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2010 Euro Armada dates?

Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 12:13 pm
by Kelvin
Hi Folks,

Has anyone started to make plans for the Euro Armada 2010 yet?

Kelvin.

Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 6:57 pm
by jakke
Sabrina is working on it, but as far as I know, no dates have been set yet.

I believe area would be Landec: Imster Slucht, Scuol slucht, sanna and so on... .

She's on the forum, so I suppose she keeps us posted.

Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 8:47 pm
by insolence
Hi Folks!!!!!!


jakke is right, I'm workin on it, Location is 95% for landeck

dates and river infos hopefully coming soon, but I'm superbusy at the time having a 40 - 50h week with studying and work alone, plus other things to do. It's not that I want complain, it's fine, but this should explain I can't do everything immediately


so sorry, but I can't help it - exams are coming soon, they are seriously difficult and I should not fail at any of them
:(

I have already made a collections of rivers/information, date is being cleared at the moment, but there are details to be made clear before I can post it to the public
I 'll start a thread this weekend

One of my issues is, I have some problems finding a river section for the big group around Landeck. I have never ever been there and according to the river guides, no river near to Landeck is suitable for a group of ~20 people.


but please don't worry, everythings gonna be organised in time though!

Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 9:46 pm
by TheKrikkitWars
Maybe I'll be free this year. [hope's its not in exams]

Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 11:11 pm
by Kelvin
Hi Sabrina,
I have paddled around Landeck a couple of times, not meaning to sound negative but the rivers felt quite pushy. My suggestion for a large group would be Schuls section of the Inn just over the Swiss border.
See you out there!
Kelvin.

Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 10:33 am
by funkidreadz
Hello EuroArmada paddlers,
In previous years the Armada has been over the Christi Himmelfahrt or Assension weekend, that would be 13th 'til 16th May 2010. this is not the fix date just an idea.
There are loads of rivers in the Landeck area, 100's of people paddle the Imst gorge on a daily basis so a big group there would be no problem, between Landeck and Imst the Inn is super chilled class1-2. The Martina section section of the Inn in Switzerland is also cruisey and not far away.
For those who want to go whitewater paddling the possiblities are endless.
It would be good to see more English paddlers coming over this year, last year non : (
Enjoy the winter season and see you all in Spring
James

Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 2:46 pm
by TheKrikkitWars
Based on a quick scan of my semester dates, that clashes nicely with my exams, :( Though I won't know if I'm actually going to be free till early febuary time.

Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 8:53 am
by insolence
Hi Folks

I haven't startded a new thread yet, sorry but I first also wanted to be clear about the camp, so I wanted to get that one fixed before.


The only "long" weekends available in 2010 are 13 - 16th may and 22 - 24 may. June is also a long weekend, but probably I'll be busy that one, so I would choose one of the may weekends if that's ok for everybody. Wich one, I can't tell yet. Please consider that Matt who had done the Armada before me did not organise anything before Christmas, so we're quire early birds now!

thekrikkitwars, it's really tough to cope with studying sometimes. Don't ask me how often I had to let go some great river runs because of university duties. But what can we do? Nothing, I'm afraid. Actually the Armada date is a bit difficult for me, too since I actually had to prepare for my exams instead of attending the armada.

For rivers, here is an example what we could do:

day 1: Imster Schlucht or Rosanna middle section or scoulser (but scoulser is a long drive I think?)
day 2: Sanna (level 3-4), Martinasection Inn,2 or Lech 1 -3
day 3: TrisannaIschgl -See (2-3, 3-5), trisanna Mathon-Ischgl or Galtür + s'Kind or Lech
day 4: Lech upper sections(2-4) oder easier sections




the Lech has several sections, I didn't want to name them all.
from landeck, all named section can be reached within 1 to 1-1/2
hours by car or closer.

this is just an example, all infos based on www.kajakt.at, road guides such as falk routenplaner and some riverguides. I have never ever been at any of the rivers, and further informations can be searched on kajak.at or you just ask me.
As James said, there is a great choice of rivers available!

C you!
Sabrina/Insolence

Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 6:34 pm
by jakke
Sabrina, whatever you do, don't go for Imster on the first day!

There are loads of paddlers that don't want or dare to paddle the Imster. Ok, it's only a class III, but it's masses of volume. You should also take in account for the imster to split up in smaller groups. almost every swim there is a nasty, long swim... . It's not easy to paddle into eddies on the sections, let alone swim into one, not even talking about swimming your boat into one... . Getting out during the run is not that easy.

Scuol slucht is nice, Trisanna, I'm not sure of anymore, but I think there are some really tricky metal bars in the river. I should look that one up.
For the sanna one can join after the pianz katarakt, then it's a really nice run for those who don't want to run the pianz (nasty if you swim it... ).

Lech might be a nice, calmer alternative... . Harder rivers won't be an issue in that area.

Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 8:23 am
by funkidreadz
Ok ez,
I think we should concentrate on sorting a date and a campsite before you guys start worrying about rivers. There is no way to know what level the various sections will be at during the Armada.
It is nice to know everybody is getting excited about the Armada but lets cut out the assumption and guess work and stick to worrying about Christmas.
Maybe we should set up a challenge, with a prize of course, for the country who brings the most Armada virgins.
Ride hard,
JAmes
PS
Jakke, have you ever padded the ImsterSchluct when it is empty? I have led duckies and schlauch kanadier down there with families with kids WHEN the water level is right. Please don't scare people off what is a lovely section of river.

Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 1:50 pm
by BigMike
The river choice is huge. The Sanna can be quite good but isnt too difficult. The Inn around Imst is also pretty easy - there's a rather excellent long surfing wave as well which you can get at least 10 boats on at once if you feel like it.

The Oetz is also rather good, but pretty technical, and in May is likely to be high. A swim is not recommended. It can be IV/V for quite a long way. Can be combined with the Inn taking the great wave in at the end. Masses of possibilities really.

Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 5:55 pm
by insolence
Hi folks

this plan was just an example!!!!!



the imster is really, really easy when low water!


but whatever, I am sorting date and camp ant the moment and the rivers have to be choosen then when we are there - I give a short insight on some options, but everyone has to inform and choose him/herself since some want a class 4, some a class 2


keep on riding and C you there!

Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 5:58 pm
by jakke
Hi James,

You are absolutely right, I only know imster with one water level. I can imagine it's getting lots easier at really low levels. But Imster has a reputation... . And depending on the water level, some people might get scared their first day, or get the crasiest ride ever in an open canoe. Depends on water levels, personality, ... .
I don't want to scare people away from imster, it's a really nice section at right water levels. But it's not the easiest class III either.

anyhow, let's first get that date fixed, then find a campsite. Plenty of rivers in the area and hopefully decent water levels.

Armada virgins? I tried to get the french canoe paddlers to join, but most of them don't seem to bite :( .
They are organising a festival on french rivers in april.

Too many paddling events in spring... . Hard to choose, not enough hollidays to join them all.

Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 7:46 pm
by BigMike
I'd love to come to this. Can I request a campsite with trees though so I can hammock, I hate tents these days :lol:

Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 9:17 pm
by insolence
I'm afraid I won't have any influence on trees tough I'm a tree lover since early childhood,but I have never been to any of those campingsites - but we'll see, I do what I can :lol:


@jakke: many rivers have their reputation. So what? when paddling whitewater you once have to face your fear - and believe me, I did and do have a lot to do with that feeling - but always remember my friend's words who said:
>>sometimes you have to get out of your comfort zone to progress<<



This does not mean that one should choose something out of the own skill level and with full water, Imster is not an OC playground. Safety first, that's clear, don't get me wrong.
But with good conditions why not?