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Stately pleasure domes
Dave Manby wrote:
Where is kayaking heading? We have got to the stage where we are building waves specifically for freestyle events next we will have the rapid covered to keep the rain out and the heat in. Even if it does not go that far will it get to the stage where river runs will be altered to make sure the gradient drop on the run is used efficiently and the drops are bundled together to make descent play waves rather than waste the gradient on riffles and gravel bars and holes are made safe so as not recirculate the unfortunate swimmer undercuts and syphons will be blasted out to 'improve' runs. Tidy up nature she got it wrong (and make sure the car parks at the put in and take out big enough). Although I can understand where your concern comes from, I don't see the future that bleak. Sure, I know of several rivers that have had rapids blasted (usually by rafting companies), and I know a bunch of artificial slalom channels, some of which I frequent. When it comes to the slalom channels, they are usually located in areas where the river has been regulated extensively. Near a dam, lock or sluice, where the gradient has been turned by man's interference into two stretches of almost flat water. In that case, I don't see any problems with a slalom course being put next to such a man-made river obstacle. As for turning dangerous rapids into a pile of rubble, I hate that approach. There are a lot of rivers that aren't paddled regularly just because they contain one or more really tricky spots (siphons and such). Those rivers therefore see less paddlers, which helps to keep them relatively nice and clean. You can paddle them if you're a good enough paddler of if don't mind portaging quite a bit. On the other hand, I don't have problems with small openings being cut through strainers to create a possible way through rapids that got clogged with trees after a recent rainfall. An example of this was recently posted on Soulboater.com: http://www.soulboater.com/soulboater...icle&sid= 390 Wilko -- Wilko van den Bergh Eindhoven The Netherlands Europe Look at the possibilities, don't worry about the limitations. http://wilko.webzone.ru/ |
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