Surfing the TRAK Kayak on Skookumchuck Narrows – An Epic Experience
TRAK’n the Skook – Jaime Sharp surfing ©Jaime Sharp
In late August, a group of paddlers, including Warren Williamson, Alex Stoeffl, Jaime Sharp, and James Manke, headed up the BC Sunshine Coast to Skookumchuck Narrows for an epic few days of paddling. At Skookumchuck, each day tides force large amounts of seawater through the narrows—200 billion US gallons (760,000,000 m3) of water on a 3-metre (9.8 ft) tide. The difference in water levels on either side of the rapids can exceed 2 metres (6.6 ft) in height. Current speeds can exceed 16 knots (30 km/h),up to 17.68 knots (32.74 km/h). On these days, it was 9-10 knots, so no small feat! This is a ‘bucket-list’ paddling destination for many kayakers, and for obvious reasons. It is truly magical…
They were paddling a variety of boats, including some playboats, a Romany, a P&H Delphin and testing the new Eddyline Raven. The TRAK folding kayak was a surprise ‘entry’ into
Warren Williamson enjoying TRAK-surfing on the Skookumchuck ©Jaime Sharp
this group. How can a folding kayak handle such rough water conditions? Would it be robust enough? How nimble is it? Can you really surf this thing like other specialized sea kayaks? Well, check out this video and see for yourself!
Warren has done a lot of kayak design for surfing and rolling, including classic wood skin-on-frame Greenland kayaks. He has designed hulls and decks for other kayak companies, as he’s known for this in the industry. Jaime Sharp was very grateful to have met Warren, and for him to take the time and make the claims he did about the TRAK. Thanks Warren, we look forward to many adventures together over the years. I hope the TRAK can serve you for your adventures and dream paddling destinations over the next few decades.
After his first time ever paddling the TRAK folding kayak, Warren Williamson said that the TRAK “…surfs as good as any kayak I’ve ever been in!”. Check out this fun little video and his ‘testimony’ at the end.
Yankin’ & bankin’ and carvin’ & turnin’ – Warren Williamson
