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27
Mar

Shiva loves the Raven Fork

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 Sending the Shiva off the Big Boy!

Seconding the latest post from Clay… I also had the pleasure of testing the Shiva on one of the South East’s sickest steep creeks, The Raven Fork. I decided to fly to Asheville for my spring break and met up with Dave Fusilli in the Team Pyranha van. I got off the plane on Friday afternoon, got picked up by Demshitz Mike Flynn and dropped off at the Pyranha US warehouse where I outfitted a brand new Medium Shiva- 82 Gallons- this boat is STOUT! Weighing in at around 145 lbs these days, I was a little concerned I was going to be out of control in this beast. Coming from the Medium Burn for the past 7 years, I should probably be paddling a small Shiva. The medium Shiva is not only a bigger boat, but a totally different design.

After outfitting the Shiva we hiked into the Raven Fork around 6 pm with Pat Keller and Isaac Levinson and put in right at the Anaconda rapid… I was going to find out immediately if I liked the Shiva or not!

Blasting through the Anaconda and Headless Horseman rapids right off the bat settled my new boat nerves. This boat is like 4 wheel drive! The best thing about the Shiva is the fact that it’s a stout creek boat, but maneuvers with ease. I was especially pleased with its ability to hold a line in the big rapids and still deliver the plane out sensation at the bottom of drops like the Burn. I am definitely SOLD!

I can already tell this boat is going to be the shit when loaded for overnighters and will be my “go to” for waterfalls and steep creeks. I think I will still use the Burn for big water and days when I don’t need the extra stoutness. After falling in love with the edges on the Burn, I never thought I would make the switch to a displacement hull, but honestly when youre hucking the stouts, its probably the better way to go. Having a Burn and a Shiva is the ultimate class 5 weaponry.
 Lining up the typically portaged  “Mangler”

 The Shiva making it easy for me. Roosting through the nasty spot in the Mangler.
Stoked to get out 3 days in a row on this gem. The last day with a crew of Shiva riders Clay Lucas, Matt Anger, Mike Patterson and Dave Fusilli…everyone smiling ear to ear about this boat. Pyranha really nailed it.
The next day I paddled the JED! I’m going to let Fusilli post about it. With the Shiva Burn and the Jed I’m confident in saying these are the BEST BOATS I HAVE EVER PADDLED.

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26
Mar

Shivas on the Raven Fork

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Here is a litte video of Matt Anger and myself paddling the Shiva on the Raven Fork, near Cherokee, NC. The level was around 10 inches, a perfect medium. We had an awesome day bombing down the gorge stopping just to get a few video clips. The new boat was great, i’m loving it more everytime I paddle it! Check it out here: Shivas on the Raven Fork

Manger is a caveman

Manger coming through Anaconda

Cheers

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19
Mar

Open Season In The Adirondacks

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Phil LaMarche trying to avoid the wall on the final drop of Sluice Falls

 

I can honestly say that I have never paddled in northern New York’s Adirondack Mountains on St. Patrick’s Day before.  Usually this time of year we are still buried deep in snow.  This weekend extremely warm temperatures brought an early start to the season and the official “opening” of many creeks and rivers throughout New York and Vermont.

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19
Mar

Costa Rica

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a wonderful country that offers so much! The right place for Jürgen and me after a quite stressful and moving year. We used the opportunity to go back where we feel at home, in our kayaks and in the nature. What’s nicer then sitting on the see, waiting for the amazing wave and feeling the sunshine on your body?

 

A wet shower is a wonderful place for some animals, so you better get used to share it with a beautiful frog.

With open eyes there is so much to discover, while paddling through the jungle.

You better be careful when you reach the lower flat parts of the section ;-).

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16
Mar

One Day in West Virginia

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Last weekend we took a little road trip up to Fayettville, WV to check out some of the rivers and creek surrounding the New River Gorge. Timing it perfectly with the rain, and with a super solid crew, we were able to paddle Mill Creek, Manns Creek, part of the New River Gorge, and the New River Dries all in one day, for something like 17 miles of paddling! Ranging from waterfalls, to steep boulder gardens to 40,000 cfs big water, the day held whitewater variety of every kind.  Here is a little video I shot with my gopro that day, enjoy!

A Day in WV!

This day was also a great test for my new Shiva, which I am loving more and more the more I paddle it. Its incredibly fast and really boofs better than any other boat ive been in, just check out how easy it is to keep the bow up in the video! I’ll leave you with this sweet shot of Mill Creek Falls, shot by James Lowry.

mill creek falls by james lowry

Cheers,

Clay

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15
Mar

Winter on the White Nile

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Uganda was one of those far of destinations that captured my imagination from an early age, with warm water, big rapids and awesome play waves, it truly is the perfect way to escape the cold (and dry) British winter.

The video of my trip is below,

See you on the water,

Bren

 

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08
Mar

The Biggest Freestyle Kayaking Event in the World…

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… also known as the NSR, was bigger and better than ever this year! The National Student Rodeo, held in Nottingham every year is a great event with over 1000 competitors of all abilities. Everyone gets a chance to paddle and compete (if not too hung over), even non-students can enter the Old School competition, and the Saturday night party is the stuff of legends!

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07
Mar

Big Boofing in Tennessee

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The Shiva is a boofster like no other, and I’d been waiting to get it on some stouts for a bit.  Finally rain came and so did the killer boofs that inhabit a special place called Big Creek. Upper Big Creek is like a wet dream to the Shiva, the yin to its yang, the jelly to its peanut butter, the icing to its cake. No better feeling than riding up smooth granite into a full release, from the water that is.

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01
Mar

I’ll Go To Class Next Week

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Check out this little video I made back in the fall, including some of the bigger rivers and drops around Boone, NC. Includes North Harper Falls, Trashcan Falls, Watauga Gorge, Gragg Prong, and Linville Gorge. Enjoy!

I’ll go to class next week!

Dragstrip Photo by Eric Chance

Cheers – Clay

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27
Feb

Yeah yeah yeah .. water rising in Austria !!!!

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Still very cold, but some rain made the first good creeks flow. Had great days on the water. Probably would have been easier with a Snowboard or ice climbing equiptment but was awesome ..

Big Boof with the Shiva on the “No Brainer rapid”

 

 

1st D of Langbathseebach    Pic: Daniel Egger

 

Ice and water on the upper Weitenaubach…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

second boof of the “No Brainer” rapid        Pic : Daniel Egger

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