 - Clem relaxing on the limitedly controllable skatechair
“G’day and right...
As for the skatechair, one can be built very simply, the first prototype (shown in the pics) was assembled using an old skateboard with bung trucks, an old chair, 1 screw and a whole heap of tape!
I had to experiment with the position of the chair on the board a bit as initial test runs resulted in carnage. Once the balance was sorted it was all on. Sad to say that the first attempt at a JUMP didn't go as planned. The small skateboard wheels struggled to make it up the lip of the hoary jump we made so the skatechair stopped dead in its tracks, I however being forced to succumb to the laws of gravity, continued on my way and ended up in a tangled heap on the footpath”.  - Side view, note the black tape adding a small amount of structural stability.
Here’s a wrap of a recent paddling trip in NZ and just to add an air of mystery, the shots of NZ are mixed with ones from Clem’s trip to Japan.
Why? Because we want to, we have the console, we have the power ….
Have a read of this below which give an idea of his motivations and he’s full time in the outdoors in NZ, so give him a shout via his blog at www.actionelement.blogspot.com  - Blake keeps his nose dry, Hollyford, NZ. Photographer Mike Abbot
“It all seems so unreal now, sitting in an artificially lighted room with 20 computers buzzing away trying to catch up on a years worth of paperwork before graduation in 4 days! Where did I go wrong? Why didn’t I space my work out to make it less stressful? I used to consider myself pretty good at time management; well I guess the proof's in the pudding.
Sitting here procrastinating, it all became clear. I’m force-feeding the rat arsenic and the poor fella doesn’t like it. No wonder I’ve put all this work off, it’s because it’s unhealthy, it’s bad for me and my urge for adventure, my need for speed, my aching for adrenalin. Lucky I’ve got my trusty skate-chair (old lounge chair duct-taped to old skateboard) to give me a buzz on the way home!  - Spud and Jimmy check out the Styx River, Hokitika, NZ
Anyway… back to Milford. Two groups split by gender/ability/balls made the long drive down to Milford from Timaru, all excited and ready to charge on some challenging whitewater.
Straight into it, must make moves, crystal clear water, highly edible and extremely satisfying. Fantastic day one on the ‘Falls Creek’ section of the Hollyford. Back in the zone after a winter of pies, procrastinating and skate-chairs!  - Clem, Curtain Falls, Falls Creek section, Hollyford river, NZ. Photo by Mike Abbot.
Day two saw us paddle across the beautiful Milford sound, walk an hour up the Milford Track, and put onto the Arthur River. It was pretty low and the chances were high that one of us would get pinned! Vaughan obliged us and got himself stuck down a grade 4 section, a quick, hectic, smooth, and successful rescue followed and we were on our way again. Good run, I rate it, but the paddle back across the sound was a bitch ‘cos of a nasty head wind!
Bring on the rain, bring up the rivers, bring up breakfast cos I’m pretty scared now. Day 3 saw us on the Cleddau river with a decent amount of water in it. We put on quite high up to get some more action in. Sadly I don’t remember much from today cos I was operating at the extreme peak of my comfort zone. I remember walking some rapids, I remember running lots of rapids, glad to say that the rat got one huge feed today! Hope this has provided you a taste of the amazing week we had, the Milford sound / Te Anau area of southern NZ is a spectacular place that offers fantastic opportunities for you to get off on what you’re into, sea kayaking, creek boating, rock climbing, mountaineering, bush walking and sight seeing, its all here. Just watch out for the buses when you shoot the red light at the Homer tunnel!
Writing this has killed a bit of time, sadly it hasn’t done any of my work for me! Good luck to you all, go hard, live life, and I’ll see you in the playground”. Clem
PS. Tell Arapiles I’m on my way back!  - Clem on Sorachi River, Japan.
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