Gorge de l'Areuse: Ron Fischer

Last weekend we had a lot of rain and it was time to check out the rivers in the French part of Switzerland. I went together with Thomas Rogenmoser to the amazing Gorge de l'Areuse and after a hike trough the Canyon we decided to paddle it on the next day. The difficulties were not high but the river offered some special actions like a natural tunnel and a narrow gorge. Enjoy the pics...

The paddler is Toro and i made the pics

so, i start on Sunday my trip to Pakistan and i'm really looking forward to send you good pics!

Cheers
Don Ron

New Nookie Team Rider Miss Mega surfs Santa Cruz

On the third weekend of March every year, the Kayak Surf Festival is held at Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz. This year I competed!
After attending the event last year as a spectator I had a vague idea of what to expect surf wise. I was familiar with quite a lot of the competitors which helped as I had met them last year at the S.Cruz event and at the Worlds in Mundaka .

The horn blew and my first heat had started. There were not as many women competing in the event as there were men, but the women who were there, were extremely good. Throughout the event I found myself paddling against the likes of Kate Smith (1st in women’s World Cup 2006), Gina Morley (5th in HP, Worlds 2005), Ailsa McDougall (4th in HP, Worlds 2007) and Jameson Riser (5th in Ladies Open 2007).

As the swell came in, it brought waves of 10ft faces. Having never surfed anything this big before I was slightly nervous, but as soon as I caught my first wave the adrenaline started to pump and all I could think of was getting another one.
The Women’s Final was held on the Sunday morning followed by the Junior’s Final. The wind had picked up slightly so the waves weren’t as clean as they had been, but the size was still there.

A set was coming in, I could see the peak of the wave just breaking on the outside, “that’s the wave” I thought. I paddled, faster then I had ever paddled before. I was on it. Bottom turn, cut back bottom turn. The next wave came. This time I wasn’t fast enough.
It can be hard during heats to keep focused on just yourself, and ignore what your competitors are doing. One of the worst things I have found myself doing in the past is keeping track of other people waves and what they do on them during the heat. In this competition I managed to stay completely focused on myself and it felt so much better. I never thought I would be competing at Steamer Lane after just learning how to role in a kayak only a year before in the same location. It just goes to show that nothing is impossible.

The awards were given out on the Sunday evening. Kate Smith 1st, Gina Morley 2nd, Ailsa McDougall 3rd and myself 4th. Although I did not make it in to the top three I am still extremely happy with how I surfed and especially with how far I have come in just one year. I would not have been able to do this without the continuing support I receive from my sponsors, thank you.
During the next year I hope to improve my skills and push my abilities so that in 2009 I may bring home a Santa Cruz 1st.

For anyone who is interested in surf kayaking or who wants to get involved but doesn’t know how, get in touch with your local sports council or club. It is an amazing sport and I would encourage anyone to try in at least once.

Robyn Pearcey

'Air' Harvey Wins Gold in Santa Cruz

Last weekend I was in California for the US Open Kayak Surf Competition in Santa Cruz, also the 1st of the 2008 World Cup qualifying events. With my title to defend from last year, I headed out a week before the event to train on the famous Steamer's Lane surf break. Preparations went well and I started the competition reasonably confident that I was on good form.

In the opening rounds, conditions were good with 10ft peaks shaping up nicely for me to work the wave and achieve some good scores. However, with some of the peaks in excess of 12ft on the face and rides of 150m, the paddle back out after each wave was long and tiring, leaving no margin for error. With some solid surfing i progressed to the quarter finals ranked in 2nd place behind the world champion. Up against 2 US team members and with difficult windy conditions, the quarter final was a tough heat and i struggled to find form. However, I did just enough to finish on top and go through to the semi-final. Windy conditions prevailed so it was all about getting 3 safe rides, which i managed with the highest score of both semi-finals.

Reaching the final was a real achievement but with current world champion Rusty Sage and 2006 world champion Dave Johnston (both local to Santa Cruz) also in the final it was a really stacked heat. Setting nerves aside I managed to relax and focus. With the wind easing and a lower tide the surf was shaping up well. Sunshine and 6ft surf made for some of the best conditions of the contest and so the scene was set for a spectacular final. Looking deep, I managed to find 2 good waves within the first 10 minutes and with a solid start but aware I was playing it slightly safe I waited for a 3rd good wave to really push myself. I managed to drop into a nice 'bowl-shaped' wall and knowing i needed something big, took a risk and managed to pull off and land a massive aerial. As I landed I could hear the crowd screaming for me...an incredible feeling...With only 3 minutes left i hoped i'd done enough and was wishing for the end of the heat. On the final hooter the atmosphere was great, we spent a few minutes congratulating each other and relaxing before heading to the beach...as well as competitors, the other surferes are good friends and it was fun surfing with them and giving the spectators a good show.

It's hard when you pull off a move to know exactly what it looks like, but as I walked up the beach, the support from the crowd said it all. Rushing back to catch my flight i didn't get the result until I arrived at the airport but i'm so excited to take the Gold, and especially as my 3rd wave was a perfect 10 score from all 3 judges.

The competition really is tough and each year the bar is being raised and more people are reaching the top level. Winning 2 years in a row is really special and the success of other UK surfers just shows what talent we have within the British Isles. This first place gives me automatic qualification for the World Cup Finals which we will be held in France this October. It's also really exciting to see the talent that is coming out of Guernsey. Over the next few years there's really good prospects for other local kayak surfers winning national and international medals.

Once again i'd like to thank my sponsors and everyone who continues to support me in achieving my goals and flying the Guernsey flag.

To keep up to date with my news etc, please visit my website: www.chrisharveyonline.net
For more information about the sport, visit: www.bcusurf.org.uk

Chris 'Air' Harvey

Nookie Team Rider Leo Carpene's BIG MOVES

Leo in Uganda testing his new carbon Gui Gui prod in December '07

National Student Rodeo – Nottingham 8th / 9th of March 08

Someone told me that a competition bigger than the Lyon River Festival existed, so I asked them “which one?” He answered “the NRS in Nottingham!!!”
I was convinced and so I prepared the van, put some DK stickers on it, picked up three friends on Thursday morning and left Paris for England.
I only had one thing in mind “how can a competition with 680 paddlers be held properly?” and “what's a party with that many paddlers like?”

The road was ok until we reached the ferry in Calais. A friend forgot to bring his ID and an English policeman almost threw us back home.
Finally after 3 hours of Londons jams we reached the kayaking course at nightfall.

We spent Friday paddling and meeting up with friends (Sam, Max, Boulby, Louise, Jen, Nath…).


Saturday was a busy day for the organisers who made really good work managing up to 3 competitions at the same time on different places on the river. I’ve never seen that many paddlers in the same place, not even at the world championships.


We were entering the Open category which was obviously not as serious as the rest of the competition. I don’t even know the results to be honest... I should be second just after John Best - always the best ;) -

It does not mean that it wasn’t well organised, I think that was part of the philosophy of the event. We are used to very selective competitions in France where beginners can not paddle a lot. Here, everyone was enjoying the contest, and everyone had opponents of his level.

We went to the pirate party on Saturday night. We, unfortunately (or fortunately), didn’t take the camera for safety reasons. The party was good and everyone played the game of being dressed up, at least until everyone got undressed…

The Sunday started at mid-day… and we had to leave early to take our ferry back to France. We missed the prize giving and went to London to eat some typical local food.

The feelings on the ferry were a contrast between meeting back with our super friendly French policemen and being on-board with the Dutch Female Hockey team!

Thanks to the organisers who did a great job ! We’ll come back (if you still want us) :P

Léo Carpene
www.nookie.co.uk
www.guigui-prod.com
www.dkayaking.net

Few critics:
- Don’t turn the music off too early on a Saturday night!
- Not enough people shouting on the bank for their friends (except Sheffield Uni)
- Not enough people understanding French

Big Fun in the Sun...

You may have noticed that winter in the UK is cold, normally with drizzle! Getting out of here - is the way forward! Instead of the annual new year winter sun Surf Safari, this year opted for Uganda, home of the mighty Nile...



With only two weeks to play with, we had to pack in some awesome river running, big wave playing and a whole lot of relaxing at the bar



There really is nothing that can beat some BIG volume fun in the sun

More to follow soon...

Until then all the best things in life have a montage - heres ours...

http://www.mysterymove.com/PS_WEB_GALLERY/UGANDA/index.htm
catching up on sleep before the next [epic] adventure!
Ben

Nookie Amphibious Task Force

This time of year frogs appreciate a bit of bank support and being expert amphibians they only choose the best kit.