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So I haven't posted in a while although I do check in and read from time to time - I own an 11' "Mini-Cataraft" - an Outcast (subsidiary of AIRE) Pac 1100 - 11' "Pontoon" boat that I bought almost a year and a half ago. I started as an angler and will always be one but I find I enjoy being on the river as much as I enjoy the fishing so I would almost say I'm 50/50, as I've been around rivers my entire life.
Anyways - everyone started somewhere - I've methodically worked my way up from class 1 rivers to rivers up to class 3+ now - haven't hit any class 4 stuff yet - not planning on it yet anyways LOL - I'm pretty content with the class 3 stuff - it's fun and still challenging. The last river I ran was a very continuous class 2-3+ and it was fun but I definitely had my work cut out for me with the 11' boat due to the continuous nature of the river! Here's a couple videos from that run a few weeks back:
Part #1 - Coquihalla River Pontoon Drift July 1 2014 Part 1 - YouTube
Part #2 - Coquihalla River Pontoon Drift July 1 2014 Part 2 - YouTube
Here is another short video my bro took of me on the Chilliwack River back in April- Chilliwack River Pontoon Drift April 19 2014 HD 720p - YouTube
Anyways - I've taken one - one day course to date with a local whitewater rafting outfit last year in September that really boosted my confidence and helped me see more of the boat can do and I'm hoping if enough people sign up, to take another way more comprehensive course mid September which I posted on earlier. I also plan on taking some swift water rescue training at some point as well. I've borrowed Jeff Bennetts book - The Complete Whitewater Rafter twice form the library to date now and most recently I ordered a copy off of ebay lol.
Right now I feel like I'm caught in a grey zone - somewhere between your average angler with a pontoon boat, and someone who recreationally catarafts rivers. I eventually want to get a bigger boat like a Wave Destroyer one day rigged to carry and fish one or two people if possible and to take on some bigger water. But for the time being I'm relatively content where I am.
I'm just wondering how you guys all cut your teeth? How did you grow from easy rivers to the really gnarly shit? What boat did you start on? What do you have now? Who showed you the ropes? Have you taken any courses or relevant training worth noting? What in your mind progressed you the most? What lessons did you learn the hard way if you don't mind sharing? I'd love to hear a bit about your story...
Anyways - everyone started somewhere - I've methodically worked my way up from class 1 rivers to rivers up to class 3+ now - haven't hit any class 4 stuff yet - not planning on it yet anyways LOL - I'm pretty content with the class 3 stuff - it's fun and still challenging. The last river I ran was a very continuous class 2-3+ and it was fun but I definitely had my work cut out for me with the 11' boat due to the continuous nature of the river! Here's a couple videos from that run a few weeks back:
Part #1 - Coquihalla River Pontoon Drift July 1 2014 Part 1 - YouTube
Part #2 - Coquihalla River Pontoon Drift July 1 2014 Part 2 - YouTube
Here is another short video my bro took of me on the Chilliwack River back in April- Chilliwack River Pontoon Drift April 19 2014 HD 720p - YouTube
Anyways - I've taken one - one day course to date with a local whitewater rafting outfit last year in September that really boosted my confidence and helped me see more of the boat can do and I'm hoping if enough people sign up, to take another way more comprehensive course mid September which I posted on earlier. I also plan on taking some swift water rescue training at some point as well. I've borrowed Jeff Bennetts book - The Complete Whitewater Rafter twice form the library to date now and most recently I ordered a copy off of ebay lol.
Right now I feel like I'm caught in a grey zone - somewhere between your average angler with a pontoon boat, and someone who recreationally catarafts rivers. I eventually want to get a bigger boat like a Wave Destroyer one day rigged to carry and fish one or two people if possible and to take on some bigger water. But for the time being I'm relatively content where I am.
I'm just wondering how you guys all cut your teeth? How did you grow from easy rivers to the really gnarly shit? What boat did you start on? What do you have now? Who showed you the ropes? Have you taken any courses or relevant training worth noting? What in your mind progressed you the most? What lessons did you learn the hard way if you don't mind sharing? I'd love to hear a bit about your story...