Читать книгу Carolina Whitewater. A Paddler's Guide to the Western Carolinas онлайн

39 страница из 66

1. EQUIPMENT—Today decked boats are being built and marketed with primary design functions that aid paddlers on steep, technical descents. These boats are generally short, high-volume, and heavily rockered in the bow, with large cockpits—all helpful performance and safety features. Open boats are shorter, narrower, drier, and more maneuverable. Many experts can roll open boats in difficult water because they are essentially outfitted as C-1s and are chock-full of flotation. Drysuits and synthetic undergarments, vast improvements over wetsuits and wool, allow the paddler more comfort and freedom of movement in cold weather (when the steep stuff normally runs). Life vests with exotic safety features, while not widely seen in the United States, are becoming commonplace in Europe. Skirts are drier and more bombproof, with rubber gaskets gripping the cockpit rims. Paddles are lighter and stronger. Helmets with chin and face guards are being used by more paddlers. Hand and elbow armor will not be far behind.