Werner Blog
Werner Paddles 2009 Event Listings Are Live
Werner Team Paddler, Steve Maynard, plays in Sullivan Falls, you can too at the Down East Sea Kayak Symposium in September. Photo by Danny Mongno.
As late autumn weather finds a majority of the country in colder temperatures and the end of day-light savings has certainly put a damper on after work water time, many of us are starting to store away our water craft for the winter. Even the most die-hard of winter paddlers yearn for the coming spring as they pull latex dry suit gaskets over their cold heads and listen to the ice crunch beneath their feet as they approach the waters edge.
With thoughts of warmer days on the water we are happy to announce our 2009 Events Schedule is up on the Werner Paddles Web Site. Be sure to check in from time to time as we are certain to be adding new events. From the early indoor shows to the late fall symposiums, stand up paddling events, river festivals and everything in between, the team at Werner Paddles will be there to support our passion with instruction, seminars, participation and of course the best paddles in the world. We look forward to seeing you on tour in 2009.
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Werner Team Member, Tanya Faux Reports On The TEVA LEA Extreme Race
Tanya Faux post this report about the TEVA LEA Extreme Race which was October 11-12 in Tasmania Australia….
Because of a crippling injury to my MCL, I had a great time observing the best ‘grass roots’ extreme race in the world, rather then being a competitor. ‘Grass roots’ events are ones where toilets are done in the bush; everyone congregates by parking their cars in a small farm paddock before shuttling boats and competitors to the put in and there is no really official start time, but we all know its around early afternoon, sort of when everyone feels like they have had enough practice runs.
In true Tassie spirit, we had the largest race contingent ever. With 25 teams and 50 competitors and beautiful sunny spring day, race day proved to be a splendid carnival atmosphere. With typical carnage at the major 4 meter drop called “Surgeons”,I saw side surfing, front blasting, and swimming. The race would be won by clean fast lines. Dan Hall and Justin Boocock came in first with a time of 11min: 27sec, making them the winner of this 4th annual event.
Till next year boys! I won’t be watching… he, he, he - Peace - Tanya
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Appeal To Support American Whitewater
Werner Paddles believes in AW's Mission, they are a valuable partner in our Healthy Waters Initiative. Here is a short appeal to all of us who love access to free flowing rivers by Mark Singleton, Executive Director of American Whitewater….
It has been said that you can tell more about a society by what they choose to throw away than what they choose to keep. Anyone who has ever paddled through a wild river canyon knows that our society needs to protect such places before they are gone. As paddlers you know these places better than anyone. Who better than you to advocate for their protection? The pressures on our remaining wild rivers are as great as ever, and AW is using every tool available to keep these places wild. American Whitewater is your voice at the regional and national level working hard to preserve these last great places. With your financial support, and your direct involvement as a citizen we can and will make a difference. Your support provides AW with the means to continue our river stewardship and meet the goals of our mission, “To conserve and restore America’s whitewater resources and to enhance opportunities to enjoy them safely.” By contributing to American Whitewater today you will be a major supporter of American Whitewater’s success, and enhance the ability for you, your friends, your family and future generations to experience these last great wild rivers.
Thank you for making this work possible,
Mark Singleton,Executive Director American Whitewater
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Israel, Patagonia & Werner Paddles: It's A Small World
Werner is proud to be supporting Yosef Dror and his team as they prepare for an expedition to Patagonia in sea boats. Here is what Yosef has to say about preparing for their trip…
On November 8, 2008, Roy Shatzki, On Arnon and I, Yosef (Yosale) Dror from Israel will start our Patagonia expedition. We will fly to Santiago, Chile and will head south to Puerto Montt. In Puerto Montt, at mid November, we will start paddling south, along the island of Chiloe, will pass by San Rafael glacier, and into the heart of the Patagonian Fjords.
The three of us don’t have a real time limit for the expedition, but we hope to get to the city of Punta Arenas, (more than 2,200 km south of our starting point) in about 3 months. The Chilean Patagonia fjords are known for an impressive variety of marine life. Including many different species of whales, dolphins, and many other inhibitors of the sea. The variety of birds is even larger. In addition to the unique flora and fauna, this southern part of our planet, is one of the places where the global warming is most noticeable. The glaciers of Patagonia are declining rapidly, and some of them are already gone. In a few years from now, there might be very little left of them. Another thing we are expecting to encounter is the notorious Patagonian winds that slides of the mountains surrounding our route.
These days, we are busy with gathering the last pieces of gear needed for the expedition. Werner Paddles together with Optimist Sea Kayaking Club from Israel are supporting the expedition and provided us with 2 sets of Ikelos neutral bent shaft paddles for each of us.
Another thing that keeps our hands full is having as much sea time as possible. We take advantage of the warm Mediterranean water and the ever changing weather conditions in the Israeli fall in order to get our surfing, rolling, and rescue skills to the maximum. A few days ago, Optimist Kayak Symposium took place in our own back yard, so we got the chance to learn and practice new skills.
Other supporters of the expedition are Reed that will provide us with paddling wear and gear and LARABAR that provides us with energy bars.
We will update the expedition blog as much as we can via satellite phone and internet access when available. For the 3 of us, spending long periods of time in nature and on the water is a way of life, however, this is the first series kayak expedition and we can’t wait to get started. 3 more days to go…
Check back here for updates on this amazing trip.
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Beachwalker Project and Werner Paddles Get On The Water
Robert Weinman of the Beachwalker Project (a clean water awareness project) got together with Dan Gavere for a "little" paddle on the Columbia River. Here is what Robert has to say about their day….
Over 1200 miles long, the Columbia River (known as Wimahl or Big River in the Gorge region’s native Chinook Language) is America’s fifth largest river by volume. It is along the banks of this quiet giant of a river in a small town named Hood River that I have been preparing for the next venture for the Beachwalk Project. Having a watershed near the size of France and draining two Canadian provences and seven US states (Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Montana, Wyoming, Utah & Nevada) you can imagine that the Columbia must have a variety scenery that it passes through. This weekend’s paddle was no exception.
I had the luck of meeting up with Dan Gavere from Werner Paddles who happened to be in town for the weekend. “I’ve got a great paddle for us.” I said over the phone on Friday. “Distance? Oh yeah…ten, maybe twelve miles, but great topography!” Feeling less confident about my distance estimation, as Dan pulled out a new hand held nautical GPS, I tried to distract him from marking his first waypoint. “Hey Dan check that out. That’s Beacon Rock. Did some of my first rock climbing there. Pretty amazing eh?” Beacon Rock, the basalt core of an ancient volcano, is a monolythic wonder. Rising nearly 850 feet out of the waters of the Columbia, it offers hundreds of rock climbs. “Sounds like great run.” was Dan’s reply as I pointed out the rather sketchy hiking trail on Beacon that was completed in the 1920’s with cantilevered bridges spanning rock faces. Only slightly distracted, Dan still remembered to mark his waypoint on the GPS….
”Drat.”
Gathering our gear we paddled out into the Columbia. A 2-3 knot current coupled with a steady 15 – 20 knot tailwind promised our travel would be quick. As we paddled into the main channel we must have appeared a strange apparition for the still groggy fishermen. I sitting low in my mango orange Old Town kayak along side a long haired fellow who appeared to be walking on water and sweeping it at the same time.
You see Dan is one of the early Guru’s of the now fastest growing paddling sport of stand up boards. Over the course of the day I began to understand why Dan, with over 30 years of kayaking under his belt, has chosen stand up to be his current favorite paddling sport. He literally surfed downriver.
“I thought he was walking on water.” was the comment from one of the fishermen upon seeing Dan surf by.. “Or you had run up on another sandbar again.” came the rebuttal from his shipmate.
The winds picked up steadily as Dan I entered the middle of our venture. Surfing on some good sized waves we turned to our left and peering beyond one of Columbia’s many fast moving river barges we could see the 700 foot cascade of Multnohmah Falls. The falls diverted our attention only for a moment as a three tiered, 80 foot paddle boat from nearby Cascade Locks headed our way and ushered us downriver to Phoca Rock a one hundred foot high rock island rising out of the middle of the Columbia.
A sudden gust knocked down my kite and as I fumbled with the lines Dan pulled ashore and scaled Phoca for a better view. We regrouped in the wind-shadow offered by the bold island and then continued to the base of the edifice of Cape Horn, a quarter mile span of sheer basalt cliffs rising over 900 feet out of the river. I marveled at the persistance, against all odds, of a bonsai-like evergreen that clung tenaciously to the tip of the actual horn, a needle like rock formation that stands alone from the cliffs in the water.
The small network of roots, shrubs and mosses that clung to the base of the tree reminded me of the rewards for persistant people with a purpose. Slowly, over time and against all odds those people begin to build a network that builds on their work, and, over time change can be seen. Slow change, however, like the slow growth of the tree generates deep roots, and even when the tree actually dies, the roots that it leaves behind serve as a solid foundation for more generations to build upon.
Okay, don’t worry, I won’t get too philosophical with our venture at Beachwalk Project. I will be the first to admit that we are still amateurs in the area of Watershed stewardship. It is my hope, however, that our advocating efforts will motivate a child in a community to become that tenacious tree that creates change against all odds.
After a few hours, Dan and I finished our paddle at Steamboat Landing in Washougal. After loading our craft, we huddled in Dan’s van and like starving parrots feasted on roasted pistachios, reminding me of Stein’s saying, “the best spice in any food is hunger.” Turns out our paddle was nearly 19 miles not the 12 that I had predicted. I’m still convinced the GPS is wrong. I also still think that it was pure dumn luck that Dan completed the paddle way ahead of me in a ‘casual’ manner. Just the same it was another gift to be back on the water.
In a matter of months, the small team of Beachwalk Project will be heading out of Seattle on our paddle out the Puget Sound and then South down the Pacific Coast. Once again we will be advocating for communities and specifically children of communities to rally behind the small organizations in their region that have been working to protect their local watersheds. We expect to organize and participate in over 50 different events in schools, aquariums, nature centers and on the beach.
Dan Gavere and everyone at Werner Paddles has been gracious enough to gather behind our project in support of our efforts.
Thank you to WernerSr, and his entire family for making such a great company that is so supportive of protecting the waters we live and play in. Thank you to Dan for his enthusiasm for our project, and his encouragement. The Beachwalk team is small, but the help of so many of our friends has helped us so much in reaching all the communities along the coast.
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Werner Paddles Reports On The 2008 Green Race
Danny Mongno reports on this last weekends Green Race…
Mother Nature blessed the 2008 Green Race with warm weather and beautiful sunshine that really set off the fall colors, making for a fantastic day down in the Narrows. But if you ask the racers they will remind you she did forget one small thing…water. With a severe drought in the south east the 6 ½ inch level on the Green made things very interesting as Andrew Holcomb, last year’s winner, kicked the race off at High Noon. Andrew lead the fastest seeded racers down the steep creek race course to the crowds of people waiting at the most anticipated rapid of the race, Gorilla. Gorilla and the lead in rapid the Notch, get monumentally harder and more dangerous at these lower levels.
A huge congrats goes out to all the racers for handling these super challenging conditions. Although there were some down right hideous lines, nobody was hurt and everyone was able to participate in the post race party. Although there are several classes in the race, the purists will tell you there is but one winner of the Green Race. We are proud to congratulate Werner Paddles Team Paddler, Pat Keller for taking down the overall crown with a blazing fast time of 4:31.
A special thanks to all the racers out there supporting Werner Paddles, we can’t tell you how much we appreciate it. Thanks to all the volunteers who helped with timing and of course setting safety. Sorry to the two spectators that fell in the river? “Hey all, have we not learned yet that water makes things slick?”
If you are down in the Asheville, NC area and you want to check out next years Green Race or learn more about the three awesome sections of the river, including the Narrows which is home to the race course, check out these local resources. Diamond Brand, Green River Adventures, North Carolina Rivers & Creeks from Bushy Mountain Publishing.
For all the post race news and video go see our friends at Lunch Video Magazine.
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Werner's Dan Gavere Reports on Battle of the Paddle
Dan Gavere from Werner Paddles reports here about the first ever Battle of the Paddle.
This years First Battle of the Paddle held at Doheny Beach in beautiful Dana Point California could of been called the US open of Stand Up Paddle Board Racing. Attracting racers from all over the world, especially Hawaii where the sport was born, this years BOP pitted racers against each other on a grueling course complete with turns, surfing, beach running. There were over a thousand spectators cheering the athletes on.
The Elite race pulled around 70 competitors and attracted some of the world’s best looking for a chance to win a piece of the 25K in cash prize money. A hefty 200.00 entry fee and a mandatory 12’6” board length restriction kept all but the most committed and competitive athletes at bay to compete in the open class which featured over 250 racers on a 4.5 mile course. There were several age divisions and board divisions available gave everyone a shot at winning something. Weather you were Mickey Munoz in the 60-69/yr old age group, or the 10 yr old youngster I saw paddling on a surfboard this years BOP was a blast.
The race course was brutal! The wind picked up to near 25 mph at times making the upwind sections of the course grueling and painful. It was like scooping Hagen Daz ice cream with shovel-hard work! Lots of racers were experimenting with different paddling techniques including tucking into a fast ski tuck type stance and choking up on their paddles to try become more efficient on the upwind legs. The downwind leg was really important because every little glide had to maximized, and saving some energy to have the explosive sudden power you needed to catch the rollers meant not blowing a gasket paddling to hard into the wind. This was a tricky balance of pacing and racing. My mp3 player helped me keep an accelerated pace and allowed me to take my mind off the pain of paddling and get fired up. Each lap on the course for the Elite class included a beach landing through the surf and a 250 meter beach exchange that really put the hurt on the legs and lungs. I tried not to go too hard on the beach, and get a little drink of my Cytomax hydration fluid while running, but twice I got passed by the same guy who was literally sprinting on the beach leg. I was in the top 10 and didn’t not want to drop any more places.
The last lap of the course hurt extremely bad. I had lost track of the laps and didn’t even know at this point if there was another or lap or even I would make it around another time if there was! I was about to hit the wall and I could literally taste the lactic acid building within me. The racers were visibly starting to fatigue and I could see people falling all over the place and now we were starting to lap some competitors so picking your lines was critical. I now realized that this was the last lap and my last opportunity to gain a position or 2 so I put my head down and dug and dug and kept freaking digging, my heart beat was at 150-160 I could tell and couldn’t do this much longer! I had 2 guys in catching distance and one breathing down my back. I paddled as hard as I have ever paddled in my life on that last 6 minute upwind leg making up about 5 seconds on the beach sprinter in front me. Coming around the last buoy left a mere 300 meter sprint into the beach where a good wave catch could put me in a flat out beach sprint against the 2 racers in front of me. Unfortunately as I rounded that last buoy to starboard, I lost my balance on a swell and fell in, losing my opportunity to catch 8th and 7th place. I hit the beach in a full fledged sprint and just couldn’t make up the 4 seconds that separated me from 8th place. However it didn’t matter anymore -I made the top ten and I was stoked.
The crowd was going nuts as every competitor finished in a full out run up the beach. The aloha was electric as all the competitors hugged and shook hands as the dozens of competitors ran across the line. Congrats to Chuck Patterson for the win and the 10K check he paddled like a madman and deserved the win. Jenny Kalmbach from Maui also deserves a huge pat on the back for winning the women’s class. At 40+ she is setting a new standard in fitness and sup racing and helping to inspire many future women racers. Keep an eye out for next years Battle of the Paddle which some think could attract up to 600 competitors again making it virtually the US Open of Sup racing.
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Humble Pie Served up on the Moose
Everyone has bad lines, so open up wide and take that your piece of humble pie.
*Please note humble pie is best and more frequently served as soon as the camera comes out.*
Read below as one of Werner Paddle’s and Lake Placid, NY’s favorite sons, Matt Young take his most recent bite of the pie. Here is what Matt has to say…
“This years Moose River Fest was one of the best we have seen in 5 years and it was awesome to get on the river and party with good friends. However, the most exciting part of the weekend for me by far was accidentally running the largest drop on the river, Magilla, backwards. I was paddling the new Pyranha Karnali, which is a lot faster than the Pyranha Burn I normally paddle. I gave it too much right to left angle at the top and pitoned the river left wall. Before I knew it, I was backwards boofing (or lack thereof) 10 feet.
Surprisingly I didn't even get my head wet. I walked back up and had a really nice clean line on my second run, but of course no one got any pictures or video of that”
Photo credit goes to Jeremy Laucks. Thanks Jeremy for missing that second run, we like Matt with pie on his face.
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Back to the Roots and Blue Sky at Moose Festival 2008
This post was put together by Werner TEAM paddlers Bryan Hartman and Matt Young. Check these guys out anywhere the creeks are running in the North Country.
For the first weekend in five years it did not snow once! Blue, sunny skies presided over Old Forge, NY for this past weekend’s Moose River Festival. The festival, which celebrates one of the Right Coast’s most classic rivers, and gives old friends a chance to celebrate another stellar season of paddling, usually marks the North Country’s first snow accumulation of the year. However we are happy to report the only ice we saw was keeping drinks cold at the Moose Fest party, hosted by Slickers and our favorite bartender Shannon.
Rob Yager and the staff at Mountain Man Outdoors paddlers in with hot apple cider and a keg for some post river relaxing. We met up with our Werner brothers from TEAM Demshitz, Jared and Graham Seiler and Dave Fussilli, helped Rob and the staff sort eager paddlers out with some new gear and then headed out for a casual cruise for the Class 5 bottom Moose.
With three primary sections, Middle, Lower and Bottom, the Moose really has something for every paddler. Bottom is pool-drop river with plenty of sizeable drops. Although there are plenty of easier lines to get entry level creekers excited, there are still plenty of lines out there to challenge even the most seasoned boaters. It truly is really a great training ground for the gobs of creek boating the Adirondacks have to offer. We were stoked to get out there and see old and new friends and have some laughs when some of had less than stellar lines.
On the river and at the party this years Moose Fest seamed to be one of the better turnouts we have seen in five years if not the best. Although it was still pretty cold at night we enjoyed sunny days reaching into the 50's and enough action to keep us plenty warm. Thanks go out to Slickers, Mountain Man Outdoors and of course American White Water, without there support we would not have this amazing river to celebrate.
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Coast Guard Classifies SUP Boards As "Vessel": New PFD Requirements
The Coast Guard has just classified Stand Up Paddle Boards as a "vessel." Although they will not require manufacturers to use a HID (Hull ID Number), SUP participants will need to carry a PFD, singling device (whistle), and a light if paddling after dark. The new regulation does not effect SUPers in the surf zone. To read more about this new regulation check out surfline.com. What do you think of this new regulation?
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Vacation To Hell Sends Big Shout Out To Werner Paddles
Tim Keen and the rest of Team Sweetwater are working on re-entry from their Devon Island "Vacation to Hell," but that did not stop them from giving a big thank you to Werner Paddles and Danny Mongno, specifically. We are proud to support such a talented and humble group of paddlers.
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Werner's Dan Gavere Represents at Battle of the Paddle
Dan Gavere, Werner’s SW Sales Rep and Stand Up Paddle Guidance Councilor, will be representing at he first ever Battle of the Paddle on October 11.
In celebration of the modern West Coast waterman’s lifestyle, the Rainbow Sandals Gerry Lopez’s Battle of the Paddle is a stand-up paddle festival with a series of races and demonstrations that offer ocean athletes of all ages and skill levels the chance to experience this exciting new sport.
Staged at Dana Point’s historic Doheny State Beach, the Battle of the Paddle is more than an ordinary paddle race. For the sport’s elite paddlers it presents the first-ever championship styled SUP race featuring an offshore course that tests not only endurance but also the open-ocean and surfing skills of the world’s best men and women stand-up paddle racers. Not to mention a cash purse of over $25,000.
Invited competitors on stock (12’6”) SUP boards, will complete multiple laps on a circuit that will include beaching their equipment through the surf for a short run around a course flag on the sand. This exchange will challenge competitor’s technical and athletic skills as well as create great spectator drama. There will also be an age-group race open to all SUP craft categories (12’6” stock, 14 ft. and unlimited) that will compete on the same circuit course without the exchange.
For the recreational paddler and newcomers to the sport The Battle of the Paddle’s exclusive festival/exposition is an extraordinary opportunity to paddle with legendary watermen like Gerry Lopez, Dave Kalama, Jamie Mitchell, Kyle Mochizuki, Colin McPhillips, Titus Kinimaka and many more. You’ll meet the world’s best shapers, check out the latest board designs and paddle innovations and naturally there will be demo boards and paddles of all shapes and sizes available for those who want to perfect their stroke or even try SUP for the first time.
Look here for directions to Doheney State Park.
Check back here after the race to see how Dan does in this incredible field of elite SUP athletes.
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Werner Paddler & New Blogger, Paul Kuthe in Scotland
Werner Team Member, Paul Kuthe is in Scotland. He recently started blogging. You can check out his posts here. We wish Paul good luck in his travels and writing. He is a great ambassador for the American paddling community.
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Werner Paddler Dan Gavere Takes 2nd Place At Stand Up Paddle Fall Classic Race
Dan Gavere of Werner Paddles posts here about the Fall Classic Race on Lake Tahoe hosted by Tahoe Paddle and Oar …
Wow what a beautiful day. I never thought that paddling 22 miles could be so fun. The color of the water in the middle of that lake is just so mesmerizing it induces daydreams. Paddling while staring deep into the water is like being in a trance. A few times my trance like state caused me to veer severely off course and/or almost fall in.
The course was straight across the lake, 22miles from the South Shore to the North Shore. We got going about 7:30 am and the air temp was a chilly 53 degrees, but the sky was clear and the sun just moments away from clearing the ridge. About 20 paddlers got their equipment together with men and women preparing for what would be the longest paddle that any of them had ever tried (me included).
Fist of all I am stoked about my new board an Infinity 12'6" that Steve B. made for me to race in the Battle of the Paddle. It’s a pintail version of his lake racer. I was a bit leary about 22 miles on such short board. At the start, as I looked out to the water most of the boys were on 14-18 ft unlimited style boards and there was certainly no lack of fitness in these competitors. I thought that there was no way I was going to win, but if I can keep up or be close with these guys I will be stoked. We got off to a medium paced start, but after about 1 mile a few of us picked it up a notch to break a good sweat. I paddled hard with 2 guys from Bark Boards (Todd and Dan) these guys were both on 17ft prone boards and wreaked of fitness and excellent technique so I spent a bit of time watching how they moved and paddled with their hands. Their boards looked fast.
Before the race started, I decided that my pace would be tempo driven to whatever song was playing on the mp3 player (i.e. if its was reggae or medium paced music I would dig deep and hard but with a medium pace, if it was hard core or death metal I would sprint.) Since I had it on shuffle 4 heavy songs in a row came on and I found myself sprinting away from Todd and Dan. I had 2 SUP guys in front of me and one of them was within reach so I put my head down and dug hard. I felt great and now 7-8 miles into the race I had reached a pace I knew I could maintain for another 2 hrs.
As I approached the next paddler I noticed how long his paddle was and it looked as if he was moving in slow motion compared to my frenzied pace. I decided to use the Carve paddle from Werner in a 78-inch setting. The Carve has a 7-inch wide blade and is only 101 sq inches. (Most paddles are in the 105-110 sq inche range.) I was stoked on the high cadence/light pull of the paddle throughout the stroke and how my body felt. It was about the half way point and we (Rand and I) paddled together for a bit talked about how the wind could come up and he helped direct me to where the finish was located. I tossed the headphones back on and started back into my death metal pace 
There was no way I was going to catch the guy in front (Dave) but I thought I would try. As soon as I could see the finish buoys, I started paddling harder thinking I would be finished in about 30 minutes. Not a chance! Over an hour later I finally hit the beach after a huge finish sprint that took all I had left.
4 hours 7 minutes was my time as I crossed between the buoys - AWESOME- STOKED - and not bad at all for 22 miles on 12'6" board. Check out the reults here. The board worked great the paddle was unbelievable and the conditions were perfect. We all cheered as each person and every person successfully finished. We all had lunch together and then Phil gave many of us a ride back to the start to fetch our vehicles. One of the paddlers on the bus had excellent old school stories of being a hippy and living around Tahoe. He was so funny we laughed the whole way back. That’s what its all about is having fun laughing and making friends.
Phil Segal from Tahoe Paddle and Oar deserves a huge THANK YOU for organizing the event. If anyone out there has a chance to come on out for the next Tahoe event I would recommend it-beautiful, fun, and something that can be enjoyed by anyone who paddles.
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Werner Receives Canoe & Kayak Magazine Award
Werner Paddles was honored to once again receive the Accessory Manufacturer of the Year Award presented by Canoe & Kayak Magazine.
Votes were tallied from 384 retail specialty shops to determine the winners for Boat Manufacturer of the Year and Accessory Manufacturer of the Year. “This award goes to show that we are firing on all eight cylinders. It takes the entire team; shipping, production, accounting, R&D, sales and marketing to get it right in partnering with our dealers. We have had a good year and are looking forward to generating more innovative ways to help our dealers succeed in an increasingly competitive market,” says Jim Miller, Werner’s Marketing Manager.
The awards were presented at this past Augusts Outdoor Retail Trade Show. Other winners included Native Watercraft as Boat Manufacturer of the Year. Not to be left out, manufacturers were given the chance to recognize their favorite paddling shop which was bestowed upon Oregon based, Alder Creek Kayak and Canoe.
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Werner Reflection in the Broken Group
Morgan Goldie from North Water Paddle Sports Equipment shot this image in the Broken Group off Vancouver Island. Very cool image that I wanted to share.
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2008 Georgia Symposium
Sea Kayak Georgia is looking forward to hosting the 2008 Georgia symposium on October 17-24, which allow paddlers to come together as a community to give and receive knowledge, to see old friends and welcome new ones.
Courses are available for all skill levels and everyone is invited to attend. Beginners to advanced paddlers are welcome. Please check the schedule online or give them a call for details, 888 529 2542. They will be offering skills development classes that are fun and entertaining as well as BCU skills courses and Coach courses. Level 1 Coach candidates should call for special pricing.
Coaches from Werner paddles inculde: Russell Farrow, Hadas Feldman, Shawna Franklin, Josh Hall, Marsha Henson, Lamar Hudgins, Ronnie Kemp, Jen Kleck, Steve Macdonald, Steve Maynard, Danny Mongno, Tom Nickles, Bryan Smith, Leon Somme, Jean Totz, Ben Lawry, and John Carmody. Werner will once again host the Most Improved Paddler Award which is voted on by the coaches and bestowed upon the paddler who has made the most progress in thier skills (attitiude counts).
This year Bryan Smith, Reel Water Productions will be at our event looking for filming possibilities for his new film Eastern Horizons. Bryan is also a BCU coach and will join us in our coaching and presenter schedule. If you haven't already watched Pacific Horizons, consider viewing it as homework before the symposium.
SKG is also very honored to present the North American Premier of Justine Curgenven's This is The Sea 4. Award winning film-maker Justine Curgenven showcases some of the world’s most outstanding sea kayaking destinations in this entertaining video which is guaranteed to inspire you to get out on the water. Two of the films stars, Shawna Franklin and Leon Somme will present the premier and discuss their role in the film. Other stars from the film are sure to join in during the presentation. This is a great chance to hear first hand from the paddlers about their experiences during filming.
This year is SKG's Seventh Annual Symposium and they welcome one and all. As an added incentive, in stock boats and gear will also have special prices for registered participants.
Hope to see you there!
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AS Watersports and Werner at the Open Day of All Open Days
The fall paddling season is truly under way in England as AS Watersports, in Exeter, will be kicking it off with their annual South West Canoe and Kayak Show this coming weekend, October 4th.
AS Watersports is legendary in the UK paddling scene and this event is certainly a great representation of their passion for paddles sports. Demo boats from a slew of manufacturers right outside the shop, as the event pretty much spills over from the town square right into the canal.
Stop by and check out and even demo the entire Werner Paddles range with Piers and Ant from System X. Be sure to call the shop or check out the AS Watersports web site at for more information. Enjoy the weekend!
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Kayakwest.com Paddlers Take On the Dean River
Kayakwest.com Paddlers and Werner Paddlers, Sean Allen, Spencer Cox, Joel Fafard, David Faubert, Bryce Shaw, share this trip report on the Dean River…
So, the normal way to do the Dean is to Fly into Sigutlat Lake and head down to the Dean via the Iltasyuko River. We chose to forego the ease of fly in option and instead went for the access with the most suffer factor. After traveling through the woods at a crawling pace along a bogged out quad trail we finally made a left down towards the river and hit a decrepit old cabin that was now only inhabited by pack rats. We camped the night amongst broken snow mobiles and bear chewed gas cans.
It was a serious relief to see the sun in the morning. Unfortunately we got to check out just how flat the first 40 kilometers were. The wind was sweeping up the river and the flow may actually have been going the wrong way from our vantage point. After a quick breakfast and a much slower packing episode we got on to the Dean pond. Surrounded by good friends was the only way to endure the marathon of flat-water paddling and after some good conversation we had finally hit whitewater.
The first drop came in the form of a mine steep mine field of broken basalt that presented no line whatsoever. Deciding that the 100 meter portage was just too long to handle in one day we dropped out boats, unpacked and set up camp. Fire roaring, we feasted on the first of 7 nights freeze dried food. While we were debating which flavors were keepers our gear was being devoured by some sort of small rodent, a mouse, we reckon. Having discovered that the invisible creature had chomped its way through two bivy sacks, one Watershed zipper, and numerous other things we hung all of our gear from a line and headed up the hill to what we hoped was a mouse free zone.
Cruising on Day 2 we hit some more whitewater just above the confluence with Iltasyuko River. Blasting some great grade 4 stretches and a couple of class 5 drops we were finally making good head way. The Dean is a medium volume Creek from the confluence with Iltasyuko River on and it builds at a steady pace as it flows to the ocean. Early in the trip the water is an undrinkable looking brown and grows some kind of crazy foam in a number of different eddies. The whitewater up top is great; made up of lots of good steep drops interspersed with fantastic cruisy grade 4 in amongst basalt canyon walls. Day 2 and 3 were filled with awesome rapids.
As the Dean grows it also mellows. Coming out of a wicked basalt canyon we spotted the ultimate beach camp spot and after not catching any fish proceeded to choke down one more freeze dried meal. In the morning we headed out for some awesome scenery easily enjoyed while drifting the endless grade 2 and 3 whitewater. Down here the Dean is a fisherman’s paradise. Steelhead is the game and the guides are zipping around everywhere. Yamaha outboard jets pushing cool looking fishing boats are the hot mode of transport around here as the only way to get to the good fishing is by river. In search of whitewater, rather than fishing, we plugged along downstream knowing that the canyon at the end should have just what we were looking for.
After another night out on a beach we finished off the rest of the easy whitewater and arrived at the last canyon. By this point the Dean is a beautiful blue and at least 3 or 4 times the size it was at the beginning of the trip. Roaring into the last granite canyon before the ocean the Dean is a sight to behold. If it wasn’t for the massive sieve in the middle of the flow this section of whitewater would be exceptional. We walked the entrance to avoid the sieve and proceeded to pick our way down the class 5 canyon with relative ease.
Passing between the walls of the last canyon we were treated to some hot sunshine and a little more cruisy whitewater before we hit the Dean Channel and prepared to battle black flies and no see-ums at out camp while we waited for our boat back to Bella Coola. A grizzly decided to do a little fishing a hundred meters or so from our camp but took off as soon as we got the cameras out. The Bracho Dos was a luxury ride for us on the Dean, shipping us back to Bella Coola so we could head out the Grande Canyon of the Clore.
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Werner At Kanumesse
Doug Ragan, Danny Mongno and Jim Miller traveled to Germany for the Kanumesse Paddlesports Trade Show. Kanumesse is a gathering of manufacurers from all over the world who come together to show the lastest paddling goods. I am happy to report that Werner has a stellar reputation here in Europe, similar to what we enjoy in North America. Our international dealers and distributors are doing a great job of representing Werner to new segments of paddlers. We are very happy to be here supporting the international paddling community and making new friends.
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A Morning at the Oregon Coast
Dan Gavere blogs here about a recent sesssion at the Oregon Coast…
Memorial Day weekend usually means that summer is ending and the winter is quickly on it’s way in Oregon. The 50 degree temps at night are a stiff reminder of colder days to come. However this year Memorial Day was more like the middle of summer with highs in 70’s during the day very little to no wind and 6-10 ft swell got me and my Werner Paddles van headed to the coast for a long weekend of mandatory product testing.
Saturday Morning happened to be the best day of swell and I had a feeling my first session would be my best. (It usually is for some reason.) Maybe it’s because all the excitement and stoke has been brewing within me for a few weeks. It was now 5:30 am and I was heading to Starbucks for my prerequisite quad latte and some head clearing caffeine. Upon arriving at my first choice of spots I turned the headlights off and walked to the cliff edge for a look. The fog was so thick there was no way to see the ocean which was only a mere 200 yards from where I stood. The ocean always has a sound to it, and this morning that sound was LOUD! I couldn’t see the waves, but it didn’t matter because I could tell they were BIG. Excited and a bit nervous I headed back to the van to “suit up”. I knew the water would be chilly as the report said 49 degree water temps combined with the outside temp of a chilly 53 degrees meant I would be wearing my 4/3mm full suit and booties. I always think it’s funny to be applying the sunscreen when it’s still dark, but I knew the morning sun would burn the fog away revealing a beautiful sunny morning. I was set grabbed my board and RAN to the ocean. My buddy John Kutchella was right on my heels as he was also fired up about the conditions and the fact we would be the first in the water on our Stand Up Boards. I was amped to get some strokes in using my new Carve paddle.
Paddling out at this particular spot means staying uncomfortably close to a vertical rock wall where there’s a river of current taking you to the break. However when it gets big this river gets fast (riptide basically) and can sometimes be spanned with overhead closeout sets. Getting stuck in the reverb between the waves coming in and the waves bouncing off the wall can get real scary. A wedge shaped turbo reverb wall bouncer immediately knocked me off of my board, but luckily I was able to get out between some big set waves. John on the other hand got to take a round in the turbo reverb zone for about 6 waves before getting out. He was fine, but now definitely awake! Generally when the air temp and the water temp combined don’t reach 100 degrees you know its cold conditions. The first big set came in and John grabbed a beautiful right and disappeared behind a 15 foot wall of water away into the fog. There I sat solo silent about a quarter mile offshore, minnows everywhere, and pelicans feasting all around me. I must admit I am not afraid of big fish in the sea, but at that moment I could not help think about being a part of the food chain. I stayed on my feet and looked for the next set wave to catch. I hoped also that maybe after a good wave I would be able to get a visual on John, and the beach as the fog was still very thick and the sun just peaking over the ridge above. The next set came and I was a poised to make the drop. A few good sweeps on my left as I stepped back into surf stance, and I started accelerating down the face of a wave that was 3-4 feet overhead. The A frame wave was feathering perfectly so I dropped right and focused on the oil slick glassy water in front of me. This was a magical moment as all of a sudden I broke out of the fog and into the blazing sun as a slight offshore breeze had picked up and started pushing the fog bank out to sea. It was like being shot out of the winter and into the summer on a surfboard. An amazing feeling and visual experience, certainly one I will not soon forget. The rest of the session was filled with mind blowing waves for everybody, lots of sunshine and big smiles. By the time I got out of the water the air temp was in the 70’s and it was all I could do to get it off before collapsing in a heap of sweat and rubber. Stoked about a great morning. Now back to Starbucks for round two, and maybe an evening surf session after making a quick stop at Oregon Surf Shop to check out their wall of SUP stuff.
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Manufacturers Team Up with American Whitewater to Drive Membership
Synonymous with fall boating, the Gauley River, is host to the 25th Anniversary of American Whitewater’s Gauley Fest. Over the weekend of September 19-21, hundreds of paddlers flock to beautiful West Virginia to celebrate the derailment of a hydro-eclectic project that would have de-watered the upper river.
In an effort to drive more American Whitewater membership, several manufacturers have teamed up for a fun Roshambo (Rock, Paper, Scissors) game of chance at this year’s Gauley Fest. To qualify for the game you MUST be an AW member. So sign up, or renew your membership, in advance and avoid the lines at Gauley Fest. “Rock – Paper – Scissors is a game that everyone understands, even with a few beers in them, and is a super fun way to try to win gear,” says Woody Callaway of Liquidlogic.
Manufacturers have come together and have donated approximately $6000 worth of prizes. Everyone gets to play for every prize; it works like this. A prize will be brought forward, a beautiful Werner paddle, for example. Everyone in the crowd will play the “RPS Master,” Wood Callaway, at the same time. If you tie or beat Woody you stay in the game. The game is played using the honor system and peer pressure. (It is Rock – Paper – Scissors, who can honestly cheat at that.) We will continue playing until there is a winner. Then we bring up a new prize and everyone is back in the game. Partnering with AW on this membership drive is:
Liquidlogic 2 Kayaks Werner Paddles 2 Paddles Astral Buoyancy 2 PFD’s Shred Ready 2 Helmets Immersion Research 2 Skirts Lunch Video Magazine 2 Collectors Volume DVD’s Gaia 5 Dry Bags Smith Optics 5 Pair of Sunglasses
AW has done so much for boaters. It is time for paddlers to show our support of this great organization. So get to Gauley Fest. Sign up for an AW membership. Throw down with Roshambo. Who knows you might just come up a big winner.
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Sergio Sounds Off: Kayak Symposiums Rock!
Sergio Greguoldo sent a great email thanking Werner for investing in Kayak Symposiums. We love attending all sorts of paddling events, being on the water and sharring is what paddling is all about. Here is what Sergio had to say…
I’d like to take a moment to thank you for Werner's participation and sponsorship of several events that I have attended.
First I'd like to note that I am the proud owner of three Werner paddles - I originally started with the San Juan and through some great guidance and suggestions by Danny Mongno I now have a couple of Ikelos, which I am truly hooked on. I love the quality of the workmanship and the paddle - and while I don't purposely set out to "ding' my paddle off rocks (it is hard not to do so when enjoying rock hopping and gardening) that's where I really appreciate the solidness of the paddle and of the blade.
As I noted earlier I have been fortunate to attend several events - Georgia, Bar Harbor - where Werner/Danny has had involvement. All I can say is thank you - for helping to ensure that such events do go on.
I live and paddle in Nova Scotia Canada - we, unfortunately, have no such local symposia taking place here. Having you sponsor an event like Carpe Diem's Bar Harbor event ensures that I can get to a quality kayaking symposium and be exposed to some of the best coaches and products available in kayaking.
Should you wonder whether it is worthwhile participating in this type of event - let me reassure you it is, and it is greatly appreciated. The ability to meet, learn, get to know and paddle with people such as Danny (Werner Paddles), Leon Somme, Shawna Franklin (Body Boat Blade), Todd Johstone-Wright, Mark Schoon and Mel Rice (Carpe Diem) is awesome - the ability to do so in a single venue, - is simply amazing.
So let me just say thank you once again - for your incredible product - and most of all for your caring enough to sponsor events that can only benefit all participants in this great chosen sport of ours called Kayaking.
Sincerely
Sergio Greguoldo
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SUP Expedition Paddling
Dave Collins is an accomplished paddler, in both whitewater and ocean setting. Here he shares with us a little bit about a Stand Up Paddling expedition he recently undertook….
I recently paddled my stand up board solo around Cape Scott, the northern tip of Vancouver Island. The 100 km. expedition took me four and a half days. The few people I met along the way seemed awed and perplexed: “What is the advantage of that?” asked a backpacker on the North Coast Trail. The question caused me to pause… “It´s challenging and fun… and the view is unbeatable.”
There are no obvious pragmatic advantages to SUP touring versus sea kayak touring. I went half the speed as I would have in a fast sea kayak. But, I had twice as much fun because: I saw more wildlife—whales, bears, otters, dolphins, sea lions—than I would have sitting in a kayak; my back didn´t hurt at the end of the trip; and I got to surf waves that wouldn´t have been surfable in a sea kayak. Ultimately, the challenge of paddling standing up with a loaded board proved the most rewarding aspect of the expedition. Self-contained, multi-day touring on a stand up board is yet another niche of this burgeoning phenomenon which is sure to take off soon. Here´s just a few of the most important things I discovered along the way which may be of help to others planning similar expeditions.
The SUP Touring Set-Up
This was a highly experimental voyage; I had never tried to pack gear on an SUP before. I started by gluing six leash plugs (E-Z plugs) with marine epoxy along the top sides (just inside of where the deck starts to slant downward toward the rails) of the front third of my board. So that´s three plugs on each side of the board, leaving about two feet of free space from the front of the load to the tip of the board. I had to estimate all of this, and decided correctly that I would be standing one to two feet further back on the board when it was loaded compared to my normal stance on an unloaded board.
The board I used was a Surftech 12´1” Laird. I recommend going as big as possible. I definitely could have used some extra flotation (I weigh 200 pounds and was carrying between 60-70 pounds of gear). The extra weight causes the board to float lower, making is more unstable and slower. This takes some getting used to—therein the extra challenge.
I carried everything I would have carried on a sea kayak expedition minus several superfluous items. Weight is a much bigger issue, so the lighter the better. I stuffed three main dry bags into one big dry bag which has backpack straps on it. This is for two reasons: 1) to extra insure dryness of my gear because the load on the board is constantly exposed to the water; 2) in case I had to walk out, I had a backpack. Then I lashed the load down with thin nylon cord. Cam straps or bungee cords would have been better, but the eyelets on the leash plugs are too small to allow for them. I did use small bungee cords to secure some of the more accessible gear on top of the main load, and these I attached to the nylon cord, and/or to the straps of the main dry bag. The marine chart and compass go on last, on top of the load, so that you can see them easily and are able to navigate from a prone position.
The Breakdown Paddle
About 200 meters offshore, on a forward stroke, I hear a slight cracking noise, but convince myself that I did not just hear a cracking noise. About halfway across bumpy Blackfish Sound, dividing Cracroft Point and Hanson Island, I feel exposed as I take another forward stroke… crack followed by snap… and there I am, bobbing south now, holding two useless pieces of carbon fiber in my two hands. My initial reaction of, “!?$*, that was a $300 paddle!” rolls off of me like the water off my deck as I realize the blessing of the break: I now get to use my break-down Werner Spanker (the broken paddle was not a Werner!).
This happened to me on the overnight pre-expedition trip I took around the Johnstone Strait area, and it really was a blessing in disguise. Not only because I got to use my Werner, but also because it left me with only a breakdown sea kayak paddle that I fortunately found in the back of my truck. Otherwise, I would not have thought to bring a sea kayak paddle along as a breakdown.
And why bring an extra sea kayak paddle? Because trying to paddle standing up in a significant headwind is useless! You won´t make any progress, so you´ll just have to sit out the headwind. With a sea kayak paddle, though, you can sit down on the board, paddle it like a kayak, and move forward. This works especially well with a loaded board because you can place your feet against the load, giving leverage, just as if it were a bulkhead. As well, I sometimes paddled the board in a kneeling position to give my back a rest.
The added benefit of carrying a sea kayak paddle is that it also allows you to switch positions, use different muscles, and give your legs a rest, as well as your mind—when you´re paddling standing up there is no room for daydreaming. On future expeditions I will carry two breakdowns—one a SUP paddle, and the other a sea kayak paddle. That way I´m covering all the bases in case of a broken paddle.
Navigation, Take Offs and Landings
Navigating on an SUP is really no different than in a sea kayak. I remained about the same distance from shore as I would have in a sea kayak—relative to the conditions and my comfort zone—and I navigated using a marine chart, compass and GPS.
Landing and taking off, however, can be a bit trickier. On an SUP you have to jump off the board first when landing and control the board by shortleashing it (grabbing the leash at the very base). Conversely, when taking off, you have to wade out into the water a bit before mounting the SUP. Here also it´s best to control the board from the rear, making sure to have a hand on the base of the leash so that it doesn´t get away from you. Launching in surf, it helps to weight the back of the board before a wave hits it so that the board will ride over the wash. It´s also especially important to find sandy take offs and landings where you can slide the board because you don´t have the luxury of picking it up and dragging it by a bow or stern grab loop as you do with a sea kayak.
The Surf Zone
Paddling into the surf zone—finally!—and there´s no one in the lineup. I´m not looking to surf any big waves with a loaded board, though. I wait for a big set to pass and power in to the beach behind the last set wave. Unloaded, the board feels like balsa. I am skipping across the water now and waiting for a set to arrive. As well, I feel even more stable than usual because I have gotten so used to paddling a more unstable loaded board.
The first roller picks me up as I dig in with some deep forward strokes, and I slice a rudder with my paddle as I head left down the line on an overhead wave. Getting lower and picking up speed I rocket toward the end of the wall, and toward the beginning of an epiphany—there is no better way to travel than this.
See more photos of Dave's trip here.
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Werner Paddles 2.0: Web Site Gets Overhaul To Support Growth
Werner Paddles has launched a completely redesigned web site to better support their dealers and consumers.
The paddles remain the stars of the site, with improvements to navigation functions and the introduction of WernerTV Product Videos which allow visitors to experience the paddles in a whole new way.
There are several new features that are aimed at creating transparency into the company and reach out to customers by providing them rich content. The “ Go Paddling” section, as an example, lists events, schools, trips and tips. “We want to support outfitters and schools and introduce more paddlers to the sport and our paddle offerings. This new section links to our blog which features regular updates. We invite our dealers, outfitters and schools to submit posting to our blog as a way to extend their reach. The blog is about making paddling more accessible to the average person, while highlighting fun places to paddle and offering tips to make your time on the water more enjoyable,” says Jim Miller Werner’s Marketing Manger.
Another area for consumers to interact with the site is the very popular “ Paddle Fit Guide,” an interactive paddle chooser; where a consumer answers few questions and get results for a custom fit Werner Paddle.
Big improvements have been made with “ Find A Store,” a dealer locator that features intuitive search either geographically or by zip code with filters for distance and paddling discipline. “More improvements are planned for this tool as we move towards the New Year to better support and differentiate our dealers,” says Miller.
The site also features the “ Healthy Waters Initiative.” This, first of its kind program in paddle sports, allows a Werner customer to give back to the environment. The consumer, post purchase, goes to wernerpaddles.com and chooses the Healthy Waters button. This takes them to a short questionnaire about their demographics and purchasing decision. At the end of the questionnaire they can choose from a list of non profits and Werner will make a donation in their name. “We are very proud of our commitment to the natural world. Healthy Waters is a great program for differentiating our product from the competition while giving the customer the ability to support a non-profit whose focus is paddling access, water quality or education. This is a win for our customers, our dealers, our non-profit partners and for Werner Paddles,” says Miller.
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Devon Barker: On Tour In Switzerland
Werner Team Member, Devon Barker, is on the World Cup Tour in Switzerland. The Swiss have it going on with public bikes and urban paddling. Here she posts about her time in Thun, Switzerland. ….
It is amazing here in Thun. The wave is just down stream of a covered bridge decorated with flowers. The bridge has gates to release the water from the lake that makes Thun a wonderful summer time attraction. Many of us are camping on the lake 4 KM from the wave. There are free bikes or scooters for use during the day but cost 10 Swiss Fr. if you want to keep them over night. Ruth Gordon and I are biking back and forth. I scootered the first morning but it was a long trek. The bike ride is along the lake with castles on the shore and scattered beaches and houses along our route.
The wave is a wonderful color blue but a little flat. It is a little like Couch wave at the low levels but the scenery does not look like the Salmon River in Idaho at all! The VW Multivan River Jam is the third event on the World Cup Tour. Prelims begin on Thursday and we wrap up the event on Sunday.
My best to all of you from my tent on the lake in Thun, Switzerland! Devon
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Werner Expands Stand Up Paddle Offerings
Werner Paddles has announced the introduction of two new Stand Up Paddles: The Werner Advantage and the Werner Carve. Both paddles will be available to ship beginning September 01, 2008.
As participation explodes in the Stand Up Paddle category, Werner is responding with new paddle designs that focus on the two aspects of the sport, touring and surfing.
The Advantage is a Premium fiberglass laminate construction blade with a modified tear drop shape designed to optimize straight ahead efficiency for touring.
The Carve consists of the same construction as the Advantage but the shape is smaller, longer and more slender, specifically designed for dynamic surfing and turning.
Both the Advantage and the Carve come with a fiberglass oval indexed shaft and ABS Palm-grip. Werner offers three shaft configurations. The 1-piece is the lightest weight option and is least expensive ($219). The 2–piece is perfect for paddlers who travel with their paddle ($234). The Adjustable length telescopes with four settings, each 1.5 inches apart; perfect for those individuals who move between touring and surfing ($259).
“Stand Up Paddling is a real growth opportunity for surf and paddle sports dealers. We are excited to expand our Stand Up Paddle offerings to respond to the specific demands of the market,” says Jim Miller, Werner’s Marketing Manger.
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Kevin Seid Paddles Long & Hard: He Has Some Beta For You
Kevin Seid is in the middle of a big season Stand Up Paddling, he has some great info for those looking to take on bigger distances. Here is what Kevin has to say …
Stand-up paddling across the Kaiwi Channel during the 12th Annual Quiksilver Edition Molokai to Oahu Paddle Board Race is an adventure of a lifetime and a lesson in pain. I had a lot of time to think while paddle racing for 32 miles this season and I have some tips for you, whether you're going solo or as part of a team.
An important issue is whether you need to think about your paddling technique. If you have to "think" about blade entry, short or long stroke, strokes per minute, "J" stroke, or whatever, you are not ready to do this race. The Molokai Channel can be one of the most turbulent forces you will ever come across. At times, this year's race felt more like a wild bronco rodeo event rather than fun runners and surfing your way down the course like at my home training grounds on Oahu's North Shore. The northeast wind bump would collide with capping north swells, sending you either flying off the board or trying to frantically balance as if you were in a 7.0 Richter earthquake. All your focus is on the shapes and angle of oncoming bumps and how you are going to position your board, body, and paddle with them. There's no time to think about paddling technique here. It has to be a natural part of you, like breathing. The best paddlers look fluid, natural, and explosive in their strong body movements.
Another issue is whether you like to paddle equally on the left and right sides of your board. If you feel a need to be symmetrically balanced, don't even consider this race. The prevalent trade wind direction hits you from the right rear side, so you end up paddling on your left (leeward) side most of the time. On my home turf, the wind hits you on the opposite side during downwinders. I would estimate that I paddled 26 miles on the left side and 6 miles on the right side, and that's with having the luxury of a rudder although the unstable waters made it difficult to even use the rudder at times.
Also, everything feels heavier and heavier as you go along, so having a really light and efficient paddle like the Werner Spanker is important. Working out with heavier solid wood paddles helps, and sometimes I have even used weights on the paddle.
I could go on forever with all the little challenges of this odyssey. But it's best to focus on why you are doing this race because that is your ultimate fuel. For myself, the main pleasure was to completely let go of my terrestrial existence, embrace the open ocean adventure under the power of my own body, bond with nature and pristine coastlines, and soak up the rich Hawaiian ocean culture with my paddling tribe. This is the beauty of stand-up paddling and why I love focusing my energies working within the industry at everpaddle.com.
As I started the race and as I paddled through all the barriers of physical and mental pain and slight seasickness, knowing that I crossed the same magnificent churning 2300 feet deep Kaiwi Channel that King Kamehameha and his 10,000 warriors with 1200 canoes did in 1795 to do battle with King Kalanikupule of Oahu, I felt completely at awe, and at home.
-Kevin
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Party Time in the Extreme: Adidas Sickline Returns
The World’s best whitewater kayakers will meet October 1-5 2008 in Austria’s Ötztal for a special kind of challenge: Adidas Sickline – The Extreme Kayak World Championship. At the famous Wellerbrücke, the Ötz river holds one of the most sophisticated whitewater sections on earth making it the perfect setting to determine the world’s best extreme kayakers.
The extreme Kayak World Championship officially starts on Wednesday, October 1, 2008 with an voluntary training on the qualifying course, following the opening ceremony.
On Thursday, the 2nd the qualification begins. Only the top 100 riders advance to the second run. The top 50 extreme kayakers will then compete in the adidas Sickline finals on Saturday, October 4. The organisers, Bernhard Mauracher and Olaf Obsommer, have set up a varied program including movie nights and parties which will enthuse kayak pros and amateur visitors alike.
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Photographer Floyd Palitang and Team PossAbilities
Photographer Floyd Palitang took this incredible image. This photo was recently awarded first place in a contest hosted by Zack Arias. You can see more of the winners here.
The athletes Floyd shot were members of Team PossAbilities. The team was developed to increase community awareness for the PossAbilities program and represents Loma Linda University Medical Center East Campus.
The team members participate in road cycling, mountain biking, multi-sport, kayaking, wheelchair, walking and running events. They are active from a social, recreational, intermediate, to elite levels.
In addition to increasing awareness for the PossAbilities program, the Team’s goal is to promote the benefits of a healthy and productive lifestyle through peer support, training, teamwork, and competition. The team will also be supporting and organizing both recreational and competitive events throughout the year. Learn more about Team PossAbilities here.
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Prom Night at 5th Annual Ladies of the Lake Sea Kayak Symposium
To say that the Melanie, Jeff, Todd, Arnie and Bill, the owners of the Upper Peninsula, Michigan based Down Wind Sports, are among the hardest working I know is by no means a stretch. With their reputation for putting on what seems like an endless string of outdoor sporting events it is no surprise this group of outdoor enthusiasts host the only all women’s sea kayak symposium in the country, Ladies of the Lake.
In its 5th year the symposium invites women from around the country to join together to celebrate the sport of kayaking for 3 days each August in changing venues along the Upper Peninsula coast. This years the ladies set it off on Drummond Island, MI, August 21st-24th. A full schedule of on water and on land classes along with a full offering of kayak tours may seem to be the recipe for many symposiums, but the catch here is only women participants and coaches are allowed. (Don’t worry guys, Down Wind and Werner Paddles have developed “Men’s Camp,” to give you something to do while your female friends and loved ones hit the water.)
Guest instructors and presenters are flown in from around the country to add to an already stellar group of mid-western women instructors. This year it a pleasure to announce Gail Green owner of Living Adventure, will be on the water and putting on the Friday evening presentation while Marsha Henson, all the way from Tybee Island Georgia, owner of Sea Kayak Georgia, will be trading out salt water for fresh water and will be providing Saturday evening’s entertainment. Along with Werner Paddle’s always thrilling Most Improved Paddler Award, Saturday night is not to be missed as Werner Paddles presents…Prom Night. We can’t wait to see you there.
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Umiak Outfitters "Veggie Bus" Is A Win For The Environment
Outdoor recreation enthusiasts have a lot to lose if our environment continues in the direction its heading, so it’s no surprise that this group is playing a very important role in the movement to clean it up. Steve Brownlee, owner of Umiak Outfitters in Stowe, Vermont has always tried his hardest to be friendly to the outdoors that he enjoys so much but has recently taken his crusade to the next level.
Umiak runs daily canoe and kayak river trips in the area and logs many miles on their shuttle vehicles. The nature of his business requires him to run large vans and buses capable of pulling lots of people and heavy trailers through the mountains of North Central Vermont. In an effort to negate the damage that these vehicles can cause to the atmosphere, Steve decided to convert his 21-passenger diesel shuttle bus, one of the largest in his fleet, to run on straight vegetable oil (SVO). The result is what the Umiak staff calls ‘The Veggie Bus’, a powerful vehicle that gives off virtually zero emissions.
He turned to Jason Chojnicki, the owner of Full Circle Automotive in Waitsfield, Vermont who is gaining quite a reputation for transforming diesel automobiles into SVO vehicles. According to Brownlee, the transformed bus receives better gas mileage than it did when it was running on diesel and the performance of the vehicle has not been altered whatsoever. An added benefit, and one that many would consider just as important, is that he pays absolutely nothing for the fuel. “In fact,” said Brownlee, “the places that give me their used cooking oil are happy to have me take it off their hands. They would normally have to pay to dispose of it, so it’s a win-win situation.” He added that, “There is a small amount of processing that is involved before you can add the fuel to the tank but it’s well worth the effort.”
While the fuel savings was definitely a bonus that Brownlee was looking forward to, he says that it was not the main reason why he decided to make the investment. “The conversion was definitely not cheap,” he said. “It cost me around $3,000. However, after the recent skyrocketing of gas prices, I figure it will have paid for itself after just two seasons. I was more concerned about damaging the rivers and lakes that are the bread and butter of my favorite activity and my business.”
There are many websites on the internet about converting diesel engines to SVO engines. One of the most informative sites is Golden Fuel Systems (formerly Greasel Conversions), which is one of the world leaders in manufacturing and installation of SVO (Straight Vegetable Oil) diesel conversion systems.
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Talor Cote Quiet Confidence Exposed
Werner Team Paddler, Taylor Cote, is different. At 14 years old, most of her classmates don't know about her outdoor exploits which include climbing and paddling.
“Paddling hooked me in a way no other sport ever has. Have you ever had the urge to suddenly have a certain type of food, maybe? Well, that’s how paddling is for me. I have cravings for it when I’m not out there on the water. Right now my favorite place to be on a river is right in the middle of all the big waves,” says Taylor.
Taylor’s maturity and athletic skill has helped her in paddling but she is in no way one dimensional. Taylor is one of the youngest persons to ever summit Mt Rainier, Washington and has been a straight A, Honor Student for the past five years. Her aspiration, beyond her next paddling session, is to be a Mission Specialist for NASA.
Taylor’s quiet confidence has recently been exposed. She got some great press in the Gwinnett Daily Postand now her friends will know why she misses parties and movies - she is on the water and having a blast. Read more here.
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