Friday, December 10, 2010

Asia So Far

Hey All,

For the last 3 year I have focused my energy on getting on the world class white water on Australia's back door step.
The last few years has seen me push through language barriers with creek boat in hand in Laos, Nepal, Thailand, Indonesia and China. It not easy work but when you put on a rarely (if ever) paddled section of white water and its just me and the buddy I convinced that they should join me its all worth it.

This year has been little different, I have a favorite run in Asia that I think I know better then anyone. The Asahan.
In October Anthony Yap and I headed there to wash away our time off the water and get fit for our upcoming China trip.

The Asahan is an amazing section of white water, dropping straight out of the biggest lake in South East Asia and also the last super volcano to blow.

Its non stop, the first 8km is one big class 4+ bigwater rapid, punching holes, making ferrys, ducking under the overhung jungle to make lines, and boofing. There is nothing in the first 8km that I would rate as below 3+ but its mainly 4.
The crazy thing is you can easily bomb 8km in around 16-18 mins on average, no eddys!

Sections down stream mellow to class 2-3 scenic and some stomping class 5 sections, defiantly one of my favourite runs of all time.

From 10 days on the Asahan we headed to the Cold flooded water of the Salween in Central China, here I met up with a range of paddlers from all over the world, joining together to film the latest river roots film "Frontier" Let me tell you, this is with no question going to be the best film from Rush, We were all filming on cannon 7d's (amazing cameras) and using advanced filming techniques Dolly's etc.

3 weeks on the huge rapids of the Salween and I am back in Sumatra off to the Asahan again with a different crew, with some first d's lined up as well

More updates and photos can be found at www.follow-the-river.com/latest

Also you can check out all the footage from China and Sumatra in my latest film I am making with Joel Kowalski titled "The Calling"


Enjoy the Photos.

LC










Current's Episode 6, The Australian Kimberley

Currents is a river stewardship focused WebTV program (online video documentary) which uses white water kayaking as a means to educate a broader audience about the risks threatening the world’s rivers and to help highlight the intrinsic value of preserving rivers in their natural state.

Episode 6 was shot on the a month long expedition lead by Anthony Yap and myself to the the highest volume river in Australia, The Fitzroy.
Thank you to Kayak4play for there support of the 2010 expedition, enjoy the film

Currents - Episode 6 - The Kimberley, Australia from Five 2 Nine Productions on Vimeo.

Sunday, December 5, 2010



Fluid's creation the Element goes for a round with a 30horse power tinny. *Watch This!*

Outcome: A stupidly fast, carving demon and window-shade pain

Editing for this was great fun - filmed on 2 Go-pros and sony HDR-CX12 - By Adrian Kiernan

Paddlers: Adam Cooper, Robin Lund and Adrian Kiernan

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Norrish Creek BC

GBA 6 - Norrish Creek BC from Adrian Kiernan on Vimeo.


My exited first day with my new Go - Pro HD, On a medium'sh volume Norrish Creek run.
This was my first creek run i ever did in when arriving in BC and is still a favourite.

>Located around 1 hour from Vancouver<

Adrian Kierna

Lea River Extreme - Headcam - Tasmania

GBA 5 - Lea River Extreme - Headcam - Tasmania from Adrian Kiernan on Vimeo.

Filmed during the 8th Annual TEVA Lea Extreme Race in northern Tasmania. It depicts Adrian Kiernan runnning a sub 10 minute race time from top to bottom and including all the significant rapids and their names etc.

Filmed on HD-Go Pro
For
Go Boating Australia

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Leven Canyon River Guide

GBA 4 Leven Canyon River Guide from Adrian Kiernan on Vimeo.


Just finished a new video guide for the Leven Canyon in Tasmania.
This has got to be my favourite run in tasmania and arguably my favourite run of all time!

Video Produced for Go Boating Australia!

Adrian Kiernan

Sunday, October 17, 2010

JAUNT - Available on DVD NOW!


JAUNT - Adrian Kiernan's latest creation for Go Boating Austalia and Skippy Films is now available on DVD
The DVD will be available through Leigh at kayak4play, Jez at Entropy Gear or online.

DVD's are $15 or $17AUD delivered to your doorstep anywhere in Australia or New zealand.
(please allow 14days to receive your DVD)

To purchase a copy online please click here
Please email me with a copy of your postal address and Paypal reciept to goboatingaus-at-gmail.com - no credit card neccasary!

BC 2010 - Adam Cooper

Hi Everyone,
Adam Cooper was kind enough to allow us to use a short film he made of our trip to British Columbia this year.
Looking forward to seeing the full edit in the coming weeks!

GBA - TEVA Lea Extreme Race 2010

This years TEVA Lea Extreme Race held in Tasmania's Northwest.

Thanks to Go Boating Australia and Adrian Kiernan for the Video.
- stay tuned for GBA new video magazine - coming soon!-


GBA 2 TEVA Lea Extreme Race 2010 from Adrian Kiernan on Vimeo.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Kimberley Mini Film Now Online!

Hey Guys,

Check out the mini film I made on the 2010 Kimberley Expedition, its around 8 mins and its aimed at a broad audience, not just boaters!
There is still no shortage of action, and it aim's to share the area and the issues facing the Kimberley.

Enjoy

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Puntledge River, Vancouver island, BC, Canada

Hello everybody, just checking in with my first update from 2010!
Well a big group of us aussie boys over here in bc headed to the island for the puntledge river festival. thought i would share some pics!
you can view the full story here
or
www.goboatingaus.blogspot.com

cheers and beers everybody!
Adrian

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

FNQ - Highwater Jungle Boating in Australia

Hey All,

So its been awhile since I have checked in, Sorry about that! I have two updates coming: Northern Sumatra (a kayaking trip I did with Joel Kowalski and my Indonesian friends at Tritaseta) and an update from the previous Kimberley Expedition that along with Anthony Yap I organised an international team of 11 to paddle the Fitzroy River - The largest river in Australia.
This project is still taking up a large percentage of my time and in the coming months I am sure you will here all about our trip.

Only a week or two after getting back from the Kimberley Odyssey I headed up to Far North Queensland to catch the tail end of the Australian tropical "Wet Season" I have never paddled in this area of Australia before (4000km North of where I live) and I was very impressed. It's steep and there was allot of water. The rain gods came through with extremely high water levels for the time of year. I was lucky enough to get down a couple of the classics at possibly the highest flows every paddled.

I am not claiming any First Descents but there was a couple of drops at the put-ins for the some classic day runs that according to the locals haven't been paddled before. Who knows.

After two weeks in the tropics, 1 dislocated shoulder, 2 broken boats, and a snapped paddle I will let the photos do the talking. I cant wait to head to Cairns next season for some unfinished business.
Thanks to Jesse James and The Tazy boys for a sweet trip.

Cheers

Lachie




















Photo: Lachie Carracher



















Photo: James Thorp








Photo: Will Hughes



















Photo: James Thorp
Paddler: Will Hughes



















Photo: Alison Sturges
Paddler: LC
Possible First D - Josephine Falls














Photo: Leon Bedford
High Water NJ camp














Photo: :Lachie Carracher














Photo: Sam Tregnza
Paddler: LC
Possible First and only D, (according to locals) but I doubt it



















Photo: Sam Treganza

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Fluid Detox

The long awaited Fluid Detox is about to hit our rivers. The Medium size is shipping now and the Small and Large will go into production soon.For paddlers who want a creekboat with a playboat hull; for paddlers who want to run rivers and play on the way down; for paddlers who want an easy boat to learn in - there has never been a better suited kayak than the Detox.
The Detox hull incorporates a variation of the Nemesis rail system with super forgiving sidewalls and generous kick rocker to create an exciting but stable ride.
The Detox has ample volume and peaked deck to ensure controllable resurfacing when running drops. The deck profile and hull width make the Detox super easy to roll, inspiring confidence on difficult runs.
The Detox fills the gap between the Spice and the Solo in Fluids line-up. If the Spice is too playful for the type of rivers you want to run, and the Solo is too much of a full on creeker to enjoy on the easier runs then the Detox is THE boat for you.

M Detox
Length: 230cm /7'6"
Width : 64cm / 25.25"
Volume: 250 l / 66gal
Weight: 19kg / 42lb
Paddler weight: 60-95kg / 130-21lb

Friday, March 19, 2010

And now the video from below...

Seven's Creek from Sean Bozkewycz on Vimeo.

Sam Tregenza and Sean Boz hit up some unlikely summer creeking in Victoria, Australia.

A quick edit of a bony day out on granite slides and shelfy drops surrounded by gum trees and cockatoos.

The music in this edit is a special song by Nandor and Module called 'One Inity.' Listen close to the lyrics, it is an inspirational call for hope and the end of the aggressive denial in which we collectively engage in regard to our planet's future.

You can download the track free for yourself at: http://www.nandor.net.nz/virtual/media/audiogallery.php

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Sevens Creeking in March

Returning to Victoria after the 2010 Kimberley expedition, fate put me within striking distance of Seven's Creek while the rains of the weekend's storms were still draining off the granite highlands near Euroa...

Sam boofing one of the last little drops

Sam Tregenza and I put on the creek around 10am on the low side of good (0.79) and were greeted with scrapy class two interspersed with entertaining drops and slides. It was a strange environment to be on a creek - I've done no creeking in Vic. Green pasture and gum trees bordered the creek as we paddled across meandering flatlands in reeds and blackberries to the crass chorus of sulphur crested cockatoos.


Sam on an early slide which marks the entry into the first gorge

Sam and a crew of 6 others had run the creek the day prior getting prime levels - 0.92 on arrival. I wouldn't go in there much lower than our level, but it was stull great fun and a good day out. A good introduction for new creekers or tentative paddlers.

Boz on a nice sliding slot rapid below Eagle Falls - a portage today

There was a fair bit of portaging to be had around sieves and some manky falls, but nothing too exertive or requiring ropes. Eagle falls (above) has been run on the right side, a slide down into a shelfy twenty footer with a tight landing to avoid rock, and the left line is ugly. Might go at a different level but most of the water falls directly into the wall off a thirty footer...

Emphysema Falls, no longer unrun.

Somewhere nearing the end of the run lurks Emphysema falls, a bony cascading fall that looks just as violent as it was. I saw a line that looked good and fired it up, bouncing my way down the first descent and managing to avoid whiplash.


Boz muffing a sweet little boof early on

I remembered the final rapids at Goorum Falls from a little video from a while back called Granite Rush. The main attraction is a tight lined twelve footer that was sadly too low for us. Sam fired it up the day before but with less water the line really wasn't viable. All the water dropped right into a pocket against the right wall, ugly.

Sam nails his boof midway down a long sliding rapid - Fish Ladder

An enjoyable day out creeking in Victoria - highly recommended although I'd suggest not bothering much lower than 0.78... pretty bony. Plenty of wood in some sections so be very careful bombing around corners - this creek is very much in flood when it's running at a paddleable level.

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Himalayan Whitewater Challenge 2009

Lachie Carracher and I recently returned from traveling and paddling around Nepal as part of our end of year South Asian tour. In November we helped organise, run, MC and judge the 12th Annual UK Himalayan Whitewater Challenge.


The Himalayan Challenge involves three events over three days on the Trisuli River in Central Nepal. Day one was a 15 gate slalom course - and only two paddlers were able to make every gate. Day two was the freestyle competition held to the latest ICF rules, and day three was a seventeen kilometre, predominantly flat, downriver race. At the completion of each day's event paddlers were given points by their placing - 1 point for first, 2 for second, 3 for third etc, and at the end of the three events the paddler with the lowest score would be the winner. International and Nepali entrants were separated so as to crown both a Nepali and International Champion.

More than fifty competitors - mostly from Nepal and also hailing from Japan, the UK, US, Australia, Canada and Russia turned out with all sorts of old school whitewater craft - RPM, Acrobat, Gliss and Kendo just some of the veteran kayaks in the field.


The same boat must be paddled in all three events, meaning boat choice was paramount to the chances of winning the overall championship. Creek boats would be best in Slalom and Downriver categories but meant a disadvantage during day two's freestyle. A playboat would do well on day two, average on the Slalom and would be particularly demoralising on day three's 45+ minute downriver race.

With Lachie in his medium Fluid Solo and myself a large Habitat, we entered our ever Slalom competition with high confidence to make each and every gate. Of course things didn't go quite as well as the training runs... both missing gate 12 after a tough ferry through a juicy hole and turning back to the eddy for another attempt at the 50 second missed gate penalty. I made it back up but missed 12 again and elected to continue on to 13 and course completion. Lachie tried the same on his run but got unlucky with the boiling eddy and was unable to reach any of the remaining gates, effectively ending his competition on day one with the resultant 200 second penalty.

After a night of barefoot beach dancing we awoke to the freestyle competition and began to set up the judging booth. With beats pumping and heads thumping the competitors took to the water in their chosen craft. Loops were the order of the day, especially from those in medium sized river runners, and a stuck loop almost guaranteed progression into the next round. With the large habitat rejecting my attempts at loops I was relegated to entry moves and spins to make my way through the heats seeded 5th. Unfortunately in the round of 13 I forgot how to do the entry move and scored a big fat 0 points.


The freestyle was eventually overrun by the playboats favoured by many Nepali entrants, with eventual overall winner Maila Gurung from Nepal the last remaining creekboat in the field. Winner Anup Gurung was the only competitor to throw down blunts and retain the feature for the full 45 seconds - most paddlers were going for loops and flushing. The only Huge bonus of the competition was awarded to Teru from Japan who pulled off a massive aerial loop in his Riot Thunder.


On day three the downriver race was scheduled to begin with a 'Lemans' style start whereby all competitors started on the beach and had to run to their kayaks and begin. About ten of us hopped in our kayaks and took off deckless, with the idea that we would get into the current and put them on there, perhaps saving a few important seconds. After ten seconds' frenetic paddling I stopped to deck up, noticing a strange clunking noise coming from my boat. Deck on, I returned to paddling and kept hearing the noise. Eventually I realised there was a sizeable rock/boulder in my kayak... cheers Lachie. Keeping up with the half dozen paddlers ahead of me I noticed that the majority of the were still deckless. Sure enough most of them stopped paddling before the first section of whitewater and spun round as they rushed to put them on. After paddling past these guys I trailed the two leaders for a few minutes before passing them and taking the lead.

In the little experience I have with mass-start downriver racing I've decided that getting the lead early is paramount - it's really hard to pass people and demoralising to chase down kayaks on flatwater. With my first goal accomplished it was time to settle in and swing those arms. Checking behind me every few minutes I was able to maintain a comfortable pace while keeping a good break on the chasers. The course on the Trisuli was a long one, mainly flatwater, with one notable class IV - Upset - and the rest small class II and III.

Upset is basically a big ramp with two sweet surf waves that feeds into one giant crashing wave/hole which is basically a gamble. I got lucky and Upset let me through unscathed, and from there out it was paddle, paddle, paddle for another half hour or so. Somewhere along the way (there was a lot of flatwater slog!) I noticed that the paddler behind me was starting to get closer. Turning back for another check I figured out it was Martin from the UK, whom I'd been paddling with a bunch before and a couple of friendly sprints showed that he was going to be tough competition. That was all the motivation I needed to keep the strokes flowing and from there out I managed to keep it straight through the boils and keep Martin at bay.

Then it was back into the mountains for some creeking.....



Mens All Nationalities Overall
1. Santa Maila Gurung (NPL) Slalom: 3rd, Freestyle 3rd, Downriver 5th. (Pyranha H3)
2. Nim Bahadur Magar (NPL) Slalom: 1st, Freestyle 9th, Downriver 9th. (Wavesport Diesel 75)
3. Sean Bozkewycz (AUS) Slalom: 7th, Freestyle 12th, Downriver 1st. (Wavesport Habitat 80)

Mens International Overall
1. Sean Bozkewycz (AUS)
2. Tuscany Foot (UK)
3. Teruhiko Katsuragawa (JPN)

Mens International Slalom
1. Kobu Takkeyasu (JPN)
2. Teruhiko Katsuragawa (JPN)
3. Sean Bozkewycz (AUS)

Mens International Freestyle
1. Tuscany Foot (UK)
2. Teruhiko Katsuragawa (JPN)
3. Sean Bozkewycz (AUS)

Mens International Downriver
1. Sean Bozkewycz (AUS)
2. Martin Hall (UK)
3. Tuscany Foot (UK)

Women's International/All Nationalities Overall
1. Sveta Timofeeva (RUS) Slalom: 1st, Freestyle 4th, Downriver 1st. (Liquid Logic Remix)
2. Monica Gokey (USA) Slalom: 2nd, Freestyle 5th, Downriver 2nd. (Dagger Nomad)
3. Ashley Courtney (CAN) Slalom: 3rd, Freestyle 2nd, Downriver 6th. (Dagger Mamba)

Women's International Slalom
1. Sveta Timofeeva (RUS)
2. Monica Gokey (USA)
3. Ashley Courtney (CAN)

Women's International Freestyle
1. Kate Walton (RSA)
2. Ashley Courtney (CAN)
3. Sveta Timofeeva (RUS)

Women's International Downriver
1. Sveta Timofeeva (RUS)
2. Monica Gokey (USA)
3. Hamna Wakabayashi (JPN)

Monday, January 11, 2010

One of the more menacing drops of the trip

This one was on a tributary of the Modi, bout a twenty minute hike up river right near the take out. Maybe 25 feet of vert on it with an interesting lead in, could have been nicer with a little more H20...




Boof Sequence - Boz on the Modi Khola, Annapurna Sanctuary, Nepal

Spot your last paddle stroke...


Plant it and pull


Launch




put a stroke in on landing to paddle away (this I am not doing)