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Listen "Hammer Factor – Episode 45, ‘Whitewater Risk And Dealing With Misfortune’"
Episode Synopsis
In this episode we reflect on the recent passing of Maria Noakes on the Cheoah River in North Carolina, what can be learned and how to move forward. Thanks to Marc Hunt for sharing a message he gave to his sons when they were 19 years old and providing some great perspective on a difficult subject. We also go over some listener mail and of course rants and raves.
Subscription Options:
Itunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/amongstit-inc/id1095013227?mt=2
Stitcher:
http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/john-grace/the-hammer-factor?refid=stpr
RSS Direct Feed:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/HammerFactor
Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfNW1jev8xx84dc05QZGqKA
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/hammerfactor/?
Tim Kennedy and The Cascade Review!
Grace, Weld, Geltman and crew,
Thanks for the shout out in episode #44! And thanks to John Weld for not divulging that old nickname…Those who were there back then and know it, have earned the right to use it (in private) ;)
Great episode with some interesting topics. I think we are just "scraping the surface" in regards to risk in whitewater kayaking, and the dichotomy of how it’s an individual sport that often depends on a team. The slalom and Olympics discussion with Ashley Nee was enlightening, as well. Although I never officially trained or competed in slalom, it has had a huge influence on my paddling technique.
Louis...Point well taken on how my reviews are bit too lengthy to read on the show. So, starting with this one, I’ll provided the same in depth review for context (and for your amusement), followed by a list of bullet points that may (or may not) be read on the podcast. *Maybe someone should post the show notes on your Facebook page? I don’t know how many folks are willing to navigate to your website to find the notes. We’ve become a fairly social media dependent society lately.
So…the 1978 Phoenix Cascade (*not to be confused with the Dagger Cascade C1 from the 1990s)
Background info: I’m a huge fan of Phoenix boats. My first brand new kayak was a Phoenix Slipper in 1989 ($380 plus shipping, factory direct). Phoenix (based in Kentucky) used to be a big player in the kayak manufacturing scene. They attempted to compete with the plastic kayak market during the 1980’s, offering similar priced composite boats, with materials such as “Fiberlastic” (and Nylon resins?) and “breakaway" cockpit designs that they marketed as being as tough, light, and as safe (safer?) than the small cockpit 30 lb plastic boats of that time. It didn’t work out too well for them…Other than the Arc (designed by Jim Snyder), most of their designs were from the late ‘60s and early ‘70s. They couldn’t keep up with the design, marketing, and production juggernauts of the ‘80s: Perception, Hydra, and Prijon in plastic, and New Wave, Watauga Laminates, Valley Mill and others in composite. They ended up selling to someone else and now primarily produce a hunting and fishing boat called the Poke Boat. (You can still get some of their whitewater designs for about $2300 per boat). I have managed to pick up quite a few used Phoenix boats over the years, mostly in the $60 to $200 range.
Back to the Cascade:
Initial impressions: Long, light, and fast. It’s 13’ 2” long (standard for most kayaks in the 1970s, based upon the 4 meter slalom length rule). It’s fiberglass and weighs about 25 lbs. 90 to 100 gallons in volume. The Cascade has a peaked deck and a slight keel in the bow and stern, and has a flatter hull under the seat. And it seems to have a manageable and stable hull design in comparison to wildwater boats. Just looking at it, this boat oozes speed!
Outfitting/fit: It has a deep bucket seat, but no factory backband. I installed an old Dagger back band with a camstrap. No hip pads. You gotta glue or tape some foam in there. While you are at it, put a foam wedge under the seat to keep it from swaying. Thigh hooks?
Subscription Options:
Itunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/amongstit-inc/id1095013227?mt=2
Stitcher:
http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/john-grace/the-hammer-factor?refid=stpr
RSS Direct Feed:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/HammerFactor
Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfNW1jev8xx84dc05QZGqKA
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/hammerfactor/?
Tim Kennedy and The Cascade Review!
Grace, Weld, Geltman and crew,
Thanks for the shout out in episode #44! And thanks to John Weld for not divulging that old nickname…Those who were there back then and know it, have earned the right to use it (in private) ;)
Great episode with some interesting topics. I think we are just "scraping the surface" in regards to risk in whitewater kayaking, and the dichotomy of how it’s an individual sport that often depends on a team. The slalom and Olympics discussion with Ashley Nee was enlightening, as well. Although I never officially trained or competed in slalom, it has had a huge influence on my paddling technique.
Louis...Point well taken on how my reviews are bit too lengthy to read on the show. So, starting with this one, I’ll provided the same in depth review for context (and for your amusement), followed by a list of bullet points that may (or may not) be read on the podcast. *Maybe someone should post the show notes on your Facebook page? I don’t know how many folks are willing to navigate to your website to find the notes. We’ve become a fairly social media dependent society lately.
So…the 1978 Phoenix Cascade (*not to be confused with the Dagger Cascade C1 from the 1990s)
Background info: I’m a huge fan of Phoenix boats. My first brand new kayak was a Phoenix Slipper in 1989 ($380 plus shipping, factory direct). Phoenix (based in Kentucky) used to be a big player in the kayak manufacturing scene. They attempted to compete with the plastic kayak market during the 1980’s, offering similar priced composite boats, with materials such as “Fiberlastic” (and Nylon resins?) and “breakaway" cockpit designs that they marketed as being as tough, light, and as safe (safer?) than the small cockpit 30 lb plastic boats of that time. It didn’t work out too well for them…Other than the Arc (designed by Jim Snyder), most of their designs were from the late ‘60s and early ‘70s. They couldn’t keep up with the design, marketing, and production juggernauts of the ‘80s: Perception, Hydra, and Prijon in plastic, and New Wave, Watauga Laminates, Valley Mill and others in composite. They ended up selling to someone else and now primarily produce a hunting and fishing boat called the Poke Boat. (You can still get some of their whitewater designs for about $2300 per boat). I have managed to pick up quite a few used Phoenix boats over the years, mostly in the $60 to $200 range.
Back to the Cascade:
Initial impressions: Long, light, and fast. It’s 13’ 2” long (standard for most kayaks in the 1970s, based upon the 4 meter slalom length rule). It’s fiberglass and weighs about 25 lbs. 90 to 100 gallons in volume. The Cascade has a peaked deck and a slight keel in the bow and stern, and has a flatter hull under the seat. And it seems to have a manageable and stable hull design in comparison to wildwater boats. Just looking at it, this boat oozes speed!
Outfitting/fit: It has a deep bucket seat, but no factory backband. I installed an old Dagger back band with a camstrap. No hip pads. You gotta glue or tape some foam in there. While you are at it, put a foam wedge under the seat to keep it from swaying. Thigh hooks?
In God we trust