Team Pyranha Blog » Paul Smith

Japlaning

Paul Smith — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 20:50:14 +0000

We finally all got together in one place. Dave Fairweather, Dave Goadby, Beth Hume and myself. The plan was to do something as a group, that would allow us plenty of time to chat, plot and plan. Naturally something paddling related would have been great, but with the lack of water (Its the summer now, don’t you know!) and not having the funding to allow us to head over to the Alps for the weekend, we decided to come up with something a spot more relaxing (?) we headed to the Peak District to go climbing.

The Team + my wife in action at Froggatt Edge. Dave is just finishing Sunset Slab (HVS 4b) that Becca led, Dave G and Beth have just climbed Sunset Crack (HS 4C).

The reason for this get together? – Yes you’ve guessed it, we are heading out to Japan!

I had agreed to idea of heading to Japan, after a slightly drunken conversation with Dave Fairyweather at last Decembers Gene17 weekend. Over the following few months, with emails and text messages bouncing back and forth, we finally ended up getting our little team together to all met for the first time! We at least thought that it may be a good idea, even though by this point we had already booked the flights. And thanks to my step-sister Sally, we had already secured a baggage allowance upgrade.

Dave Fairweather just after taking his first big led fall, most probably at the shock of us all finally getting together.

After the climbing we all headed over to Beth’s parents house in Nottingham ‘to do some planning’ what this really turned into was mucking around in the pool and an acclimatisation session in the sauna. Followed by a few beers and a BBQ. When we did get up the following morning, we did manage to get some things organised, deciding what kit to take, and the general areas to visit, and most importantly our mode of transport when in Japan. All that we need to do now is work out what rivers to visit. After that the 2 ‘real’ paddlers went to HPP for a couple of hours of squirt and play-boating, while both me and Dave Goadby went off for a Sunday afternoon visit to see our respective parents.

Dave showing Becca what squirtboating is really about.

Acclimatisation session

Tune in next time and we may even have some kayaking images to show you!!!!

Lack of water!

Paul Smith — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 19:33:08 +0000

So far this year, it seems like I have hardly paddled at all. Particularly with the lack of water,well when I’m not at work that is, it seems that I have just been out on the usual lower water venues – The Tryweryn, The Dee, Symonds Yat and the mighty Knightwick weir on the Teme.

Playing on the wave at Knightwick Weir in Z-one. Photo Alex Bourne

Out coaching some of my Long Term students on the Dee. Photo Emily Goodman

The secret testing of the new Two person Playboat

While out on the Dee, running a Moderate Water Endorsement assessment, we happened across fellow Pyranha Paddlers – Sara James and Rich Brooks testing a new design. Video Rob Wykeham-Martin.

I also helped out on the Pyranha stand at The Leam Boat Centres Demo day, in Leamington Spa, a place that I hadn’t visited for a while, so it was good to catch up with Matt and Jenna. There were a lot of people milling around after advice on kayaks and equipment. But there was also a camera club out on their annual photography competition, one of the titles was colourful, so here was my entry.

Back to Work :-(

Paul Smith — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 19:01:44 +0000

Well its now September and for me that means that I’m back to work, doing my real job and hence looking forward to that next holiday of mine – the October half term. But that seems so long away, but at least there are a few things to look forward to over the next few weeks, first up is Pyranha Fest, and not long after that is the annual BCU student safety weekend up in North Wales.

After the first quick trip to Europe with Dave, I went back again with 2 of my long term students, Cath and Jim Hill. I have worked with them on a range of UK rivers, but never had they had the experience of kayaking abroad. We randomly met up with three students, Rob, Katy and Jon, from Lancaster Uni, who were travelling around Europe for the summer in a big red van just going boating. This lucky meeting allowed us as a group to paddle a whole range of rivers far quicker, as otherwise we would have been having to try and hitch lifts etc. The series of photos below were taken in Austria and Switzerland during the second week in August.

Cath and Jim on the Pfunds Section of the Inn.

Rob, Katy and myself on the Tosens Section of the Inn. (Photo Jim Hill)

Cath and Jim again, but this time on Imst Gorge.

Almost a group photo in the Schuls Gorge

Me on the last rapid of the Schuls Gorge (Photo Jim Hill)

Katy trying out the Small Z-One.

Rob and myself inspecting the first ‘real’ rapid of Giarson Gorge. (Photo Katy Kemble)

Planes, Trains and …..er….Vans!

Paul Smith — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 13:19:02 +0000

With the end of the school year, I found myself with a couple of mid week days free so a plan was hatched with fellow Pyranha Team paddler Dave Fairweather to sample a few rivers in the North Alps. After flying into a small airport in the south of Germany, Dave and Bex picked me up and we made the drive over to Upper Bavaria.

The plan was to do the 4 classic runs in the area, nearly 40 km of grade 3 (with a few harder rapids) and a lot of driving in between rivers, in one day. First up was the Rissbach, a grade 3 river with two grade 4 rapids.

Dave on the pre breakfast run on the Rissbach (Photo Bex Pipe)

Next up was the wonderful Upper Isar, which you can only access by Taxi. This provided a nice scenic paddle, that consisted of pleasant and completely straight forward low volume grade 3.

In the gorge on the Upper Isar. (Photo Dave Fairweather)

Then more driving took us to the Loisach, which gave 5km of almost continuous grade 3/4 boulder garden rapids. If there was more time, we would have done this river again.

On the excellent Loisach (Photo Dave Fairweather)

And then on to the final river of the day, the Upper Ammer which is a 12km gorge. After a delayed start, as Dave was doing the shuttle by push bike. Of the 4 rivers this one was the only one with low water levels. The scenary was great, but the run would have been much more interesting with another couple of inches of water. We got off the water just after dark.

When most people think of the North Alps, they think of big scary rivers, in Upper Bavaria, this not the case and is well worth a visit by the grade 3 paddler who likes their rivers tight and technical, in the appropriate places.

After a late night driving session and sleeping in a motorway service area, we headed over to Switzerland and the rivers of the Upper Rhine Valley. With the main target being the Vorderrheim Gorge, 21 Km of grade 3, and having grown use to rivers with 8 cumecs or less of water in them, its 50 cumecs was a bit of a change! The best part was that we travelled to the put in, by train.

Paul checking his tickets! (Photo Dave Faireweather)

Dave enjoying the playfulness of the Z-One

After a brief rest Dave and myself headed off down stream on the Glenner, a river of a some what harder nature than anything else on the trip. Having made the error of doubting the guidebook, due to various reasons with its accuracy, we ended up having to improvise an abseil over a unpaddleable weir, at the high water levels will encounted. For anyone that thinks that the may need to learn those sort of skills, book yourself on to my session at this years Pyranahafest www.pyranhafest.com.

Dave wishing that he didn’t have to use an improvised harness.

The final morning before breakfast, we managed a quick blasted down the Landquart. This is another river that is well worth having a look at. 7 new rivers in 2 days and pre breakfast session, we decided that it was time to head to the airport to enjoy tea and medals, well a pizza and a pint!

The year so far……..

Paul Smith — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 08:06:48 +0000

Well it has been a busy one, so far. I have not paddled as much as I would have liked due to the lack of rain, but this has allowed me to see the completion of a few projects and start a few new ones!

Back in February, Matt Shipp and I managed to paddle a section of water that we had been meaning to do for a while. We joined Mark and Heather Rainsley on a descent of the East Lyn. Mark assured us that the water level was appropraite for the first time down, and I have to agree, it was an excellent paddle and well worth the long drive over.

Pilot error by Mark Rainsley?

Matt Shipp on the final crux of the gorge

With my job, I didn’t get many spare weekends in March, due to training our school’s Ten Tors Team. With the one free day that I didn’t have committed to work, I spent a pleasant but breezy afternoon, coaching one of my climbing friends in the delights of Open Canoeing on the Sharpness Canal.

Charlie looking for ducks.

The main trip of the year so far, happened over the Easter Break. Matt Shipp, Becca Ward and I flew out of Bristol airport to Toulouse, with the usual looks of surprise from other travellers and check-in staff when they noticed us moving around 3 loaded creek boats. On arrival, we picked up our hire car and headed down to the Spanish Pyrennes, before heading back to the Gorge Du Tarn area of the Central Massif.

Over the course of the 10 days, we paddled a whole range of different rivers, from pleasant warm up grade 2/3 runs to full on continuous grade 4/4+ rivers. We had the full range of weather, with day time temperatures from -1 to 23 degrees Celsius.

Becca Ward trying out the Karnali

The put on for Section C of the Rio Ara

Paul Smith checking out the clear blue sky. Photo Matt Shipp.

Becca enjoying the lovely boating weather in Spain.

Paul and Chris Smith on a high level run of Le Tarnon

Matt Shipp enjoying the Moyen Tarn

Becca Ward on the last main rapid on the Moyen Tarn

On arrival back in the UK, a copy of my first book ‘Climbing Games’ was waiting for me on the door step. This project has been published through a company mainly associated with Paddlesport, Pesda Press.

A sample of Climbing Games

Then it was back to the usual grind of working at School, running my business and on occasion helping my partner Becca train for her various Canoe Polo competitions. Of which she is currently in the middle of the early summer national and international events.

Becca (in Yellow and Blue) chasing the Ball. Photo Glenn Summerbell

And finally there was water……

Paul Smith — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 21:00:15 +0000

Since The Gene17 weekend down on Dartmoor at the start of December, work and the lack of suitable paddling weather, had stopped me getting out on the water. The continuous sub zero temperatures at the start of January resulted in me having to go and climb frozen waterfalls in South Wales.

Matt Shipp and myself climbing the top pitch of Torpantau Falls, South Wales. (Photo Becca Ward)

A relative short walk in of 40 or so minutes, easy navigation and not a lot of snow around to cause any particular issues, made a very pleasant change to what is normally perceived as Winter Climbing in this country.

When I finally got out paddling it was again to South Wales, but this time to the Middle Tawe, with two of my long term students, husband and wife duo Jim and Cath. For them the river made an exciting change from the river topography of North Wales, which they are more familiar with. At the water levels that we paddled at, it made a nice introduction to running slides and drops, as well as polishing other important river running skills.

Paul Greenwood running the main drop on the Middle Tawe

Last weekend, was spent on Dartmoor. On Saturday, we paddled the Upper Dart and the Loop. Sunday on the Middle Tavy, this was a new river for me, and one that I will be returning back to.

Matt Shipp paddling Euthanasia, Upper Dart

Paul Greenwood putting the Z-one through its paces.

Paddling with us this weekend was Steve, a friend of my next door Neighbour and paddling partner, Matt. Steve hadn’t been on white water for over 8 years, and was thrown straight back into it, wearing his ‘old skool’ paddling kit he attracted a few looks on the river! I think that he is hooked again, and spent the whole of one shuttle, talking about which kayak would be suitable for him to buy.

Steve Cullis enjoying the first rapid on the Middle Tavy