Indholdsfortegnelse for Spring 2019 i Kayak Session Magazine

It is often said that Jinja and the White Nile are the center of the universe. If they are, at their core lies The Black Hole. The table closest to the iconic NRE bar has hosted almost every pro kayaker from the last 20 years and hundreds more. Hours can pass here watching the sun set over the river, even now that the view looks a little different. Amongst the masses of hydro under development around the globe, the flooding caused by the Bujagali and Isimba Dams on Uganda’s White Nile River has become a contemporary emblem of what stands to be lost in the name of development. It is one reason that when Jessie Stone asked if Kayak Session was interested in a story on the Nile following the…

ALSESECA RACE 2019, TLAPACOYAN, MEXICO, JANUARY 2019 The sunny morning of January 12th, 2019 marked the 11th annual Alseseca Race, on the world-famous Roadside section. The course is a challenging but low-consequence waterslide of 100% bedrock slides and waterfalls, and the whole area of Tlapacoyan is a whitewater paradise. Canyons carved from volcanic rocks make some of the most challenging class V in the world, just miles away from beautiful class II-III runs. The race was born from the inspiration of legend Tom McEwan and the enthusiasm of local outfitter Aventurec, with the goal of raising awareness of the importance of being careful with the natural environment and protecting water resources. Throughout the years the race has had many positive impacts in the Tlapacoyan community, like the interruption of inefficient…

When to Go: September through November is the best time for exploration, as the rainy season in the highlands is from Nov - April. Temperatures range widely, and it’s possible to experience cold temperatures in the highlands so pack accordingly. Flights: Thanks to the mining and oil industry, most major airlines fly direct into Luanda, Angola’s capital. We used SAA, who transported kayaks without any problems. Visas: Angola's tourist visa process is relatively straight forward. It can be completed online at http://www.smevisa.gov.ao .To get a letter of invitation contact George Diamondis at the Kwanza Lodge - info@kwanzalodge.com Vaccines: Ensure that you have proof of your yellow fever vaccine before crossing the border. Transport: http://www.wincarrental.com is the best option for rental cars. Rent with a driver…

Once a central hub for explorers who wanted to confront the rugged beauty of its mountainous landscapes, things changed drastically for Northern Pakistan following the now-infamous attacks on September 11th, 2001. Links to Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda created a dangerous reputation and led tourism to decline to almost zero. For years, only a handful of individuals dared disregard the travel advisory warnings. The stories of those who did issued a subtle challenge to the media’s stereotypes, describing hospitable locals struggling to adjust to the new dynamic and breathtaking scenery. Nearly two decades on, things are changing for the better. Imran Khan, Pakistan’s new Prime Minister, has placed eco-tourism promotion high on his priority list, inviting foreigners back to this land of majesty and mystery. Though bureaucratic struggles remain,…

THE SWEET PROTECTION SHORT FILM AWARDS RETURNS MARCH 1ST, 2019 The 2019 Sweet Protection Short Film of the Year Awards was the biggest yet, reaching over one million views and counting. For the second time ever, two movies tied for 1st place in 2018:We Are SEND by the SEND paddling crew and The First Descent of the Betsiamites River by the Quebec Connection crew - both walking away with a $1500 check. Going Solo by Ant Howard featuring South African paddler Andrew Kellet received the $500 cash prize for 3rd. Even more than the ever-increasing amount of views received, what amazes us is the ever-increasing quality of the films submitted.The Short Film Awards have become a milestone for filmmakers and producers worldwide, garnering loads of viewers, from kayakers to lovers…

ISIMBA DAM CONSTRUCTED, FLOODING COMPLETE, NILE RIVER, UGANDA Construction of the controversial Isimba hydroelectric dam on Uganda’s White Nile is now complete, and its reservoir has filled to final capacity. Kayakers worldwide will be disheartened to learn the rising waters have led to the loss of the world-renowned Nile Special wave; however, the Nile is far from done! The reservoir did not rise to the level that many feared it would, meaning the rapids ‘Vengeance’ and ‘Novocaine’ are still very much alive alongside others upstream. Under construction since 2013, the Isimba Dam has been fraught with controversy since the project’s beginning. Those against the dam’s construction point to its extensive reservoir despite a relatively small power generating capacity. It is estimated that over 2000 Ugandans – mostly subsistence farmers –…

“Catch this eddy!” EJ said, waving me in above what appeared to be a sizeable horizon line. “Just follow Alex, he will show us the lines.” It was January 2003, our first day paddling the Nile. I was excited and nervous as we made our way downstream to meet up with Nile River Explorer’s raft trip and Alex Muzungu, the eternal raft guide and safety kayaker from NRE who was leading us down. The river split into a maze of channels, separated by rocky outcrops of forest-clad islands, giving no immediate indication of where to go. As I rounded the corner into the last eddy above Bujagali Falls, all I remember seeing was a wall of whitewater. It surprised me. Even coming from the Zambezi where everything is big, powerful,…

FIRST DESCENT, HIGH FALLS, NORTH CAROLINA, USA Dupont State Forest, NC: Mid-spring Ryan Mcavoy and Michael Ferraro began scouting High Falls like a sick obsession, drawing lines down photos of the rock dome trying to negotiate a path down. This slide drops a total of 300 feet in elevation in about 100 horizontal feet, making it pretty darn steep. The drop also contains three crux moves. The first crux is after entering far right driving across the flow to get as far left as possible. The consequences of not making it left are possibly fatal due to a rock shelf on river right. After this, there is a 15 to 20-foot vertical section of slide with an exploding flat reconnect at the bottom that could be gapped. The last crux…

This expedition was more than a kayaking trip – it was an adventure. An adventure that started with traveling across the remote, undeveloped regions of half a continent to the put- in. The journey took us, myself, New Zealander Mike Dawson, South African Dewet Michau and Brit Jake Holland through South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, and Namibia before entering Angola. Countless rumors of incredible whitewater in Angola have circulated throughout the paddling community for many years, but it wasn’t until 2015 when Aaron Mann and I led an exploratory trip to the wild west of Africa that Angola’s whitewater potential was first unlocked. I had returned, the primary objective for this mission to paddle 70 kilometers on the Kwanza River, Africa’s fourth-largest river system, including the unknown Lauca Gorge. Land of…

The promise of adventure is one of the main reasons many of us get out on the river. When we’re out exploring the world, paddle in hand, we find lasting and meaningful experiences. Firsthand experience is a key component to American Whitewater’s conservation work. We visit the rivers we hope to protect, and we find inspiration on their banks. In a perfect confluence of adventure and stewardship, a multi-year campaign of paddling exploration and advocacy in Montana’s Flathead River watershed recently culminated with new Wild and Scenic River protections for 284 miles of 24 streams. That’s a lot of newly protected whitewater. The Flathead River, and the uncompromising beauty of the watershed, played an important role in the origins of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. It’s a quintessential Rocky…