2012 REEL - Hard to Top

Lying in a Paris Hotel room bed on a 17h lay over to the DRC Iam...

 

Reflecting on the year that just went by, I can truly say that it's going hard to beat... I was really lucky and got to travel a lot both for work and fun! Again, I paddled all my local favorites and even discovered new runs. But the best part was, that I was fortunate enough to go on one amazing expedition and also paddle the gem that is the White Nile.

Here's a quick flash back at my 2012 year. Can't wait to see you guys on the water after my knee is repaired!!!

Hard to Top - 2012 REEL

from Jean-Philippe Paiement on Vimeo.

Uganda Paddling Edit

Here is a short edit done during my time in Uganda at the beginning of the Year. And what a great year starter it was. Paddling the Nile and surfing Nile Special were just the perks compared to the awesome country I've discovered and great people met along the way.


Music: F.U.Y.A., C2C, Tetra
Videography and editing: J-P Paiement

Winter Paddling: Uganda

What a great start of 2013 I've been greeted to! On December 30th 2012, I flew out of Montréal bound to Uganda. Checking inn my boat and paddles were surprisingly easy, but the flight changes (in exchange of 600$ of voucher) were not. So, after waiting 10 hours in Montréal, I finally flew out... and 28 hours later, landed in Kampala. 

Passing time at Montréal airport

I made it OK, but my bags took 3 more days to reach my final destination, the Nile River Explorers River Camp in Bujugali Falls. So what else to do than drink beer, explore the surrounding and watch countless episodes of Weeds!  Thanks to the sweet people at NRE, my stay was smooth and REALLY cheap!!!

The village, near the Hairy Lemon

On my way to Bujugali Falls 

Another great sunset at the NRE campsite

After 2 days of that hard diet, I was able to scramble some equipment (thanks to Sam at Kayak the Nile), and was able to run the raft section of the white Nile, hence getting a decent taste of the rapids. Then it all started!!! Some amazing paddling on features reminiscent of the Lachine Rapids and awesome people met along the way, mostly Brits and Russian, there're all over the place!!!. Nile Special was definitely my favorite, this wave is fast, steed and dynamic as hell. Once you figured the tow-in rope and weird crest on surfer's right it was the best place to be on the hot and sunny days.

Matadis are a great way to get directly to the numerous playspots

That's the kind of smile I will never get tired of

People are always drawn to the river whenever there's kayakers

Chris, one of the Brits, coming down Kalagala falls 

Nile Special, such a Special place

One of the numerous Russian on the Nile

Hope to see these guys on the river some day! 

My personal camera guy!

Kids at the take out of Nile Special

Uganda way more than just a paddling destination. The country is as lively as Africa gets with a rich cultural background over a deep green canvas, it all makes for a dreamy place. Everybody you meet is just so friendly and respectful. The children are smiling and always repeating the same sentences! "Hi, how are you", "What's your name?" and "Do you like Avocados?" 

Sugar cane truck filled to the brim

One of my roommates at NRE

Loom at Kilombera Weaving

Calm night at the Hairy Lemon 

During the last days of my trip I was fortunate enough the score a ride in a Safari. The old modified (removable roof added) Toyota Delica took us to Murchison Park in the Northwest part of the country. We stayed at the Red Chili Rest Camp which was great! From there you can access game drives in the park, trek to the famous Murchison Fall and booze cruises on the Nile. I did all of them!!!!! And it was amazing, I got to see all of the animals I so much liked to watch on National Geographic when I was a kid.   

The Red Chili Rest Camp by night 

Shy little guy

In order to see the Big game you have to get going early

And here comes the Big game!!

Murchison Fall seen from the booze cruise

This concluded my trip and I flew back home shortly after that. What a return it was with -40 temperatures.... Let's just hope the snow starts falling again so I can ski a bit. 

Stay tuned, a sweet edit should be coming out soon....    

NUNAVIK:SARVAK The Third Step

So after completing the first descent of the Ford River and teaching the local Inuits to raft and kayak, anything more than that would be gravy! And we found some! Our Friend Jimmy offered to take us to one his fishing spot where he said had a good waterfall. We found a steep technical creek and had a load of fun running the main slide/waterfall.

That concludes the NUNAVIK:SARVAK movie. Hope you guys liked it and Hopefully will inspire some of you to get up there and discovery the endless possibilities of the GREAT North.

NUNAVIK:SARVAK The Second Step

After spending time exploring the amazing Ford River, it was time to share our love of white water with our Inuit friends. The guys from Georges River came down to Helens Falls with their boats ready to learn some new paddling tricks. We spent 2 days teaching and refreshing basic white water techniques before going back to their village for a kayak clinic. We invited the local population to the public swimming pool and had an awesome time teaching people to paddle and roll. We had accomplished our second goal, we shared with the locals!

NUNAVIK:SARVAK The first Step

After countless days an nights of work, yesterday saw the release of the full edit of Nunavik:Sarvak in front of the Quebec Kayak crowd. People seemed to enjoy the images and it is now your turn!

The movie will now be available for your pleasure on the internet, it will be dropping in three steps just like our adventure. So here is the first one, this is the story of our first and main objective, running the first descent of the Ford River.

ENJOY...

Sault à la Puce

This weekend felt like a powder weekend in skiing season. Friday afternoon came with some heavy night that kept falling throughout the night. Saturday morning was filled with the same buzz you'd find in a ski town the morning of a dump! Finally the rain had come and we set off to enjoy it all weekend long!

Here's some Pics of the Sault à la Puce, a classic technical steep section a the doorstep of the city.

A special place to be...

NUNAVIK:SARVAK

Teaser of the movie about the first descents in Nunavik that we did last summer. Full feature should be out at the beginning of the winter. In the mean while, it's rainy!! Finally, we might be able to enjoy some of the local runs here!!

Rivière Valin, Pic Only!!

Guillaume, Premier Rapide, Valin

Alex, Premier Rapide, Valin

Frank, Rapide de la crack, Valin

Alexis, Rapide de la crack, Valin

Emerick, Chute, Valin

Frank, Chute, Valin

Frank Free Wheel, Chute, Valin

Emerick, First ever Switch Free Wheel, Chute, Valin

Frank, Chute, Valin

Dylan Stoked, Chute, Valin

Guillaume, Air bag Rapide, Valin

Alexis, Air bag Rapide, Valin

Simon, Air bag Rapide, Valin

Dylan, Air bag Rapide, Valin

Dylan, Air bag Rapide, Valin