NRS Mission Drysuit - Review

 

The Mission Drysuit is NRS's high-end whitewater kayaking drysuit. It is made from eVent 3-layer high performance breathable fabric and therefore intended to go up against the Kokatat Gore Tex Meridian suit (a benchmark in drysuit durability and performance) in both price and performance.

First Impressions are of a light-weight, supple fabric with re-enforcing only in the seat of the trousers. There is a heavy duty brass front entry zipper and also brass relief zipper. The neck and wrist gaskets are protected by Velcro adjustable over cuffs. The latex socks have an adjustable over cuff also. The latex cones on wrists and neck are sized perfectly and a little shorter than normal which seems to make getting on and off that little bit easier. There is a pocket on the upper left sleeve and snazzy reflective piping along the outside edge of the suit. There are internal suspenders with chunky plastic buckles that can be opened to remove them completely if preferred - although the buckles can feel a little cumbersome inside the suit, once you get used to the braces, they become a necessity.

I have to admit, having worn the hallowed Kokatat GMER for a number of years, I was a little sceptical about how the NRS suit would measure up. Also of concern were the latex socks as, so far, I have been used to the fabric kind and wasn't sure how durable and practical they would be. Thankfully my apprehension was unnecessary and the suit has, so far, proved itself both in terms of performance and practicality.

The eVent fabric has been working a treat in some testing summer monsoon paddling conditions mixing warm(ish) air temperatures with mild, humid air with the odd bit of bushwhacking thrown in. Even so, the suit has still been wicking the moisture away leaving me dry inside.

 

Overall as a personal drysuit (for a paddler who respects and looks after their gear) this is a great suit that ticks all the right boxes: it’s dry, it’s breathable, it looks good, is lightweight and is comfortable to wear.  However, and it’s my only concern, if you were working in a centre daily as a paddling instructor, fond of bush-wacking or regularly dry your gear at the bottom of a wet drybag, then I would probably recommend the Inversion suit instead.  The Inversion suit, made of the heavier Triton 3-layer material, feels (psychologically at least) that it would stand up better to more use and abuse.

Swiftwater Rescue Technician Course Take 2....December 2009

Another successful SRT course has just been completed; same place, the week after. This weekend the water levels and weather played ball and lots of rescue skills and techniques were covered...fair game to all...below is a the edited video from this course, featuring such luminaries as the O'D's, Wai Har and even me, amongst others!!

SRT 1December 2009 mpeg2video from James Van den Broek on Vimeo.

...enjoy the video...and remember, as the famous saying goes...don't try this at home!!Get some rescue skills training and practice...and be proactive...

Swiftwater Rescue Course

Yowser...a cold wet and high water weekend in Laragh, Co. Wicklow was just what was needed for the SRT Unit 1 Course run on the weekend of November 27-29 2009...the bones have just warmed up enough now...just in time for take 2 this upcoming weekend (December 4th-6th)...can hardly wait!! Anyway here's a littel video I put together of some of the action in on the River Avonmore...hopefully this doesn't put anyone off (Wai Har!!)but in fact encourages them to do the course even more!!

SRT November 2009 mpeg2video from James Van den Broek on Vimeo.

Mullinavat, 15th November 09

After an awesome Colligan Gorge Games we decided to do something on the sunday, A few of us decided to sleep in with a good fry up while the others decided to drive around Ireland looking for water!

Needless to say the Breakfast idea was much more successful!

so with not a lot of water about our last hope was a cheeky 12 footer Park and Huck we arrived to our suprise their was some water woohoo

with motivations low only Colm, Paddy, Laura and Adrian S got on, whilst the rest of the crew AD JP and Paul stood ready with cameras and video cameras.

the line was good the drop was clean a perfect intro to drops with some textbook stuff from Colm and Laura even a freewheel from Paddy and a slightly less atractive line from Adrian S.

http://s590.photobucket.com/albums/ss350/paddle4play/Whitewater%20paddling/Mullinavat%2015%2011%2009/?albumview=grid

Ardeche Marathon 2009

On the first Saturday of November, we made a quick “flying” visit to south central France to check out the annual Ardeche Marathon.  With average entries around the 1500 mark, and craft holding up to 9 paddlers(!), we were keen to check out one of the largest marathon races in Europe.

  After booking all the flights, car hire, accomodation, canoe rental  and negotiating the race entry details on the race website, we arrived at our local accomodation in good time, planning to collect our race packs the following morning.  BIG MISTAKE!

We arrived river-side in good time on Saturday morning expecting a flurry of organisers waiting to greet us and usher us to the starting line.  Not so.  Once we figured there were not one but TWO starting lines with TWO different starting times and little official organisation, we resigned to have a leisurely river trip instead of a race.

Starting after the 10am start but before the 11am one, we cruised out under Pont D’Arc to get ahead of the pack and get a feel of the water.  Water levels were about average for this time of year but not particularly high so we knew there would be work to be done in the flatter stretches between the rapids.

Our first indication that the main pack of the race were approaching was the TV chopper whirring crazily overhead.  The racing K2s were obviously the first ones to over-take us, followed by the K1s and Wildwaters racers.

Overall, the leisure rather than race option proved good as it gave us a moving spectators view of the race itself and we could take our time thru the rapids.  Overall not a hugely technical race and with the fly-drive-rent option, not one that will break the bank for a quick weekend away in early November.

And now the most important bit, the after race dinner!

Frog’s Legs, Snails and Baked Alaska

Sea Kayaking In the West

So last weekend Myself and my Da Philip decided to head west for the weekend and spend the weekend Sea kayaking at the ISKA Sea Kayaking Symposium, Leaving Dublin on Friday after noon but not before heading to i-canoe to pick up all the Demo boats and gear for people too see and buy.

Once in west port we found that we where booked into a swanky hotel with pool and Jacuzzi, I am not that accustomed to this sort of paddling weekend im more used to the surroundings of my van.

We signed up for some of the various activities that where going on over the weekend and then it was off to the bar for some grub and some chat.

Saturday morning came and we were off on the advanced trip to Clare Island, However on hearing that the group would not be circum navigating the island 4 of us packed what we needed and headed out to do the circum nav. I was paddling one of the i-canoe Demo boats the Tahe Reval Mini which I should have got from the name was not the best boat for me and Philip paddled the Tahe Wind 505.

On squeezing into the mini on the beach I proceeded to paddle out into moderate seas once out in the middle of the crossing to Clare Island I soon realised why this boat was called a mini the small swell that was hitting us was breaking into my arm pit I was paddling at water level instead of on top of it. We had a 30km minimum paddle ahead of us and I wasn’t feeling the most comfortable.

Once on the west side of the Island the sea was as flat as you could get and I could take off in the mini, Philip was having no issues with his boat with it suiting his weight range well. I then swapped with Paul Norris who being a lot lighter found that the Mini preformed really well. I used the H20-2 sea kayaking paddle for some of the way and found it great with so little resistance we also had a prototype full carbon H20 paddle this was really nice and if they decide to bring them into production I will be adding it to my paddle bag.

After the trip we dashed back to the Hotel to set up the i-canoe stall for a 2 hour display from all the shops and suppliers, here Paddy McGovern and I chatted with paddlers and solid off some kit, people seemed to like that we had actually spent the day paddling and using the kit we had to show. After that we had a very welcome dinner and then a Talk on the archaeological history of the west of Ireland.

Sunday awoke to a quick dip in the Jacuzzi and then off to Rossmoney to for a boat demo so people could try what we had brought over and all 3 boats seemed to go down well. Myself, Paul and Philip decided to paddle a 15km trip from Rossmoney to Old Head the weather had changed since the sun of the previous day and turned too Rain and wind with some sea fog. This was a nice paddle getting to weave through the islands of Clew Bay and then head on an open crossing to Old Head. After our shuttle arrived to pick us up we headed back to Rossmoney for the final bit of the weekend a prize giving Where the winners of the orienteering competition where announced i-canoe had given some vouchers to the weekend as prizes and they went down quite well with the winners.

Once all the formalities where over we said our good byes and headed back for Dublin after a long weekends sea kayaking. Now me and Paul are back to the next issue at hand the organising of the Colligan Gorge Games 09 Hope to see everyone their.

Cheers

Paddy

2009 - A Liffey Odyssey

As part of National Trails Day 2009, the ICU organised a mass paddle trip down the River Liffey from the ICU Training Centre to Dublin's Docklands.

Water Levels were surprisingly low for this time of year, but everyone made the most of the day, especially the section from Islandbridge to the East Link Toll Bridge. Whooping, whistling and banging was the order of the day at every bridge and tour bus. Some folks were even wiley enough to catch a sneaky beverage along the way!

All in all a good day was had by everyone and it was great to get a different perspective on the city of Dublin, from the water!

Colm Enjoying the Odyssey

Mood Lighting

A 10 year old Famine Ship

Brace for Impact

A Four Court

The Mighty Dereen River

Yesterday, Sunday 11th October 09, with uncertain water levels we decided to head for the (allegedly) mighty Dereen River, in Co Carlow. We headed straight for the take-out in Aghade where we met a couple of helpful lads from the Tullow Kayak Club who lead us straight to the put in. Initially the Dereen is relatively wide (considering it's relatively unknown status) and flat but very gradually picks up pace through some easy boulder gardens and pool drops making it an ideal trip for beginner groups. The ladies made the most of the small/tiny play waves and holes encountered at regular intervals.

Some Dereen Wildlife

Wai Har dropping thru the Boulder Garden

Collette before the Camera Died

After that the river narrowed considerably and dropped through the small gorge which made a nice change and then came THE LUMBER. The boulders were bad enough, but at these water levels, there was a considerable blockage of trees. It'll take a big flood to shift the biggest ones and until then it would be probably best to portage rather than squeezing through (and getting hung up on) the branches.

Overall an entertaining spin, with an aggressive swan and the rapids at Aghade to finish and a welcome change from the Liffey, Boyne, etc...

The 'almost' Red October

The 'almost' Red October

October is here and with it brings a batch of the Dogs!

here we have

Kaos , Havoc, Flux, Force and a Valley Storm Surf Boat

Enquire Now!!!

Busy months ahead!

So no sooner are we recovered for the wicked Sunday at Sluice that Ger put together and there is another event on the calendar in the shape of the Sluice Rodeo or as our very own AD has re branded it…
From chatting to AD about it and from how successful the Sluice event was last wear this is going to be the event not to be missed. Not only is there the rodeo at Sluice but there as a party hosted by the very lovely Jenny Kilbride at her shop in Blessington but there also is a Squirt & C1 day at Palmerstown the following day. For more information and to sign up to this event clicky HERE.


The following weekend Mr I-Canoe is loading up the van and off to attend the First Cranna Canoe Weekend which is hosted by the Foyle Paddlers. From looking at the plans for this event it looks like it is going to be a cracking event and with the guaranteed water for the boater cross this is one weekend everyone should really consider heading along to.
More information on this weekend and how to sign up can be got on the Folye Paddlers website HERE.
The reason I can’t head to the Cranna weekend is because along with the help of lots of other coaches I am running a Freestyle training day..
There is some more info on the here, much to my surprise this booked out in less than a day but stay tuned for a similar event happening in November.
Lastly but by no means least is what I think is possible the best event on the Irish boating calendar is the Colligan Gorge Games being held in County Waterford.

This really is an awesome event to be at, so even if you have missed the registration it is worth while coming down to shout on your mates and check out some of the inevitable carnage! More info and loads of images from lasts years goings on can be found on the events website.

Wow that’s loads to look forward to over the coming weeks and no doubt some of team i-canoe will be lurking about with camera in hand ready to catch all the highs & lows and report back.

Adrian

EDIT - For those who have ever wanted to know what the man behind I-Canoe gets up to I have stuck up a link to his I-Canoe twitter in the sidebar, have a peek into the mind of this miss understood genius.

Technorati Tags: Sluice rodeo,Funky freestyle Weekend,Free Your Style,Cranna Canoe Weekend,Collogan Gorge Games,team i-canoe,i-canoe

Super September Sluicefest - The Movie

Here it is, the one you've been waiting for, in association with Ger O'Reilly Productions - Sluicefest - The Movie.

The LAST Canadian Magnum

I-Canoe currently have in their possession the Last Riot Magnum built in Canada to enter the Emerald Isle.

This is truly a piece of history with Riot moving production to China will the boats ever be the same again?

This Boat is Brand new and needs a new home with someone who will love cherish and huck this beast off of any drop worthy of enjoyment!

Get it here

Kanumesse 2009, Part Deux

Ty Warp have a new foam core paddle "The Fire". Finish is nice and looks a lot better than before. Production facility has changed so that has something to do with it and assembly technique is more normal than in the past. They have also lost the destinctive "nose" on the tip of the blade and the graphics have matured (slightly).

The new Native Mariner comes with either the pedal-drive or electro-drive and judging by the size of it, it'll need more than a paddle to power it. Also available for either the Mariner or Ultimate is the new sailing rig so it looks like they're attempting to give Hobie a run for their money. As usual, all the bells and whistles are available to add on - deck covers, deck bags, cooler bags, etc... Bi-Hull should give extreme stability while fishing.

New Commander from Wilderness Systems (another of the new boat style Sit On Tops) with tracks to bolt on as many accessories as you can shake a stick at and a rather funky style sliding seat to allow a low paddling position and a high angling position.

Possibly THE most comfortable sea kayak in the world - the New Native Inuit with Bad Ass Outfitting (yes it is comfier than it looks and sounds!).

Liquid Logic are re-entering the sit on top market with the Coupe which features a similar hull and lines to the Remix but in an easy to use sit on top design. Optional drop-skeg, hatch and Bad-Ass style seating round out a package that could finally bridge the gap between sit-in and sit-on-top whitewater. Also available in a 2 person version.

Das Neuer Robson Funky Paddels mit ein Super Cool Grafix. Made in four standard prints but the limits are endless. Blade material is similar to laminate sandwich (Mmmm) found in snowboard industry).

The Pyranha Fusion series with new Small Size in hot pink colour in Angling(?) spec! Also includes detachable bow pod.

Folding canoe anyone? Great idea, shame about the 3000 euro price tag!

New brand Duemstuff - bringing the street to da river. Yes these guys have more attitude than sense but you have to admit they're probably THE most original thing in kayaking-wear at the moment. Pornstar imagery and marketing mixed with some innovative ideas and a non conformist attitude - or something like that.