Check out this edit that Dylan Mckinney and myself put together with footage from the last few months. The rivers include The Elk, Linville Gorge, Toxaway, Big Creek, The Green, Watauga, Great Falls of the Potomac, Bottom Creek, and more. Hope you enjoy!
Below: Matt Beauchamp walking to the put-in, photo by Adam Goshorn
Below: Matt Beauchamp on one of the more vertical drops, photo by Adam Goshorn
For seven out of the last eight winters I have been lucky enough to make the annual drive south of the border to spend a few weeks enjoying Mexican rivers, creeks, and tacos! In December of 2012 we started the drive down with the biggest crew yet, nine people and three cars. However, the crew would get trimmed by a third before we even got to the border. While driving through Texas, one vehicle developed transmission problems and was deemed not worthy to continue the drive. To further complicate things the three friends in that vehicle were only planning to be in Mexico for one week while the rest of us were planning for two-weeks. If we were all on the same timeframe it would have been possible to cram all nine people into the remaining two vehicles, but due to work obligations they could not extend their trip and the rest of us were unwilling to cut our trip in half. The unfortunately reality was that they would have to try to get their car fixed and hopefully join us in a few days and salvage what they could of their trip.
Below: Matt Beauchamp running S-Turn, photos by Adam Goshorn
Check out this video Chris Stafford and I put together, with help filming from Graham Seiler and Isaac Levinson.
https://vimeo.com/62710338
The Nano is such a fun boat. With no other boats like it on the market, this boat is destined to excel. It does it all from River running, playing, creeking, and it’s even perfect for beginners just getting into whitewater! The Nano offers precision, ease and confidence in just about everything. Thanks Pyranha!
For the forth time in as many years, on November 27, 2012 I found myself back at Lees Ferry Arizona launching once again into the waters of the Colorado River to float through the magical landscape of the Grand Canyon. My most recent previous trip had been a speedy, seven-day, self-support kayak trip in the winter of 2011 (see trip report HERE), but this time around myself and one other would be the only kayakers among our nine-person crew. The other seven friends would be rowing three oar-rigs with all the supplies and the luxuries afforded by raft-support. It would be the exact opposite of the stripped-down nature of my previous self-support descent. However, it was exactly what I wanted and planned for this time.… a chance to take a group of non-paddling friends down one of the best multi-day float trips in the world and to do so at a more relaxed pace, taking 17 days to cover the 226 miles from Lees Ferry to Diamond Creek.
Below: Didn’t film alot on this trip, but here is a short edit of the trip.
Whilst flying out the not-so-successful expedition to Papua in 2011, our plane stopped off en route to re-fuel. We had no idea where we were, and we popped into the airport for a quick Nasi Goreng and to find out. Discovering we were in Sulawesi set my brain into gear. I have the pleasure of organising the biennial selection weekend for the British Universities Kayaking Expeditons, and as part of this event, each applicant has to research a destination for the final team to select from. One of the shortlisted expeditions for 2011 was Sulawesi. I bought a map and spent the rest of the flight tracing blue lines.
Incredible gorges with jungle dripping down the walls
Incredible terraced paddy fields on the drive to the rafting run
Here is a little edit from our 4-day/3-night, self-support run down Hells Canyon of the Snake River in Idaho in late June 2012. Â If you missed the write-up and photos, they can be seen HERE.
John was paddling the Medium Fusion on this trip while I was paddling the Large. Both performed awesome in big water, despite being loaded down with gear!
Freestyle kayaking is great fun. From flat water to a steep green wave it is impossible to not have a smile on your face. Woodmill Canoe Shop’s Freestyle Funday is all about experiencing just this.
Paddlers trying out a short modern playboat for the first time, show offs looping head dry and all those in between were all on the water together. Luckily the show offs turned out to be excellent coaches and the focus quickly shifted to helping others make progress on their latest trick or start getting their head around just what is possible in a kayak!
The 2 small, 3 medium and 2 large JEDs were out on the water from the moment the van doors opened until we had to leave! This left me without my trusty large JED so I jumped in a large Loki… my ‘intermediate freestyle’ coaching session turned into a eddy line squirt party!
Woodmill is a great venue. Hot showers, hot food from the grill and only 5 steps to get to the water. High tide provides flat water in the morning, low tide brings the weir into action keeping everyone on their toes and giving the perfect progression though the day.
On Sunday a group of us headed up to Scotland for a wee bit of camping and surfing at one of the UK’s best play spots: the Falls of Lora, a tidal race flowing out of Loch Etive.
Incredible camping on the banks of Loch Etive
With the Jed, Loki and Varun we were able to catch pretty much every wave that formed over the three days as the tides constantly changed.
The Loki and Jed happy to just carve all day long
Previously I thought the falls were all about going big on the main wave, but having spent some time up there I now know its all about the soul surfing on the green waves.
The Ultimate wave- doesn’t run for long but when it does its SOOO good.