Technical Packrafting Tips: S-cross and edging examples
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- Опубліковано 12 лип 2021
- Dan Hall, a senior kayak instructor with Paddle Australia, demonstrates two moves that participants on a recent packrafting instructor course were asked to emulate starting with a double ‘S cross’. The second half has the footage slowed to 50%. Watch for:
- where the eyes are focussed
- body rotation
- vertical power strokes
- careful stroke placements
- multiple subtle strokes and blade angles on the one side
- significant edging and maintaining that edge
- the trim of the boat through the movement of the body both forward and backward as needed
- the powerful drive of the boat ACROSS the channel to create cross current momentum that sends the boat deep into the far eddy
- as well as the efficiency of the moves.
Although Dan significantly edges his boat you do not have to edge quite as much as this (although you can see the benefits it provides). Most packrafters struggle to use their edges really well so deliberately working on perfecting such moves is really beneficial. That said, this packraft model edges better than the vast majority of packrafts making such moves much easier than in a basic whitewater model. Thigh straps are obviously a must for powerful moves like this.
Huge fan of the 2017 self-bailer and been paddling 2 of them for 4 years now. Agree with everything you're saying Mark, getting in a wolverine/gnarwal or another year nirvana the flat hull design just feels so difficult to maneuver when you're used to this hull design. Always a pleasure to watch your clips of Dan work his magic!
Thanks Chris! Always good to hear that others have had a similar experience to Dan and I with the 2017 version. I think it was ahead of its time and packrafters were not really ready for it back then but that these days many can see the benefits as a lot more packrafters are paddling well technically.
I've certainly had lots of issues with the old yellow floors blowing out and so ended up putting 1.75 PSI relief valves in all of mine, as well as in close friends plus our school fleet. It didn't solve the issue 100% but probably fixed 90% of the problems as the floors can no longer get to too high a pressure. I also have had to reinforce the inside corners on my personal boats, by adding strengthening patches, as they get used a heap and cop a fair beating. Kokopelli would need to solve the construction/material issue if they were to bring it back but I imagine that is not that hard. Both Dan and I have been fortunate to paddle a prototype that has a really improved bow on the 2017 model however the rest of the design probably only really suits kayakers as its much less stable. Have you got 4-point thigh straps in yours and have you had many issues with the yellow floors?
@@MarkOates I had one of them outfitted with alpacka 4-point thigh straps while my other has the newer kokopelli 3 point thigh straps. I have gone through my yellow floors and I'm currently down to only one that has the baffling blown and is "extra" rounded due to this. I also had issue with the corners blowing open. I've also been fortunate to have a prototype nirvana thats quite a bit longer, and certainly less stable as well, but rolls easier than the 2017. All in all, I still prefer the 2017 and have shared that opinion rather extensively.
Hey Mark could you review a couple of cheaper Alibaba rafts? There's quite a few online that are 1/4 the price of Alpacka and I'm wondering if any of them are worthwhile
I'd tend not to skimp on anything that separates YOU from A VERY BAD TIME. I'd just save up the extra dosh for an Alpacka/Kokopeli and run with something tried and tested.
i edge to survivbe on the water ;)
Genial. ¿Que tamaño de packraft recomiendas?
Creo que el tamaño de la balsa depende tanto del peso como de la altura. Para aguas bravas técnicas, recomiendo algo que no sea demasiado grande ni demasiado holgado. Debe ajustarse bien a usted para que tenga el control. Por ejemplo, el paquete de este video no es adecuado para personas más altas de más de 85 kg. Las mujeres necesitan especialmente botes más pequeños y sentarse más alto. Los hombres grandes de más de 90 kg, sin embargo, necesitan un paquete grande con tubos.
@@MarkOates Muchas gracias por responderme , tus videos son excelentes y tus técnicas denotan un tremendo trabajo y profesionalismo.
Nuevamente muchas gracias por tu respuesta.
Could you please let me know how long padle using?
Hi @vladislavvelchev For technical whitewater I am generally using and recommending 200-203cm but admittedly I often use a 197cm as this is what my toughest, oldest 4-piece break down paddle is. I also think, depending on the type of blade, you could possibly go up as much as to 205cm. I tend to use a slightly longer paddle than others because I sit very high in my packraft (higher than most packrafters) because of the improved control and power that such a position gives.
@@MarkOates Thank you so much!!!
What model of Kokopelli is that? Is that the 2017 version? I wanna paddle like Dan... Ha.
Ha. We all want to 'paddle like Dan' :) It's a mantra I push on our advanced courses. Yes - this is the 2017 Nirvana with the yellow inflatable floor that locks in BELOW the side tubes creating a very different hull shape to the vast majority of packrafts. It has also been DIY modified with Alpacka back band and equivalent 4-point thigh strap system. The seat is then a separate cushion that sits on top of the inflatable floor making for quite a high seating position. Sitting high likes this really helps with edging and power however it does make rolling much harder as well as reducing the primary stability. Interestingly several participants and myself did the same moves in Wolverines and Gnarwhals and although we could do them they were not crisp. Switching to the 2017 Kokopelli saw a noticeable improvement from everyone. I have ended up purchasing 3 of the 2017 models in order to get others into them on courses. I am very much hoping that newer models by Alpacka (perhaps the Valkyrie?) and Kokopelli might aim for a similar hull shape to this model (& produce it in a specifically designed self-bailer). Didn't you Dan have a 2017 model at some stage??
@@MarkOates I never owned one unfortunately. I only tinkered with them when you were in the states for the roundup and the Middle Fork trip, but I wasn't very experienced back then to know the difference. Pretty interesting your experience, I've been primarily paddling a medium self bailing gnarwhal the last two years, but tried a wolverine this past week and I really dug the feel of the wolverine for edging. But, I am not sure I can give up on the self bailers and the tubes on a wolverine are pretty small for a self bailing configuration. Kinda wish I could find a 2017 Nirvana myself to mess around with just to see how it feels. Or, is there a potential Oates-style DIY mod for a gnarwhal? Haha. Do you think having the seat under the tubes creates a more rounded hull shape instead of the fairly flat surface?
@@DanRansom I have considered trying to DIY modify a Kokopelli inflatable floor that would sit under the tubes of a Wolverine or Gnarwhal but suspect that the floors are too taut to fit one in. I'll relook at it though and see if its possible as I think such a hull shape would make a significant difference/improvement. This photo between a 2017 Nirvana and a medium Gnarwhal markoates.exposure.co/boat-dont-float/photos/7151956 perhaps best shows the resulting difference in hull shape - note that both boats are fully loaded with two days worth of winter camping gear inside the tubes. The 2017 Nirvana floor essentially creates a lower central hull that is mostly flat but has some rocker towards the bow. You also end up with some chines (defined edges along the edge of the central hull) from the lower floor that help with directional control and which aid in carving. The lowered floor gives you increased stability when edged because you are not simply trying to balance on a single very round tube. Instead you are balancing on both the tube and the separate floor. Then the pronounced triangular design of the overall 2017 boat shape (narrower near ankles and wide behind hips) and increased bow rocker also sets you up to automatically carve when the boat is significantly edged. I'd love to get more people in one because I think it would encourage further revolution of the whitewater packraft design. Certainly beginners find the design quite tippy and unstable (reduced primary stability when flat on the water) however as soon as the boat is edged they can feel the extra stability that this hull shape provides. The Robfin actually has an even more pronounced version of this style of hull resulting in a boat that carves amazingly well. There are always drawbacks though and the lower hull (particularly on the Robfin) catches a lot more rocks/river bed if the river is super shallow. I have been debating about trying to purchase a Valkyrie in the hope that it might have a hull more like the 2017 Nirvana but like you I really need a self-bailer...plus I really need to sit in one for 30 seconds in order to work out how it feels. On a note for others - the 2018 (& more recent) Nirvana models all have flat floors, significantly reduced rocker and have moved to a much more rectangular shape in order to have massive primary stability but unfortunately at the loss of secondary stability, loss of 'boofability' and reduction of 'carvability'.