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FROM ROAD SHOWS TO ONLINE SHOPPING Induna Adventures is proud to be dealer for Xtreme Equipment and soon you will be able to browse through pictures of you favorite PFD’s on our website and do your shopping online. Extreme Equipment produce quality products and most of Southern Africa’s Rafting companies put their trust in Extreme Equipment to keep their clients afloat – wouldn’t you also? I decided to pen down my previous paddling encounter with Bruce Campbell, owner of Extreme Equipment: When you choose your kayaking partners, you would normally choose paddlers who are able to look after themselves. They should also be someone who would be able to give some assistance if you were in need yourself. When paddling the Sabie River’s commercial section on high water you are looking for a different quality in your kayaking partner: somebody you can out-paddle or out-run, as the river is infested with crocodiles and hippos. Bruce Campbell from Extreme Equipment is just that paddler. He used to paddle a very slow boat, the Ego, and with only one leg he is easy to outrun should a hippo attack you. Bruce, who lost his leg during a rock climbing accident years ago, bought Extreme Equipment from White Water legend Wayne Nicol, who had lost an eye during an accident. Both these guys still live extreme lives in many ways, deserving the name of their company. Bruce became famous for his “Road shows” where he visited all his big clients once a year to paddle with them and cause enough havoc so they would remember him next time they wanted to buy life jackets. His previous “Road Show” wasn’t any different. We met up in the dodgiest bar in our town “The Hysterical Hornbill” and the next day we went paddling. We were a group of 5 paddlers. Bruce was paddling his super short, super low volume, almost sinking kayak; maybe to showcase the buoyancy of his life jackets, making him the slowest paddler in the group. I felt safe. The mission was to paddle to the local surfing hole and spend the afternoon there. Just before we could reach the hole, our mission changed from having fun to surviving. The pool above the surfing hole was occupied by three adult hippos guarding over 2 infants. The one hippo was particularly upset by the group of multicolored river patrons and charged us at full speed. We all raced for the nearest bank and I secured first place, leaving Bruce in his half submerged kayak well behind. We jumped out of our kayaks and headed for the hills. I could hear the hippo crashing through the reeds behind us and, in the chaos, I realized our group of 5 has shrunk to 4. When I looked back, total disbelief jolted me to a standstill. Bruce was still struggling to get out of his kayak… To fit into a small play boat, Bruce always takes off his prosthetic leg and wedges it into the front of his kayak. It is easy to take off the leg but quite a time consuming job to put back on again, especially when a hippo is chasing you. As Bruce frantically struggled to attach his prosthetic leg he discovered his left leg, the good leg, was asleep from the tight fit of the play boat. I will never forget the sight of Bruce skimping across the riverbank, one leg half asleep, and the other leg semi-attached with a hippo behind him. It is almost impossible to outrun a hippo with two good legs, but Bruce showed heals – one plastic and one half asleep. |
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