Playak Weekly Digest - week 20

Playak Weekly Digest
The world's top paddling links in week 20, 2010.

News Watch Interview: Valerie Bertand Playak (Wednesday 19th) ***** - A short interview with Valerie Bertand about 4 world championships in one year. Surf Sessions -Ottawa River Sweet (Wednesday 19th) *** - In late March I headed back on the Ottawa River to chill in my house and enjoy the warm weather and daily paddling. With little snow this winter and an early spring, the river level has been very low. We are all feeling a little lost without the legendary Bus Eater happening, but I found plenty of good surf and was enjoying having great days on the water. Exploratory Creeking in Quebec… Level 6 (Tuesday 18th) *** - Well today is my birthday and my present was two 1st descents around Saguenay, Quebec….best b-day pressie ever! We started the week with a few Classics to Warm up around Chicoutimi before heading off into the wilderness to explore the upper Petit Saquenay & Riviere du Portage. Red Bull Canal Crashers Dagger Blogs (Sunday 16th) ** - Day one of the ramp is finished and there are 10 high flyers movin on to Saturdays showdown. True to form the ramp delivered some big tricks as well as some spectacular crashes. Hats off to all the competitors for hanging in there as this ramp is big and fast. Among those ready to fly again are myself, Tao Berman, and Richmond locals Rob Tompkins, Van, Greg, and Patrick (sorry boys don't have the last names and others. Stephen's photos from "The South Branch"–Cali creeking wonderland Jackson Kayak (Tuesday 18th) ** - Enjoy these photos from the epicocity of creeking wonderland: The South Branch Middle Feather. I tried to shoot angles that I haven't done here before. Shots are of Clay, Darin, EJ, Heather Herbeck, Nick, Dane, and Chris. Sam is back adidas Sickline (Tuesday 18th) ** - So after two days off paddling and going crazy watching the boys fire off some sick drops, I managed to get enough vision back in my eyes to go paddling. I didn't paddle anything gnarly just the little White Salmon and the White Salmon. The Upper Elk Wavesport Blogs (Friday 14th) ** - Ahhh the Upper Elk, I have talked about this run before and really my writing and photographic talents don't do this run justice. A short run with challenging rapids in a very unique boxed in canyon and one of the best 40 foot waterfalls I have ever paddled. The very square like nature of the bed rock either makes the drops very easy to scout and portage when the walls form steps or impossible when it forms a head wall. South Branch of the Middle Feather, California Wavesport Blogs (Sunday 16th) ** - After not even a year I am back in California, my favourite place to kayak on the world so far. Found a job on weekends and kayak everyday on weekdays. Its great way to do it and it allowed me to run one of the greatest rivers out here. South Branch of the middle Feather. Bold new style for Stookesbury's "Hotel Charlie #5: First Descent" (teaser) Jackson Kayak (Saturday 15th) ** - Bold narration, exotic scenics, rugged whitewater, and top-notch cast … this latest Hotel Charlie teaser shelves the 'humble documentary' motif of Ben's past film work for a more aggressive, entertainment-oriented 'docu-drama' style that seems to suit his rugged endeavors and the rock-solid visual imagery he's adapted to his surroundings. Liquidlogic Biscuit at Corner Pocket, then Escalante Ross Herr (Friday 14th) ** - After our sweet day on the upper Animas we were all a little sore. A Texas Taco from the Original Texas BBQ was exactly what we needed to revive us! I got word that Escalante was back to a good flow so sadly it was time to leave Durango. I stopped by the whitewater park for a quick half-hour session before making the drive back up north. Corner Wave 2010 Level 6 (Tuesday 18th) ** - … unusual spring in the ottawa valley. Thats all that needs to be said. This edit brought to you by Ottawa Kayak School, Level Six, Jackson Kayak, Teva Footwear and Shred Ready… because rocks hurt. VIDEO: freestyle Session Kayak Session (Friday 14th) ** - Headcam video of freestyle paddlers in France; super cool edit and creative way to show kayaking.... thumbs up to Leo and friends... Wavesport Fuse 56 Limited Edition Playak (Monday 17th) ** - This year (2010), we are producing Limited Edition Fuse 56 models based on our design contest winners announced at Outdoor Retailer. Get your order in now to own one of these truly unique kayaks that feature our innovative new graphic technology. April 2010 in Canada (video) Level 6 (Tuesday 18th) * - Check it out! Back to back new runs! Whitewater-Koa (Wednesday 19th) * - So with some nice warm up runs under the belt it was back to the reason we are here! Finding new rivers. Last year we found a section of the Riviere du Portage that looked like it had potential but didnt not have the time to do it. This year we were about to go in when I spotted a higher volume run a bit further away that we decided to check out first and see what it was like.

Hot Forum Topics Burn or Solo? (Gear) Liquid xp9 or a Fluid solo expedtion (Gear) Wavesport fuse sizes (Gear) First episode of Driven... Check it out Stiletto's Story:First Descents - In Between Swims Top Videos South Branch of the Middle Feather High Country Sports: Buena Vista Paddle Fest Surf kayaking session, March 2010 Championnats du monde de wave ski 2009.mpg Palmiet 12 May 2010 (AdrianTregoning) Upcoming Events Outdoor show 2010 Slovenia, Kobarid, May 20 - May 23 Boater Chick Festival USA, NC, Nelson's Nantahala Hideaway., May 21 - May 23 Auburn River Festival United States, California, Cool, China Bar, May 21 - May 23 White Squall's 25th Anniversary Party Canada, Nobel, Ontario (near Parry Sound), May 22 - May 23 Val Sesia Canoa Film Festival Italy, Campertogno, Val Sesia, May 22 - May 23 Puget Sound Challenge-Segment 4 USA, Seattle, May 22 55th Potomac Downriver Race USA, DC, Washington, May 22 Valsesia River Contest Italy, VC, Scopello, May 22 BCU Freestyle League UK, Bala, May 22 - May 23 Water Divas Spring Event US, WI, Madison, May 23 21st Annual WMCKA Symposium USA, MI, Camp Pendalouan, May 28 - May 31 TEVA Straight Down Striit Switzerland, Glarus, Elm, May 28 - May 30 Kachemak Bay Sea Kayaking Skills Symposium US, AK, Halibut Cove, May 28 - Jun 1 Puntledge River Paddle Festival Canada, Courtenay, May 28 - May 30 Dolomiti Kayak Meeting Italy, Cortina D'ampezzo - Belluno, May 29 - May 30 French Broad Challenge Triathlon USA, Asheville, NC, May 29 Italy Kayak Meeting in the Lanzo Valley Italy, Torino, May 29 - May 30

The Playak Weekly Digest is a special Saturday version of the News Flash, containing the most popular paddling news of the past week. To see all the latest headlines, videos, forum discussions and more, visit Playak News Watch.
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