Playak News Flash 2010-10-18

Playak News Flash - October 18, 2010
The world's latest paddling headlines.

News Watch Headlines

Green Race Training River Angels - After a busy summer of cruising around paddling mainly creeks and rivers, I have now had 1.5 months off. As normal I have worked at the Octoberfest in Germany, and as normal I came out of the seventeen days fairly sick. We do between 12-14 hours shifts every day, and I also had to go home for a day to do a slideshow in my hometown in Norway. But. This was the first year the fest was smokefree, and for a non-smoker, it was absolutely heaven.

How to outfit your creekboat in 27 easy steps Wavesport Blogs - By customizing your creek boat outfitting you will enhance safety, control, and comfort. Keep those three things in mind when you're designing your solution.

Filming in Portugal Subgraviti - Seventeen days in Portugal. I took a group of young waveski surfers to Portugal to shoot a commercial for the 2011 World Championship. This was just one side of the mission. Together with the 2011 Worlds and the Santa Cruz Ocean Spirit Festival I will also have the world premier for my new waveski film.

Paddlers Get Their Day In Court on Chattooga Am. Whitewater - Yesterday, conservation-oriented paddlers presented their case against the US Forest Service regarding the agency's illegal paddling ban on 21 miles of the Wild and Scenic Chattooga River in a federal district court hearing. The full line-up of regional paddling clubs and national organizations (ACA and AW) were present and were represented by superb pro-bono legal council.

Lower Kakapotahi River – A Day Late padallen - After paddling the Totara River, our plan for the following day was to paddle the lower section of the Kakapotahi River. That night it rained. When we got up in the morning, it rained. On the drive to the Kakapotahi River, it rained some more. Actually, rain would be a gross understatement, it was absolutely pouring down. There is meant to be a dirt road on the way to the put in. However, we were driving through more water than anything else.

Day 12 - trapped inside my head: lonely musings The Seven Settlements Solo Kayak Expedition - ...I sleep too long. I sleep well, but too long, every day. It is now 10:15 and I am just starting to get up. I don't think it is quite apathy, but the thought of packing all this is just ... eurch! It is the same every time. If the boat packed itself I think I would get further each day. Alas, it does not and I just have to get it done. It is the problem of dishes that slows me down every time...

Feathering Bryant Burkhardt - Seems like I've been getting asked a lot about paddle feathering lately. People want to know what feather they should get on their paddle. The questions indicate that most people aren't really sure what it's all about - why are paddles feathered? I realize that as an instructor I'm guilty of glossing over the issue to beginners (and I don't think I'm alone there) because the answer is a little more complicated and a little more vague than you really want to get into the first time someone picks up a paddle.

From paperwork to project: Malibu Lagoon restoration approved L.A. Creek Freak - The title says it all, folks. I received a text that it was a unanimous yes vote for the lagoon restoration project. Congratulations to the project proponents. We'll be checking in on its progress from time to time.

Personal Experience with the Helen Wilson DVD SherriKayaks - In the last week, I had a student ask me for a couple private lessons to work on a sculling high brace and a static balance brace. Besides lucking out by having gorgeous weather for both lessons, it was also a fortunate coincidence that I had recently watched my new Helen Wilson DVD, "Simplifying the Roll" (see my previous blog). It gave me a lot of new ways to assist this student in learning particular skills that he wanted to master.

Storm Gathering USA - Urban Paddler Event Mark Tozer - On a recent visit to the United States, I had the opportunity to catch up with my good friends Warren Parker and Taino Almestica. Whilst it is always a great pleasure to see my paddling buddies from across the pond, this occasion was particularly special as the guys had been busy organising their first ever sea kayak symposium, and it meant I had the chance to lend a hand.

This mail contains a selection of the world's latest paddling news. To see all the latest news, videos, forum discussions and more, visit Playak News Watch.
To manage your Playak subscriptions, click here.