The weather is warming up, the snow is melting and the university of canterbury has been kind enough to grant its students with plenty of study leave. With the exception of a few Upper Kakapotahi missions, styx trips and, of course, the first decent of Red Granite Creek, I haven't really had a chance to get out and do some serious creeking. After some serious spouts of persuasion by Willz, Barny and others, I caved... resulting in some of the best creeking I have ever done. Unfortunately we didnt have a camera on our trip down the West Branch of the Waikaia but for the following day on the Nevis, Simon Davidson came to town and brought his camera. The crew was Barny, Willz, Simon D, Dylan, Michel and myself. Here are a couple of shots from that day.
Simon and my boat poised and ready
Dylan showing us the portage... Willz didnt watch well enough and pitoned hard
Dylan charging into scarface
... and exiting with perfect form
Me entering scarface... a little too far right
... and paying for it
Dylan running the double drop - beefy
Barny leading Michel and Dylan down 'Little Brother'
Michel running 'Big Brother'
Barny getting it done
Business time
Si clear of the LZ and stoked with it
Me entering the WFD
OH YEAH!!!
Si dropping into the last substantial rapid of the Waikaia
Skux on the nevis
Blew running his first staunch NZ river in quite some time
Spot the paddler? Darren probing the depths
Simon and my boat poised and ready
Dylan showing us the portage... Willz didnt watch well enough and pitoned hard
Dylan charging into scarface
... and exiting with perfect form
Me entering scarface... a little too far right
... and paying for it
Dylan running the double drop - beefy
Barny leading Michel and Dylan down 'Little Brother'
Michel running 'Big Brother'
Barny getting it doneThis was an amazing trip, and pretty quick thanks to Dylan. This trip re-ignited that internal flame for kayaking and since then I have been back down south twice, getting on the normal Waikaia section, the Manuherikia, the Nevis again and Nevis Bluff. Here are some shots, again thanks to Simon D, of the Waikaia and Nevis.
Me running 'Tunnel Falls.
Willz stomping it
Classy double drop
Ben entering the 'Water Fall of Death'
Me running 'Tunnel Falls.
Willz stomping it
Classy double drop
Ben entering the 'Water Fall of Death'
Willz styling it
Business time
Si clear of the LZ and stoked with it
Me entering the WFD
OH YEAH!!!
Si dropping into the last substantial rapid of the Waikaia
Skux on the nevis
Blew running his first staunch NZ river in quite some time
Spot the paddler? Darren probing the depthsGood flow on the nevis the second time around with 5 or so more cumec than the first time I got on it, making it a bit more pushy but still good to go. It has been awesome creeking down south the past few weekends and am looking forward to another round after exams.Good times, good lines and good people.
