Playak Weekly Digest - week 15

Playak Weekly Digest
The world's top paddling links in week 15, 2010.

News Watch All Winter long, my October to Spring Simon Westgarth (Friday 9th) ***** - It's been some time since my monthly blog reports, so I will simply span October to Spring, and perhaps arrive in April on time. What Really Happened Between Brad Ludden and Jennifer Love Hewitt… First Descents (Monday 12th) **** - For those who frequent the epicenter of celebrity gossip—the infamous Page Six—you might have seen First Descents' Founder, Brad Ludden's name within the mix of today's posts in a piece touting Jennifer Love Hewitt's love-gone-wrong history. Lyon for Easter breakfast Teva Blog (Saturday 10th) ** - A Chileno, an Argentian, a French and a Dutch. A multicultural company on a trip to Lyon wave Hawaii sur Rhone for Easter. Nick Troutman on the Road Again: Triple Crown, Farmington New England Jackson Kayak (Tuesday 13th) ** - The Farmington Triple Crown is my third competition of 2010. First was the Alabama Mountain Games, then the NOC slalom competition, then Emily and I packed everything we needed for the next 6 months and hit the road. The Beast in the East Evan Garcia (Tuesday 13th) ** - After my arrival to the East Coast and fired up from a season of hucking in Chile...I was still on my game and ready to continue my kayaking. The first thing that came up with the warming weather and rains was the Cullasaga...This run gave me a good taste of just how steep and scary these east coast river can get. I was really loving the volume and safety of my Jefe Grande on this run that's for sure. Composite Nemesis Adrian Tregoning (Friday 9th) ** - So, a lot of people have been making noise about the ridiculously awesome composite Fluid Element, which is now available. But there is also a composite version of the Nemesis, which is just as awesome. Images of the Greenjacket LE3 and more on the ASTRAL LE program. Astral Currently (Sunday 11th) ** - Hot off the production line this week was the first LE3, or as we've been calling it, the Samurai. Sluice & Testing the new Molans! The Sluice Crew (Friday 9th) ** - We had to get up real early to meet Kipper up at sluice and demo the new Molans.We had a little look around the boats, twiddled with the hip pads, foot block and back-band.We had been looking forward to trying the boat for so long and were super fired up to put them through there paces. Kayaking Accidents Simon Willis (Monday 12th) ** - There have been a series of awful kayaking accidents in Scotland this week. There have been two deaths on rivers and a sea kayaker is missing off Shetland, feared dead. It's giving us all pause for thought. Here are some news reports for those who want to know more. Throw rope review: LL Speedloader 50' Total WW Fun (Tuesday 13th) ** - So a while back I took a pretty menial swim. I was fine and my boat and paddle were also found. Unfortunately my throwbag was lost in the river somewhere. I've always had a love hate relationship with throwbags as it is. I want one in quick reach at all times but I don't want to be wearing one and I don't want to fish around the back of my boat looking for it. It has to throw consistently and accurately. Oh yeah I can't stand having to repack those things it can be quite time consuming. Well after a few months of borrowing different kinds I finaly decided to make a purchase. And the further you go, the grimmer it gets… Palm Blogs (Tuesday 13th) ** - After years of driving past it, I finally got a chance to stroll up to the Roughburn, way north of the border in Scotland. Turns out the clue's in the name… Molans part Two The Sluice Crew (Sunday 11th) ** - So, today was the second day of testing of the new Pyranha Molans for Robbie and Shane and some much needed training for me. Pyranha Fusion Review with Kyle McCutchen and Tina Swan CKS Blog (Friday 9th) ** - We decided to add a pair of Pyranha Fusions to our family of kayaks this spring. Kyle and I had our test run in Arizona down Eagle Creek into the Gila River for a 2 night self support kayak trip. It was a class III+ run with some class IV- wood maneuvering interspersed. Golden Strokes Von Strokerton of April 8th LVM TV (Sunday 11th) * - So many good images and videos out there it is ridiculous. We like them all and will get them posted, so if you sent us an image and it hasn't made the site yet stand by, it is coming. Up first GRL, Chris Roberts shows us a couple more from his home river on The Green Narrows. The 50 Best Places to Work in America Outside Blog (Saturday 10th) * - We've announced our annual "Best Places to Work" list. Of the 50 selected companies, Natural Habitat Adventures, New Belgium Brewing, and Clif Bar & Company claimed the top spots. The full list and related story will be published in the May issue of Outside magazine, available on newsstands April 27, 2010. Outside's "Best Places to Work" list was compiled with the help of the Outdoor Industry Association and Best Companies Group.

Hot Forum Topics She's the World Champ ;) Kokatat vs Palm (Gear) Advice On A Kayak for Instructing and Playboating (Gear) DVDs: DVD Review: Dream Result (Gear) Looksha V experience/review required (Gear) Top Videos Plattling Low Water | Bliss-Stick Smoothy (roblala) Many seals spotted in New York Harbor! FACE TIME Teaser Surprise wave Hornopiren Update(chilerivers.org) Upcoming Events First amateur rafting and whitewater slalom contest in Romania Romania, Tirgu Mures, Apr 16 - Apr 18 East Coast Canoe & Kayak Festival USA, SC, Charleston, Apr 16 - Apr 18 10th Annual Port Angeles Kayak Symposium US, WA, Port Angeles, Apr 16 - Apr 18 Austria Kajak Saison Open Austria, Lofer Basecamp direkt an der Bundesstrasse, Apr 16 - Apr 18 Ledyard River Festival United States, NH, Hanover, Apr 16 - Apr 18 Kajak Festival Netherlands, Zoetermeer, Apr 16 - Apr 17 Grizzly Man Adventure Race & Black Bear Challenge USA, MT, Greenough, Apr 17 Open Canoe Festival France, Mirabel et Blacons, Apr 17 - Apr 18 Shark Bite Challenge USA, FL, Dunedin, Apr 17 - Apr 18 Paivafest Portugal, Arouca, Apr 21 - Apr 25 2nd Annual Sweetwater Paddle for the Cure US, FL, Tampa, Apr 24 Puget Sound Challenge-Segment 2 USA, Seattle, Apr 24 Tagliamento Kayak Sprint Italy, Forni di Sotto, Apr 24 Kernow Student Surf Kayak Contest England, Cornwall, Hayle, Apr 28

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