I'm planning on studying in Germany for the fall 06 semester. I don't know anything about the paddling in Germany. Are there any college cities with class V rivers nearby? Is is necessary to have a car or are there paddling clubs? If anyone has any information or can point me to where I can find out about kayaking in Germany it would be very helpful. I can have fun on a class III-IV run but what I am really looking for is some class V creeking.
Thanks,
Ben

Ben,

There are clubs but as always it easier with your own motor. Germany has some sweet kayaking but as you seem to like it steep and technical I would recommend you base your self in the south of the Country. Munich/Ausburg or any other town in Bayern would be a good option possible the best. Konstanz/Freiburg are all uni towns and close to the Alps. Just look at a map check out where the alps are and your options

As for more info talk to these boys

www.alpiner-kajak-club.de

The will defintely be able to point your in the direction of some V runs

Try to get here as early as possible the season is best in spring/summer but there is some runs for fall to boot. But winter can be cold. A bit of warm weather/ hard rain will bring in the Black Forest and some of the smaller mountain run offs

Here is a river map of Austria
www.kajaktour.de/oesterreich.htm
Switzerland
www.kajaktour.de/schweiz.htm

Enjoy your trip its a nice place

A interesting site (if u speek German) is the site of the DKV www.kanu.de/nuke/index.php . and luadb.lds.nrw.de/LUA/wiski/phpwel.htm this is a list where u can see or there is water at the moment.
Enjoy your studies

another great site for kayaking in Austria (if you end up in Munich, that's close):

www.kajak.at ( www.kajak.at/Fluesse/index.php?land=1

And for all those non german speaking... Try use Alta vista's Bable Fish translator: babelfish.altavista.com/

It works just fine and from time to time it makes you smile a bit

Ben,

I recently left after spending a couple of years in the N of Germany (no WW:>(. We used to drive down to Austria for the weekend, basing ourselves out of Landeck in the campsite on the river (Camping Sport Tyrol?) From here you can meet up with other paddlers and get tips on most of the river levels. The end of season has lots to offer, although most of the GdV becomes technical as opposed to pushy snow melt. A must have guide book is White Water Europe North Alps by Peters Bandtock and Knowles; likewise the DKV book is very detailed but somewhat difficult to read if your technical German is not up to much.

On the Inn try:
Finstermunster Gorge
Inn Shoot (you can check it all out fromm the road - but its much bigger when you get on:>)
Landeck gorge (nice wind down play session before getting off at the bottom of the campsite)

Up the Oetz Ache try
Heilenkreuz Gorge
Venter Ache
Upper Oetz
Middle Oetz (I was only brave enough to do it in low water)
Lower Oetz (walk up from slalom course)

Other fun but not so demanding runs include:
Melach
Pitzbach
Rosanna
Trisanna
Sanna (all of which I recall need rain)

Also worth checking out for the Gd V(-) nightlife is Crazy Eddies at Haiming. Saturday night offers all kinds of activities from freestyle MX to Raft rodeo. Its also where most of the guides hang out, who can offer good advice as to what is hot/not.

Enjoy it! I'm now stuck in Canada, three hours from the rockies.....how life sucks;>)