Playak Weekly Digest - week 13

Playak Weekly Digest
The world's top paddling links in week 13, 2010.

News Watch Batang Sangir – Clocking Up Another Great First Descent Part 1 Adrian Tregoning (Friday 26th) ***** - Friday, 20 November. We knew we more than likely not be able to paddle that day and somehow I was the first one of the westerners awake. After breakfast I began to fill in my journal but then we had to dress up in long pants and closed shoes and leave quite quickly. The weather was not ideal for th... and the winner is…. LVM TV (Friday 26th) ***** - Danny Siger! Your video makes us all cringe, so much so that we are putting it on the front page of the website. Email us your address and we will get the DVD out to you, and as an added bonus include your shoe size. We have a pair of Teva's coming with your name on them, you deserve it! Thanks to everyone who submitted a story and keep it hairy side up. Karma! Bootfahrer (Saturday 27th) *** - It's been over ten years now that I've been running whitewater and thus been traveling and living out of cars quite a bit. I never had anything happen to me, Cameras, travelgear, kayakgear, whole lives carried around in a car are obviously quite attractive for the criminal mind. So I guess it's just been a matter of time until what happened would happen. Off we go to British Columbia! Kokatat Blog (Sunday 28th) ** - My friends Matt and Joy helped Ian and I get started in Seattle. Ian and I had, afterall, driven from California with only a few days to spare, and still had many errands to run in the Seattle area. Joy and Matt saw me off on this great adventure on a quiet Monday morning. It's grim up North. Palm Blogs (Sunday 28th) ** - With summer approaching fast, the opportunity for some late season runs on a UK classic proved too much. Mat "Magic" Morrissey and myself headed to the Swale. My Worst Swim Ever Fraser Valley WW (Tuesday 30th) ** - Okay so it may not have been my worst swim ever but it also wasn't my best swim ever. After driving 3 hours through snow and having to leave Tanners awesome Hyundai car a couple kilometers back I was super eager to get out and play on the ice-cold waters of the Gordon River. I believe there were 14 paddlers in total that day. Moving slowly like most groups that size would I began to play on every rock and eddy line in the river. Dipper Creek LiquidLore (Wednesday 31st) ** - LiquidLore definitely doesn't operate in real time. Only 5 months after the fact have I finally gotten around to getting up a short story and some beta for this monster creek that was discovered just a few years ago. It's just in time though for you to try and get in a run before the taps turn on and it gets too high for the upcoming summer season (that can't come quick enough!). There isn't a lot of low elevation snow this year, and it might just be possible to squeak up there this spring. Some folks reached as high as Fear Canyon on the Elaho road back in early March and it's only been getting warmer. Ford's Kayak Van Canadian Ckayaker (Wednesday 31st) ** - Despite the fact that my little Go-Camp trailer has proven to be a welcome and handy way of traveling to the kayak put-ins around the country, I seem to be continually on the lookout for an even better idea. The other day I discovered Ford's Transit van which is relatively new here in North America, although Europe has seen it for several years now. Freeky: LAST CHANCE TOUR reporte de viaje #1 PaddleBlogs (Saturday 27th) * - There some rivers, countries, cultures that atracts everybody´s attention. India and Nepal are two of those countries. Not only kayakers, but all kind of people travel thousands of km to visit these areas. For us, it was the same. I wanted to do a trip to India and Nepal since a couple of years ago, but never really found the chance, until the last summer in Norway. I Found out that a couple of friends wanted to do the same trip, specially in the area of northern India, wich was like music to my ears. And so, we decided to meet in New Delhi at the end of september, and make our way north from there. The team consisted in Leon Bedford (Australia), James Thorp (Australia), Monica Godkey (USA) and myself. WCKA in Chile: Life Abroad Todd Wells (Wednesday 31st) * - When I first told my friends that I was going to the World Class Kayak Academy they didn't know if I was attending high school, or just going on an extended kayaking vacation. At the time I didn't know how to explain World Class to them, but now after two months of traveling, kayaking, and studying throughout Chile I know what it's all about... River Safety Tip ACA (Sunday 28th) * - Have you ever heard of the drowning machine? An innocent horizon line on a slow moving river might spell trouble for the uninformed. The ACA teamed up with the Illinois Paddling Council and ACA Excellence in Instruction Award winner Tom Lindblade to produce a tool that might just save someone's life. Surftech SUP Shootout Day One Delivers! SUP Surf (Wednesday 31st) * - As promised, Steamer Lane did not disappoint in round one of the 2010 Surftech SUP Shootout! With clear skies and solid head-high sets rolling through, the competitors wasted no time in taking advantage of having the Lane all to themselves. Farewell Signor Mercati… Italian Wildwater Canoeing Star announces his retirement ICF (Saturday 27th) * - This week the Italian Canoe Federation announces the retirement of one of their star Wildwater Canoeing athletes, Mr Carlo Mercati. Mercati was crowned World Champion after winning gold in the K1 Classic in Garmish, Germany in 2004. After 15 years of racing and winning various important races at National, Continental and International, Mercati left the wildwater circus during the first race of the year, which was held last week in Città di Castello. A poignant moment, especially as this is where Mercati was born in 1976. Bic Sports – New 2010 Products for Bic Inflatable Kayaks AirKayaks (Monday 29th) * - Bic Sports is coming out with a new Lite model to complement their Yakkair inflatable kayak line, which debuted in 2009. The Bic Yakkair Lite Single, and Yakkair Lite Tandem, are streamlined versions of the current model, with a lower MSRP. The YAKKAir Lite is aimed specifically at coastal paddling close to the beach, for rivers and for other inland waters. The retail price has been reduced by making the foot brace optional, removing the inflatable keel, and using a PVC lower-pressure floor cushion rather than the expensive hi-pressure floor found in the standard Yakkairs. Expedition photos - provided by Beth-Anne, Matt Holmes and John Ashburner from KEP Oceanmaid Ventures (Sunday 28th) * - Departure Day - Grytviken February 28th, 2010 I will continue to post images as we sort through them. The update for March 26th "Drama on Terra firma" is below. I have enjoyed reading all the comments that followers have posted on this blog.

Hot Forum Topics Pyrennees Buddies Race 2010 (PBR). Environmental Education in Coaching Liquidlogic Biscuit Review and Playboat sizing World Champion riding a Watertech Surf machine... kayaking southern Turkey (Europe) Top Videos The Dagger Dash at NOC Shootout 2010 April 18th Bring your Long Boat! Lower Haw River 122809 (lausley) Santa Cruz Kayak Surf Festival 2010 - Day #2 - Highlights Ain't Louie Fest 2010 Two Minutes on the Lake (lausley) Upcoming Events Santa Olas Festival Argentina, Playa Waikiki Mar Del Plata, Apr 1 - Apr 4 Dream Result: Asheville NC USA, NC, Asheville, Apr 1 - Apr 2 Charlotte Open (Slalom) USA, NC, Charlotte, Apr 2 - Apr 3 Easter Corsica Kayak Sessions Corsica (FR), Aléria, Apr 4 - Apr 10 New England Paddlesports Show USA, NH, Durham, Apr 9 - Apr 11 Kaiserklammtrophy 2010 Austria, Kramsach, Tirol, Apr 9 - Apr 10 Northwest Creeking Competition US, WA, Yacolt, Apr 10 - Apr 11 Puget Sound Challenge-Segment 1 USA, Seattle, Apr 10 Withlacoochee Wilderness Canoe & Kayak Race and Rally USA, FL, Inglis-Yankeetown, Apr 10 New England Whitewater Championship USA, Tariffville, Connecticut, Apr 10 - Apr 11

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