ESKIMO on tour!

Vom 2. bis 12. Dezember stellt ESKIMO auf der internationelen Wassersportmessse "Salon Nautique" in Paris / Frankreich aus.
Kanusport-Interessierte können sich hier über das Sortiment 2006 informieren.
Bitte beachten: der 2.Dezember ist nur für Fachbesucher vorgesehen!

From December 2nd. to 12th. ESKIMO is exhibiting on the international "Salon Nautique" in Paris / France.
Interested kayakers can get details on the ESKIMO range 2006.
Please note, that December 2nd. is for trade visitors only!

More Paddling in Panama

We left Boquete and moved toward the Costa Rican border, in order to paddle the Chiriqui Viejo, without doubt the most interesting river. The first traject we paddled was the Palon-section, followed by the 'Sal si Pieda'-section. This complete section is a big volume grade 4+, with some real hard rapids in the beginning. We had medium high water and we paddled the entire 26 km in about 4 hours. The second half of the river is more easy, but is still big-volume paddling. The second day on the Viejo we paddled the Caisan-section, a 13 km long class 4-5 run, with 2 hard must-be-paddled-rapids in the beginning. To get to the river we needed once again a 4x4-truck. The scenery was amazing, the rapids long and demanding due to the high-water level.
We had no rain during the run, but after the paddling it started raining real hard. And real hard means real hard. It rained so much during 36 hours that the lower parts of the Chiriqui-province drowned. Due to the bad weather we moved to David and we paddled the lower part of the Rio Caldera again. This time the Caldera became a fun volume class 4, with several good play-spots. This time no mud at the take-out, the dam-lake was full and the water flew over the dam. All the rivers were high and full. Apparently another group had to stay overnight in the Rio Cochea.


We moved to Volcan, a sleeping town on the western slopes of the Volcan Baru. And after the rain there is...sunshine and less rain. A good oportunity to paddle the Rio Piedra. 10 Miles of pushy class 4 in cristal-clear water. Soon the Rio Piedra will be lost forever for paddling. The construction of 3 dams will make the river disappear forever.
Yesterday we tackled the upper part of the Chiriqui Viejo, a section called the Cerro Punto. It all started on a mellow pace, but soon the river gained force and became a steep ( 38 m/km) medium-volume river. We padled the 15 miles of class 4+ in less than 3 hours. The water was high and fast, but tricky. Anyway we had a good time on the river.
Today the boys are out on the beach for some surfing, I'm curious because I stayed in Volcan to write this article. Tomorrow we plan to paddle the 'Sereno'-section of the Chiriqui Viejo, another 20 miles run of continious 4 in steep gorges.



Happy Paddling

Steven Van den heuvel, Belgium
Photos: Bart Van Looveren

Panama-news (new version)

Boquete, a smal town one hour north of David, located on the slopes of the Baru-volcano, next to the Costa Rica border. We arrived here last monday. The weather here is cold compared to Panama-City. In this region most of the rivers can be found. There is rain every day, but unfortunately the heavy rainseason is over. As a warming-up river we paddled the "Witches"-section of the Chiriqui, a grade 3-4 boulder section with some fine rapids towards the end. Next was the Cochea-river. We paddled a 4 hour section through the jungle and small gorges, grade 4. Starting as a little steep torrent, the river gains volume thanks to the big number of tributaries. At high water-level this run becomes a rollercaster. Very nice scenery. Due to a lack of water we had to paddle the lowest part of the Caldera. Not to difficult, grade 3-4, but another nice scenery. A tucan cought our attention at the put in. The take-out is at the dam, at the confluence with the Chiriqui, on a very muddy beach. A couple of years ago you could continue after the dam on a section called the "Playrun". Now the river is dry, all of the water is deviated to another valley (sh...t). Yesterday we paddled the upper Chiriqui, a section called the "Frijoles". This 13 km stretch is very steep and bouldered. The highlight of the trip so far. It took us 5 hours to paddle the river with our 8 persons group, and we managed to get of the river just before dark. Luckely our driver had some ice-cold beer waiting for us. To reach the take-in, a 4x4 monster-truck, drove us up the Camel-Trophy-alike steep and muddy track. The river was super: a must-be-done-river for future Panama-paddlers. Make sure you don't have too much water. Today we are chilling in Boquete, drinking some beers and planning the trip to the Chiriqui Viejo. We are considering crossing the border next week to paddle some rivers in Costa Rica.



Happy paddling,

Steven Van den heuvel

Achstürze total

Nachdem Felix Lämmler kürzlich die Komplettbefahrung der Achstürze gelungen ist, konnten sich in der Woche darauf auch Klaus Krupka und Bernhard Mauracher über eine Komplettbefahrung freuen. Ausführliche Infos sind zu finden auf
www.kajak.at/news/index_newsartikel.php?ID=2005-11-06%2021:14:43









Klaus Krupka & Bernhard Mauracher

Panama

We arrived in Panama! It was a long trip, without any problems, thanks to Continental. Our kayaks made the trip as surf-boards and arrived without any damage. At the airport, me and Robert, we had to wait only one hour before Bart, John and Karel arrived with their Delta Flight. Their surf-boards made the trip as well.
We were picked up at the airport with a van from the hotel. The heat in Panama is killing us. Panama-City looks like in war-time, due to the visit of President Bush. Luckely there is cold beer.
Right now we are picking-up 3 more friends, Sven Erik and Dirk: they should arrive any minute and in a couple of hours we are planning to catch a bus towards Boquete, near to the Costa Rican border. There is where te rivers should be, on the slopes of the Baru-volcano. I'm looking forward paddling my brand new Speedo.
Concerning air-travelling with kayaks; we managed to check the boats in as surf-boards, paying around 150 Euro one-way, no problems.
So, more in a couple of days, now I go for a little, ice-cold beer, some sleep and then for a 7 hours bus-ride.

Happy paddling

Steven Van den heuvel