Review of the Kokatat Women's Idol Drysuit with SwitchZip Technology

Thanks to Recreational Canoeing Association of British Columbia - RCABC whitewater canoeing instructor, Allyson Phillips for the following review of the Kokatat Women's Idol Drysuit.

"I recently had the opportunity to try out the Kokatat Gore-tex Idol drysuit with switchzip technology.  Lyle Dickieson and I were teaching an advanced open boat course in April on Vancouver Island.  The weather was hot and sunny, and the Nanaimo river was cold – perfect conditions to test out this suit.  First of all, getting dressed was so easy!  Once I learned how the zipper mechanism worked, the suit was so easy to put on and take off, with no awkward physical manoeuvres required.  On the water, it set a new standard for comfort with no zipper underneath the PFD.  The zipper placement is well chosen and allows free, comfortable movement.  At the end of each of our paddling days, we had long, hot portages back to the vehicles.  It was so simple to remove just the pants of the suit, just the jacket, or the whole suit.  Next time I need a new drysuit, I’ll definitely look for these features for superior comfort and versatility. Kokatat has always provided friendly and professional service and the Kokatat rep, Nikki is always wonderful!  Thank you Nikki, for the use of the suit!"

Contact your local Kokatat dealer for demo opportunities or follow us on Facebook and Instagram at Nikki Rekman Sales to find out where we will be next and ask about trying any one of the drysuits in our demo fleet.

Q & A with Esquif Canoes

Here we go! Round 2 of the Esquif Q & A about T-Formex!

Q: Can I use the same vinyl adhesive to install outfitting in a T-Formex canoe that I used on Royalex canoes?

A: Yes. T-Formex has the same type of inside skin that Royalex has.

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Q: Will T-Formex canoes be repairable using the same techniques that I use to repair Royalex canoes?

A: Yes, absolutely.

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Q: Can skid plates be installed like on Royalex Canoes?

A: Yes. In addition, self-adhesive skid plates that we now see in the market will also work on T-Formex canoes.

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We want to hear from you too so please post your questions in the comments section below. We will then compile them and post the answers in the near future. If you wrote us a question in the comments last week and it has not been answered this time around, please don’t worry - we will address them all in the coming weeks.

Adventures on the road in Western Canada

As you may or may not know, life on the road for a Paddlesports Sale Rep, is not a vacation. It's driving anywhere from 2.5-7 hours per day to get to where you need to be, store visits, clinics (in-store or on-water) and these can be 45 minutes to 3+ hours. If you have the amazing fortune of having your spouse on the road with you, as I do, they can do some driving while you do your "office" work in the passenger seat. You get the picture, it's fast-paced and full-on and just for the record, I am not complaining. Being on the road is my favourite part of being a Paddlesports Sales Rep, it's here where I really get to know my dealers, their staff and their business. This is where and when the most interesting conversations happen and this is when I find out how they really feel about our brands. I love it.

The bonus is my territory is beautiful, in my opinion it doesn't get much better than Western Canada. I travel through 1 territory (Yukon) and 4 provinces (British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba) and there is something fabulous about all of them. Admittedly, I do have a favourite - British Columbia - my home province.

I always get excited when we start to see the Rockies, in the far distance, traveling West on our return trip and one of my favourite places to explore is Yoho National Park. 

The photo below was taken at Natural Bridge, the bridge that you can see to the left was created by the massive amounts of water flowing down the Kicking Horse River.

Natural Bridge - YNP

The Kicking Horse River is part of the, Canadian Heritage River System with its source at Wapta Lake. We have driven by it many times and have always admired it as we get close to Field, BC. Here the river flows through a braided gravel valley through the town of Field and West.

We decided to take the day off and explore so we can do some paddling in the area the next time we are through. This is one of many things I LOVE about my job, exploring new places to paddle.

We messaged a high school classmate of mine, who now lives in Field with her family (thanks, Marla) for some info and also stopped in at the Yoho National Park Visitor Centre and spoke with Jinelle(?!?). Nothing beats local knowledge and we went away with a lot of it, including MAPS!!!

The grade and class changes on the Kicking Horse depending on where you are and the time of year.  The river drops from 800m over 49 kms. We were most interested in the section through Field known as, Field Reach and from the Amiskwi River to Chancellor Peak and Hoodoo Creek Campground (Ottertail Reach and Chancellor Reach)

The put-in for Field Reach is simplest at near the Kicking Horse Campground/Cathedral Mountain Chalets. 

"Beginning at the bridge below the Kicking Horse Campground this reach comprises an impressive, braided out wash known locally as Field Flats. As the rivers current slows, it is unable to carry the larger particles that have washed downstream. This material is deposited, creating an out wash plain. Canoeists and kayakers must take out at least 100m above the Trans Canada Highway bridge at the end of the reach. Below this point, the river becomes very swift and is un-navigable." - The Kicking Horse River Touring Guide

Distance is approx. 7.5km 

Change in Elevation is 48m 

Difficulty is Grade 1, suitable for open canoes

The put-in for Ottertail Reach is not quite as simple as I believe you have to walk-in but speak to the folks at the Yoho National Park Visitor Centre for the most up-to-date information. You want to put-in BELOW the Amiskwi River bridge. The most challenging thing about this put-in, is the fast currents right below it and a very strong eddy on river right as the river turns sharply right. It is recommend that you scout this area before putting in.

"Beyond this point the river slows and becomes braided. As it approaches Ottertail Flats its flow has slowed considerably and is confined to a single meandering channel until the end of the reach at Finn Creek. The valley in this reach is the widest in Yoho National Park and permits views of the spectacular peaks of the President and the Ottertail ranges. To the west the river flows along the flank of Mount King, part of the VanHorne Range. Finn Creek Picnic area is a good place to take out before the rivers current once again picks up. This is also a great break or lunch stop, with pit-toilets." - The Kicking Horse River Touring Guide

Distance is approx. 13.2km

Change in Elevation is 36m

Difficulty is Grade 1, suitable for open canoes

Chancellor Reach is a more challenging, class 2 section.  For a short run you can put in at Finn Creek Picnic Area but most would put in below Amiskwi River bridge (as described above). 

"A rocky ridge on the East side constricts the valley. The river flows southwest for 1 km and then swings to the southeast. As the river rounds the ridge it becomes steeper and faster. There are frequent rapids and larger riffles. At Faeder Lake Picnic Area the valley widens and the channel once again becomes braided. This run is more difficult at low water, when many of the channel bars are exposed, leaving only narrow chutes between them. Canoeists can easily survey this section from the highway."- The Kicking Horse River Touring Guide

Distance is approx. 6.7km

Change in Elevation is 135m

Difficulty is Grade 2

***IMPORTANT NOTE***

It is no longer easy to take out at Chancellor Peak Campground. The bridge was washed out (even before the Alberta Floods). We took our bikes in there and finally discovered why the campground (one of our favourites) had been closed the last couple of years and still is. Here is a photo of how far we got on our bikes, 3.6km from the entrance right off the Trans Canada Highway (32m elevation gain).

Mark checking out the huge changes on the road or lack there of, into Chancellor Peak Campground in YNP.

Looking west as the Kick Horse River flows away from Chancellor Peak Campground.

Speaking to Parks people, we were told that it is best to take out BEFORE the Trans Canada Highway crosses the Kicking Horse,  below Chancellor Peak Campground as Wapta Falls (27m tall), is not far downstream.

More experience paddlers may wish to portage Wapta Falls via a 600m portage trails accessible on river LEFT at Beaverfoot River and continue on towards Golden (Washout Creek Rapids Portage is before Golden).

This blogpost is not a river guide and is only information we gathered from speaking with locals and scouting the river from various locations along the Trans Canada Highway. We have not yet run the river ourselves. Extreme caution, paddling experience and the appropriate gear are required whenever river paddling.

I can't wait to get back to Yoho National Park and here's hoping that Parks Canada will start opening the available campgrounds in the park, sooner than June, for us early-season folks.

Playing Hooky to Paddle

I was never the student who played hooky from class in high school and rarely did I have sick days when I was an employee but in my forties I am learning to play hooky.  Playing hooky in my mind is a gift I give myself.  This gift rejuvenates me and it reminds me of why I got in the Paddlesports business 20 years ago - I love to paddle and be on the water.

Our home is a bit like a revolving door, people coming, people going and for the most part I like it that way.  Earlier this week, our friends and canoe instructors, Allyson Phillips and Roger Warnatsch from Green Wave Canoeing in Kimberley, BC came through town.  This was an opportunity to connect with friends that live hours away over cold ciders and healthy meals AND go paddling.



































Mark and I took, Allyson and Roger's Moving Water Canoe Course last month.  You can read all about that adventure here and we were stoked to get on the water with them again.  This time, on OUR home rivers, the Chilliwack and Vedder Rivers in our favourite, Esquif Pocket Canyon. The Pocket Canyon is our go to boat for play days on the river where we do not have to load it with overnight gear.  Our Prospecteur 17 or Mistral 17.5 is what we use for multi-day trips.

We put in on river left across the river from Osbourne Road, this put in is accessible via the Vedder Logging Co. Road (take Chilliwack Lake Road, cross Tamihi Bridge and take your first right).  You do have to do a bit of a carry to access the river but it's not far.  We took out on river right at Lickman Road.  This run is a class 2/2+ and the biggest hazard is wood/trees and immersion.  During our run there were a couple of blind corners but we did not find any wood blocking the entire river.  There was always a way to avoid it.

Despite the crazy warm temperatures we have been having in the Fraser Valley recently we were dressed for full immersion in our Kokatat Goretex Meridian Drysuits and Maximus and Maximus Prime PFD's.  So often this summer we have seen people "tubing" down the Vedder River in no immersion gear and no PFD's.  The water is very cold, even on a hot day.  This was also an opportunity for me to try out my new Werner Paddles carbon Bandit - I loved it.  The swing weight was amazing and the paddle was "bomber" tough.

This run has everything in it, wave trains (big and small), one friendly hole and lots of spots to stop and enjoy your surroundings.

I hope this post inspires you to play hooky and go paddling!  It may be just the perspective change you need.

Thanks to Allyson Phillips for all the photos.

Whitewater Canoe Course on the Similkameen River

Last month we took the opportunity to do some professional development and signed up for a 4 day whitewater canoe course on the Similkameen River near Princeton, BC.  Allyson Phillips and Roger Warnatsch of Green Wave Canoeing put on a fantastic course and we learned a ton. 
 

On the final day of the course giving soloing a try - it's A LOT more work but fun!

Like many people, our paddling experiences have mostly been self-directed but as we have been paddling for over 25 years we are looking to do more difficult trips (namely to Northern Canada) and so getting some instruction seemed the next logical step.

Instructor Roger doing what he loves - teaching

During our 4 day course there was lots to review and even more new things to learn.  Our favourite stroke and what we believe, is one of the most valued in our arsenal is the reverse stroke.  My least favourite, the offside forward stroke for solo canoeing.  That is the most unnatural stroke I have ever done and I know I will need to practice that one A LOT!

Mark, instructor Allyson and Phil

We were complimented on our edging as we moved in and and out of eddies - that was nice to hear and our "go for it attitude".  We swam once, trying to surf a wave in our Esquif Pocket Canyon and although we didn't get points for style we put all of our rescue skills to good practice. 

Since our course we have been out once on the Vedder River and our looking forward to the possibility of some time on the Slocan River this coming weekend too. 

Mark having a great time!

 If you are ever interested in canoe instruction let us know and we will connect you with the folks at Green Wave Canoeing.  They've got a busy schedule teaching in the programs at Capilano University and College of the Rockies but they always make time for teaching outside of those programs too.  If anyone is interested in a smaller private course that can be accommodated as well.