PADDLER 54
Words : Rolf Kraiker Photos : Rolf Kraiker
PADDLER 54
PHOTO :
With lots of time on the water , practice and experience can make understanding how to negotiate rapids an open book . The river can tell you where to put your canoe in safe spots and tell you which spots are trouble , but that doesn ’ t happen overnight . Trial and error will eventually get you to the point where you can manage most of the time , but taking a course with qualified instructors speeds up the process and introduces you to techniques that won ’ t be apparent if the best you ’ ve managed is pinball-type runs where you ’ re bouncing off rocks as you negotiate your way down a rapid . This photo shows a run down Blacks Rapid on the Ottawa River in Ontario . It is in the heart of the aptly named Whitewater Township , and the location draws paddlers worldwide .
Words : Rolf Kraiker Photos : Rolf Kraiker