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Phil on the Whitcome River NZ
Name: Phil Higgins
Age: 26
University: Teesside University
Subject: Industrial Design
Year of Study: 2nd year undergraduate.
Paddling Experience...?
I started kayaking about 15 years ago on the river Tyne. When I was 17 I went to the Austrian Alps.
That was it, I was hooked on kayaking abroad. In 1999 I was lucky enough to get a place on the British White Water
Rafting Team where I competed in the World Rafting Championships in South Africa on the Orange river. We didn't do
very well but it was a fantastic experience. Since then I've led groups to the French, Swiss and Italian Alps, Norway,
Ecuador, Chili and to the Zambezi, not forgetting having to brave the cold conditions in the Scottish Highlands. I spent
6 months in New Zealand exploring rivers in the north and south island also doing a little in Australia. Last year
I was also in Uganda playing on the White Nile for 5 months. Over the years I've also done quite well in freestyle
but my heart will always remain on the rivers and creeks, whether hucking off waterfalls, bouncing off rocks or
surfing the waves, I'm happiest on the water.
So, when was your last swim?
My last swim was about 1 year ago in New Zealand on the Perth River on the West coast of the South Island, I was paddling with
kayaking guru Alan Ellard and a few more pro paddlers, we reached the rapid, we all got out to inspect it, all apart from
Alan. Myself and the rest of the group put up safety and had already decided to walk the drop, Allan came down and made it look
easy, this stirred up some egos amongst us, all cursing Alan a small group walk back up to our boats myself included but with
the added Kodak courage (video camera present) it had to be done. Nobody saying anything but it was obvious we were all in
a bit of a rush to get it over with, nobody wanted to be last! I was the unlucky one, after watching some of the worlds
best disappear over the horizon line then watching throw lines being thrown, its not much of a confidence builder, but I
was already committed off I went, the idea was to get on to a big slab rock in the middle sliding down it to avoid two
chunky stoppers. Guess what? I missed the rock! Moral of the story, There's a reason why a pro boater is a pro and you're not,
and always trust your first instinct. It turns out that Alan had done the section a few days earlier and had walked the
rapid, he said "I got out last time, looked at it and got scared"...
What's your favourite river?
Thats a hard one to answer, I have so many favourites, if I had to narrow it down I'd have to say the Perth in
NZ and the White Nile in Uganda. Perth River, Its a classic, you get a Helicopter to the top, better than walking!
you can make three days out of it by walking up the two class 5 tributary's that join to make the Perth, there's a
small D.O.C. hut ( OK beds, a fire and no sand flys) at the confluence. Spend a day on each trib then 8 hrs of
class 5 back down to the bottom. White Nile because of so many reasons, you can spend a day banging out those
freestyle moves you see on the videos or pushing some technically difficult class 5 lines on the so many different
channels or quite simply chill out under the African sun. Oh yer the beer is strong and cheep!
What was your first boat?
Mmmmm.... Some old P&H Fiberglas thing my dad got me from somewhere, I still remember the glass rash
on my legs. I soon moved on to a good old Perception Dancer which a wore a hole in the bottom by having too much
fun sliding down the river banks. I'm now paddling a Bliss-Stick RAD 185 (made it myself when I worked at Bliss-stick
in NZ) and Ive just got a Wavesport Diesel 75.