Playak Weekly Digest - week 37

Playak Weekly Digest
The world's top paddling links in week 37, 2010.

News Watch Independent Review: Windpaddle Cruiser Sail Playak (Monday 13th) ***** - The Windpaddle Cruiser is a pop-up sail designed for use on kayaks, canoes, sit-on-tops and other small watercrafts. Playak experimented with the Windpladdle Cruiser on kayaks and canoes in the wind on the channels and lakes in the Green Heart of Holland. The Grand Canyon of the Stikine Kokatat Blog (Wednesday 15th) *** - While the paddlesport industry's summer Outdoor Retailer show was in full swing in Salt Lake City, another meeting was taking place nearly 2000 miles away, in the upper reaches of British Columbia's vast northern wilderness. Two of western Canada's big water veterans, Corey Boux and Mark Basso, along with Jamie Wright (UK), Ricky Lambert (NZ), and Benjamin Hjort (NOR) headed into the depths of North America's biggest whitewater beasts…..the Grand Canyon of the Stikine. Flood waves in Trencin adidas Sickline (Saturday 11th) ** - This year the weather is a bit crazy all around Europe. No exception in Slovakia! From early spring they had floods in many parts of the country. Even at places where they never had such problems before. We are so sorry for those people who lost homes and other possessions. Getting Beat Down Gutters of the Earth (Friday 10th) ** - From the scout I had decided that the last part of a 4-part rapid on Chawanakee Gorge of the San Joaquin looked exactly like "locals go deep" on the South Yuba. I meant to run it the same way: plugging into the seem. I found out the plug had been overzealous when I momentarily pinned on the bottom and then had my deck implode from the surrounding water. The swim was low-stress into a calm pool where I made it to the bank with my paddle. Il bello Ticino (video) Team LiquidLogic (Wednesday 15th) ** - Some of the best white-water pearls are found for the European paddlers in Ticino. On our last trip to the Swiss Confederation, we have Ribo, Verzasca and Co. Zanskar River Video Teaser Rafting Life (Sunday 12th) ** - This past August I arrived in Leh, Ladakh in the anticipation of getting on a couple Zanskar trips. That plan abruptly changed on the night of August 5th when a cloud burst over the mountains outside of Leh. Bridges were destroyed, homes disappeared, peoples lives were lost. Leh changed in an instant. We spent around twenty days up in Leh and as we did we saw the bridges get fixed, the roads become open. Which in this area is an amazing feat. There were candle light walks and music played to bring awarness and raise money to the villages outside of the Leh that had been damaged or destroyed in the flood. The Ten Stages of Low Water Grief Down River Kayaks (Monday 13th) ** - September….my last paddle on my local river was back in July, a time I like to call, B.S. (Before Summer Sucked the Life Out of the River). It's especially bad here on the Rappahannock, but I've been living with this problem since I started paddling in New England. Summer, or as I like to call it, the "Worst Season EVER", has kicked the crap out of the clouds, essentially delivering a kick to their nuts that has left them impotent and without the ability to make rain. Canada Vs. USA at the Raquette River Race Team Pyranha (Saturday 11th) ** - Labor Day Monday saw the first ever Raquette River Race. For years paddlers have fantasized about how sweet a race on this northern gem would be. It wasn't until the five 2 nine crew stepped up that it actually happened. When six Americans and and six Canadians showed up, we realized we had a real international barn burner on our hands. Ashlu Season LiquidLore (Friday 10th) ** - Have you ever wondered why the Ashlu Mine Run is called the Mine Run? Well, it's neither a witty nor a spectacular explanation - there is an old gold mine right next to the river at the start of the run. It's actually pretty cool - on the way to the put in you pass right by the entrance to the mine shaft that was left wide open so you can just walk right in. The only other abandoned mines I've seen (in Newfoundland and West Virginia) were both closed off with permanent steel gates. Maybe there are a few gold nuggets still floating around down there. Teva Life Agent Honza Lasko report about the Devils Extreme Race 2010 Teva Blog (Wednesday 15th) * - Main white water event in Czech Republic is like every year during end of summer. Last weekend in August was water release from biggest CZech dam Lipno. During three day is below Lipno dam so many white water event`s, race`s and so many people on the water. You can see here white water slalom, ww down river sprint, raft competitions and for sure extreme race "Devil`s race" . Fourty 2 Fourty Teaser Blair Trotman (Wednesday 15th) * - So I have been super slack with updates over the past two monthes. None the less I have been doing a bit of creeking and had a couple of wicked trips with work. I am currently just going through all my photos and working on a little video. I will have a sweet update of the past couple of monthes shortly. Canoe and Kayak Magazine Releases Two Fantastic Kayak Instructional Short Videos [Instruction] Paddling Instructor Blog (Friday 10th) * - Canoe & Kayak Magazine recently published two quick instructional videos featuring Shawna Franklin and Leon Somme, who are both amazing instructors and owners of the paddling school, Body Boat Blade International. Craig Rivett – Surfing the Composite Fluid Element at Betty's Bay Adrian Tregoning (Saturday 11th) * - In June this year, Fluid Team paddler Craig Rivett was out in Cape Town visiting with his girlfriend. We hooked up for a few sessions and one mission was to Betty's Bay. The forecast was for NW wind which limited our choices on the west coast so we drove out to the east coast to Betty', about 100km out from Cape Town. Full details for our new Greece Road Trip Gene17 (Sunday 12th) * - A land full of deep canyons and clean gorges, prefect white water for the Class III paddler. In April 2011 Gene17 heads to the South East corner of Europe to feel the warmth of the Greek Spring and paddle some of it's amazing canyons. It's almost Dry Suit Season… CKS Blog (Saturday 11th) * - The Kokotat Gore-Tex dry suit is one piece of gear that I am never without. From winter, to spring creeking, summertime multidays, Grand canyon excursions, this drysuit is a must have. It keeps me dry no matter what. I love it for multi days because when I take it off at night, I'm still dry and just wear my union suit around and don't need to pack an extra layer of gear. When I flail and end up swimming, it keeps me dry and safe.

Hot Forum Topics Like Lasso Security Cables? Win one! (Gear) advice on buying new kayak (Gear) Accessories: Independent Review: Windpaddle Cruiser Sail (Gear) Kelly's whitewater park Cascade Idaho - open? (North America) Cool video blog Top Videos Payette River Update (epkayak) Wave Sport Project X Teaser The Low Brace Turn (martakokatatcom) カヤッククロス 瀬田川 2010 予告 (t. shimpei) The Grand Canyon of Stikine (martakokatatcom) Upcoming Events Puget Sound Challenge-Segment 11 USA, Seattle, Sep 18 Wet West Paddlefest Weekend Scotland, , Sep 18 - Sep 19 Masters World Cup Canoe Marathon Spain, Catalonia, Banyoles, Sep 23 - Sep 26 Indian River Paddle Classic USA, FL, Melbourne, Sep 24 - Sep 25 Class of 2010 International Whitewater Hall of Fame and US Naional Slalom Championships USA (Maryland), Gaithersburg and Dickerson, Sep 25 - Sep 26

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