Sunday, 26 July 2015

Dropping in from Moby Dick: How to - Bennett Fleming

Garburator is by far one of, if not the best waves on the Ottawa. Solid cycling, fast moving water and huge bounces are all traits of this amazing feature, but one trait deters many from trying the wave. The entry. Entry into Garb is tricky by normal means. Attempting to paddle out is tricky, as the two curlers forming the V will flip an unsuspecting kayaker, and even when you know how to catch it from the eddy, it still may be tough to catch. A simple trick is to drop off of Moby Dick rock. When the water drops low enough, Moby Dick is the rock that pops up right beside Garb. Dropping in from the rock is one of the most simple and reliable way to catch Garburator, and personally, the most fun.

Step 1: Get on Moby Dick
There are two options here: getting out of your boat and walking up or paddling on to it. Getting out and walking is simple but slow, and paddling up is fast but troublesome. The way to paddle up is to go to the top of the eddy, and then read the surges of water. When you are almost in the current, look and paddle towards the rock, and you will be pushed right up on to it.

Step 2: Position yourself
Once you are on the rock, you can walk or shuffle your boat to the edge of Moby Dick near the front. I find that the perfect spot is right next to the square shaped cut in the rock. Make sure you are right up on the side such that you can easily shuffle or push off.

Step 3: Shuffle or slide off
Once it is your turn, you can shuffle yourself off, or use your paddle to push off. Make sure that you stay completely parallel to the rock as you push off and to drop your right edge as you fall. Take a few paddle strokes and you are on Garb.

Congratulations! I hope this has been a helpful guide to dropping off Mody Dick onto Garb.

Bennett Fleming

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