Re: [Paddlewise] Derek on PBS

Hi Barbara,

>Anyone else see the PBS outdoors show with Derek Hutchinson? It was really
>one of the most acurate portrayals of sea kayaking I've seen on TV.

Yes! Wasn't that something!? It sure had us all wound up. One of the best
episodes I've ever seen. Marie got up this morning and said she was so busy
sea kayaking all night long on the North Sea that she hardly got any rest!

> He took the TV guy, who's name I forget,

John Viehman, editor of "Backpacker" magazine, formerly did the TV show
"Trailside," and now produces "Anyplace Wild." Even if you're not especially
keen on the outdoors, you'll enjoy his shows. He's wonderful. He makes
everything seem so inviting, and you wish you were there with them --- but
maybe NOT on the North Sea. That was hair-raising, wasn't it?

Guy's brave, too, isn't he? John was clearly way out of his depth, but he
gamely pressed on. I've seen him do that on other shows he's done, too, such
as mountain and rock climbing, when he's clearly stepped way beyond his
comfort level. Yet, he keeps on where most folks would have said, "That's it
--- I'm going home now."

Did you notice what an effort it was for him just to try to breathe and talk
naturally on the big water? He was fairly croaking out his words. The
tension had me on the edge of my seat.

I was wondering, too, afterwards, if he was also trying to clear his sinuses
having just experienced a frightening capsize, which wasn't included in the
show, of course. I wonder how many times he capsized?

And poor John: he almost kills one of the most famous names in kayaking! He
must feel awful. But, he's such a nice guy that he went ahead and included
that in his show. We love the guy.

Did you notice that they showed the diagram of the ferrying technique
employed for one of the crossings, but, except for showing them just
starting out into the tidal race(?) and John screeching DEREK! as soon as
the current catches his boat, we never actually SAW them doing the crossing.
I wonder if they decided to abandon that?

Did you notice how Derek always appeared so cool, calm, and collected?
Utterly unruffled, as he comments that he loves it out here on the wild
water, while I suspect John is frantically striking bargains with God!

Man alive! I'll bet John remembers this experience for the rest of his life.

> paddling in the North Sea to visit historic
>(castles) and natural sites (puffins). The did a little surfing and bracing
>practice, talked about tides and currents. I liked it alot. 

Wasn't that an amazing camera angle they found, towards the end of the show,
with the camera on shore pointed out over some rocky outcrop or something,
and John and Derek paddling along and chatting as this HUGE swell lifted
them up into view, and them DROPPED them like an elevator clean out of our
sight? And then all we hear are them chatting for the longest time, nowhere
to be seen. And then uuUUUP! again. They really worked on that shot. For us,
that was one of those "Oh my GOD!" scenes.

I think sea kayaking is no more effectively captured on video than is motor
racing --- you've really got to BE there to experience it. But, I agree with
you, Barbara, that THIS show captured the experience more vividly than I've
ever seen done before. This one's a keeper.

This was an amazing production. I've really got to send John an email and
tell him how much we enjoyed this episode. Anyone know his email address?

>BASK people,

BASK?

> it's also available for purchase for $19.95. Should I pursue
>that, or did someone tape it?

I've found that PBS shows broadcast during the week on prime time are often
replayed on Saturday afternoons sometime. I checked for you, and locally we
have "Anyplace Wild" broadcast on Sat., 9/19/98, at noon, and at 5 pm on two
different PBS channels. My TV guide doesn't indicate which episodes these
are, though, but I'd bet at least one of them is the visit with Derek H.
Check your local listings and tape 'em all.

-Bruce


>Barbara in Richmond California
>* -- * -- * -- * -- * -- * -- * -- * --*--*--
>        Barbara Kossy Communications
>  voice: 510-234-3479 fax: 510-234-6615
>* -- * -- * -- * -- * -- * -- * -- * -- *--* --

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