Ottowa playboating instruction

[MotorCityOC-1]

Anybody ever get any playboating instruction on the Ottowa? Who should I use? Does anybody have rental/demo C-1's? Are levels usualy okay for play INSTRUCTION in late August? What cool runs are within a couple of hours of there?

Are there any cool activities for non-paddlers nearby? Anything else I should be asking?

Thanks,
K

[NZMatt]

Hiya MotorCity

August & September levels are normally good for instruction and playboating (or both at once ). I've had a K1 (back when...) clinic from Ken Whiting about that time and also paddled there several times in August. Best levels for playboating instruction (I think) would probably be around -2. Then you have Babyface and Leftside Horseshoe, the Garb, the next one down (whose name escapes me), Brain Douche is fun for stern squirts in whirlpools and Blacks can be OK too (if you have any energy left).

As to who offers instruction - I recall one of the outfits up there had a C-boating clinic. Just checked and it's Liquid Skills: http://www.liquidskills.com/programs.html

Enjoy!

Matt

[Berkshire Jack]

Hi MotorCity,
In the past Liquidskills use to have C1 Playboating instruction on the Ottawa. I went up there one week in mid- August and discovered that the C1 Playboat instruction was the week before and the instructor was away. I had to take the playboat instruction with a group of kayakers, what a downer. Unfortunately, I didn't do the C1 community proud. Check their website and see if they are offering a C1 instruction this year.
Jack

[Kevin]

Hey,
Liquid Skills sometimes runs a c1 clinic, it's not a "regular" thing, usually they have a guest instrucvtor like Graham Harada or Paul Danks, come by and teach a special clinic, i would give them a call.

Rental/Demo C1's are going to be impossible to find, there is no market for people to rent them, the only thing you'll be able to rent are open boats. Hopefully you can bring your c1 with you.

Late Augest should be a great water level, as nsmatt was saying just about everything should be up and running.
www.ottawariver.com has a good description of all the play spots and at what level they come out at. when your there the river will for sure be below 0 probably in the -2 area, it's already at 0 and it's June.

As far as other runs in the area, the Gatineau River, Rouge, Petawawa (water will probably be to low), Madawaska (again probably to low)

You won;t get tired of the ottawa, it;s one of the best rivers in north america, and you'll be going at a great time.

As far as non paddler activities there ins't too much actually by the river, other than some bike trials, and camping spots. The City of Ottawa is only about a 45-60minute drive from the Ottawa Put In, and it's a beautiful city with endless things to do.

If you have any more questions, feel free to fire me an email, but i'll be checking the board too

happy paddling.

[billcanoes]

I wish I could remember the clinic, but recently I saw where a few groups of paddlers were going to make up the min reip req,

Tlak to you soon,
Bill

[NZMatt]

The guys from Shaggy Designs (http://www.shaggydesigns.com/) are apparently normally up on the Ottawa over the summer, based at River Run. Last time I was there I saw a Sith prototype hanging around. They may have a boat or two you'd be able to try - give them a shout to find out.

Other than that, some of the shops in Ottawa do rent OC1's but not sure about C1s. I'd probably try giving Bushtukah or Trailhead a call. Definitely call first.

Cheers,

Matt

[the great gonzo]

Hey MotorCity-OC1,

I talked to liquid skills a little while ago about C1 playboating instruction, and they told me that if they have at least 2 people, then it's a go. As their C1 clinics are specialty clinics, they don't have set dates, the date is worked out between the participants and the instructor.
Let me know if you are interested, I do definitely want to take one this year, and late August should work for me.
As far as boats are concerned, you could try to borrow one of the Shaggy Sith at Riverrun (ask for Martin or Gwyn), you should be able to borrow one of their boats and a matching skirt, or alrternatively you could borrow one of my boats.
I have never seen a C1 rental boat anywhere at the Ottawa.

The only other good runs in the area that are still running in late August are the Gatineau and the Rouge, everything else is very low at that time of the year.

[MotorCityOC-1]

Martin,



Aug 22-28 is when I'm available, although I'm probably not looking to get instruction for 7 days straight! I've already been in touch with Kate? @Liquid Skills, and the deal seems to be it wouldn't hurt for me to find other interested parties. It would be great if you could join me. We'll talk more after the we3kend.

Gotta go boatin'!

Kevin

[the great gonzo]

Kevin,

That timeframe works for me (work might interfere there though ...), although for me I will have to take the course over the weekend and I think for me 3 days of straight instruction would be enough, I am usually pretty beat after a long weekend on the Ottawa.
Talk to you after the weekend.

martin