New Zealand Kayaking: Whitewater Week

For the last few days of break I joined up with the UCCC once again for some boating and general good times. It was their annual whitewater week up in Murchison. A dozen some car loads of boaters with skill levels spread all across the board made a for a memorable week.

The ever infamous and repetitive pool session

We found a nice little goof around hole on one of the runs

Johno having fun in the Mystic

More Tom Foolery

loop-dee-doop

The week was really catered to working with beginners and building up their confidence. Each day would consist of some pool time or an easy run in the morning then lunch and then another run in the afternoon, fallowed by moderate to heavy drinking around the campfire at night.

For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Jonho tested the theory for us.

Campfire time

The ever friendly Weka having a look-see at my Burn

Dinner time is a busy time

Willey!

Willey was the story of the week. He is biking around the South Island and happened to run into us at the campground. I'm not really sure how it happened but before i knew it he was in a kayak and learning to roll in the pool and by the end up the week was rocking out the grade three runs like a champ. Not only had he never been kayaking before but he also had limited English skills. Willy was the definition of a trooper and always had a huge smile on his face.

One night we gave the local bar some business. Here is Shaun surrounded by beer.

Heaps of kayaks!

As you can guess a stop at Muria Falls was in the books for the week. We got a handful of beginners for take the plunge. Two swims, two broken paddles and some very stocked Germans made for a sweet huck-fest.