the ww kayak season is just around the corner! is anyone interested in doing some courses in versam? or running rivers.planning to do some trips to hunigen.

I used to be a barge(I think that's what you yakkers called our boats) guide. I also did a number of trips in inflatable kayaks. The first trip I did in an IK was the Rogue. But, it's been 10 or so years since I've done any whitewater. I wouldn't say I'm cured, but just didn't have the time.

My husband is one. If we make it over to CH we'll be in the Geneva area, probably by this summer. He'll be happy to hear there are some WW runs ... I guess he should bring his boat and paddling gear.
Nancy in VA

Hi when you arrive here pm me. I have loads of info

It's that time of year....

Anyone doing any yakkin? I think there's a whitewater shop in Zurich not far from the HB. I'd be tempted in renting a cataraft and hitting the rivers...

awaits arrival of the Dark Phoenix......

I have not heard of a kayak shop in zürich. There is a shop in Schmerikon on the other side of the lake. A new shop just opened up in zürich oberland. I belong to a great club in zürich called Kanu club zürich. The club is totally into ww kayaking. We also do weekend trips. We have a bush telephone so that members can post an email organizing day trips. Our training is on wed and fri. You are very welcome to come and take a look. We could meet up at the club boat house before hand if you want.

Have any folks doing inflatable kayaking or catarafting? Hardshell kayaking doesn't appeal to me so much. I've got 500 miles guiding Class III-VI+ whitewater in the Pacific Northwest. I burned out a bit after my 14th trip down the Thompson in BC though... I think it would be very cool to do the Vorderrhein below Ilanz though.

Vordere rhine is a great place. I have done a few runs there. On the weekends there is less water. During the week the water levels are higher. I went to the kayak school Versam. They could help you out with inflaeteables. The trains are used to transporting kayaks etc; which is rare in switzerland. I will ask around at the next club meet for more info. Could you tell me what is the difference in running a river in inflaetable than a hard kayak? I was at Hunigen last sunday; it was like heaven on earth.

Your paddling skills grow at the same rate as your swimming skills.

Oh dont i know that. I am really bad at the technic stuff but like a big kid i play around and stay on top. Whereas my partner seems to swim a lot. I think i have better balance and aggression. I will be strutting my stuff on the shanzegraben this summer

Hi,
Yes, I'm interested in Kayaking.
Haven't done that much since I was 20 years younger or so (and now I'm 41) but I have been out on Lake Zug and on the River Sihl. Will be taking my son (10) on a little river (the Lorze) this weekend or next. (I saw a canoeist yesterday who had just emerged from the Lorze with what looked like a busted paddle: the river has been more powerful than it has been for years) My 3 kids (10,8,4) are all very keen on the idea of Canoeing/Kayaking. In fact (the reason I found this thread to start with) I am wanting to buy a small Kayak suitable for a 4 to 8 year old. Any suggestions welcome.
Cheers,

You're looking for Whitewater or fla****er kayaking? Myself, I'd never take a four year old onto anything other than fla****er. Paddling around on a lake might be fun with the right supervision though.

For the 4 year old I'm after something for fla****er.
My 10 year old is fine on rivers: of course, I always check them first.
Thanks,

Could be interested. I have a couple of Pyrana's and a Squirt boat collecting dust in the Cellar or UBS which I need to dig out (been there for a few years now along with my Windsurf kit).

I used to go to Bremgarten on the Surf wave quite often.

End of last year I bought a huge mother of a Kayak for 2 (actually could take 3): http://www.malibukayaks.com/ Great for kids Not sure if I'd like to take it on white water though. I prefer to be firmly wedged in on white water.

Check these out: http://www.malibukayaks.com/

I started off looking at a candian canoe, but the problem is getting in and out of them on the water is not easy. These can be used as a mobile diving platform. If you are going to do a lot of paddling in one of these get the back rests.

I picked mine up last year off Ricardo for 500chf with 2 sets of paddles, and back rests.

For Kids, I'd also recommend these products:

http://www.splashabout.net/catalog.p...tegory=2&id=74

I was in the shop at Schmerikon-Kustersport- last tuesday and saw some childrens kayaks. I just bought a diesel 65 by wavesport, the ultimate suv of ww kayaks. Tonight i saw some crazy man kayaking the limmatt just before Central; the limmatt at the moment is not a good idea. I will have to read the paper tomorrow to see where he ended up. The rivers are big at the moment hence the photo of a guy surfing on the title page of 20mins.

Kayaking alone isn't a great idea. Those spectators don't come equipped with throw-ropes....

Kayaks suitable for kids/families:

do a google search: Sit on top - i.e.
http://www.sit-on-topkayaking.com/index.html

or Ocean Kayak :

http://www.oceankayak.com/

These are great for flat water and kids. Probably ok on rivers too, but not white water.

There are a couple of single versions on http://www.ricado.ch/ at the moment. Did not check eBay.