Skookum Times at Skookumchuck Narrows.

 

This long weekend the weather was so, so but the flows were awesome. River surfers, Sea Kayakers and play Boaters converged on the legendary tidal rapid in Egmont BC Canada, and I was there amongst it.

Catching the 6.30 am Ferry from Powell river I Rolled into Egmont in the Paddle Wagon and made myself at home at the Back Eddy Camp Ground. This friendly camp and RV park is right on the water 30 minutes paddle (by sea kayak) from the Wave, I was a day late so eagerly geared up and then headed in for the flow. It was a fun few days and so many types of craft where present, I was there of course in the TRAK “Seeker”  folding Kayak, though I had also brought my Bliss Stick RAD WWA Play boat, as the wave was due to be a foam pile for a large portion of the time. Also there was Marty Perry from “The Hurricane Riders” who also had his play boat with him.

There was handful of play boaters from the USA, Canada And Australia present the most Notable was local NRS paddler Drew throwing huge air in his composite Play boat. Other notables where Jacob and Neil from Calgary who are River surfers, they were ripping up Skooks. These two run an organisation Called “Surf Anywhere”, promoting River surfing and sustainable Man made waves. It was a lot of fun to get to know these two and about their project. Check it out here.

I had some great Rides in my Play boat and then enjoyed some long green rides in the “Seeker”. I was also trying out Lendal NA’s New sea Kayak blade design “the Storm” and it was a real treat to play boat with in both sea kayak and WW boat. It is light stiff and responsive, and Lendals lock system held it solidly in place at the feather angle I know. The Storm Blade is slightly smaller than Lendal NA’s Kinetic 700 Xrange model that I normally paddle, and has a scalloped front face which gives a surprisingly powerful purchase and response; it is a nice addition to their range and my quiver.

That first night a group of us had a great campfire and beers under the stars of a crisp fall night and shared a few tales. Showing up that night, the Crew from Pygmy Boats in Port Townsend USA; Jon, Freya and Laura had brought with them 3 of their new boat designs, and I was keen to try them all out on the wave especially the Penguino 14, which is a short little Fat boat (145 feet and 25 inch beam). I was intrigued to see how its physics would allow it to surf Skooks, particularly in the Foam pile. the next morning we all paddled of before 8 am to reach the wave as it started to run on the flood tide. it was great to see so many different types of craft on the wave that day, wooden sea kayaks and folding, play boats and surf boards. I hopped into the Penguino and got to know it as the wave built quickly to a foam pile. amazingly this boat ripped it up and I was able to actually work back and forth from the big Foam pile to surfer left and back, getting big drop in carves. The next day I took out the “The Silke” (14 feet and 22 inch beam), and this boat too ripped in the Pile, but needed much more aggression to turn. “The Silke” was a breeze to get pop outs of the pile with.

That last day I was pretty much the only one on the wave, though while it was smaller Freya Fennwood got her Pygmy boat (named after her) out on the glassy wave and really was stoked to be riding the wave at a bigger flow than she had before. Another first was for Laura Prendergast from Pygmy to get her first Rolls in Dynamic water. It was a great weekend for all. That day I ended paddling for 4 hours nonstop, so fun and I got some epic rides, though now I am buggered. I sit in my Van at Back Eddy Campground recovering and doing work on the computer. Next to Vancouver, and if the rains allow, some Creek boating!

I had a great time and made a bunch of new friends and learnt to push my paddling in a new direction with these little wooden boats, which is always super satisfying.

Thanks to all for the Stoke, Inspiration, and Great equipment.

Jaime

Beneath an Arctic sun

 It is rounding up to be an amazing Trip with Jeff, not quite what we had originally planed though still awesome. Here is what Jeff has written so far on the trip as we head off. you can read more of his posts on our trip here I will try and write some myself if I can soon.

Jeff writes

 

" So we left from Someroya, the weather is perfect, in fact you would not believe we are well above the Arctic Circle, 069 degrees 27.98' N to be precise. We are wearing dry suits and boy are we regretting it, it has to be 18 degrees + and we are sweating buckets. The skies are clear, the seas are calm and at last we are making our way south towards Vesteralen and the Lofotens......

Paddling south towards the Lofotens, Jaime in his Trak

Our first nights camp is in a small hamlet, five or six cabins, dotted above a small beach, the map says Breidvika, but the houses don't seem to warrant a name, it must be the bay that is named, I wonder what it means. We pull our kayaks high above the tideline and set up camp - tent up, stove on, fire lit, on the way across the bay I managed to catch a couple of Sei, they will enter the pot tonight and supplement our Lofoten Fish soup and broccoli. We wander down the beach, Jaime has found the skull of an Orca, or that is what we believe it to be, the jaw has large recesses for the teeth, there are numerous vertebrae laying around and other cetacean body parts.

                                                                           Orca Skull

We retire about midnight and as soon as I'm horizontal I'm pushing out the 'Z'ds' it seems only minutes before I am hearing Jaime packing away his sleeping bag, morning already? did I really sleep?

We have a lazy start to the day, I spend an hour or so, meditating on the beach, feeling the wind on the back of my neck, serving to cool down the early effects of the sun.  Jaime is doing his yoga routine, I join him and stretch out myself a little on the patio of one of the cabins.

We set off, gentle paddling beneath a strong Arctic sun, we see a seal, a Porpoise and the Devils Mouth mountain ridge, just before we arrive in Bergsfjord, we are back at Krakesslot, this time arriving as we should, from the sea................"

                                                                    Sun protection essential

Posted 17th May 2013 by Expedition Paddler

SKGABC Guides Exchange to Tromso Norway

May 13^th Sea Kayak Guides Exchange

The past weekend I found myself at the SKGABC Guides exchange on Quadra island. I had been asked to come and present and talk on the Grand Canyon by Sea Kayak adventure from last Christmas, read more on that adventure here, this also meant a great social/ learning occasion with industry pairs, and of course surfing kayaks at Surge Narrows.

The event basically composed of two nights and two days. I got my big Van back on the road, cleaned out and loaded up with Kayaks, with my friend Arnaud on board and we chugged our way up the coast of Vancouver island in “The Portable Diesel Powered Kayak Shop” of a van that contained three full sized composite sea kayaks, 3 folding TRAK Sea Kayaks, and a white water play boat (not to mention a bed, clothes, kayaking gear and all the kitchen gear and food needed).
After crossing the 10 minute ferry to Quadra Island http://www.quadraisland.ca/, we drove to the spit campsite to meet up with all the other people attending. The campsite was an amazing thin spit of land with all sites looking into the sheltered lagoon it created, truly one of the most beautiful drive in campsites I have ever been too!

That night there was eating, drinking and socialising at the local Inn, that then lead to a campfire and movie watching back by the water, where we all got to see Justine Curgenven’s “This is the Sea 5”.

 
The next day everyone awoke to a rainy day after almost 6 weeks of sun on the coast, and the keen ones partook in self rescue training and rolling practice, while others toured the Nimbus paddle Factory or learnt about moving water theory. I myself spent the morning getting my talk finalised, and I ended up making it about more than just the Grand Canyon trip, I incorporated some of my best adventures to date and how I ended up doing what I am now doing for living.

That afternoon everyone headed onto the water to paddle in moving water, either learning basics on smaller side channels or attempting to shred the challenging Surge Narrows. Now I have surfed Surge probably 6 times now over the last 6 months, and every time it is different and throws new challenges of how to get on to the wave or how to stay on the wave. On this trip the wave had to be the hardest to have fun with I have experienced yet, to get on you had to navigate through an large space of swirling boils and cross currents from small channels, before pushing onto the wave, a wave which to start with was an angled wave that you had to fight with to stay on. As the flow increased it became more a big boiling hydraulic that took those who managed to get on for a bucking bronco ride, later in the flow it shifted in shape again and became slightly easier to get on, and lots of fun to play on, then from there it pettered down to a small wave only for fast boats. Luckly for me with the adjustable rocker of the TRAK Kayak I was able to adapt to the changing wave easily, though I still struggled to get good rides, and probably only ended up getting 4 good rides in the 4 hours we were there.

Here is some random footage Liam Mcneil got of me surfing the TRAK at surge Narrows.




I was glad to have the chance to paddle with and witness the skill of Albert ____ who lives near Surge at Discovery Lodge. This young soft spoken and humble young paddler, is awesome and eats up the wave or foam pile with ease. The best thing I witnessed that day was albert pulling off a 360 degree spin in his 16 foot sea kayak, then continue surfing. Albert is also very skilled at staying on top of the foam pile, keeping the nose of the boat loose and getting some great aggressive turns out of it, where others (like myself) would drop in get our nose caught up in the current, then have our selves fired off the wave in whatever direction the nose was pointing on engagement, or bury completely and do a bow stand.
Tired and sore we all loaded back into vehicles with boats on trailers or roofs and headed to the Legion for dinner , prizes and off course my talk. I had managed to piece together a rough collaboration of photos and video about my journey of life change and embracing becoming an professional kayak adventurer. I spoke on my life changing Decision to leave my loving Fiancé, and risk everything to go back to NZ and realise my dream of an epic adventure by attempting to paddle the length of NZ down the east coast from North to south. Here is the the rough video I threw together for the presentation.
I then went onto discuss what I learnt, lost and gained from the trip. I learnt a power and humbleness of taking a step to a life I wanted, I learnt to find the success in perceived failures (eg I failed to paddle the length of NZ, though learnt the success of daring to live), I learnt what it was like to be put in hospital by a poisonous spider. I lost a love of my life (my Fiancé had moved on and found a new man, which was fair enough as I broke off the engagement to go do all this and had been gone for 6 months), though I gained a new job with TRAK kayaks and a new direction in life.
TRAK Kayaks had sponsored me with a boat two years earlier and I had done some fun things with there great performance folding boat, and now they financed me to make the video series I had wanted to make about the boat, and so began the TRAK Files series and many great adventures traveling the world to make it over three and a half years. Here is the episode I played that night
see more of the TRAK Files Here
 
From there I lead on to talk about the Grand Canyon trip, how it came to be and more importantly show images and film on the experiences. Read more about our “Project Grand Canyon” Trip here.
That night, after we returned to camp most went to sleep early, though I partook with a hardy few, nestled bellow a large tarp sheltering us from the light rain in the darkness by the waters edge, in some beer drinking, shit talking, Joke telling, guitar playing, singing and of course laughing and merriment until the wee hours of the morning.
The last day found everyone tired and happy, no paddling happened and no one returned to paddle Surge narrows again, despite the fact it was flowing again, nor paddle at all. We partook in an industry seminar, ate lunch packed up, said our fond farewells and headed home.
After Chugging home in the beast I call a van, I finished packing for my coming Adventures in Norway and Namibia, at the time of writing this (the day After getting home from the Guides Exchange) I am on the plane to Norway to meet Jeff Allen and explore the coast for two weeks. Read a little more about the adventure proposal in this post http://expeditionpaddler.blogspot.ca/2013/05/back-to-northern-norway.html?view=classic or in the next few to come after this one.

Jaime Sharp.

photo from last time I was paddling in Norway, blog post here

March 22nd Pure Life, Rich Coast “Pura Vida, Costa Rica”

 

My first week in Costa Rica has been spent helping run an Client Group on the Osa Peninsula with Martine Racette. This Itinerary will become apart of my Company “World Wild Adventures” Key trips offered in Central America, and offers a wonderful rustically luxurious soft adventure trip for people keen to see one of the most amazing places in the America’s.

I personally have travelled extensively through central America over the last 7 years and spent a lot of time in the jungles and on the coasts of the area, though no place beats the Osa with Wildlife and Natural beauty. Four Species of monkey, Scarlet Macaws flying around like seagulls, primary rainforest, pristine ocean beaches and sheltered inner Gulf, friendly people and endless adventure options, this place is a mecca for Wilderness adventure seekers, surfers, fishermen and people who just want to escape and relax from the rush of modern life.

 

 

 

 

 

The lodge we stay is is called “Finca Exotica” or exotic farm in English, it is a sustainable eco lodge designed and set up by Markus, an eccentric German architect who originally planned it as an Artist retreat. The place has grown over the last 13 years from old clear cut farm to a bustling beautiful jungle orchard. The property is littered with fruit trees and edibles, with quaint little tepee tents and Cabaña's nestled about the premises (Some with astounding ocean views from aloft the hillside). Organic fresh food is served at the open planned Dinning room/ Bar/ communal area which sits half way up the hill and boasts a large deck with amazing views across the canopy to the ocean. Higher still is a wonderful yoga platform that gives you a large vista form its open walls out across the jungle canopy, the surf beach and the Pacific Ocean. Nothing beats a early morning session of sun salutations gazing across the blue, while Macaws squawk and fly in pairs between the trees and Howler monkeys great the new day with a roar of appreciation.

I have enjoyed the experience immensely and so have the clients, daily hikes and activities, of kayaking, horseback riding and hikes to stunning waterfalls where you can swim, interspersed with beach time and educational talks and Naturalist walks, keep everyone intent. Martine is originally from Canada though has been living and operating soft adventures in The Osa for 7 years, she has been telling me about its magic for a while now and I am now relieved to know it. I am happy to have my friend Martine Joining our World Wild Adventure Team and together we will bring some amazing trips on the Osa to people looking for that special trip to a special place. The next couple of weeks we will be exploring the Osa to get to know it better and create a more involved expedition style Itinerary for clients that explores more of the Osa and involves, Kayaks, horses, Hiking, and Camping out in amazing places. So stay tuned as I share the adventure that unfolds.

Surge in the Black TRAK.

 

A couple of weeks back, Nolin from TRAK kayaks had returned from the Philippines, where TRAK parts are made, with a New for 2013 BLACK Skin for the TRAK T1600. This skin Meet up with me at the Chicago Boat Show while I was Rep’ing for TRAK there, and Came home with me.
Not only did I get to have a little fun, rolling the boat at show, but now I get to take the skin out for a photo shoot where ever I go, and this past weekend it happened to be a surprise run to Surge Narrows just of Quadra Island in BC. I had about two days notice for the Sunday Flood tide from Local Paddler Alan Dunham, but I was in.
So on Sunday 26^th Jan 2013 I woke up at 7am, despite having being out snow shoeing under the full moon till 2am that same morning. I drove up to Campbell river to meet the boys at the Ferry to Campbell river by 9am. There was a good turnout for the fun, Brent, Alan, John, and Brad, I was the youngest of the crowd, but that was awesome, I am highly inspired paddling with active and very able older generation paddlers. There is always so much to learn and you know you are always going to be safe if it happens to be a bad day for you. Thankfully no one was having a bad day, and even Brad, who was having his first visit to Surge, got some rides and slowly learnt to get some good rides.
It was a beautiful west coast winter day, you know the ones where it constantly drizzles light rain and there is no wind at all, little dimples all over the glassy water... love it. The current quickly stepped up to 6 and A half Knotts, which gave us a great building wave that soon stood high and deep for what seemed like 4 hours, with about an hour of build up and build down on either end. To begin with some of us played in the rocky features to that back of that wave that through in all sorts of different fun, from holes with piles, “V” waves, large eddies behind rocks. I was having a blast and so was everyone else, and It was great to have a sexy new Black TRAK along for the fun. The other new toy I was enjoying playing with was a Lendal Xrange Ti paddle, from Lendal NA. I had been given this paddle to play with by Lendal and it was fun, It is a great paddle to compete with Werner, it is just as light, has the foam core blades and is a four piece break down (great for Travel), the coolest thing is that it uses Titanium for its locking spigots, making an ultra tough join at all three points, the paddle performed well and was very quick and agile for linking strokes.

 

 
The end of the day seemed to take a long time to come, which is great when you are having to much fun, though with Aching muscles and a killer thirst and hunger, it was time to head back to the cars and get the ferry home.
Thanks Al for thinking of me when you went, and for some great shots of the TRAK and I on the wave.
Check out Al’s trip Reports here http://www.capemudgekayakers.com/

Journey to Newfoundland

Since I was a kid my father had spoken of the fabled island of Newfoundland, the fishing villages, the music the people. My father wanted to visit and by osmosis so did I, now years later given the chance to road trip to Newfoundland in order to get cheaper flights back to Toronto, I jumped on the chance and so did the rest of the crew. Tom was looking to move to Newfoundland, Dan Came from and lived in St John’s Newfoundland (so it was a natural direction for him to go) and the other three of us would save big money by flying out of Deer Lake, rather than goose bay (e.g. for me to Toronto, $1400 from Goose Bay, or $500 from Deer lake); Plus we all liked adventure.

 

After an initial night back in Goose Bay at a cheap hotel to bath and resort, packed down the GMC Safari once again (this time with 5 people, a dog and all our personal gear) and headed off down the dusty lumpy “Trans Labrador Highway” to the ferry at “Blanc Sablon” which happened to be back in Quebec.. The drive was dusty and we all had to wear handkerchiefs, shirts or cloths about our faces to reduce the dust we breathed, even despite a well sealed car finally at the end of the dirt road three hours later, we opened the back to shake out the sand beach that had formed. It was a beautiful day though showers were forecasted to come soon. That first night we camped out on a point in Blanc su blanch by the water, and cooked pork chops and fish over the fire, and then enjoyed the second best northern lights show we had seen on the trip, we all eventually wondered of to bed late, needing to be up early in the morning to catch the first ferry to “The Rock” (Newfoundland - pronounced “new FINLAND”).

Now the crazy thing here is within two hours of being on the island of Newfoundland, we drove past a sign showing the silhouette of a Caribou (warning us that they may be present), we joked about how funny it would be to come across a Caribou on the side of the road, now that we have just spent 3 weeks looking for them in Northern Labrador.

“Caribou” exclaimed Adele... and so there was! Right there on the side of the road was a large stag wandering across the island Barrens. We got to stop and watch him wander off into the trees, though he never gave a chance to get a great photo, still it was lovely to see one finally. The rest of our day entailed driving out to L'Anse aux Meadows and the Viking settlement of the fabled Vinland. It was amazing to see the similarities of this historic Norse site in Canada to the one I visited a couple of years back in Borg Norway. These Vikings sure got around back then. I was also amazed at how much the entire coastline and the villages looked like the coast of Norway, I hope to return here (Newfoundland) too explore some more by Kayak, as I have done in Norway, Perhaps a circumnavigation?

That night we camped in the rain using a picnic area we were directed to by locals. It appears everyone here is very excepting of tourist camping out for free in the green spaces, though they all come and drive up to have a quick look at us and then drive off again. As we set up that night and again in the morning some 12 cars must have driven over from the nearby village to look at us briefly turn around and return. No one even spoke to us though. It was quite a funny situation, we almost felt like zoo animals, or the Caribou we had stopped to look at ourselves.

The rest of our Journey was a quick drive through various sea side villages for moose burger lunches and pints of local beer, the most memorable being “Ice Berg Lager by Quidi Vidi Brewers”, to make this beer the brewers use water from the icebergs that float down to Newfoundland from the arctic glaciers. Quite a fun idea and a very refreshing beer in a stunning blue glass bottle. Our last night was spent with another of Dan’s friends, Margaret, who was very generous in sharing her wonderful little house with all five of us and a dog in Corner Brooke.

Our time in Newfoundland was simply a teaser for me personally and has ignited a taste for seeing more; when I can I must return to explore some more.

I now fly onwards to Toronto and then to the UK for some Paddle training in the BCU (British Canoe Union) system, to do some filming and to finally set up the new WORLD WILD ADVENTURES Travel Company, with my business partner Rhoda Mcgivern. Big exciting things are a foot, and the adventures are only just starting.

Jaime