Another good run down the last gorge on the Arahura. I think it was the lowest flow we have ever run it at. Got one photo from it.
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Kokatahi River
Our plans of a relaxed flight up the lower Hokitika with the Rafting NZ crew were quickly crushed as we found out that the local pilot had landed in a paddock and had the misfortune of a flat battery. So the trip was called off and we went for a surf instead. That night we got a call from Keith asking if we wanted to step it up and come up the Kokatahi with Barney, Jordy and him the next day. For those of you who aren't from the West Coast or don't know it well, the Kokatahi River is one of the top classic grade 5 runs east of Hokitika. Needless to say it didn't take too much to talk us into it. Before we knew it we were in the chopper listening to that familiar whine of the engine and watching the trees fly past.
At the put in a good lesson from Barney on how to pick up girls at the pub set the tone for what was to be a good day. Straight into steep creaking with no time for a warm up made me feel slightly rusty and nervous, a roll in a fast flowing section between two small drops didn't help either. But we soon found our rhythm and there was no time to be nervous as we bombed down the river, following Keith and Barney who knew the run like the back of their hand. Rapids flew by one after the other for what seemed like 2 hours. Then we got out for the portage around a very impressive drop called 'The Monster'. My balls have a wee bit of growing to do before I run that one, and the river needed more water too. More continuous classy grade 4+ led us to skateboard ramp where we caught up with Jordy and Rata who had put on at the half way put in. Skateboard ramp was a sick slide into a kicker that sent you out over the hole in the bottom. The final section of the trip was more great read and run grade 4 with some of the coolest boxed in gorges I have ever had the privilege of paddling. Thanks to the crew for a epic day out on the river, I defiantly will be back to this river again next season!
Unfortunately we didn't have time to get many photos or videos, but here is a video that I found on you-tube that shows just what this river is like...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyWiwoUz8r4
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| One of the awesome gorges. Photo By Barny Young |
Unfortunately we didn't have time to get many photos or videos, but here is a video that I found on you-tube that shows just what this river is like...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyWiwoUz8r4
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Two Dash Crew 'Slides' to New Low...
With all the coast runs too low to paddle and a failed exploration attempt we decided to make our own fun, this is the result...
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| Rata and jake doing the ground work |
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| Martijn checking out the trajectory |
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| Final touches by Me and Phil |
Whitcomb River Edit
After a long process of editing and then failed uploads we have the newest two dash clip ready to go... check it out
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