Playak News Flash 2010-08-07

Playak News Flash - August 7, 2010
The world's latest paddling headlines.

News Watch Headlines

Kayaking Video: Dashboard Empanada Outside Blog - The Demshitz crew, a group of stellar whitewater kayakers that includes Evan and Ian Garcia, Jared and Graham Seiler, and LJ Groth, just released their newest film, Dashboard Empanada. The title's a throwback to the whitewater classic Dashboard Burrito, and like Burrito, Empanada's allure is the film's unabashed love for paddling hard whitewater.

2010 Tri-Cities Hometown Throwdown Event #3 WK Throwdown - The third event in the 2010 Tri-Cities Hometown Throwdown series was BIG BOOMING FUN! We had 28 competitors join in for some great freestyle competition on the NOC Wave. Due to the low river level on the Nolichucky, we had to make a last minute venue change to a feature that had a descent river level with a good play spot. The good folks at the Nantahala Outdoor Center were kind enough to let us host the event on the NOC Wave adjacent to their campus.

2010 US Team Trials - Missoula, MT Fluid Blog - I recently returned from my trip to Montana for the US Team Trials. This event was held to determine the US national team for next years World Championships that will be held in late june 2011 in Plattling, Germany. The gist of my story is that I placed third in C-1 qualifying me for the US Team and allowing me to travel to Germany and compete in Worlds next summer.

Arctic Diaries passion4adventure - Back in the groove, its like I never left! In Svalbard's main port of Longyearbyen I boarded the Akademik Ioffe and reunited with friends of past seasons. Russians, Pilipino Aussies, Canadians, Americans, Polish, English and Swedish and kiwi staff employed to deliver polar expedition cruises.

US Freestyle Kayak Championships, Brennan's Wave, Missoula, Montana - K1 Preliminaries Video Montana Eddy Hop - Here is some footage of Missoula locals competing with the pros in the K1 prelims. Strong representation from the local boating crowd. Enjoy!

Keep Throwing it Down at the USNWC WK Throwdown - The heat was turned up for this month's throwdown even higher than the last one. Even though the temperatures neared the 100's all the competitors really brought it. Spin to win was the key to winning this time along with being able to link some cartwheels. As the summer progresses it is getting more and more shallow at the USNWC, its tough to keep water in the ponds when the temperatures are reaching the 100's and we have had no substantial rain in over a month. There were eight guys who competed at Biscuits this month, including one newcomer.

Quebec Guide Level 6 - Located in East-Central Canada, Quebec is one of the worlds more unexplored water havens. Quebec's land mass is twenty two times the size of Ireland, and with a population of only 7.5 million people, this territory is largely uncharted. The backwater river systems of Quebec are currently being uncovered by a small group of paddlers. This international group has been ticking of first descents all over the territory. Despite two years of research and kayaking this area still has a lot to offer up to the kayaker willing to put in the work.

Micah goes to the Hood Jackson Kayak - One of the best ways to both improve as a paddler and keep things fresh is to paddle a different type of whitewater. Spending most of my time around Boise, Idaho, I rarely leave the big water stomping grounds I call home. I've had a fun year and I've been paddling a lot, but I was craving a boof over 4 feet in height. For two days, two friends and I left the raft company we work for to hit a few waterfalls near the creeking mecca of Hood River, Oregon.

Michigan City to Chicago by Kayak: A Sort Of Lake Michigan Crossing Chicago Area Sea Kayakers Association - Almost a decade ago four of us--Dave Kaknes, Mike Agostinelli, Tom Heineman and I--had attempted the crossing from Calumet Park on Chicago's far south side to Michigan City, Indiana. The forecast that day was for modest north winds, but conditions picked up quickly once we passed the Calumet Harbor breakwater. Soon we were paddling in fairly high swells and the wind made rafting up for breaks difficult.

More Kimberley Adventures Wavesport Blogs - So there we were, 3 days on the river, we had found a couple amazing camp sites, paddled some sweet rapids, it was 40 degrees and sunny, the river seemed to have ample water considering we still hadn't reached its main tributary and turned into the Fitzroy River … life was good and only getting better.

Finally, a Tandem You'll Want to Paddle Confluence Blog - Interest in tandem kayaks is at an all time high. Even still, it's not a well kept secret that some tandems have been referred to with a not-so-friendly nickname. That's all changing with Perception's 2011 Prodigy II 14.5 tandem. Completely new design and new outfitting focused on performance, comfort, and adding the features that customers have been asking for.

Lake Creek video! Jakub Nemec - Here is a short movie from my favourite convenience creek in Colorado. Enjoy!

Blazing Hot USNWC Slalom Survivor WK Throwdown - It was another blazing hot Thursday night at the USNWC for our second Slalom Survivor or as we like to call it Boatercross. 22 folks decided that they would sweat out the evening racing. Edgar Peck last times winner was in charge of setting the course and he made it interesting. The course started right above Trashcan Hole, boaters had to touch the flags in both the river left and river right eddies below the hole, no set order which set the stage for some great mid hole ferry battles and collisions.

Johnson, Hornsby Headline Sprint Nationals USA Canoe/Kayak - About 400 athletes are expected to descend upon the Sooner State for USA Canoe/Kayak Sprint National Championships, Aug. 26-29. The event marks the beginning of the long journey towards qualification for the London 2012 Olympic Games. Some of the senior races will qualify athletes for the 2010 Pan American Championships, which is a qualifier for the 2011 Pan American Games, a second chance qualifier for London 2012.

Native Watercraft's Fresh Accessories for 2011 Playak - Native Watercraft is launching a few new accessories for the 2011 season that will add even more comfort and utility to the consumer's favorite personal watercrafts.An innovative seat riser for those who are looking for a higher line of sight without giving up comfort, convenience, or paddling trim is also being made available as an accessory to complement the existing line of seating accessories for the Ultimate series.

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