Playak News Flash 2011-03-08

Playak News Flash - March 8, 2011
The world's latest paddling headlines.

News Watch Headlines

NSR 2011: The best rodeo in the world? Palm Blogs - We've just got back from the National Student Rodeo – what a weekend it was! Over 800 paddlers from university clubs all over the county travelled to the National Watersports Centre in Nottingham, UK for probably the biggest (and definitely one of the most fun) events on the European boating calendar. The Topo Duo Final... ..

A Paddler's Rules for Dating Down River Kayaks - Proof that awesomeness goes good together "But Zach, opposites attract!" Anyone else tired of hearing that crap? If you are a paddler of any sort, then you've probably had to juggle paddling and your love life at least once. But there are ways to make this easier. Amongst my inner circle of paddling deviants, we've devised a system of insuring that none of the other core paddlers in our group end up in a relationship that could be detrimental to our, I mean their paddling. .. ..

First Taste of WV Creeking Fluid Glass - If only I had spring break this week. The Southeast is getting slammed with rain, turning runs that were just on the verge of running into rowdy monsters. So since I'm stuck at home with school tomorrow, I might as well be productive and write a paddling update. Thanks to the snowmelt in WV, I ...

Nathan McDonagh: 'Come & Try It' at the Boat and Caravan Show Desperate Measures - Laurence (my brother) and Ryan Liquorish and I had been asked to help Desperate Measures, Adventure Personal Development and Voyageur Coaching run 'Come & Try It' taster sessions in the Boat and Caravan Shows Kayak Pool. We all coach regularly at Paddle-Plus Canoe Club, so we were keen to take up the challenge. Monday (22nd) was the first day of the show. The three of us didn't really know how many people to expect – but we soon found out! Sessions were fully booked in no time. We split the day into half an hour 'Come and Try it' sessions and fifteen minute demos, showcasing the tricks capable in freestyle kayaking...

The price you pay . . . Just Yakkin - Last weekend saw the mating of the deck and hull. This weekend saw the final consumation of the union - glassing the topside of the deck and tying the deck and hull together for ever (hopefully). Friday night I had a few small jobs to complete - finishing the filleting and taping on the bulkheads....

Big rock Creek Mt. Hood H2O - I have been hoping to get on this one for a couple years now. On the maps is a really intimidating pinch with huge gradient.  The levels lined up and while I needed a late start due to wanting to watch my buddy Alex throw javelin in Salem, I figured 3 1/2 hours was enough time to deal with a mi...

Write-Up: Weber Creek A Wet State (CA) - What more do you want as an afterwork run when you living in Sacramento? Here lies some fun class V with a catch, good luck catching flows...

Kayaking for Crappie Immersion Research - During the month of March more big Crappie are caught than any other time of year. As we all know March weather is very unpredictable. Sunny skies can change quickly to cloudy, rainy and windy fast as it did on the day these Slab Sized Crappie were caught...

The Fish Jump Off The Grill Back Into The Water: First Descents Fundraiser, Montreal PaddleBlogs - Introducing the concept of a Kayak-a-thon! Donate to team Craig Stein on the First Descents website, and for every $25 raised we will do a trick in our kayak.  The flips will be done on a wave, in a hole, or simply in flat water.  One thing is for certain; the water will be cold!  Footage of the efforts by team Craig Stein will show at the April 2 benefit concert, after which it will be available online... ..

REVIEW: comparison Zegul Baidarka and Tahe Reval gnarlydog - Two expedition worthy kayaks from Tahe Marine. Tahe Marine has recently brought on the market a new style of kayak: the Zegul Baidarka. I wanted to compare it to the other big loader: the Reval. (Zegul is to Tahe what Lexus is to Toyota). Reval has a typically British style up swept stern while the Baidarka..., well, there is no other kayak like it The Reval has a decent rocker while the Baidarka has very little. The bow of the Baidarka is just as unique as its stern. A very fine low volume end that up sweeps to a unique horn-like shape. What is missing from a traditional Baidarka is the bifurcated bow, but I guess that would be too much for most to take in :-)

An introduction to life at the Hairy Lemon on the Nile River Uganda New River Academy - Share and Enjoy: An in

Update From Kira New River Academy - Dear New River Academy Families, Alas, the last week of our Uganda quarter has arrived much too soon, but we are certainly going to enjoy every bit of it. After exploring the expanses and exotic wildlife of Western Uganda, we have made our way back to the Hairy Lemon, which, as it certainly has come to feel like home to everyone, is the perfect place to finish up the trip.  We are now back into full school days, and the students are enjoying surfing both Club Wave and Nile Special in the midst of mid-term exams and final projects. This week, New River Academy has the privilege of world-ranked kayaker Stephen Wright joining our team as a guest coach...

Exercise Tips For seniors worldkayak blogs - Just as time and tide wait for no one, nothing in this world remains intact forever, and your health is no exception to that. You might consider yourself extremely fit but sooner or later, your age will catch up with you. You may suddenly find that what seemed to be easy-to-perform tasks previously is no longer push ups. However, there's no need to panic. You do not have to bring major changes overnight to your everyday routine and go to the gym. Rather, all that you need to do is to perform simple exercises that will keep your body fit and healthy as you age gracefully... .

Fishin' the Flats wid Ben and James Jackson Kayak - Our Team JK Florida trip this past week brought me into very new territory… both geographically and technically (fishing technical that is…).  The back channels and bays of the Florida Everglades provides challenges most of us freshwater folk never face; namely tides and flats.  Add Mangrove tree shorelines, oyster bars, mud, the occasional gator and "we're not in Kansas any more Toto".  With this unique environment comes a different set of paddling and fishing skills.  Luckily on day one I hopped into a 4×4 with my new fishin' buddy Ben Roussel, direct from Baton Rouge and well versed in fishin' the flats! James on the flats... just about the time where I realized aimless casting was useless... ..

Not As Advertised Kayak Yak - The weatherman promised sunshine. He did. I swear he did. But a rainbow in the sky... ...means it's raining somewhere, that somewhere being on the road to the launch point at Cadboro Bay. Louise and I drove through a quick rainfall as we motored down McKenzie Avenue towards Sinclair Hill, cursin...

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Today's News Editor(s): Tony_D, adrianshanahan, JeanT.