Life on the banks of the Happines(blyde river)

I am not a world famous paddler with brands approaching me for sponsorship, for the majority of my 16 years paddling I bought the things I found worked best from the companies that put something back into the community and looked after the environment. After a while I realized that I stuck to the same brands so I approached these brands for sponsorship and now I don’t pay for my favourite gear.

My favourite plastic magicians

I have been paddling Fluid kayaks for several years and until they stop making kayaks they will remain my top choice. I have paddled pretty much all the kayaks they have ever made including some of the new models’s prototypes. Outfitting has improved over the years and the new mod 3 outfitting is top notch and one of my favourite things about Fluid’s white water kayaks. 

what I paddle the most is my Medium Detox (creeking, coaching, guiding, multi day trips, high volume river running and down river freestyle). my Medium Nemesis plastic(freestyle, down river freestyle, river running and some ocean fun).  Composite Medium Nemesis for competitive Freestyle, the performance is just so crispy and clean, something you need to experience before you will be able to understand. Then there is the new secret weapon the Dope. I paddled the 2nd prototype (which has been misplaced by SAA) this kayak is going to kick ass, faster, smoother, faster edge change, faster rotations the list goes on. Probably the best freestyle kayak I have ever had the pleasure of paddling. Keep your eyes open at the 2011 World Freestyle Champs for the Dope. For wave surfing in the ocean or rivers the Element is head and shoulders above the rest. The speed of this little beasty is un-real and just so much fun.

Performance tested for all day action no matter where or how.

 I bought my first piece of their kit in 2000 and have never looked back. Things have only gotten better, more choice, better materials, more environmentally friendly and so the list goes on. If you need to get dressed they have something for everything. For general paddling (remember I live in a warm place with warm water) either the short or long sleeve Trail T’s, Venture Shorts. On the colder days I prefer the Derma-Tec Top  for my legs Quick Wick thermal longjhons. When not on the water the Discovery 3-1 jacket is all you need for the rain,wind,whatever lastly is the Softshell  Ear Muff once you have tried this funky little thing you will love it. Keeps the wind out your ears andat night on the ground it works great as a ear/bug barrier.

The only way to see the world

these are the toughest best performing sunglasses outthere. I have used and lost many top brands but my first SeaSpecs lasted 3 years. They sit comfy, the retention system is easy to adjust and works, the lenses are polarized and you can even choose between brown lense for the cloudier days or the grey ones for the sunshine days. After 4 years of using their eyewear I still have no complaints. 

The best thing since the invention of plastic kayaks

The first time I heard about these I just had to have them. I have been using them since they first arrived in South Africa and have never looked back. New models bring new improvements and each time it just gets better. The performance is out of this world (until you try them you won’t understand) and they are very durable. My first pair hit retirement after pretty much 3 years of hard play and harder work. The uppers needed a bit of stitch here and there after severe abuse but the soles are still more than capable even after 3 years. No other piece of footwear I have ever used on the river made more than a season and ‘n half. In a quiet week I spend 2-3 days in the shoes, busy weeks mean everyday action. My favourite model is the KSO with the Sprint hot on it’s heels and I can’t wait for the new KSO Trek coming early 2011 to SA.

For PFD’s, Dry Tops and Dry Pants PEAK Uk all the way. My Guide Vest has survived better than any previous brand of rescue pfd I have used. My Combi Short only needed some patch work after 2 seasons (we do a lot of bush whacking during portages and rescues, even with the tough African bush trying its best the Combi took it all in its stride).