3 Whitewater Secrets From Chris Gragtmans ~ Abyssmo Canyon Peru

Playak News Flash - February 18, 2017
The world's latest paddling headlines.

3 Whitewater Secrets From Chris Gragtmans Rapid Magazine Blog - So many aspects of whitewater kayaking are counter to our natural instincts. Bring your head up last. Lean towards the rock. Don't get in the back seat. These well-meaning words of advice are recited to nearly every single beginner kayaker; they're our mantras to conquering our natural reactions. After 20 years of kayaking and 15 years of class V, I have seen a lot of teaching techniques, successes and failures. There is some advice that I have found tremendously helpful and powerful for early paddlers, yet it's not as often repeated. The Lower Canyons of the Rio Grande Canoe Kayak - It's an effort to get to Big Bend in west Texas. That gooseneck of border isn't on the way to anywhere. And it's a daunting place once you arrive searing summer heat, thorny vegetation, sheer rock canyons. It's an arid, rugged, exposed land full of jutting volcanic outcrops. Why Portaging Doesn't Make You Less Of A Real Whitewater Paddler Rapid Magazine Blog - Here whenever this whitewater paddler paddles or rafts the Petawawa through Algonquin Park, the Crooked Chute gives paddler tension, the reason is he may need to opt to portage this section if he finds it too dangerous to paddle. However, he convinced himself that just because he decides to portage and skip paddling some rapids, it does not mean he is not a white water paddler. It's ok, if you opt not to paddle a rapid that you know is beyond you and your not ready for it. Read on… GoPro Mountain Games 2017 registration opens Canoe Kayak - It is with zero hyperbole that we can say that the 2016 GoPro Mountain Games were the most energetic, enjoyable mountain sports event the Colorado Rockies have ever seen. New 2017 Kokopelli Inflatable Packraft Lineup AirKayaks - For those unfamiliar with the term, packrafts are loosely defined as a an inflatable raft weighing under 10 lbs, that can easily be packed/rolled up, making them a great choice for accessing remote locations. While the sport originated in Alaska, the popularity is rapidly expanding globally. Hundreds of Paddlers Unite for Sophia Bartlow's Memorial Paddle-Out SUP Magazine - A massive community of paddlers and surfers in mourning joined forces at Huntington Pier this past Saturday to honor the life of their fallen sea sister, Sophia Tiaré Bartlow. Toby Cracknell Officially Joins Team Infinity SUP SUP Magazine - Infinity SUP Co. is proud to announce that ISA Team Australia member and 2016 5th Place M2O finisher Aussie young gun Toby Cracknell has officially joined the #infinityspeedfreaks. Abyssmo Canyon Peru Kokatat - The Abyssmo Canyon in Peru has long been on my mind, with stories about hard whitewater, siphons and steep sheer canyon walls provoking my imagination. Preparation to paddle from Swanage to Alderney on a sit-on-top The Paddler ezine - The three Barry, Chris and Mark planned to paddle from Swanage to Alderney (the entire English Channel) for raising funds for Heroes On the Water, a charity that provides a programme to help rehabilitate people who have suffered mentally or physically through an act of public service and also Macmillan Cancer. Mark was recovering from cancer 3 months after his chemotherapy, yet he wanted to do this, read on, the inspiration is contagious(: Battle of the Brands Has Been Updated With the Latest Team Changes at SIC and F-One. SUPracer - We thought it might be interesting to extend the SUP Racer World Rankings and look beyond just the individual athletes. So, inspired by the Formula One Constructor's Championship, we created Battle of the Brands to rank the world's best race teams. Whitewater Leadership unsponsored - Good friend of Unsponsored Chris Wing has launched his new series of edits on the topic of Whitewater Leadership. 2016 Season Re-cap Jackson Kayak - Over the summer, I went to five competitions, The Golden games, CKS PaddleFest, Lyons Outdoor games, The GoPro games and I ended the season with FibArk. SUPcation Destination: Komodo, Indonesia SUP Connect - Here is a SUP destination you can head to, it is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and it's not yet crowded with SUP paddlers. It's a bio diverse region and there is indigo-blue waters for SUP paddlers to paddle as they are surrounded by volcanic islands. There is a lot for the SUP community to explore - hidden coves, meandering rivers and inlets that remain largely devoid of human footprint. This is Komodo Island in Indonesia, read more on the region and how it is a suitable destination for Stand Up Paddlers here. Shared Waterways Report Frogma - A snowy day in NY Harbor, heading back to Coney Island after visiting the seals at Swinburne Island. Visibility was limited, but we knew where the channel was, we made a securite call before crossing, and we weren't about to play chicken with the big guys 'cause we know they can't stop. My Short Summary From the LKO 2016 Jackson Kayak - Many days have passed since my last report and some days have passed since the LKO 2016 in Karlskrona. Had to do a lot of work and many things happened – Eva and I got our first baby and we had so much to organize and to do.

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