There are different ways to create a seating experience in plastic recreational kayaks. At Vagabond Kayaks, we opted for a carefully considered, sculpted-and-moulded seat. In this short video, we look at how our design compares to the fabric seat-and-backrest commonly seen in recreational kayak models from other brands.

Mpho Mapatsi, a complete novice who had never been on a kayak before, had the unique experience of sequentially paddling Vagabond’s Tsomo, Tarka, Kasai, Marimba and the double-seater Mazowe kayaks in a 90-minute session. Follow Mpho’s first experience of kayaking in this video.

This chart will help you to decide which Vagabond kayak will best suit your paddling activities. Answer the questions and follow the arrows to arrive at the kayak model for you. Then, click on the kayak to see more information and specifications on that model.

While we do not recommend plugging the scupper holes in general, if you are only paddling on flat, calm water, you may wish to do so for a variety of reasons. Scupper holes have a very specific purpose on our kayaks: they drain the deck of water. The deck can quickly fill with water if you are paddling on the sea – from waves breaking on the deck – and when paddling on rivers, even small rapids. Our Vagabond Scupper Venturi fittings under the seat and in the footwells make a big impact by significantly speeding up the draining of water. This is an important function because a deck full of water will destabilise the kayak when you most need stability and control. Got dogs? Plug the tankwell holes and line the tankwell with a non-slip mat so that your furry friend’s feet do not slide. Young child? Plug the scupper holes of the tankwell between the paddlers and add a cushion for your child to sit on. If you are paddling on flatwater, plugging these scupper holes will have no impact on the performance of your kayak. Plugging the scupper holes is as simple as tightly rolling a strip of closed-cell foam and pressing this into the scupper hole. Foam that is 5-8mm thick, similar to that used in those classic, blue camping mats, works perfectly. Note that the scupper holes in the rear tankwells of our kayaks do not have scupper venturi fittings. For the others, like the tankwell between paddlers on the Mazowe, the rolled-up foam strip can be placed on top of the orange Scupper Venturi fittings.

If you already have a Vagabond Kayak – Tarka, Kasai or Marimba – and you would like to install a rudder, use this video as a guide to installing a rudder using our rudder kit. Tools required include: 3mm hex/Allen key 4mm hex/Allen key #8 spanner Drill 3mm drill bit (pilot holes) 5.5mm drill bit Philips head drill bit Marine silicone, clear The kayak featured in the video for this installation is a Marimba. Installation for a Kasai or Tarka is similar. Within the video is a section that shows the line feeder positions – and options – for the Kasai and Tarka. Installation of a rudder for a Mazowe double-seater kayak is similar but, as the foot pedals are usually installed for the rear paddler and there is no hatch at the back, a small 4″ inspection hatch is added. This will be covered in an additional video.

While our single-seater kayaks come in an angling version, our double-seater Mazowe does not. In our Mazowe design, we went the route of performance, speed, comfort and packing space. That said, we do realise that there are people who would like to go fishing with a friend on the Mazowe. Here are two ways to add rod holders and other fishing accessories to your Mazowe kayak. ADDING FLUSH-MOUNTED ROD HOLDERS Regular, 90-degree flush-mounted rod holders can be installed on the deck in the area of the rear paddler’s footrests. Measure the diameter of the rod holder and cut out the same-sized hole in the deck (use a circle saw or even a utility knife. Put a generous amount of marine silicone under the flange of the rod holder and screw into the deck using use self-taper screws. 2. USE THE TANKWELLS AND EXISTING FITTINGS This Mazowe owner did an incredible job at turning his Mazowe into an awesome angling kayak. He used the tankwells and existing moulded-in inserts and Multifittings. Let’s see how this was done. For the rear tankwell, perspex sheets were cut to size to fit across the tankwell. The ends were shaped to nest into the multifit groove.Holes were drilled holes into the perspex for the rod holders and a DIY rod holder made from a PVC pipe. Because of the length of the rod holders, they were positioned to go into the recess of the scupper holes.The multifits were removed and then screwed on again on top of the perspex to hold everything in place. To do this you need longer bolts than what we use for the multifits. Middle tankwell: The perspex is placed lengthways, not across the tankwell, which keeps some tankwell space free for other stuff.

Having been elected as chairman of our club recently (Likkewaan Canoe Club in Parys), I took part in an informal CSA meeting via Zoom a few days ago. The main focus of the meeting was the effect of the Covid-19 lockdown on paddling. The discussion also covered the general decline of participation numbers at races and club memberships. I added my few cents during the meeting, but gave it a lot more thought afterwards. This article is a summary of my thoughts on this subject. Over the years, I have met many people who tell me, when they hear what I do for a living, that paddling is not for them. Invariably, they would tell me that they have tried paddling before and just couldn’t keep the boat upright. Further probing always reveals that they’ve been put into an unstable K1 by some well-meaning friend, and not surprisingly, they were unable to balance it. A small number of people decide to persevere and to keep trying until they get it right, which is why we still get new members into clubs. However, the vast majority of people are completely put off and never try again. The sad thing is that paddling is so much more than paddling unstable racing kayaks. It is a disservice to both the competitive paddling body (CSA) and to would-be paddlers of our country that this misconception has become so entrenched in the South African psyche. At this point, let me be upfront and make it clear that apart from my love for the sport, I have a commercial interest in the sport too. But then I would also argue that it is precisely because of my commercial interests that I have studied the paddling market and its driving forces perhaps more than anyone in the country. As much as we would like to think of paddling as a pure endeavour of mind and body, there won’t be a paddling sport if there were not manufacturers to provide the necessary equipment. So, a full disclosure follows, which I think is relevant to the gist of this article. I started my first kayak company 18 years ago (Fluid Kayaks), which I left 5 years ago. After that, I helped developed and manufactured plastic surfskis for Epic Kayaks (the V5 and V7) for two years. Two years ago, I launched a new kayak company (Vagabond Kayaks) with partners who are paddlers too. Over this 18-year period, I have manufactured roughly 40,000 recreational kayaks, whitewater kayaks and surfskis. About half of these kayaks were exported, mostly to Europe and North America. More importantly, the other half of these kayaks were sold in South Africa. Why are these numbers relevant? Because less than 1% of the paddlers who bought these thousands of kayaks are currently involved in the type of paddling that falls under the umbrella of CSA. It is absolutely true that not all people who buy recreational kayaks ever intend to become paddlers in the real sense. They buy these kayaks for their holiday home or for their annual break somewhere at the sea or next to a dam or river. But, many of them do aim to become regular paddlers. Inevitably, most of them do not. There are multiple reasons for that, but one of the biggest reasons is that recreational kayakers are not particularly welcome in the larger CSA body of clubs and races. In healthy sports, the pyramid of participation looks something like this: However, in South Africa, paddling looks like this: There is virtually no cross-over between the recreational side of paddling and the competitive side of paddling. It is completely nonsensical. How is  this problem solved? My suggestions below are not the only answer, but I have no doubt that these points are part of the answer. Before I get to my actual suggestions, I will first mention some specific examples of what has been done already: Races at Likkewaan – In 2019, we ran a monthly series of short races from our club. Race distances were 2km and 5km. Entries were open to anyone, and to all types of craft. We had paddlers rock up with K1s, touring kayaks, sit-on-tops and even inflatable rafts. Most of the paddlers who entered were not members of any club, and they had never competed in a paddling race before. Great fun was had by all, and many paddlers did more than one race throughout the year.Over the last couple of years, a number of paddlers have done the Fish Marathon in Epic V7s. While a beast to carry past the dam wall, once on the river, these plastic surfskis (which are practically fast sit-on-tops) showed their advantages.Earlier this year, two intrepid members of the Rhodes University Canoe Club did the Dusi Marathon with Vagabond Kasai sit-on-tops. Gavin Shuter and Chirs Matthews did the Dusi unsupported, meaning that they carried all their supplies with them for three days, making their boats incredibly heavy from a racing point of view. Because of their loaded boats, they paddled around almost all portages too. This is an extreme example, but it is safe to say that they most likely had a bigger adventure than any other entrants to the race, and saw sections of the Dusi and Umgeni rivers that few paddlers have ever seen.In the Western Cape, two races already have a ‘short course’ for plastics and SUPs: The West Coast Canoe Challenge (WCCC) and Stanford Canoe Festival. Both have out-and-back courses where the racing snakes do 15km or 20km and the plastics and SUPS are encouraged to do 5km or 10km. The principle works and the WCCC is the best supported race on the WC calendar because of it. There are probably more examples from all over the country that I’m not aware of. The reality is that these isolated examples show that there are many ways to help recreational paddlers bridge the gap to become more competitive paddlers. Opportunities need to be created that will benefit all parties. I recommend the following steps to create these opportunities. While I know that some of these suggestions will not be met with much enthusiasm because of entrenched ideas that already exist in the competitive racing community, I still hope that those in the hot seats will give this some thought. Open clubs to all paddlers In theory, I know that most clubs are already open to recreational paddlers to join. However, I also know that recreational paddlers are actively being pressured to move to faster (read: unstable) kayaks as soon as they join. That is the fastest way to discourage recreational paddlers. Not everyone wants to become seriously competitive. Open flatwater races to all types of craft This is a no-brainer. Anyone who paddles any type of craft should be allowed to paddle flatwater races, as long as basic safety requirements are met, such as the use of approved PFDs and the use of sufficient buoyancy in the craft of choice. The safest type of kayak is a sit-on-top, as it won’t fill with water when capsized, and paddlers can climb straight back onto the boat without having to swim to the side to empty the boat. It boggles my mind that sit-in-tops are not being actively promoted as the craft of choice for beginner paddlers. Open river races to many types of craft It makes no sense that races on class 2-3 rapids are organised almost exclusively for the most inappropriate craft available for the job. I’m talking about fibreglass racing K1s, of course. While it is a subject of pride for South African racers that virtually no-one else in the world tackles rapids with these craft, there is good reason why no-one else does it. There are much better craft available on the market for the job, and unless you are going for a win, most paddlers would be better off in something more stable. Offer shorter options at established races The South African racing scene has a well-established tradition of long distance races. I know that the ‘other craft’ that I promote in the previous points are slower than the fast racing K1s, and that race organisers and marshals may not be so keen to wait a few more hours for the slower paddlers to finish. An easy solution is to offer shorter options too. For instance, on river races, have a shorter-distance start further downstream, so that all competitors finish at the same venue. One option could be to let all craft under a certain length, say 4m, do the shorter distance. Organise short races Here we have a very obvious example: consider what parkrun has done for running in South Africa! Not everyone can or wants to paddle 20km or 30km in a race. But almost anyone who is reasonably active can do a 5km race. The races we held at our club last year, with 2km and 5km options, showed that it is a format that works for everyone. The 2km races were preferred for young children, and some adults, with short, slow sit-on-tops, enjoyed this distance too. The 5km races were a good workout for paddlers on longer sit-on-tops, while the few racing K1 paddlers who entered approached it like a time trial. Because of the short distance, even the slowest paddlers completed the course in an hour, after which everyone enjoyed a picnic or a braai at the club. In terms of speed, here is a practical example: a Vagabond Kasai, which is 4m long (compared to the length of 5.2m of a racing K1), is an extremely stable sit-on-top that anyone can paddle. A paddler that is reasonably fit can do a 5km flatwater race with the Kasai in about 35 minutes. Considering that the World Record for a K1 over 5km is 18 minutes, and few K1 paddlers can do a 5km paddle under 25 minutes, there is no reason why stable sit-on-tops should not be openly welcomed to join in the fun. Club and CSA membership I deliberately did not mention club and CSA membership in the suggestions above, as this is an important subject on its own. Here is a basic truth: not all paddlers who want to join clubs want to do races, and not all paddlers who want to do races want to join clubs. There are many reasons for that, but it is how it is. My personal opinion is that CSA membership should be open to anyone, not just members of clubs. To force people to join clubs is not the best way to grow clubs. People should join clubs because the clubs add value to them, not because they are forced to. Value can be in the form of access to water, boat houses to store kayaks, showers to use after paddling, social interaction with other paddlers, time trials, and so on. If you can’t attract new members without forcing them, your club is probably not adding much value to its members. On the flip side, I think that social membership of CSA should be a prerequisite for entering any race over 5km. The reason for the 5km is to allow beginners and children to enter the short races that I proposed in my previous point. Maybe introduce an inexpensive, no-strings-attached day fee that goes to CSA for non-CSA paddlers who enter these short races? These suggestions, if implemented, will not change the culture of racing overnight, but in the long run, I believe this is the best way to grow numbers in the sport, and to create a solid base from which the truly competitive paddlers will emerge. Author: Celliers Kruger This article was originally published in the June/July 2020 issue of The Paddle Mag. This digital magazine is free to read and is published every second month. View it (and other editions) online on Issuu or use the Issuu mobile app.

It feels somewhat trivial to write about managing fear in the context of paddling, while we deal with the  all-encompassing existential crisis of the coronavirus that is sweeping across the globe. But, there are some parallels that can be drawn. What is fear? The dictionary says that fear is a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined. This definition is insightful. Firstly, fear is an emotion, and an emotion is something that can be controlled, albeit with great difficulty. We also know that fear can be rational or irrational. Fear is ultimately a powerful life-preserving function, honed over millennia of evolution. For most of human’s history, life was an endless battle to stay alive, and it didn’t really matter if the fear was rational or irrational – the only important factor was whether it kept you alive or not. We now live in an age where we willingly put ourselves in potentially dangerous situations, and our ability to deal with the fear is not necessarily a matter of life and death, but it can mean the difference between a shameful bailing out versus an Instagramable picture. Secondly, the perceived threat can be real or imagined. This brings about some interesting permutations. It follows that one can have a rational fear of a real threat. But, one can also have an irrational fear of a real threat. On the flipside, one can have a rational fear of an imagined threat. Finally, one can have irrational fear of an imagined threat. Let me create some context for these permutations as an understanding of the concept of fear will be beneficial before I get to the nitty-gritty of managing it. Rational fear of a real threat: This is easy to imagine. Visualise being on top of a big waterfall, or trapped in the surf zone with a massive swell rolling in. Those are some real threats, and rational fear in this type of situation is a very healthy thing to have.Rational fear of an imagined threat: This is not as silly as it seems. An imagined threat can be based on previous experience with a real threat that had the same appearance. Let us say for instance you’re paddling down a river and you see spray rising a distance away. Previous experience of seeing such spray will indicate that there is likely a waterfall ahead. But, in reality, it may just be a nice rapid where wind blowing from just the right direction has whipped up some of the spray. The fear is still rational, even though the threat may end up being imagined.Irrational fear of a real threat: This is often the most harmful fear that paddlers encounter. As explained above, rational fear for a real threat is normal and often beneficial. But when one has the skill and ability to engage with the threat in a positive way, but the fear is so overwhelming that it is impossible to utilise said skills, the fear becomes irrational and debilitating. Irrational fear of an imagined threat: This is where the wheels really comes off. When one reaches this point, it is a hopeless exercise to continue and it is best to just get off the water and sort out your head. When talking about a threat, it is natural to think of the threat as a physical thing, like a waterfall or a weir or a big wave breaking on a nasty reef. But, the threat can also be a psychological element, like failure. One can fear failure. One can also fear the unknown. There are many threats that can be feared, and fear can be paralysing.   In managing fear, it is important not to confuse it with bravado or riding on adrenaline. Bravado often leads to injury, and riding on adrenaline is only good if it is rooted in a solid skill set. When dealing with fear, it is all about building the courage to face the fear squarely in the eye. Courage is not a constant. It is slippery emotion that is affected by testosterone, experience, skill, fitness, injury, equipment and general state of mind. The good news is that, apart from testosterone, these are all aspects that can be worked on with a bit of effort. By consciously improving on these different facets, you create a positive mindset to overcome fear. Skill Knowing that you don’t have the skill set to deal with a situation is extremely debilitating. Get coaching! A good coach will help you to improve your skills in a safe environment, progressing to more difficult situations at a pace that you can handle. As much as the lack of skill can be debilitating, knowing you have a solid skill set can be equally powerful. What is considered a solid skill set will depend on the type of craft you paddle and where you want to paddle it, but it will typically include the following: reading the water correctly, a variety of paddle strokes, rolling, knowing how to swim safely with your kayak, and knowing how to re-enter your kayak. Experience Nothing beats experience. Experience enables you to distinguish between truly dangerous situations and those that just appear to be so. In other words, to distinguish between real and imagined threats. Experience is gained through good coaching and by spending time on the water with paddlers who can pass their knowledge on to you. Keep in mind that gaining experience takes time. If you’re sporty person, you might gain skills quickly. Don’t confuse skill with experience. Take it slow and keep it steady. Trying to advance too quickly can put you in a situation that you are simply not ready for. Knowledge When you want to step up your game and start paddling more difficult waters, whether that be on flatwater, whitewater or the ocean, arm yourself with knowledge of whatever you want to attempt. If you are aiming to cross a big lake, learn the typical wind direction, what weather patterns to look out for, how cold the water is, etc. If you want to paddle a new river or a new rapid, get insight from paddlers who have paddled it before or study a guidebook. If you want to attempt a section of ocean that you haven’t done before, find out what the tides are doing, where the best launch sites are, what breaks to avoid, and so on. The more you know, the less there is to worry about. Fitness Not being fit enough has both a psychological and physical effect. Knowing you’re not fit enough to deal with the consequences if things go wrong can be as debilitating as knowing that you lack the skills. From a physical point of view, as you get more tired on a trip, you also lose confidence. The solution is obvious: get fit! Being able to hold your breath for longer than just a few seconds if you’re trapped under water can make the difference between life and death. Injury Having an untreated or recovering injury messes with your head. You’re constantly aware of it, it may cause pain while you’re paddling, and it also makes you hesitant to do anything that could make the injury worse. Get it fixed, or give it time to heal. Equipment When situations get rough, your life depends on your equipment. Substandard equipment not only puts you at risk, it also affects your confidence when you know that your kayak or paddle could break at any moment, or that your PFD will not really keep you safe if you take a swim, or that your helmet may get ripped off if you capsize. This is the easiest thing to remedy. Inspect your equipment regularly, and fix or replace items timeously. State of mind When all these factors are dealt with, you are left with your own state of mind, and that is often the biggest hurdle to overcome. It is not a battle that you can win completely for all eternity, but the more you knock the fear down, the weaker it will be. To quote the late Hendri Coetzee: “You will end up fighting the battles in your conscious mind on the plains of actual risk where they should be fought, not in the shadows of your subconscious mind where irrational fear rules”. Getting to know your fear is like playing chess against the same opponent, time and again. You get to know its weaknesses and peculiarities. Everyone’s fear is different and has different triggers. By playing chess with your personal fear regularly, you learn to anticipate its go-to moves, and you figure out ways to obstruct those moves and counterattack. You get to understand when it is just a bluff and when it is the real deal. Fear is a formidable opponent, and you cannot expect to win every time. Sometimes you will win, sometimes you will lose. The key is to not run away from the battle. And always keep in mind, fear exists for a reason. Sometimes fear has to get the upper hand to save you from your own stupidity. Also, remember that fear is bipolar. Sometimes it is rational, sometimes it is not. It is brilliant at disguising its irrational side, pretending to act in your best interest. You only get to learn how to distinguish between the two when you intimately engage with it. The best way to lose your fear of FEAR is to become desensitised to it. This means regular exposure in small doses. Get comfortable in its presence. Put yourself in situations that simulate your worst fears but that are not lethal. Face your fears in the presence of a good safety net; surround yourself with competent fellow paddlers. Take the beating, survive, and realise that it wasn’t so bad after all. And do it again and again. You will learn that fear itself cannot hurt you and can be managed. You just have to practise being scared. The better you manage your fear, the more you keep its ugly cousin at bay: panic. Panic kills, and you want to stay away from it as far as possible. Visualise Remember that rational fear of a real threat is only useful when you have to decide whether you are going to do something or not. Once you have started doing it, there should be no room left for fear. You cannot afford to be distracted or paralyzed. Therefore, once you have the skills, equipment and state of mind sorted out, you will be able to employ the most useful technique of visualisation. Visualising helps to eliminate unnecessary mental calculations when you’re in the thick of it, freeing your mind to achieve a state of flow where fear doesn’t exist. Practise visualising familiar sections. The better you get at it, the more beneficial it will become in difficult situations. Everyone is different, and some will find some facets of managing fear more difficult to work on than others. The important thing is to be aware of your shortcomings and to consciously try to improve on them. With some practice, you will be able to better distinguish between rational and irrational fear and also between real or imagined threats, and you will have the tools to manage that fear. Author: Celliers Kruger This article was originally published in the April/May 2020 issue of The Paddle Mag. This digital magazine is free to read and is published every second month. View it (and other editions) online on Issuu or use the Issuu mobile app.

Scouting rapids is one of the most important consideration when paddling rivers. There are essentially two ways to scout a rapid: from the bank, or from an eddy. And then there is the odd occasion where you may have the aid of a helicopter ride or a drone to check out a rapid. Most of the time, it’s just you, your mates and the river. Scouting from the bank is sometimes needed, but not always. It all depends on a number of different factors, such as: Your skill level: The more experienced you get, the easier it becomes to identify the rapids that may need scouting from the bank. Your pre-existing knowledge of the river: You may have paddled the section before, or have very good information from someone who knows it well, or you are doing a race with well-described rapids. The type of boat you are in: A long, narrow, tippy racing kayak cannot handle the same grade of rapid as a short whitewater kayak that is designed to turn on a dime. Your faith in other people: You could be paddling with someone who has the experience to make the call to go for it, or, in the case of a race, there may be marshal on the bank indicating that the rapid is fine to run, and they may even point out the best route to you. The level of the river: If the water is at a much higher level than what is considered average, new features can develop that wouldn’t exist at normal levels. If the water is much lower than normal, nasty syphons and undercuts that are normally deeply covered by water could be exposed. Generally, when you approach a rapid and you can see a clear horison line, often with some spray visible too, there is a good chance that you will need to scout it from the bank. If you approach a rapid and get pretty close to the point of no return and you still can’t see the bottom of the rapid, best is to jump out and have a look. You may also notice some serious gradient ahead by the way that the whole gorge/valley drops out, or you could notice a tree lying across or inside the rapid. In any of these cases, if you are uncertain, get out and have a look. As you gain experience, your gut feel will get fine-tuned. A word of caution when scouting from the bank: Always try to get as close to the rapid as possible and stand at the same level as the rapid. When you scout a rapid from afar or from high up, your perception is distorted. The clear line you might be seeing from above often looks completely differently when you get on the water. Seemingly small features look much bigger from up close, and seemingly small drops tend to be much higher when you get to the lip. When scouting from the bank is not absolutely necessary, it is much more efficient to scout by eddy-hopping. In essence, this means that you paddle from eddy to eddy, making your way down as you survey the next section of the rapid to the following eddy. This technique is not possible with long racing kayaks, but with most other river-running craft, eddy-hopping is the preferred way to run rapids. When you’re in a group, eddy-hopping can be done in different ways: The same paddler can lead all the way, often leaving an eddy to make space for the next paddler to occupy their vacated space in the eddy. This is mostly done when only one paddler in the group is confident enough to take the lead. We like to call this person ‘the probe’, which is both an honour and a curse. When more than one paddler in a group has the confidence to lead, we resort to leapfrogging, which is more fun and also more time efficient. Let’s say that you catch an eddy and can see a clear line to the next eddy. You would signal to your mate upstream, who will paddle past you and catch the following eddy. He will scout the next section, identify the next eddy to catch, and then signal for you to pass him to catch the next eddy. This leapfrogging technique can be used by all members in a group to work their way down a rapid if the group is not too big. With a larger group, you will often have a core group that will eddy-hop their way down a rapid and then signal from the bottom to the rest of the group waiting at the top that all is clear and that they can just paddle down the rapid without catching eddies. With a large group and more difficult rapids that may require some boat-rescues along the way, the most capable paddlers with good rescue skills will work their way down by eddy-hopping as above. But, instead of everyone paddling to the bottom of the rapid, some paddlers will stay in eddies where some help may be needed. Once they’re all in position, they will signal to the group waiting above to paddle down the rapid. The paddlers waiting in eddies will give signals to show the lines, and they are on hand to help with a rescue if someone swims. When a rapid is difficult or dangerous enough that it requires proper safety being set up from the bank, the potential rescue spots should be discussed by the group while scouting from the bank. Often, with more dangerous rapids, only one or two of the group may be up for the challenge of paddling the rapid. In that case, everyone else will set up safety, and the few challengers will only start running the rapid once they receive a clear OK signal. When all the paddlers in the group want to run a rapid where safety is required, paddlers should take turns to do safety. In this scenario, it is important that everyone is very clear about whether they will run the rapid or not, because once the process is in motion, it causes a lot of frustration and sometimes consternation if a paddler suddenly changes their mind about running it or not. Scouting for racing If you do a race on a river that is unfamiliar to you, say the Fish, the Dusi or Umko, you will have a LOT of second-hand information on what to expect. Some rapids that really are not that difficult have huge reputations attached to them. This could be because the rapid has spectator access, or because someone once had a really bad swim there. Often, it is just because paddlers like to boast about the big rapids that they have conquered. The opposite is also often true. There exist no-name rapids that receive no mentions yet they have sneaky surprises that catch many paddlers unaware. These rapids are normally found far from spectators, and are also often in between more well-known rapids. One tends to focus on the big-name rapids and lose concentration when you hit the supposed-to-be-easy ones. The best thing you can do, if you have the time, is to trip the river beforehand to get familiar with the obstacles. Take your time, scout from the bank when necessary, and maybe try different lines through rapids to pick the fastest line. A good strategy is also to figure out Plan Bs for the rapids where paddlers are likely to get stuck or to be swimming. There is no point in having the perfect line figured out, if you get to the rapid to find that someone else is stuck right in the middle of where you intended to go and you have no other option prepared. This brings me to another important point: Do not follow directions given by other paddlers or marshals like sheep. You have no idea of the river-reading capabilities of the paddler in front of you, and you could just follow them straight into a disaster. Regarding marshals, some are paddlers and some are not. Chances are good that a marshal is just pointing you to the line taken by the first paddler that came through. So, if you enter an unfamiliar rapid, don’t just blindly follow. Scout your own line as you make your way down. You may still end up following the paddler in front of you, but at least it will be a informed decision then. A last note on scouting while racing: If you get to a rapid and another paddler is pinned or swimming where you most likely would have gone if said paddler wasn’t messing with your plans, don’t panic! If you notice the obstruction before you enter the rapid and another clear line is not immediately visible, rather stop and back-paddle to give yourself more time to scout. If you can see another doable line, go for it. If there is really no other way, you should either wait for the way to be cleared, or, if you don’t want to wait that long, get out and run around. The last thing you should be doing if someone is in trouble is to plough straight into the rapid on top of them. It goes without saying that if the paddler that is obstructing the way is in real danger, the race is off and it is your obligation to get out to help. Don’t be an ass, you are not going to win anyway. Portaging To portage or not to portage is the question that every river paddler faces from time to time. Sometimes the choice is easy; if it is a nasty weir, or a big waterfall landing on rocks, or simply a rapid that is clearly above your skill level, you simply walk it. There is no shame in that. But, when the rapid seems like it could be runnable, you have to decide if you are going to push your limits a bit (and scare yourself at the same time), or take the low-risk option to walk. Group dynamics often play a big role in this decision. If you are unsure and a dominant paddler in the group tells you to walk, you’ll walk. More regularly, the opposite happens where a gung-ho group may push you to run everything all the time. While their intention may be to help you to improve, it could also be for the spectator value… River rats find a good beating quite hilarious. There are other potential factors too. For instance, an approaching storm would add pressure to run everything in order to get to the take-out faster. Or, you may be the only paddler in the group who wants to portage a specific rapid, and this portage could take two hours to walk, you will be pressured to run the rapid to get the group through in two minutes. These are the types of potential issues that are best dealt with even before you get on the water. Are you with a group you trust? Are you getting onto a river that you can handle with your skill set? Is the weather going to play along? OK, let’s say that you have dealt with all the potential issues beforehand, there is no peer pressure, and you are looking at a rapid that you just can’t decide whether you should run it or not. The first thing to do is to look carefully at the line you intend to run. Then, decide whether you have a good chance of sticking the line. Consider the sections where you may miss the line, and decide if you can handle the consequences. Will you end up on a different line that you can easily run? Or, is there a good chance that you could end up in a really nasty hole, in an undercut, a syphon, or a tree block. In other words, a situation that you really would want to avoid. The bigger the consequence of a missed line, the surer you need to be that you can stick the line. That is what it always boils down to. If you will certainly die if you miss your line, you have to be 100% sure you can stick your line. That is the logical part of the decision-making process. The emotional part needs to be dealt with too. If you have the technical ability to stick the line, but you are just not feeling it, best is to not talk yourself into running it. Leave it for another day, when you’re on top of the world and ready to give anything a go. When you feel that you are in the zone, you have the adrenaline under control and you generally feel a bit ballsy, then give it all you’ve got. Author: Celliers Kruger. This article was originally published in The Paddle Mag in the Feb/March 2020 issue. This is a superb, free-to-read digital magazine.

Our Usutu sit-on-top whitewater kayak is perfect for kayak schools, operators, guides, beginner kayakers, and especially those paddlers who enjoy whitewater but for whom whitewater is not their primary discipline so they have not nailed whitewater skills like rolling. It is perfectly socially acceptable to be a sit-on-top whitewater paddler. The Usutu allows you to develop skills like ferry gliding and catching eddies and to build confidence. It is forgiving and, best of all, if you fall off, you can climb back on without having to empty the kayak. In this video, Lisa takes a swim and with a hand on each of the side handles, she quickly flips the Usutu upright and climbs back on.  

In this quick clip, Lisa demonstrates her technique of getting a Tarka on to her roof racks without assistance. This same technique can be applied to getting the bigger Kasai, longer Marimba or even the heavier double-seater Mazowe onto a roof. Of course, a higher SUV roof is more challenging but the same technique will work. Place a towel on the back of the car to slide the kayak and protect your vehicle from scratches.

When loading and moving kayaks, we do not always have the convenience of another person around to assist.  If you do not have your technique sorted, getting a kayak off a roof on your own can result in near decapitation, twisted wrists and pulled shoulders. Avoid the hospital by using this tried-and-tested technique. The kayak in this video is a Tarka. For bigger, heavier kayaks like the Kasai, Marimba or Mazowe, place a towel over the back of the car to protect your paint as you slide the kayak down.  

New golfers don’t hesitate to seek guidance from an instructor to develop an effective swing, especially if their handicap is high and they are known for leaving a divot trail. In tennis, gymnastics, cricket, karate, archery and a multitude of other sports, coaches are commonplace. Why then do we hop into any kayak, pick up a paddle and just like that take up the sport? Paddling, like golf, is a technical discipline where equipment choice, boat setup and stroke technique are best guided by a coach. Bad habits are easily entrenched because out on the water we don’t have a mirrored wall to check our posture and form, and anything that works to move a kayak forwards sticks. In no particular order, because these are all important, here are five reasons why all paddlers should book a session with a paddle coach. #1 – Kayak Choice If you can ride a bicycle, you can ride Lance Armstrong’s bike without falling off. This is not true for paddling Henk McGregor or Bridgitte Hartley’s kayaks. “Choosing the wrong boat, one that is too advanced, is a mistake that both beginner and long-time paddlers make,” says Johannesburg-based paddle coach Russell Willis. He describes the common scenario of paddler with 20 years of experience giving a friend their boat-locker key and encouraging, with good intention, the friend to use their boat. This is a sure-fire way to entrench the belief that paddling is the sport of Olympic gods and not the average Joe. With the right kayak, the friend will be back again and again. One swim too many and they’ll never return. Indeed, a K1 really is not the best kayak for a first-time paddler. A coach will start beginners in a kayak that they can stabilise, guiding them step-by-step. The coach will also ensure that the paddler doesn’t run before they can walk by guiding kayak choice over time. Boat choice is also connected to the paddler’s aspirations. Boats for kayak fishing, multiday touring, paddling for fitness, river racing and competitive sprints differ. Paddlers with experience need to realistically consider that the kayak they are paddling may too advanced. Tell-tale signs include bad posture, poor stroke technique and swimming down rapids too frequently. A coach is able to recommend suitable boats and will know how to correct weaknesses in form and technique that have developed as a result of compromising for instability. #2 – Paddle Choice What water type? What paddle? What length? What blade? are the four questions that Willis asks. Incorrect paddle selection is as common as choosing the wrong boat. “For flatwater, the blade is bigger and the shaft length is longer than that of a river paddle. You don’t pull as long or as aggressively on a river and strokes are faster on flatwater,” Willis explains. He adds that paddlers typically underspend on paddles and he has observed that many paddlers use the same paddle for flatwater and river where they should buy dedicated paddles for each type of water. Coaches can advise on the correct paddle length and blade type for the boats that you paddle across the paddling disciplines. #3 – Stroke technique Just putting a paddle into the water and pulling it backwards will move you forwards; but this is not necessarily efficient. Good technique can be developed but it is not a skill that is easy to learn and perfect on your own. It takes a coach to be able to identify faults and apply corrections. “There is nothing harder to unteach than how a person grips the paddle,” Willis says. This includes correctly placing and distancing the hands on the shaft, and the grip of the control hand on a feathered paddle. Willis uses techniques like marking the shaft for hand position and using an insert/bump to position the fixed hand. “Holding a paddle correctly has nothing to do with handedness. It is about what you learn with,” Willis says. Like right-handers, most left-handed South African paddlers keep their right hand fixed to rotate the shaft in their left hand. This has advantages because if a lefty breaks a paddle, a right-handed replacement is more common. “If you don’t feather correctly, there is usually less bite on the left causing the paddle to ‘wheel spin’. This leads to compensation in other areas of the stroke.” In terms of technique, Willis identifies placement of the blade in the water as key and this is related to the cycle of height, reach, catch and pause. Whether a paddler is using a flat blade or wing, the blade placement is the same and paddling principles overlap. A coach will assess and correct how the paddle is held and feathered, and they will provide drills to improve technique. Using video, a coach can point out where your strengths and weakness lie. This helps you to realise how to adjust your movements to achieve better technique. Willis says that coaching a beginner from Day 1 gets the principles correct and that hardcore techniques only follow later. “Even if you have been paddling for a while, don’t wait – go see a coach,” Willis advises. “Book nothing less than two sessions and then continue to develop your stroke in the right direction on your own.” Willis’ experience has proven that even good paddlers benefit from technique practice. #4 – Kayak setup Partnered with boat selection is kayak setup. This includes getting the distance between the footrest and seat correct to ensure sufficient bend in the knees, and the right seat position (where the seat position can be adjusted), which distributes your weight along the length of the kayak. When a paddler feels stable, their confidence grows and instead of focusing on not falling into the water, they can concentrate on stroke, rotation and pushing through their legs. From his experience, Willis has seen men struggle more than women when learning to paddle. “Guys generally have worse balance than women. They carry their weight in the upper body; women carry it in their hips,” he explains. Willis encourages new paddlers to give it a few chances. He reminds us of the basics that improve stability like initially removing the seat of a K1 to lower the paddler’s centre of gravity, sitting the correct distance from the pedals and initially paddling using only your hands in the water. #5 – Steering K1, K2 and surfski paddlers have pedals and a rudder to steer their kayaks; most recreational kayaks are rudderless and steering is by means of paddle strokes. While, learning paddle strokes would benefit those with rudders (rudder cables can snap!), this is an essential skill for recreational paddlers. Zigzagging across the water primarily because of imbalances in paddle placement, pull and hand position is frustrating. With instruction from a coach and some drills to cement skills, paddling becomes a whole lot more fun when you can steer a kayak where you want it to go. With coaching, your learning phase is over faster. Proper kayak and paddle selection, boat setup and correct technique improve your enjoyment of paddling and limit both injury and fatigue. Consulting a coach does not tie you in for weekly classes. Instead, the sessions give you skills to develop in the right direction on your own. A check-up will see you well on your way and a top-up, maybe even years later, will only further your paddling. Even Olympians have coaches. HOW TO FIND A COACH As paddling coaching don’t quite pop up in Google searches, ask your nearest paddling club. They will be able to refer you an appropriate coach. Russell Willis coached the author of this article when she first started paddling regularly. “I was taking a team of novices to the Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge in 2008 and we were in for 120km of sea kayaking. I turned to Russell to correct and improve my technique and to teach my teammates how to paddle. He built us an efficient style for long-distance paddling. For three years, Russell coached me and my teammates (new ones each year). While I benefitted from his instruction, I also observed the transformation in my teammates from complete novices to decent and competent paddlers in a short space of time. Consistent paddling, two to three times a week, entrenched what Russell taught us.” Lisa continues to benefit from occasional coaching as she learns new paddle strokes for whitewater kayaking and canoe polo from those with more insight and experience at her paddling club, Likkewaan Canoe Club in Parys. Author: Lisa de Speville. This article was originally published in The Paddle Mag in the June/July 2019 issue.

An instructional piece that I read recently advised paddlers to remove their Personal Flotation Device (PFD) when caught in a weir. This reminded me of the period when I started doing river races in the early 90s. Back then, PFDs were not compulsory at most river races, and certainly not on flatwater. When CSA got more serious about safety and insisted on the wearing of PFDs, there was a lot of resistance to this decree. After all, it was cool to be so good that you didn’t need to wear a PFD to paddle rapids… (more…)

The Orange River is South Africa’s biggest and longest river. Despite having paddled many sections of the Orange, there are still some sections that neither Vagabond’s Celliers Kruger nor Graeme ‘Riverman’ Addison had ever been on. A number of weeks ago, Graeme gave us a shout to see whether we’d be keen for a winter kayaking trip to scout a lesser-known section of the Orange: the stretch between Prieska and Koegas. In writing his book ‘Run the Rivers of Southern Africa’, Celliers was mostly after whitewater, so he had never ventured to this area. We were in! (more…)

The second edition of Paddling Race took place in overcast and rainy conditions on Sunday, 7 April 2019. (more…)

There are club-hosted time trials (the domain of K1s and K2s), kayak races (also for K1s, K2s and, only recently, surfskis) and surfski events… But, there are no organised events for regular people with a sit-on-top in their garage that they only use for family holidays at the coast once a year. Enter Paddling Race, a new monthly event series held from the Likkewaan Canoe Club on the Vaal River in Parys. Only 125km from Johannesburg, Parys is a popular weekend-getaway destination with its cafes, antique and gift shops, B&Bs and an abundance of outdoor activities. While the town is known for whitewater rafting, the river here also offers magnificent stretches of flatwater paddling with beautiful riverine scenery. Birdlife is abundant and local paddlers never tire of hearing fish eagles and seeing grey herons, goliath herons and various kingfishers. Paddling Race has been created by Lisa de Speville and Celliers Kruger. Where Celliers comes from a paddling background that includes every conceivable kayaking discipline, Lisa’s focus has been on adventure racing, trailrunning and orienteering for over 20 years – both as a participant and event organiser. She is also the Event Director of the Parys parkrun and has been part of the impact that this running/walking event has had on the lives of people in her community. Together, Lisa and Celliers are the force behind Vagabond Kayaks. “Paddling needs to be more open, friendly and accessible,” Lisa says. “We’ll only get more people to paddle for pleasure when they have access to kayaks that are stable and enjoyable to paddle; when they have access to safe waterways that are located not too far from their homes and where there are fun, family-friendly events that they can participate in.”  Lisa adds that events show people where they can go to paddle, exposes them to the area in a safe and controlled environment and builds their confidence and competence. Paddling Race offers 2km and 5km courses that take paddlers on a beautiful section of flatwater on a route that goes through channels and between islands. The event encourages participants to bring along any type of kayak: plastic sit-on-tops, touring kayaks, surfskis, K1s, K2s and even inflatables and stand-up paddleboards. Vagabond has a fleet of kayaks that can be hired for the event and PFDs and paddles are provided. The event takes place monthly, on the first Sunday of the month and the direction of the route alternates each time. “Our first event, held at the beginning of March, had 40 entrants,” Lisa says, “and only seven of the participants were people who paddle with some degree of regularity. The rest were infrequent, a-long-time-ago, or first-time paddlers. Yes! Yes! Yes! This is exactly why we created Paddling Race.” On the 5km course, the fastest time of 34:44 was logged by a 12-year old boy paddling a guppy K1. The slowest time of 1:13:00 was recorded by two double sit-on-tops paddled by a mom and dad (sporty, but first-time paddlers), each with a young child in the front seat. Five-kilometres is just the right distance. Lisa would love to see more Paddling Race-type events organised by other people around the country. “Think of Paddling Race as parkrun-for-paddling,” she says. Lisa advises event organisers to keep it simple by having two routes (max. 5km) and presenting the event at the same place, on the same route and at the same time each month. “We’re in the early days with Paddling Race. I hope to see good growth in the number and age spread of participants and the variety of kayaks over the next year.” Paddling Race is on Facebook at and full event information can be found on vagabondkayaks.com/paddling-race. Paddling: Barriers to participationPaddling has a number of barriers to participation that can position this superb sport in people’s minds as a pastime to only be enjoyed through kayak hire or using their sit-on-top at the coast on holiday. Instead, even in our cities, paddling is an activity that is accessible and low expense. Participation barriers Owning a kayak, PFD and paddle Instability of K1s offered by clubs to newcomers – a significant deterrent. Transporting the kayak (vehicle and roof racks) Access to water Perceived safety risks Solutions The first of these barriers can be removed when events and kayak clubs have equipment for rent or to borrow (as a club member). It goes without saying that sit-on-tops should be the first kayak presented to a newcomer. Events expose people to places where they can paddle. There are many waterways – dams and rivers – in and near our cities. Rivers are not all about rocks, rapids, tree blocks, strainers and other hazards; instead, there are more sections of flatwater available on our rivers than you would have the time to paddle in your lifetime. There are also estuaries and lagoons as well as the sea for coastal dwellers. Paddlers should always be aware of water levels, tides, wind and the changeability of the weather. Conditions on water can change in a flash from flat-and-calm to whipped-up white caps in a matter of minutes. It is always a good idea to paddle with a friend, to wear a PFD at all times and to know how to get back on to your kayak if you fall off. Published in the April/May 2019 issue of The Paddle Mag. This free digital publication bursts with superb content. It can be viewed online or downloaded from Issuu.

In my last article, I touched on multiday trips. Since then, I received a bunch of requests to write more about this subject. This is easy to fulfil as multiday trips have always been my favourite way to enjoy paddling. (more…)

We had fun racing our four Vagabond Kayaks sit-on-tops against each other. This video demonstrates the speed difference between them. (more…)

My previous two pieces focused on seconds (Our Unsung Heroes) and paddling with kids. This time I want to explore a logical extension of these themes: family time on the water. Most paddlers I know would love to share their passion for paddling with their families. It is a noble idea that often have disastrous results. I believe the biggest mistake most paddlers make is to try put their family in the same kayaks that they paddle themselves, often in similar conditions that they enjoy putting themselves in. It is unlikely that the exact things that drew you into the sport and lifestyle of paddling will have the same pull on them. There is also slim chance that the skills and experiences you acquired over a period will magically transfer to them and make them competent enough to enjoy what you want to share with them. The first and most important step before you take your family on the water in kayaks is to adjust your expectations. They will most likely struggle more to get it right than you wanted. They might have an amazing time on the water, but they might also be cold, tired, frustrated, anxious. The best you can do is to set the bar as low as possible, to prevent you or them having a miserable day. The second most important step is to plan to make it fun. If your intention is for them to want to do it again, they need to enjoy it. It doesn’t matter what type of outing you’re planning; whether it is a one hour paddle or a full day paddle or a multiday trip, the focus need to be on the experience and not about gaining skills. Once your own mindset is calibrated, you can start focusing on the details. Here are a few pointers to keep in mind: The duration of your first outing with your family will very much depend on their current attitude towards paddling as well as their general experience in outdoor activities. If they are really hesitant about the thought of paddling, don’t take them on a full day trip down a river. Plan an easy outing with a picnic, with maybe 30 minutes to an hour of easy paddling on flat water thrown in. If they are fit and strong and keen to give it a go, you can definitely do something more challenging, but always make sure to keep the focus on fun. The easiest place to start is always on flatwater. Your local club may be a perfect location, but keep an open mind about it. For some beginners the club will be the obvious place to start, while others may feel intimated by the “experts” paddling around. Look around for dams or river sections that have easy access and facilities for picnics too. Make sure to take enough fluid to keep hydrated and if the outing is longer than an hour, take some snacks along too. Invest in or rent stable kayaks that area easy to handle. I’m a big proponent of using sit-on-tops for safety reasons, as these kayaks tend to be more stable, and if a paddler ends up in the water, they can just get straight back onto the kayak instead of having to swim to the bank with it. For a treat, you can book your family for a half or full day commercial paddling trip. There are many options available in the country, especially in KwaZulu-Natal, different sections of the Vaal and Orange rivers, and also some rivers in Mpumalanga as well as rivers around Cape Town. Trips range from flatwater to proper whitewater rafting. For a much more immersive experience, book a multiday trip on a river. These can range from 2 to 6 days, with nights typically spent on the riverbank in tents. The most popular river in the country for multiday trips is the Orange River, with commercial operations on 6 different sections of the river. Multiday trips are also offered on rivers like the Vaal, Breede, Doring, Tugela, Umkomaas, Umzimkulu and Umzimvubu. As always, keep safety in mind. Don’t go out on the water without a PFD and apply enough sunscreen. If you approach paddling with your family by keeping these basic points in mind, there is a good chance that they will have a positive experience. Maybe your partner want to take it more serious and do some racing in a K2 with you. Maybe your son got a kick out of some whitewater action and decides to get into some whitewater kayaking. Maybe your daughter wants to try her hand at canoe polo or sprints. Maybe some or all of them just want to do some easy recreational paddling or use a kayak to do some bird watching. Maybe none of this will happen, but they might at least get a taste of what paddling does for you. Written by Celliers Kruger for the December 2018 issue of The Paddle Mag. This free digital publication can be read online or downloaded to be enjoyed later on your device.

Most paddlers would like their children to paddle. Most paddlers are unsure of how to go about it, but they give it their best shot. Sadly, most paddlers fail. (more…)

Living near Asheville, North Carolina, Christine and John Vogler regularly paddle the Green Narrows, a challenging section of whitewater on the Green River where the river funnels through a gorge. There are extremely narrow channels, many class IV+ and V+ rapids and waterfalls that leave little doubt as to why this stretch is regarded as one of the most extreme kayaking runs in the eastern United States. (more…)

Lee-ann Simpson, a novice paddler, recently tripped an eight-kilometre section of the Vaal River near the town of Parys. While her four friends were paddling slow-but-very-forgiving two-person inflatable rafts provided by the operator, she decided to paddle our Kasai sit-on-top. With virtually no experience, Lee-ann was the perfect candidate to demonstrate the Kasai’s key features: stability, ease-of-use and responsiveness. This is her story. It is August. Four friends and I have decided to whitewater raft a section of the Vaal River. There are a number of issues to consider: We are a group of girl-friends, away for the long weekend, looking to relax (rafting is not considered relaxing for some). It is August – it is still cold. The water on the section of Vaal River where we will be paddling has recently been badly polluted. We put all of these concerns aside and decided to go out and have fun. Lee-ann (left) with her friends. Before embarking on the trip, I mentioned to a family member that we were planning a river trip and she immediately hooked me up with a new Vagabond Kasai sit-on-top kayak. I must mention that I have limited experience of whitewater paddling, having only been on two paddling trips before. I expected that by using the Kasai for my ‘relaxing’ rafting trip, I would most likely end up wet, cold and frustrated. Still, I accepted the challenge and arrived at the launch with my Kasai in tow. To provide some perspective, I had been pretty vocal about my doubts of being able to successfully complete the trip paddling on my own. Nonetheless, my friends were very supportive of me choosing to paddle the Kasai instead of joining them in the inflatable two-person rafts (aka ‘crocs’) provided by the tour operator. The Kasai is marketed as a kayak for beginners but also for more experienced people wanting to have a bit of fun in the rapids. I figured I was at least one of these things, and therefore my chances were 50/50. My launch into the river was hair-raising. I slid down the bank with a chilly splash into the water. Luckily there were a few strong hands around to help steady me. Once I got my balance and started moving, nerves were replaced by excitement in anticipation of what would happen next. My beginner skills were immediately apparent. I had a few moments of wayward steering but never a worry with stability. The further we paddled, the better my steering and control became. We quickly came to our first rapid of the day, a fairly tame-looking beast with only a short stretch of bubbly water. The Kasai and I breezed through it and I earned a few ‘whoop whoop’ shouts from my friends. After this was a small drop of a about a meter high; this was also handled pretty well. Luckily I had experienced something similar on a previous outing on the Klip River and I remembered a few of the tips on how to paddle through it. My confidence was high, my friends were proud, the sun was out, my feet were dry (unlike the ladies in the ‘croc’ whose feet were submerged in water) and we were making good progress. Lee-ann successfully runs a small rapid in the Kasai. Things got real very quickly though. The guide came up next to me and said that ‘Big Daddy’ was next and that I should hang back to hit the rapid last so that both guides would be in position to help “extract me”. The other guide gave me thumbs up and mentioned something about me having a 20% chance of making it through unscathed. Of course this made me more determined and I reckoned that my odds must be better than their prediction. The guides instructed me to keep to the right of the rapid, but not too far right – and then to aim for the right-hand side of the island below the rapid. From the top I could see none of this but I aimed the nose of my Kasai in that direction, built up some speed, steered right, kept paddling, went over, paddled part way through the rapid and then capsized. I estimate that I made it at least 20% of the way through Big Daddy, swimming the rest. Ironically, my guide was in just the right spot to haul me out of the freezing water (something about this says he has done this more than once!), and we floated downriver to retrieve the Kasai. Strangely, I wanted to do it again. It was fun, it was challenging, it didn’t hurt, it wasn’t scary and I wanted to master this rapid. Sadly, that’s not how rafting trips work. Following the river’s flow, we pushed on. We soon came to ‘Suicide Mile’, a long, wide stretch of flatwater, with no rapids and lots of submerged rocks. While the girls were fighting to steer and paddle the ‘crocs’, I moved like a bullet. The Kasai came into its own, carving a neat path through the water, easily outpacing my friends and sitting rock steady.  Bear in mind that I have no experience of flatwater paddling, boat control or any other skill that could have been helpful. I was having a ball. We ran another two small, bubbly rapids with ease and a few laughs, and then it was time for a long section with three decent-sized rapids one-after-the-other with no place to stop in between. This time the guides passed on no tips of which line to take and it was up to me to read the water. The guide paddled ahead and I stuck close behind him to try follow his line down. I made it through two of the three rapids without swims. The final part of the rapid was a bit tricky and that’s where I took my second swim of the day. The smile on the guide’s face told me that I had done well. Through the first two rapids he had even looked surprised to see me on his tail. Again, I was disappointed to swim but also driven to do it again (maybe in the summer). And with that, our trip was over. Two hours, eight kilometres, five girls, two guides, three inflatable rafts and one Vagabond Kasai. Lee-ann and a khaki Kasai. My overwhelming impression was one of having had a great time, despite the cold water and chilly weather. Would I do it again? Yes. Would I use the Kasai again? Yes! Do I need more experience? Probably, but I’ll only get this with more practice. Written by Lee-ann Simpson.

Imagine a boxer who never spars with a training partner. He skips rope and punches a punch bag to prepare for fights. The only time he ever gets to learn and experience fighting, is in an actual fight. (more…)

We have just received the first production footrests that Celliers Kruger designed for our new sit-on-tops. His aim with this footrest system was to create an easily adjustable, very robust system that is also lightweight and cool looking. (more…)

In the 25-odd years that I’ve been involved in competitive paddling, many things have changed. One thing certainly hasn’t: the ego-driven idea that anyone who is paddling a stable boat is somehow inferior. The reality is that most K1 paddlers in South Africa are paddling boats that are actually too unstable for them. In this first instalment of my new ‘Opinion’ series, I would like to focus on the most basic decision when it comes to paddling: which boat to choose. (more…)