Nevis Bluff. Kawarau River. Gibston, New Zealand. S.I.

This is one of the two largest rapids in NZ. Nevis being one and Aratiatia being the other. The rapid is good to go and has been run in just about any craft you can imagine. The pictures really don't do it justice. What you can't see is the larger exploding holes that are at the bottoms of the first two drops. If you can make it through them, then the bottom section will seem like a walk in the park, relatively speaking. The are several large boulder and a scary wall on river right about halfway through. I am standing on that scary wall taking these pictures about 15 meters above the river. I have been fascinated with this rapid since I first saw it in an earlier kayaking film. It was a much higher level in the video. This is what it looked like last week.

First two drops...


and again...


last two drops...


(Pictures are property of Briere Studios.)

The Specialist!!

Well I just got back from another adventure in the wonderful country of New Zealand. While I was on this trip, I made sure to catch up with my boys at Bliss-Stick to see what they had cooking up for the new paddling season. Right before I left, Norm sent out to all the agents information about a new playboat called the Specialist. I had a chance to see the plug of the boat while I was there and Charles Sage allowed me access to the goods along with some pictures. I thought I would be nice and share them with everyone. It looks amazing and will be out in time for the worlds in May. More rocker, and more foot room. I can't wait to get mine! Thanks Charles!

(All photos are property of Briere Studios)
















From Bliss-Stick home page....

Introducing the "Specialist 170", Keep a watchful eye on this boat at this years World Freestyle Championships on the Ottawa river in Canada, Anthony Yap will be there along with a many other Bliss-stick paddlers with the New "Specialist 170" in action.

The "Specialist " has been fully re modelled and very different to our Rad series, the boat has added rocker and a whole new Richard Sage rail design, Richards job on the Rad series was a design well ahead of its time, and the Rad now 4 years on, is still turn up winning results on the freestyle scene.

We will be offering a larger version in the near future called the "Specialist 190", our immediate focus and sights are for the paddlers all going to the Worlds, So keep a watchful eye out ..... this boat will be capible of reaching new boundries.

If you have any questions or want to demo a boat, please email me. Cheers!