The weather is settled and levels are looking good in Tessin. With our 'Swiss Paddling Team' we drive the 2 hour drive over the San Bernardino pass to the Versasca; a run that I have wanted to do for years. we arrive and see good levels armed with enthusiasm, we 'hop on' and run the upper and lower whilst on the river we catch up with a large group or Czechs who were running all the action with very little skill or style. Whilst in tessin we headed up the next valley for a park and huck off the Rebbu Fall this is a very straight forward 14m slide, all went well.

After a full weekend of working as raftguiding we treat ourselves on a little trip. Let's go to Italy, Valsesia. When we arrive in Valsesia it's getting clear that here is less snow on the mountaintops and the Sesia is low, bummer! After arriving we first went for a coffee on the Campertogno campsite were we find 'loads' of Brittish paddlers, all here because of the Teva Extreme Race. First we did a few drops on the Egua, one of the tributaries of the Sesia and in the evening we paddled the Sorba. But unfortunately not me, because with the landing on the first drop on the Egua, l took it 'on the chin', the paddle smashed in my face and ended up with a wobbely painfull tooth.

Because of the lack of water in Sesia, we drove back towards Switserland, just before the border there is a gorge called 'the Canabino'. It's impossible to get a 'glimp' of this gorge, so the guys descite to 'man up' and 'get on'. The scenery in the gorge is beautifull, steep walls, drops, exciting paddling. By taking an onlogical eddy Jarrod found a.......dog on a rock. After inspecting, the dog seems still semi-alive....how does dis dog come? Were did it fall in? Did it swam all the class 5 drops? It took the guys one and a half hour to 'dragg' the uber skinny dog out of the canjon. Becouse of the name tag the owner was called when they walked the dog in town (in kayak gear). The owner, a Italian Lady, was happy to see her dog back againg, she was been missing for 5 days. After recieving a reward ($35,-) it was getting time and get back in that gorge, find the kayaks and paddle the rest of the section.

After a good night sleep on the river banks of the Canabino we all go back home home, rafting work is calling...........

photos by Louis Henderson, Jarrod Brown, Maud Verboven,

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