Citoren 2012

Barny leading the charge in one of his
races (p. Otago Daily Times)

With Bullerfest failing us for 2012 (we hope we have it in 2013), all the emphasis went on Citoren to provide everything we require in a kayaking event... and from what I am hearing, it delivered! North Islanders flew down from their respective bases, the Bender Bus made the trip down under the guidence of Colesy and people just generally flocked from everywhere. Even international big names Rafa Ortiz and Rush Sturges made an appearance, though they were too scared to try for the Party Prize that evening. The event was spearheaded by the Silver Fox, Dylan the Villan, and went like a dream. The flow was good, the action was hot and the party was 'as to be expected'. Here are a couple of links to check out from TV3 News and the Otago Daily Times. Congrats to the eventual winners Jamie Sutton and Smuldering Hot Soph Mulder and Simon Rutherford, who from several accounts has been described as winning the party?

Kayaking's best battle the kawerau Gorge - 3 Sport - Video - 3 News

http://www.odt.co.nz/sport/kayaking/200983/kayaking-rapids-prove-challenge

Barny Young - Picks for 2011

Barny has had a super solid 2011, getting all the West Coast Classics, First Descents in Papua New Guinea, getting on pretty much EVERYTHING in cali at good if not high-water and returning to New Zealand to bag some high-alpine First Descents. During this time he has been fortunate enough to see places very few will visit, but fortunately for you he had his camera in hand and captured some amazing scenes. Here are his pics for 2011 and an explanation why... enjoy!

Perth River - West Coast, New Zealand
(http://gradientandwater.blogspot.co.nz/2011/03/upper-perth-trifecta.html)

Paddler: Ari Walker - Details: (s) 1/1250; (a) f/5.6; (iso) 200

This is home for me. Ari routing on the Upper Perth. I can't even really remember taking this shot but it is another of those classic shots that portray the amazing whitewater we are lucky enough to have on the West Coast. Steep boulder-gardens surrounded by rugged scenery with the mountains in the back ground. Awesome.

Mai River - Chimbu River, Papua New Guinea
(http://gwinpng.blogspot.com/2011/05/png-time-to-highlands.html)
Paddler: Shannon Mast - Details: (s) 1/800; (a) f/3.5; (iso) 200

Shannon Mast about to air it out in Papua New Guinea. This was one of my favourite drops I have ever run because we were the first to paddle this amazing river and although there was a clean line to be had, it definitely had some nasty consequences if you missed it. Finally after deciding to run this drop one of the local boys came up to me and said " I have followed you down the whole river, You are now my friend, Please don't die". We all ended up having sweet lines and I was stoked to get this shot of Shannon.

Dinkey Creek, Waterfalls Section - California, United States
(didn't do a post for 2011 for some season, but here is out 2010 post:
http://gradientandwater.blogspot.com/2010/07/dinkey-creek-waterfalls-section.html)
Paddler: Jordy Searle - Details: (s) 1/1250; (a) f/4.0; (iso) 100

Dinkey Creek. I like this shot of Jordy on Dinkey Creek because although not 100% crisp in all avenues it captures the colour of the rocks and shows us just how chunky a rapid Nikki Kelly's drop can be. It also reminds me how photography can be used to mislead the viewer, although Jordy looked to be online he was shot into the wall and ended up doing 3 ends are he cascaded down. In our crew we had 5 successful descents with us all firing out the bottom of this beast. The next crew consisting of Darren McQuoid et al were not so lucky, being treated to some of the best creek boat rodeo scenes I have seen in my life.

Middle Fork of the Kings - California, United States
(http://gradientandwater.blogspot.co.nz/2011/09/middle-kings-is-one-of-those-rivers.html)
Paddler: Will Pruett - Details: (s) 1/1250; (a) f/4.5; (iso) 200

This shot of Will Pruett is taken on one of my favourite runs in the world, The Middle Fork of the Kings. On this particular trip in 2011 we were lucky enough to come across this amazing snow bridge on our second day. The beams of light penetrating through the middle of this snow bridge, where side trickles came in, were unbelievable and i'm sure will likely always rate as one of the top 10 sites I will see in my life.

Nevis River - Central Otago, New Zealand
(http://gradientandwater.blogspot.co.nz/2011/10/nevis-river-central-otago.html)
Paddler: Ari Walker - Details: (s) 1/1000; (a) f/7.1; (iso) 200

I like this shot of Jordy and Ari because it exemplifies the sweet style of continuous kayaking we have in New Zealand. This shot is of Jordy firing up big brother on the Nevis, as Ari in the foreground is about to cruise down the next drop on this sweet run. It also reminds me of the late Simon Davidson, our boy we used to mob down this with every spring. Each time we are on this river it is a tribute to Si, and we always ride with you.

That's Barny's picks for 2011. A big year by anyone's standard and we're continuing the charge here in 2012. More new runs, higher flows, new people... just generally getting amongst it. Hope you liked the picks, more coming soon.

Upper Perth River - West Coast, NZ

We got lucky AGAIN! Barny and I have been talking about how fortunate we have been this year with flows, weather, crew, time off and all the other logistical issues. This time we were pushing it but still got the result. Unsure of what we were going to paddle, Barny and I were throwing around ideas about T-Canyon, a bomb down the Kokatahi or even a sneaky Waitaha. Simon Rutherford was keen and ready to rally from Blenheim when he got the call... Barns consulted the oracle (metvuw.com) and got a weather prediction, things had a bit of water and we all had plenty of time off, so it made sense to can the rest and head for the best! The Upper Perth! Except it was 10pm, old Razz was still in Blenheim, I was now required to do the morning milking and Barny was Barny. All good though we'll just get a late flight...??!! So day one started early for me and Razz, I had to go to work at 4.45am and Razz started driving south at 6am. Razz picked me up at 10am, Barny booked a chopper and collected our new Tuna's from the freight company. Collecting barny just after 11am we rallied to Hokitika for the food-shop and then continued south, after visiting the Bakery of course. Making pretty good time I finally asked Barny what time we had the chopper booked for... 2pm, which is damn late if you are lucky enough to fly right to the top. With a lack of cell service and motivation we decided we'll just fly a little way up.... but thinking back, we were never going to do that!

Boys gearing up by the Lanny (p. Jordy)

And thats only day two (p. Barny)

2.20pm and way up the top! (p. Barny)

If you havent seen this, you havent been
to the top. (p. Jordy)

Me trying to hold back the Blue-Fin
Tuna!!! (p. Barny)

West is Best (p. Jordy)

Vista's (p. Jordy)

Just another day on the river with the boys'ies
(p. Jordy)

Barns and Razza floating towards Scone Hut
(p. Jordy)

After arriving at the hut in about 4 hours, which is really quick, we were ready for some food, rehydration and shit-talk until the fire burnt out. We were lucky enough to have the hut to ourselves and it was so hot we slept with the hut door open for a good part of the night!

As written (p. Barny)

Day two is a treat. Steep boulder-gardens that Barny and I remember, or just make up as we go, and a few biggies to keep you on your toes. Amazingly the run from top to bottom has hardly changed considering the amount of sediment that was deposited at the Perth - Scone confluence and is now gone. Both days were overcast which was probably the only downside of the trip.... and you know if must have been a good trip if cloud cover is the only complaint!

We stopped for a photo??!! (p. Barny)

Razza and me having a moment (p. Barny)

Razz holding on to the mob-express! (p. Jordy)

And it keeps going (p. Jordy)

One, two... for safety ay (p. Jordy)

Sweet way to skirt the Weir (p. Barny)

The new Tuna, sporting a bump on the nose from a
big manky one on day one (p. Barny)

Barny on the final drop... or is it, I couldn't
remember... (p. Jordy)

The trip was awesome and after a lazy day two start time of 11am, we were off the water around 3:30pm. With it being Saturday night and all we figured it would be a good chance to have a proper trip 'debrief', and although Barny advocated strongly for a us to return to Greymouth and head to the Razza... It was Razza himself that made the bold decision to turn left and head down to the infamous Franny J (Franz Joseph)... the rest is history!

Not the normal choice, but the price was right! (p. Jordy)

Another Upper Whitcombe - West Coast, New Zealand!

Usually you try not to double up on the multi-day runs during New Zealand summer. This is due to the cost of the helicopter and you also want to try get all 3 (or more if you start counting the Upper Whataroa and Wanganui) classic multi-day runs. This was different for me though as I managed to get a trip in with Dyl and co between christmas and new years AND when Barny decided it was time to go I just so happened to be off work to kayak! So this time it was a straight local crew of Barny Young, Shannon Mast, Matt Coles (on his virgin trip) and myself! We were all yawning waiting for the helicopter... but there was a fire brewing in the crew. Once on the water the vibe was electric, all keen to get amongst it and only left two things not paddled! Masty even mobbed the slot in the Upper Prices Gorge, and it does flush!

Relaxed boys waiting for the chopper (p. Jordy)

Danny Reedy, the new shuttle driver
on the coast (p. Barny)

Chatting to Danny our chopper pilot (p. Barny)

Barns looking for an exit? (p. Jordy)

Matt Coles on the mob (p. Jordy)

Barny enjoying the boulder gardens (p. Jordy)

It's all good on the big one (p. Jordy)

I seen Severin do it a couple of
weeks ago, so figured its all
good. (p. Barny)

Masty cleaning it (p. Jordy)

Colesy keeping it safe on his maiden voyage (p. Jordy)

The sieve I was protecting for this drop
was heinous (p. Jordy)

Colesy running the lead out of the one
Barny, Masty and I ran. (p. Jordy)

The boys routing (p. Jordy)

Barny on my favourite boof (p. Jordy)

Nasty Masty from downstream (p. Barny)

You can really roll over and launch!
(p. Barny)

Content at the hut before 4pm we bathed in the sun, ate like kings and re-hydrated unlike usual as we had no goon! The next morning Masty asked me, "Are we dressing casually or wearing our business suits?" And my reply was, "All business bro"... and it was. We only portaged one thing from Prices Flat down, which was a mandatory portage, and we all had clean lines. Well sort of, Colsey had an issue with "Soph's Slot" at the very start, and both Colesy and I got a little bit of a working on the tall one in Colliers Gorge... but I stand by my decision to not bother scouting it! Probably the best trip I have had down the Whitcombe and the company at the hut was a delight!!!

Red onion, celery, courgette, capsicum, carrot,
asparagus... eating well! (p. Jordy)

Masty, not Daniel. Shit ay. (p. Jordy)

Barny at the beginning of Day Two (p. Jordy)

Barny on the second drop of the
Lower Prices Gorge (p. Jordy)

I was all over safety! (p. Barny)

Matt Coles, from the cover of Men's Health Magazine
to the Upper Whitcombe. (p. Barny)

Barny catching me about to launch
(p. Barny)

Masty slaying it (p. Jordy)

Barny enjoying the final drop of the Crux
section (p. Jordy)

I am guessing this will be my last trip down this gem for the summer, but who knows. Its an amazing couple of days boating guaranteed. Hopefully we can get on the Perth of Mungo soon!