Wow its been a while since I posted something on here sorry to all who read this page! I have been kayaking again and its going great! I have also been spending a lot of time editing new films so check these out and enjoy
Monday, January 30, 2012
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Upper Ngamuwahine - Kaimai's
Earlier in the week we got a front coming over the North Island from the West and it tried its hardest to fill the rivers of the Kaimai Ranges but didnt quite have enough to get over the ridge. Luckily it did have enough to fill up a few of the catchments and we got a sweet run on the Upper Ngamuwahine. It was definitely on the low side of good and the boat took a bit of a pounding but fun none the less!
Here are a couple of shots of the boys from Tauranga running the main section.
-Cole on the top drop of Double Drop - Photo Josh Neilson
-Laurence on the bottom drop of the double - Photo Josh Neilson
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
The New Bliss-Stick Tuna
I have been lucky enough to paddle the new 'Tuna' from Bliss-Stick for the past few weeks on a variety of different occasions. First off was its home on the Kaituna where Sam Roil and I did multiple laps on the normal run critiquing its every move on the different drops. Immediately I was amazed by its speed on the water. It moves almost effortlessly through flat water. I usually have my Mystic seat right forward so I can keep it in control better but I prefer to have my seat back in the Tuna due to its large tail. Something worth playing round with in any boat till you find your perfect balance point.
With the extra length and flatter bottom the initial carving speed in the Chute (rapid 1 on Kaituna) was a little slower than the mystic but I soon found a different style to make up for that. Speed across the flow was unmatchable though. This is the first weigh up I noticed between the Mystic and the Tuna. Speed across the water Vs responsive sharp eddy turns.
Next up I was blown away by how well the boat handled across choppy, boiling water. It stays on top and glides over top and goes the direction your pointing and keeps that way till you change it. When the boat is a full speed here it is easy to make changes to your line as the nose is sitting high on top of the water.
Then comes the first boof of the river... For someone my size this is where I expected to have troubles. At a whopping 65Kgs I sit a the bottom end of the weight scale for most creek boats so moving into a longer and bigger volume boat was a little optimistic I thought. But.. With that extra bit of acceleration and an uncanny ability to land beautifully I was now sold on the Tuna. Yes it does take the smaller paddler a bit more to boof but even with a little bit of nose up it scoots out of the pit again in a straight line of where your pointing and then the bow stays low and does not kick up or to either side. Even though its harder to get the nose up for me I now find myself boofing less as I know how it will react at the bottom.
I then took the boat on 3 days kayaking instruction on the Mohaka River and it was great there. Fast on slow water helps get to upside down students quickly! Also the deck on the Tuna seems slightly lower than the Mystic so I don't seem to hit my hands as much and barrel rolling students is easy too!
We took the Tuna for a couple of runs down the lower Kaituna run and have no complaints there! Especially when you have to paddle for an hour on flat water to get out. longer hull = less effort paddling!
Now I know the Kaituna is a great river but one of a kind really. So we were hanging out to test it on something a little more characteristic of other rivers around NZ and the world. With a bit of rain in the Kaimai Ranges we set off to paddle the Upper Ngamuwahine. This is a sweet creek that makes its was through dense forest a lot like the Wairoa River. Big boulders and lovely sieves on every rapid meant we needed to keep on our toes. The Tuna had no trouble keeping out of trouble here. One thing Sam and I both noticed was we were now in a creek where the rapids are stacked on top of each other unlike the Kaituna and some adjustments were needed. Not with the boat but the way we paddled. Like I mentioned earlier the Tuna once boofed it lands and speeds out of drops. When drops are stacked up we had to make sure we didnt boof, land and shoot right into the next drop. This was quickly noted and adjusted for and we had a sweet day out paddling.
I will be sure to keep you updated on how the boat goes and a video coming soon! Till then if you want to see how it looks watch Sam Sutton's run on the Sickline Race. You will notice a few of its characteristics I have pointed out matched with some amazing paddling by Sam!
For now that is all!
If you want to know more or like to try the Tuna out on the Kaituna then send me a message and Ill let you take mine for a spin.
Cheers
Josh
With the extra length and flatter bottom the initial carving speed in the Chute (rapid 1 on Kaituna) was a little slower than the mystic but I soon found a different style to make up for that. Speed across the flow was unmatchable though. This is the first weigh up I noticed between the Mystic and the Tuna. Speed across the water Vs responsive sharp eddy turns.
Next up I was blown away by how well the boat handled across choppy, boiling water. It stays on top and glides over top and goes the direction your pointing and keeps that way till you change it. When the boat is a full speed here it is easy to make changes to your line as the nose is sitting high on top of the water.
Then comes the first boof of the river... For someone my size this is where I expected to have troubles. At a whopping 65Kgs I sit a the bottom end of the weight scale for most creek boats so moving into a longer and bigger volume boat was a little optimistic I thought. But.. With that extra bit of acceleration and an uncanny ability to land beautifully I was now sold on the Tuna. Yes it does take the smaller paddler a bit more to boof but even with a little bit of nose up it scoots out of the pit again in a straight line of where your pointing and then the bow stays low and does not kick up or to either side. Even though its harder to get the nose up for me I now find myself boofing less as I know how it will react at the bottom.
I then took the boat on 3 days kayaking instruction on the Mohaka River and it was great there. Fast on slow water helps get to upside down students quickly! Also the deck on the Tuna seems slightly lower than the Mystic so I don't seem to hit my hands as much and barrel rolling students is easy too!
We took the Tuna for a couple of runs down the lower Kaituna run and have no complaints there! Especially when you have to paddle for an hour on flat water to get out. longer hull = less effort paddling!
Now I know the Kaituna is a great river but one of a kind really. So we were hanging out to test it on something a little more characteristic of other rivers around NZ and the world. With a bit of rain in the Kaimai Ranges we set off to paddle the Upper Ngamuwahine. This is a sweet creek that makes its was through dense forest a lot like the Wairoa River. Big boulders and lovely sieves on every rapid meant we needed to keep on our toes. The Tuna had no trouble keeping out of trouble here. One thing Sam and I both noticed was we were now in a creek where the rapids are stacked on top of each other unlike the Kaituna and some adjustments were needed. Not with the boat but the way we paddled. Like I mentioned earlier the Tuna once boofed it lands and speeds out of drops. When drops are stacked up we had to make sure we didnt boof, land and shoot right into the next drop. This was quickly noted and adjusted for and we had a sweet day out paddling.
I will be sure to keep you updated on how the boat goes and a video coming soon! Till then if you want to see how it looks watch Sam Sutton's run on the Sickline Race. You will notice a few of its characteristics I have pointed out matched with some amazing paddling by Sam!
For now that is all!
If you want to know more or like to try the Tuna out on the Kaituna then send me a message and Ill let you take mine for a spin.
Cheers
Josh
- Sam Roil - Upper Ngamuwahine River - Photo Josh Neilson
Monday, September 12, 2011
Wednesday's Todays Video - Voss Extreme Sports Veko
During the last week of June Voss, Norway is host to the most exciting and fun Extreme sports events I have ever been to. It has it all! From art shows to Music and not to forget the amazing display of sports and the top athletes in every field. This year I was up there filming Mike Abbott for the Kayak segment to my film and Jokke Sommer for the Base segment and while I was there I got the job of editing the 'Todays Video' for the kayaking. I had a great team of paddlers to work with and we were able to shoot a bunch of cool edits to show what kayaking had to offer! Over the next while I will post the days videos. I am starting with Wednesday as this was one of my favorites!
Cheers and Enjoy!
Cheers and Enjoy!
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
2011 Paddle Sports Awards
Last issue of Cumec Magazine held the 2011 Paddle Sports Awards. The different categories were announced and people, sites, groups and businesses were nominated for each award. Once all the nominations were in it was half open for public judging and then the other half was judged by a panel selected by Cumec Magazine. The paddle sports scene down here is still relatively small but it was cool to win a few of the categories.
The First win was for 'Blog of the year' - This blog has been a way for me to share my adventures with family and friends and I'm stoked that people out there enjoy reading and using it to find other stories linked on the side of my blog!
The next award was for 'Photo of the year' - Now I have seen a lot more awesome photos throughout the year from other blogs etc and possibly they didnt know about the awards or didnt have time to send them in but regardless I'm stoked to have this shot of Tyler Fox in there! This river is one very unique river in the North Island and I missed it due to injury but meant I could get this shot! I cant wait to get in there this spring!
During 2010 I was stoked to go back to Thailand and explore more amazing whitewater! I was joined by Tyler Fox, Louise Urwin and Toni George and we ticked off some sweet first descents and returned to a number of runs that we discovered in 2007. Logistics were relatively easy, the food was great and the whitewater was great again and we are stoked to share the 'Expedition or Adventure of the year' award with the Papua New Guinea Expedition.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Canoe and Kayak NZ Magazine
Home again... It has been a great 4 months on the road filming for 'Transcendence' and I am happy to say its almost all shot!!! Still a lot of editing to do but it is on the go right now!!!
I will keep you posted as it comes together but for now I hope you are all checking out issues of Canoe and Kayak NZ magazine! I write an article each issue on the kayaking adventures I have been on! Here is one of the latest ones and there is a new one in progress right now!
Cheers
Josh
Page 1
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Page 3
Cheers Pete and Canoe and Kayak for your support over the years!
I will keep you posted as it comes together but for now I hope you are all checking out issues of Canoe and Kayak NZ magazine! I write an article each issue on the kayaking adventures I have been on! Here is one of the latest ones and there is a new one in progress right now!
Cheers
Josh
Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Cheers Pete and Canoe and Kayak for your support over the years!
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