Switzerland, Basel

Kelly-Rand · Post by **Kelly-Rand** » Sat Jul 25, 2009 11:10 pm

I am travelling to Basel the weekend of August 15th. I won't have gear but I would like to meet up with any local paddlers for a beer and if an easy paddle and gear can be found I will do that. It's my first trip to Europe so I don't have a lot of must sees.

the great gonzo · Post by **the great gonzo** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 3:51 am

Jim,

I grew up in Switzerland. The closest whitewater that runs reli9ably there is the artificial course in Huningue in France, just across the border from Basel. It's a class 2 run. Not sure about boat availability there.
There are a few Germans on this board that live not too far from Basel, maybe they can help you out with gear.

Cheers!

TGG!

Taniwha · Post by **Taniwha** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 7:14 am

Hi Jim,

good on you to come to Europe. Welcome.

Here are some ideas for contact:

1. Huningue is a great spot to meet and paddle, as the great gonzo stated. It's an artificial course, not too hard, but fun. Find more here: http://www.ville-huningue.fr/dn_white_w ... ?setLang=E

2. THE local C1-paddler living in Huningue is Heinz Klar (ph. +33 389 700 751). I'm not sure how good this phone number is, it's from 2007, he might have moved...

3. Try http://www.wildwasserboard.de/, that's a forum where the south German (and other) paddlers meet and there are a lot of (O)C1ers posting, most of whom have more than one boat. You can post in English there, you will be understood.

4. In Grenzach-Whylen (just across the border/river Rhine from Basel in Germany) is the canoeing shop and school http://www.rafftaff.de Raphael, the owner, might be able to fix you up with some gear and advice.

5. Easy whitewater is not too close to Basel, since the southern Black Forest or the French Jura is mostly "dry" in August. The place to be would be "Berner Oberland", south, close to the Swiss capital Bern (approx. 100 miles) Unfortunately NZMatt moved to Philippines, he was the (O)C-"local" there, but drop him a PM (he's NZMatt http://www.cboats.net/cforum/profile.ph ... ofile&u=75 on this forum), he might be able to fix you up with some contact.
The "Berner Oberland" offers beautiful whitewater on all levels (class II to V and above) and spectacular mountain scenery.

6. Keen for more:
http://www.amazon.com/White-Water-Europ ... 6&sr=1-138

That's all I can think of right now...

Have a safe trip.

Take care.

PS. I'm canoeing in Latvia in August, so I'm not around, otherwise we could have met...

insolence · Post by **insolence** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 8:17 am

hi

I live in Augsburg wich has a great whitewater parcours - so if you should be there, pass me a PM, I have a slalom C1 with paddle and spraydeck available and a playboat (Pyranha S6) if you want.
For gear, I'd need to look for it (my stuff might be too small, I'm a not very tall woman)

There are some easy and medium whitewaters (Loisach, Ammer, Rissbach and farther in Austria Inn, Ötz etc) within an hour or 2 1/2 hours drive from Augsburg, too

Kelly-Rand · Post by **Kelly-Rand** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 12:44 pm

Thanks for the replies and info. I'll have to look at a map to see where the places mentioned are.

I am disappointed NZMatt and Joe moved. I had met them in upstate NY when they lived here in the US, and enjoyed paddling with them.

Oh, I am 6'4 (1.9 M) and weigh 79 Kg +/-

Well I will have to see how the final travel plans work out.

swisscanoeist · Post by **swisscanoeist** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 7:35 am

Hi Jim

I live in Central Switzerland near Lucern, about one hour drive to Basel. We probably paddle flatwater at this weekend 25km Lake Lucerne from Alpnach to Fluelen.
I have several open canoes, Spanish Fly, Zephyr, Old Town Canadienne, Peterborough Woodstrip.....

Just call me on the cell phone 0041.. 79 208 74 66

It would be nice to paddle with you

Hugo

Kelly-Rand · Post by **Kelly-Rand** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 5:52 pm

I will arrive in Basel Saturday the 15th of August and will hang out with my hosts that day. I leave for the UK Tuesday evening. Given my short stay I don't believe I could fit a 5 Hr paddle in. I think the best I can do is a Cafe overlooking a nice body of water with friends reminiscing the adventures we've had.
I will have an internet connection when I'm there so once I arrive I can post a phone number.

Kelly-Rand · Post by **Kelly-Rand** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 11:19 pm

Well I returned from Basel today but in the afternoon I walked from the French border to the course in Huningue and rented a C1 (Whipit) and spent a half hour on the course. I crossed paths with a slalom paddler in a blue galasport but did not speak because the paddler was concentrating on moves and I washed down the course further than he/she was at. It is a fun course and there are permanent lines strung across so that gates can be set up quickly. If/when I return to Basel I will have to borrow a real C1 because the rental outfitting is not adequate. Skirts are too loose as well as the straps. They had a Slasher but no skirt that fit. The cost on the day I went was 17 Euros for 2 hours. I'm in London now so won't be in a C-boat again till I return to Boston.

fez · Post by **fez** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 2:40 pm

Hi Jim

I was on holidays when you came to Huningue. In case that I would have been here you could have borrowed my old Slalom C1. Will there be a next time ?

Here`s a nice film of Huninge but don`t turn on the speakers...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvZNQbZ2 ... annel_page