My Worst Day On The River

[@MRKayakerD]

Some technical advise, as mentioned you were just floating with the current and the river was in control the whole time. Paddle hard and try to stick to your lines. Also try to give a power stroke and lift your knees just before you hit a wave or a hole. That way you go over stuff and maintain control rather than to brace after you go through stuff. Definitely a tuff swim! Glad you made it out okay.

[@ErhardFrebold]

I'll add to the above, that I find it helps to get in the habit of getting in an eddy and staying there for awhile whenever you start feeling things are slipping out of control. Your brain needs breaks to catch up. You may be scared and feel over your head suddenly ahead of the group, but don't just keep floating downstream. Get in the habit of thinking of the run as a series of moves between rest eddies; miss an eddy, just get the next one. Be good at eddies, so good that when all else fails, you can still push in to one. Painful to watch; happens to us all and thanks for posting.

[@macfawlty]

That was a tough swim to watch. Glad you posted it as a caveat to others never to underestimate the challenge of a difficult swim on a gnarly river.

[@travishalford5223]

That was gnarly. The river is so unforgiving. You had some dope lines though and that roll was sick. Just no time to recover when got caught in the next hole. You did all you could and swam like a beast

[@baTonkaTruck]

Really scary, I’m glad you survived. People who don’t have experience in big river rapids have no idea how big and powerful this water is. One bad coin flip and you’ll get knocked unconscious and held under a hole, get sent home in a body bag.

[@TheOhfishes]

Stick with it kayaking is tough and we're all in between swims. Your control of the boat and paddle definitely needs work. I would practice on driving the boat on flat water and a mellower section or two before you get out on that river again.

[@tankmaster1018]

I swam Little Niagara a few months ago at 2.8 feet, and ended up without a boat or gear on the river left side, and had to go on a 3 hour hike out of the gorge, then come back the next weekend to paddle my boat out. It happens dude, no need to get down on yourself. I've had 2 separate days on the Upper Yough now that I would describe as my worst days on the river when they initially happened. Let me know next time you're down in the Yough area! I live 2 hours from there, and usually paddle it once every weekend or so.

[@hipernet]

hi buddy, im looking for a crew to go there. I did LY last weekend

[@tankmaster1018]

@@hipernet Hey dude, have you done the Upper Yough before, or any other solid class IV/IV+ rivers? If the Lower Yough is the hardest run you've done so far, I would NOT recommend trying the Upper yet. I've had 4 times now where people who were solid class III boaters attempted the Upper Yough, and every single one of them resulted in multiple swims, lost gear, and eventually a hike out of the gorge on foot. If you've done tough class IV before, you probably would be able to handle the UY just fine, but you're (no offense) going to get the absolute shit beat out of you if the Lower Yough is the most challenging river you've done so far. If you are experienced though, I'm going back up again to run it this Friday

[@hipernet]

@@tankmaster1018 hi buddy I went to Uy last Sunday it was fun! I swam at national haha but I tried 3 times in total ! It was fun, it’s not easy to read it , definitely in this river we need somebody who can show the line in several places . Enjoy this Friday, I will go to nc this weekend to paddle .

[@Solokayaker888]

Great video, I am just learning and I do not have my roll down yet. I had a swim2 days ago. I made it 12 miles and started getting tired and didn't have my edge controlled and got window shaded. thanks for posting.

[@normandlabbe2497]

Wow, any swim on the Upper Yough has potential to be bad. I'm glad you're generally OK and looking to get back into your boat. Swims like that are very draining, physically and mentally.

[@SergeyVoynov]

Thank you! Nothing but pure stupidity. I have not paddled it in about 4 years and should not have started at 2.4, which I have never done. I've never had any major issues on UY other then 1 not bad swim second time on it, but I have never done it higher then 2.3. I should have walked. Lesson learned.

[@cheskybaba4864]

Firstly, you got too far ahead of your group. If you are not the strongest paddler or know the river well, you shouldn't go first or too far ahead. No one was around to help you or get the boat (or paddle?) When you see a rock as you did and are not sure what is after - paddle like hell to avoid it. Never let go the paddle to push off the rock. Better off pushing off with the paddle. Glad you pulled through OK. Practice that roll.

[@theloyoukno5799]

Just from your paddling doesn’t look like you should have been trying to paddle water this big until you dialed some more things in. It was a difficult watch I’m glad to see you’re okay!

[@Axemanvan]

You got a real solid Ohio air brace!

[@paulherring8959]

Actually I think that's an Indiana Hoosier brace. Grabs a little bit more air for stability.😆

[@chriskayakq-ster7264]

The Upper is as much a physical quest as mental. Stay closer with your crew and when not feeling on your A game tell someone. We tend to help each other out by encouragement when someone is off. First time for me was 2.4ft so into the fray I went. Definitely eddy's were my friend ! Its ok to skip the upper when not feeling it. Glad your still good to get back on your horse. We've all had off days just the upper can be unforgiving !

[@brandonb9830]

I've seen a few of your videos over the past few years. Only trying to provide positive feedback. It seems like you have a decent roll and brace but I think it would help you exponentially if you took an intermediate/advanced paddling class from someone. It really looks like in all your videos you do well except your forward stroke technique and timing needs a bit of improvement and could easily be corrected with some instruction. But, yes everyone has bad days especially if you haven't paddled in awhile. Hope this advice can help!

[@SergeyVoynov]

Thank you! I've been thinking of that for a while

[@chriskayakq-ster7264]

Well said a more fluid forward stroke is like covering a brace. Going with the flow instead of just waiting to react with braces seems to use less energy physically too.

[@earth-2-ethan]

Glad you all good dude! Sketchy swim for sure. It looks like a little more speed would have helped you out maybe 🤙🏻

[@briand3837]

It was obvious from the first rapid that your skill set didn't match the river. Best to get some experience on a milder river.

[@SergeyVoynov]

I've done this river successfully couple of dozens of times throughout last 8 years. Thank you for your opinion though.

[@FF-bu4ze]

Sorry about the tough swim Sergey. Glad you are okay.

[@Kevinjk68]

Brutal swim, birdbath all the way to the top of national. Yikes! Glad you are alright.

[@element_of_water]

It looks like you are in the survival mode from the beginning of the run. Hope you're getting well.

[@billoffutt2237]

Wow, Mel's Toilet Bowl then into Debbie's crack into the meat of Triple Drop. At least you got out before going for the boof at National! Glad that you're OK. 2.4 feet at least has a little bit of paddling but one rock can really ruin your day as you found out.

[@DejanSmaic]

Not picking on you, but from my perspective there was a lack of control and aggressive paddling.

[@jeffolsen4983]

Thanks for this. I've just subscribed.

[@saint5203]

I love a good beater video

[@RagingRapids311]

Holy crap you swam triple drop!

[@tankmaster1018]

I almost jumped out of my chair at the 5:22 mark when he slipped out of the last chance eddy before the meat of Triple Drop... Glad he got out before swimming National too! Has to be one of the most brutal places to swim on the Upper besides Little Niagara and the top of Heinzerling!

[@RagingRapids311]

@@tankmaster1018 I swam Little Niagara. Do not recommend 😂

[@zacsav4ge100]

Brother swim up stream just a little more and claw them rocks u missed so many oppurtunities

[@copastm]

Dude, I'm not sure if you should be paddling the UY. You might want to paddle Class III and IV some more to work on bracing, powerful forward strokes, and boofing.

[@SergeyVoynov]

Yeah. Thanks. I have paddled it for years though. Just shitty paddling that day. Lesson learned

[@danhorseman6078]

woof 🤦‍♂

[@hfrechen1]

Sergey, sorry to see this. Glad you made it out ok. Must say this certainly cured me of any desire to paddle again !😊

[@SergeyVoynov]

Commonnn Henry. You dont need to do UY (which I'm going back to soon), but you definitely CAN do the lower or something line new. I'm always happy to go with you. You have hsnged your paddle 10 years to soon.

[@markmccrocklin7101]

The river is calling you Henry

[@SergeyVoynov]

Yes it does. Not only the river, but also people of the river. Diont give up on us Henry. Ken Wright hasn't, and he is like 15 years older

[@hfrechen1]

@@SergeyVoynov Well, at this point I would need a lot more energy to even do the lower yough. I really appreciate how supportive you've been Sergey.

[@777PLove]

Damn that sucked

[@SergeyVoynov]

It did. I should not have put in at 2.4 after such a long break. Plus my paddling sucked indeed.

[@777PLove]

@@SergeyVoynov you could always video kayak get better real quick

[@beenwithalowercaseb19]

Booty beer??

[@andriybohatko3261]

Капець, так і втонути можна

[@jonathanmcelhinney5782]

Unfortunately, you need to understand when to call off a paddle. Youre obviously having a bad day from the start and the other paddler getting pinned so your team was busy helping him was a recipe for disaster. Glad youre ok, and i know it sounds bad, but try to understand how youre paddling and be prepared to walk off if you need to, before the swim happens.

[@SergeyVoynov]

Very accurate assessment. No argument there. Thank you

[@MrOceanmind]

can't understand why no one is around you