General

Stefan Gilmour advises the Wairoa Extreme Race is going to be back for 2010. It is going to be a one-day race format with the time trial starting at 10.20 sharp, and the head-to-head races starting at the conclusion of the time trail. The event will be held on Saturday 13 February 2010 with Sunday 14 being a back up day, and or fun event day such as a ball race (to be confirmed). Entries will open in early January with the entry cost to be confirmed.

Antz Longman advises, CUMEC Magazine issue #9 is out now featuring Canadian Summers, Creeking in Val Sesia, Italy by Justin Gale, interview with Mike Dawson on the Sickline World Championships, Interview with Cooper Lambla on 12 months in NZ, Voss Extreme week by Jason Juno, The Southern Circuit (NZ) by Megan Foster & Crescent Head/Byron Bay (AUS) by Tracy Gibson, Murray White Water Festival from Western Australia.

BlissFest 2009 is coming up (3 and 4 October) in Dunedin. This festival is in it's fifth year and features a variety of events including a boatercross, giant slalom and surf competition. There is also a themed party on Saturday night; come along dressed as something starting with the letter 'B'. Entry is $50 for the weekend. For more information visit www.nzfks.co.nz/blissfest.

Cumec Magazine Issue #8 (July 2009) is out now with a Safety and Rescue flavour, featuring an interview with Zak Shaw, 10 Lessons Learnt from the River, All the Way on the Whitcombe (Keith Riley), Come with me... (Nikki Kelly) plus columns on surf kayak technique, photography, river safety, shoulder instability and some great photos.

Cumec Magazine Issue #7 (March 2009) is out now (subscriptions), featuring Himalayan River Girls (Sophie Hoskins and Malika Davies), NZFKS 2008, Laos (Sean Bozkewycz and Lachie Carracher), Kayaker Categories, Fiordland, The Upper Otaki (Chris Lacoste), Sevens Creek (Shaun McManamny), Paddlin'Fit - Finding the Balance (Megan Foster), Surf Kayak Technique - Posture and Trim (Ross Boardman), Interview: Hayley Shepherd, Technique: Boofing 101 (Ben Jackson) plus Photography Technique with Graha

Kiwi kayak auteur Josh Neilson writes, "This film follows us kayaking in Norway, USA and the Nepali Womens Kayak Expedition that happened last year. I was lucky enough to spend six weeks with a bunch of amazing Kiwi and international women teaching Nepalese women to kayak and get them ready to take on the male-dominated industry. The film is 1 hour long and half covers the adrenaline-packed creeking segment and the other half of the story is some amazing kiwi women kayakers.

BullerFest 2009 is rapidly approaching. Featuring Boater Cross on Friday 27 February. Kayak Slalom (individual and teams), Rafter Cross and the famous Rock the Buller Party on Saturday 28. Sunday March 1 sees the return of the kayak Big Air competition. Rock the Buller Party with DJ's O.B One (UK) and Aunty Ethel (Takaka). A weekend not to be missed. Contact Ben Jackson or Karl Reece at bullerfestival@gmail.com.

Genesis Energy have advised that the Poutu Canal will be reinstated on Friday 19th December, reducing the flow in the Tongariro River below Poutu intake to 16 m3/s

The Poutu Canal outage has been progressing ahead of schedule. The original completion date was 23 December, however, the likely finish date for this project is now between 16 and 19 December. When the project is finished the canal will be reinstated, reducing the flow in the Tongariro River below Poutu Intake to 16 cumecs.

CUMEC #6 features female kayakers doing slalom, sea kayaking, expedition paddling and surf kayaking. The issue contains articles on dealing with headspace, descending the Marsyandi, an introduction to surf kayaking, the first descent of the Big River, and an interview with Nikki Kelly.