Gear Garage Live Show | March 10th, 2025

This podcast is the audio version of the Gear Garage Live Show, where we answer submitted questions and talk all things whitewater.

Topics and links that Zach talked about in this episode

• Upper Wind Whitewater Festival
• Answer Questions

Some of the Questions that Zach covered in the Q&A section of this episode

Topic: 2D vs 3D Video

What does your "2D vs 3D" framework give us that the International Scale of River Difficulty doesn't already?

You posted an interesting video about 2D vs 3D boating. Your argument for the distinction between 2D and 3D is solid and I agree with most things you say. However, I don't really see the value of this system considering we already have the International Scale of River Difficulty to describe rivers. What does "2D vs 3D" tell us that class I-III vs class IV-V doesn't already? When a new framework for classification or description is invented in science and engineering, it has some clear differences and advantages to other existing frameworks. At the least, it should add some level of nuance to the conversation or be beneficial in niche situations.

Anyways, that's my overly-analytic peer review of your idea. I appreciate you taking the time to bring new ideas to the sport.

Topic:River Hardware Blower Adapters

Have you test-fit any of your blower adapters with the Bauer blower from Harbor Freight?

Topic: Flip in Green Wall

Three person, Three Boat trip on the Illinois. Flow was 1700 CFS and dropping.

We ran a single boat down while two people set safety below harvey. After we got a single boat through, the two other captains went up to run the rapid. During their run, the first boat flipped just prior to getting to the doors. The captain did an amazing job self rescuing himself, and made it to the shore prior to swimming down the crux move.

Now my question. We had a boat flipped, moving downstream. I decided to pull out of the eddy and work on getting the boat moved to the shore. I didn't get the boat into an eddy until the rapid after green wall. While you give tips on getting boats recovered in this situation, and will you give feedback on our safety plan on how we ran and set safety.