEXhuOX9TAV5btJPBUcDPYx8yOzrAIND/s400/meattop.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I ran this one super clean sight unseen on the first lap of the day. My second go around was average at best.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was the last big one on the Esk just a few hundred meters above the take-out. It had a super clean tongue on river left that made for an easy no stroke finish. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvZhynUfaGLW2kQM0uAU4pWLILqJYOpaKBp7UUHoCyp97BYdnYPETUKmmodzdKg2a78rXaVu3ld-C1MVsvC5gRhS7PuXjW-9gotLKquD-Y768azWH8hBwf7icyAcJNRsavmoQwnP7usY2m/s1600/Justinisin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvZhynUfaGLW2kQM0uAU4pWLILqJYOpaKBp7UUHoCyp97BYdnYPETUKmmodzdKg2a78rXaVu3ld-C1MVsvC5gRhS7PuXjW-9gotLKquD-Y768azWH8hBwf7icyAcJNRsavmoQwnP7usY2m/s400/Justinisin.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Where's Justin? I think he is looking for that fish he took a picture of...That was a DEEP hole on the first tier of the double drop on the N. Esk. He managed to blast right through once he re-surfaced. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIrxB6kNFf2apx6PVsKzsx0D_h9seB5bwqiuK9Ph4F-bdp04VAlVuRmTawXwDa-ofTAPSZte9e4-_ULzBjowbWFc6vu4bbWKy2FtCvIGtfRpoiJRFG2g82p-xc_scUs94rdL_QIsDQnYtm/s1600/nellpocketeddy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIrxB6kNFf2apx6PVsKzsx0D_h9seB5bwqiuK9Ph4F-bdp04VAlVuRmTawXwDa-ofTAPSZte9e4-_ULzBjowbWFc6vu4bbWKy2FtCvIGtfRpoiJRFG2g82p-xc_scUs94rdL_QIsDQnYtm/s400/nellpocketeddy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was my favorite image of the day. I managed to capture Nell peeling out of a pocket eddy. I love it so much because it reveals the incredible fall colors here. The steep gorge walls are speckled with brightly colored fall leaves that matched his boat perfectly. This shot simultaneously shows the peacefulness and serenity of the river in autumn contrasted by the exciting action and intensity of our sport. What amazing places we get to experience as kayakers! I would not trade it for anything in the world. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #003366; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px;"> </span>Paul Kuthehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04439243549454681449noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026907711546527297.post-86055482357460623962011-10-31T17:23:00.000-07:002011-10-31T17:23:43.693-07:00This is ME in the Sea!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGB1UfyCHEXlqzA1K3sUfDnTtKfTXQstNc6fSFeari2cqZ7Hnu-rr0QdsCOxpaEx6m7Z-76_iFbC9mRYygQ9GBiwcEPSqYS3BDFdNqxMgQCp4vUAKtkt-7n9yaP6nv27T7FQ4d9ZvX1DER/s1600/Justine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGB1UfyCHEXlqzA1K3sUfDnTtKfTXQstNc6fSFeari2cqZ7Hnu-rr0QdsCOxpaEx6m7Z-76_iFbC9mRYygQ9GBiwcEPSqYS3BDFdNqxMgQCp4vUAKtkt-7n9yaP6nv27T7FQ4d9ZvX1DER/s320/Justine.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Justine Curgenven </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15px;">"<a href="http://www.cackletv.com/" target="_blank">Cackle TV</a> produces award winning seakayaking and adventure films which are available for purchase on DVD. The company was set up in 2001 by Justine Curgenven to combine her professional television background with her love of kayaking and the outdoors. Justine has successfully pioneered a new genre in seakayaking films – the inspirational ‘This is the Sea’ series features talented paddlers, some of the world’s most beautiful paddling destinations and cutting edge expeditions. The films are shot with a kayak mounted camera system which captures warts-and-all action in the most challenging rough water. Justine’s films have been shown on the National Geographic Channel & BBC Wales, and have won awards at prestigious film festivals such as Banff Mountain Film Festival and Kendal Mountain Film Festival. In 2010 she released her first open boating DVD “This is Canoeing” which has been called the best ever collection of open canoeing films. Her aim – through films and her website – is to inspire everyone to escape from everyday life, and get out on the water."</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So what's next? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div>Get ready folks...the 5th installment of the award winning film series, "This is the Sea" is in production now. I was lucky enough to be asked to do some filming with Justine just after the storm gathering. We had a great time working together and I can't wait to see what else she has come up with for This is the Sea 5!!!</div><div><br />
</div><div>Her and Barry Shaw were such gracious hosts and showed me such a great time during my visit. Justine and I went out for a couple of really fun paddling / film sessions around Anglesey. We went for a super stormy surf session at Cable Bay the first day, then squeezed in another day of filming before I headed North to Scotland for some whitewater boating this week. </div><div><br />
</div><div> I got a chance to hit up The Swellies Wave in the Menai Straits of N. Wales with her and Barry, then we cruised up the hill to do an interview. Be on the look out for her next flick. From what I can gather, it's going to be another classic. Some huge expeditions, a few laughs and a lot of sick boating. Check out a few images for the shoot below and be sure to visit her website <a href="http://www.cackletv.com/">http://www.cackletv.com</a> to see the rest of her work. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0EpjYavu-TN4ZQyoLUx0NhzKr6X3LiUE-hhBou86RQ44H1o7LBKuZsZW1InQysKUniWhXhrWCCFolAY5LdjrNsB_3FdVJMbcrALDi1rVjk0fWX9srGWHOxDh6wTqecwPduIVII67dsCcg/s1600/GOPR1070.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0EpjYavu-TN4ZQyoLUx0NhzKr6X3LiUE-hhBou86RQ44H1o7LBKuZsZW1InQysKUniWhXhrWCCFolAY5LdjrNsB_3FdVJMbcrALDi1rVjk0fWX9srGWHOxDh6wTqecwPduIVII67dsCcg/s400/GOPR1070.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paddler: Paul Kuthe Photos By: Justine Curgenven<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Photos By: Barry Shaw<br />
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</div><div class="c6" style="color: #dbe2e6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.cackletv.com/sea-kayaking/sea-kayaking-dvds/" style="color: #eee49b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-family: Monaco; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; line-height: 19px;"><strong></strong></span></span><strong></strong></a></div>Paul Kuthehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04439243549454681449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026907711546527297.post-15222568090520616002011-10-30T15:57:00.000-07:002011-10-30T16:10:11.474-07:00Coaching at the 6th UK Storm Gathering<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGA1iIGZ2l4-c9d3YLC1L6IhCFuDDYIcKIh348VVK8B5cYIseB5-kUzvKs4FWlxx-rAD7GNb4_a9y9DKmIjbkJjVorUzOoeiglGxe3c-D4t_Xt0amQiAN8tu_foV5fVKZECvPjvzj3EnER/s1600/storm+logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGA1iIGZ2l4-c9d3YLC1L6IhCFuDDYIcKIh348VVK8B5cYIseB5-kUzvKs4FWlxx-rAD7GNb4_a9y9DKmIjbkJjVorUzOoeiglGxe3c-D4t_Xt0amQiAN8tu_foV5fVKZECvPjvzj3EnER/s1600/storm+logo.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Being invited to coach at the UK Storm Gathering was quite an honor. Never before have I been surrounded by so many amazing coaches at once. Having never been there I wasn't sure how I would fit in. There were many unknowns for me leading up to the event. For instance...Would I even have anything to show these folks? What are the venues like? Will I be able to manage a group of students on my own in unfamiliar waters? What class am I even scheduled to run...? and with whom will I be coaching?? Where will we go???</div><br />
It all became clear as the event got underway early Saturday morning. Nick Cunnliffe and Matt Giblin did an amazing job of organizing coaches and students into groups based on the conditions of the day. It was actually really good for me as a coach to not need a plan the day before. Having the ability to set up and run a successful session with only about 20 minutes notice was key. <br />
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For more information about the event check out my post on the Kokatat Blog at <a href="http://www.kokatat.com/blog/2011/10/the-uk-storm-gathering-2011/">http://www.kokatat.com/blog/2011/10/the-uk-storm-gathering-2011/</a><br />
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</div>Check out some more photos from the event below:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A proper Welch breakfast at the center...when in Rome I guess... ;) </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matt Gibling sorting the classes in the morning</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's even more rainy in Wales than it is back home in Portland!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD1qr-RitFm1sG6Sj4H4L1nxTeGi0A-q2oCu6SnDxy6m-h_cmhLxwWN8jhhsoTF1ehIr9N7YecLFd77586cXXneaUZTMB_1bPAJbTRxjhuj5VhzqvUdZlVLMiY5JS4GhYuH_RCXKiealkG/s1600/axelclasslist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD1qr-RitFm1sG6Sj4H4L1nxTeGi0A-q2oCu6SnDxy6m-h_cmhLxwWN8jhhsoTF1ehIr9N7YecLFd77586cXXneaUZTMB_1bPAJbTRxjhuj5VhzqvUdZlVLMiY5JS4GhYuH_RCXKiealkG/s400/axelclasslist.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Axel Schoevers copying down his class list for his session the morning of. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAcTX3rUa32IV02buv7gOPPnAhV_CQUQpI0au3grxvfVQJGjp954kXsCIo4PIIvkmhJMBCwQhaT7o7la18257fVAvLZVvJC4f6ir_v0ZADwuI0eY-Z8jdoTiX0NiZd1aDQ3m9Ua2FZi-YU/s1600/barryrunnin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAcTX3rUa32IV02buv7gOPPnAhV_CQUQpI0au3grxvfVQJGjp954kXsCIo4PIIvkmhJMBCwQhaT7o7la18257fVAvLZVvJC4f6ir_v0ZADwuI0eY-Z8jdoTiX0NiZd1aDQ3m9Ua2FZi-YU/s400/barryrunnin.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Once the classes were announced it was GO time!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Watching a student get after at at Treaddur Bay. Go Jackie go!</div><div style="font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAqPSJ8glTpIdbRR1Z7Fpj4lIc-qfdmSDXMOeC1yBuUtnkE2HNyxRNkXswhb21uza9niPtD9_peEB-80iphQ-De3w54jmflAVcuLot4cU6TcWIRWvCqGGBZWCwKwRo0G1V6ZxAg4Wq5Uht/s1600/jackiefoam2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAqPSJ8glTpIdbRR1Z7Fpj4lIc-qfdmSDXMOeC1yBuUtnkE2HNyxRNkXswhb21uza9niPtD9_peEB-80iphQ-De3w54jmflAVcuLot4cU6TcWIRWvCqGGBZWCwKwRo0G1V6ZxAg4Wq5Uht/s320/jackiefoam2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibUR1-MaGAAYkF4INgWLTswTBvNu31hxQSQ_Si0cee8Q7Qs4yNSeOPXB2B43L9gli-ESMlnu4iuCMlXqw8ml3z9WzUqu7VQAB4gPpc82aOMweSx6xYrv9pGkP1dyXpSiA12CWmp-ScLO68/s1600/foamywater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibUR1-MaGAAYkF4INgWLTswTBvNu31hxQSQ_Si0cee8Q7Qs4yNSeOPXB2B43L9gli-ESMlnu4iuCMlXqw8ml3z9WzUqu7VQAB4gPpc82aOMweSx6xYrv9pGkP1dyXpSiA12CWmp-ScLO68/s400/foamywater.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">The heavy South winds were churning up the water into a thick foam<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD6OW33Qw0zA_LeURoc0gkaPKMENJ-MAT5zaEdmszQge9g8gkWfWBCEIuAu3VVw7trJ9VVEPvIO-DmjsUAbBfbBTLgsu-4lm-f1yyp_6yJOgtNFJHcfa7bxoAlfoIT3a0bY25BbsnCO5t2/s1600/onlystick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD6OW33Qw0zA_LeURoc0gkaPKMENJ-MAT5zaEdmszQge9g8gkWfWBCEIuAu3VVw7trJ9VVEPvIO-DmjsUAbBfbBTLgsu-4lm-f1yyp_6yJOgtNFJHcfa7bxoAlfoIT3a0bY25BbsnCO5t2/s400/onlystick.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
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</tbody></table>Getting our nav on.<br />
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I love it when students go big! Nice one Brian!!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A little fun with the coaches after a long day on the water. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I had a great time coaching at the Storm Gathering and can only hope that one; there will be another one next year and two; that I will be invited back. What an amazing event! Thanks to everyone involved, especially Mark Tozer for organizing this year's event and for including me! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisqY_YV7IoJmf8kfR0BQAMfsbj6zAMabHuzAwcHzZLXx8pU4ik3gU86Zec-4GZCxu5QvG7lpZvGVSpE4g0z-H09P7g2j3nSoHAZ2a8575aFmWvujU8jnHIa-yDD1GI8iuTKDcw-VEAWaeF/s1600/mark+tozer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisqY_YV7IoJmf8kfR0BQAMfsbj6zAMabHuzAwcHzZLXx8pU4ik3gU86Zec-4GZCxu5QvG7lpZvGVSpE4g0z-H09P7g2j3nSoHAZ2a8575aFmWvujU8jnHIa-yDD1GI8iuTKDcw-VEAWaeF/s400/mark+tozer.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Paul Kuthehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04439243549454681449noreply@blogger.com0Trearddur Bay, Holyhead, Gwynedd LL65, UK53.2822652 -4.620125400000006353.2566072 -4.6784904000000065 53.3079232 -4.561760400000006tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026907711546527297.post-19836836006605978452011-10-21T14:00:00.000-07:002011-10-21T14:01:58.988-07:00I made it to Anglesey!<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Times;">It was quite a journey, but I've made it all the way to Holyhead Wales in preparation for <a href="http://ukstormgathering.blogspot.com/">The Storm Gathering.</a> My flight left around noon on Wednesday from Portland. Things went surprisingly smooth even with my "wind surfer" with me. (No kayaks allowed on planes you know?) I wasn't sure they would take it, so I put on an extra big smile and cheery disposition. I wrapped my Pyranha Burn up tight in black felt and hoped for the best. They charged me the expected $150 and I was on my way. No questions asked. The first leg of my trip took me to Atlanta, Georgia then onto Dublin. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Times;">When I hit the ground in Dublin I cruised through immigration, picked up my two oversized bags and ventured out into the world to find a bus. No easy task when you have a backpack, a huge golf bag, and a kayak. As I began to board, the bus driver shot me a look of disbelief. I asked if he had any suggestions. He replied in his thick Irish accent, "I suggest you get that thing on the bus if you wish to take it with you." I wrestled it aboard and we were off to the City Center in no time. From there I listened for the driver to call out my stop, but managed to miss pushing the stop button in time. That's ok, it gave me a chance to stroll the streets of Dublin. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiolqC5M-aFaZ_mGGMS-qcwZwSUk-7EUbgl2J44bX5xLaBdyNXZll0g_C05L8dCG_bnP-w4Imcl9dPgbQyKKxhh0yvuOZfecM10IHpOOHReYP_Weuoct5qROnkVOFrTtC8umoV4Ssrkg2l/s1600/paulmadeit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiolqC5M-aFaZ_mGGMS-qcwZwSUk-7EUbgl2J44bX5xLaBdyNXZll0g_C05L8dCG_bnP-w4Imcl9dPgbQyKKxhh0yvuOZfecM10IHpOOHReYP_Weuoct5qROnkVOFrTtC8umoV4Ssrkg2l/s400/paulmadeit.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's WINDY here. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Times;">The looks the locals in Dublin gave me were precious memories in the making. Everyone was SO nice. Several total strangers stopped and offered to help me find my way. When I found the central bus station, I waddled inside to figured out where to pick up my next bus. That bus took me to the Ferry Port and the ferry would take me to Holyhead. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times;">Upon arrival I wasn't sure who would pick me up. With no phone number to call and no mobile (that's of course a cell phone for you fellow Yanks;) I was left with little options. I sat myself down and logged on to the free wifi in the terminal and e-mailed Mark Tozer, The Storm Gathering organizer. He shot back a quick e-mail and re-assured me that his friend Jim would be by to "fetch me". In no time he was there and we </span>made<span style="font-family: Times;"> our way to the Anglesey Sports Center where the gathering would happen. (By way of the pub of course).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"><br />
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The wind whistled around the Anglesey Sea Center all night as we slept. It’s only fitting that an intense storm is on the way for this event. For those that know how to read the surface pressure forecast above…you can see that we are set to have some wicked South and SW winds as that low comes across Ireland and the rest of the UK. By Sunday things should be properly HUGE. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Before everyone arrived to the gathering and before the winds build we went out for a short paddle. I showed up early to pick up my loaner <a href="http://www.tideraceseakayaks.com/">Tide Race Extreme</a> and some other pieces of gear from the local premier shop called <a href="http://www.summittosea.co.uk/">Summit to Sea</a>. I packed most of my own kit, but I was forced to borrow a PFD and skirt to complete my ensemble. Hopefully my sponsors will take pity on me and show me forgiveness for temporarily straying out of necessity. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"> Local expert and guide book author<a href="http://jimskisblog.blogspot.com/"> Jim Krawiecki</a> showed me around. We went to the North to hide from the wind. We put in at Bull Bay and paddled over to an old deserted brick works facility called Porth Wen Brickworks. <span style="color: #30353c; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here between 1850 and1914, silica ore was mined by hand from open cast pits. What’s left behind is beautiful dome shaped kilns and a towering smoke stack along with massive brick buildings that are slowing eroding into the sea. In it’s prime, this place would have been a buzz with activity with ships coming and going from the working port. It was really fun exploring the ruins. It’s a great place to duck out of the south wind as well. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">We had a good time poking around the rocks and seeing the sights. I think I’m going to like this place! I can hardly wait for The Storm Gathering to begin!!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo By Jim Krawiecki: For more images and great stories from Jim, visit:<br />
www.jimskiblog.blogspot.com<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">I'll be blogging in up along the way. Stay tuned for much more! Also visit <a href="http://www.kokatat.com/">www.kokatat.com</a> for my Storm Gathering post coming soon! </div></td></tr>
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</div>Paul Kuthehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04439243549454681449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026907711546527297.post-75351768909541853132011-10-03T13:15:00.000-07:002011-10-04T00:28:19.646-07:00The Storm Begins with Lumpy WatersIt's go time! I have two big time sea kayaking symposiums coming up that I have been anticipating for MONTHS! <br />
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<div align="center">AND...</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The 3rd Annual Lumpy Waters Symposium is fast approaching. The classes are locked in and coaches are on their way from all over. As one of the event coordinators, I am feeling the crunch big time. Orchestrating coastal and rough water classes for almost 90 beginner and intermediate paddlers at once is an organizational "challenge" to say the least. We are watching the forecast close and crossing our fingers for GOOD weather. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The 6th Annual Storm Gathering on the other hand is all about paddling in challenging conditions. It's specifically scheduled for a bit more...turbulent weather window. This year's event is to be held at the Isle of Anglesey, in Wales. The goals of this symposium are to bring together intermediate and advanced boaters with similar passions while providing solid programs with an emphasis on challenging conditions, commitment, and open crossings. It's my first year being invited to coach at the event. It's also my first international sea kayak symposium! I look forward to exploring this sea kayaking mecca and working with more British Canoe Union Coaches while I'm there. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Once the Storm Gathering is over I will be participating in the necessary training and completing the required courses to begin the 5 star assessment process. Then it's onto Scotland where I hope to explore more whitewater rivers and visit some friends I made on my previous trip there in 2008. After Scotland it's over to Ireland to meet up with Kate. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's going to be an exciting month coming up. Wish me luck.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><br />
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Paul Kuthehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04439243549454681449noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026907711546527297.post-50874150109491836862011-09-23T22:38:00.000-07:002011-09-23T22:38:28.540-07:00Getting Trashed on the River...AGAIN<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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This year's event was the biggest ever! Over 420 volunteers showed up to the Clackamas River near Portland, Oregon last Sunday Sept 11th for the 9th annual Down the River Clean Up. They rolled up their sleeves and dug in with enthusiasm! This is "restoration recreation" at it's best and people really stepped up to the task this year.<br />
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The Barton to Carver section had the most trash by far as it sees the highest level of use. People are venturing further and further upstream to avoid the alcohol regulations put in place on the lower sections in recent years due to crowds and violence. I took a short hike upstream from Barton and found the scene in the first photo. I have a feeling there is much more where that came from just up river. <a href="http://www.welovecleanrivers.org/">We Love Clean Rivers</a> is now considering expanding the effort to include stretches above Barton including Milo McIver State Park. While it's important move, it would add to the already complex labyrinth of logistics an event of this scale requires. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Staj Pace preparing the crowd of volunteers for their day<br />
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</tbody></table><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">No stranger to logistics, Staj Pace (pictured above) did an amazing job as event coordinator. Never having been to the event prior to running the show didn't seem to hold her back. Her detailed oriented and relentless work ethic served to turn out an unprecedented amount of sponsor support. Everything from the shuttle, the silent auction items, to the top notch food was all donated by generous businesses and clubs. Despite having the largest volunteer turn out ever the registration went as smooth as it ever has. We can only hope that she will return for next year.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTT-qzefntJ1-uDF0UL24eHNN9k_RXWwZfIj8Px4LDNKGHiEdaIZEnB8ke5O8pvbnYDViuvJld0doODPZAZbZI8C-WTIzvJXmvvef97rv_r3l1quZxvq6eLN1tQQIbSK-MytlW8k4AdLH-/s1600/foodcleanup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTT-qzefntJ1-uDF0UL24eHNN9k_RXWwZfIj8Px4LDNKGHiEdaIZEnB8ke5O8pvbnYDViuvJld0doODPZAZbZI8C-WTIzvJXmvvef97rv_r3l1quZxvq6eLN1tQQIbSK-MytlW8k4AdLH-/s400/foodcleanup.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As the river safety coordinator for the event I have to give a shout out to American Medical Response, Clackamas County Marine Sheriff Dept, Clack County Fire and Rescue, and the Oregon State Marine Board for their support during the event. Without their expert assistance we could not pull this off year after year. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The AMR team ready to deploy their rescue kayaks to sweep each section. <br />
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</tbody></table>After the big safety chat all 15 pods hit the river in hot pursuit of all manor of debris. The biggest, nastiest, heaviest, and weirdest pieces of refuse were all compiled for a contest back at HQ. Other pieces of trash were sorted and pulled aside for <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-RIPPLE-Effect/137585526977">The Ripple Effect</a>, a recycled art auction to benefit We Love Clean Rivers. This year's auction is October 6th. Visit the website and be sure to check it out. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kristin Dahl President of We Love Clean Rivers & event co-founder (on the left) hits the river for her 8th year!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A pod takes off from Baron Park</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Noting wrong with having a little fun in between bobbing for beer cans. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>Having fun while inspiring change is what it's all about. If we can create lasting memories for the kids and establish those close connections to the natural world perhaps we can protect this water way for years to come. While all the kids were "working" out on the river we were back at HQ getting everything ready for the party. <div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sierra Nevada donated the beer</td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When it was all said and done this was the second largest trash total of any year: 3.4 TONS of garbage and debris was removed from the river, 51% of which was actually recycled (In 2006 4.2 tons were removed). While the numbers are impressive, they are not going down as quickly as we would like. Public awareness campaigns like the Stash the Trash program are helping, but it's my hope that we can continue to spread the word of Leave No Trace to all river users. May we continue to take only photographs and leave only footprints.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">photos and story by Paul Kuthe</span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div> </div></div>Paul Kuthehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04439243549454681449noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026907711546527297.post-68211242950583587422011-08-13T21:44:00.000-07:002011-08-13T21:44:49.862-07:00A Dance to RememberI am always amazed at the people I've met through boating. Coaching paddle-sports gives you this amazing opportunity to meet people on a level that most never get the chance. Working for <a href="http://www.aldercreek.com/">Alder Creek Kayak & Canoe </a>has led to ad campaigns, media and film jobs, and other high profile projects that I would have never even known about otherwise. <br />
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Yesterday I experienced canoe dancing in person for the first time. So beautiful...so passionate, so hilarious! Well, hilarious especially when <a href="http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/bios/">Saturday Night Live's Fred Armisen </a> is doing the dancing. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEeeQg6PdgCKQf7cqE873_vqKgQKfJcDaIuwWlH52t3ilItNlCzmu0ZBZg7KgRM1XvA0g0D_sWI2Ow1Mrh3yfHhZclxI28RdjOSmGVRb8LQdlmiY5RfgrOtnuJzPtLNxD9c5FSGBBmSWrs/s1600/snl+22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEeeQg6PdgCKQf7cqE873_vqKgQKfJcDaIuwWlH52t3ilItNlCzmu0ZBZg7KgRM1XvA0g0D_sWI2Ow1Mrh3yfHhZclxI28RdjOSmGVRb8LQdlmiY5RfgrOtnuJzPtLNxD9c5FSGBBmSWrs/s320/snl+22.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">He and co-creator <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #393939; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px;">Jonathan Krisel</span> are in town shooting season two of <a href="http://www.ifc.com/portlandia/">Portlandia</a>. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A 6-part IFC Original short-based comedy series based on and filmed in Portland, Oregon. Alder Creek got the call from the production company and I was brought in to teach Fred how to canoe well enough to pull off some seriously sweet canoe dance moves in the 5 minutes we had before the first take. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I was amazed at how quickly he took to it, and what a great sport he was about it all. I enjoyed having some time to chat with him on set. He seemed genuine and was kind and courteous to everyone around him. He was one of the easiest students to work with by far. Once our quick lesson was over, I was asked to fill in as an extra in the scene. Not a bad days work... </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV1w0XNRiknoNi0QadnPuZqcaxCyuyRYePsR9qYNJ4ebLAEXcYjA_Tl5n-7nWcxkKpQgekjr2580xsYefrq94MgUE0xjGlrrh6qS3n3-qpwoYfxn-GEnVeHXHLXWXujUm5ecRd3_pc8qAT/s1600/me%2526fred.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV1w0XNRiknoNi0QadnPuZqcaxCyuyRYePsR9qYNJ4ebLAEXcYjA_Tl5n-7nWcxkKpQgekjr2580xsYefrq94MgUE0xjGlrrh6qS3n3-qpwoYfxn-GEnVeHXHLXWXujUm5ecRd3_pc8qAT/s320/me%2526fred.jpg" width="191" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I handed my phone off for a quick student / coach photo with Fred in character between takes. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Move over </span></span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ofq_nl366VM"> Marc Ornstein</a> there's a new game in town. The interesting take away from this for me was that you could be on You Tube one day and end up being spoofed by some of the best sketch comics in the biz four years later?! Sometimes real life presents the most humorous of all situations I suppose. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Behind the scenes on the Portlandia Set</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdUXAwmT5dCNIa8hjEQP9QTgCEQq4IgnvflqUvLfQAt0f5i2o0DKzctzXjMCiL1HCbhSRkfUiLS4GFC1kIiKpNEEy-06oUt7OPubfiL76SbOHyRJk4MrtJKwlFAJUzr4B6HI9vqql8sJvw/s1600/set+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdUXAwmT5dCNIa8hjEQP9QTgCEQq4IgnvflqUvLfQAt0f5i2o0DKzctzXjMCiL1HCbhSRkfUiLS4GFC1kIiKpNEEy-06oUt7OPubfiL76SbOHyRJk4MrtJKwlFAJUzr4B6HI9vqql8sJvw/s400/set+3.jpg" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fred styling Blue Lake, Oregon as the crowd looks on. </td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for Season 2 of Portlandia. It was a great opportunity, and I look forward to seeing it all come together. If your curious about Portland or your just looking for a good laugh, it's worth a look. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Paul Kuthehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04439243549454681449noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026907711546527297.post-59792335953726739012011-06-22T06:02:00.000-07:002011-06-22T06:02:17.670-07:00I'm headed to the Upcoming UK Storm GatheringLooking forward to heading East again this fall. I have been invited to attend the 2011 Storm Gathering. I've always wanted to go. I will be working the event for my first time this year!! Can't wait...<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c4524; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 24px;"><a href="http://www.greenlandorbust.org/2009/6th-uk-storm-gathering-sg6-bcu-week-2011-anglesey-outdoors-north-wales/" rel="bookmark" style="color: #5c522e; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;" title="Permanent Link to 6th UK Storm Gathering (SG6) & BCU Week 2011, Anglesey Outdoors, North Wales">6th UK Storm Gathering (SG6) </a></span><br />
<h2 class="PostHeaderIcon-wrapper" style="color: #4c4524; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.2em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.2em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; word-spacing: normal;"><span class="PostHeader"><a href="http://www.greenlandorbust.org/2009/6th-uk-storm-gathering-sg6-bcu-week-2011-anglesey-outdoors-north-wales/" rel="bookmark" style="color: #5c522e; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;" title="Permanent Link to 6th UK Storm Gathering (SG6) & BCU Week 2011, Anglesey Outdoors, North Wales"> BCU Week 2011, Anglesey Outdoors, North Wales</a></span></h2><div class="PostContent" style="color: #645a30; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><a href="http://ukstormgathering.blogspot.com/">http://ukstormgathering.blogspot.com/</a></span><br />
October 22 to 24<br />
Location: Anglesey Outdoors, North Wales</div>Workshops / Clinics (Examples): Rolling Workshops – Seamanship & Navigation – Incident Management – Rolling and Rescues – Moving Water – Tidal Races and Over Falls – Crash and Bash (Kayak Repair) – Forward Paddling Clinics – Lectures – Slide Shows – Day trips – Demo Boats<br />
Courses: 3*, 4* (T & A), 5* (T & A), FSRT, VHF</div><br />
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</div></div>Paul Kuthehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04439243549454681449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026907711546527297.post-25392635104163230912011-04-14T15:37:00.000-07:002011-04-14T15:37:30.023-07:00Tiderace Xtreme Review<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDu2UkmzNjIcnPxvSu1pMI4xKLL4yfmvc_mv_zlfh5LNrPu4jX2I-U2yryp7bAa6MCdeSahtYsYNtfaGeHQ_HGw7Fh950hUToCm3fbXdnfWzNjP08-JOCBSl0x1G9bEornZMVh_Z0jb3Ja/s1600/boatbeachlook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDu2UkmzNjIcnPxvSu1pMI4xKLL4yfmvc_mv_zlfh5LNrPu4jX2I-U2yryp7bAa6MCdeSahtYsYNtfaGeHQ_HGw7Fh950hUToCm3fbXdnfWzNjP08-JOCBSl0x1G9bEornZMVh_Z0jb3Ja/s320/boatbeachlook.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u>Now...where did I put that champagne?</u></td></tr>
</tbody></table><u>Paddler</u>: <br />
Paul Kuthe<br />
5'10" 165 lbs size 10 shoe<br />
Team Tide Race Paddler<br />
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<u>Photographers</u>: Dave White and Bob Burnett<br />
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<u>Test locations:</u><br />
-Rosario Strait (Washington)<br />
-Ocean Side, Oregon<br />
-Cascade Head, Oregon<br />
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When<a href="http://www.tideraceseakayaks.com/"> Tiderace Sea Kayaks</a> first hit the scene a few years back with two hull shapes, the <a href="http://www.tideraceseakayaks.com/index.php/kayak-models/xcite">X-Cite</a> and the <a href="http://www.tideraceseakayaks.com/index.php/kayak-models/xplore">X-plore</a>, the choices were simple. The X-cite was the playful one an the X-plore was the expedition boat. <br />
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Both boats featured beautiful lines with clean smooth transitions and quick acceleration, but the X-cite really turned heads with it's flat semi-planing hull and well rockered maneuverable shape. It made you want to surf just looking at it! <br />
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Leave it to Aled Williams, lead designer of Tide Race Sea Kayaks, to make the most radically designed cutting edge hull of the time seem like an 'all around' boat. With the addition of the new "Xtreme" it becomes obvious that he was simply compromising to start. Careful to hit the right mark with his first offering from his new company. Now it's time to let loose!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrEL_UKI7L4J6F6QrUwMEFjpPeu_pXC6Fc9el8L8vW6obcqTmn4PWfDn3M17rfgSV8YkDFh0osF11mnIbWSfv_Q_ay0xPpqO-HHA3nT6wwuhTQnc8WrCBcsRFYkLeqXirYXF-6QqODK_4Q/s1600/pauldrivingline.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrEL_UKI7L4J6F6QrUwMEFjpPeu_pXC6Fc9el8L8vW6obcqTmn4PWfDn3M17rfgSV8YkDFh0osF11mnIbWSfv_Q_ay0xPpqO-HHA3nT6wwuhTQnc8WrCBcsRFYkLeqXirYXF-6QqODK_4Q/s400/pauldrivingline.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by: Dave White Paddler: Paul Kuthe Location: Ocean Side, Oregon</td></tr>
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Let loose he did! The boat felt smooth and greasy on the wave, willing to be coaxed and nudged in whatever direction you desired. I have never felt a sea kayak that could so readily be spun 360 degrees on the foam pile. The highly rockered stern is loose and dynamic allowing the boat to carve the face of both small and large waves with subtle shifts in weight and edge. This may be the first true planning hull sea kayak. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhKIWYNOwz8fS6lTUaSMihFVilSAoI7lndRukIDa6bPYnJTRFyiPLkOGGwEZWmakp4jOVvJO16gf71SipPVDiSyxVJFIn2TvzKGb6yPR7kVmi_tCdz0Dr9mBc6bC2aWwe8jumCCOEcmkVn/s1600/flatbottomxtreme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhKIWYNOwz8fS6lTUaSMihFVilSAoI7lndRukIDa6bPYnJTRFyiPLkOGGwEZWmakp4jOVvJO16gf71SipPVDiSyxVJFIn2TvzKGb6yPR7kVmi_tCdz0Dr9mBc6bC2aWwe8jumCCOEcmkVn/s400/flatbottomxtreme.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by: Bob Burnett Location: Cascade Head</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSbik6vvANR-AgsRb_bJwQaFFXvHSfMjpO1GfYsjtA1U-W_NEBk-2wCo6QIYcpDFctmS956WJDHk3YJUg6brZFB4P4277UeW-bJO-NcTQyYqfTqptTrCSOUEoFDzTnmf9jcX2Dt7nGTcir/s1600/paul%253Adavepdleout.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSbik6vvANR-AgsRb_bJwQaFFXvHSfMjpO1GfYsjtA1U-W_NEBk-2wCo6QIYcpDFctmS956WJDHk3YJUg6brZFB4P4277UeW-bJO-NcTQyYqfTqptTrCSOUEoFDzTnmf9jcX2Dt7nGTcir/s400/paul%253Adavepdleout.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo By: Bob Burnett Paddlers: Paul Kuthe left, Dave White right</td></tr>
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<div><div style="text-align: left;">The ends of the boat are high volume making for a dry ride and the ability to break out over towering foam piles with ease. After repeated attempts to drive the bow under water while dropping in to some steep offshore break, I decided that this boat is difficult to front ender at best, but the low deck around the paddler makes for increased control when the boat is up on it's stern. Back surfing and back enders were a breeze due to the rocker profile and volume distribution. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMgPkUKhajrZ-Jlzcspv_Z91Ig1fJRg3iUFkk8Nv55jBC3qXpqdhi8paRuNNUU8XZegV3dYsmwUhQlDifaSqtfQ_txQE5bk2TL1JwKdD_RGWln8AeR4bOAJyesmw4DYC7q7qDNrsD10HGl/s1600/heavywater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMgPkUKhajrZ-Jlzcspv_Z91Ig1fJRg3iUFkk8Nv55jBC3qXpqdhi8paRuNNUU8XZegV3dYsmwUhQlDifaSqtfQ_txQE5bk2TL1JwKdD_RGWln8AeR4bOAJyesmw4DYC7q7qDNrsD10HGl/s400/heavywater.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo By: Bob Burnett Paddler: Paul Kuthe Location: Cascade Head, Oregon</td></tr>
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I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to start the test by taking the boat out cruising in the San Juan Islands in Washington State on a short multi-day staff trip with the gang from <a href="http://www.aldercreek.com/">Alder Creek Kayak and Canoe</a> (a regional Tide Race Dealer here in Portland Oregon).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh2jBRLQ9p4-4PUPjn1YDDoj4NxZrgZ8pANcLaGZf5VBou8w0IVuoq1kn3AAqhwkRn81uI6um-rUsbMQyYfYqd0RQDtnritjT00ajWruW-Nuck251w-jIjCg6lChPz4m51IT_GnrJ6e6Ro/s1600/paulpurplerock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh2jBRLQ9p4-4PUPjn1YDDoj4NxZrgZ8pANcLaGZf5VBou8w0IVuoq1kn3AAqhwkRn81uI6um-rUsbMQyYfYqd0RQDtnritjT00ajWruW-Nuck251w-jIjCg6lChPz4m51IT_GnrJ6e6Ro/s400/paulpurplerock.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo By: Dave White</td></tr>
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I loader er' down and made the 3 mile crossing through the wind while towing a short plastic touring kayak and she did pretty well. I had to drop the skeg for a half hour or so in the middle of the channel, but I was surprised at it's speed across the choppy strait. That being said, to give you an indication of this boat's intended use, the deck is void of something we have all grown accustom to seeing on performance sea kayaks... As my eyes scanned the flat table top like bow for the first time, I noticed that it had no compass mount moulded in! I already knew I was going to like this boat. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO0PWL6DSgGPlmPRsSDHol8oM_dmI-O0OV4isdJ-SaOlFQz74yjIvawPot3ZDTxAUeBgRIiflwGcnmw0kT3KtSSYvVp1Kem1clwOZMVD1tFXkUla7aPAONwpBx-BSRWI_pJDBBt6nBS9Tm/s1600/paulbackout.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO0PWL6DSgGPlmPRsSDHol8oM_dmI-O0OV4isdJ-SaOlFQz74yjIvawPot3ZDTxAUeBgRIiflwGcnmw0kT3KtSSYvVp1Kem1clwOZMVD1tFXkUla7aPAONwpBx-BSRWI_pJDBBt6nBS9Tm/s400/paulbackout.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo By: Dave White Paddler: Paul Kuthe Location: 3 Arch Rocks , Oregon</td></tr>
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">At near 17 feet, the Xtreme carries plenty of speed even under a load, but where she really shines is on the wave. If you want a boat that can take a beating, hold the big line, and come back for more then look no further. The lay-up is stiff and feels rock solid on the water. Tide Race is taking it to the next level with this one, and I don't think they are going to look back. You have got to take it for a spin! </div><br />
Read more about the new X-treme at the <a href="http://www.tideraceseakayaks.co.uk/">Tide Race Website </a> and test paddle many of the Tide Race boats at <a href="http://www.aldercreek.com/">Alder Creek Kayak & Canoe</a>.</div>Paul Kuthehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04439243549454681449noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026907711546527297.post-11687959804298037062011-04-14T13:33:00.000-07:002011-04-14T13:33:35.605-07:00On "The Fringe"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What does it mean when National Geographic considers you and your friends to be on the "fringe"? I'm not so sure it's a good sign. One thing is for sure, working with Bryan Smith and Fitz Cahall continues to provide opportunity after opportunity. This latest project was a really fun culmination of many of our best tidal race trips over the past few years. It's set in classic National Geographic death defying style and directed at a mainstream and perhaps even youthful audience. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Dave White, Nick Jacob, Richard Davis, and I along with Bryan Smith and crew have been seeking out many of the biggest tidal races in North America to both challenge ourselves and to capture what it means to <i>us</i> to be a sea kayaker on camera. In the end, we may have just helped bring sea kayaking into a new era. When most people think of "sea" kayaking, they envision floppy hats and flat water or perhaps agonizing extended trips that cover hundreds or even thousands of miles across open seas or around huge islands in record breaking fashion. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tide race paddling can take you deep into the wilderness, but more often then not, it has you waiting for that perfect moment, that perfect wave to take shape. It's a form of the sport that is accessible on a day to day basis. Locations like "<a href="http://paulkuthe.blogspot.com/2009/01/golden-gate-sea-kayak-symposium.html">Yellow Bluff</a>" in San Francisco, California and "<a href="http://reelwaterproductions.com/eastern-horizons/?p=11">Reversing Falls</a>" in St. John, Nova Scotia are actually located within major metropolitan areas, but for some of the best rides you will need to travel a bit further from the beaten path. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's not about how many miles you can crank out, or how far from land you can exist. Tidal race surfing is a rhythmic dance with the sea as it breathes slow deep breaths of life through the channels and basins of it's outstretched extremities. It's experiencing a place on a deeper level and exploring it's complex nooks and secret recesses, many of which can be peaceful sanctuaries of bliss or horrifyingly powerful and deeply humbling torture chambers depending on the position of the the sun, the moon, and the rest of the universe beyond. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Check out the episode and be on the lookout for sea kayaking to grow in some... interesting directions. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxRMQrcMDYeEeDMkwUalsJyFPkaG3FqeZIBJy7oS-VpNQTjQJAvlHsl55eZdAvUXbqc0WJ8jMG6UUV4rvqjAg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Paul Kuthehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04439243549454681449noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026907711546527297.post-17619586784066557082011-02-28T22:20:00.000-08:002011-02-28T22:21:22.245-08:00The Golden Gate Sea Kayak Symposium 2011<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rJc4_EE6uv5ZMhYeMj7BmxqfCm_BFCfJ92qKLJrMWAuTIhf9SW4oVpa8p25YLff6tmYYGqNDQDNgHwW8PwQZcAFG7Upg9DhHS55s88Xg0G7kXIJqBPIHMOoLh3BzSZ2Ri6Ab94zXJKX4/s1600/Goldengate%2540night.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rJc4_EE6uv5ZMhYeMj7BmxqfCm_BFCfJ92qKLJrMWAuTIhf9SW4oVpa8p25YLff6tmYYGqNDQDNgHwW8PwQZcAFG7Upg9DhHS55s88Xg0G7kXIJqBPIHMOoLh3BzSZ2Ri6Ab94zXJKX4/s400/Goldengate%2540night.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
As the rain and snow approached, world class sea kayaking coaches began to gather in San Francisco for one of the best symposium's anywhere. Their students made their way there, despite un-characteristicly snowy and cold weather in California. They came from near and far. Places like Russia, the UK and all across the U.S. They didn't come eager to ride the street cars or taste the sour dough. They came to learn. They came for top notch coaching. They came to BOAT! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It rained for the first 2 days; a cold miserable rain. Those that held out til Sunday were rewarded. </td></tr>
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By day, students enjoyed a wide variety of classes, trainings, and assessments from many of the best in the world, often with astounding 2:1 ratios! The fun kept rollin as they enjoyed movies, Greenland rope demonstrations, slide shows and live music back at the Hostel by night. If you didn't make it this year, get signed up now. It's worth every penny. <br />
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Classes ran all three days. Everyone finds what they need, from the fresh newbie cutting their teeth to the saltiest veterans out to fine tune their technique for the season. There is everything from rolling, and stroke refinement classes to advanced rock gardening and rescue classes. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It rained enough the first two nights to FILL the boats on the roof. </td></tr>
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</div>Matt Palmariello and Sean Morley did an amazing job keeping things organized this year. They invited some of the best including Ben Lawry, Nigel Dennis, Tom Bergh, Shawna Franklin and Leon Somme just to name a few. A special treat this year included the return of the Tsunami Rangers! Eric Soares, Reg Lake, Deb Volturno, and John Lull were all there. Check out the <a href="http://www.ggsks.com/">symposium website</a> to see the full list of classes and coaches.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9pb76dcTO9AX-JxvI4jKLSumjTGn8xiEaufY27nCbj6HuP27oUjPFb1sAJldi_IuIBcysJpiJu9FM8WhHR96PuHMOW1z-nQ2gkgbOuto3tS1G3sxzpFjvYX9trPwl1RxYYCunxmGTlTHp/s1600/IMG_4775.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9pb76dcTO9AX-JxvI4jKLSumjTGn8xiEaufY27nCbj6HuP27oUjPFb1sAJldi_IuIBcysJpiJu9FM8WhHR96PuHMOW1z-nQ2gkgbOuto3tS1G3sxzpFjvYX9trPwl1RxYYCunxmGTlTHp/s400/IMG_4775.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Event Master Minds: Matt Palmariello (Left) and Sean Morley</td></tr>
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</div>The success of these type of events is a good sign for sea kayaking in the West. It seems skill levels are rising and people are hungry for more. I'd sign up soon for next year's <a href="http://www.ggsks.com/">Golden Gate Symposium</a> if I were you. It's not to be missed! Word is spreading fast, and instruction based grass roots events like this deserve your support. <br />
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Check out all shots of the symposium below. Then be on the look out for the post symposium action. Hey, coaches gotta play too ;) <i><u>That</u> </i>post will be on Outdoor Research's <a href="http://www.outdoorresearchverticulture.com/">Verticulture Site</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSacBG7bbp8R5mPsWJIEclVpItwPwTReV6-DQGhDOPJJLvFCCnd3luZTODDabzukUHLfHKhOhq3-rsNRKlyZcGq_KIXy6zfi5ccA6zOeZyQJpm4gvsFI-jDQdq1yclxhZSy7km6_TIs7xu/s1600/IMG_4770.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSacBG7bbp8R5mPsWJIEclVpItwPwTReV6-DQGhDOPJJLvFCCnd3luZTODDabzukUHLfHKhOhq3-rsNRKlyZcGq_KIXy6zfi5ccA6zOeZyQJpm4gvsFI-jDQdq1yclxhZSy7km6_TIs7xu/s400/IMG_4770.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&sqi=2&ved=0CBQQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.presidioyachtclub.org%2F&ei=135sTdvnH4WitgPR9eCdAw&usg=AFQjCNEDkQeePt-lIqvRopV9xMIY9Ex5iA&sig2=iXDnJYdLcnGfGJuYEE2cnw">Presidio Yacht Club</a> was nice enough to pretty much let us take over for the weekend. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxo9Je2xN69W3EKViIC6zF0ZqdSeCDzYOY_i7Tsc20SRD6o5fIoa-vQcww9x5uJjjU1aSchkzzgixYvYkOe5bV19PqcULflbC3mhJKQBsaxi8dtH4PL9Pc-Q0b8EyPDBncItri2Z2yDfjm/s1600/IMG_4774.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxo9Je2xN69W3EKViIC6zF0ZqdSeCDzYOY_i7Tsc20SRD6o5fIoa-vQcww9x5uJjjU1aSchkzzgixYvYkOe5bV19PqcULflbC3mhJKQBsaxi8dtH4PL9Pc-Q0b8EyPDBncItri2Z2yDfjm/s400/IMG_4774.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All the cool California kids wear yellow Kokatat drysuits...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBL1vjEujZmcrHSbln_RBhGxVDNNGVBWIkNvqsmm69GFcZ3SW9sQLWcJwGruA-GWh3u4dMYVcJEIxMrm1yDR1r9SOD2J_gwVU2fBcceMKTpgHrH_ZPim3kRi6-gu3mVWMa-1YYTVX6zJcv/s1600/IMG_4881.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBL1vjEujZmcrHSbln_RBhGxVDNNGVBWIkNvqsmm69GFcZ3SW9sQLWcJwGruA-GWh3u4dMYVcJEIxMrm1yDR1r9SOD2J_gwVU2fBcceMKTpgHrH_ZPim3kRi6-gu3mVWMa-1YYTVX6zJcv/s400/IMG_4881.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...some are just more faded than others. <br />
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</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVBum-B_MTOdIArvhyphenhyphenoD88F5ROeX157uVHiHofShrgDKpkPY2r6yCLa7m-fc1-VAlVF0Xg8F2_EWXjbwszHGJH7PYePVlsKb5jQUbPSAJjbaVGz6z6_MpToy02r2xbfqx70AVo0gFumBIw/s1600/IMG_4744.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVBum-B_MTOdIArvhyphenhyphenoD88F5ROeX157uVHiHofShrgDKpkPY2r6yCLa7m-fc1-VAlVF0Xg8F2_EWXjbwszHGJH7PYePVlsKb5jQUbPSAJjbaVGz6z6_MpToy02r2xbfqx70AVo0gFumBIw/s400/IMG_4744.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">An All-Star cast was on hand this year. One of the best things about working events like this is the chance for cross-pollination of ideas. I learned so much working with new friends this year. If there were any more of us we would need a bigger dock. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmM713AlMd5upoR6FOoNeNSRK2y8vuIKah9ZGlQruv_UbCtU99IJjVI3aGDuNu0RFVjf5hbMwSVJ1z0e7n_dBc51Hp36Jtt0g70VKzmxULBlbObynBTdRwhRt6RendR_jEBLrFu8vsDEA3/s1600/IMG_4704.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmM713AlMd5upoR6FOoNeNSRK2y8vuIKah9ZGlQruv_UbCtU99IJjVI3aGDuNu0RFVjf5hbMwSVJ1z0e7n_dBc51Hp36Jtt0g70VKzmxULBlbObynBTdRwhRt6RendR_jEBLrFu8vsDEA3/s400/IMG_4704.jpg" width="264" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Once the morning meeting is over we go to work. The students at this year's event were amazing. I met so many enthusiastic and inspiring folks. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjplxM5akW8Sf1-sL8qjNpkYf_FpvUssJ0J0EH7dKp74uZIaFj3NTqQrCYHYGhwgnN6npoIKr9RGFNSVGEya5XyPqwbu4Ao31zizS2QKZtUZajTrnjaUOII8bQF1Rz3TyvvKvPAXvfbMjZ/s1600/IMG_4716.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjplxM5akW8Sf1-sL8qjNpkYf_FpvUssJ0J0EH7dKp74uZIaFj3NTqQrCYHYGhwgnN6npoIKr9RGFNSVGEya5XyPqwbu4Ao31zizS2QKZtUZajTrnjaUOII8bQF1Rz3TyvvKvPAXvfbMjZ/s400/IMG_4716.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Well...They <i>seemed </i>nice anyway. :) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPXIfVBAH6iNvYJukAN8bHs-2gsKJYILABebWk7je5alzD2tTM5i_WD7eOj3giVKMd1a-zJqDRytv13w6ifhxrzm7Tl7_9a-xZiZYwtiEfs7S7uwMbYiXNvg3NNHJ05MtVXAo-Ymv7jPrw/s1600/IMG_4719.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPXIfVBAH6iNvYJukAN8bHs-2gsKJYILABebWk7je5alzD2tTM5i_WD7eOj3giVKMd1a-zJqDRytv13w6ifhxrzm7Tl7_9a-xZiZYwtiEfs7S7uwMbYiXNvg3NNHJ05MtVXAo-Ymv7jPrw/s400/IMG_4719.jpg" width="366" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When being attacked by angry students, roll repeatedly. Whatever you do...DO NOT SWIM...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH7xjCZjn3GwIvk3UWSMYZOpc7JXL206Utsk0awRact4cqTj3GE-Fks-jw9ZVbUQxaFvvGPVNWbuC5YBuxuaKMjmQJpktDacJRno4X3rNlTZPaYQOSUeetKO8-vDDmz9xCzdQjsYW8jvUy/s1600/IMG_4708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH7xjCZjn3GwIvk3UWSMYZOpc7JXL206Utsk0awRact4cqTj3GE-Fks-jw9ZVbUQxaFvvGPVNWbuC5YBuxuaKMjmQJpktDacJRno4X3rNlTZPaYQOSUeetKO8-vDDmz9xCzdQjsYW8jvUy/s400/IMG_4708.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Better yet, just make sure they are well fed. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO6hcExF17xlUbWvz8RXAfklzHRWSaNFblIuWlIrhbUHX9VRnyE9aEDOoOU2HD63XWS5wsg7H7j8ZwOOsPyGfNg6QrHDc3MMZScSTX1-T_1ki5v1HuDAr5sjZZTFBMj5Z3TGEhVDoJfn8E/s1600/IMG_4737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO6hcExF17xlUbWvz8RXAfklzHRWSaNFblIuWlIrhbUHX9VRnyE9aEDOoOU2HD63XWS5wsg7H7j8ZwOOsPyGfNg6QrHDc3MMZScSTX1-T_1ki5v1HuDAr5sjZZTFBMj5Z3TGEhVDoJfn8E/s400/IMG_4737.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...Swag like free hats don't hurt either.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsFFkAGBxGIZTsGI8oaFGFbDnTg_PBf7EzYpzhqlm0RKVoNkpVBknOrA-15Wq2OCIlswRAGbDKE3D1WUBgUJXUMYZNAybeRYLAsmASOm6UH5F34JMVmj6clAzTnhCdBuY2p_FZiS-12uhe/s1600/IMG_4800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsFFkAGBxGIZTsGI8oaFGFbDnTg_PBf7EzYpzhqlm0RKVoNkpVBknOrA-15Wq2OCIlswRAGbDKE3D1WUBgUJXUMYZNAybeRYLAsmASOm6UH5F34JMVmj6clAzTnhCdBuY2p_FZiS-12uhe/s400/IMG_4800.jpg" width="342" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My secret ingredient for keeping them at bay is a little adrenaline ;) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNTJUeObP1YdJVatd0EMEs0ItGGNPaEXoPL6J5aLCoR1gnn2zY10Dg7hZGDcKOL1QEzg9WtMCP9GlbY-crfmxkDFigrKpeHJbfl9IFT1HzmOUbUodnODIIDm3kVh8MUU8f1xr3-zRfVIE9/s1600/IMG_4846.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNTJUeObP1YdJVatd0EMEs0ItGGNPaEXoPL6J5aLCoR1gnn2zY10Dg7hZGDcKOL1QEzg9WtMCP9GlbY-crfmxkDFigrKpeHJbfl9IFT1HzmOUbUodnODIIDm3kVh8MUU8f1xr3-zRfVIE9/s400/IMG_4846.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of the things I love about sea kayaking is the ability to sit in a perfectly safe spot with front row seats close enough to see your buddies eyes become the size of saucers when it's his turn. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgISxkvVB-gmVlDQuIeo3EsD3I5Uwq4NqhLarl0dFvVT78RJVwtdnJSu0Vo5dfiwrnxsv9sGiCTr3OAmTAmrwPg2hePvTpdncu_Gts2Cn1lfelbYMXOXM6zWDOulpLNvfUW4ynpPUvxtoEu/s1600/IMG_4826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgISxkvVB-gmVlDQuIeo3EsD3I5Uwq4NqhLarl0dFvVT78RJVwtdnJSu0Vo5dfiwrnxsv9sGiCTr3OAmTAmrwPg2hePvTpdncu_Gts2Cn1lfelbYMXOXM6zWDOulpLNvfUW4ynpPUvxtoEu/s400/IMG_4826.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Having been over that bridge long before I was a sea kayaker, I remember wondering what was out there around that corner. Paddling a kayak through the gate and looking up at the Golden Gate Bridge and out into the sea is a special experience that is well worth the effort... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKx2pgM7lGhcoHioJUReTI36zaiBiK0SZDRy9Roziaty4prlxANyeEFRs1Wu78cIB6b4zAbFgQbPnZQPnPJ6ZTtalN580aNTpSlvg9Xs9_N_6kHdCn_cHAHUJZ21uiwDomMSPWApAG-0l2/s1600/IMG_4786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKx2pgM7lGhcoHioJUReTI36zaiBiK0SZDRy9Roziaty4prlxANyeEFRs1Wu78cIB6b4zAbFgQbPnZQPnPJ6ZTtalN580aNTpSlvg9Xs9_N_6kHdCn_cHAHUJZ21uiwDomMSPWApAG-0l2/s400/IMG_4786.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But the best part, was definitely the company. Thanks <a href="http://tsunamirangers.com/">Tsunami Rangers</a> for a great day on the water Sunday. I had fun working with all of you. I hope to see all my students again next year, or better yet at The <a href="http://www.lumpywaters.com/">Lumpy Waters Symposium</a> this October! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Remember to check back in soon for the post symposium antics. <a href="http://www.liquidfusionkayak.com/Jeff%20Laxier">Jeff Laxier</a> of <a href="http://www.liquidfusionkayak.com/node?page=1">Liquid Fusion Kayaking</a> in Mendocino took some of the coaches back for some of the best rock gardening imaginable. I will be posting those pics on <a href="http://www.outdoorresearch.com/">Outdoor Research</a>'s <a href="http://www.outdoorresearchverticulture.com/">Verticlture</a> Site SOON. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div>Paul Kuthehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04439243549454681449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026907711546527297.post-59769185149040749632010-05-05T18:51:00.000-07:002010-05-05T18:51:00.824-07:00The final Season Episode<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="225" width="400"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=11499532&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=1&color=&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=11499532&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=1&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="225"></embed></object></div> <a href="http://vimeo.com/11499532">The Season Episode 19</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/theseasontv">Fitz Cahall and Bryan Smith</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
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</div><div>In the end, "The Butze" delivered the goods. She didn't give them up easy, but the experience was well worth the effort. We weren't sure what we would find up there. What did The Butze have to show <i>us</i>? We had already been to Skooks, styled Okisollo, surfed tidal bores and rode the whirlpools of Fundy Bay. It ended up showing us more than we ever could have expected. It revealed to us something you can only learn when it's <i>all</i> on the line.</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWEWMyENvOW7bBK7edkBgO8WvxHrzGDsO6pgkLqSIXw4fRtdhjBSCWWhCcvXWJiYcJwu-vNAD0CA6bRMAAucZqbiVhs-pKzjKR5BJ-ie4XL55U-YpgZuoCzCgq2VlJf53oSf6_Y0Qpf9le/s1600/dave:bryan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWEWMyENvOW7bBK7edkBgO8WvxHrzGDsO6pgkLqSIXw4fRtdhjBSCWWhCcvXWJiYcJwu-vNAD0CA6bRMAAucZqbiVhs-pKzjKR5BJ-ie4XL55U-YpgZuoCzCgq2VlJf53oSf6_Y0Qpf9le/s400/dave:bryan.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Dave White (Left) and Bryan Smith (right) wait out the flood in high camp. It was miserable. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div>I have obviously learned a great deal from my experience working on this project with Bryan. I have finally stopped wearing a pfd to bed, but beyond that, I learned that I would trust these guys with my life. I learned that we can band together as a team, despite adversity and pull off the trip of a lifetime. </div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7nxtMNhZVDxp5p9gd-L0lA_GfX8H05i5ABDVyhXjhzWgolq6g0cIUH_R_uq04jKn7X4XWl6Ilp9DRdW-qndNmXcCXqBiUP3dVczxHVtt1_M058zv_t2UbzA5HyjMl_h5ecO0QG2rtiF3q/s1600/davew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7nxtMNhZVDxp5p9gd-L0lA_GfX8H05i5ABDVyhXjhzWgolq6g0cIUH_R_uq04jKn7X4XWl6Ilp9DRdW-qndNmXcCXqBiUP3dVczxHVtt1_M058zv_t2UbzA5HyjMl_h5ecO0QG2rtiF3q/s400/davew.jpg" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Dave White, finally dry wearing the few items of clothing he had left. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhmK0L7IT-z8P_apyl2Kc7vc8gQoqfVMP5ZxqvXzM8GAkKXykxTB7rPBH6MdrS55QFuGj7jNV9tqnHIB7WF_BYN20SQohIX93cAa59zn2uBpw5tw6AaXuWKf1_S71DlWWMZMrtf9Um8hP_/s1600/nickj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhmK0L7IT-z8P_apyl2Kc7vc8gQoqfVMP5ZxqvXzM8GAkKXykxTB7rPBH6MdrS55QFuGj7jNV9tqnHIB7WF_BYN20SQohIX93cAa59zn2uBpw5tw6AaXuWKf1_S71DlWWMZMrtf9Um8hP_/s400/nickj.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Nick Jacob crackin jokes in the "athlete's corner" </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div>I hope to continue seeking out the seldom seen, and incredibly magical corners of distant seas with these guys, but you can't ever take it for granted. Life rolls on, people move and grow; crews form and disperse. You can't keep looking back. Once you get home and unpack from that last big trip it's time to start planning the next. I have some ideas, but no new expeditions off the ground at this point. The sea calls. Stay tuned and in touch for future project announcements. In the mean time, get out there and EXPLORE! Thanks for watching!!</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZUIp863FpsriV9RRUV_RWWPhQX8OpEAeXkH1677bWOVtGFd6wmJirI4VdUyquOtO9Vf12hHWDM0zjqZHMnzNp4FODDKSCS-qrryETidumtOJ2ZDOncv8aXt4c0znjcRVhkapVWzue1C_B/s1600/boats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZUIp863FpsriV9RRUV_RWWPhQX8OpEAeXkH1677bWOVtGFd6wmJirI4VdUyquOtO9Vf12hHWDM0zjqZHMnzNp4FODDKSCS-qrryETidumtOJ2ZDOncv8aXt4c0znjcRVhkapVWzue1C_B/s400/boats.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Looking out from high camp at high slack. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Photo by: Phil Tifo</span></div><div><br />
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</div>Paul Kuthehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04439243549454681449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026907711546527297.post-6622277931560298492010-04-06T23:38:00.000-07:002010-05-05T18:58:55.997-07:00Flooded out at Butze<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><div style="display: block; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDtgh7m8LkMwUQgpFWWNNhWHDIH3QwnQ7x6Ciu8q8Bf2UYrJX6C5VzrnWRXgqek410Vdq3EnPMwKFGBFqUtJLchBZ5_tL5GNdPxt-4A68njKQ-yKNQTHEwdy8Ci5QycDN-7mrjnJAv66hU/s1600/The+Season+logo.png" rel="nofollow" style="clear: left; color: #003399; float: left; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="90" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDtgh7m8LkMwUQgpFWWNNhWHDIH3QwnQ7x6Ciu8q8Bf2UYrJX6C5VzrnWRXgqek410Vdq3EnPMwKFGBFqUtJLchBZ5_tL5GNdPxt-4A68njKQ-yKNQTHEwdy8Ci5QycDN-7mrjnJAv66hU/s200/The+Season+logo.png" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" width="200" /></a>If you've been keeping up with "The Season" at <a href="http://Arcteryx.com/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #003399; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Arcteryx</span>.com</a> you already know about the flood. The latest "webisode" (web+episode) shows you one of the most uncomfortable nights of my life. I guess technically, it was early that morning when it all went down.<br />
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<object height="225" width="400"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=10467652&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=10467652&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="225"></embed></object><br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/10467652">The Season Episode 12</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/theseasontv">Fitz Cahall and Bryan Smith</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</div><div style="display: block; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" /></div><div style="display: block; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> You know the ending if you watched the clip... lets go to how we got ourselves into that mess in the first place. I think it gives insight into what was at stake on this trip. For that, we have to jump back a few years to when Bryan Smith planted the seed in the crew's minds after wrapping production on <a href="http://reelwaterproductions.com/previous-projects/pacific-horizons-dvd/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #003399; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Pacific Horizons.</a></div><div style="display: block; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" /></div><div style="display: block; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Energized by the possibilities of a new world of tidal race surfing opening up before us; we were eager to see what else the rugged West coast of Canada had to offer. The Butze Wave is no secret. The whitewater paddlers in the area have been shredding that spot for years. Bryan caught wind of it's name through the community and even spent some time in the nearest town on a previous trip up North.</div><div style="display: block; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" /></div><div style="display: block; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">"...Prince Rupert boys...I hear there's a monster wave up there" he said. We sort of knew where the wave lived, that's the easy part. W<i style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">hen</i>, is the real question. If you spend the time, money, and effort necessary to pull off that sort of trip you don't want to be skunked by a feature playing peak-a-bo because of the wrong water levels. Especially when tides are so "easily predicted." </div><div style="display: block; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" /></div><div style="display: block; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Now we have to jump ahead about a year, to the depths of another dreary Portland winter day in 2008 when I started making phone calls hunting for beta on "The Butze." </div><div style="display: block; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" /></div><div style="display: block; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I started by calling water taxis advertising their services in the Prince Rupert Area. Who knows the sea better than someone who works on it daily? Plus, they make a great platform to capture the seemingly impossible shots Bryan pulls off from the water. Hoping for a clue as to when the best waves form on the tidal feature, I asked what time of the year seemed the most dangerous for a water taxi. I now know you can just ask what are the best times to "view the overfalls."</div><div style="display: block; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" /></div><div style="display: block; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I needed to start checking tides to find the <b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">biggest</b> exchanges during daylight hours. It's too far away to miss seeing the full glory of The Butze. We wanted Spring tides, the biggest of the year, but not just that. Water taxis are great for general knowledge about the currents but we needed to find out what made for the best ride with the sea kayaks. Ebb or Flood? Get it wrong at some races like "Skooks" and no waves form when the current is going one direction while the other direction sets up pure perfection.</div><div style="display: block; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" /></div><div style="display: block; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The first water taxi driver I got on the phone told me exactly who I needed to talk to. "The owner of the Cowpuccino's Coffee House knows all the kayakers in town," he said. We had a chat and I ended up with an e-mail address of a buddy who could help us. </div><div style="display: block; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" /></div><div style="display: block; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Within a day or two he got back to me with a couple options and all the beta we needed to make the call. We were planning to spend longer than a week camping on the popular island camp spot right in the rapids to watch the cycle build and dissapate. The nitty gritty details didn't matter so much in the early planning stages. We would be guaranteed a shot at the goods because we would be able to watch it day and night.</div><div style="display: block; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" /></div><div style="display: block; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Now let's jump ahead to where <a href="http://blog.kokatat.com/index.php/the-season-butze-or-bust-2313/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #003399; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">my last Kokatat Blog post</a> about "The Season" left off. </div><div style="display: block; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjn6f5ihSdyq39cyJuXsexl-c6e1EmdJZbuCwpiZeqISfqa6e2t3-vuM3aazcs91W7MOzJwnhmB4q_PK-96GgW1psg6gbS7RbOSlu1cYWO26y8iYN7_C7hCVdwXk_niFtArvDWsnm-9z61/s1600/sleep+by+train.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjn6f5ihSdyq39cyJuXsexl-c6e1EmdJZbuCwpiZeqISfqa6e2t3-vuM3aazcs91W7MOzJwnhmB4q_PK-96GgW1psg6gbS7RbOSlu1cYWO26y8iYN7_C7hCVdwXk_niFtArvDWsnm-9z61/s320/sleep+by+train.jpg" /></a></div><br />
</div><div style="display: block; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Basically, we were finally there...within striking distance of our goal after spending our third (<i style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">and </i><i style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">worst)</i> night in-a-row at ferry terminals. I was so excited to get away from civilization and into the zone. </div><div style="display: block; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" /></div><div style="display: block; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">from that last post:</div><div style="display: block; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2PHUz-tiOYGyK2kb0oL0vO-qiVTM-WCUomtnhZ31RedmKjuPvTTVuz7EgMd5009bvSrR7vvcrTreXWkq2fZ8IVaAJx1BgIbAFG28DI4vzngIrf8dyAdYlt_ebzhvDSNWguiVYFrtHSEbj/s1600/phil+foam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="94" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2PHUz-tiOYGyK2kb0oL0vO-qiVTM-WCUomtnhZ31RedmKjuPvTTVuz7EgMd5009bvSrR7vvcrTreXWkq2fZ8IVaAJx1BgIbAFG28DI4vzngIrf8dyAdYlt_ebzhvDSNWguiVYFrtHSEbj/s320/phil+foam.jpg" width="320" /></a>"...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">The next morning we launched and paddled into the zone. On the paddle up we approached what we thought might be the first set of rapids. As we drew near we realized that what we were seeing was actually huge piles of foam floating head high on the water’s surface. Whatever stirred up this much foam must be powerful. It should have served as a clue to what was to come, but we thought little of it at the time."</span></div><div style="display: block; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" /></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We made the paddle from the ferry terminal to the rapid and arrived just after low slack. Bryan had written down some tide info for our arrival day using the </span><a href="http://www.waterlevels.gc.ca/cgi-bin/tide-shc.cgi?queryType=showFrameset&zone=18&language=english&region=1&stnnum=9354" rel="nofollow" style="color: #003399; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Fisheries and Ocaens Canada website</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">. </span></span></div></div></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><table align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="1" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; display: table; font-size: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; width: 550px;"><tbody style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">
<tr style="display: table-row; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; vertical-align: inherit;"><td colspan="3" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><br />
<table bgcolor="#0a55a3" border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; display: table; font-size: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-align: center;"><tbody style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">
<tr bgcolor="#dce9f3" style="display: table-row; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; vertical-align: inherit;"><td align="middle" colspan="3" height="25" nowrap="" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="color: #0a55a3; font-family: Arial; font-size: small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Times and Heights for High and Low Tides</b></span></td></tr>
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<tr style="display: table-row; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" valign="top" width="33%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" /></span></td><td style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" valign="top" width="33%"></td><td style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" valign="top" width="33%"><table bgcolor="#ffffff" border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="100%" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; display: table; font-size: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><tbody style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">
<tr bgcolor="#dce9f3" style="display: table-row; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; vertical-align: inherit;"><td align="middle" colspan="3" height="22" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="color: #0a55a3; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">2009-06-22 (Monday)</span></b></span></td></tr>
<tr bgcolor="#e6e6e6" style="display: table-row; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; vertical-align: inherit;"><td align="middle" height="20" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" width="33%"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="color: #0a55a3; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Time</span></b></td><td align="middle" colspan="2" height="20" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="color: #0a55a3; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Height</span></b></td></tr>
<tr bgcolor="#e6e6e6" style="display: table-row; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; vertical-align: inherit;"><td align="middle" height="20" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" width="0"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="color: #0a55a3; font-family: arial; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">PDT</span></b></span></b></div></td><td align="middle" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" width="33%"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="color: #0a55a3; font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">(m)</span></b></td><td align="middle" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" width="33%"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="color: #0a55a3; font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">(ft)</span></b></td></tr>
<tr align="middle" bgcolor="#ffffff" style="display: table-row; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; vertical-align: inherit;"><td height="20" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" width="0"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">01:12</span><span style="font-family: Verdana; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"> </span></b></span></td><td height="20" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" width="0"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">6.8 </span></b></td><td align="right" height="20" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" width="0"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">22.3 </span></td></tr>
<tr align="middle" bgcolor="#e6e6e6" style="display: table-row; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; vertical-align: inherit;"><td height="20" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" width="0"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">07:59</span><span style="font-family: Verdana; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"> </span></b></span></td><td height="20" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" width="0"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">0.2 </span></b></td><td align="right" height="20" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" width="0"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">0.7 </span></td></tr>
<tr align="middle" bgcolor="#ffffff" style="display: table-row; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; vertical-align: inherit;"><td height="20" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" width="0"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">14:25</span><span style="font-family: Verdana; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"> </span></b></span></td><td height="20" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" width="0"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">5.9 </span></b></td><td align="right" height="20" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" width="0"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">19.4 </span></td></tr>
<tr align="middle" bgcolor="#e6e6e6" style="display: table-row; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; vertical-align: inherit;"><td height="20" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" width="0"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">19:57</span><span style="font-family: Verdana; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"> </span></b></span></td><td height="20" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" width="0"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">2.1 </span></b></td><td align="right" height="20" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" width="0"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">6.9 </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; vertical-align: inherit;"><td style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" valign="top" width="33%"><table bgcolor="#ffffff" border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="100%" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; display: table; font-size: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><tbody style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">
<tr bgcolor="#dce9f3" style="display: table-row; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; vertical-align: inherit;"><td align="middle" colspan="3" height="22" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="color: #0a55a3; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">2009-06-23 (Tuesday)</span></b></span></td></tr>
<tr bgcolor="#e6e6e6" style="display: table-row; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; vertical-align: inherit;"><td align="middle" height="20" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" width="33%"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="color: #0a55a3; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Time</span></b></td><td align="middle" colspan="2" height="20" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="color: #0a55a3; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Height</span></b></div></td></tr>
<tr bgcolor="#e6e6e6" style="display: table-row; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; vertical-align: inherit;"><td align="middle" height="20" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" width="0"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="color: #0a55a3; font-family: arial; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">PDT</span></b></span></b></td><td align="middle" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" width="33%"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="color: #0a55a3; font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">(m)</span></b></td><td align="middle" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" width="33%"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="color: #0a55a3; font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">(ft)</span></b></td></tr>
<tr align="middle" bgcolor="#ffffff" style="display: table-row; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; vertical-align: inherit;"><td height="20" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" width="0"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">02:03</span><span style="font-family: Verdana; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"> </span></b></span></td><td height="20" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" width="0"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">7.0 </span></b></td><td align="right" height="20" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" width="0"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">23.0 </span></td></tr>
<tr align="middle" bgcolor="#e6e6e6" style="display: table-row; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; vertical-align: inherit;"><td height="20" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" width="0"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">08:49</span><span style="font-family: Verdana; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"> </span></b></span></td><td height="20" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" width="0"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">0.0 </span></b></td><td align="right" height="20" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" width="0"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">0.0 </span></td></tr>
<tr align="middle" bgcolor="#ffffff" style="display: table-row; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; vertical-align: inherit;"><td height="20" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" width="0"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">15:13</span><span style="font-family: Verdana; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"> </span></b></span></td><td height="20" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" width="0"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">6.1 </span></b></td><td align="right" height="20" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" width="0"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">20.0 </span></td></tr>
<tr align="middle" bgcolor="#e6e6e6" style="display: table-row; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; vertical-align: inherit;"><td height="20" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" width="0"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">20:49</span><span style="font-family: Verdana; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"> </span></b></span></td><td height="20" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" width="0"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">2.0 </span></b></td><td align="right" height="20" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" width="0"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">6.6 </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></td><td style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" valign="top" width="33%"><table bgcolor="#ffffff" border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="100%" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; display: table; font-size: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><tbody style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">
<tr bgcolor="#dce9f3" style="display: table-row; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; vertical-align: inherit;"><td align="middle" colspan="3" height="22" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="color: #0a55a3; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">2009-06-24 (Wednesday)</span></b></span></td></tr>
<tr bgcolor="#e6e6e6" style="display: table-row; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; vertical-align: inherit;"><td align="middle" height="20" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" width="33%"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="color: #0a55a3; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Time</span></b></td><td align="middle" colspan="2" height="20" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="color: #0a55a3; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Height</span></b></td></tr>
<tr bgcolor="#e6e6e6" style="display: table-row; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; vertical-align: inherit;"><td align="middle" height="20" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" width="0"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="color: #0a55a3; font-family: arial; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">PDT</span></b></span></b></td><td align="middle" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" width="33%"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="color: #0a55a3; font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">(m)</span></b></td><td align="middle" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" width="33%"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="color: #0a55a3; font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">(ft)</span></b></td></tr>
<tr align="middle" bgcolor="#ffffff" style="display: table-row; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; vertical-align: inherit;"><td height="20" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" width="0"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">02:55</span><span style="font-family: Verdana; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"> </span></b></span></td><td height="20" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" width="0"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">7.0 </span></b></td><td align="right" height="20" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" width="0"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">23.0 </span></td></tr>
<tr align="middle" bgcolor="#e6e6e6" style="display: table-row; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; vertical-align: inherit;"><td height="20" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" width="0"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">09:37</span><span style="font-family: Verdana; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"> </span></b></span></td><td height="20" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" width="0"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">-0.0 </span></b></td><td align="right" height="20" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" width="0"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">0.0 </span></td></tr>
<tr align="middle" bgcolor="#ffffff" style="display: table-row; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; vertical-align: inherit;"><td height="20" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" width="0"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">16:00</span><span style="font-family: Verdana; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"> </span></b></span></td><td height="20" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" width="0"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">6.2 </span></b></td><td align="right" height="20" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" width="0"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">20.3 </span></td></tr>
<tr align="middle" bgcolor="#e6e6e6" style="display: table-row; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; vertical-align: inherit;"><td height="20" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" width="0"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">21:41</span><span style="font-family: Verdana; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"> </span></b></span></td><td height="20" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" width="0"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">1.8 </span></b></td><td align="right" height="20" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" width="0"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">5.9 </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></td><td style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" valign="top" width="33%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" /></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 21px;">We were all a little disappointed in ourselves having realized that <i style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">no one</i> else on the team had bothered to write down tides for the week, but a list minute check of the posted tides down at the docks we launched from seemed to confirm what Bryan had written down:</span><br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">3/22 High 7.0 m @ 3pm 3/23 Next high: 2:03am 5.9 m </span></span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">(oops, right heights but he switched the days)</span></span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">We approached the zone with caution as we searched for the island camp spot the locals told us was there. A small wave was already taking shape, but the scene was mellow. It was a beautiful sunny day, and we hadn't a care in the world...We had made it. We quickly spotted the biggest of the islands in the center of the channel. We made our way to the front side, hopped out and had a scout and to watch the big flood. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; line-height: 21px;"><span id="goog_1175191520"></span><span id="goog_1175191521"></span></span></span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY9MVtK1pOBKwxZXjzfrZ0uQImfC1XWpNDHfL_awKeKvSgLW-txFsNZIwVy-6LySxexvC0RwpLZ7KZ7P9ClZKSNzC1Qj0O4ZZNniB8PRhbkT7tCd73ISrxu3DDazPrPrtyF7k2eFSnlvXs/s1600/barnacle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY9MVtK1pOBKwxZXjzfrZ0uQImfC1XWpNDHfL_awKeKvSgLW-txFsNZIwVy-6LySxexvC0RwpLZ7KZ7P9ClZKSNzC1Qj0O4ZZNniB8PRhbkT7tCd73ISrxu3DDazPrPrtyF7k2eFSnlvXs/s400/barnacle.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A barnacle ripped from the rocks by strong tidal currents.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times, serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">The island camp spot seemed obvious. We found a well used fire ring made of stones on a grassy knoll near a benchmark with coordinates ingrained on it. We noticed some old tide pools just below the grassy knoll, but they hadn't been flushed in a long time. Nick and Dave had a good walk around the island and determined that the grassy knoll although not ideal, <i style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">must</i> be what the locals had spoke of. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC0zQ8ACdhwzykEnRs1jdkAXLv23aPyHy5VhbxDX5zjuLOoti6LQRJu8SmDmvlcZ06cosmd2-vxk3UjAAgmc1Jto3otVwQvi3ukjsRC8-lB6EOcOopUdw3TG7to415IR8i3Ay_l-Ud1_iK/s1600/grouparrives.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC0zQ8ACdhwzykEnRs1jdkAXLv23aPyHy5VhbxDX5zjuLOoti6LQRJu8SmDmvlcZ06cosmd2-vxk3UjAAgmc1Jto3otVwQvi3ukjsRC8-lB6EOcOopUdw3TG7to415IR8i3Ay_l-Ud1_iK/s400/grouparrives.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">You can see the the first flood of the day has already formed up behind us. It was fairly mellow, not like twelve hours later during the second flood. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, serif; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">According to our hand written note, we thought we would soon find out. In reality, we were about to witness the lower of the two high tides in that cycle. The high high tide would </span><i style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">actually</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> be at 2:03am (3/23) and over a meter higher. Having watched what we thought was the highest water level of the trip fall short of our grassy knoll at lunch, we surfed, sunned, and napped all afternoon.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, serif; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The crew all stashed gear in various caches around the knoll and settled in for a fun but wet week. Rain was in the forecast. Nick and Dave had a sweet stash spot for their gear just over from our tent spot in a little nook. Phil and Bryan had their gear on the high center of the knoll. All but two of the boats were tied securely to a bank of trees on the island. The other two were high and dry up by the tents. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></div></div></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I watched low slack after the others went to bed, and was dozing off when the water slowly began to fill the channel back in. I slipped into bed around eleven after wrapping all my gear into a sort of tarp burrito by Bryan's tent. All the excitement, travel, and subsequent sleep depravation was taking it's toll. I was looking forward to sleeping somewhere besides a ferry terminal. As I drifted off between Dave and Nick I could hear the rain begin to fall. I remember noting that my rain gear was already right by my side for the morning. It was going to rain all night long. </span></span></span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I remember half waking up to Dave White complaining about his side feeling wet. I sort of moved over to give him more room and drifted back off. At about 2 or 2:15am we all noticed we were really wet. I reached down to feel my part of the tent floor and my hand plunged into the floor of the tent without finding the ground. We could hear Bryan a few feet away coming to the same conclusion...We were FLOATING!!!!! </span></span></span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We opened our tent door. It faced upstream in a perfect way as to catch the incoming current which threatened to pull our sleeping pads right out from under us. The new moon night looked black and featureless. All that could be seen was water EVERYWHERE. Water ripping through the trees! Water separating us from the boats! Water washing ALL of our equipment away!!</span></span></span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Nick and Dave were out of the tent in a flash sporting only boxers. They went to check the gear nook. The nook was fully under water. Nick dove down deep but it was empty, completely empty. </span></span></span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I threw on my rain gear and pfd. Dave found something to wear, but Nick had nothing and was instantly overcome by a severe hypothermic reaction. I ran to my gear burrito and started pulling out my extra layers, neo shorts and my drytop. Once Nick had those on, I remembered his first aid kit had a foil emergency blanket too. Bryan and Phil's boats were moments from floating away. Having both his drysuit and boat put Bryan in the best position to scout our options. </span></span></span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We noted the time, took inventory, and decided that we needed to get off that knoll NOW or risk being swept into the darkness. We knew we had to get Nick to high ground fast, then start sorting out stoves, sleeping bags, emergency shelters, and any other hypothermia remedy we could think of. Most of Dave's belongings had been swept away including his drysuit, but he did everything he could to save everyone elses stuff. He helped us start making a plan.</span></span></span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> A narrow channel of current now cut us off from the rest of the island and most of the boats which were flipped and tangled in the trees. Bryan managed to get across to find a small shelf of cedar roots to pile gear on that was well above the water on the highest part of the island. He dropped off the first load and returned to what was left of our camp. </span></span></span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The plan would be to evac the grass knoll one cockpit full o' gear at a time. Nick and I came across on the next load with some survival gear for him including a bivy and the only dry sleeping bag. Once I hit the steep bank and climbed over some downed trees I found a path way up to the high spot on the island where we could wait out the flood. </span></span></span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDSGruF59x2W9N6xPYQQTyZJH9agjkKNWOkdlT00QUCTPtszNuyfSGihs8Fux6jf2pUeLxPWCm2EYJ8bo64r2jZJ1AcZzwQEi_7_X7npNCBhfqmgej-uwor3mB_3ri1TQaeTYbcmFLlUjD/s1600/fire+side+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Dave White and Phil kept filling the cockpit with flooded gear that was floating by, Bryan would ferry the boat loads to me. I pulled the boats over the down trees and unloaded them as fast as possible so Bryan could take it back Dave and Phil for a re-load. In between return trips I would run gear up to the new high camp and check on Nick. </span></span></span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDSGruF59x2W9N6xPYQQTyZJH9agjkKNWOkdlT00QUCTPtszNuyfSGihs8Fux6jf2pUeLxPWCm2EYJ8bo64r2jZJ1AcZzwQEi_7_X7npNCBhfqmgej-uwor3mB_3ri1TQaeTYbcmFLlUjD/s1600/fire+side+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDSGruF59x2W9N6xPYQQTyZJH9agjkKNWOkdlT00QUCTPtszNuyfSGihs8Fux6jf2pUeLxPWCm2EYJ8bo64r2jZJ1AcZzwQEi_7_X7npNCBhfqmgej-uwor3mB_3ri1TQaeTYbcmFLlUjD/s400/fire+side+.jpg" width="267" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We must have made 20</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times, serif; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> trips like that until everything we could salvage was secure at the new camp which we dubbed Ewok village. We completed the task just in time to watch the biggest ebb of the week take all the water back out to sea and the sun begin to rise. (about 3:20am). </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, serif; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We had some serious stock to take. We knew we were down a pfd, a helmet, and two drysuits. Nick was hangin in there, but was hurting for sure. We lost tons of personal gear, a camera lens, the list goes on and on. We knew we had most of the crew, boats, the cameras, and a bottle of Jameson still in our favor. We managed to keep a fire lit despite the constant rain. </span> </span></span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Dave White (left) Bryan Smith (right) tough it out the rest of the night, high atop the island in "Ewok Village"</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times, serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Moral was at an all time low and sleep exhaustion was at an all time high. It was cold, raining hard, and the tidal feature that we were there to surf was turning into the biggest pour-over I had ever seen. At the height of that morning ebb you could feel the island tremble. "It's like watching a woman give birth. It's a beautiful thing, but the sight of it makes me feel a little sick." </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ01rsRtUwLge1aR_lz1UNfFCbqU8SgxtSgq0zQ2OsE5OSuB12W4jaarVuRmcsqgrrTgeELxkGKEMDOQE2WnS1IZvSnxH4DbD5zg-8rDr3RVEipDWf0eTmhrsqTF6VejkYOSdfZ9Nil9mR/s1600/hugeebb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ01rsRtUwLge1aR_lz1UNfFCbqU8SgxtSgq0zQ2OsE5OSuB12W4jaarVuRmcsqgrrTgeELxkGKEMDOQE2WnS1IZvSnxH4DbD5zg-8rDr3RVEipDWf0eTmhrsqTF6VejkYOSdfZ9Nil9mR/s400/hugeebb.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was the view of the main channel some time after max ebb. Nick Jacob and Dave White discuss options </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, serif; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">This deal was a couple years in the making, we had traveled thousands of miles, there was a film project on the line, and it was all slipping away because of a little switch of a couple numbers on the tide info we were using. We all decided that we had gotten lucky. Another few minutes in the tents and we would have lost much much more. </span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; line-height: 21px;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcYlUOUX7T0VO4EW8gH8QgNY26YjT2DhFl8cYhoMBOJnGoz1PG6mtOqb9RKV0eJHAWkZwdlJjaeLSmjJy-elUi8pKaZDFixFlFOg0OhOaUdjtqvEJpofsmPWxPeqlFy5Wy-oGnVSGw8i_F/s1600/gettin+outta+here.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcYlUOUX7T0VO4EW8gH8QgNY26YjT2DhFl8cYhoMBOJnGoz1PG6mtOqb9RKV0eJHAWkZwdlJjaeLSmjJy-elUi8pKaZDFixFlFOg0OhOaUdjtqvEJpofsmPWxPeqlFy5Wy-oGnVSGw8i_F/s400/gettin+outta+here.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When the current show signs of slowing, we staged our boats to ride the ebb back to P.R.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; line-height: 21px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 21px;">We decided to head back into Prince Rupert to re-group. We were down for sure, but not necessarily out. After all, we all still had passports, contact lenses, boats, gear, and cameras. We were down a couple drysuits, and lots of personal effects, and EVERYTHING was soaked, but with enough whiskey and change for the dryer at the local laundromat we could be back in business. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhllfg1l6ryar6SJ_88O3HCercs8R0RlQxQvgiVmgyx6glxVCq8AKzHMSGsCemtLbnwl7CId6sMlt6QeWujMOamZCarISwadqGNUZKp8E8l-Hji06FQTXcPgR7uXdI0MWIHE4GyjpZZKQtW/s1600/colorful+buildings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhllfg1l6ryar6SJ_88O3HCercs8R0RlQxQvgiVmgyx6glxVCq8AKzHMSGsCemtLbnwl7CId6sMlt6QeWujMOamZCarISwadqGNUZKp8E8l-Hji06FQTXcPgR7uXdI0MWIHE4GyjpZZKQtW/s320/colorful+buildings.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The view of one of Prince Rupert's finer B&B's right on the water.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 21px;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhMjLR5FXNchlL9QTvpKVItjkG-69vD3dquK1D_iATy9BINVFvec7glH_rwfkh-Vs9f4exIlnKymbgu6XK7olL_UjB6EkE_9nBizkQzbaCDjVvinmkMs3S4K1X7bw-wiZ2gc7ycrfSnvA0/s1600/Phil+walks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhMjLR5FXNchlL9QTvpKVItjkG-69vD3dquK1D_iATy9BINVFvec7glH_rwfkh-Vs9f4exIlnKymbgu6XK7olL_UjB6EkE_9nBizkQzbaCDjVvinmkMs3S4K1X7bw-wiZ2gc7ycrfSnvA0/s400/Phil+walks.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
Phil Tifo, the trip photographer walkin the strip. "Is that a liquor store over there?"<br />
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</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times, serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Keep watching the season to find out how The Butze story concludes and don't forget to help spread the word. Send this link to all your friends! <a href="http://www.arcteryx.com/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #003399; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.arcteryx.com</a> </span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times, serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"> </span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 21px;"> </span></div></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times, serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"> </span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"> </span></span></div></span></span></span>Paul Kuthehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04439243549454681449noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026907711546527297.post-51800951841093818462010-03-23T21:20:00.000-07:002010-03-31T19:13:28.086-07:00Hey ladies...are you prepared for, "sudden rapids?"Last summer the nice folks at Tampax Tampons contacted Alder Creek about props and wardrobe for a new ad compaign starring "Mother Nature", an unwanted imaginary monthly visitor that extends her "monthly gift" at the worst time possible.<br />
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The casting, wardrobe, locations, and production staff ALL call Alder Creek at various times through out the day when these opportunities blaze through town. It can be fun, but they want what they want and they want it yesterday. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4p1WoEJGz9SIY2bngy6SUzETZVuJAF69W37GReCRRnYmc1d0ckQ-54rBH75-v4UxMWKFvNuVMW73YBdhVSzD5OVJyO_WEDSGFJTdxpneQTHZdFrzvdQN-kcl1TmSdlacto1HUq0yBe3AV/s1600-h/katemotherchristy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4p1WoEJGz9SIY2bngy6SUzETZVuJAF69W37GReCRRnYmc1d0ckQ-54rBH75-v4UxMWKFvNuVMW73YBdhVSzD5OVJyO_WEDSGFJTdxpneQTHZdFrzvdQN-kcl1TmSdlacto1HUq0yBe3AV/s320/katemotherchristy.jpg" width="208" /></a>They hired some local talent, and ran the second casting call behind Alder Creek's kayak & canoe shop. They had requested 17-25 year old women WITH whitewater experience.<br />
(photo left: Kate Ross, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Catherine Lloyd Bur</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">n, Christy Glissmeyer)</span><br />
Only two women showed up that could keep their boat where they wanted on the flat water behind the shop. One was Nicole from Hood River, OR. and the other was Kate Ross of Willamette Riverkeeper and Alder Creek. The rest of the girls showed up plastered in make-up and sporting booty shorts. Kate was worried that she might have missed a memo on the booty shorts. ;)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNXmT94xgX4vDGQipumT6nvHrqKG0vhpz3MNf4kpVcIkdTajzDVLgsblzX1kcL0SuI-ezlnHj31x-XV6lirBtJnZGvuzHIgWNLilPInD0-6GvJ-7bGbSflG35sA3lELIcXPYQu4BowBT-L/s1600-h/thetampaxgang.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNXmT94xgX4vDGQipumT6nvHrqKG0vhpz3MNf4kpVcIkdTajzDVLgsblzX1kcL0SuI-ezlnHj31x-XV6lirBtJnZGvuzHIgWNLilPInD0-6GvJ-7bGbSflG35sA3lELIcXPYQu4BowBT-L/s320/thetampaxgang.jpg" width="320" /></a>They ended up picking a "real" actress for the lead, but had to keep her tethered to the bank so they could just pull her back to her starting position. She was a trooper, but had no clue how to boat.<br />
They ended up hiring Kate and Christy Glissmeyer as kayakers and Nicole as the stunt double.<br />
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I somehow got on as the token dude. The work was easy. Shooting on location mostly involves working for about 10 minutes at a time then continuing to down free snacks and smoothies, while watching the crew set up for the next shot. It's pretty sweet...plus everyone keeps referring to you as "the talent."<br />
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Check out the finished product below then scroll down for some more shots I took on set. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJHAiq0yVkDXFwwy4IWddwt8qKa69J6CF-wjnKIWB1jIdnhyphenhyphencI5l8y04PLit0iFd0_AAlslvNRvi6UtCr2VvOQdC0z_MyTe1MPJdKcl9Uuoo0mPst9ml1sF8qdemH7GrED1Bk4j6EjrhDd/s1600-h/stuntgirlmeshback.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> The latest in women's specific pfd accessories.</span><br />
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Stunt Woman Nicole drops in with her "monthly gift" in tow.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Ms. Ross & I on set. mmm... smoothies.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGedK5XyaeGLvg5Bt97YHGAFJox7TbrpZgHhtEAWl560iKyS9o7F0Zpj7gl0ocI2Xm_2HWVyjaMjFRubYQotJw-fYemoxY765FnnWxzfMe_APYjFSkKwPwXpDb2v0eKC3FCDBnnEkS5Anx/s1600-h/stuntgirl:lead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGedK5XyaeGLvg5Bt97YHGAFJox7TbrpZgHhtEAWl560iKyS9o7F0Zpj7gl0ocI2Xm_2HWVyjaMjFRubYQotJw-fYemoxY765FnnWxzfMe_APYjFSkKwPwXpDb2v0eKC3FCDBnnEkS5Anx/s400/stuntgirl:lead.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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Stunt / Lead<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP-lAhkz-_IdlmNW3YIsP7MhAx8XdB9cp1qrO45REgtiZSp1nuA1FBdK3pnbHBcWHrf_BWCPl4hzi52wH95Cy_qEyPm6Y0NINwkrPomzZL66AUq0ZxVEfQYAuYklJEv4sPXCegDtc6mtJl/s1600-h/girlsonwater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP-lAhkz-_IdlmNW3YIsP7MhAx8XdB9cp1qrO45REgtiZSp1nuA1FBdK3pnbHBcWHrf_BWCPl4hzi52wH95Cy_qEyPm6Y0NINwkrPomzZL66AUq0ZxVEfQYAuYklJEv4sPXCegDtc6mtJl/s400/girlsonwater.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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You can see "Mother Nature on the rock filing her nails.<br />
You can also make out the rope attached to the lead's boat. <br />
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Grips were assigned to carry the boats back to the starting point. "...Your boat Ms. Ross"<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgix8YruswN56FmR-koikX-Sga-PJBCMuLm9it5c-5O5RfmRGgdAvpWSTosx6TDQs37Y2-4uJhjG2UILTAJIRWMtOqgaMR2f6u397s4E4o6dC7A3opbWfKnJEXhrvCiT30HoZMglXlBRonM/s1600-h/katesnacks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgix8YruswN56FmR-koikX-Sga-PJBCMuLm9it5c-5O5RfmRGgdAvpWSTosx6TDQs37Y2-4uJhjG2UILTAJIRWMtOqgaMR2f6u397s4E4o6dC7A3opbWfKnJEXhrvCiT30HoZMglXlBRonM/s400/katesnacks.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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We were never short of snacks on set.<br />
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That's a wrapPaul Kuthehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04439243549454681449noreply@blogger.com3