Playak News Flash 2011-01-19

Playak News Flash - January 19, 2011
The world's latest paddling headlines.

News Watch Headlines

Perfect conditions on the Rhone River adidas Sickline - Ever since I got into freestyle kayaking in the late 90's (known as rodeo back then), I had heard of that big, powerful and somehow legendary wave located in Lyon, on the Rhone River. For many years it was simply a matter of front surfing what appeared as a beast to us, young punks in our long, clumsy rodeo kayaks. Then the flat hulls appeared and opened a whole new era for freestyle kayaking, and Lyon soon became the European epicentre of big wave paddling.

Write-Up: Pucon, Chile: Upper Trancura A Wet State (CA) - The Upper Trancura was a nice warm-up for us on our first day of boating in Chile. That day, we were with a class III boater, in new kayaks, and using new paddles so the team put-in above Salto de Mariman. Later in the trip, with sore backs from our " Very Park-n-Huck Christmas" we opted to come back to complete the Upper Trancura and rest our bodies. In all, the Upper Trancura only has 5 or 6 standout rapids including the commonly portaged Salto de Mariman. However, spectacular views of the Volcan Villarica make this run one of the more scenic sections of river that you can boat while in Pucon. And if you are not up to kayaking the class IV rapids, worry not as several rafting outfitters in Pucon offer daily raft trips.

Season 2010 closing at La Malate and Hawaii Sur Rhone Markus Leppaenen - In the middle of Dezember the temperature suddenly rose in France and a lot of snow in the mountains melted. In addition it rained and the water-levels of the Doubs and the Rhone shot through the roof. Hence we adhoc took two days off work and did our season 2010 closing 4 days paddling-trip to France. Well first we had to wait in Munich for our friend Toby Hüther who had quite an odysse with the ICE (fast train in Germany) through Germany and therefore we started our trip a little late around 4 o`clock in the morning instead of in the evening the day before. And as you can see in the picture it was cold in Munich.

High Water Insanity on the Washougal River, Oregon LL Ladies Lounge - Yesterday was an epic day for boaters in the Pacific Northwest. Everything, and I mean everything, was flooding. The photos that have emerged of the rivers such as the White Salmon and the Clackamas are nothing but crazy! Some of us decided to head up to the Washougal River for a play run. The night prior (when we were planning) the flow was 2,600 with a forcast of heavy rain. We only expected it to rise to 6000 max.

The Original Whitewater Explorers of Ecuador--Orellana and Pizarro Small World Adventures - Each year, hundreds of kayakers come to Ecuador to explore it's many rivers for themselves. Many of Ecuador's rivers are known, published in our guidebook, on the web, etc...but many are yet to be explored, and kayakers are still doing 1st descents here.

Seakayakers, gypsies and bothy dwellers on Morvern SeaKayakPhoto.com - This was a memorable trip that took place early in the month of June. Our aim was to circumnavigate the Morvern peninsula in western Scotland. It is very nearly an island being nearly surrounded by Loch Sunart to the north, the Sound of Mull to the Sw and Loch Linnhe to the SE. Only 11km of land lie between the head of Loch Sunart and Inversanda Bay on Loch Linnhe.

Fort William Mountain Film Festival Simon Willis - This is my local film festival, right on my door. So it's hugely remiss of me that I didn't know a thing about it until I saw an advertisment.

NatureBridge Awarded REI Foundation's Inaugural Mary Anderson Grant SNews - Annual $50,000 grant to support connecting more children to the outdoors

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