Total Whitewater Fun

11 years later, it manifests

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 27 Jul 2018 22:51:00 +0000

I just received a few new boats from Soul Waterman Kayaks.

Since 2008, I have been paddling longer and longer boats, starting with the Reaction (an old long boat mold found at the Rainbow Kayak factory in Italy) and eventually moving on to a Liquid Logic Stinger. In 2007, I had some boats from Dragorossi, and loved the Pintail so much that I fantasized about making longer versions of that boat. All the other long boats were great, but I just wanted a long Pintail. I think that Corran has achieved that with the 303 and the Funky Monkey.

Below is a link to the old post I made in 2007

http://totalwhitewaterfun.blogspot.com/2007/11/cad-using-photoshop-kayak-design.html

Below are some images of the new boats from Soul Waterman

SL350 Max (far left), 303 (left of center), Funky Monkey (right of center), F-Bomb (right)

SL350 MAX

303

Funky Monkey

Gonzo

F-BOMB

Main Squeeze

SL350 MAX

303

Funky Monkey

Gonzo

F-BOMB

Main Squeeze

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 29 May 2017 13:00:00 +0000

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_Day

The Main Squeeze by Soul Waterman

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 27 May 2017 20:40:00 +0000

This boat fills the gap between most other kayak companies' dedicated freestyle boats and their river running freestyle boat. The Main Squeeze was not designed as a river runner, but it is a better river runner (faster, more forgiving) than everyone's dedicated freestyle boats. It is much more playful (easier to squirt, cartwheel, and much better surfing hull) than everyone's river runner.

It is the best surfing boat under 8' long that I have ever paddled.

video of first surf
https://youtu.be/EVQSHrWloAs

video of stock outfitting
https://youtu.be/ZTdtGzm2n8k

Bulls Bridge infomation moving to it's own blog

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 28 Mar 2017 18:07:00 +0000

So that the information is easier to find, and stays organized (at least organized by whitewater boating standards), Bulls Bridge information will move to it's own blog at the following address:

http://crackonoon.blogspot.com/

At the top of the home page of that new blog are the following links to help people make informed decisions about the level and the choice to drive to the river.

My own correlations made in this current blog
http://totalwhitewaterfun.blogspot.com/p/bulls-bridge-painted-gauge-internet.html

Raw data from USGS with realtime flow
https://waterdata.usgs.gov/ct/nwis/rt

Correlations from AW website and other sources
http://bullsbridge.info/

Ten Mile is up, Bulls delayed

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 27 Mar 2017 17:19:00 +0000

The rain made the Ten Mile river come up, which is what you see on the Gaylordsville guage. Bulls Bridge will probably come up a bit over night. Not sure how much. These images were captured at 1:15 pm today.

Spring is starting to appear

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 26 Mar 2017 21:28:00 +0000

Bulls Bridge is finally starting to move above fish flow (minimum flow). The level is not yet registering on the painted guage, but it is starting to get to those levels at which it is worth paddling to Ten Mile bridge and hiking back out. The trail still has snow, but is packed down enough for hiking. There is still ice on the trail. Wood is shifting in the river, but all main lines appear to be clear as of this post (scout and make your own decisions since woid moves all the time).

$3 gear bag

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 10 Jan 2017 23:15:00 +0000

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/90149148/

Just under 1 today at 4 pm

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 21:12:00 +0000

Bulls Bridge

1 at 1 pm

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 28 Dec 2016 17:51:00 +0000

1 on the paint at 1 pm today. Mark the internet gauge correlation and watch the changes as we head into the weekend.

The big ice shelves still exist because temps are below freezing at night. Some new ice undercuts (mild) are forming around rocks with this rising water.

Looking up at Stairway from the bridge

Flume viewed from above

Flume viewed from river right

Looking back up at the Flume

Looking downstream below the Flume

Soul Waterman announces custom boat design (brings up good memories)

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 17 Dec 2016 21:59:00 +0000

Way back in November 2007, I as playing with Photoshop, and decided to stretch out the Dragorossi Pintail. I loved that boat, and wanted to see what it looked like in longer lengths. I thought it would make a great 10' cruiser.

Further back, in the fall of 1997, I was working on a custom play boat for myself. I stumbled upon Corran Addison's website for his (at the time) new company, Riot Kayaks. We started email corranspondence about boat design, which heavily influenced my final boat. Of course, I was new to shaping foam and laying up composites while he was light years ahead of my back yard garage operation. So, in January 1998 I drove to Canada to meet him. I have had many inspiring design discussions with Corran since that time.

If I were to design a boat again, I'd take advantage of his decades of knowledge in both design and manufacturing. Earlier this week, Corran announced that he will make custom kayaks, based on individual feedback. http://www.soulwaterman.com/products/custom-kayaks

from his website:

"How do I communicate with the designer what I want my boat to do?

Believe it or not, this isn't that hard. As long as you're honest about what you want the boat to do, your skills, your size and weight, and how you want to use it, it's pretty easy to create something awesome for you. That's where our experience comes in.

The hardest part is separating what you "think" you're going to do with the boat, versus what you'll actually be doing with it (there is no point getting a boat for the Montreal Lachines if you live on the Ocoee for example, paddle on the Ocoee every day, and travel to Montreal once every 3 years).

If you can't do a Phonix Monkey, but you tail squirt every eddy you pass, don't get a boat that's awesome at Phonix Monkeys. Get a great squirting boat. Be honest with yourself about how and where you paddle, and we can make you something truly remarkable, and something that is uniquely yours."

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 24 Nov 2016 05:02:00 +0000

Support the over-worked and under-paid retail employees

by not shopping from normal closing time tonight

until 8 am on Friday.

Misguided Trail maintenance hurts the environment and our potential for fun

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 28 Oct 2016 20:41:00 +0000

Over the past year some well-intentioned people have been maintaining the trail at Bull's Bridge. Unfortunately several of their efforts are actually hurting the trail and the environment surrounding it. Additionally their efforts are posing a potential risk to both fishermen and white water boaters. Take a look at these photos. They show attempts at controlling access to the river.

The intention is to reduce access points and small Pathways which add to erosion. This is good in theory. In practice however logs sticks and branches are usually thrown on the downstream side of the path. Debris like this, on the downstream side of the path, eventually finds Its way into the river. When logs and branches find their way into the river they get stuck on rocks. Water passes through them but the larger objects can not. Unfortunately sometimes the larger objects are fishermen and whitewater kayakers Rafters and canoeists. This situation poses a harmful potentially fatal Hazard to other user groups.

Water bars make perfect sense. Something like the photo above shows a good water bar that will also support the trail. Immediately to the left, however, is the sad attempt at preventing side trails (debris pile). This is a potential risk to river users and a weak attempt to control traffic in a boggy water draw.

Further attempts to Manicure the site have resulted in people cutting roots from live trees. This goes against all ethical trail maintenance practices. It harms the surrounding trees and later on will harm the structure of the trail actually increasing erosion. Healthy root systems are one of the best ways to stabilize a hill side and prevent erosion. Why someone would do something counter to that end...?

It also takes away from the overall experience of why most people are on the trail in the first place. This Trail which is part of the Appalachian Trail should be at least a semi wilderness experience. It's cannot be manicured for easy passage. Removing roots from live trees is poor trail maintenance, and should not be tolerated for any reason.

The irony is that an "un-maintained" but wider and easier trail parallels this one. Why would this trail have to become any easier to pass or why would anyone take any steps towards random manicuring of it by cutting the roots of healthy trees?

Wood alert

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 27 Oct 2016 12:33:00 +0000

Low water is revealing would in some strange places. Get out and Scout if you go paddling. (all images below can be seen higher res by clicking on them)

I did not get a photo of the tree that fell in front of House Rock. It's not in the main line, but could be an issue in the future.

1st photo below: the crux to Deadhorse. note the log at the top of the chute on river right. It might not be an issue when this is flowing at normal or high levels, but it is an example of many of the short pieces that became lodged in various places throughout the run this summer. The power plant cleaned up many of the large logs above each of the dams, but in the process sent many small pieces like this downstream.

2nd picture below: note the log at the top of the top/main drop in Stairway. I looks to be off the main line right now, but it's difficult to tell if it extends into the main line or not (since the water is so white and turbulent at that spot).

3rd picture below: This log sticks into the landing zone at Little Niagra. At higher water it's a bit deceptive because it is in line with, and goes just a bit past the shoulder of the rock that makes the normal splashy rooster tail thing anyway.

4th picture below: here you can see the log sticking into the line at little Niagra. At this low level, it won't hold a boat, but sure will hit you in the face. At higher water, who knows what it will do.

5th picture below: Another view of the log in the top drop at Stairway.

1/2 on paint, canal is off

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 16:09:00 +0000

Not enough water to run the power plant, so the canal is empty.

Random wood in odd spots at low water.

I suggest that you Scout since the summer shifted a lot of lumber around.

First image is the start of the big drop in Stairway. There are also a couple of small things just below the surface on the approach. Look before you go.

(images are full res since I posted this with my phone. Click on them to enlarge and see things).

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 30 May 2016 09:30:00 +0000

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_Day

Warmer than last year, more water than last year, so far....

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 12 Mar 2016 02:50:00 +0000

Last year, at this time, we had this

and this

so be thankful for the mild winter (or maybe be afraid that global warming is real?)

Duo at over 2 on the Flume

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 22 Feb 2016 01:45:00 +0000

https://youtu.be/k3ybpnyIKOE

http://jacksonkayak.com/blog/kayak/dynamic-duo/

Add caption

Bulls Bridge blows it's stack

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 05:20:00 +0000

https://youtu.be/79Gyty5uC0Q

STS Spawn by Upstream Boards

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 09 Jan 2016 20:18:00 +0000

Here is Rich, from Upstream Boards, applying the graphics before the final fiberglass layer on this nice river surfing board.

The bottom of the board is a mix of fiberglass, innegra, and basalt. It is a very strong composite mix.

This image is after the "hot coat", which is the final layer of resin that is applied over everything to further protect the reinforcing fibers. The idea is that you can get some scratches in this coat and be able to maintain your board before anything touches the reinforcing fibers.

Bulls Bridge at about 1 on the paint (video of the Flume)

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 17 Dec 2015 03:39:00 +0000

Benjamin Michael Trister showing us how high and dry that last gen Option from BlackFly Canoes really is. He runs the classic line, and stays dry enough to keep his ferry angle and hit the eddy. This is the correct line for kayaks. Most of the time, however, kayaks will just keep going down stream when they hit the V hole.

Bhupi taking the modified boof line. He did this on purpose. Of course he did. I only say that because many Bulls Bridge beginners take this line by accident, as they just sort of randomly drive towards the horizon line. Unfortunately, the often get punished by the hole at the bottom (because they can't boot). The hole is backed up by some very shallow rocks on the right. Most beginners should take the same line as the OC-1 above, and drive left.

Bulls Bridge a bit above 2 at noon Nov 22

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 00:38:00 +0000

The powerplant is still under construction,

so all the water goes into the river

Putting in below Stairway,

turn the corner and run The Flume.

Brap Braap Braaap!!!..

Surfing at George's, Georgia's, Georges

Pass this along to people you know around Durango, CO

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 14 Nov 2015 02:17:00 +0000

http://upstreamboards.com/collections/winter-sale

Operation Zulu (back in the day.....)

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 03 Nov 2015 02:25:00 +0000

In the Fall of 1997 I was working in an outdoor store, and designing a small freestyle boat for myself. It was super short (very short by the standards of 1997) and I wanted it to be flat, stable, and spin on a wave. I ran into some posts by Corran Addison, started an email correspondence that turned into an offer to join up with Riot in January of 1998. I was happy to get involved with someone who was far ahead of the curve with what I wanted to do with a boat, but had no idea I would be witness to the start of a revolution in whitewater kayaking over the next five years.

https://vimeo.com/144246326

Operation Zulu - Unsponsored from Unsponsored on Vimeo.

I remember the Outdoor Retailer show in Salt Lake City in which crowds gathered at the Riot booth to see the final sequence of Nico wave wheeling on the Zambezi River. Very few people in the U.S. had seen water that big, and nobody in the show had seen anyone throw wave wheels into features like that. Many have done similar feats since, but at the time it was an amazing site to behold.

(one fun fact: my friend still owns the same yellow Riot Hammer that was used in that sequence)

Just under 1 1/2 at Noon (Bulls Bridge). Canal is still off

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 01 Nov 2015 18:39:00 +0000

1 foot at 1 pm (Bulls Bridge)

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 17:07:00 +0000