Fringe Elements Skills: Kayaking - Surviving a Whirlpool

By Fitz Cahall, Video still by Byran Smith.

Fringe Elements Extreme Adventure Videos: Watch Now >>

“The most intimidating feature for any swimmer, is real swirly, really deep whirlpools,” says professional kayaker and guide Paul Kuthe. “They have a tendency to hold you under water for a long time.”

To exploratory kayakers such as Kuthe, whirlpools sit at the top of the list of why swimming—kayaking parlance for coming out of a boat—through a surging tidal race could be hazardous. As Kuthe and his group of friends began applying whitewater kayaking techniques to sea kayaking, they had to accept that errant paddle strokes would result in swims through some of the ocean’s most turbulent sections.

“Swimming is to be avoided at all costs, but there is a saying in the boating community that we are all just in between swims,” says Kuthe. “No matter how experienced you get, the only time you’re not going to swim again is if you quit the sport.”

During the filming of Fringe Elements, Kuthe took an unexpected swim at the Reversing Falls of New Brunswick’s St. Johns River.

“A quarter mile downstream was the biggest whirlpool I’d ever seen,” remembers Kuthe. “That’s all I could think about when I came out of my boat. I’ve been held down in whirlpools before, just for a few moments before the PFD [personal flotation device] or the boat’s buoyancy pulled me to the surface. I didn’t want to go into that whirlpool.”

Kuthe seeks out tidal races when they are most powerful. House-size waves at places like British Columbia’s Skookumchuck Narrows and Nova Scotia’s Shubenacadie River develop only a few times a year.

“These tidal features are at their best when you have very, very deep water transitioning to very shallow water,” says Kuthe. “In some places it can be 1,000 or 2,000 feet deep, and then all of a sudden it flows into water that might be 100 feet or even 30 feet deep.”

“You get the biggest tidal exchanges in the spring tides, so there isn’t a big window,” says Kuthe. “Typically it’s best as the high tide drains to low tide. This also has to fall during daylight hours.”

The bottom line: There are only a handful of days a year when Kuthe can push the standards of this developing sea kayaking niche.

 

Comments

[cheapest car insurance in new york]

This love triangle of sorts has sparked much curiosity over the years. Here, see the couple speak for themselves about building a life together.

[David Ng]

Amazing Kayaking!
Great post!
http://www.worldmatetravel.com/vietnam-adventure-tours.html
http://www.worldmatetravel.com/vietnam-tours.html
http://www.worldmatetravel.com/indochina-tours.html
http://www.worldmatetravel.com/halong-bay-cruise-tours.html
http://www.worldmatetravel.com/mekong-cruise-tours.html

[Online Casino Guide]

Cortez is visited by thousands of whales en route to warmer waters. These majestic giants of the sea will surely make for lifetime memories of a splendid vacation.

[Hai]

I've done a lot of sea kayaking but the article mentioning what really keeping my eyes opened.So fabulous!
http://www.indochinadeluxetravel.com/vietnam-adventure-tours.html
http://www.indochinadeluxetour.com/sapa-tours/

[kitchen mats]

I could think about when I came out of my boat. I’ve been held down in whirlpools before, just for a few moments before the PFD [personal flotation dev.

[serta icomfort]

It is the most amazing article ever read on this earth. Guess what!!! Today for the first time I read your article and in one shot I liked your article and the way you write.

[Land For Sale]

During the filming of Fringe Elements, Kuthe took an unexpected swim at the Reversing Falls of New Brunswick’s St. Johns River.

[interiorismo madrid]

During the filming of Fringe Elements, Kuthe took an unexpected swim at the Reversing Falls of New Brunswick’s St. Johns River.

[debt consolidation]

As Kuthe and his group of friends began applying whitewater kayaking techniques to sea kayaking, they had to accept that errant paddle strokes would result in swims through some of the ocean’s most turbulent sections.

[Cheap UGGs]

A nearly century-old hunting Cheap UGGs is catching on with a younger generation that sees the utilitarian footwear as hip.L.L Bean's familiar duck UGG Bailey Button with leather uppers and rubber soles - designed for slogging through mud and snow - has become something of a statement owing to its newfound popularity on campuses, UGG Amberlee the company said. Another reason is new styles, UGG Tularosa including something Leon Leonwood Bean surely never envisioned in 1912: bright blue and pink leather, new for spring.Part of the success of the UGG Kensington is its versatility, in barnyards or in cities, in snow or rain.Defying a trend toward offshore production,UGG Bailey Button Triplet the outdoors retailer is adding 125 full-time employees to its Maine manufacturing operation to keep pace with orders.
The well-known UGG Classic Short Sparkles appears to be benefiting from a retro trend, whether it's penny loafers or Gap's 1969 series blue jeans, said Candace Corlett, UGG Caspia president of WSL Strategic Retail in New York.Another factor that could be helping Bean: There's been little that's new and exciting in footwear in recent years beyond UGG Montclair boots and Crocs, said Alexander Geyman, editor of Focus on Fashion Retail. Trendy UGG Classic Cardy boots and the Timberland brand outstrip Bean's in sales, he said.
The duck UGG Classic Short carry the "Made in the USA" label, something that's hard to find these days in footwear. Nationwide, the number of shoe-manufacturing jobs dropped from more than 200,000 in the 1970s to 12,500 this year, UGG Fox Fur according to the U.S. Labor Department. In Maine, shoe-manufacturing jobs peaked at more than 25,000 in the 1960s, UGG Delaine and last year there were 1,300 jobs, according to the Maine Department of LaborWell-known Maine brands like G.H. Bass, Cole Haan, UGG Knightsbridge Sebago and Dexter are now made abroad. But L.L. Bean has resisted the notion of making its Bean UGG Plumdale.As the story goes, L.L. Bean created the hunting UGG Classic Tall for himself after his feet got wet and cold on a hunting trip, and it was not an instant success. Ninety of the first 100 pairs sold in 1912 were returned after the leather separated; Bean had a satisfaction guarantee, UGG Annabelle so he returned customers' money.These days, UGG Retro Cargo the original L.L. Bean Hunting Shoe is available unlined or with various linings, UGG Finnegan including Gore-Tex, Thinsulate and shearling. There are plenty of other variations, including quilted, canvas and plaid, UGG Sheepskin Cuff and even bright blue and pink leather. There are low-cut versions as well.All of them are still made by hand. The rubber soles are made by L.L. Bean workers in Lewiston, UGG Mayfaire and they're sewn to the leather uppers at an L.L. Bean plant in Brunswick.All told, there are 320 workers at L.L. Bean's factory in Brunswick, making UGG Highkoo, dog beds, canvas totes and other products.Each Gore-Tex liner is inflated and dunked in a tank to make sure it's watertight before being dried and put in the UGG Roslynn.

[piso de hule]

A quarter mile downstream was the biggest whirlpool I’d ever seen,” remembers Kuthe.

[Online Directory]

Thanks for sharing your article. I really enjoyed it. I put a link to my site to here so other people can read it. My readers have about the same interets

[UGGs Cheap]

This site is very interesting and also great. I'm glad to find out this ste immediately. It's very informative.

[Nazare]

Survival is the key to life! Well done on a great adventure and write up.

[NFL cheap jerseys]

Merely a smiling visitor here to share the love (:, btw outstanding design. “Treat the other man’s faith gently it is all he has to believe with.” by Athenus.

[מרפאת שיניים]

My friends started using the techniques of river kayaking to sea, they had to accept that stray paddle stroke would result in the swimmer with some of the most turbulent sections of the ocean.

[business degree education]

That is just insane looking! I know for a fact that I would probably freak out if I ever seen anything like that that alone get in it!!

[תאורה לבית]

As Kutha and his friends began to apply the techniques of whitewater kayaking, sea kayak, had to accept that the result of blows to the wanderings of some of the most turbulent sections of swimming in the ocean.

[NFL Jerseys]

Ya learn smoething new everyday. It’s true I guess!

[boyi]

高级缎面辅以华丽的手工钉珠、刺绣，彰显婚纱礼服婚纱礼服的高端品质，水晶的点缀更为秋装新款增加光彩。大气的设计和线条，与华贵的配饰融合，非常受到身材高挑的美人型新娘青睐。非常贴合的胸线设计，让新娘可以放心地穿着，同时将胸部和腰部凹凸有致的曲线恰当地展露出来。

[Events Courses]

Woah, what an adventurous place this is. I can't imagine the flow and the harsh of the water while you are kayaking. What's the feeling then, when in there?

[Robert]

Whirlpools scare me. I think I would rather try something like sea kayak adventures. A little less risky, I think.
http://www.adventuretravelmentor.com/sea-kayak-adventures.html

[longchamp]

looking for see more

[decorative storage boxes]

No way that I could do something like this... I fall over in still waters

[טיולים מאורגנים]

Hi!! Very much excited while watching the video. Very inspiring blog. I love your blog and it's content. Than .... Q for sharing.