Tag Archives: community

Advanced Whitewater Kayak Instruction – The Steep Creeker

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It’s been raining for a couple days now and there doesn’t seem to be an end in the forecast. Send It, Whitewater is running an advanced whitewater kayaking clinic this weekend and with the weather like this you’ll get to enjoy whitewater kayak instruction on some of Maine’s finest creeks.

This course is for the advanced whitewater kayaker who wants to improve their overall creeking abilities. Practice the most up to date dynamic techniques while running slides, boofing, and catching all the eddies! We will also focus on river reading, scouting in and out of the boat, and risk management considerations. Participants must have class IV experience prior to taking this course. This is a 2 day course.

Sandy Stream Whitewater Kayaking

Visit www.senditwhitewater.com for more info and booking. There’s only one more advanced course in August and still a few spots available for this weekend. If you’re in the New England area don’t miss out.

Whitewater is inherently risky, minimize risk with proper swiftwater rescue knowledge

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“Let’s all make it known that Maine boaters not only have the skills to send, but also the skills to save”

Whitewater kayaking is a lot of fun, sometimes too much fun, and sometimes we all get lost in the moment and forget the basics, the basics that keep us alive. We’re all guilty of it, we’ve all been there. You put on your favorite creek, your whole crew has run it multiple times and you get casual about setting safety. While this might work for your crew, and you might all have the swiftwater rescue knowledge to make quick life saving decisions, this is not a good example to be setting for younger generations. There are a lot of younger paddlers entering the sport and a lot of the videos on the web show only the good side of paddling. Often times to get that one shot of someone running a clean drop there were many shots of carnage that you don’t see. I’ve personally seen a lot of videos on the web lately the lack severely in proper safety setting and while often times things play out ok, there’s always a chance that your number might be up. And when it is, you need to be ready. Through Send It, Whitewater, we’re bringing professional swiftwater rescue clinics to Maine taught by paddlers that know and use swiftwater rescue knowledge on a regular basis. I would like to personally call on Maine guides and paddlers of all sorts to strive towards being safe and knowledgable whitewater enthusiasts. We live in one of the most whitewater rich areas in the world, let’s all make it known that Maine boaters not only have the skills to send, but also the skills to save.

The live bait rescue at the end of the video was performed by Send It, Whitewater Instructor Jeremy Cass just above the lip of Toaster Falls on the New Haven River during the New Haven Race.

Smalls Falls! Whitewater Kayaking 2013 has begun

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Well, it’s safe to say it’s boating season. We paddled the last two days in a row, and I’d be out there again today if not for my schedule. It’s starting to get warmer and with good snowpack still in the mountains everything is about to pop. The Carrabassett River is at about 1′ for the S-Turns section, on the very low end of runnable, but it’s sure to come up this weekend with warm temps and rain. Sandy Stream is in, Smalls Falls is in, Madison is close and I’m sure there’s tons of other runs currently in around the state. Above are a few shots from Smalls Falls yesterday. We also hit the North Anson Gorge section of the Carrabassett two days ago and it was at a pretty full on level. It’ll get a little bit cleaner as water continues to rise. Get out there and SEND IT!

New Haven Whitewater Kayak Race, Bristol Vermont

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New Haven RaceWe’re getting a Maine crew together to head to the New Haven Race this weekend. This is a little late notice for most but we’ll be heading down tomorrow (Thursday) evening and spending the weekend. It’s looking like it’ll be around 70 degrees and sunny for some practice laps on Friday, race day is Saturday. If anyone is planning on heading that way and wants to car-pool give us a shout. We’re excited to check out another New England whitewater kayak race and for myself it will be my first time on the New Haven. More details in the “Maine Flows” group, just click the link at the top of this page. Send It.

 

Maine Outdoor Film Festival Encore Screening!

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At 7pm tonight in the Unity College Performing Arts Center, Unity Maine, there will be a re-screening of the Maine Outdoor Film Festival. The first screening was hosted in the field at Three Rivers Whitewater in the Forks Maine this past summer. If you couldn’t make it come to Unity tonight and check out the films. Mainely Boating will be playing again on the big screen and you can check it out online here! See you tonight!

 

Huckfest 2013! Grand Falls of the Dead River, Maine

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In 2011 Chuck Mathieu came up with the idea for Huckfest. Taking advantage of scheduled releases, something Maine is privileged to have, Chuck threw himself a birthday party. In true Chuck fassion it involved the river and big sending. The stage was Grand Falls of the Dead River, roughly a 35-40 foot waterfall with spectacular views and ideal layout for the Huckfest.

The original Chuckfest was attended by 9 whitewater kayakers and a small crowd of spectators, mostly raft guides and local bartenders with the day off. As all good whitewater boaters in The Forks do, we gathered at the Marshalls the night before and talked lines over some refreshing beers and amazing food.

We put together a shoddy video of the first gathering and in 2012 tried to spread the word as best we could. The result was huge, with nearly 30 whitewater kayakers running the falls and a raft first descent. Not to mention the insane crowd of spectators that cheered everyone on.

In 2013 the shenanigans continue… This year the Huckfest is the day following the K-BOMB, a whitewater kayak race on the Kennebec River. There will be live music the night before at the K-BOMB after party and many a boater in town. Come join us for all the fun, you’re not going to want to miss this one.

Westbrook Winter West Festival – Show Your Support For The Westbrook River Park

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Westbrook River Park 20 year vision

A 20 year vision for Sacarappa Falls and the Westbrook River park

Jan. 4-5 the town of Westbrook is hosting a winter festival in the same area of the Presumpscot River where Rob Mitchell has proposed a whitewater park. Sappi, a paper company owns and operates a dam at Sacarappa Falls. If you haven’t been following along, Rob is proposing that Sappi installs a whitewater park instead of a concrete fish ladder. The park will act as a natural fish ladder. Sappi must install a fish ladder to comply with re-licensing agreements, it’s simply a matter of convincing them to consider paddlers and community recreation when they do it by creating a whitewater park and natural fish ladder.

To rally some support and show the town that people are excited about the idea Rob is looking for whitewater kayakers to attend the Westbrook Winter Fest and run Sacarappa Falls (flow permitting). Make sure you show up with all your boats on the roof so people see lots of kayaks. Bring cameras, friends and lets send it. Sounds like people are meeting West side of Riverbank Park at the AMVETs Hall (Dunn st) a little before noon. Be there! This is a great opportunity to promote whitewater kayaking in Maine and get the ball rolling on whitewater parks!

Westbrook River Park Facebook
Westbrook River Fest Facebook
WestbrookRiverPark.org

Here’s a great shot of a bunch of kayakers running Sacarappa Falls at the Westbrook Together Days event. Not sure who took this photo, if it was you leave a comment! Great shot.

Sacarappa Falls, Presumpscot River

Whitewater Kayakers running Sacarappa Falls on the Presumpscot River at the Westbrook Together Days event