2022-08-01 Paddling Magazine

CANOEING BUYER ’ S G UID E SEE THESE
PRODUCTS ONLINE






ESQUIF
Cargo
With its long waterline and deep bow, the Cargo is fast, dry, and has the capacity
you need to bring home your biggest catch or the coveted moose you have been tracking.
It’s easy to paddle and the square stern is perfect for a three-horsepower or electric equivalent
motor to help you go farther faster. Molded in tough and durable T-Formex, the Cargo is the bush companion you need.
LENGTH: 16'11" • WIDTH AT GUNWALES: 44" • DEPTH AT CENTER: 16" • WEIGHT: 95 LBS • CAPACITY: 1000 LBS • MATERIAL: PLASTIC LAMINATE
ESQUIF.COM | $2,399 USD • $2,639 CAD
6900002




ESQUIF
Heron

The Heron is a multipurpose canoe perfectly adapted to fishing and hunting
activities. Light, stable and quiet, it offers great load capacity. Its design allows it to be
used with or without a motor. The Heron is one of the most versatile canoes in its category.
With a foam core hull material, the Heron insulates you from cold waters and provides for
quiet passage to your most secret places on lakes and rivers.
LENGTH: 14'6" • WIDTH AT GUNWALES: 38.5" • DEPTH AT CENTER: 14" • WEIGHT: 69 LBS • CAPACITY: 800 LBS • MATERIAL: PLASTIC LAMINATE
ESQUIF.COM | $2,199 USD • $2,429 CAD
6900034




PACK CANOES
ADIRONDACK CANOE CO.
Haystack
The Haystack is based on the J.H. Rushton-designed Wee Lassie, which has proven to be a worthy hull over the last 150 years.
Adirondack Canoe Co. designed this boat to be used primarily by pond hoppers and fishermen. This version of this time-honored
hull features a narrower beam than others, allowing a slightly more streamlined hull. In the Adirondack culture of brook trout
fishing, this canoe is a fantastic fishing platform and light enough to carry wherever you go.
LENGTH: 10'6" • WIDTH AT GUNWALES: 28.2" • DEPTH AT BOW: 13.5" • AT CENTER: 10" • AT STERN: 13.5" • WEIGHT: 19 LBS • CAPACITY: 325 LBS • MATERIAL: CARBON
ADIRONDACKCANOECOMPANY.COM | $1,200 USD
6500002



ADIRONDACK CANOE CO.
Boreas
The Boreas is designed to be paddled with a single or double blade paddle as a crossover boat. If you prefer paddling with a single
stick, Adirondack Canoe Co. will keep the sides high, and mount a traditional webbed seat for sitting or kneeling. If your choice is a
double blade, they will trim the side walls and mount a pack canoe style seat and foot braces. The choice is yours.
LENGTH: 14' • WIDTH AT GUNWALES: 26.8" • DEPTH AT BOW: 15.8" • AT CENTER: 13" • AT STERN: 15.5" • WEIGHT: 24 LBS • MATERIAL: CARBON
ADIRONDACKCANOECOMPANY.COM | $2,000 USD
6500001



ADIRONDACK CANOE CO.
Skylight
The Skylight is a pack-style canoe designed with performance and canoe country traveling in mind. Skylight has a streamlined hull
shape and the characteristic secondary stability found in many pack canoes. Coupled with a comfortable seating system and foot
braces, Skylight is a canoe that can be carried wherever you go and paddled the distance on any trip.
LENGTH: 12' • WIDTH AT GUNWALES: 28" • DEPTH AT BOW: 14" • AT CENTER: 10.2" • AT STERN: 14" • WEIGHT: 20 LBS • MATERIAL: CARBON
ADIRONDACKCANOECOMPANY.COM | $1,900 USD
6500003

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ESQUIF
Adirondack
Designed like the traditional Adirondack pack canoes, this boat is a great choice
for those looking for a lightweight solo canoe that is small and light but still offers
great performance and durability. Made of the revolutionary T-Formex material, this
boat is indestructible and will last long after most lightweight boats fall apart.
LENGTH: 12' • WIDTH AT GUNWALES: 31.5" • DEPTH AT CENTER: 13" • WEIGHT: 39 LBS • MATERIAL: PLASTIC LAMINATE
ESQUIF.COM | $1,299 USD • $1,429 CAD
7000010




H2O CANOE COMPANY
Pack 13-2
Kayak paddling in a canoe style hull. Pack canoes available in lengths of 10 feet and two inches, 12 feet, and 13 feet
and two inches for independent paddlers of all levels. Ease of entry, extremely light weight to carry and
responsive efficient paddling on the water. Available in multiple laminations, shown in Brute Force
Kevlar. Optional seating arrangement of backband or full back adjustable lounger. Choice of kayak
or crossbar style footrests. Optional detachable carry yoke.
LENGTH: 13'2" • WIDTH AT GUNWALES: 26.5" • DEPTH AT BOW: 13" • AT CENTER: 10.75" •
AT STERN: 11.5" • WEIGHT: 28 LBS • CAPACITY: 375 LBS • MATERIAL: ARAMID
H2OCANOE.COM | $2,795 CAD
7000010








[email protected]
1.866.644.8111
#clippercanoes

CANOEING BUYER ’ S G UID E SEE THESE
PRODUCTS ONLINE








FOLDING & INFLATABLE

PAKBOATS
PakCanoe 150
The PakCanoe 150 is an excellent expedition solo canoe and has proven itself on many remote wilderness rivers. With the optional
conversion kit, it can be turned into a wide and stable 150T tandem canoe.
LENGTH: 14'11" • WIDTH AT GUNWALES: 33" • DEPTH AT BOW: 17" • AT CENTER: 14" • AT STERN: 14" • WEIGHT: 45 LBS • CAPACITY: 650 LBS • MATERIAL: PVC
PAKBOATS.COM | $2,175 USD
5000004









PAKBOATS
PakCanoe 150T
The 150T is great for fishing in the backcountry or any other activity requiring a compact and stable canoe. It has capacity for a few
days of canoe camping and, with an optional conversion kit, it can be turned into a PakCanoe 150 solo. It includes ample flotation,
like the other PakCanoes.
LENGTH: 14'11" • WIDTH AT GUNWALES: 35" • DEPTH AT BOW: 17" • AT CENTER: 13" • AT STERN: 17" • WEIGHT: 48 LBS • CAPACITY: 650 LBS • MATERIAL: PVC
PAKBOATS.COM | $2,250 USD
5000005

CANOEING BUYER ’ S G UID E












PAKBOATS
PakCanoe 160
The best all-round PakCanoe. It has great stability for fishing and family use, enough capacity for a week
of camping, and performance to make miles easy. The PakCanoe 160 is a very forgiving canoe in whitewater
and runs much drier than traditional canoes.
LENGTH: 16' • WIDTH AT GUNWALES: 37" • DEPTH AT BOW: 17" • AT CENTER: 14" • AT STERN: 17" • WEIGHT: 53 LBS • CAPACITY: 760 LBS • MATERIAL: PVC
PAKBOATS.COM | $2,335 USD
5000006






PAKBOATS
PakCanoe 165
Introduced in 1995, Pakboat’s original tripping canoe is still going strong. More nimble than the 170, it is nice for shorter trips and
small enough to be handled solo. It is easy paddling and enjoyable for when you don’t need to carry expedition-size loads.
LENGTH: 16'6" • WIDTH AT GUNWALES: 33" • DEPTH AT BOW: 17" • AT CENTER: 14" • AT STERN: 17" • WEIGHT: 54 LBS • CAPACITY: 830 LBS • MATERIAL: PVC
PAKBOATS.COM | $2,385 USD
5000007









TM







Crafting

performance

driven paddles

and oars from the

highest quality


materials for

over 50 years.


Made in USA





Paddles and Oars.com

CANOEING BUYER ’ S G UID E SEE THESE
PRODUCTS ONLINE








PAKBOATS
PakCanoe 170
For almost 20 years, the PakCanoe 170 has been a preferred wilderness workhorse when logistics get really difficult or expensive.
Very capable in storms or heavy whitewater, it inspires confidence when the going gets tough. The 170 will carry two people with
gear for a six-week expedition.
LENGTH: 17' • WIDTH AT GUNWALES: 38" • DEPTH AT BOW: 17" • AT CENTER: 14" • AT STERN: 17" • WEIGHT: 56 LBS • CAPACITY: 910 LBS • MATERIAL: PVC
PAKBOATS.COM | $2,440 USD
5000008








SEA EAGLE
Travel Canoe TC16 with Web Seats
Now featuring traditional wood and web seats, the Travel Canoe is still the only all drop stitch constructed, inflatable canoe in the
world. It’s completely buoyant and unsinkable and can be paddled by one, two or three paddlers. Class IV rapids, inland bays, lakes,
ponds and more—the TC16 is an all-around canoe that’s great not just for touring and river running but can also be used for fishing.
Packs small to fit in a car truck or a floatplane.
LENGTH: 16' • WIDTH AT GUNWALES: 36" • DEPTH AT CENTER: 15" • WEIGHT: 60 LBS • CAPACITY: 915 LBS • MATERIAL: PVC
SEAEAGLE.COM | $1,999 USD
5400011

CANOEING BUYER ’ S G UID E




PADDLES
BENDING BRANCHES
Black Pearl II
A few summers ago, Bending Branches introduced the Black Pearl paddle, a flyweight paddle that looked like a
dream. Today, the dream lives again. The sleek Black Pearl II is a carbon paddle weighing in at 15 ounces with
reinforced edge protection. Perfect for canoeists who want fewer ounces and more years from their paddle.
Designed with an 11-degree bent blade, Black Pearl II is a wise choice from every angle.
BLADE MATERIAL: CARBON COMPOSITE • SHAFT MATERIAL: CARBON COMPOSITE • AVAILABLE LENGTHS: 48"-56" • WEIGHT: 16 OZ
BENDINGBRANCHES.COM | $250 USD • $325 CAD
10500004
BENDING BRANCHES
Catalyst ST

Handcrafted from remnants of first-quality paddles, Bending Branches is giving new life to what might have
gone to waste. Not only is this paddle sparking change as Bending Branches embraces sustainable practices in
product development, but also $5 from every paddle purchased will be donated to American Rivers. With full
Rockgard coverage and a two-ounce fiberglass wrap, this paddle’s durability exceeds blade strength testing
standards. Handbuilt in the USA.
BLADE MATERIAL: WOOD • SHAFT MATERIAL: WOOD • AVAILABLE LENGTHS: 52"-60" • WEIGHT: 24 OZ
BENDINGBRANCHES.COM | $140 USD • $190 CAD
10500040
BENDING BRANCHES
Java Straight

Meet the Java, the worthy heir to the Espresso paddle and the new caffeine for canoeists. The Java is lighter, more
durable and, with its classic pinstriping, more attractive than traditional canoe paddles. Crafted of rich, dark
roasted basswood, the Java is built to last, made entirely in Osceola, Wisconsin. The Java has full Rockgard edge
protection and two-ounce fiberglass wrap to keep it strong and beautiful for years. Also available with a bent shaft.
BLADE MATERIAL: WOOD • SHAFT MATERIAL: WOOD • AVAILABLE LENGTHS: 52"-60" • WEIGHT: 19 OZ
BENDINGBRANCHES.COM | $140 USD • $180 CAD
10500010
SAWYER PADDLES AND OARS
Ranger X Canoe Paddle
The Ranger X is a heavy-duty expedition and whitewater canoe paddle featuring a modern teardrop blade
profile intended for long trips and heavy use. This tough paddle has a dual tapered Douglas Fir wood shaft
reinforced with carbon fiber and fiberglass X-Weave for extreme durability. Delivers real power to the carbon
fiber and fiberglass-reinforced Ponderosa pine blade. Now available in an 11-degree bent shaft option.
BLADE MATERIAL: WOOD • SHAFT MATERIAL: WOOD • AVAILABLE LENGTHS: 50"-64" • WEIGHT: 27 OZ
PADDLESANDOARS.COM | $145 USD
10000010
SAWYER PADDLES AND OARS
Voyageur
The Sawyer Voyager canoe paddle is a pleasure to behold, and if you get your hands on one, you'll feel the water
as never before. Crafted from laminated western red cedar and Douglas fir wood. The blade is reinforced with
fiberglass and trimmed in Dynel ToughEdge, an impact and abrasion protection usually reserved for extreme
whitewater blades. A prime companion for all your wilderness adventures.
BLADE MATERIAL: WOOD • SHAFT MATERIAL: WOOD • AVAILABLE LENGTHS: 48"-60" • WEIGHT: 20 OZ
PADDLESANDOARS.COM | $165 USD
10000009
WERNER PADDLES
Bandit Carbon

The Bandit Carbon is an aggressive spooned canoe paddle for technical river runners and slalom canoeists.
Performance and reliability are the goal for Werner’s whitewater canoe paddles.
BLADE MATERIAL: CARBON COMPOSITE • SHAFT MATERIAL: CARBON COMPOSITE • AVAILABLE LENGTHS: 48"-64" • WEIGHT: 24.3 OZ
WERNERPADDLES.COM | $230 USD • $294 CAD
9800005


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TRANSPORT, STORAGE & LAUNCHING
HARKEN HOISTER
Harken Hoister for Canoes
Harken Hoister easily stores your canoe overhead, freeing up
valuable wall and floor space. The patented block-and-tackle system
lifts all four points evenly to keep a boat stable and balanced. An
integrated, self-locking cleat engages automatically if you let go of the
rope. Systems include stainless steel pulleys, metal buckles and all
the hardware needed for installation. Canoe systems support loads
from a minimum of 15 pounds up to 200 pounds.
HOISTER.COM | $118 USD • $156 CAD
13300003





THE KAYAK CART
4WH-Canoe Cart
The 4WH-Canoe Cart
is designed to enable
a single person handling
a canoe both right side
and upside down. The molded
co-polymer frame fits most canoes. All four wheels are hard plastic
and 10 by two inches in size. The attachment is accomplished by a
single strap around the seat or thwart and coupled by a snap buckle.
Weighs 6.15 pounds. Dimensions: 15 by 33 by 10 inches.
THEKAYAKCART.COM | $100 USD • $134 CAD
21700002















TRAILEX
Six Canoe Carrier
This aluminum trailer has a 1,000-pound capacity and weighs 305
pounds. It is fully adjustable for carrying six canoes up to 18 feet in
length. Features standard adjustable crossbars with vinyl extrusions
to protect your boats. Standard with 12-inch galvanized wheels and
aluminum fenders. Shown with optional storage box. Offers seven
feet and eight inches between uprights.
TRAILEX.COM | $3,528 USD
15400022
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BAGS, BOXES, CASES & PACKS ACCESSORIES
























ALGONQUIN OUTFITTERS NORTH WATER NORTH WATER
Ballistic Canoe Pack Quick Haul Harness Airbag Tie Down Kit
The Algonquin Outfitters line of Ballistic Canoe Portage your 30-liter or 60-liter canoe barrel This tie-down kit can be used to secure two large
Packs have a long heritage born and bred in the comfortably and securely with this innovative end bags in a solo boat or two small bow and stern
backcountry of Algonquin Park. Developed harness. The unique barrel-cradling belt system bags and one large center bag in a tandem boat. It
exclusively for the demanding outfitting and spreads the load across your lower back and holds keeps airbags firmly in place and accommodates
rental needs of one of the largest outfitters in the barrel, or other objects, away from your spine any size or shape of airbag. Includes two center
North America, you're guaranteed to find these for optimal comfort. Easily rig your harness straps, two D-rings with one-inch side-squeeze
packs rugged and functional. Featuring a padded with four intuitive primary straps. Features a buckles, four front straps, eight lightweight
shoulder and hip belt, side compression straps, top luxuriously wide, dual-density foam waist belt and D-rings, 28 lacing eyelets, 28 stainless screws and
and bottom grab handles and a top flap pocket. four micro adjustments to refine your fit. Heavy- washers and 50 feet of paraline.
Available in three sizes. duty carry handles top and bottom. NORTHWATER.COM | $100 USD • $130 CAD
ALGONQUINOUTFITTERS.COM | $160 CAD NORTHWATER.COM | $127 USD • $165 CAD 22900010
23600001 22900001

















NORTH WATER
Barrel Cooler (30 L or 60 L)
Two sizes of insulated Barrel Coolers help keep NORTH WATER NORTH WATER
TriBags
cold things cold on hot days. Each size works Custom Canoe Spray Deck
on its own, or with its appropriate blue barrel in Organize every cubic inch of your barrel. The Make your favorite canoe safer, more seaworthy,
tandem with the TriBags, Barrel Caddy and Barrel TriBag is designed so two sets of three bags easier to paddle and more fun—whether for your
Accessory Roll systems to provide the perfect stacked will fit perfectly into a 60-liter blue big-water expedition of a lifetime, your growing
configurations for before, during and after your barrel. Alternatively, you can use one set in family or a casual after-work cruise. Each deck
trip. Choose the large for a 60-liter barrel or small tandem with North Water’s large Barrel Cooler has useful, reliable standard features as well as
for a 30-liter barrel. Seam-taped inner lining and Barrel Accessory Roll. The triangular numerous options and custom features. North
and insulation are removable for easy cleaning. shape optimizes voids created by round bags. Water can design your deck the way you want it.
Collapsible when empty. Colored handles and a clear label pocket ease NORTHWATER.COM | $541 USD • $702 CAD
NORTHWATER.COM | $103 USD • $134 CAD identification. Not just for canoe tripping, it’s the 22900002
22900009 perfect shape for touring and sea kayaking too.
NORTHWATER.COM | $110 USD • $143 CAD
22900006

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BENNY MARR CAPTURED IN A SURREAL INFRARED
LANDSCAPE. INFRARED LIGHT IS PART OF THE
ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM BUT INVISIBLE TO
THE HUMAN EYE. PHOTO: DANIEL STEWART



















































































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WHITEWATER


RAPID




M AG A Z I N E
E S T . 1 999












118




DEBUNKED
Pro boaters on whitewater’s
most dangerous myths.


121
MASTER CLASS

You’re never too old to be a white-
water world champion, and these
veteran paddlers prove it.


122

CREEKER’S HANDBOOK
The ultimate guide to buying your
first—or next—creek boat.



114 Shorts
115 Alchemy
117 Slide


WHITEWATER BUYER’S GUIDE
127 Freestyle
127 River Play
127 River Runner
128 Whitewater Canoes
128 Inflatables
130 Packrafts
131 Rafts
131 PFDs
132 Paddles
133 Technical Outerwear


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WHITEWATER

DANIEL STEWART
Daniel is an outdoor adventure pho-
tographer based in Revelstoke, British
Columbia. Along with being the lead
photographer at Selkirk Tangiers Heli
Skiing, he shoots top athletes in skiing,
snowboarding, whitewater kayaking
and cycling. See Daniel’s gift for turn-
ing a day on the river into something
extraordinary on page 110.

JEFF JACKSON
Jeff has contributed to every issue of
Rapid magazine since way back in 1999.
Guiding on rivers has taken him from
the Yukon to China, and his Alchemy
column explores the values and lessons
a life on the water brings. When not
teaching outdoor ed at Algonquin Col-
lege near the Ottawa River, Jeff spends
his time guiding, fly fishing, building
mountain bike trails, and doing safety
and risk management research.

LOUISE STANWAY

Driven by her passion for whitewater
and words, you’ll likely find Louise in
one of two places: at her Rapid Me-
dia desk writing and sharing stories on
all that’s trending in paddlesports, or
out on the river playing in her kayak.
Louise is based out of Paddling Maga-
zine’s mountainside office in Revelstoke,
British Columbia. On page 114, Louise
shares some river shorts.

MARISSA TIEL
An award-winning photojournalist
and writer, Marissa is also a former
LIGHT ENOUGH whitewater slalom racer. On page 121,
she writes about the whitewater ath-
TO GO ANYWHERE, letes continuing to crush their compe-
tition well into middle age. Recently,
STRONG ENOUGH Marissa took up thru-hiking and has
completed both the Pacific Crest Trail
FOR ANYTHING. and the Great Divide Trail. Find her on
Twitter and Instagram: @marissatiel.

HIGH PERFORMANCE NICK GOTTLIEB
WHITEWATER SERIES Nick is a writer and photographer liv-
ing in the whitewater kayaking mecca
of Squamish, British Columbia. He
works to blend outdoor adventure
storytelling with a climate and environ-
mental consciousness. He shares top
tips for finding the perfect creek boat
for your next adventure on page 122.
KOKOPELLIPACKRAFT.COM
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aire.com | 844.243.2473

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WHITEWATER







RIVER SHORTS
From Scratch



With paper, plastic, patience and leftover parts,
Konrad Van Varseveld builds his very own boat.
And then another one. by louise stanway
UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA engineering student
Konrad Van Varseveld has never shied away from a DIY challenge.
After recently building a hydrospeed (a whitewater riverboard) out
of an old whitewater creek boat shell, he decided to upcycle the
kayak outfitting too. “I figured I could probably build a new kayak
to put the outfitting in,” he said. 
Determined not to let the idea fall into the drawer of winter-
projects-I’ll-never-get-to, the 20-something boater let these leftover,
odd bits serve as kindling for his next upcycled creation. 
Van Varseveld paid close attention to edge and rocker design and
assembled multiple paper prototypes until all the pieces fit together
seamlessly. Once he had found what he thought to be the winning
combination, he traced the outlines onto high-density polyethylene
sheets before cutting them out and beginning the plastic welding
process. He then transplanted the cockpit rim from the dismem-
bered creeker. All told, the build took him about 60 hours.
Van Varseveld took the new kayak for a test ride down his local class
III. He bumped a few rocks, hit a few boofs, and yet the homemade
kayak endured. “This first kayak project went well, but after hiking five
laps of the Clearwater River’s Pink Mountain Wave without catching it
once, I decided to build a faster boat. The second design is narrower,
longer and slicier in the stern, making it well suited for green wave PHOTO: COURTESY KONRAD VAN VARSEVELD
surfing.” Watch the video of Van Varseveld’s build at paddlingmag.
com/0113.

VERSION 1. PHOTO: COURTESY KONRAD VAN VARSEVELD






OETZ TROPHY: NEW RACE REPLACES SICKLINE

THE INAUGURAL Oetz Trophy extreme kayak race to one of whitewater’s most prestigious events: Adidas
saw its debut in Tirol, Austria, on October 31, 2021. The Sickline Extreme Kayak World Championship. When
world’s best whitewater paddlers charged their way support was pulled by the event’s title sponsors back in
down the technical, class V rapids of the Wellerbrücke 2017, it left a gaping hole in elite racers’ calendars.
section of the Ötztaler Ache River, hoping to score the After some extensive brainstorming, numerous
fastest time and earn the champion title. discussions with athletes and important players in the
If this is the first time you’ve heard of Oetz Trophy, Ötztal, the small team of enthusiasts came together and
PHOTO: JAKOBI MILOS/OETZ TROPHY Austria. The coaching staff consists of avid kayakers akers still flocked in from around the world to battle for a
the championship was reborn with a new name. And
you’re not alone. The event is the recent brainchild of
despite it being its inception year, household name kay-
the team at Source To Sea Kayak School in Innsbruck,
spot on the Oetz Trophy podium. In 2021, Dane Jackson
who spend long summers playing and teaching on
their home river in the Ötztal valley.
(USA) and Laura Hofberger (Germany) snagged the
wins. The next Oetz Trophy race takes place September
This valley isn’t a hidden gem, though. For years it
was very much on the map for kayakers around the
Extreme Kayak Championships. —LS
globe who came to know and love the river playing host 22-25, 2022, and has been chosen to host the European
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ILLUSTRATION: ISTOCKPHOTO.COM









BEAR SPRAY &
BLIZZARDS THE PRICE TO MAKE IT A

Nouria Newman recently REALITY IS TIME, EFFORT,
embarked on an epic trip in the SACRIFICE AND SWEAT.
—USAIN BOLT
mountains of Squamish, British PHOTO: ROB FAUBERT
Columbia, to be the first person to
paddle the Pitt River. To access the
remote river it required a two-and- ALCHEMY
a-half day solo hike and traversing
a mountain pass—in the Dreams Are Cheap
middle of winter.
Knowing she would be
bushwhacking in bear country, But it takes three types of paddlers to make ‘em a reality
Newman had clipped bear spray to by jeff jackson
her PFD. It didn’t take long for the
bear spray trigger to catch the low- I HAVE A FRIEND WHO LOVES TO PLAN TRIPS. being achievable, realistic and timely. Once a plan is
hanging branches that were slap- The ratio of trips planned versus taken is probably in play, it directs attention, time and money, all with
ping at her face and gear. Tsssst. 10:1. Whether remote expeditions in foreign countries the intention of getting closer to the put-in.
“It burns!” said Newman as she or unlikely routes close to home, planning trips is what I dream of paddling the Firth River in northern
recounted being sprayed with her he does for fun. There is always a route in the works Yukon, during its brief Arctic summer window, or
own bear repellent. The active with miles measured, logistics considered and maps the Selway River in Idaho with its notoriously difficult
ingredient in bear spray, capsaicin, spread out on the desk that they are eager to discuss. permit lottery—but they are just dreams. I love the
causes burning and instant inflam- Occasionally, a trip comes out of it. idea of both trips, but I’m not putting my name in
mation of eyes, nose, throat and There’s no right way to plan an adventure. The fa- the Selway permit draw and will never run the river
lung tissues. “The problem with a mous mountaineer and explorer Eric Shipton, whose unless I do. If either of those trips dropped in my lap,
loaded kayak in the forest is that journeys spanned the globe from the 1930s through I would jump on them, but I’m not the one who will
you cannot go anywhere if you’re to the early ‘70s, said, “Every good expedition can be make them happen. Wow-worthy as they would be,
not looking and breathing.” planned on a bar napkin.” I have some other plans.
Despite the literal obstacles in I have a group of friends who dispense with the The 100-mile upper Missinaibi River in north-
her path, Newman managed to de- napkin altogether and just go, planning be damned. ern Ontario is at the top of my list. I have the maps,
liver her gluey-eyed self to the river. Some are lucky if both a sprayskirt and helmet make collected beta on the raft-ability of the significant
She even ran into a bear when she it to the put-in, let alone a map or first aid kit. These drops, roughed out the camp locations, and sorted
got there. Thankfully the bear didn’t folks tend to stick to local day-run adventures, but I the logistics. Of course, it helps that this river is only
seem too interested in her. have also seen the throw-all-the-stuff-in-a-garbage a day’s drive from my home. The next step is to carve
“The Pitt wasn’t the best bag gong show on multiday trips. out the time this summer or next. A float trip on the
whitewater, but with the right Say what you will about the method; they do get historic Hayes River in northern Manitoba is also
flow, it has potential,” Newman out a lot. planned, waiting for the right time to make it happen.
reflected. Despite the fear, pain And don’t forget the dreamers. Dreamers tend to There are dreamers, planners and doers, and some-
and unfulfilled river expectations, have the longest and boldest list of rivers to run, with times each of us needs to be a little of all three to get
Newman still rates the first descent unbridled enthusiasm for each one. But the difference to the put-in. Waiting for dreams to drop into our
trip as “a very good mission” and between a dream and a plan is substantial. Dreams laps or major plans to come together means a lot of
is scheming up her next spicy don’t direct resources—it’s all ideas, emotion and unpaddled days and a lot of dreams never realized.
adventure. Watch the video at pad- potential, and often little action. Real trip planning After all, a bar napkin is all it takes to make a trip
dlingmag.com/0114. —LS is more like goal setting, focused on the specifics and happen. And for some, not even that.


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BOOMER NOTCHING A FIRST
DESCENT ON BAFFIN ISLAND.
PHOTO: SARAH MCNAIR-LANDRY


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SLIDE
Meta Incognita


Arctic first descents on epic backyard exploration
by erik boomer

NO HIKE IS TOO FAR to paddle some sweet whitewater. During
summer 2020, Sarah McNair-Landry and I set out to cross the Meta
Incognita Peninsula on southern Baffin Island. Our 40-kilometer
hiking route connected four unrun rivers in the Canadian Arctic.
When traveling in the Arctic, it’s important to be completely self-
sufficient, prepared for bad weather and expect delays. We started the
trip with 20 days of food and fuel, which meant our kayaks were loaded
with 110 pounds of meals and gear—more than I had ever taken on a
kayak-hike trip before. We also carried a 12-gauge shotgun, bear alarm
fence and a solar panel, which accounted for some of the brutal weight.
Baffin Island is home to polar bears, and we needed to be prepared.
The Meta Incognita Peninsula separates Sarah’s hometown of
Iqaluit, the capital of Nunavut, and the small community of Kim-
mirut. The peninsula’s plateau rises about 2,000 feet high and
features hundreds of freshwater lakes feeding the many rivers
descending through the south coast. On flights into Iqaluit, I would
occasionally get a glimpse of waterfalls on the peninsula and always
wondered what those rivers would be like to paddle. Since travel
was erratic in 2020 with pandemic restrictions, we decided it was
time to find out what was in our backyard.
From the ocean, we spent two days hiking uphill. At first, our
loads were too heavy to carry all at once, so we broke them into
two. The only downside to dividing the gear in half is we had to
walk three times the distance to cover the same route.
After a lot of hard work and sweat, we reached a series of lakes
leading us to the first river. It felt good to be paddling downstream
even though we didn’t expect many rapids at first, based on our
scouting via satellite images. This low-volume river was our high-
way to access three more rivers that showed even more whitewater
potential, based on what we could see on satellite images.
To our surprise, this first river picked up speed and pinched
through a small gorge with class V drops. The first two falls led
into a large turbulent pool and another waterfall just downstream
with a nasty undercut and no way to set safety properly.
Fortunately, a microeddy on the right gave me the option to
run the upper section. I managed to get out, portage around the
dangerous rapid, and seal launch back in. Sarah set safety. With her
throw line bag in one hand, she snapped this photograph before
portaging around the canyon.
Not long after this surprise canyon, we hauled our kayaks onto
our shoulders and hiked seven kilometers up and over into the
next river drainage.
Before departing on this trip, the only information we could get on
these remote arctic rivers was from low-resolution satellite images and
rudimentary topographical maps. We were rolling into the unknown,
which is what I love the most about these exploratory expeditions.

In June 2022, Erik Boomer and Sarah McNair-Landry set out on
another 70-day multisport adventure, their third Baffin Island
summer vacation.


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THE LIST
Danger Zone



Eight of the worst whitewater myths, according to pros




That you don’t need to learn certain basic skills Being a class which-ever-number paddler. There That you are safer in a group. A group can also give
because “you won’t need them .” Learn to get in is no such thing as being a class V boater. Some you a feeling of safety which makes you either fuck
or out of your kayak in hard places, learn to hand days you can run class V, some days you can’t. up more or push harder than you should. You find
roll well, practice surfing out of features, and learn —Nouria Newman out real fast where you stand if you go up ahead.
how to catch harder eddies. Every bit of skill you —Mariann Saether
add makes you safer on the water.
—Dane Jackson Every myth is there for a reason. The danger-
ous part is how many people try to convince you The most dangerous myth is people think it’s
something is a bad idea. At the end of the day, a game for young people. I got into whitewa-
If you can’t spit, you shouldn’t run it.  if you and the crew want to give it a try, then it’s ter when I was 30 and, at 47, I am running class
—Benny Marr worth going for. V consistently. Last year, I competed for my first
—Mike Dawson time at both North Fork Championship and the
Green Race. I have students who started kayaking
in their 50s and students in their 70s who con-
“Waterfalls are easy; you just tuck up and fall off the thing!” Waterfalls are the most dangerous discipline tinue to run class III. It’s never too late. 
of kayaking. The tiniest mistake can be the difference between a perfect line and a broken back. I have —Melissa DeMarie
unfortunately learned this lesson twice, and I am not keen on learning it again.
—Brooke Hess


“You can only run it blind once.”

The statement might be true,

but it’s dangerous. Don’t be
ashamed to get out and scout.


—Nick Troutman
















MYTH (NOUN): 1) AN UNFOUNDED
OR FALSE NOTION. 2) A COLLEAGUE
WHO REGULARLY VANISHES DURING
OFFICE HOURS. AS IN, “HAS ANYONE
SEEN BILLY? HE IS A SUCH A MYTH.”
PHOTO: DANIEL STEWART







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SHINE ON YOU CRAZY DIAMOND.
PHOTO: PETER HOLCOMBE
















































































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FLUSHED
Just A Number



Why you're never too old to be a whitewater world champion by marissa tiel



LAST SUMMER, four-time freestyle world kayaking—also peak in their early 20s, according to great minds in sports medicine. They recom-
champion Eric Jackson took up training for a to the same research. mended more rest and recovery, and phasing his
new discipline. He was eyeing a spot on the U.S. You don’t want to do most sports forever, ac- training to peak precisely when he needed to.
extreme slalom team. cording to Jackson, who grew up as a competitive Ford has always been quick to adapt to the
Jackson trained with his 28-year-old son, Dane, swimmer. “Do you want to swim back and forth in shifting sport of whitewater slalom, and he
ahead of trials. Part of their training was head- a chlorinated pool looking at a black line and then credits the ability to change for allowing him to
to-head paddling on flatwater. In most cases, when you get to the T on the other side, you turn remain competitive for so long. Even as boats
Jackson was as fast or faster than his son. around and return and just do it over and over for got shorter and courses tightened, he remained
At 58, he’s now the oldest member of the U.S. 50 years, 40 years, 30 years,” he says. “You want one of the top male slalom kayakers in the coun-
national team after qualifying for the newly-added to do it to prove you can be the best, then you try, in its deepest field. “The key has been to just
extreme slalom event. People keep asking him if get there and it’s like, man, wouldn’t I love to go not stop moving,” he told one reporter ahead of
he’ll retire. kayaking or skiing and do something fun.” his final world championship in 2017.
“Why would you want to retire if you’re having There are many reasons why athletes choose But toward the end of Ford’s competitive sla-
fun doing it,” Jackson says. to leave high-performance sport: career, mar- lom career, the kids who grew up in the shorter
The questions kept coming. Wasn’t he finding riage, kids and injury are the most common. slalom boats were catching up. “They were able
it harder to recover? Not really. He started paying Why they stay is clear, especially if they’re able to do things I could do, but they were doing it
more attention to who was asking the questions. to organize their lives around paddling. Jackson just with instinct,” Ford says. “I had to think about
“They weren’t working out,” he says. “They weren’t traveled between rivers with his young family in a it, and the slight amount of thinking about it just
athletes anymore.” giant RV, while two-time extreme kayaking world made it tougher.”
From running whitewater to honing their skills champion Mariann Saether follows the paddling While Ford is now retired from slalom paddling,
on the slalom course, kayakers flock to the sport season south with her family. They split their time he’s still out on the water at least four times a week.
for many reasons. But what keeps them on the between the road, their home in Norway and their One discipline that hasn’t seen much growth
river is a never-ending supply of fun, challenge and riverside home in Chile. is squirt boating. The low-volume boat remains a
life-long learning. And as long as your skills remain “I never get bored in my kayak,” says Saether, favorite for Canadian freestyle team member Matt
sharp, you can compete at a high-performance who learned to paddle more than 25 years ago. Hamilton. He’s currently qualified to represent the
level for decades. Now 41, Saether won her world titles at age 35 country at the next world championships in 2022
At what age are high-performance whitewater and 39. While she participated in a whirlwind of and was also part of the squirt boat contingent
paddlers typically peaking? There isn’t much activities growing up in Norway, kayaking has her Canada sent to Spain in 2019, who were all over 30.
scientific data about whitewater kayaking, but heart. There are younger paddlers participating
we can look to the sport’s Olympic discipline for “I got pretty good on a snowboard, [at] in squirt, says Hamilton, 46. They just aren’t
some clues. In a 2016 paper, researchers analyzed handball, I even did synchronized swimming and performing as well in competitions. So veteran
the ages of top performers in 40 sports at the baton-twirling,” she adds. “It all got boring. But out paddlers like Hamilton, who have more than three
2012 London Olympics. The top 10 athletes in on the river, I am never bored.” decades of experience on the water, continue to
canoeing, which didn’t separate flatwater and David Ford made the Canadian whitewater compete at world championship levels.
whitewater events, had an average age of 27.5 slalom team for the first time in 1984. Thirty-three Hamilton, who lives a few minutes from the
for women and 27.8 for men. The youngest solo years later, he qualified for his final national team take-out on the Ottawa River, says he’s putting
athlete was Australia’s Jessica Fox, 18, who took in 2017 at age 50. time in on the water. In 2021, he logged more than
home silver in women’s K-1, while the oldest Ford is a five-time Olympian and in 1999, at age 100 days in his boat.
athlete on the podium was 34-year-old Tony 32, became the first non-European paddler to win The idea of just putting the time in has served
Estanguet of France, who won gold in men’s C-1 a men’s K1 title at a slalom world championship. fellow freestyle kayaker Jackson well throughout
slalom. He loved being on the water, training and the his career. “If you are an athlete focused on that
Swimmers, in contrast, peak in their early 20s. puzzle of high performance: what pieces can you part of it, the physical side of it,” he says, “and
Gymnasts, divers and BMX cyclists—all sports add and subtract to give you an edge? As he got you don’t let it go, you maintain it, it doesn’t just
requiring flexibility and acrobatics, like freestyle older, those pieces changed, and he gained access go away.”


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Creeker’s
HANDBOOK











What you need to know before buying a new—or new to you—creek boat by nick gottlieb



CREEK BOATS HAVE COME A LONG WAY since 1973, when Tom
and Jamie McEwan attempted the first descent of North Carolina’s
Linville Gorge in fiberglass slalom boats. Plastic kayaks first hit
the market around the same time. But it wasn’t until 1986 that the
Perception Dancer really kicked off the revolution and changed
the course of kayaking.
Since then, whitewater boats have gone through all sorts of per-
mutations. The modern creek boat emerged in the mid-1990s.
Creek boats got short for a time; now they’re getting longer again.
They went from round displacement hulls to flat-bottomed planing
hulls and then got rounder again. And what they’re used for has
changed, too. Creek boats aren’t just for hair boaters anymore. Now
they are paddled by boaters of all skill levels on all types of rivers.
So, what is a creek boat these days? And is a creek boat right for
you? Probably, yes. Read on to find out for sure.














































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CREEKERS FOR ALL

CREEK BOATS generally make challenging whitewater way. The stability and predictability of this category
more manageable, and that’s true whether you’re crush- also make creek boats a top choice for some paddlers
ing class V or a beginner looking to step up to class III. on difficult, high-volume whitewater. Those same
The term creek boat is an allusion to creeking— attributes are also valuable for helping beginner and
paddling steep, low-volume whitewater. Modern creek intermediate paddlers feel confident and step up
boats typically have high-volume designs, displace- their game. Finally, a creek boat’s higher volume and
ment hulls and rounded ends to charge downriver relatively larger size also make it an ideal kayak for
and not get hung up in or on river features on the carrying gear on multiday river trips.



CREEKBOATS DEFINED


ONE OF THE MOST COMMON QUESTIONS new pad-
dlers ask is, “What’s the difference between a playboat, river
runner and creek boat?” Playboats are short, low volume
and designed for surfing, freestyle moves and play in place.
River runners form an increasingly blurry category situated
between playboats and creek boats. Some river runners, like
Jackson’s Antix, are more similar to playboats but have more
rocker and length for better capability on downriver runs.
Others, like the LiquidLogic Braaap, share a lot in common
with creek boats but have a specific design element, like
a slicey stern, encouraging play on river features. Speed
and playability are two features prioritized in current river
runner design trends. PLAYBOAT RIVER RUNNER CREEK BOAT
Most major whitewater kayak brands manufacture one or
more creek boat models. There are differences in boat design Hybridization with a flat bottom planing hull is becom-
when comparing models, but the basics of the modern creek ing more common. Planing hulls are relatively flat laterally
boat are consistent enough to be lumped together. They’re and have more defined edges. Planing hulls can turn more
typically eight to nine feet long, high volume with lots of sharply but are also more susceptible to catching an edge,
rocker, and designed for downriver efficiency. whether on an unexpected current or a rock.
The primary design elements differentiating creek boat Many of today’s creek boats feature a high-rocker displace-
models from each another are rocker profile, amount and ment-style bow paired with a planing-style stern with hard
distribution of volume, and hull shape. chines and an abrupt change in stern rocker that Benedict
You might be familiar with the concept of rocker profile. calls “stern kick rocker.” Each manufacturer’s rendition of
If you are looking at a boat from the side, its rocker profile this style varies and paddles differently.
defines where and how much the stern and bow rise. A boat Volume is the third characteristic feature of creek boats. A
with a large, continuous rocker profile would be shaped like high-volume kayak will quickly resurface. The high-volume
a banana. In practice, rocker is distributed unevenly through- bow and stern typical of creek boats reduce the chances of
out a boat’s profile. The distribution and amount of rocker either end submerging. Creek boats will be more forgiving
are important characteristics helping determine the speed, when the paddler is in the lower end of the weight range.
maneuverability and other performance aspects of the kayak. When looking at the manufacturer’s optimal weight range,
Many of today’s creek boats have embraced an aggressive don’t forget to account for the added weight of gear, especially
amount of bow rocker. According to long-time Liquid- if using the kayak for multiday missions.
logic Kayaks designer Shane Benedict,
“The trend right now is rocker. All the
new boats have lots of rocker.” More bow
rocker makes boofing easier and keeps the
paddler drier and moving faster through
waves. But more bow rocker shortens the LOW ROCKER
waterline reducing the boat’s overall speed.
The cross-sectional side-to-side shape
WARNING: CREEK BOATING IS of the hull also affects performance. Most
ADDICTIVE. PADDLERS MAY
EXPERIENCE EMOTIONAL HIGHS modern creek boats feature displacement
AFTER EXPOSURE. hulls. The round bottom of displacement
PHOTO: NICK GOTTLIEB
hulls slide off rocks more easily and are
usually more forgiving. HIGH ROCKER


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PHOTO: NICK GOTTLIEB


WHAT’S INSIDE

MOST CREEK BOATS, like the rest safety, or more adjustable to fit as many In terms of safety, modern creek
of whitewater kayaks, are made from people as quickly as possible. boats from reputable brands come with USED CREEK BOAT
rotomolded high-density polyethylene. If you’re considering multiday trips, two bow and three stern grab handles. BUYING TIPS
Polyethylene is a resilient plastic suited it’s important to be able to pack gear into Most are metal, reinforced, angled and Kayaks can last decades, so
for the abuse creek boats suffer on river the boat easily. The boat’s outfitting con- shaped to clip into easily. Safety step- there’s no reason not to consider
rocks. To make the kayak, plastic pellets tributes to this in a few ways. First, some out pillars are a reasonably new idea buying used. That said, used
are poured into a hollow metal mold creek boats allow you to remove the replacing minicell foam pillars in the kayaks come in all sorts of condi-
and then heated and rotated in a mas- bulkhead easily and pack gear in front bow. Two things here: The boat is less tions. Of course, you want to be
sive oven to distribute the now-molten of it. This is a great feature, but it’s not a likely to crush and trap your legs; and, sure you’re paying a reasonable
plastic throughout the mold. The trick dealbreaker—many people self-support if pinned, you can step on them and price for the number of days
is to get the right amount of plastic to without packing gear in front. step out of the boat. you’re likely to get out of the boat.
be crazy durable but not stupid heavy. Access behind the seat varies from Creek boats have bulkheads, not foot Try to ascertain how much
After it has cooled, the mold is removed boat to boat, too. While it’s good pegs. It’s a good practice to cover the the person selling the boat has
to reveal a perfectly cast kayak requiring enough in virtually all creek boats, bulkhead with minicell foam to cushion paddled it and on what kind
only light hand-finishing for outfitting some models and designs will be easier your ankles from impact and prevent of whitewater. If you’re buying
and accessories. to work with. Ultimately, it depends on your feet from slipping past the edges a pro paddler’s year-old creek
Speaking of accessories, comfort the hardware at the back of the seat, and of the bulkhead and getting trapped. boat, the odds are good they’ve
matters. Creek boating is not like the space between the seat and the top Some kayaks ship with this pre-in- used and abused it and even if
playboating at a local surf spot where of the hull behind the cockpit. Either stalled foam, other manufacturers it isn’t cracked, it might be close.
you’re typically taking a few rides and test your gear to see if it will fit or be provide adjustable foam blocks to glue When I lived on the East Coast,
then getting out for a break. If you’re prepared to change your packing list to your bulkhead. Dagger’s bulkheads, paddling 150 to 200 days a year,
paddling a creek boat, you’ll likely be and system to suit your new boat. for example, can be adjusted to fit the I would break about one boat
in it a decent amount of time, especially No kayak outfitting is more robust hull’s shape and come with pre-marked a year, regardless of brand. If
on longer trips or multiday expeditions. than creek boat outfitting. Things we’ve foam pads. If your boat doesn’t come a boat has been paddled con-
Today’s boaters are lucky. Outfitting learned about durability and safety have with foam on the bulkhead, consider sistently on hard, lower volume
has never been better for comfort and been filtering down into river runners. buying some and adding it yourself. whitewater, odds are it’s near its
breaking point.
You can also assess this by
looking at the boat. Is there oil
THANKS TO DESIGN IMPROVEMENTS IN COMFORT canning, an indentation under
AND SAFETY, IT'S A GREAT TIME TO BE A BOATER. the seat? Is the hull heavily
PHOTO: DANIEL STEWART
worn? Is the outfitting torn, worn
and falling apart? Are there any
major dents in the boat or any
other evidence of a catastrophic
piton? Look closely at any areas
around dents that might harbor
a small crack.
Old boats lose strength over
time, especially if stored in the
sun. Even if a boat hasn’t paddled
extensively, its age could be
an issue, so ask when it was
originally purchased and where
it’s been stored. A popular design
could have been in production for
10 years. A well-used boat isn’t
necessarily a “don’t buy”—it’s just
a question of price and value.
Lastly, when you buy one,
make sure to check that all the
grab loops are securely attached.
In the event of a pin, it could be
a lifesaver. And while you’re at it,
as you’re setting up your outfit-
ting, be sure to tighten all your
seat bolts.


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TOP MISTAKE WHEN BUYING A CREEKER

YOU CAN DO ALL THE RESEARCH about rocker
profile, volume and hull shape. You can read the
reviews in this magazine. You can watch all the trend- EACH CREEK BOAT MODEL WILL
ing videos on YouTube. But each creek boat model PERFORM SLIGHTLY DIFFERENTLY ON
DIFFERENT TYPES OF WHITEWATER.
will perform slightly differently on different types PHOTO: DAN STEWART
of whitewater. For example: Sharp edges can be less
forgiving in rocky whitewater; aggressive rocker can
make it harder to hold a line but much easier to boof;
and a longer, bigger boat might be faster and more
stable but may feel less maneuverable in low-volume,
tight, technical whitewater.
The best way to tell what boat is right for you is
to paddle it. The biggest mistake is buying a creek
boat without paddling it. “Figure out how you can
get into a boat, ideally on the section of whitewater
you run most often,” says Canadian pro paddler Ben
Marr. He adds that it’s all about the feel of the boat
and finding something suitable and fun for you on
the whitewater you want to paddle.
Not all paddlers have a quiver of kayaks to choose
from, so whatever you purchase, make sure it’s a kayak
that makes you want to paddle more.

Find the best whitewater kayaks of the year starting
on page 127.





DAVE FUSILLI
LITTLE WHITE SALMON
KALOB GRADY





















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Dagger’s latest creation is a fusion of the ever-popular
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P A D D L IN G M A G A Z IN E

WHITEWATER BUYER ’ S G UID E SEE THESE
PRODUCTS ONLINE





FREESTYLE
JACKSON KAYAK
NEW Rockstar V
Jackson is proud to continue its legacy of making freestyle boats with the Rockstar V. Jackson’s
goal when designing this boat was to combine the best qualities of its favorite older playboats with
a sweet, new shape that will make everyone excited about playboating. The Rockstar V makes it
easier to have more fun in every type of play environment. Waves, holes, flatwater and downriver
just got awesome.
LENGTH: 5'8" • WIDTH: 26" • WEIGHT: 29 LBS • CAPACITY: 240 LBS • VOLUME: 59 GAL
JACKSONKAYAK.COM | $1,599 USD • $2,037 CAD
4100036

RIVER PLAY
DAGGER
NEW Nova
Dagger is turning back the clock to a time when play was paddling and paddling
was play. Loosey goosey on the waves, choppy in the hole, yet freakishly
comfortable—the all-new Nova and SuperNova are coming from the stratosphere.
LENGTH: 7'4.5" • WIDTH: 24.75" • WEIGHT: 32.5 LBS • CAPACITY: 180 LBS • VOLUME: 46 GAL
DAGGER.COM | $1,919 USD • $1,499 CAD
200039


DAGGER
NEW Supernova
Dagger is turning back the clock to a time when play was paddling and
paddling was play. Loosey goosey on the waves, choppy in the hole, yet
freakishly comfortable—the all-new Nova and SuperNova are coming from
the stratosphere.
LENGTH: 7'8.5" • WIDTH: 27" • WEIGHT: 34.5 LBS • CAPACITY: 225 LBS • VOLUME: 55 GAL
DAGGER.COM | $1,919 USD • $1,499 CAD
200040



JACKSON KAYAK
UPDATED Antix 2.0
If you had to pick only one boat to paddle, but still wanted to be able to unlock
all styles of paddling on all styles of rivers, the Antix 2.0 is the boat for you.
With a reshaped, full planing hull, the Antix 2.0 is now faster, squirts with
less effort, and surfs like no other. Great for both rivers and creeks. For all-day
fun on the water, it’s one boat to rule them all.
LENGTH: 7'9" • WIDTH: 26" • WEIGHT: 36 LBS • CAPACITY: 190 LBS • VOLUME: 66 GAL
JACKSONKAYAK.COM | $1,599 USD • $2,037 CAD
4100001

RIVER RUNNER
JACKSON KAYAK
Zen 3.0 M

The Zen platform has been a staple on expeditions and in schools for
its versatility. The Zen 3.0 takes note of the Hero Series and combines
that knowledge with previous Zen designs to produce a shorter, lighter
package that stays on top of the water, has a ton of initial stability and lifts easily
over waves, holes and rocks. It’s a dry, confidence-inspiring ride and doesn’t get grabbed in swirlier situations.
LENGTH: 8'5" • WIDTH: 27" • WEIGHT: 47 LBS • CAPACITY: 220 LBS • VOLUME: 89 GAL
JACKSONKAYAK.COM | $1,599 USD • $2,037 CAD
4100021

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WHITEWATER BUYER ’ S G UID E







WHITEWATER CANOES

BUFFALO CANOES
NEW Buffalo Canoes
Buffalo Canoes takes pride in producing what many whitewater enthusiasts consider to be one of the best 16-foot, all-purpose
tandem and solo whitewater canoes. The new T-Formex plastic layup combined with experienced craftsmanship make this canoe
one of the most popular boats in its class. Durable and versatile enough for any waterway, from whitewater to flatwater. Buffalo
Canoes builds your canoe with the best materials to ensure a lifetime of safety and adventure.
LENGTH: 15' • WIDTH AT GUNWALES: 35" • DEPTH AT BOW: 25" • AT CENTER: 13.75" • AT STERN: 25" • WEIGHT: 72 LBS • CAPACITY: 1200 LBS • MATERIAL: PLASTIC LAMINATE
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23900001



ESQUIF
L’Edge Lite
When it was introduced in 2010, the L’Edge quickly became the benchmark canoe for paddlers
of all skill levels. Whether you are looking to learn the basics, surf your local wave or absolutely style
your favorite steep creek, the L’Edge has something special to offer everyone on every run. Molded for Esquif
by the experts at Liquidlogic Kayaks, you can rest assured you are getting a polyethylene canoe that is as tough as possible.
Available with vinyl gunwales upon request.
LENGTH: 9'2" • WIDTH AT GUNWALES: 29.75" • DEPTH AT CENTER: 16" • WEIGHT: 51 LBS • MATERIAL: ROTOMOLDED PLASTIC
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6900006


INFLATABLES
ADVANCED ELEMENTS
Attack PRO Whitewater Kayak
Fully upgraded with drop stitch technology, you can take on the roughest conditions in the
Attack Pro Whitewater Kayak. With 12 inches of rocker, a wide stance and a 9.5-inch tube diameter,
this self-bailer is stable, responsive and made for whitewater. Featuring thigh straps, a highback seat and
adjustable foot pegs, it weighs in at only 25 pounds, making it light enough for longer portages and a blast on the water.
LENGTH: 9'9" • WIDTH: 35" • WEIGHT: 25.5 LBS • CAPACITY: 225 LBS
ADVANCEDELEMENTS.COM | $870 USD
2500024

AIRE
Force
A Force to be reckoned with on the river, this high-performance inflatable kayak offers advanced
boaters quickness and maneuverability in all kinds of whitewater. Take it to big waves and challenging
holes. More portable and packable than a hardshell boat, it requires little storage space and you can easily transport
it, no roof rack necessary. Multiple thigh strap attachment points in the cockpit and adjustable bow and stern let you
dial in the perfect fit.
LENGTH: 9'6" • WIDTH: 36" • WEIGHT: 32 LBS • CAPACITY: 275 LBS
AIRE.COM | $2,300 USD
2600012


AIRE
Lynx I
AIRE's classic inflatable river runners are nimble and maneuverable, offering incredible
stability and control. This tried-and-true design performs well on big water, creeks and local
river sections. These are all-around whitewater kayaks built for day-long outings and small extended trips.
LENGTH: 10'2" • WIDTH: 37.5" • WEIGHT: 33 LBS • CAPACITY: 350 LBS
AIRE.COM | $1,850 USD
2600014

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AIRE
Outfitter I
Bruisers in big water, the large tube diameter and low seat position make the Outfitter
AIRE’s most stable and forgiving whitewater kayak. Perfect for the novice just getting
a feel for the sport or the big water expert who needs a beefy boat. There’s room for two
in the Outfitter II, or paddle solo and use the extra capacity for gear on extended trips.
LENGTH: 9'11" • WIDTH: 40" • WEIGHT: 36 LBS • CAPACITY: 400 LBS
AIRE.COM | $1,899 USD
2600016


AIRE
UPDATED Spud

Built with stability in mind, the Spud is a great choice for introducing kids to whitewater. It is lightweight,
short and stable, providing a great feel for running waves, punching holes and crossing eddylines.
With its wider dimensions, adults can enjoy a wild, playful boat as well. Updated with an additional color
option in cranberry for 2021.
LENGTH: 7'2" • WIDTH: 35.5" • WEIGHT: 21.5 LBS • CAPACITY: 220 LBS
AIRE.COM | $499 USD
2600018

AIRE
NEW Tater
The Tributary Tater combines downriver capability with playboat geometry.
It’s patterned after AIRE’s popular youth kayak, the Spud. It’s longer than its predecessor
and offers a more adult-friendly load capacity.
LENGTH: 8'4" • WIDTH: 38" • WEIGHT: 24.5 LBS • CAPACITY: 275 LBS
AIRE.COM | $649 USD
2600061



SEA EAGLE
Explorer 300x
The Explorer 300x solo kayak is unbelievably tough, lightweight and incredibly stable.
Sea Eagle’s most responsive kayak for whitewater, 16 open-and-shut floor drains allow
water to rush out when paddling in rapids or surf, and keep you dry in flatwater.
The Explorer 300x is also great for fishing with the optional Swivel Seat Fishing Rig. Made of
1000-denier-reinforced PVC with a drop stitch floor for added stability. Tough enough for class IV rapids.
LENGTH: 9'10" • WIDTH: 39" • WEIGHT: 30 LBS • CAPACITY: 395 LBS
SEAEAGLE.COM | $799 USD
5400003




SEA EAGLE
Explorer 380x
Tackle your adventures in tandem. The 380x is made for one or
two paddlers. Perfect for whitewater adventures in class III or IV rapids,
fishing, long camping trips or a day out in the bay. You can even use a 34-pound-thrust
electric motor. Attach the Sea Eagle Swivel Seat Fishing Rig and cast away. With 16 open-and-shut floor drains,
water will rush out in whitewater as quickly as it enters, yet still keep you completely dry in open waters.
LENGTH: 12'6" • WIDTH: 39" • WEIGHT: 40 LBS • CAPACITY: 750 LBS
SEAEAGLE.COM | $899 USD
5400004
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PACKRAFTS
KOKOPELLI PACKRAFT
Nirvana Self-Bailing
Kokopelli’s premier self-bailing packraft, the Nirvana is engineered to keep you above
the water with an industry leading self-bailing design. This allows water in the boat to drain
automatically as you crush rapids. Designed with a narrow trim, aggressive rocker on the bow
and a large-volume stern, the Nirvana performs best in class I to class III and offers excellent stability.
It weighs 9.2 pounds (4.2 kilograms) and packs down to the size of a sleeping bag.
LENGTH: 7'6" • WIDTH: 37" • WEIGHT: 9.2 LBS • CAPACITY: 300 LBS
KOKOPELLIPACKRAFT.COM | $1,299 USD
4300002




KOKOPELLI PACKRAFT
Recon Self-Bailing
The Recon is the most durable packraft in Kokopelli’s fleet. The Recon Self-Bailing
weighs in at 17.9 pounds and is constructed of a heavier duty PVC for extra durability.
Featuring a full-length inflatable floor, a Leafield D7 valve and thigh strap attachment points,
the Recon is built for performance. The Recon excels on rivers and is a top choice for your favorite
after-work roadside runs.
LENGTH: 7'6" • WIDTH: 37" • WEIGHT: 17.9 LBS • CAPACITY: 300 LBS
KOKOPELLIPACKRAFT.COM | $999 USD
4300008






CATARAFTS
AIRE
Sabertooth
This R2 beast is great for the challenges of paddling big, technical whitewater.
Features include AIRE’s standard lace-in thwart system for dialing in the perfect
position, a quick-draining mesh floor and built-in foot cups and cross tubes.
LENGTH: 12'10" • WIDTH: 5' • WEIGHT: 74 LBS • NUMBER OF PADDLERS: 2
AIRE.COM | $3,399 USD
2600042







AIRE
Wave Destroyer 12
Built for experienced boaters looking to challenge big water, the radically
kicked tubes rip through waves and are ready to take on class V rivers.
Available in four sizes for running high class water or the occasional extended
trip. This cataraft changes your local class III to IV section of whitewater into
a playground of possibilities. The Wave Destroyer 12 is light, sporty and prefect
for day trips.
LENGTH: 12' • WEIGHT: 56 LBS • NUMBER OF PADDLERS: 1
AIRE.COM | $2,899 USD
2600047

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RAFTS
AIRE
146DD
The 146DD is the newest size in AIRE’s Double D raft series. This roomy
ride can comfortably accommodate a six-person paddle team with a guide
in the back and is perfectly suitable for rowing expeditions. If you are
looking for a fun paddle raft that can also handle overnight trips, look no
further. Long straight sections allow for extra room for large dry box setups
and increased gear capacity, while aggressive rocker provides a sporty ride.
LENGTH: 14'6" • WIDTH: 6' • WEIGHT: 130 LBS • NUMBER OF PADDLERS: 3-6
AIRE.COM | $5,599 USD
2600051

AIRE
Cub
The Cub was built to be the ultimate river playboat. This is a sporty and nimble raft.
Accommodating a two- to three-person paddle team for high-adrenaline technical
water, this rowdy little raft is sure to be an exciting ride.
LENGTH: 10'7" • WIDTH: 5' • WEIGHT: 61 LBS • NUMBER OF PADDLERS: 2
AIRE.COM | $3,449 USD
2600055



AIRE
Mammoth
The Mammoth takes paddle-cat boating to a whole new level. The
squared-off stern is perfect for a paddle guide or a stern frame with oars.
At 13 feet and 11 inches long, this boat can take a four- to six-person crew
on a wild ride. Design features include an instant-draining mesh floor with
foot cups in the front paddling positions. The unique shape of the Mammoth
rockets high over waves and the front cross piece helps it to quickly resurface.
Includes two thwarts.
LENGTH: 13'11" • WIDTH: 6' • WEIGHT: 79 LBS • NUMBER OF PADDLERS: 3-6
AIRE.COM | $4,799 USD
2600040



PFDS
KOKATAT SALUS
HustleR Rescue Vest Torrent
The low-profile HustleR rescue vest The Salus Torrent is a unisex vest
is designed with features veteran designed to accommodate a quick-
paddlers and guides demand: A release belt, making it ideal for
quick-release chest harness, O-ring, guiding and tripping. The back pad
sleeve for Kokatat’s River Tow Tether, has full spinal protection and its
covered front lash tab for rescue knife contoured arch ensures a perfect fit.
and a large, extra-deep clamshell The uni-slide adjustment ensures
front pocket. Covered in rugged the tension is equalized on both
500D Cordura, two stacked and shoulders. This sleek and unique
pre-curved foam panels wrap and system secures the straps and
float around the torso for optimal fit buckles by hiding them under the
of varied torso sizes while adjustable front chest pocket. Quick-release belt
shoulders and side adjustments sold separately.
provide a secure fit. SALUSMARINE.COM | $249 CAD
KOKATAT.COM | $229 USD 12200022
11800093

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KAYAK PADDLES

SAWYER PADDLES AND OARS
Copperhead II Kayak Paddle
Sawyer’s perfect all-around, luxurious whitewater river running kayak paddle. Available in an ovalized
straight shaft or ergo crank shaft in small or large grip sizes. The buoyant, dihedral paddle blade cores are
carved from ash and cedar, and reinforced with fiberglass, carbon fiber and Sawyer’s distinctive Dynel
ToughEdge and Pro-Tip. This Dynel and Kevlar exterior reinforces the blade for the inevitable impacts
and river abuse we all love.
BLADE MATERIAL: WOOD LAMINATE • SHAFT MATERIAL: CARBON COMPOSITE • AVAILABLE LENGTHS: 185CM-199CM • WEIGHT: 40 OZ
PADDLESANDOARS.COM | $430 USD 10000003


SAWYER PADDLES AND OARS
Summit Kayak Pack Paddle
The Sawyer Summit Kayak Paddle is one of the ultimate pack boat paddles with a high-angle paddling
style blade shape in carbon fiber and gorgeous western red cedar laminate. The carbon fiber-reinforced
blade is protected with full perimeter Dynel ToughEdge for durability.
BLADE MATERIAL: WOOD LAMINATE • SHAFT MATERIAL: CARBON COMPOSITE • AVAILABLE LENGTHS: 210CM-230CM • WEIGHT: 26 OZ
PADDLESANDOARS.COM | $425 USD 10000004

WERNER PADDLES
UPDATED Odachi
Designed from the ground up specifically for down river and creek racing, the Odachi was made in
collaboration with Werner’s engineers and some of the best racers in the world. As race courses are more
commonly set on harder and harder runs, Werner wants to assure that going fast didn’t have to mean
worrying about your paddle. The Odachi brings the brand’s bomber reputation to the race paddler.
BLADE MATERIAL: CARBON COMPOSITE • SHAFT MATERIAL: CARBON COMPOSITE • AVAILABLE LENGTHS: 162CM-230CM • WEIGHT: 30 OZ
WERNERPADDLES.COM | $370 USD • $473 CAD 9800048

WERNER PADDLES
UPDATED Powerhouse
Watch most creek boat videos where the paddler is being swallowed by massive holes amidst canyon walls
and ask yourself, “what paddle are they using?” Werner’s river running paddles are trusted on the hardest
runs in the world, and by those firing up the hardest lines on their local runs. The Powerhouse and its
smaller counterpart, the Sherpa, offer bomber reliability, tested and proven where it counts.
BLADE MATERIAL: FIBERGLASS COMPOSITE • SHAFT MATERIAL: FIBERGLASS COMPOSITE • AVAILABLE LENGTHS: 162CM-230CM • WEIGHT: 35.3 OZ
WERNERPADDLES.COM | $275 USD • $352 CAD 9800054
RAFT PADDLES & OARS

SAWYER PADDLES AND OARS
UPDATED Freefall XD
The Sawyer Freefall XD Whitewater Raft Paddle was designed with big water and waterfalls in mind.
The oval, solid ash shaft has incredible flex and feel while the large, straight blade has great power and
bite. The ash blade is reinforced with carbon fiber for extra strength and power. Full perimeter Dynel
ToughEdge and Pro-Tip round out these incredible features for a bomber whitewater paddle. Now
available in Shockwave Green and Shockwave Red.
BLADE MATERIAL: COMPOSITE • SHAFT MATERIAL: CARBON COMPOSITE • AVAILABLE LENGTHS: 60"-68" • WEIGHT: 32 OZ
PADDLESANDOARS.COM | $250 USD 10000007


WERNER PADDLES
UPDATED Nomad
The Nomad is for rafters looking for the utmost performance and durability. Whether you are R2ing
down your favorite creek or running big water within a larger team, the tapered blade shape is an
excellent option for all-around use. Available in a stunning silhouette pattern of Split Rock on the
Skykomish River, Washington, Werner calls its options Dugan’s Sky: Alpenglow and Translucent: Red.
The Nomad is an all-around rafting paddle featuring a fiberglass oval shaft and tapered blade design.
BLADE MATERIAL: FIBERGLASS COMPOSITE • SHAFT MATERIAL: FIBERGLASS COMPOSITE • AVAILABLE LENGTHS: 48"-75" • WEIGHT: 27 OZ
WERNERPADDLES.COM | $190 USD • $243 CAD 9800087
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PRODUCTS ONLINE




TECHNICAL
OUTERWEAR











KOKATAT
Meridian Dry
Suit (Gore-Tex Pro) NRS
The Meridian has an updated NEW Axiom
design with the lighter weight, KOKATAT Gore-Tex Pro
more rugged and durable ŌM Dry Top (Gore-Tex Pro) Dry Suit
Gore-Tex Pro material. The ŌM drytop pays homage to Kokatat founder When the conditions are
It features a new double Steve O’Meara. Made with the latest Gore-Tex savage, staying warm
zipper entry flap, a more Pro material, the ŌM is Kokatat’s most advanced and dry trumps bells
streamlined leg pattern, relief zipper flap and new drytop to date. It features an improved fit for and whistles every time.
drop seat routing that reduces interference with better mobility as well as latex gaskets with A basic drysuit design
outfitting. The Meridian also has flexible nylon neoprene punch through cuffs on the neck and with a beyond-basic
waterproof zippers, dual adjustable overskirt, wrists. The ŌM’s adjustable double tunnel waist construction, the
Gore-Tex Pro socks, zippered chest pocket and has a lightweight Gore-Tex Pro inner skirt and NRS Men’s Axiom Dry Suit
latex gaskets with neoprene punch through collar Ariaprene, a sustainable alternative to neoprene, uses Gore-Tex Pro fabric to offer kayakers
and cuffs. that provides an infinitely adjustable fit. superior waterproof, breathable protection.
KOKATAT.COM | $1,290 USD KOKATAT.COM | $539 USD NRS.COM | $1,295 USD
11800060 11800095 7800132

WHITEWATER BUYER ’ S G UID E
























NRS NRS
NEW Men’s Jakl NEW Women’s
Gore-Tex Axiom Gore-Tex
Pro Dry Suit Pro Dry Suit
The NRS Men’s Jakl When conditions NRS
Dry Suit is a beefed-up demand better-than- NEW Men’s Rev Gore-Tex Pro Dry Top
drysuit for extreme basic but your boating
whitewater expedition style craves the classics, Rev up the shoulder season in the NRS Men’s Rev
kayakers. Combining the NRS Women’s Dry Top, combining NRS’ Paddler’s Cut with Gore-
Gore-Tex Pro construction with Cordura Axiom Dry Suit checks Tex Pro fabric construction to deliver superior
reinforcements throughout, the Jakl provides all the boxes. With a traditional front-entry mobility and waterproof, breathable protection.
superior warmth and waterproofness while design and minimal extras, Gore-Tex Pro fabric NRS.COM | $575 USD
handling the most committed hike-ins, sketchy construction takes this drysuit to the next level. 7800138
portages and dodgy scrambles. NRS.COM | $1,295 USD
NRS.COM | $1,425 USD 7800133
7800137




100s


MORE


ACCESSORIES


AVAILABLE


ONLINE


NRS
NEW Women’s Rev
Gore-Tex Pro Dry Top
Park and play on the coldest of days in the NRS
Women’s Rev Dry Top. Featuring Gore-Tex Pro
fabric construction for superior waterproof,
breathable protection and a generous cut for
layering underneath.
NRS.COM | $575 USD
PaddlingBuyersGuide.com 7800139



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Upper Gatineau

"ALMOST EVERYTHING WILL WORK AGAIN IF YOU UNPLUG IT.
INCLUDING YOU." —ANNE LAMONT, AMERICAN NOVELIST
PHOTO: NICHOLAS SPOONER

















































































136
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ADVENTURE
KAYAK


M AG A Z I N E
E S T . 2 00 1
147





SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS
The perils of getting a real education
in risk management. And why you
should enroll now.


144
HARDER, FASTER,
STRONGER

Cross oceans and continents in
2022's four toughest expeditions.


149
ATTENTION GEARHEADS

Tim Shuff will set you free, but first
he’s going to piss you off.


153
SKEG VS RUDDER, AGAIN

Forget the rhetoric, here is the final
word on which is right for you.



141 Reflections
142 Fathom


KAYAKING BUYER’S GUIDE
TOURING ACCESSORIES
167 Composite 195 Paddles
167 Thermoform 199 PFDs
168 Plastic 200 Technical Outerwear
170 Day Touring 202 Safety & Rescue
172 Expedition 203 Transport, Storage
176 Ocean Play & Launching
176 Folding & Inflatable 205 Accessories

RECREATIONAL
181 Sit-Inside
185 Sit-On-Top
189 Hybrid
190 Inflatable & Folding
137
P A D D L IN G M A G A Z IN E

B E YO N D
KAYAKING

L I G HT W E I G HT

BRIAN DAY
Brian has been paddling, selling, breaking
and repairing canoes and kayaks for nearly
30 years. He’s an enthusiastic sea kayaker, A week in the wilderness, exploring a rugged coastline, or an afternoon on the pond.
committed canoeist, and occasional white-
water boater. His interest in boats took him Our outstanding, lightweight kayaks are built for adventure, wherever you find it.
from specialty retail to work as a sales rep.
He currently lives in Winona, Minnesota,
where he works for Current Designs Kay-
aks and Wenonah Canoe.

FIONA HOUGH

Fiona was taught to paddle at the age of sev-
en by her Tilley-hat-wearing dad. Despite
this slightly embarrassing beginning, she
has worked as a whitewater canoe and sea
kayak guide and instructor for many years.
Fiona lives on a small, Tilley-hat-free farm
on Vancouver Island, British Columbia,
with plenty of room for various watercraft.

NEIL SCHULMAN

Paddling, writing and saving wild places have
been part of Neil’s life since before he was
tall enough to see over a canoe gunwale. In Photo: Marcel Bieg
addition to his regular Reflections column DELTA TRAVERSE 17.5T
Handcrafted science, river policy, photography and ecol- DELTA 12AR
(page 141), he’s written about expeditions,
ogy. He lives in Oregon, where he started an
environmental nonprofit, and the paddling At Delta, we make kayaks for everyone, from
season is 12 months long. He loves anything
for adventure involving boats, wild places and corny jokes. beginner to expert, because we believe every

TIM SHUFF paddler deserves a well-crafted kayak that
Former Adventure Kayak magazine edi- suits their own style and ability. Our focus
tor turned firefighter, Tim is a regular

contributor to Paddling Magazine. When has always been to build the world’s finest
he’s not rushing into burning buildings
or saving kittens from trees, he draws thermoform kayaks right here in North
inspiration from kayaking, canoeing and
paddleboarding the waters near his home. America, and we think our quality kayaks
On page 149, he rages against consumerism
and gear junkies. speak to the value of doing one thing,
and doing it well. That’s who we are.
VIRGINIA MARSHALL
When she’s not on the water guiding,
instructing or exploring, you might find That’s The Delta Difference.
Adventure Kayak magazine’s other former
editor immersed in a new woodworking
project or strapping on snowshoes for
a winter hot tenting trip. On page 153,
Virginia has the last word on absolutely
www.NimbusPaddles.com everything you need to know about skegs
versus rudders. We promise.
Made on Quadra Island, BC Canada
To learn more about our industry-leading design, innovation, and complete
138 lineup of lightweight thermoform kayaks, visit DELTAK AYAKS.COM
P A D D L IN G M A G A Z IN E

B E YO N D


L I G HT W E I G HT






A week in the wilderness, exploring a rugged coastline, or an afternoon on the pond.
Our outstanding, lightweight kayaks are built for adventure, wherever you find it.




























Photo: Marcel Bieg
DELTA TRAVERSE 17.5T
DELTA 12AR

At Delta, we make kayaks for everyone, from

beginner to expert, because we believe every

paddler deserves a well-crafted kayak that
suits their own style and ability. Our focus


has always been to build the world’s finest
thermoform kayaks right here in North
America, and we think our quality kayaks

speak to the value of doing one thing,

and doing it well. That’s who we are.


That’s The Delta Difference.










To learn more about our industry-leading design, innovation, and complete
138 lineup of lightweight thermoform kayaks, visit DELTAK AYAKS.COM
P A D D L IN G M A G A Z IN E

KAYAKING


“YEP, THERE’S DEFINITELY A
BULKHEAD IN HERE.”
PHOTO: BRENDAN KOWTECKY































CHECKOUT
Frequently Asked Questions



Seriously, these are the top five most common queries about kayaking, according to Google by brian day

THE INTERNET IS A MIRACULOUS PLACE. The sum knowledge of With so much information at our fingertips, it’s no surprise people
the human experience is at our fingertips and with a few clicks we can find turn to the web for questions about kayaking. Fortunately for us, Google
answers to all of life’s most common questions. How many ounces are there compiled the most popular queries. Here are my serious answers to what
in a cup? Eight. Is it safe to feed your dog onions? Nope. What’s the best way seem like stupid questions.
to get wine stains out of the carpet? Add a tablespoon of dishwashing soap
and a tablespoon of white vinegar to two cups of warm water, blot gently.
1 CAN KAYAKS SINK? 2 DO INFLATABLE 3 CAN YOU PADDLE A PEDAL



KAYAK? HOW FAR?
KAYAKS WORK?
All boats can sink. Heck, ships
Pedal drive kayaks are great for
sink. If Lake Superior can sink the
Perhaps it’s not sur-
730-foot-long Edmund Fitzgerald
capable of carrying a load of iron ore prising this is one of scooting across the water hands-
free, using the stronger muscles
the most commonly
26,000 tons more than it weighed empty, it certainly asked questions when Amazon’s top of your legs to propel your craft. They’re especially
can sink a 15-foot kayak. result for the search term ‘kayak’ is the popular as fishing kayaks (page 56) because anglers
However, kayak designers go to great lengths to inflatable Intex Explorer K2. Do inflat- don’t have to fuss around with the paddle when cast-
keep kayaks afloat. At a minimum, a kayak should able kayaks work? Sure. So long as we’re ing or landing a fish. Of course, if you want to fuss
have some foam in the bow and stern to prevent not talking about the glorified pool toys around with the paddle you can, but pedal kayaks
it from sinking completely. However, sinking isn’t at the SuperSaverMart. Many are as du- get pretty big. Some pedal kayaks are up to 44 inches
usually the problem to worry about. Instead, you rable as an inflatable unicorn and move wide and weigh more than 100 pounds—they've
need a kayak to float high enough in the water when through the water like a limp iguana. gone to pedals to move this big stable platform for
swamped so you can paddle to a safe spot and empty Quality inflatable kayaks perform well a reason. You can paddle them as far as you’d like, I
out. Bulkheads with properly sealed hatches allow for and pack away conveniently for transport suppose. For those who want to make miles solely
this but aren’t features found in the cheaper kayaks and storage. You’ll find them in your local by paddle power, consider a longer, sleeker and more
on the market. paddle shop and on page 176 and 190, efficient touring kayak, capable of circumnavigating
not where you get your groceries. continents (page 172).


140
P A D D L IN G M A G A Z IN E

4 ARE KAYAKS REFLECTIONS
Kayaker’s Tax



DANGEROUS?
It’s time to change how we pay for paddling by neil schulman
Of the estimated
37 million Ameri-
cans who went
paddling in 2020, 202 paddlers died
according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
Where cause of death was known,
75 percent of fatal boating accident
victims drowned. Of those drowning
victims, 86 percent were not wear-
ing a life jacket. The majority of pad-
dling accidents and fatalities involve
beginners—nearly three-quarters
of victims had less than 100 hours
experience. Reduce your risk by al- THE ONLY CONSTANTS
ways wearing a life jacket, dressing IN LIFE ARE DEATH AND
for cold-water immersion, checking TAXES—AND KAYAKING.
PHOTO: NICHOLAS
the weather forecast before leaving SPOONER
shore, and always paddle sober
and with a partner.
I BEACH MY KAYAK at a paddle-in campground. and they’ll stop coming.
5 WHY ARE garbage can overflowing with trash. The vault toilet, infrastructure to meet growing populations and in-
“User fees cannot fund agencies struggling to keep
A fee box wants $12 to camp on a not-quite-flat spot
up with operations, let alone add additional recreation
with no access to drinking water. Next to the box is a
creased demand for outdoor recreation,” the Outdoor
equally overflowing with aroma, has no toilet paper
KAYAKS SO
Industry Association noted in 2017.
or hand sanitizer. I walk back to my kayak for my
EXPENSIVE?
Back when Pigou was climbing in the Lake District
wallet and TP, muttering that we kayakers should
War I, he devised tax structures to tax things we don’t
paddling—and yes, we pay—is broken. Let’s fix it.
Not all kayaks are
Pigou was a climber, not a kayaker, about a hundred
want, like smoking, burning carbon, water pollution,
expensive. I saw have listened to Arthur Cecil Pigou. How we pay for and teaching economics at Cambridge after World
one just the other day at a big feed years ago. And he was an economist. If we want to instead of things that are good for society, like in-
store that sells farm equipment, and keep kayaking, we need to get to know the guy. come, employment, property and outdoor recreation.
it wasn’t much more than $100. It Kayakers think of paddling expenses as kayaks, Pigouvian taxes put the money into offsetting those
was made out of lightweight plastic drysuits, carbon fiber paddles and plane fares to tropi- negative impacts, like health care or environmental
that reminded me of a kiddie pool cal getaways. But my glove compartment holds five restoration. As the higher cost of cigarettes leads folks
and it had a cup holder. passes for different park districts, boat ramps and to ditch the habit, less money for smoking cessation
However, real kayaks—like the national forests. We also shell out for access, permits won’t be a big deal.
boats featured in this Paddling and camping, not to mention programs to keep water What we’re doing with paddling right now is the
Buyer’s Guide—range anywhere clean and restore habitat. And we’ve been paying opposite. Paddling is a human-powered, low-carbon
from $400 to $4,000 dollars. Quality more for less for a long time. Oregon just jacked up activity and builds an environmental stewardship
kayaks cost this much because a its camping fees at state parks to a whopping $42. ethic. Instead of jacking up the price on camping
lot goes into building them. Plastic Costs rise, but management funding has failed to and still not having the bucks for toilet paper, we
kayaks are made in molds costing roll up, down 16 percent in real terms in the past two should tax what we want less of and use those funds
tens of thousands of dollars and decades. The deluge of outdoor recreation during the to repair our outdoor recreation sites.
cooked in ovens that cost even pandemic magnified the crisis. My home state grew What would a Pigouvian setup to support kayaking
more. Fiberglass kayaks take a from 2.8 million people when I first slid into a Percep- look like? How about a hefty tax on two-stroke motors,
week or more to build—by hand. tion Dancer to 4.2 million today. During those decades, which dump half their fuel into the water unburnt? And
Want a comfortable seat? Hatches we’ve opened just two new state parks. another on disposable plastic bottles turning the sea
and bulkheads for safety? A rudder User fees are based on the principle of “user ben- into an endocrine disrupter goo? I bet Arthur Cecil
or skeg? A lot goes into making a efits, so user pays.” That makes sense on paper but would be into that.
quality kayak and all those details fails in reality. User fees account for just 11 percent of
add up. They’re definitely worth the site management budgets, with maintenance backlogs Neil Schulman writes, kayaks, photographs and does
price, especially since kayaks don’t as long as a thousand surfskis laid end to end, as of conservation work in Oregon, where outdoor recreation
become obsolete and can last a 2019. And the more you raise user fees, the bigger is (under)funded by the state lottery.
lifetime with proper care. barrier you create to participation—price folks out,


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THEY HAD SIX MONTHS TO PREPARE
FOR THE EVEREST OF THE SEA—330
KILOMETERS FROM MAINLAND
AUSTRALIA TO TASMANIA.
PHOTO: NICK MOIR/THE SYDNEY
MORNING HERALD



FATHOM
Zero To Hero



How rookies tackled the infamous Bass Strait by jessica wynne lockhart

AS MANY GREAT ADVENTURES DO, the idea to In the sober light of day, Roffey, McNamara, Potts None of the conditions near the group’s training
cross the Bass Strait first came up after a few beers. and Moroney started approaching outfitters for sup- grounds in Sydney could fully prepare them for the
They would do it in a blow-up boat, joked Ollie Rof- port. None would help. Crossing the Strait, they were ferocity of the Strait’s tidal flows, though. On the
fey to his mate Joe McNamara. told, was a three-year project. But they only needed second day of the expedition, the group was eight
So, when another friend, Trevor Potts, later ap- one to say yes. hours in when the island they were heading for disap-
proached Roffey with a similar idea—again, at the “To have a whole group composed of real rookies is peared, obscured by dark clouds and a growing swell.
pub—he had only one response. “I just started laugh- something you don’t see very often,” says Rob Mercer, “There were whitecaps coming from everywhere,”
ing,” recalls Roffey. a sea kayaking coach and co-owner of Expedition says Moroney. “I thought to myself, ‘If this is how
Simon Moroney had a similar reaction when the Kayaks, who helps half a dozen groups make the the rest of this trip is going, we’re in a lot of trouble.’”
proposal made its way to him. “I thought, ‘we’ll die,’” crossing every year. Mercer was won over by the What carried them through, he says, was newfound
he says. group’s athleticism, diligence to train and the ques- respect for the weather and clear communication.
Moroney’s fears were justified. The Bass Strait has tions they asked. They were no longer individual athletes competing
a fearsome reputation as “the Everest of the Sea.” “There was an understanding they were doing in a triathlon—they were a team.
Stretching for about 330 kilometers from mainland something pretty cheeky,” says Mercer. Looking back, Roffey says he wouldn’t have done it
Australia to Tasmania, it’s known for its volatile With the help of Expedition Kayaks, who also any other way: “It wasn’t just about the two weeks in
weather, fast tidal currents, and a shallow sea shelf outfitted them for the trip using its own line of sail- the water. The six-month build-up and intense learn-
that generates steep waves. equipped sea kayaks, the men spent six months train- ing was part of what made it. That was an adventure
Roughly 20 to 30 experienced kayakers make the ing intensively with local experts. They practiced in itself,” he says.
crossing each year, usually by island hopping along paddling in tailwinds and headwinds, and navigating So, now that they’ve done the unthinkable—can
the Strait’s eastern side. But while the foursome—all and reading the weather and tidal currents. More they call themselves kayakers?
triathletes—could swim for 15 kilometers with ease, importantly, they learned when to let judgment— “No. No way. I have a newfound respect for kayak-
none had ever kayaked even close to the 70 kilome- rather than the quest for adventure—prevail. This ers,” says Moroney. “We just turned up, fell out and
ters through open water required of them. What’s was driven home at weekly training sessions, in- got back in.”
more, they wanted to do the expedition in just six cluding paddling 20 kilometers straight out to sea
months’ time. and back again.


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Michigan








































PICTURED ROCKS
THE UPPER PENINSULA
MICHIGAN
UPTRAVEL.COM
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KAYAKING
CYRIL DERREUMAUX
PRE-DEPARTURE IN 2021.
PHOTO: TERESA O'BRIEN



SHORTS
Expedition Watch 



Four record-breaking kayaking journeys to track in 2022 by conor mihell ANOTHER CRACK
AT A HUGE CROSSING
FREYA HOFFMEISTER STARTED HER To date, Ed Gillet remains the only person to
NORTH AMERICAN EPIC IN 2017
AND HAS COMPLETED ROUGHLY 40 complete a sea kayak expedition from Califor-
PERCENT OF THE DECADE-LONG nia to Hawaii. Gillet made his epic journey in
JOURNEY. PHOTO: JAIME SHARP
1987 in a modified Necky tandem kayak—long
before the advent of satellite communication.
In fact, the adventurer had been given up
for dead by the time he stumbled ashore on
Maui after 63 days at sea. Multiple attempts
to recreate the expedition have failed, except
for a 2019 SUP crossing by Antonio De La
Rosa. Last summer, France-born American
Cyril Derreumaux set out in a custom-built,
live-aboard, solar panel-clad sea kayak, but
was rescued by the coast guard six days into
the expedition following some equipment fail-
ures. Derreumaux, who set a Guinness speed
record for rowing the same crossing in 2016,
insists 2022 is his year. He predicts a 70-day
journey. cyrilderreumaux.com


FREYA KEEPS PADDLING CIRCUMNAVIGATING AUSTRALIA
Freya Hoffmeister knew her sea kayak expedition returned to paddle part of Mexico’s Pacific coast in On December 19, 2021, Bonnie Hancock set
around the North American continent would require the fall, approaching a total distance of 10,500 miles, out from the shores of Australia’s Gold Coast
up to a decade to complete. But she never imagined nearly 40 percent of the total distance. The tireless to attempt to become just the fifth person and
losing close to a full calendar year due to a global German super paddler keeps going in summer 2022 second woman to circumnavigate the continent.
pandemic. Still, Hoffmeister managed to tackle a along the northern coast of Alaska and Canada’s At the time of publication, Hancock was more
good chunk of the Alaskan coast last summer and Yukon Territory. freyahoffmeister.com than five months into her 10,000-mile, seven-
month journey by surfski, and on schedule to
break Freya Hoffmeister’s speed record set in
2009. Hoffmeister completed the circumnaivga-
tion in 10 months and 26 days unsupported.
NORTHWEST PASSAGE: THE NORTHWEST PASSAGE Hancock has the assistance of a support boat,
HAS NEVER BEEN PADDLED
which gives her the safety net to paddle point
ARCTIC COWBOYS IN A SINGLE SEASON. to point—she was able to save more than 600
PHOTO: PAM LEBLANC
After COVID-19 delayed the departure of three miles of distance by paddling across the Great
Texans planning to kayak the Northwest Passage in Australian Bight, at one point 300 miles from
2020 and again in 2021, the Arctic Cowboys are hop- shore. A professional Ironwoman and dietician,
ing to take a crack at the 1,925-mile expedition this Hancock is fundraising for Gotcha4Life, an orga-
year. West Hansen, a veteran kayaker who organized nization supporting mental health. She expects
a National Geographic-sponsored Amazon River to finish the expedition in July. paddleofaus.com
expedition in 2012, will be joined by Jeff Wueste and
Rebekah Feaster. They will be attempting the first
documented single-season kayak journey through
the Arctic Ocean islands of Canada’s Far North. The
team plans to paddle from Pond Inlet on Baffin Island BONNIE HANCOCK SET OUT FROM THE
to Tuktoyaktuk, near the Yukon-Alaska border. On this legedary water route they will document the impacts SHORES OF AUSTRALIA’S GOLD COAST
ON DECEMBER 19, 2021, IN AN ATTEMPT
of climate change that could reshape global transportation in an ice-free future. Much of the route has never TO CIRCUMNAVIGATE THE CONTINENT.
been paddled in modern times and includes crossings of up to 60 miles long. westhansen.com PHOTO: COURTESY BONNIE HANCOCK


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ARGO 100XR RECREATIONAL KAYAK

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WHEN ASSESSING RISK, TIME IN COCKPIT
IS ONLY ONE FACTOR TO MAKING GOOD
DECISIONS. PHOTO: KEVIN LIGHT













































































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KAYAKING





ROCK THE BOAT
Gut Check



Does 10,000 hours really equal good judgment? Research says, “Ahhh, no.” by fiona hough

THOSE WITH A LOT OF TRAINING and experience so complacent we didn’t even recognize the scope of
outdoors like to think we know what we’re doing when the hazard. We also become more comfortable with
making decisions in risk environments. Our ability risk when it is familiar, which is a well-documented
to make sound judgments about the terrain, timing, heuristic trap in the study of avalanche incidents. The
group management and safety is something we gener- more we paddle a section of exposed coastline without
ally believe improves the longer we spend in the field. incident, the more our brains decide it’s safe, even though
For many recreational paddlers, the number of days the risk hasn’t objectively changed.
on the water is a badge of honor and a way of pro- Event feedback is crystal clear—the shattered kayak,
viding evidence of competence. “Dude, I’ve paddled dislocated shoulder or hypothermic client will all make
120 days this year so far!” When advertising guiding us think twice the next time we paddle that type of
services, guides will highlight the number of years we water—but it is much less frequent than non-event
have worked in the field on our websites because we feedback. The more unacknowledged near misses
believe it instills confidence. Who wouldn’t choose we collect, the more evidence we have of our true
a guide with 20 years and thousands of field days of decision-making prowess.
experience over one with only three years? Three years, In the paddling world, we’ve adopted the rationale
by the way, is the average length of time most guides more is inherently better. The more field days you
remain in their field careers. have, the higher you can go in the certification levels.
The common assumption is more days equals more You can’t move from one level to the next or take the
skill. As Malcolm Gladwell points out in his bestselling next course or exam without putting in a certain
book Outliers, it takes at least 10,000 hours—or 2,000 number of days in between, ranging from 30 to 200
five-hour paddling days—for someone to become an depending on the level. Certainly, there should be
expert in any field. Practice, repetition and skill develop- a minimum number of days of guiding experience
ment all take time, and the more you do it, the better someone earns before moving up to more complex
you get. Right? terrain and greater leadership responsibility. But the
Maybe not. assumption inherent in these systems is the more days
When assessing risk and making good decisions you have, the more competent you will be at your job
based on those assessments, time is not the only fac- and the better your judgment will be. However, time
tor. Sometimes the more “time in” we have equals an alone does not equal competency.
increased likelihood of an incident and poorer decision So, what is the antidote to this gap between experi-
making in outdoor risk environments. ence and the development of good judgment and sound
Over the past decade, studies from the National decision-making in risk environments?
Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and academia Watch for risk creep in your terrain choices and
have correlated more instructor years in the field with paddling circles—before you go, consider the what-ifs,
higher incident rates. A few factors cause this increase and even in familiar terrain, make a plan individually
in incidents in an experienced instructor’s career. and as a group for shit-hits-the-fan scenarios.
First, as our confidence increases on the water over Develop your intuition. Put the ego and external
time, often so can our tolerance for higher levels of pressures aside and get quiet enough to tune in to
risk. As our skill level goes up, we tend to move into what your gut tells you.
more challenging terrain where higher consequence Pay attention to what is happening. Even the most
incidents are more likely to occur. Second: Ego breeds familiar terrain can have a drastically different charac-
complacency. Decreased attention to detail can result in ter and set of consequences depending on the weather,
poor decision-making. We can become less attentive to season, and the group you’re with. Know the forecast
hazards when we adopt a been-there-done-that attitude. and the terrain, but pay attention to the actual condi-
Non-event feedback is the crux of the matter. As we tions, including human factors.
go through our paddling careers, we are continuously Finally, make a study of near misses—your own
exposed to near-miss situations. A near miss is where and those of others. There is copious wisdom in the
something could have gone wrong but didn’t. It would be world of outdoor risk management we can learn from.
nice to think all near misses are obvious, but sometimes, Understand the heuristic traps leading to misadventure
perhaps often, we don’t notice the giant boomer we just and use this information to analyze your own decisions.
paddled over exploding in a gnarly mess of barnacles and
white water behind us. We may squeeze by in situations Fiona Hough has worked as a paddlesports guide,
where we think we had miles to spare, or have become instructor and trainer for more than 25 years.


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KAYAKING
THE ONLY TRUE COMPETITION IS WITH OUR-
SELVES, ARGUES SHUFF. AGREE OR DISAGREE?
PHOTO: ELIZABETH GADD














































WATERLINES
Fool’s Gold



Sea kayaking will never be an Olympic event and is richer for it. Here’s why. by tim shuff

ACCORDING TO THE DUTCH SCHOLAR Johan development assembly line so there will be greater Needless to say, I didn’t last long in the business.
Huizinga, play exists on the margins. “A free activity numbers of entry-level products sold, more coaches Whenever a sport gets caught up in the mass mar-
standing quite consciously outside ordinary life as who can make a career of it, more airlines can sell keting machine of commerce and competition, it
being ‘not serious,’” he defines it. tickets to events in far-off places, and so on. becomes harder to separate what’s essential about the
Many outdoor adventure sports were created in Granted, it’s nice to share the benefits and joys of pursuit from all the distractions: titles, trophies, toys,
this spirit by tinkering renegades and free thinkers the sports we love with the masses. And a greater pool and gadgets. Once so-called success in a sport starts
turning their back on the spotlight of competition of participants from a greater range of ages and back- to be defined on a measurable continuum, Huizinga’s
and the big business of sponsorship and sales. But grounds brings with it a higher level of performance realm of the “not serious” departs.
most of these sports have changed. The quintessential and exponential innovations in technique and equip- Look what has happened to running. Recreational
counterculture pursuits of mountain biking, rock ment. New talent comes out of the woodwork, and runners now have to consider whether they want
climbing and surfing were all featured in the Olympic it’s inspiring to watch elite athletes break records and to shell out twice as much money to buy the latest
Games in 2021, the pinnacle of mainstream sellout. exceed the bounds of what we ever thought possible. shoes, like the Nike Vaporfly, which allegedly make
We celebrate this as progress, but why? Despite these benefits, I remain a contrarian, and you four percent faster for twice the cost.
High-profile competition brings money, power and a selfish one at that. Because I wonder, why would I Ditto for gear-obsessed cycling, which saw all its
influence to various entities involved in promoting, want my outdoor sports to become more popular? I pro riders switch to racing with disc brakes. Dis-
officiating and outfitting these sports. Manufacturers asked myself this question repeatedly when I briefly graced former racer Lance Armstrong lauded this
can sell more widgets, convincing more people they worked in the outdoor industry and heard people at innovation, saying on his podcast it would be great
need the best and newest gear, and promote their conferences talk about “growing the sport” as if it were for the industry because all the amateur riders would
brands so non-participants will want to be seen in a house plant. Wouldn’t it just mean more people in want to go out and buy new bikes. How typical of the
their logo clothing. It also brings more kids into the the places where I go to get away from them? bike business, which is great at making everybody


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think they need a different frame material or wheel aerodynamic bike with deep-dish wheels and ceramic will try to do it faster, longer and stronger, and others
diameter every couple of years. And when that doesn’t bearings vanishes, either because the gear wears out will cheer them on. I would be lying to suggest I’m
work, they invent a whole new product category, like or gets replaced by something better, or the benefit immune. If anything, I’m just trying to protect my
gravel. Carbon replaced aluminum replaced steel. is neutralized by everybody else buying the same paddling experiences from being corrupted by my
Next comes electronic shifting. Then electric assist. equipment. In the world of competitive sports, the own devilish competitive streak. I spent a morning
I’m their worst nightmare because I bought just top-of-the-line gear becomes a baseline requirement, last summer obsessively watching the Tour de France
one cyclocross bike for commuting two decades ago raising the price of participation. The only true win- riders battle in the Pyrenees, bloodthirstily eager to
and have used it for every type of riding since, from ner is big business, which has figured out how to see who would crack on the Col du Portet. All the
Ironman racing to group road rides to trails. I made con us into spending twice as much, twice as often. while multitasking on my phone to check out how
my bike as long-lived and versatile as my kayak. Can And once sports become competitive, they are inevi- my trail run metrics stacked up on Strava.
you imagine what other industries would say if you tably plagued by scandal and controversy. The never- There’s a place for competition. But I love wilder-
suggested their products should last for as long as ending push and pull of governing bodies struggling to ness canoeing and kayaking all the more because they
we keep our kayaks and canoes? ensure a fair and level playing field while individual com- take me away from it. The whole notion of going into
This nonstop cycle of specialization and obsolescence petitors try to squeak out every possible advantage. And the wilderness is to remove ourselves from the culture
is driven by a business mindset that goes hand-in-hand now there’s the issue of transgender competition, where where such comparisons are possible and to pretend
with the competitive mindset. Nobody ever mentions all at the very time our culture is moving away from binary we’re traveling in a place where there aren’t even any
this so-called innovation is an environmental disaster, identification and toward greater diversity, competition other people to compare ourselves to.
a hyper-acceleration of our disposable culture, or ques- gatekeepers are fortifying their definitions of who can The experience is genuinely playful in that it is
tions whether it is good for the sport’s participants, those compete against whom, all to elevate the winners to a outside the ordinary. It’s too dazzlingly rich and
poor suckers who have to shell out for the gear. When podium. This controversy just underscores the fact that complex to quantify and measure, a Zen koan in
competition creeps in, the gear soon becomes more the only pure competition is ultimately with ourselves. contrast to the linearity of conventional sport. How
technology than craft; we start to take for granted that I prefer sports where the individual experiences are fast we’re paddling and the equipment we’re using
it will be worn out or obsolete within a few years, like unique and participants focus on internal measures doesn’t matter, as long as we get where we need to
an iPhone or a computer, instead of a wooden canoe or of success and the pleasures of the moment, rather go—not just in space but also in spirit.
kayak, which can be indefinitely repaired. than the elevation of the end goal, and where the
Soon enough, whatever competitive edge you equipment is secondary to the experience. Contrarian columnist Tim Shuff is a former editor of
get from the carbon-plated running shoes or the Sure, anytime humans take on an activity, some Adventure Kayak magazine.