Boat Review: Jackson Kayak All-Star 2010

November 19, 2020

In the 2004 Formula One auto racing season, Team Ferrari won 15 of 18 races, earning Ferrari the coveted Constructors’ Crown—an award given to the auto manufacturer with the most season wins. It’s rare that a single vehicle so completely dominates an international competition, but it’s not just Italian automakers that have pulled off this coup. At the 2009 World Freestyle Championships, Jackson Kayak’s redesigned 2010 Star series, including the 2010 All-Star, was the chassis to beat—and not many did.

Jackson Kayak 2010 Star Series Specs
(Star / All-Star / Super-Star / Mon-Star)

Length: 5’6” / 5’10” / 6’2” / 6’5”

Width: 24” / 26” / 27” / 28”

Volume: 46.8 / 55.5 / 64 / 72.8 U.S. gal

Weight Range: 90-160 / 130-200 / 160-230 / 210-300 lbs

MSRP: $1,199 USD

www.jacksonkayak.com

[ Paddling Buyer’s Guide: See all Jackson kayaks ]

Jackson’s 2010 Star Series cleans up on the podium

There’s no doubt that Jackson Kayak founder Eric “EJ” Jackson’s policy of sponsoring a large, talented, highly motivated international team played a factor in the Star series’ dominance at the Worlds. The championship’s top three senior men, Nick Troutman, EJ and Stephen Wright, were all members of Team Jackson, as was fifth place finisher Joel Kowalski. But perhaps more tellingly, many competitors without affiliations to Jackson Kayak also chose to paddle Stars.

The senior men’s fourth place finisher, Jules Gallais of France, switched from a composite kayak into an All-Star on the first day of competition when he saw how it performed so strongly in the hands of his competitors.

“There are so many stories like Gallais’ where people jumped in the boat for the first time at the World Championships and felt immediately better and more competitive,” says Jackson.

The All-Star 2010 gains some new fans

Gallais can be forgiven for wanting a boat that made every trick look easy. After all, every aspiring and advanced playboater wants the same. And making freestyle tricks as effortless as possible is exactly what Jackson and long-time design partner David Knight had in mind when they sat down to redesign the three-year-old 2007 Star series.

Jackson and Knight started with the existing All-Star, tweaked the rocker and chines, added volume in the ends, narrowed and increased height in the knee area and shaved four inches off the overall length and three pounds off the weight.

“We spent most of the design process just figuring out ways to do the impossible—make the boat much shorter, but still faster,” says Jackson. “We don’t make prototypes so there is never any testing; just do a good job on the design, make the molds and cross your fingers!”

The updated Star suits female freestylers

The changes didn’t go unnoticed. The new Star’s lightweight, small stature and paradoxical speed made it a top choice for female competitors. On the Canadian women’s senior and junior teams, all six ladies paddled 2010 Stars. Canadian team paddler Annie-Pier Marchand explains, “It is the best freestyle boat for women. The shorter length makes it easier to throw around, spin, blunt, backblunt and stick moves.” Marchand adds that her Star launches off the water without too much effort and the hull speed makes it more retentive on a small, flushy feature like the Worlds wave.

With the broadest range of sizes in the playboat market, Jackson offers a fit for just about anyone. From the tiny Shooting Star—the only boat in the series to remain unchanged for 2010—to the brand new Mon-Star—the first XXL playboat for paddlers up to 300 pounds—a total of five sizes are available.

The new Stars’ proven track record makes them a clear choice for paddlers wanting Ferrari performance from their playboats. While the Star series is user friendly for a freestyle design, Jackson cautions that it isn’t as easy to master as the Fun—Jackson’s river play series—and says it is better suited to “paddlers who are comfortable flipping more often, or who are intermediates.”

[ Plan your next whitewater kayak adventure with the Paddling Trip Guide ]

Reach for the top with Jackson Kayak’s All-Star 2010

Perhaps the similar trajectories of Ferrari and Jackson Kayak are not surprising, given the parallels between Ferrari’s (and Formula One’s) winningest driver, seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher, and four-time Freestyle World Champion Eric Jackson. Schumacher and the Ferrari crew likely never admitted to crossing their fingers in the pits, but Jackson’s designs are no less sporty or innovative. Somebody, hand the Jackson Kayak All-Star 2010 the checkered flag.

Boat Review: Dagger Alchemy 14.0

Tim Shuff

November 19, 2020

Last year marked the launch of the Dagger Alchemy 14.0 S and L, small and large versions of a performance-minded, light-touring kayak in affordable and durable polyethylene. With one master stroke Dagger nailed the golden crossover segment where high-performance meets recreational day paddling, filling the niche where most of us paddle most of the time.

Dagger Alchemy 14.0 Specs
(S / L)

Length: 14’ / 14’

Width: 23” / 24”

Depth: 13” / 14.25”

Cockpit: 35” × 18.5” / 35” × 18.5”

Weight: 51 / 54 lbs

Capacity: 275 / 300 lbs

MSRP: $1,295 USD or $1,450 CAD

[ Paddling Buyer’s Guide: See all Dagger kayaks ]

Dagger’s Alchemy 14.0 has big capabilities

At 14 feet, the Dagger Alchemy is small, but not to be underestimated.

Paddlers will want to choose the size that fits them best. Small- to medium-sized folks will mesh perfectly into the sportier dimensions of the 14.0 S, the model reviewed here. Ours required removal of the foot braces to fit a six-footer. The equally priced L version is the same length but with added capacity from an extra inch of width and inch-and-a-quarter of deck height. Both sizes are designed to have a snug-fitting cockpit for solid control in rough water.

This kayak can really cruise

A combination of long waterline, low rocker and a Swede form shape result in impressive acceleration and cruising speed. We cranked out a consistent five to six kilometres per hour and topped out at 10 in a sprint—performance we’re accustomed to in much longer kayaks.

The Alchemy’s shallow-V hull with hard chines offers an excellent compromise of stability and edgeability—moderate primary stability for a performance feel without being twitchy, and great, confidence-inspiring secondary stability on edge.

[ See also: How To Edge Your Kayak ]

The Dagger Alchemy 14.0 compensates for its short length by reducing the rocker. The result is something that feels longer than it is—more like a highly rockered long boat than other 14-footers we’ve paddled. The effect is that the Alchemy tracks well and isn’t too skittish unless you get some speed and put it up on edge, or edge it in following seas, in which case the stern will skid out as you would expect from a short kayak.

The skeg reduces the skid effect and also helps tracking in crosswinds and following seas, although weathercocking or leecocking are minimal because of the low windage of the Alchemy 14.0 profile. The skeg slider is conveniently positioned in a tightly recessed groove that keeps it out of the way of fingers and knuckles but makes it a trick to dial on the go until you get used to it.

Details of the Dagger Alchemy 14.0 S kayak

The affordable Alchemy is feature‑rich

The deck is nicely appointed with three rubber hatch covers, bungees, a locking bar and recessed fittings. The day hatch is a bit of a far reach from the paddling position (there’s ample space behind the seat for provisions), but it’s yet another sign of the Dagger Alchemy 14.0’s full complement of sea kayak features.

The seat offers multiple adjustments for hips, thighs, leg height and backrest tension. A plastic rail adds rigidity to the hull in the cockpit areas.

[ Plan your next kayak day touring adventure with the Paddling Trip Guide ]

Get away for the day in the Dagger Alchemy 14.0

The capacity of the Dagger Alchemy 14.0 favors performance day paddling over hauling gear. It’s perfect for day trips or meticulously planned weekends. In the recreational price range with high-performance features, it best suits adventurous paddlers who want a kayak that will encourage them to grow and keep up with them every step of the way.

This article was first published in the Summer 2010 issue of Adventure Kayak Magazine. Subscribe to Paddling Magazine’s print and digital editions, or browse the archives.

Boat Review: Stellar S14S Surfski

Paddling Magazine Staff

November 19, 2020

According to Stellar Kayaks rep Vaughn Smith, “People have a head-trip about surfskis—they’re skinny, they’re tippy, they’re weird.” But the people to which Smith refers aren’t the manufacturer’s devoted niche of hard-core racing kayakers and fitness fanatics, a group who will no doubt welcome the arrival of the Stellar S14S surfski.

Stellar S14S Specs

Length: 14’6”

Width: 24.6”

Material: Advantage fiberglass

Weight: 34 lbs

MSRP: $2,555

www.stellarkayaks.com

[ Paddling Buyer’s Guide: See the Stellar S14S surfski ]

Stellar’s S14S is sleek and graceful

Any reservations I had about the new Stellar S14S, however, began to erode the minute I laid eyes on this sleek, bubble gum pink 14-footer. And they vanished completely when I slid into the surprisingly comfortable seat bucket for a frosty crossing to a cluster of offshore islands.

With its open cockpit, knees-up-and-together seating position, narrow racing bow and long waterline, the S14S is clearly a surfski. Just don’t tell Smith that. “We’re marketing this as a performance sit-on-top, that just happens to be incredibly fast,” he says. Like its longer, narrower siblings in the Stellar surfski family, the S14S is designed for maximum efficiency.

Catch a free ride

As I discover minutes into the crossing, when I absent-mindedly pull away from my companions’ 16- and 17-foot touring kayaks, greater efficiency doesn’t just equal more speed, it delivers that sweet, hypnotic glide with ridiculously less effort. Ergo, more miles covered in an afternoon, and more waiting for your friends to catch up.

The effortless acceleration is particularly rewarding on downwind runs, where the S14S refuses to let even a small swell go to waste. If catching free rides on every wave doesn’t plaster a smile on your face, you should probably take up hiking.

More significant, perhaps, than the Stellar S14S being the fastest 14-footer we’ve ever reviewed is the fact that this is a boat beginners will feel comfortable paddling. The Swede-form hull—measuring a beamy 25 inches across at its widest point behind the seat—combined with the soft chines produce superb secondary stability. Should you take an unscheduled swim, the shallow deck is easily remounted from the water.

[ See also: Assisted Surf Ski Rescues ]

The S14S makes you want to go fast

Adding to the S14S’ versatility as a crossover vehicle between fitness and recreational paddling or touring, is the inclusion of two watertight storage compartments. Overnight trippers especially will appreciate the extra-large stern hatch and tent-sized bow hatch.

Like all Stellars, the S14S is available in four different composite layups, from basic fiberglass to featherweight carbon fiber. Featuring the mid-range Advantage construction, our demo weighed in at just over 34 pounds, translating to an equally effortless experience off the water. Grasping the two cockpit handles placed perfectly at the boat’s balance point, I easily lifted it off the roof rack and solo suitcase-carried it to the water.

Cleaving through a light, evening chop back to the mainland, I felt the undeniable tug that columnist and surfski convert Neil Schulman explored in “Paddle Faster.”

Head out on a weekend trip

Stellar’s steering system combines an over-stern rudder with gas pedal-style foot controls that are responsive without being twitchy.

The Stellar S14S may be novice-friendly, but advanced touring paddlers won’t be bored—twin hatches give this pocket rocket the capacity for weekend trips.

The contoured cockpit is comfortable and supportive. Pull the plug on the Venturi drain to empty water from the foot well while underway. The puddle under your butt you’re stuck with till shore.

[ Paddling Buyer’s Guide: See all Stellar kayaks ]

Catch the wave with a Stellar S14S

It’s true that as a sit-on-top ‘ski, the Stellar S14S robs you of certain facets that some kayakers consider integral to their experience—rolling, dynamic edging and bracing, extended tripping—but in return this boat offers something different and equally tantalizing: a spare, athletic grace accessible to almost anybody.

This article first appeared in the Spring 2015 issue of Adventure Kayak magazine. Subscribe to Paddling Magazine and get 25 years of digital magazine archives including our legacy titles: Rapid, Adventure Kayak and Canoeroots.

Eddy Harris On His Mississippi Solo Paddling Trip

Jeff Jackson

November 18, 2020

Ifirst read Adventures of Huckleberry Finn when I was 12 years old. As a young reader, Huckleberry Finn was the every kids’ kid, motivating a number of lashed-together raft attempts in the small swampy pond behind my Grandpa’s farmhouse. I didn’t understand at the time that Huckleberry Finn was not really about a river trip at all. In this tradition, Mississippi Solo (available on Amazon) is the account of an epic source-to-sea trip by Eddy L. Harris, but the true focus of his celebrated memoir is on much weightier topics.

Mississippi Solo is about more than a river trip

Seeking adventure but missing the point

Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain’s sequel to The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is considered one of the classics of American literature and is hands down the most popular river story of all time. It has sold an estimated 20 million copies since first published in 1885.

I had yet to even sit in a canoe by the time I had read Twain’s novel, yet it instantly shaped my view of adventure, the Mississippi River and what a river trip should look like. In the early ‘90s I was in my early 20s, full time guiding, and voraciously collecting anything and everything to do with river lore. I lived out of a tired Chevy Sprint hatchback, half of which was filled with milk crates of river books.

From my dirtbag library I would loan novels and guidebooks to other guides. I’d bring copies on my river trips. I’d read aloud to my guests as we floated between deep canyon walls. I’d reference others for river facts and quote memories of early explorers on the same rivers.

In this time of collecting all things river, I stumbled upon an unlikely young author named Eddy Harris and his book, Mississippi Solo. Eddy was a self-declared total neophyte. He’d borrowed a canoe, hitched a ride with a friend to Minnesota, and proceeded to travel the entire length of the Mississippi River to New Orleans.

[ See the widest selection of canoes in the Paddling Buyer’s Guide ]

He paddled over 2,000 miles, eating in diners, camping in city parks, probably even changing sides every couple of strokes. I was left nonplussed by the book. Puzzled. Disappointed. It didn’t seem like an adventure to me. I totally failed to relate to Harris’ story.

What I didn’t understand at the time—not until rereading it decades later—Mississippi Solo was not about a river trip at all.

A closer reading of Mississippi Solo

Exactly 30 years after its 1988 publication, I again stumbled upon Mississippi Solo, pushed to the shadowed and dusty end of my basement bookshelf.

Rereading it now—I will optimistically attribute this to accrued wisdom, or at least just being closer to 50 rather than 20—I had my Huckleberry Finn moment. Eddy Harris, while telling the story of his novice canoe trip, was really writing about race and being a young Black man in America. It feels ridiculous to me how this was not more apparent the first time I read it. But then again, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is about race and racism and I managed to miss that too on the first time around.

Imagine launching in 1988, as Harris puts it, “From where there ain’t no Black folks to where they still don’t like us much.” Let alone doing so in a craft about which the author knew little to nothing. This was adventure in a realm I could not fathom as a young, hard-skilled, self-absorbed white guy. Today, Eddy’s adventure impresses me completely.

[ Plan your next canoe tripping adventure with the Paddling Trip Guide ]

I was so inspired I picked up the telephone and cold called Eddy Harris. This is not something I would typically do, and graciously, he was happy to talk with me.

Harris gets to the heart of the matter

As it turns out, Eddy had just returned from a second source-to-sea trip along the Mississippi River, this time interviewing people for his film, River to the Heart (see the trailer on YouTube).

What struck me about my conversation with Eddy is the sense of ownership he has for his river, the Mississippi. He explained to me how his film was an extension of this ownership:

“Part of the rationale for the film, and talking to kids of color, is that this river, nature, the country, is ours too. The racial component is very important. Unless we feel a part of it, we won’t consider it. Part of my schtick is to push inclusion so we all care about the same things. No matter what color we are.”

Harris claims he had no idea Black people didn’t canoe. It didn’t occur to him until he was on his trip. He wrote in Mississippi Solo, “I promised myself I would not make race an issue out here…but it became clear people will see I’m Black only moments after they see my canoe is green. Maybe even before.”

Jeff Jackson with Eddy Harris discussing Mississippi Solo

Inspiring ownership of the outdoors

This tension of being a newbie canoeist, an outsider, a traveler and a Black man, set against a sense of ownership of where he was, on his river, is the most powerful aspect of his story. Eddy explained to me, “I never saw my being Black as an impediment to what I can or cannot do. I’m hoping the canoe in Mississippi Solo inspires the same sense of ‘it’s mine’ ownership.”

“Part of the rationale for the film, and talking to kids of color, is that this river, nature, the country, is ours too.”

“Once you feel ownership, you don’t restrict yourself from it. The canoe becomes a metaphor for this sort of ownership. The Mississippi River, too, everyday on the river you realize, ‘this is mine’. The locks and dams, they pass you through like everybody else because they are ours. This river belongs to me too.”

Now in his 60s, Harris is back doing it again. He’s setting out on another 2,000-mile journey. “The first time, I had no idea what I was doing. It was a real pilgrimage. The second time was different, because I was with this camera crew. I feel the need to do the solitary journey again. It’s my home river.”

The story runs deep in Mississippi Solo

Rereading Mississippi Solo I learned more about my limited perspective and what is says about me and my place in society. Just like Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and like always, if you look deeper into the waters you travel past you’ll discover there is always more to the river than just the river trip.

This article was first published in Issue 55 of Paddling Magazine. Subscribe to Paddling Magazine’s print and digital editions, or browse the archives.

Jeff Jackson is a professor at Algonquin College and a risk management consultant. Eddy—he insisted upon Jackson calling him Eddy—now lives in France and is a critically acclaimed author with several titles to his name. More information can be found at Eddy’s website, www.eddyharris.com.

Boat Review: Liquidlogic Homeslice Whitewater Kayak

Graham Kent

November 18, 2020

Homeslice (n): A close friend you have known for a very long time. | Photo: Jill McLellan

Back in 2001, Liquidlogic debuted their first-ever design—a slicey playboat called the Session. Almost two decades later, Liquidlogic has gone full circle, with a bold, new slicey design. The award-winning Liquidlogic Homeslice debuted at Paddlesports Retailer in Oklahoma City last summer and celebrates the retro whitewater revolution. It promises to cartwheel, squirt, splat and surf, while blending old-school-cool looks and tricks with modern flair and comfort.

Liquidlogic Homeslice Specs

Length: 7’7”

Width: 26”

Volume: 55 U.S. gal

Weight: 32 lbs

MSRP: $1,049

www.liquidlogickayaks.com

[ Paddling Buyer’s Guide: See the Liquidlogic Homeslice kayak ]

Liquidlogic’s Homeslice leads a retro revival

The wave of retro designs flooding the rivers is all about designers getting back to their roots.

“I used to paddle this type of boat in the ‘90s,” says Liquidlogic’s co-founder and boat designer Shane Benedict. “The Green River has been a hotbed of the slicey boat revival. A lot of folks have been pulling out old designs and trying them out. The Homeslice takes the fun of the two-ended slicey boat and adds what we’ve learned about outfitting, comfort and ergonomics.”

Comfort is a big selling point. Marketing materials tout its ample knee and foot room, claiming even tall paddlers can fit with shoes on. The nose of the Homeslice is taller than the Session’s, giving toes more room. I wasn’t paddling during the first slicey boat revolution of the late ‘90s and early aughts, but I’ve heard flat bows created nasty calluses on the tops of paddlers’ toes.

Perhaps used to more voluminous bow designs, I found the Homeslice uncomfortable with size 10 shoes on. My ankles fell asleep and I worried my shoes might have gotten caught up on the front pillar if I had to swim out. After switching to neoprene booties I got comfortable. The Liquidlogic Homeslice utilizes a standard foam foot-block and shim setup for feet, with a strap to keep everything snuggled together. It’s a simple design proven to be reliable, comfortable and easy to adjust. True to the claims, I did have plenty of room left in the knee pockets even though I was using nearly all of the foot shims, which makes me think someone very tall indeed could fit comfortably in this boat.

Customize your ride for a snug fit

The Homeslice comes complete with Liquidlogic’s popular Badass Outfitting. It gives the paddler a contoured seat, backband and hip pads easily customized for a snug fit. I’ve paddled a Liquidlogic Stinger XP crossover for four years, and know firsthand the outfitting is well made, durable, comfortable and drains well. The seat in my Stinger features more of a mesh fabric, which I find can occasionally chafe at bare skin, but Liquidlogic has updated the fabric which does not feel as though it will cause the same issue.

Though the bow is taller than Liquidlogic’s original slicey boat, the Session, the cockpit rim is lower than first generation models, which used to bash elbows—ouch. | Photos: Jill Mclellan — Though the bow is taller than Liquidlogic’s original slicey boat, the Session, the cockpit rim is lower than first generation models, which used to bash elbows—ouch. | Photo: Jill Mclellan

For me, when I roll a Liquidlogic kayak, the rigid backband straps are not enough to keep the backband in place, and I find it moves down off my lower back and I wind up nearly sitting on it. This is easily fixed by adding bungees to my Stinger’s backband and connecting it to the cockpit rim. This keeps the backband nice and high. If the Homeslice were my boat, I would make the same simple modification.

Liquidlogic gets back to slicing

The Liquidlogic Homeslice isn’t the only new release from Liquidlogic to get in on the retro-slice revolution—the throwback Braaap and Mullet were released in 2015 and 2016.

[ Paddling Buyer’s Guide: See all Liquidlogic kayaks ]

“The Homeslice takes the lineup more aggressively towards play, as opposed to getting down the river,” says Benedict. “The Braaap and the Mullet want to play but have great river running capabilities, with more rocker and volume in the bow for creeking. When we went to the double-ended slice and more of a planing hull in the Homeslice, the play capabilities increased.”

The square-ended design of the Homeslice creates a faster carve and improves looseness on a wave, says Benedict. More progressive rocker creates easier stalls and cartwheels compared to the Liquidlogic Session, he adds, and a stern V-hull helps carving and easy spin initiation.

Top: The square stern creates a faster carving kayak and improves looseness on a wave. | Photos: Jill Mclellan — The square stern creates a faster carving kayak and improves looseness on a wave. | Photo: Jill Mclellan

Out on the Ottawa River

I first paddled the Liquidlogic Homeslice on the Ottawa River. With the river gauge at 17, there were plenty of play spots on the Middle Channel, and Buseater was in on the Main Channel. The Homeslice made for a fun big water day—indeed, carving on waves and spinning is easy. It has decent speed and can play even on small or greener rollers. Longer ends mean having to pay a bit more attention.

Conditions weren’t ideal during the time I had the Liquidlogic Homeslice for cartwheels, and I’m a little young for cartwheels anyways so I passed the Homeslice around. Older reviewers assured me the Homeslice cartwheels as promised—on eddylines, in flatwater, on white waves and in mid-sized holes. The cartwheels can be slow and controlled, which makes them attainable for mortals, like in the old days, like say 17 years ago when Eric Jackson beat Eric Southwick to win the Worlds in Sort, Spain.

Where the Homeslice really excelled was on the lower-volume Petawawa—its low-volume ends made flatwater bow stalls and stern squirts a breeze, keeping things entertaining between rapids. Squirting eddylines, and splatting rocks was a blast. Though this one-size-fits-all design is directed at paddlers from 140 to 220 pounds, I’m convinced I may have been able to squeeze a mystery move out of this boat at 180 pounds had I tried hard enough.

[ Plan your next whitewater kayaking adventure with the Paddling Trip Guide ]

Get a slice of the action with the Liquidlogic Homeslice

The Liquidlogic Homeslice is solidly in the playboat category, rather than in the family of river running playboats we’ve seen return over the past several years. It is a different kind of playboat than what kayakers have gotten used to over the past decade. It doesn’t charge down rapids, but plays with a slice. For those who live to shred every eddyline and splat every rock, Liquidlogic’s retro playboat revolution is here.

This article was first published in Issue 58 of Paddling Magazine. Subscribe to Paddling Magazine’s print and digital editions, or browse the archives.

Kayaking In Chile’s Whitewater Paradise

John Webster

November 18, 2020

Last December I set a course to Chile in hopes of kayaking what I’ve been told are the best whitewater runs in the world. After taking the long flight from Boise to Santiago and meeting up with Jan Choutka, our plan was simple—paddle as much as possible.

Seeking out the best whitewater kayaking in Chile

It had been only a moderate snow year in Chile with an inconsistent rainy season, so we moved from north to south chasing water and joining forces with locals, established gringos and other characters along the way.

We started our journey paddling around the tiny, rural town of Curacautín. Then to the whitewater tourism mecca town of Pucón. And finally to Futaleufú River where we spent three weeks paddling, fishing and playing soccer on the banks of Futa beneath the Andes. We travelled over 500 miles and paddled some of Chile’s classic rivers, all without a rented vehicle. We lived cheaply on bread, avocado, and Escudo.

[ For top picks and expert reviews, check out Paddling Magazine’s guide to the best whitewater kayaks here. ]

Riding the Rio Blanco Del Sur

After arriving outside Curacautín, about a 30-second walk from our parked vehicle in a cow pasture, we put in for this drop in a mellow eddy just above the lip. After a couple splashes in our faces, we experienced 33 feet of relatively risk-free free fall before landing in the crystal clear pool. Another lap required us to scale the cliff with boats on our shoulders or have them pulled up by a friend above.

Tomatita is a 50-footer that has been named after its bigger brother, Tomata Falls on the Alseseca River in Mexico. After some particularly bumpy Chilean roads, only minutes away from Rio Blanco Del Sur you find yourself passing over the tributary of the Cautín to park and hike through fields of grass to the lip. Not one I’d call a park-and-huck drop, as it is a very wet and sketchy ascent to get out of the cliffed out corridor below.

Dropping a waterfall while whitewater kayaking in Chile — Tomatita waterfall. |Photo: John Webster

Travel tips for the best whitewater kayaking in Chile

I recommend renting or even buying a vehicle to boost your chances of kayaking every day with the freedom to explore the best spots. We heard stories about how buying a vehicle proves to be difficult for everyday gringos. Apparently there is a process administered by the government that requires more effort and more money to obtain the keys to say a new or used Toyota Hilux, the South American version of the Tacoma.

Also, the Chilean roads are abusive and we were warned that sometimes vehicles aren’t as good as they first seem. We were told that it is significantly cheaper to rent in the city of Santiago than it is in any Chilean tourist towns. We didn’t rent or buy. Through kind friends and a relatively cheap shuttle service in Pucón, we found our way around a majority of the rivers.

About a four-hour drive north from Pucón is the surrounding region of Volcan Llaima. Outside Llaima is a rural area with strikingly green rolling hills. It is not a place you’d think to find perfect waterfalls. But with the help of the website riversofchile.com, the famous guidebook Whitewater Chile and by word of mouth we eventually found the drops we were looking for and had two very productive days in the area.

man hanging out in a hammock between two trucks with kayaks on top — Edward hangs out. | Photo: John Webster

man heating hot dog — Enjoying the comfort food in Chile. | Photo: John Webster

What to eat and where to stay while whitewater kayaking in Chile

The completo is a version of a hotdog, which to my dismay is loaded with a ton of mayo. Food in Chile is magnificent if you like fresh fruit, vegetables and bread. The empanada reigns supreme in this country and can be found anywhere. Food is relatively cheap and most kayakers get their daily calories through basic items such as fresh avocado and sausage on bread.

Camping is more or less acceptable on the side of the road in Chile. If you’re on private land there can be problems, but finding spots on the narrow shoulders really is no big deal. The evening before Newen Falls on a quiet logging road an exhausted twenty-one-year-old Edward Muggridge suggested the easiest spot—sleeping in the middle of a dirt road intersection. If we’d agreed to his brilliant plan we’d have been killed by the semi-trucks rolling through in the early morning.

paddler kayaks off 80 foot waterfall while whitewater kayaking in Chile — Newen Falls, found south of Curacautin. | Photo: John Webster

Waterfalls, creeks and dormant volcanoes

South of Curacautin, this waterfall has only seen a select few runs, including the first and second descent by Aniol Serrasolses back in 2015. Edward Muggridge and Jan Choutka made the decision to paddle off this clean approximate 80-footer. Ed, who broke his back off of Tomato 2 in Mexico a year to the day earlier, was the first of the two to fire off this seldom-paddled waterfall. Jan (shown above) is the first known C1 boater to have descended this drop and we think collected the record for highest descent in a C1.

The Palguin was mostly at a solid state the majority of the summer season. Having stretches like the Upper and Lower Palguin full of drops and scenery makes for a joyful afternoon lap away from the hustle in downtown Pucón. These small, creeky sections are mostly run by kayakers and are no stranger to private North American groups learning how to paddle off waterfalls during their Chilean expedition.

paddler dropping off a small waterfall — The Palguin is full of drops and scenery. | Photo: John Webster

a scenic view with a volcano in the background — The active volcano Villarrica. | Photo: John Webster

An eight-hour drive south of Santiago leads you to Pucón, which is directly under Villarrica, an active volcano. The reason Pucón is such a great destination for kayakers is the accessibility of different types of rivers and paddling adventures. The area is known as The Siphon because there is no reason to leave in search of other rivers and places to explore. Best yet, there are many hostels that are willing to accommodate smelly kayakers.

Chile has 500 active volcanoes and seeing them is quite a different experience from paddling in the Rockies. With volcanoes comes amazing whitewater and ever-changing features if there are earthquakes or eruptions. There are plenty of rivers that are in direct correlation to a volcano, in fact it is almost guaranteed that you can find a waterfall at the base of any volcano.

a man in a kayak dropping off a small waterfall — A set of rapids in the Pucón area where tourists come to paddle and raft. | Photo: John Webster

man hanging up his kayaking gear outside — Living that dirtbag life. | Photo: John Webster

Pucón is a mecca for Chilean whitewater kayaking

A majority of kayaker income for those looking to work is in the tourism industry in Pucón. Be it raft guiding or waiting tables, kayakers have the opportunity to work here and play here. As spring ramps up to the incredibly busy summer in Pucón, the streets are alive with tourists ready to go whitewater rafting.

You can find everything from class II blue-water scenic runs to class V jungle creeks and waterfalls all within a couple hours of town. The classic stretches of Pucón are, but not limited to the Palguin, Trancura (above), Liucura, Nevados, and Turbio rivers. If you have the availability to travel out of Pucón, two hours south in the Lake District are runs like the Upper, Middle, and Lower Fuy.

kayaker paddling through whitewater in Chile — The Futaleufi River in Patagonia. | Photo: John Webster

The Futaleufú River offers some of the best whitewater kayaking in Chile

The Futaleufú River in the depths of Patagonia, Chile is the ultimate destination of an experienced whitewater kayaker. This world-class river runs close to the Argentinian border and its forests are thick with trees and bush. If you didn’t feel small enough in the big water all you have to do is look up and feel like a tiny molecule in this utterly scenic mountain corridor.

Paddlers have to earn their way to this deep and historical river. To get there you must take one or several ferries across the inlet of the Pacific Ocean. Once across, you arrive in the ghost town of Chaitén and then proceed on a dirt road for two hours to the Futa. Another route is to drive from Osorno, Chile east into the Andes, across the Argentinian border, south through Esquel and then back into Chile. The town of Futaleufu is actually right on the border of Argentina and Chile. Either route will set you back about two days of travel.

The most popular section of the Futa is simply known as the bridge-to-bridge section. It lies 40 minutes away from the tiny town of Futaleufú itself. The run is relatively continuous and contains amazing class IV wave trains that both kayakers and raft guides appreciate. The water is chock full of surf and kick-flip waves and the black cliff walls contrast sharply with the blue river. To many, this is the definition of Patagonia kayaking.

Travelling by ferry to reach the best whitewater kayaking in Chile — Ferrying across the Pacific Ocean. | Photo: John Webster

Cara Del Indio is a large property alongside the road that leads into the town of Futaleufú. Located in the middle of the bridge-to-bridge section, you can live cheaply here for a few weeks for less than the price of a couple nights stay at a three-star hotel in the States.

man cooking potatoes — Learning new dishes in a new place. | Photo: John Webster

people kicking a soccer ball — We did more than kayak. | Photo: John Webster

Reflecting on two months spent whitewater kayaking in Chile

Our three week stay allowed us to experience the quincho life and responsibilities it holds. A quincho is a hut that provides shelter, a fire pit and room to sleep. Being away from the town of Futa, we are responsible for getting there and shopping for food and supplies as needed. We learned to cook incredible meals in a disco—a large wok-like pan made to stand over a pit of coals.

Staying so close to the Futa was one of my luckiest experiences as a paddler. Besides large waves, good times and amazing scenery, this river has excellent fishing for the down days. Not enough could be said about the need to protect this river and its community of locals and gringos who travel to this Chilean whitewater kayaking oasis.

This article was first published in Issue 51 of Paddling Magazine. Subscribe to Paddling Magazine’s print and digital editions, or browse the archives.

Go Kayaking With The Whales In Telegraph Cove

Dustin Silvey

November 18, 2020

Wildlife

Orcas, sea lions, humpback whales, eagles, bears, wolves, slugs, starfish, jellyfish and so much more.

Exposure

The wind can be strong, swell large and the weather changes on a dime. By staying close to shore you’ll never be far from shelter, just be prepared to camp an extra night or two if the weather is not agreeable. Beware of boat traffic when crossing the Strait.

Diversion

The Whale Interpretive Centre in Telegraph Cove is an excellent follow-up to your on-water sightings. Listen to vocalization recordings, learn about different types of whales and behaviors, and behold the epic size of a fin whale skeleton.

Outfitters

Multiple outfitters offer trips from several hours to several days in length, including BC Unbound, Sea to Sky Expeditions and Spirit of the West.

Must Have

Good rain gear is a must when visiting this temperate rainforest. Bring a waterproofed camera with a great zoom lens. Orcas, humpback whales and other wildlife may get close, but a 200mm zoom will assist you in getting excellent photos.

While kayaking in Telegraph Cove our guide calls out as a baby orca swims beneath my kayak, “It’s under us.” Closer to the rugged and rocky shoreline another orca breaks the calm ocean surface for a breath, while the remaining members of the pod slowly glide past our small flotilla.

They pay us little attention, far more concerned with making a breakfast out of the Pacific salmon inhabiting Johnstone Strait.

Just yesterday I witnessed a sea lion tear a salmon to shreds while a humpback whale put on a breaching show in the background. It sounded like a cannon being fired each time its 33-ton body hit the water, as impressive as anything I’ve ever experienced.

The secret is out.

Why has Telegraph Cove become a kayaking hotspot?

The small fishing village boasts relaxed vibes, quaint and colorful buildings and spectacular wildlife viewing. The unparalleled whale watching opportunities in Johnstone Strait are a particularly big draw.

Large motorboats and catamarans head out several times a day from the public dock crowded with tourists running from gunwale to gunwale hoping to catch a glimpse of mystical humpbacks and majestic orcas.

Kayaking allows for a much more peaceful and intimate experience with the whales. Not to mention the sea lions, bears and thousands of giant forest slugs calling this area home. Truly, they’re all amazing to see—even the slugs. With 40,000 islands making up the west coast of British Columbia, the options for trips of any length are limitless.

What to do while kayaking in Telegraph Cove

If you have a half-day:

Paddle in and around the small islands in the harbor at Telegraph Cove. Expect to see a bounty of marine life in tidal pools, inquisitive otters swimming by and bald eagles overhead.

If you have one day:

Explore remote beaches and rugged islands just outside the harbor. You might even spot a seal or two. A single day on the water here will awe you, and leave you wishing for much more.

If you have two to seven days:

Cross both Johnstone Strait and Blackfish Sound while keeping your eyes peeled for orcas, humpback whales and sea lions. More than 200 orcas call this area home each summer.

[ Plan your next B.C. kayaking adventure with the Paddling Trip Guide ]

There are many islands to make camp on while kayaking in Telegraph Cove, but you may require a permit from the local Indigenous communities who lease the land to campers and outfitters.

This article was first published in Issue 53 of Paddling Magazine. Subscribe to Paddling Magazine’s print and digital editions, or browse the archives.

Boat Review: Dagger Green Boat Kayak

Scott MacGregor

November 18, 2020

In 1996, 16 people lined up on river right below the Green River Narrows’ Bride of Frankenstein and hammered the half-mile of class V to a pool on river left below Rapid Transit. Ever since then, the first Saturday in November has kicked off the now famous Green River Race, the wildest and most exclusive of all whitewater creeking events. Last year 59 paddlers entered the open or longboat event, 39 of them paddling the Dagger Green Boat specialized creek racer.

Dagger Green Boat Specs

Length: 11’9”

Width: 24.25”

Volume: 95 U.S. gal

Weight: 50 lbs

Weight Range: 140-260 lbs

MSRP: $1,085

www.dagger.com

[ Paddling Buyer’s Guide: See the Dagger Green Boat kayak ]

Dagger’s Green Boat tops the podium

For the last two years prototypes of the Green Boat paddled by Dagger pros have dominated this crazy race. It all started in 2006, when Dagger’s Pat Keller finally beat six-time open class winner Tommy Hilleke in his now defunct eight-time winning boat, the Prijon Tornado.

In 2007, team paddler Andrew Holcombe followed up with a win in the open class, and a new Green Race record time of four minutes, 27 seconds. The Green Boat took the top four places that year.

In 2008, even with a quiet mid-season launch in June, the production Green Boat topped the podium once more and took 11 of the best 15 times.

Drive this Dagger on edge

The 11-foot, nine-inch Green Boat falls into the race’s most prestigious and fastest open category. The Green Race combines raw power and anaerobic speed with large rapids and extremely technical manoeuvres. The crew at Dagger knew they needed a boat that could hammer the flat sections, but also power through the rapids with precision and skim over the top of the water to avoid deep plugs.

Dagger designer Mark “Snowy” Robertson and team athlete Pat Keller examined several different old classics that had the desired speed. Their goal was to match this speed to the agility, responsiveness and boofing capabilities of Dagger’s performance creeker, the Nomad.

“The Nomad was used as a benchmark for the stability and forgiveness needed in a creek boat,” says Robertson. “But the Green Boat adds in speed by rewarding paddlers who drive it on edge using the rails.”

[ Paddling Buyer’s Guide: See the Dagger Nomad M kayak ]

Making a boat so specific seems crazy considering what we are told of the research, development and production costs of cranking out new whitewater boats. Keller, however, sees value beyond the monetary return. “Having Dagger place so much trust in the Green Race community with this boat has really legitimized not only the race, but the mentality of kayakers out there that still like to blaze from one place to another.”

The Green Boat is here to stay

At first, many believed the Green Boat would be a limited-edition boat built only for pro athletes. Not so. It is now part of Dagger’s 2009 catalogue lineup and available to all authorized Dagger retailers.

Who will buy it? It is a little early to tell, but so far Dagger says the Green Boat is being picked up by dealers from Pennsylvania to the southeast and west to Colorado—wherever there are mountains and creeks. Dagger also foresees a demand among old-school aggressive paddlers and those looking for long-day first descents who need to pack gear and haul ass.

[ Plan your next whitewater kayaking adventure with the Paddling Trip Guide ]

Race ahead with the Dagger Green Boat

“The core whitewater consumer may be a niche market, but it’s integral to the heart of Dagger,” says Cheri Mckenzie, Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer for Confluence Watersports. “The Green Boat is important to the sport as a source of new, younger consumers that, we hope, will stay with kayaking all their lives.”

Not to mention, dominating the most hyped whitewater race like the Dagger Green Boat has done is good for bragging rights and morale in any kayak company’s design and marketing department.

This article was first published in the Spring 2009 issue of Rapid Magazine. Subscribe to Paddling Magazine’s print and digital editions, or browse the archives.

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Jackson Kayak 2010 Star Series Specs (Star / All-Star / Super-Star / Mon-Star)

Length: 5’6” / 5’10” / 6’2” / 6’5”

Width: 24” / 26” / 27” / 28”

Volume: 46.8 / 55.5 / 64 / 72.8 U.S. gal

Weight Range: 90-160 / 130-200 / 160-230 / 210-300 lbs

MSRP: $1,199 USD

Jackson’s 2010 Star Series cleans up on the podium

The All-Star 2010 gains some new fans

The updated Star suits female freestylers

Reach for the top with Jackson Kayak’s All-Star 2010

North Shore Atlantic LV Specs

Length: 15’11”

Width: 21.6”

Weight: 50 lbs

Weight Range: 88-220 lbs

MSRP: $3,750

North Shore’s Atlantic LV is an elegant ride

The Atlantic LV has a serious pedigree

Drop the skeg and point your toes

Tour in style with the North Shore Atlantic LV

Dagger Alchemy 14.0 Specs (S / L)

Length: 14’ / 14’

Width: 23” / 24”

Depth: 13” / 14.25”

Cockpit: 35” × 18.5” / 35” × 18.5”

Weight: 51 / 54 lbs

Capacity: 275 / 300 lbs

MSRP: $1,295 USD or $1,450 CAD

Dagger’s Alchemy 14.0 has big capabilities

This kayak can really cruise

The affordable Alchemy is feature‑rich

Get away for the day in the Dagger Alchemy 14.0

Stellar S14S Specs

Length: 14’6”

Width: 24.6”

Material: Advantage fiberglass

Weight: 34 lbs

MSRP: $2,555

Stellar’s S14S is sleek and graceful

Catch a free ride

The S14S makes you want to go fast

Head out on a weekend trip

Catch the wave with a Stellar S14S

7 uses for pine gum

1) Protecting coniferous trees

2) Preserving dinosaur DNA

3) Treating musical instruments

4) Varnishing furniture

5) Pulp and paper manufacturing

6) DIY glue and waterproofing

7) Topical wound treatment

Mississippi Solo is about more than a river trip

Seeking adventure but missing the point

A closer reading of Mississippi Solo

Harris gets to the heart of the matter

Inspiring ownership of the outdoors

The story runs deep in Mississippi Solo

Liquidlogic Homeslice Specs

Length: 7’7”

Width: 26”

Volume: 55 U.S. gal

Weight: 32 lbs

MSRP: $1,049

Liquidlogic’s Homeslice leads a retro revival

Customize your ride for a snug fit

Liquidlogic gets back to slicing

Out on the Ottawa River

Get a slice of the action with the Liquidlogic Homeslice

Seeking out the best whitewater kayaking in Chile

Travel tips for the best whitewater kayaking in Chile

What to eat and where to stay while whitewater kayaking in Chile

Waterfalls, creeks and dormant volcanoes

Pucón is a mecca for Chilean whitewater kayaking

The Futaleufú River offers some of the best whitewater kayaking in Chile

Reflecting on two months spent whitewater kayaking in Chile

Wildlife

Orcas, sea lions, humpback whales, eagles, bears, wolves, slugs, starfish, jellyfish and so much more.

Exposure

The wind can be strong, swell large and the weather changes on a dime. By staying close to shore you’ll never be far from shelter, just be prepared to camp an extra night or two if the weather is not agreeable. Beware of boat traffic when crossing the Strait.

Diversion

Jackson Kayak 2010 Star Series Specs
(Star / All-Star / Super-Star / Mon-Star)

Dagger Alchemy 14.0 Specs
(S / L)