Travis of Paddle & Portage Canoes rides the Wenonah Rendezvous through rapids

Recently I had my first taste of white water on the Kangaroo River, a few hours drive south of Sydney. My guide and instructor for the day was Team Fat Paddler member Travis from Paddle & Portage Canoes, my paddling partner for this year’s Hawkesbury Canoe Classic. Whilst I was looking to run the river in my Remix, Travis was keen to take out his white water canoe, the Wenonah Rendezvous.

Travis paddling onto the standing wave at the weir

Sliding onto the standing wave. Float bags are a good idea if you want to try this!

Once on the wave, the Wenonah Rendezvous, oops I mean Travis, surfs beautifully!

Our day was split into two parts. The first, a run down the Kangaroo River rapids that lasted a few hours. The second, a play on a standing wave created by a flooded weir further down stream. For both, it was amazing to see how well Travis handled the canoe in the rough – he could fly over rapids, could easily spin the boat as he crossed eddy-lines, and when it came to surfing the standing wave, the canoe was exemplary.

Travis carefully backs the Wenonah Rendezvous off the wave and into the froth

Sparky has a turn, paddling onto the wave. See video footage of Sparky's wave below.

Of course, had I been paddling it, it probably would have sunk – haha! But in the hands of Travis and his white water mate Sparky, the boat was amazing in the frothy stuff and looked like an amazing barrel or laughs. To prove it, here’s a little bit of video from the mornings paddle.

For enquiries in Australia on Wenonah canoes, contact Travis from Paddle & Portage Canoes. Cheers – FP