Santa Catarina - Southern Brazil

After chancing our arm and firing out endless messages to the Brazil kayaking community, we struck gold by coming into contact with Marcelo Ludvichak who hooked it up and just happens to be a sick paddler. First day we scouted a first D, second day we did the Rio Vermelho, next day did a super high water Rio Benedito all intertwined with good nights out Jaragua do Sul. After 5 days of amazing hospitality he put us on a bus and sent us down the Florianopolis and into the capable hands of Bruno alves de Mattoes and an American Geoff Steves.

We got lucky again with a whip down the Zimbira, then the Expedition section of the Cubatao do Sul and then a 2m flow down the race section of the same river. Then we had a kayak festival, came second in the race and won the party... although that was easy as Brazilians put more of am emphasis on going kayaking at their festivals opposed to our kiwi versions! Now we're linking up with Mercelo Galizio and hoping for some rain somewhere in Santa Catarina to round off our last week in Brazil!

 

This was my first attempt at Armageddon, definitely lucky to roll on the lip or I would of eaten the shelf. On the Sunday I went back and ran it again, cleaning up my line and getting some redemption! Also stoked to see Marcelo Galizio run it for his second time ever!

Logistics, drought, Rio Paraibuna, Carnival and Rio Cubatao do Parana

So after immediately hitting gold with the Rio Preto, Ari and I were then hamstrung by various things. But we maintained a good attitude, drunk our fair share of Cachaca and cervaja and made it through it all! That said, we did see some stellar country, spent a few days on the amazing beach at Itamanbuca and definitely left our mark on Sao Luiz do Paratinga (or vice-verse) during carnival. Just before carnival we did a spec-ops poach of the Rio Paraibuna, but unfortunately it was a low flow. The river would have been phenomenal with more water but the spotting of numerous capivari, monkeys and a massive snake help ease the burden of the low water. We still got a clean 30 and 20 footer and some fun slides, but it was only a tease for what could of been. Here are a couple of snaps for that trip.

 

 Tip-top Katie Scott about to get her first proper taste of Brazilian

white-water

 

 This 20 flow out of the pool of the 30, then slides galour. Just not

enough water to bring out the true potential.

 

 Alex capturing a cool angle

 

 

After this we rallied to Sao Luiz and partied our lives away, literally. Im surprised Ari and I came through unscathed... but we did and we rallied to Garuva to line up a trip down the Cubatao do Parana. The heavens opened and is rained like hell, perfect! Mac pimped us a shuttle somehow and we would be doing a cruisy multi-day. Hard white-water but short days. Turned out to be awesome, with some cali like camping on granite slabs (thankfully as the jungle is moist and scary) and great white-water. We were all stoked on it that's for sure, and if you're setting your own shuttle the logistics are pretty damn easy just a long shuttle. Here are some pics from it.





 

 



 

 Paddling Katie (Ka-ch-e) Love, Katie mobbed into this seemingly simple boof but got instantly back-looped, beaten and then swam to china... down for 40 seconds and popped up down

stream about 20metres!

 

From here Ari and I decided to split from the rest of the crew and continue our charge south, while the others would begin their march north in the hope of rain and then their departing flights. Turns out... Ari and I made the right decision to head to Santa Catarina, more so to Jaragua do Sul!