Catarafting – Ballet on a River
On Saturday the 4th July an old friend of mine, Fritz, turned up at the Lodge and insisted that I go on the river with him and several of his kayaking friends. At first I tried to skid out of it – I am on the river quite alot, mostly safety rowing, and the thought of going out and getting wet – and getting my peak on – was not quite what I had in mind for the day. However Fritz was very firm and I am really glad he was.
I took out my small 11′6″ cataraft – and yes, inches do matter – and had a ball. The river was up there for the little cat, but what fun. A definite edge to things, which on the day – lots of positive thinking – was just what I needed. Great fun to be out there not focusing on what is happening with rafts all the time.
Catarafting has not really taken off in NZ, but big in the States – and I often wonder why. Rowing is such a wonderful way to interact with the river – you use the currents and features alot differently than in a kayak or raft – and for old river guides like me you do not get beat up like you can in a kayak, and most of the time you stay dry. I have spent a large amount of my working life wet, and being dry is definitely a plus.
Catarafts of course use oars, not paddles, and it is this incredible leverage that allows you to do things that you would not dream of in a paddle rafts. This is not rowing as in the Olympics however. This is rowing looking FRONTWARDS down a rapid. Great for your co-ordination, with one oar going one way and the other the other.
