Nice vid. The location shots at the start and drone shots shows how beautiful this river is. Hopefully you reflected and learnt from this. Swim didnt look fun but didn't look like any sieves and decent pools (eventually). I think a dedicated whitewater boat would do you good. Your edging in/out of eddies from the start was poor. Work on edge control and combat roll. Seeing you surfing after the swim shows you've got what it takes but need to grind out the basics/fundamentals to be able to enjoy this level of river safely in the future. Good luck on your next paddle 👍
I rafted the West Branch back in the late 90's. Glad I did it when I was young because there is no way I'd do it now! LOL!! Thanks for the video! Happy you made it out safely!
Hey, I wasn't there, but...Looks like a class III+. Could have made a better selection of boat Need to get that combat roll dialed in, and the swim probably could have been prevented by 1) speed into the hole, 2) playboating skills side surfing, 3) just reading the river better. We've all been there, just saying on minimizing the risk to you and your crew. The swim didn't seem too consequential, just a little water in the face. Good you got back into your boat. Sometimes, paddlers who swim are too traumatized. Anyways, looks like a fun after work run for playboats.
It’s definitely not class III, but also not class V. I used to work up there, and feel comfortable saying the gorge is super easy IV. He did however conveniently leave out his footage of the harder rapid a mile downstream…
There’s nothing wrong with paddling a crossover through there. Only bit of unsolicited advice I’d give is get a little more comfortable in it first on class 2/3 or paddle this section with a crew that can properly show you the sneak lines. As for safety they did a great job to collect the yard sale at the base of staircase.
Swam the gorge before when attempting to paddle it with a Wavesport Ace 5.1!! The sneak route is far left. Somehow made it through Exterminator, and did 3/4 of Staircase upside down with 4/5 roll attempts before bailing. Since then I’ve done it in a creek boat. The hole qualifies as Class V and is a keeper at certain levels. The size of the hole can’t be appreciated from a GoPro or from the gorge rim above. It’s a beautiful stretch of water luckily far away from large populations.
There’s an art to breathing on a swim like that. I call it the not breathing technique. Basically at the tops of waves, while still holding the breath and flexing stomach against wind knocking waves, look for areas of definite air, take in short little draws through a closed mouth. The swim is much worse with a lung full of river water.
@@greenman4508 yeah I can relate especially with this swim- I also spent a lot of air missing two roll attempts before exiting just to have 1 sec before entering the wave-train. i can see how a longer swing in these waves could drown without holding a swimmer under. Just repetetive dunking with lungs filled of water
@@logancundiff you’re fortunate that it was high water. I never guided the nob but my friends that did were often bummed thier clients were bruised and bloody if the swam the whole thing at lower levels.
There’s an art to breathing on a swim like that. I call it the not breathing technique. Basically at the tops of waves, while still holding the breath and flexing stomach against wind knocking waves, look for areas of definite air, take in short little draws through a closed mouth. The swim is much worse with a lung full of river water.
![ร้อยพ่อพันแม่ - WanMai [Official MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/XY2pNYASEbg/mqdefault.jpg)
you forgot to gopro the class V section
Idk about that being Class V, but I do know that your crew aint doing you any favors letn you paddle a crossover in said "Class V"
West Branch of the Penobscot is legacy V from people grading way back when, like the Gauley
That didn't look anything like the Gauley to me. Maybe class 3?, stupid boat btw.
@@patheron7812😂 menace
Nice vid. The location shots at the start and drone shots shows how beautiful this river is.
Hopefully you reflected and learnt from this. Swim didnt look fun but didn't look like any sieves and decent pools (eventually).
I think a dedicated whitewater boat would do you good. Your edging in/out of eddies from the start was poor. Work on edge control and combat roll. Seeing you surfing after the swim shows you've got what it takes but need to grind out the basics/fundamentals to be able to enjoy this level of river safely in the future. Good luck on your next paddle 👍
I rafted the West Branch back in the late 90's. Glad I did it when I was young because there is no way I'd do it now! LOL!! Thanks for the video! Happy you made it out safely!
Right on!
I love the whitewater rating police up in this party! A lot of homemade tin stars and pew pew noises in here. So cute!
lol, you in a crossover, each their own, that was a mighty swim.
Hey, I wasn't there, but...Looks like a class III+. Could have made a better selection of boat Need to get that combat roll dialed in, and the swim probably could have been prevented by 1) speed into the hole, 2) playboating skills side surfing, 3) just reading the river better. We've all been there, just saying on minimizing the risk to you and your crew. The swim didn't seem too consequential, just a little water in the face. Good you got back into your boat. Sometimes, paddlers who swim are too traumatized. Anyways, looks like a fun after work run for playboats.
It’s definitely not class III, but also not class V. I used to work up there, and feel comfortable saying the gorge is super easy IV. He did however conveniently leave out his footage of the harder rapid a mile downstream…
@ yeah, these kind of runs are always good fodder for heated discussions on FRK!
There’s nothing wrong with paddling a crossover through there. Only bit of unsolicited advice I’d give is get a little more comfortable in it first on class 2/3 or paddle this section with a crew that can properly show you the sneak lines. As for safety they did a great job to collect the yard sale at the base of staircase.
Gnarly swim! Glad you're ok
That section I believe is regularly rafted commercially. Ergo, not cl 5 if you see what I mean.
great footage
trashed right out of the gate; I feel your pain... "fuck" was the appropriate comment!
Swam the gorge before when attempting to paddle it with a Wavesport Ace 5.1!!
The sneak route is far left.
Somehow made it through Exterminator, and did 3/4 of Staircase upside down with 4/5 roll attempts before bailing.
Since then I’ve done it in a creek boat. The hole qualifies as Class V and is a keeper at certain levels.
The size of the hole can’t be appreciated from a GoPro or from the gorge rim above.
It’s a beautiful stretch of water luckily far away from large populations.
Buddy your safety really needs to tighten up their game.. have someone below to catch ya. Salud amigo. Keep sending 👌
Thanks 👍
A boat with more rocker would make a world of difference. Also something made to make sharp cuts
Have you ever tried to use this whitewater kayak on the sea? If yes how was the performace?
When the hell did you have time to create this miracle?
Great video, but that swim looked brutal. I'm guessing the water is fairly warm
@@broberts1505 Thanks- yeah the swim sucked, I got trundled. Water isn't cold this time of year- really nice temp actually
@@logancundiff Would you say it's a nice temperature to go swimming?
There’s an art to breathing on a swim like that. I call it the not breathing technique. Basically at the tops of waves, while still holding the breath and flexing stomach against wind knocking waves, look for areas of definite air, take in short little draws through a closed mouth. The swim is much worse with a lung full of river water.
@@greenman4508 yeah I can relate especially with this swim- I also spent a lot of air missing two roll attempts before exiting just to have 1 sec before entering the wave-train. i can see how a longer swing in these waves could drown without holding a swimmer under. Just repetetive dunking with lungs filled of water
@@logancundiff you’re fortunate that it was high water. I never guided the nob but my friends that did were often bummed thier clients were bruised and bloody if the swam the whole thing at lower levels.
@@logancundiff gotta love the drone shots tho!
@@logancundiff gotta love the drone shots tho!
Loved the music
I’ve swam the gorge before…not fun.
Wrong boat, maybe? Glad all worked out.
Gobbled up! Looks like a terrible swim but you got a great video!
Yeah thanks- sucky swim for sure
I don’t like dissing anyone but these guys don’t seem ready for class V. Dude swam the very first wave and that was no class V.
Epic video! Great recovery to finish strong
Not a Class V. Mostly Class IV at that level with some Class III and II thrown in.
Wher is class V section?
Those are really pretty rapids! I got to check that out. Does it run most of the year? Or heavy rain only?
24/7.
Never back paddle
Only vertical deep strokes please
There’s an art to breathing on a swim like that. I call it the not breathing technique. Basically at the tops of waves, while still holding the breath and flexing stomach against wind knocking waves, look for areas of definite air, take in short little draws through a closed mouth. The swim is much worse with a lung full of river water.