Helmet with face protection?

[Karla]

Who all has helmets with face protection? Wandering who has what and what is liked about them. Also best one out there.

Karla

[perspective7]

Painter Bob sent me a link to Plateau helmets...by far the cheapest and they look pretty solid...I'm waiting to order mine

[Clif]

You talk to Jeremy??? aka OOO

[Steve S]

Ask OOO about the WRSI Face Protection System. http://www.wrsisafety.com/fps.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Shep]

Important note on the WRSI. As of last fall, the new composite WRSI helmets are NOT compatible. A sales guy at NOC helped me compare the plastic helmets to the composite ones, and the composite helmets do not have the place for the FPS to slot in at the front.

Thanks,
Shep

[ckuntz]

Sweet protection makes arguably the best helmets out there(and probably the most expensive). They make a Sweet Rocker full face. I think Jeremy has those in stock. If you decide to get one, they have alot of padding throughout the inside of the helmet which makes for a fantastic fit but also a very warm helmet... Love it this time of year but is overkill for me when temps get closer to 60.

Chris K

[Karla]

Got my rocker with face shield today at OOO. You will see a more protected me next time on the river. Don't want another broken nose.

Karla

[okieboater]

how did it happen?

[Karla]

Ran the esses. Flipped on one rapid and as I went upside down on a drop, a rock at the bottom smacked me in the face, broke my nose in 4 places and got stitiches on the top of the nose last Sunday, the 18th. I am doing ok, just the nose is sore, occasional headaches. swelling down a whole lot and got stitches out Friday. Should heal in about 6 weeks ENT doc said. I just didn't want to take more chances and hit it again so got some face protection for my next kayak whitewater trip. Don't plan to paddle the tot again unless very later on. Working on my roll and I have it part of the time in the pool in my hero. I can roll a RPM consistently.

Karla

[okieboater]

That is not a good place to swim.

Hope things heal up fast.

[Cowper]

The injury actually occurred at the first drop 0.10 mile downstream of the Esses. I don't know if it has a name or not, but there is a little hydraulic at the bottom left that is known for being too sticky for side-surfing at most levels.

Karla was running the right-side line, but flipped 15 feet before making it to the the end of the rapid, which put her upside down going over some very shallow rocks in the run-out of this rapid. I think she was leaning back a little at the time of the flip, and never had a chance to tuck forward before getting hit.

[okieboater]

Yup, I have spent quality time side surfing in that hole.

Way back when I did not know any better I was there with a not to be named long time and more experienced boating bud who suggested my new free fall would be a fun side surf in that hole. Never had noticed it before and looking for a good time - in I went sideways. The free fall was a perfect fit and I lost count of the instant window shades me and the free fall made. I eventually pulled the eject cord and swam out the bottom. That was decades ago and I have not been in there or even close since.

Karla, hope every thing heals up good and you are back on the Tot soon. One of my favorite creeks in Arkansas.

[Karla]

Thanks Okiboater. Cowper is right. I have watched this video that Steve gave me and saw my mistake then where I hit the rock. I may post this video do others may learn what this was like and see how it happened. I had said I probally won't paddle the Esses again but I think I would do better next time and may have to get back on that horse. So what do ya'll think?

[SteveGabbard]

If you are asking should you go to the Tot again my advice follows for what it's worth. I would suggest stepping back to rivers you know well and working them hard. Catch every single eddy you can, ferry the fastest currents, etc... By eddy I mean even the smallest ones you can get into. Work on reading the water and anticipating where it will take you. Don't just blow down a rapid and be happy at the bottom. Dissect it into pieces.

There was a guy that came through the Esses in a C1 the day we were there who was amazing to watch. He was dancing with the river. Catching eddies, ferrying, surfing, and had a huge smile on his face the whole time. Everything was smooth. Learn to dance with the river. Dance with the Cadron and others first. Then, when you are ready, dance with the Tot.

[okieboater]

Putting on my Instructor Hat for you Karla.

What Steve said with these comments.

In your practice runs, make class three plus moves on spots with class two or one recovery pools below.

Go back to the Canoe School drills and get on edge carving back and forth front and back on the flat water slalom course, then move on to class two moving water spots and work them till you can do the moves almost with eyes closed. Get that edge control down to where your hips and cheeks automatically know which edge needs to go up or down depending on the current differentials you encounter.

When you are out and about, never run a direct line down a rapid with eddy turns that can be made. Make each rapid a learning experience.

The Esses is not a good place to learn catching eddies. A great place to gain experience and move up the difficulty ladder after you get the basic moves down perfect on rapids with less dangerous consequences of mistakes. I would not recommend getting back on that horse till you get those eddy turn and ferry moves down solid and reliable. Then go back with a big smile on your face and enjoy that great Arkansas rapid to it's maximum. There is a bunch of eddies to catch on that rapid and practice the easy ones first and up the game as you gain confidence. A person can run the Esses direct, but there are a bunch of nice big eddy spots that set you up for the next move and make it easier and even more fun.

I also think you should get your roll down pat. Practice in fast current, crossing eddy lines, in the middle of a ferry etc till they are automatic. Again the Esses is not a good place to roll under any circumstances but I have seen folks pull them off and avoid a long rocky swim. I think getting the roll down is good recovery insurance but more importantly it will teach your body how to swap edges and co ordinate upper and lower body movements.

Get well and get back training, I would love to see your next Esses run end with a big ole smile and hi fives at the bottom pool.