Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Soča (S - Gorge Cataract) - Slovenia


Diego Budeguer in the heart of the Soča River - Slovenia

The Soča river is far from being a secret to the European whitewater scene. For much of a 7 month long season, the Soča remains loyal to road tripping clubs visiting from afar, weekend warriors from neighboring countries, and locals soaking up the summer.


Julian alp views are vantastic.....

Besides the endless spring source welling up deep inside the Julian Alps, the Soča’s biggest attribute is the straight up combination of beautiful surroundings, crystal clear water and natural slalom eddies formed from the unique ghostly shaded karst rock.

Few paddlers leave the Soča unfulfilled. It is considered one of the most beautiful classrooms in whitewater. Even the strongest paddlers find some degree of satisfaction in the perfectly situated rocks, unique boofs and multiple sections of class II-IV.

The quality rapids and technical lines making the Soča a classic are also here. The Soča delivers the goods in a 2km stretch notoriously branded the Siphon Gorge.

The rocks in this stretch are bigger, tighter and can leave you wondering about safe locations on your first few runs down. But eddies always outnumber the siphons, and with good flows and a good group the S-Gorge of the Soča turns into a sweet, endless, boof to eddy playground.



Thanks to Laurent Devigne (FRA), Diego Budeguer and Fabian Bonnano (ARG) for great photos, lines and friendships during our week.