Travels with a Kayak - a girl's perspective...

It often seems that paddling around the planet is the exclusive preserve of the rough-and-tumble male. Not so, as Michelle Granaghan and friends are proving, notching up rivers in France, Norway, Uganda and most recently Chile...


So what is it like being a girl who kayaks around different parts of the world?

Well, great actually! I never have to run a nasty drop just because all of the guys are running it and it is easier to get changed under a skirt!


How have things changed?

The last ten years have seen a great change in the number of girls kayaking in Europe. The magazines and sponsorship deals are still male dominated but out on the river, in clubs and groups of kayakers that you meet on the river, there are more and more girls getting out there.

Boat design certainly has a lot to do with this change, rolling an Invader was never much fun if your feet could not touch the footplate and your hips had a good 5cm gap on each side. The technology of the boat design has certainly helped the female paddler but also support from other girls who will bring many more into the sport. The growth is exponential which now sees some clubs with many more girls, particularly at an entrance level.


Where do you go from the club scene?

Kayaking is a very wide sport with so many different disciplines, it is easy to read the magazines and see how many directions you can go in. I chose to combine travel and kayaking, it requires more effort and a lot more gear but I really feel that it is worth it in the end.

This year I find myself working as a photo boater on the Rió Petrohué in Southern Chile, this beautiful river with crystal clear water is nicely positioned inbetween the two kayaking centres of the Fútalafu and Púcon and straight across from Bariloche in Argentina. The job is such fun, the type of job where you have to pinch yourself to see if it is real, bouncy grade 3-4 water with an endless supply of clean big water.


Some destinations like Uganda, have a pretty macho rep - how did you find it?

Last year myself and Kate Harris and Sarah Hudson headed over to the While Nile for a couple of months. We had been filled with lots of stories of horrible insects that hatched in your foot and rapids that throw you around for a while and then spit you out! The stories were all true but it does not reflect how spectacular the country is or how much fun the river is. Uganda is a very special place and we all really enjoyed our time out there, we even got the chance to teach a local girl called Prossie to kayak who went on to win the Nile Challenge last year.


What particluar challenges did Norway pose?

Travelling and kayaking in some countries requires more equipment then others, to go to the Nile you just had to turn up with your playboat, gear and some clothes for nice weather, Norway on the otherhand needed a lot more equipment. Imagine six girls away on holiday for 2 weeks, six creek boats, camping equipment, stoves and clothes for all types of weather; the procession of trolleys in the airport really was a sight to behold, and no, we were not charged excess bagage! Norway has so much to offer a kayaker with its perfect gradient and vast ammounts of water that really can offer many choices. Creeks, deep gorges and big volume bounce all exist within a short distance.


Where next?

The plan for this summer is to head off to Europe for a while taking in the classic areas of Val Sesia, Pyrenes and then on to the Alps. The search is for good quality beautiful whitewater, to see new places and hang out with friends. Travelling in Europe with kayaks is a lot easier because you can just load them up on a van and go. With contacts in Europe it is always great because local paddlers are always more than happy to show the paddler girls around!

For the moment I still have to get around Chile yet, bribe the bus driver to take the kayak in the bus and then there is always the fun of convincing the ground staff in the airport to take the boat on the plane. It is times like this I think it helps to be a female paddler!


Any final words of wisdom?

There are so many areas to explore in the world and so many opportunites to travel and kayak, if you are temped by this side of kayaking my advice to you is to get out there and go for it.



Michelle is sponsored by Nookie Equipment and the Outdoor Adventure Store: