Playak Weekly Digest - week 39

Playak Weekly Digest
The world's top paddling links in week 39, 2010.

News Watch I Like I Win: Astral Greenjacket Playak (Monday 27th) ***** - Another cool and easy sweepstake on Playak! ... On Monday, October 11th, we will randomly pick a winner who will receive an Astral Greenjacket (in size and color of choice: either red or black) for free! Jeff West takes a Villain to 'Stikine in a day' Jackson Kayak (Tuesday 28th) *** - Bear, I yelled and frantically set up in my mummified sleeping bag. It was still dark and I turned my flashlight on expecting a Grizzly. Laughter came from a few feet away. Boomer and Todd are already in their dry suits, packing their kayaks. It is 5:13 a.m. and I overslept by 13 minutes. I climb out of my sleeping bag and slide into my carefully folded dry suit. Project X vs. Garb Wavesport Blogs (Saturday 25th) *** - Well....after two sessions on the Ottawa River's GARB Wave I can finally say that I am figuring out the new toy! The Project X is faster than fast and just the perfect volume for me! A look at the Waikato River, NZ Palm Blogs (Tuesday 28th) *** - I recently teamed up with close friend Jared Meehan and headed to The Aratiatia Rapids on the Waikato River where we met up with world renowned photographer Craig Potton. Craig was busy filming a documentary series highlighting New Zealand's great rivers and we gave him an insight into the importance of Rivers to kayakers. Avoiding Surfers Ear CKS Blog (Monday 27th) *** - Growing up in Colorado I started hearing about surfers ear early on. Also known as Exostosis, surfers ear is the body's natural reaction to repeated exposure to cold water, where a bone will slowly grow over the ear canal in an attempt to protect the eardrum. WaveSport Project X on Inner City Wave Wavesport Blogs (Saturday 25th) ** - Here's a quick video I put together of Bryan Kirk, Robert Peerson and me on the wave. Enjoy the video! What you missed this morning.... NC Paddle Surfer (Sunday 26th) ** - It was a Coastal Urge girls (mostly) surf outing, with tips by Jacky this morning at CB Inlet. The Ashlu River Evan Garcia (Friday 24th) ** - The Ashlu is a very amazing place! Everyone knows this, so don't disagree. We came up for some fall releases on the Box Canyon, or as the locals call it, Commitment Canyon. Fred, Candace and I were all bunched in Gnar-Car ready for a stout mission in the back woods of this awe aspiring location. Dodging many dangerous Mountain Lions, Bears, Spiders, and heavy machinery we had an swell time enjoying the Ashlu Valley. Fear Canyon LiquidLore (Tuesday 28th) ** - Here's a quick post about Fear Canyon of the Elaho, probably the best hard big water run in the southwest corner of BC - there is some other stuff around but it's far out in the bush and I don't think it has really been explored yet. Click the link above for info you need to go paddle there. Hell's Kitchen Jason Craig (Tuesday 28th) ** - Fordyce Creek shut off about two weeks ago and flows started to look very low and slightly depressing in California. After another day of paddling the irrigation ditch behind my house, I got a call that "Hells Kitchen" run on the North Fork Stanislaus was in. Images From Mexico Astral Currently (Saturday 25th) ** - Our friend Francisco is an accomplished paddler and photographer from Mexico. He has a great eye for style and just sent in this update from Bleu and Blanc magazine as well as a few photos that he wanted to share. Gauley Fest 2010! Level 6 (Saturday 25th) * - The road trip to Gauley began late in the day after Matt Hamilton and I loaded up the truck here at the office and started heading south. After fighting traffic for hours we finely arrived at Matt's parents house just before midnight in southern Ontario to find an empty house. Hollyford River Day 1 – Falls Creek to Gunn's Camp padallen (Monday 27th) * - After our first taste of New Zealand whitewater on the Shotover River we headed for the Hollyford River. The Hollyford River is only about 50km to the North West of the Shotover River. Although driving there isn't so simple, it's almost a 300km trip. From Queenstown you drive about 110km South, before heading West for 60km, then another 150km North. Gauley still flowin Jackson Kayak (Sunday 26th) * - It's the weekend AFTER the festival now and the crowds have gone but the river still flows! BCU Moderate Water Endorsement – WW Kayak Gene17 (Friday 24th) * - Gene17 presents the all new BCU Moderate Water Endorsement – WW Kayak.

Hot Forum Topics Has anyone tried kayak waterskiing? High-end front entry PFDs? (Gear) I Like I Win: Astral Greenjacket (Gear) Survey: New Kayak Helmet Design! (Gear) The new In Between Swims...now online! Top Videos Trencin waves (cony) Better Than You Imagined - Trailer 1 (five2nine) Upper Gauley (lausley) Summer Missions (MarkM) Nick Troutman 2010 Promo (ntroutman) Upcoming Events Adidas Sickline - Extreme Kayak World Championship Austria, Ötztal Valley, Sep 30 - Oct 3 Surf Superior Confluence Canada, Wawa, ON, Oct 1 - Oct 3 Puget Sound Challenge-Segment 12 USA, Seattle, Oct 2 Triangle Paddlefest USA, NC, Raleigh, Oct 2 - Oct 3 Ireland's Open Canoe Symposium Ireland, Graiguenamanagh, Oct 2 - Oct 3 Kanumesse - International Canoe Trade Show & Business Forum Germany, Nuremberg, Oct 5 - Oct 7 Whitewater Symposium 2010 USA, NC, Bryson City, Oct 8 - Oct 10 Puget Sound Challenge-Segment 13-Final Paddle/Party USA, Seattle, Oct 9 Iron Horse River Races & Iron Horse Centennial USA, MO, Clinton Park, Oct 9 XXVII Regata de Mar Argentina, Villa Gesell, Oct 10 Kayaking for Climate Change Canada, Ontario, Dunnville, Oct 10

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