The Californian Don!

After I had a wonderful time at the Nookie Creek Dayz in Switzerland I went to the USA for some more kayaking. The first week I spent in Vail, Colorado at the Teva Mountain Games. One week, 21 different competitions, partying all night long, good people and my 9th place in the creek race made this event one of the highlights of this year.
Then, two weeks later, I took my Teva van and drove together with Jakub Nemec to California. The rivers here are good stuff! Endless slides and drops. Every river is an adventure and takes mostly two days or more. But for those who don’t like hiking, portaging and driving a lot, it is not the paradise. I definitely prefer Switzerland with Team Nookie!
Enjoy summer buddy’s and the pics below!

later

Ron 'The Don' Fischer
Nookie Euro Team Rider

Nookie in Portugal Surf Magazine

Thanks to Luis Pedro Abreu of http://www.kayaksurf.net/ Portugese surfing mag 'Freesurf' has just ran an article about my adventures using NOOKIE Gear. Unfortunately i don't have a translation of the article, but here's the pages that Luis sent across to me! Life's been tough since the last trip, stood infront of the classroom to earn some pennies and hit the road again! The Portugese World Champs are approaching so the surf kayaking world is getting excited, more exciting for me though, is the trip to Tonga. Marc Holland, Naomi James and I head out in August!

There's been heaps of swell up in Wales, and the weather has been getting hot so life on mud island has been pretty good of late! I hope every one has a great summer. I'll report back on Tonga in September!

YB

Nathan Eades
Nookie Team Rider

Creek Dayz - Tessin

Creek Dayz - Tessin

Ron dropping in on the Lower Versazca, photo by James

Tessin is one of the most beautiful places in the World to go paddling and record snowfall over the winter has provided sweet water levels all through the spring, it seemed obvious that Tessin would be our next stop on the Creek Dayz tour.

Team riders Alex, Ron and James hanging out at the Ribo put in, photo by Hazel

Leaving the carnage behind the team headed to over the San Bernadino pass to hook up with team riders Ron Fischer and James Weir and with world renowned kayak photographer Raph Thiebaut. First stop was the Ribo, the river provided many opportunities for Raph and the other photographers to ply their trade and for the team riders to style it up, check it out.

Ron leading the team down towards the Ribo gorge, photo by Sanne

Ron styling on the first drop of the Ribo gorge, photo by James

Alex flying on the Ribo, photo by Sanne

Tim lining up for the Ribo fall, photo by James

James dropping the Ribo fall, photo by Sanne

Time is money and all that so after a session of high fives it was back on the road heading towards the stunning Versazca valley, first stop the James Bond dam all 220metres of it! We were lucky to find a beautiful riverside camp complete with firewood for a BBQ.

Shooting fireballs from the hand is a prerequisite for being a Nookie team rider, photo by James

As is catching MM's in your mouth! photo by James

There was no need to make a plan for the next day, the Versazca is one of the most beautiful rivers in Europe and yet other chance to mix top class paddling with great photographers, the results speak for themselves.

The Versazca, a beautiful place to paddle, photo by James

Ron at the Secret spot, photo by Hazel

Thanks to Nookie for great stuff and supporting us and thanks to Raph for some awesome photos and finally to Ron, Alex, Tim, Hazel, Raph, Sanne, Laura and Tim for a great few days in the magical Tessin.



Top tip from the team, safety first!

James

Nookie Creek Dayz (Part 1) - Graubunden, Suisse

I love working in the paddling industry, unexpected exciting opportunities crop up all the time, and the first Nookie Creek Dayz was definitely one opportunity I wasn't going to miss.

International Nookie Team Riderz gathered in the beautiful Swiss Alps for adventure and mis-adventure ; )

The incredible snow melt and blazing sunshine provided the best conditions we could have hoped for, things were off to an awesome start.

We warmed up on the Glenner near Illanz which was quite literally cracking! An incident in a stopper, combined with a temporary loss of paddles and a rock to the head. I finally rolled up, the inevitable amount of time under water proved years of squirting had paid off. (I think even the boys might have mumbled they were impressed I rolled after that length of time.)

After a visit to the hospital where I was stitched and glued I was ready to paddle again.

Steri-strips courtesy of Team Rider Rob Yates. "Thanks Rob!"

If only Nookie made helmets : )

Team Rider: Hazel Wilson

Pic: Rob Yates

Over a tasty bar-b-q that included Ostrich we decided to head to the beautiful Cristallina for the next days paddling.

The put-in, Cristallina.

Team Rider: Alex Keller

Pic: Hazel Wilson

Due to my new found pirate (one-eyed) status I was elected to be team photographer for the day.

The boys were lucky with a great water level. They paddled the river and scouted their way into the gorge entrance with rescue support when necessary. This river claimed our next victim. Rob Yates broke his foot while providing safety at one of the drops and provided me with a second visit to the hospital in as many days, but not before he insisted the rest of the team finished paddling. I'm sure the team were grateful because they managed to squeeze in these two beauties:

Team Rider: Tim Copplestone

Pic: Hazel Wilson

Team Rider: Alex Keller

Pic: Hazel Wilson

This is just a taster from the beginning of the Nookie Creek Dayz. Keep posted for more pics and tales from our road trip down to the Ticino/Tessin region.

Hazel : )