After a brilliant kayaking trip to the French Alps in May, I was already dreaming of another adventure. I sent a message to the various kayaking group chats I was in asking if anyone was keen for another trip this Summer and received a reply from my friend Joe ‘Someone’s been back at work for half a day 😂’.
Luckily I also had a few other replies and by August, six of us were off to Austria for a week of alpine kayaking. This is my article to tell you all about it!
Driving to Austria
Thejourney begins
On Friday, I was busy helping to run a GB Freestyle academy kayaking camp for kids. As soon as they were off the water for the day, I had to rush off! Liv and Jake picked up Callum and me, while Steve and Becca drove ahead in their van. After a late night stop near Calais, we powered through 11 hours of driving to reach stunning Ötztal.
It was great to catch up on the car ride and I was very grateful to Liv and Jake for taking on the driving! I always love arriving in the Alps and that first sight of the mountains and you just know it’s only going to get more and more beautiful as you get closer.
Day 1 – Imst Gorge + Sanna
Despite the long journey to get there, we were all up early and ready for kayaking! I couldn’t believe how stunning Austria was that morning – beautiful mountains surrounded in mist!
First paddle: Bouncing through the imst gorge
We opted to start on the Imst Gorge (Imster Schlucht) section of the Inn as a warm up. This is a classic warm up section with big volume but chilled grade 2–3 rapids.
rolling with it
We had such a lovely time. It is really stunning on this section and after 1.5 days of travelling, it was so worth it! It was also nice to get to catch up with Steve and Becca who we hadn’t seen on the journey at all. I was chatting to Steve about how the hardest thing with water like this is spotting if it is a wave at the end of the train or the occasional rock lurking just below the surface with a hole behind it. He agreed that ‘those are the one’s that get you!’.
Less than 30 seconds later, I’m living my best life bouncing down a wave train which ended in a rock/hole instead of a wave. It took me by surprise and I was suddenly upside down having just caught my edge unexpectedly. I rolled up straight away and of course the irony of this happening immediately after our conversation was not lost on me! Luckily I quite like getting a white water roll out of the way early into a trip as I am then much more relaxed. Ironically this was my only roll of the trip!
We got out at the village of Haiming and was met by Liv. Although Liv was not kayaking herself on this trip, she had fancied a week’s holiday in the Alps! Liv is very kind and did many of our shuttles over the week which we were very grateful for.
afternoon delight: Finally paddling the sanna
We headed to the Sanna for some afternoon laps which I was ecstatic about. Many people had told me that I would love the Sanna but unfortunately I had never been able to paddle it. When I came to Austria 8 years ago, there had been monumental floods resulting in landslides and the Sanna was not accessible due to the team of diggers in it at the time to remove all the debris. I was of course therefore very excited to finally get on!
We met a nice group of kayakers at the get on who turned out to be British as well – shout out to John and his friends! After chatting with them for a little bit during the shuttle, we got on and paddled.
This section is incredible. A stunning section of grade 3+ (with hints of 4) rapids. Beautiful boulder rapids and more bouncy wave trains. It was simply a gorgeous afternoon of kayaking!
We headed back to the accommodation for a delicious pasta bake made by Liv. The accommodation had a large balcony which was perfect for drying gear and eating outside. Who doesn’t love dinner with a view of the mountains!
Evening walk: Imaginary lines at Wellerbrücke
In the evening, Steve and Becca invited me to join their little walking date to see Wellerbrücke. This is a section of the Öetz that the elite white water kayaking race Sickline used to be run on. It is really cool to walk along the path picking imaginary lines along this section, knowing full well that it is so far out of your league so you would never actually have to run those lines! Becca did really enjoy playing pooh sticks over one of the bridges at the top however. Let me tell you – that stick got some downtime!
Day 2 – A day trip to Switzerland
crossing borders: a day trip to switzerland
With water levels dropping, we decided to go to Switzerland today to paddle some sections of the Swiss Inn!
Alpacas & Rapids: Susch to Giarsun
We planned to paddle 4 sections in total. Susch to Giarsun, Giarsun Gorge, Ardez Gorge and ending with Scoler Strecke. Ambitious but we were all excited by the possibility of making it happen! The get on at Susch was very pretty and the farm next to the river had alpacas in the field which delighted us!
The first section was very chilled grade 2. There were lots of little fun waves to surf and rocks to moves to make but it was very straight forward. The chilled vibes of the river really allowed you to appreciate what a stunning place we were paddling in.
The giarsun gorge: The best section of the swiss inn?
When we got into the Giarsun Gorge it felt like a step up in terms of gradient and grade. A beautiful boulder garden section full of fun moves. I went at the front and really enjoyed leading on this section which was great fun. A grade 3/4 technical section with steep cliffs and beautiful little rapids. This was my favourite section of the 4 that we paddled.
Stepping Up: Ardez Gorge Challenges
When we got to the start of the Ardez Gorge, there was the option to get out here. Becca and Callum decided they were happy for the day and wanted to get out. At the start of the day, I had assumed I would probably not paddle the Ardez Gorge after reading the guidebook description.
However, I had found the Giarsun Gorge very straightforward and felt like I was paddling well. I was keen to paddle the Ardez and when I spoke with Steve and Jake they were more than encouraging about me continuing and about my capabilities in paddling it. So off we went!
It certainly was a step up after the Giarsun section but quite okay. After a beautiful couple of entry rapids, we then had 2 portages. It was quite hard work to carry your kayak around the rapids in this environment but we got there eventually! And I only fell head over heels once during those portages! (I am very clumsy if you do not know that about me).
There were lots of fun little rapids as well as some more distinct drops that we had to scout.
By the time we got to the final section, I was exhausted! Luckily it was a grade 2 bimble with the occasional harder rapid. Eventually we made it to the get out. After more than 5 hours of non stop continuous paddling (and portaging / scouting) we were spent! Liv, Becca and Callum met us at the take out and we were so grateful to not need to run the shuttle.
Dinner in a Godfather Van: A Surreal Swiss Evening
As it was now close to dinner time we decided to head to the Swiss town of Samnaun to get dinner.
We stopped at a restaurant and noticed they had an old van out the front that had been converted into a dinner area with a full table and seats built into the van. Steve made a joke that we should ask to eat in van to which we all laughed. As we entered the restaurant and was greeted by one of the waiters, imagine our surprise when the first thing Callum says is ‘can we sit in the van?’. The waiter also seemed very surprised but quickly gathered some menus and took us back outside.
The van door was opened up and we squeezed inside. We browsed the menu in a slight dazed state as none of us could quite believe we were actually in this situation. Meanwhile the staff were delighted. The waiter quickly came back accompanied by the chef who wanted to show us all the hidden features inside the van. The van was actually on the set on the Godfather film but had been converted to be a dining area. They had only finished it 3 weeks ago and we were the first group to dine inside it.
The staff were so delighted that they came and took our photo several times and told us repeatedly how great it was we had chosen to eat there. Locals and tourists alike were taking pictures and videos of us through the windows and we could do nothing but laugh. The food was amazing and by the end of the evening we were very glad to Callum for instigating what would be an incredibly memorable evening!
Day 3 – Lower Öetz laps
Returning to Familiar Waters
We stayed local today with chilled laps on the Lower Öetz. Eight years ago, this section intimidated me. Not any more!
Bouncy grade 3 fun is how I would describe Lower Öetz! Absolute class joy!
Leading with Ease
I really enjoyed taking on the leading of this section. It feels amazing to be at the front and completely in control of your own lines. The challenge to then make sure you are communicating with the group and making sure everyone is having fun is one I enjoy.
In the evening, the others hit the spa whilst I opted for a quiet evening in and a call home to Tom. It was lovely to get an early night after such a busy few days.
Day 4 – Upper and Lower Öetz
Facing the Upper Öetz: Nerves and Determination
There had been talks of paddling the Upper Öetz and we decided that this would be a section that was best kayaked in the morning – especially as the weather was increasingly getting hotter throughout the week.
The Upper Öetz starts with it’s hardest rapid which is easy to scout from the road. If you look at it and think ‘not for me’ then it is an easy decision to not get on. I was unsure but as I had found the Lower section quite easy and felt I was paddling well, I was considering it.
We drove over and the Öetz was at the high end of low /moving into medium. The entry rapid did indeed look intimidating but not impossible. Becca and Callum immediately decided it was not for them. Myself Jake and Steve however spent some time looking at the first rapid and discussing lines. It was a little messy, with some annoyingly placed rocks, lots of munchy holes and plenty of curlers to push you into those holes.
As we were discussing lines, Becca came over to tell me how gnarly she thought it was and how nervous she was for us to get on as it was so pushy. I was a little nervous but tried to stay focused on choosing a line and not letting fear determine my decision to get on or not.
Supportive Kisses & finding my confidence
As we headed up to get on the river, Liv and Becca were giving Jake and Steve some supportive encouragement kisses. I joked that there was no one to give me a kiss goodbye and Liv kindly gave me a little good luck kiss on the cheek! Thanks Liv!
I was suddenly incredibly nervous. This was a step up from everything we had paddled this week. I felt I had been paddling well and was capable of making the moves but the nerves were still there.
I shared this with Steve and Jake who were both immediately incredibly supportive and encouraging of me. I knew for this rapid I needed to be confident and decisive with my kayaking. That little burst of encouragement from the boys really fuelled my confidence and so I chose to get on, feeling no longer nervous but instead incredibly determined.
The rapid turned out to be surprisingly easy. Commit yourself fully to the left line, paddle hard and make sure you have momentum. Despite having a small wobble at the crux moment, the momentum I had built up with my kayak ensured I stayed on my line and smashed out the final move.
We caught an eddy below to the cheers of Liv, Callum and Becca. They congratulated us and Becca told me again how gnarly she thought it was. This time however, it felt like praise instead of fuel for the fear and I felt very happy.
We paddled the rest of the section which was grade 4 read and run. It was good fun but the water was very powerful and pushy with lots of big holes. I felt I paddled well. I had wobbles but recovered well each time. By the time we got off, I was very tired but also very proud of myself.
I gave the boys a hug and thanked them. It has been a while since I pushed myself and I really felt like they had both been such a big part of me getting on.
I knew I could paddle this section but it was only through having 2 really good friends who supported me to make the decision to get on. Friends who believe in you and want you to succeed are invaluable. Thank you Steve and Jake for believing in me.
Jake and Steve went for a second lap of the Upper section but I was happy with my one. Afterwards we headed to the Lower Öetz for some afternoon fun.
Meeting some very lovely Czechs
Whilst the others were sorting the shuttle, I was approached by a lovely lady in the carpark called Jana. Jana and her friends Fanda and Maky were on a kayaking holiday from Czechia. They had never paddled the Lower Öetz before and wondered if they could join us. I checked with the others quickly but everyone was happy and so of course we said yes.
Jana did then tell me she knew me from my Instagram account and knew I was a good paddler. At this point, I had a horrible preminition that I would be leading this group down and then have my first swim of the trip. Luckily this didn’t happen but when I shared this with Jana and her friends, they did promise they would help out if that happened.
lots of Water & Big Smiles
I led our group of 7 down the Lower Öetz and then the last section of the Imst Gorge. It was higher and so the holes were bigger than the day before.
The lap was so much fun. Becca smashed a roll out on one of the more turbulent rapids and the Czechs smashed out their first lap! We had a lovely group photo to finish. Lovely to meet you Jana, Fanta and Maky – if you are ever in the UK, please do hit me up!
Day 5 – Trip to Italy & Lower Öetz
Scenic Paddling in the Isarco Valley
Today we ventured to Italy to paddle the scenic Isarco Valley – low water but high joy. It was the most beautiful valley and the gorgeous weather made it even more so! We paddled 2 sections back to back – 13km of grade 2-3 and 4km of grade 3-4.
Chunky Rapids & Last-Minute Decisions
Once we were back in Öetztal, I was ready for a lovely evening of relaxing outside. Jake mentioned he would really like to go paddle the Lower Öetz. At this point in the evening and in this heat, the Lower Öetz would certainly be chunky. I decided not to paddle. I was tired and content and didn’t know if I had a chunky Lower Öetz in me.
Steve and Jake both looked at me like they couldn’t believe it. 20 minutes later, I had changed my mind and decided actually I would really like to paddle the Lower Öetz!
We got on and it was chunky. The water was more powerful and pushy than our previous laps. I loved it. We had so much fun and I was so glad to have gotten on! When we got to Area 47 and the final rapid (where the holes get quite big), I felt a little nervous. I was unsure if I should paddle this last rapid.
Jake and Steve said ‘are you sure? You are MORE than capable’. I thought about it briefly and decided not to overthink it. So we paddled down and gosh was it easy! I had no idea why I felt I couldn’t do this final rapid. As we finished off and approached the Area 47 get out, I felt so happy and so glad I had gotten on.
Celebration Chaos: Missing the Take-Out Eddy
Unfortunately I celebrated too early. I had forgotten at this flow, the rapid re-joins another rapid and there is actually quite a bit of water coming down this one. I absolutely messed up my ferry glide across to the take out eddy. Clamouring onto the rocks to try and get out was difficult. The flow was fast and I was struggling to not float away!
Luckily Jake quickly got out to assist me… and in doing so swam out of his kayak in the eddy! Steve looked at us both in disbelief at the carnage in front of him and probably wondered how we had gotten ourselves into this situation. (We were wondering the same thing!)
Luckily it was only temporary. Jake got himself out immediately and was able to help me by holding onto my kayak as I got out. We headed back for showers and post river chat over a couple of beers. What a thoroughly lovely day!
Day 6 – Tösens Gorge, Lower Öetz and Area 47
Cooling Off in Tösens Gorge
On our last full day, we paddled the mellow Tösens Gorge. All of us had only paddled this section when it was quite high and bouncy. We had read however that other kayakers had paddled it lower and whilst it had been quite a different experience, it had still been very enjoyable and so we decided to give it a go!
The get on was gorgeous. It was now 30°C and super sunny! Myself and Becca enjoyed swimming around at the get on during the shuttle. It was very fun! When we got on, the river was not how I remembered it. It was mainly grade 2 with a couple of bigger rapids. Pretty and fun is how I would describe it.
Final Laps on the Lower Öetz
When we got off, it was already 2pm. We wanted to go to Area 47 in the evening and so decided we had one more river we could fit in. Liv suggested paddling the Lower Öetz and ending at Area 47 so we did!
It was a really lovely way to end our last time on the river in Austria. Staying in Ötztal, the Lower Öetz was our ‘local’ river as such and is also just such a classic section. It was great fun.
Sliding into Fun: Water Park Adventures at Area 47
We got off and off we went to the water park Area 47. 3 hours of fun on the slides was perfect!
Some final games and chats back at the accommodation was the perfect way to end our time in Austria.
Day 7 – The Loisach & Sky Bridge
Navigating the Boulder Garden: Safety & Strategy
As it was such a long drive home, we decided to break the journey up over 2 days and get a river in on our way home. We headed to the river Loisach, which is a German classic. A tight boulder garden gorge with lots of blind corners, plenty of pinning opportunity and many trees to keep us on our toes.
It was a really interesting section. I enjoyed it a lot but more so I found it a very interesting rivers in terms of considering group safety and dynamics. I have not done a lot of leading larger groups on rivers like this and found it fascinating. It gave me much food for thought about how to approach rivers like this on the journey home!
Unexpected Encounters: Naked Germans & Eddy Escapes
Once we got out of the gorge and more out into the open, the river difficulty eased up and people relaxed. There was also a new hazard that I was not anticipating. It was a hot sunny Saturday and the lower section of this river was brimming with naked Germans.
The first group we came across was some kind of German fire brigade / body building convention group letting off steam! One member of our group was delighted by this. We won’t name any names but let’s just say that Steve wasn’t best pleased.
My favourite naked German moment however was when Becca caught a small eddy, only to find herself sharing it with an elderly German gentleman who was floating chest up. I’ve never seen anyone exit an eddy as quickly as she did! Germany – you have certainly taken us by surprise!
Sky Bridge: A Sweaty Finale
Afterwards we headed back over to Austria for a sky bridge experience. It was a 20 minute (very sweaty) hike up to one end of the bridge but a worthwhile experience.
We rewarded ourselves with ice creams at the bottom before driving 5 hours back up North and stopping in Strasbourg (France) for the night.
Driving home!
We left Strasbourg early and headed back. A massive thank you to Liv and Jake for driving us home.
Final Reflections
Gratitude, Growth & Good Friends
This trip reminded me why I love kayaking: stunning rivers, spontaneous adventures, and friends who lift you up. We paddled in four countries, tackled new challenges, and shared countless laughs. I’m grateful to Steve, Jake, Becca, Liv, and Callum – for the support, the driving, and the memories.
Now to plan my next kayaking adventure! Happy paddling everyone!