LANGUAGE

Sunday, 27 November 2016

Autumn Kayaking in Austria....


The days were starting to get shorter but there was no let up in the weather!  The sun was still out and though the mornings were a little chilly the days on the river were still sunny and warm!


Our kayaking courses were keeping us nice and busy with everything from Beginners


Through to Class 2 Improver Courses


and our Class 3-4 courses on Rivers such as the Sanna and Inn.




However, we were given some shocking news early one September morning.  There had been some torrential downpours and with a lot of hail stones falling the mountain let loose and the Sanna received 2 huge landslides, one just above the Pians Rapid and another further downstream.  This left a trail of destruction and turned some of the Sanna into 2 big lakes!
We will now have to wait until next season to see just what the Sanna will look like...


We headed up to Germany to work on the Peak UK stand at the annual Paddle Expo.
It is always great to catch up with Pete and the team, plus we get to check out all the kit that is going to be on offer over the coming year.


By the time we got back home to Austria the weather had changed and the nights were getting colder.
The trees started to change and the Autumn colours really started to come into their own.


We had one final day of guiding on a very low Imst Gorge section of the River Inn.
It has been a long while since we have stayed in Austria so late.  



What this also meant was that Steve got to kayak on the Wellerbruecke Section of the Oetz River.


That time of year the worlds best kayakers come to train and compete at the Sickline event.  It is a very special event as it is open to any kayaker with the ability and nerve to kayak it!  With fantastic safety provided it gives kayakers the chance to run the lower part knowing that if they have a problem and exit their boat there is a helping hand waiting to pull them to safety!

While the majority of kayakers were training on the Lower part, Andy Mac, Pundy and Steve had the Upper to themselves!!


With the rivers starting to drop and a lack of rain, we headed up into our local mountains to make the most of the views and the clear skies



Summer had flown past and with some heavy snow forecasted it was time to pack our bags, kayaking kit and kayaks and head to Chile to extend our Summer....

Kayak School Arlberg
Austria
www.gokayaking.at

No comments: