French Broad Flood Stage Surf Kayaking

Recently when the French Broad reached flood stage with water levels of 15,000 cubic feet per second I broke my never-paddle-alone rule.  It was a work day after all, which can sometimes present challenges in finding paddling partners.  I did have local paddlers, Keith Sprinkle and Adam Masters drop in and check on me, which made me feel a bit safer.


For the record, I would never recommend paddling alone, but if you have to do it make sure you have the proper safety gear in case of an accident.  (Note: Kayaking can be a very dangerous sport, especially if proper safety precautions are not taken.  Paddling alone is never recommended, as one individual helped me point out in a Facebook comment.)  This gear should at least include weather appropriate gear (a drysuit can be a life saving device), a reliable paddle, a rescue pfd and throw rope, proper footwear, a dry sprayskirt and of course a CE approved, multiple-impact helmet.

– Spencer Cooke, Effort Inc.

french_broad_hi_water_gear
Accent Fluid Paddle – SR Standard Fullcut Helmet – Astral Brewer Shoe – IR Drysuit – IR Klingon Sprayskirt – Astral ’13 Greenjacket – Murky Water Sword Surf Kayak
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Drysuit and lightweight, sticky, quick-draining footwear.
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The French Broad ledges at 14,000+ cfs

 

greenland_is_meltingVideo Soundtrack by:
Artist – Greenland Is Melting
Album – Our Hearts Are Gold, Our Grass Is Blue
Track – Everyone Wants to go to Heaven, but…
2009 · Paper + Plastick
greenlandismelting.com

Reference:
Ninja Surf Kayak Designs

4 comments
  1. Hey, have you ever paddled the Fluid Element? I paddle the element on rivers quite a bit, and really enjoy it. Thought you might want to check one out if you haven’t already. It might be a little large for you, though.

  2. whoooooooooooaaaaaaa
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    whoooooaa i’m scared and dizzy.

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