Raft Guide Training Pics!

Well.. Finished my second weekend of training on the Rouge! It went fantastic! I was given some lines to take at certain rapids... waves to hit...pourovers to avoid...unflipping a raft...making a 4 point anchor to unpin a raft...And I did very well! Better than I had expected! I took a day on Monday to go kayaking as I have not had the time to paddle on weekends! We ran the white dog section of the rouge.. Class II and III water with a big wave on river left of one rapid. I ferried from the right shore to the left and when I got to the wave..I found it to be way bigger than I expected.. Very bouncy and dynamic surf! Here are a few photos from my gopro!!

Raft guide training and New summer home!!

Well.. this weekend is easter long weekend and I am headed out to the Rouge River for my second weekend of Raft Guide training!  Last weekend was rainy, cold , windy and snowy so I decided not to camp out... It was really exhausting, spending 8-9 hours on the water and then 3 hours of theory.. Turns out that steering a 15 foot raft is nothing like paddling a kayak and its wayyyy harder! Im having lots of fun and gaining swimming skills for sure!!

Apparently I will guide the whole Canyon Harrington section of the Rouge wich is big class IV water at these spring levels! Im pretty fired up! Im also looking forward to camp in my new summer home aka truck cap! It has plenty of space and a nice big roof rack to haul the boats!!

Heres a few pics!!

Finally! Some water!

Well....The gauge for the Ottawa has been going up to almost normal spring levels! Better than last year for sure! I headed out to Deschenes Channel wave and then Champlain for some hole surfs! Heres a few shots of Ryan, Adam Chappell and I! Taken with new my point and shoot waterproof camera..Thanks to Air Miles! :) Also check out the inspiring video at the bottom.. First Descents does awesome things to Cancer patients and survivors.. Please donate to First Descents!

Sunset Flatwater Sesh!

Annie, a friend of mine and awesome photographer, took some pictures of me practicing flatwater stuff last night on the Ottawa river. Weather was warm but water a bit cold! The looks on the peoples faces was priceless! Merci Annie pour les superbes photos!

First full on run of the year! Petite-Nation River @ 36 cms!

Well There's a little river about 60 foot wide tha runs through my parents backyard.. Theres about 4 sections you can run..  The upper canyon north of St-Andre Avellin, The Hells Gate canyon (the one we ran), the third canyon thats a little more sketchy with lost of portages and the Chutes de Plaisance..a class V+ 120 gradient waterfall! The last time we ran this section, the level was 24cms.. Let me tell you that 12 cms more makes a lot of a difference on a small river like this.. Small features turned into intimidating holes, pourvovers and bigger wave trains! I didnt expect that at all! We found one nice playwave but its at the top of a gorge and a1km rapid and it has no eddy. The water pushes through fast when the canyon gets narrower! Fun class III+ run I would say! Rapids are longer at this level and a swim woundlt be a short one! It ends with a fun little seal launch and a 2km class II wavetrain with one hole in the middle! Fun spot to practice Wavewheels and kickflips! Heres a few pictures! The Chutes were impressive at this level! Gnar!!