How 2023 Has Gone So Far | Steve & Ute
It was not a great Winter to say the least at home in Austria, so with our house nearing completion we decided to head to Chile for a couple of months. We have built a stunning lodge up in the mountains above Pucon, with views of the snowcapped Volcano Villarrica and Llaima. Nested in a hectare of land it really is the perfect place to be able to spend some more Summer time, kayaking and hanging out at our place!
It had not rained for a while before we arrived in Pucon, the rivers were low but still enjoyable. We headed down to the Rio Fuy for a few days to catch up with Diego and also his family. The Rio Fuy is stunning, clear water, views of the Choshuenco Volcano and some fun rapids with a sweet surf wave further down! Hanging out with Christian and his family at his campsite and rafting base is a real highlight of our time in Chile. The welcome is amazing and it is so good to kayak and camp by the side of the river.
Diego was enjoying showing us some sweet waves and it was great to be on the river again with him. We also managed to paddle a low water San Pedro, it was the first time Diego had kayaked it. Again stunning scenery, crystal clear water and some fun rapids makes the Rio San Pedro a great days kayaking.
Ute flew back home to Austria to continue skiing and Steve spent a couple of days taking photos on the Mariman Extreme Slalom Event. It was the second time Steve had been a photographer at this sweet little local run event. It was great to capture not only the action but also the cool vibe that event brings! After the Mariman it was time to get the house prepared to welcome the first guests and a weeks Class 3-4 Pucon Kayaking Trip. Mati was now leading the trip and Steve had the unusual job of driving the truck! The week went really well with everyone kayaking the classics such as the Upper and Lower Trancura, Rio Fuy, Rio San Pedro and finishing off with a run down the waterfalls of the Upper Palguin.
By the end of March, Steve was back home in Austria. The snow finally arrived and there was some powder skiing to be had in the Arlberg Region. Both Steve and Ute were skiing loads, touring into the mountains to find solitude and by the time it was mid-April Steve was heading to Slovenia for a week of coaching.
It has been a few years since we were last in Slovenia kayaking on the Soča River. Not much had changed, except we were no longer staying with Aleš as his daughter moved into the apartment. So now we were staying in the town of Bovec. It was very convenient for walking down into the centre of the town for a beer, ice cream or coffee depending on what the weather was doing that day! The Soča is a stunning river and a great place to train and for us, in the Kayak School Arlberg, to coach. The week flew past, Steve headed back home for a few days and then Ute joined him for another weeks worth of coaching in the Soča Valley.
By the time we both got back home to the Arlberg in May, the weather had turned and another 50cm of fresh snow had fallen up in the mountains. It may have been cold but the rivers were rising and of course with our Peak PS kit we were keeping warm and dry on the river with the Whitewater One Piece or the Deluxe Jacket.
Our courses were now in full swing, the sun was back out and we were enjoying life coaching and teaching on the river while showing our guests some of the best whitewater to be found in the Alps!
What a great start to the 2023 kayaking season and with the Austrian Summer just around the corner we were looking forward to wearing our combi and freeride jackets again….
