Swiss Armada 2007 - May 17-20, Boltigen, Switzerland

[Sandie_]

Hi matt,

I think we are now definitly driving over. There are two of us paddling and Heléna going off on the trains. Two wheelboys an ocoee and a spanish fly. (if we can get them all on the roof)

Where are we based? are you planning to camp out in the club house? we may be able to use a place in ringgenberg, near interlaken. Heléna won a weeks use of a chalet/house in a raffle.

What rivers and grades will we be doing, is it worth bringing the wheelboys? We find them a little slow for eddy hopping.

Sandie

[NZMatt]

Hiya Sandie,

Rivers will depend on the levels. I'm hoping the Emme (Grosse or Kleine) might still be runnable, but it'll be pretty late, so we'll have to see. I'm sure we'll do the Simme and maybe check out the Kanderschlucht. If the Aare is up (should be in May), there's also potential for a play session. Basically, it'll have to be wait and see. Grades can vary from II to IV, depending on the group and the water.

I sent an email yesterday seeing if I could reserve the club house. If it's not available, then I'll let you know. Ringgenberg is a little away from where I was thinking to paddle though.

Looking forward to it!

Matt

[beereddy]

What about Swiss Armada 2007 ?

[NZMatt]

It's happening.

May 17 - May 20, 2007
Bauertweidli by Boltigen, Switzerland

We've got the hut booked and I'm looking forward to it. I can judge the river levels yet, because it's been a totally crazy winter. Anything could happen, but the options near the Simme range from relaxing family floats to alpine class V.

Falk was talking about bringing a bunch of demo boats and I'll have a few floating around for people to try too. If there's something particular you want to try, let us know and we'll see what we can do. Probably can't promise anything in the way of conversions though.

Thursday we'll have an afternoon paddle, to give people time to get here. Options are some playboating, squirt boating or a section of one of the rivers. It'll totally depend on who's here and what's running. I'm also thinking of trying to put a clinic together, and if so that'd also be on Thursday.

Friday and Saturday, should be full river days and Sunday we'll try to get a quick run in in the morning, or some playboating, so people have time to hit the road at a reasonable hour.

Thoughts, ideas and suggestions most welcome!

Cheers,
Matt

[Taniwha]

As I'm researching for an article for the German KANUmagazin about WW canoes (and I will need the help of everyone joining the Swiss Armada...) I will try and bring:

• Esquif Taureau
  Esquif Zephyr
  Robson Finkenmeister
  Robson Homes
  Bell Ocoee
  Mad River Outrage (?)
  DAG Scandal

Let me know in what boats you are interested, I will try to work some magic

Philipp (http://www.patschifik.ch), Esquif-Rep for Switzerland/Germany, knows about this date and meeting too and he will try to attend. So there might be more Esquif boats available for demoing.

[fez]

I would be very interested in testing the Taureau -
and it would be great to demo a Prelude also.

Arno will bring his Outrage and Finkenmeister and is interested in the clinic.

We will bring these conversions:
Dagger Nomad
Prijon Delirious
Robson Twintip
(hopefully) Eskimo Xeno 05 (go for it Harald !!!)

[NZMatt]

And of course don't forget my fleet:

Esquif Zoom
Drakkar Wheelboy
Groove
Mastercut Acrobat Squirt
Maven Squirt (hopefully finished by then since we've just found a new placeto live that has a garage I can set up as a workshop)
Pyranha M3:243 conversion

Tandem Mad River Rampage
and you mght be able to pry Jo out of her Dagger Phantom long enough to try it too.

For the3 glass boats I'll probably be somewhat selective about who paddles them where....they're a bit more breakable and kinda hard to replace.

Hey Taniwha - I've got a friend here interested in buying a used Outrage if you know where there might be one to be found...

Cheers,
Matt

[fez]

Hi Matt,
please tell your friend to go to www.wildwasserboard.de > Pinnwand.
Cheers
Frank

[Sandie_]

I would really be interested in trying a Zepher, I don't think there are any in the UK. No one seems to hold esquif stock.

We were getting a little practice on the vorderhrine last week.
We arranged a visit with the Esquif chap in zurich on our way home on satuday but he let us down and didn't have the boat with him as he said he would. Zurich is not an easy place to find an address either.

We will be bringing my ocoee and wheel boy. My friend chris will have his Zoom and iether a ezg or wheelboy.

Not long to go now!

sandie

[swisscanoeist]

I' want to join you too.
It's not far away from Obwalden (Central Switzerland) to the Simmenthal.
Really like to try a Zephyr and a Outrage. I have to buy a bigger boat
again.

Hugo

[NZMatt]

Hiya Hugo
Look forward to it!
Cheers,
Matt

[olafc1]

Hi,

I'd like to join you too.
At the moment I've only a playboat (prijon release) and I prefer to
paddle class 2 or 3 or to go playboating.
Is there anybody out there who comes to switzerland who also paddle at this level or are there only class 4 and higher paddler ?

Thanks for yor info !

Olaf

[fez]

no fear there will be other intermediate paddlers too

[Taniwha]

...and lots of rivers for every skill...

[olafc1]

I'm looking forward to see you in switzlerland !
Are the informations "Bauertweidli" and "Simme" enough to find the hug ?

Olaf