The new Jackson Hero has hit the UK and I took it out for a spin on the beautiful river Gamlan in North Wales.
This was my first time on this particular river and we were exceptionally lucky with the water levels, although the river was dropping off very quickly we managed to get in a great run and therefore got to put the boat through it’s passes.
The Hero I think is a massive improvement on the older style boat that Jackson brought out. The Hero is only 231cm long, not the longest riverboat on the market but that is why it appealed to me to get it out on some of the tighter steeper runs. The manageability of the boat is a godsend, especially if your main discipline is playboating. The Hero’s hull has been taken from the Jackson Fun range and has been lengthened, surfing waves in this boat feels like your in your freestyle kayak, which is again great for getting out of those STICKY situations.
Although relatively short the Hero still has 75 Gallons of volume which is ideal for the style’s of river in Great Britain, and weighing less than 20kg the boat is perfect for your trek to the top of any river.
Overall the boat work well, but what impressed me most was it’s ability to work its way down the river responding to your every move.
Stats:
Length: 231cm
Width: 65
Volume: 75 Gallons
Weight: 19.05kg
Paddler weight range: 52kg to 87kg
For more info check out jacksonkayak.com
Video of the hero
27 October 2008
18 August 2008
Prague - First leg of the world cup
The first leg of the world cup was held on the whitewater course in Prague.
I had my reservations about attending this particular competition as I remember in 2005 for the Euro cup the event and feature not being all that great, but I am so glad I went as this time the feature was good and competition hot.
Seeing the best paddlers in the world come together to compete for the top spot saw some amazing rides, with most rides including Mc Nastys, Phoenix Monkeys and even Air Mc Nastys the competition was intense. The hole was challenging and it took some effort to keep a consistently good ride going for 45 seconds.
It all started on the Friday with the Men’s pre lims and then ending on the Sunday with the finals of all the categories coming together to make for a great day of superb competition. As the weekend went on the rain fell and feature became more and more flushy, but that didn’t stop the dramatic display of style and skill as the top boaters showed their stuff and the results were as follows.
More results to come
Men’s Kayak
Peter Czonka took first place with an awesome first ride of 980. His second two were in the 600-500’s.
Nick Troutman took second with 840 points.
Mathieu Domoulin took over the third place position from EJ on his last ride by 3 points.
EJ- got 4th
Dustin Urban got 5th.
Women’s Kayak
Fiona Jarvie
Emily Jackson
Ruth Gordon
Juta Kiser
Adrienne
Junior Men
Sebastian
Jason Craig
Maxime
Michael palmer
I had my reservations about attending this particular competition as I remember in 2005 for the Euro cup the event and feature not being all that great, but I am so glad I went as this time the feature was good and competition hot.
Seeing the best paddlers in the world come together to compete for the top spot saw some amazing rides, with most rides including Mc Nastys, Phoenix Monkeys and even Air Mc Nastys the competition was intense. The hole was challenging and it took some effort to keep a consistently good ride going for 45 seconds.
It all started on the Friday with the Men’s pre lims and then ending on the Sunday with the finals of all the categories coming together to make for a great day of superb competition. As the weekend went on the rain fell and feature became more and more flushy, but that didn’t stop the dramatic display of style and skill as the top boaters showed their stuff and the results were as follows.
More results to come
Men’s Kayak
Peter Czonka took first place with an awesome first ride of 980. His second two were in the 600-500’s.
Nick Troutman took second with 840 points.
Mathieu Domoulin took over the third place position from EJ on his last ride by 3 points.
EJ- got 4th
Dustin Urban got 5th.
Women’s Kayak
Fiona Jarvie
Emily Jackson
Ruth Gordon
Juta Kiser
Adrienne
Junior Men
Sebastian
Jason Craig
Maxime
Michael palmer
07 June 2008
Can't stay away!!!!
Another great trip to Uganda, bit of a last minute decision, I think going out to look after my sister was a good enough excuse.
2 weeks of Sun and waves, going back to this place feels like going back home to me. If you haven't yet visited this kayaking paradise, you need to, and be quick the dam is being built fast.
Check out the short film from the trip.
JB
2 weeks of Sun and waves, going back to this place feels like going back home to me. If you haven't yet visited this kayaking paradise, you need to, and be quick the dam is being built fast.
Check out the short film from the trip.
JB
10 April 2008
Back in the office
Well I haven't posted for a while, I've not really been doing much other than working at the moment, long days rafting at HPP, and I will be until I get some money then the next adventure will begin.
19 February 2008
Next Ticket DVD now available
Next Ticket DVD is now available to buy for £25 inc postage & packaging online from www.pommieproductions.com/Shop.html
The film is a pretty chilled out look at some of the sick paddling thats been thrown down around the World, featuring many top UK, European and international paddlers having a great time at some of the Worlds best spots with plenty comedy moments thrown in to make you laugh.
The film is a pretty chilled out look at some of the sick paddling thats been thrown down around the World, featuring many top UK, European and international paddlers having a great time at some of the Worlds best spots with plenty comedy moments thrown in to make you laugh.
28 January 2008
De Nile review and video
Six weeks in Uganda paddling on the White Nile, world class river running and playboating, every kayakers paradise. The locals say it won’t be long until the Dam at Bujagali will be finished and the silver back section will slowly disappear. Total Gunga and the Ugly Sisters rapid has already vanished and the blasting on the new dam has set boundaries to when you can and can’t paddle the section. But life up at Bujagali is still booming with the new De Nile café based at All Terrain Adventures, the Chapati man is now making his own t-shirts and the boda drivers seemed to have doubled since the last time I was there.
The new Ugandan kayak school was opened not long ago, which will give the locals the opportunity to make the best of the awesome river they live next to. Thanks to Carl Moser and friends you should be seeing some great new local talent coming through.
The river level seemed very consistent for the majority of my stay, with the level high early morning then dropping of but rising again in the afternoon. Nile Special has been at paddle on levels every afternoon and a sweet green tow on level in the morning, it never quite go to Malalu levels although in the middle of the night it could have been very possible.
Christmas and New Year was a treat, with pig and chicken roasts, and champagne in the natural Jacuzzi on the Lemon, then up to NRE for a New Year party which had about 5 different count downs because know one knew the real time.
So I’m sitting in my living room back in England with my boat and paddles still in Brussels, hopefully it should arrive tomorrow and then I can brave the cold and don the long sleeve top again.
JB
The new Ugandan kayak school was opened not long ago, which will give the locals the opportunity to make the best of the awesome river they live next to. Thanks to Carl Moser and friends you should be seeing some great new local talent coming through.
The river level seemed very consistent for the majority of my stay, with the level high early morning then dropping of but rising again in the afternoon. Nile Special has been at paddle on levels every afternoon and a sweet green tow on level in the morning, it never quite go to Malalu levels although in the middle of the night it could have been very possible.
Christmas and New Year was a treat, with pig and chicken roasts, and champagne in the natural Jacuzzi on the Lemon, then up to NRE for a New Year party which had about 5 different count downs because know one knew the real time.
So I’m sitting in my living room back in England with my boat and paddles still in Brussels, hopefully it should arrive tomorrow and then I can brave the cold and don the long sleeve top again.
JB
08 January 2008
Blog 3 Welcome 2008
It’s been an action packed start to the New Year here in Uganda. We’ve been here for about three weeks now and I’m now half way through my trip. We spent Christmas Day at the Hairy Lemon, enjoying a pig roast feast and paddle on Special levels. Still on the Lemon the others had an epic on the day two section while I was on a mission to pick up my sister, from the airport. Pas, while showing Emily the line for Kallagala Falls, had his paddle knocked from his hand, despite his best hand roll efforts ended up swimming but impressively self rescued himself and all his gear. Em wasn’t too put off by this and still went on to run the drop for the first time, however the drama didn’t end here. At the top of the next rapid, Vengeance, Em’s paddle fell apart, it didn’t break just came apart in the middle. She made it half way down with the two parts but hit a wave half way down, preoccupied by the camera in her boat she dropped the paddle and swam, with the camera held high over her head. Luckily Alex was using a split paddle so him and Pas continued down the rest of river C1 style. Needless to say, funnels were in order at the bar later that night.
A few days were spent enjoying the awesome levels at Nile Special, before heading back up to NRE and the day one section for New Year’s Eve. We had our friend Alli with us, who we took for one last trip down the river before she had to fly home. Check out the shot of her flying over Silver Back.
New Year’s Eve we spent partying at NRE. A highlight of the night had to be Swedish boater, Anton’s father crowd surfing across the bar. Of course it all got a bit messy, no one really knew when 12 o clock came, there must have been about 4 count downs, but a good time was had by all.
Unfortunately from neighboring Kenya, we were hearing reports of political unrest. Although the news stories were sketchy, we quickly found out that the roads into Uganda were blocked. With petrol running low, fuel prices soared. With the cost of shuttles tripled myself and Pas decided to take matters into our own hands and hired our own bodas for the day. Initially, we’d planned to do our own shuttle but realised it’s actually quite tricky to drive with another person on the back let alone with a boat as well. Emily came up with the idea of the first International Boda Boda Challenge competing for the Jigger Jigger Cup. This involved teams of two driving around a set course on the camp ground at Eden Rock. Various items had to pick up along the route and water contained within a bottle in the basket on the front, items not collected and water lost meant time penalties; the fastest lap won. Despite us having the bodas to practice on all day, the Kiwi team of Sophie and Brendan were victorious.
We’re now back down at the Hairy Lemon after paddling the whole 45kms journey here from NRE. The levels have dropped now but Special is still good in the afternoons.
JB
A few days were spent enjoying the awesome levels at Nile Special, before heading back up to NRE and the day one section for New Year’s Eve. We had our friend Alli with us, who we took for one last trip down the river before she had to fly home. Check out the shot of her flying over Silver Back.
New Year’s Eve we spent partying at NRE. A highlight of the night had to be Swedish boater, Anton’s father crowd surfing across the bar. Of course it all got a bit messy, no one really knew when 12 o clock came, there must have been about 4 count downs, but a good time was had by all.
Unfortunately from neighboring Kenya, we were hearing reports of political unrest. Although the news stories were sketchy, we quickly found out that the roads into Uganda were blocked. With petrol running low, fuel prices soared. With the cost of shuttles tripled myself and Pas decided to take matters into our own hands and hired our own bodas for the day. Initially, we’d planned to do our own shuttle but realised it’s actually quite tricky to drive with another person on the back let alone with a boat as well. Emily came up with the idea of the first International Boda Boda Challenge competing for the Jigger Jigger Cup. This involved teams of two driving around a set course on the camp ground at Eden Rock. Various items had to pick up along the route and water contained within a bottle in the basket on the front, items not collected and water lost meant time penalties; the fastest lap won. Despite us having the bodas to practice on all day, the Kiwi team of Sophie and Brendan were victorious.
We’re now back down at the Hairy Lemon after paddling the whole 45kms journey here from NRE. The levels have dropped now but Special is still good in the afternoons.
JB
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