NOC Shootout- Rockstar takes the Podium ~ Standing Up Before Standup

Playak News Flash - April 26, 2012
The world's latest paddling headlines.

News Watch Headlines NOC Shootout- Rockstar takes the Podium Jackson Kayak - The 'Fun Tour' is now fully underway. This past weekend we hit the Nantahala Outdoor Center for the NOC Shootout. The Nantahala is a South East classic and is the host location for the upcoming World Cup Final and the 2013 World Championships. Standing Up Before Standup SUP Magazine - The history of standup paddling is often attributed to ocean athletes like Laird Hamilton and Dave Kalama. Fair enough. These two revolutionary surfers helped create a booming industry. But the evolution has been on for years in other paddlesports realms. Here's a look at three athletes who've left their mark on the standup game, helping to broaden the appeal of 'SUP' without even really trying. – Kurt Mullen Jackson Kayak Zen Review by California Canoe and Kayak Staff! Jackson Kayak - The Zen is the new river runner from the great people at Jackson Kayaks. It is a moderate volume boat that comes in three different sizes (55,65,75), with a planing hull and relatively soft edges. It is going to be the backbone of our instructional fleet this year so I took it out on the class II/III section of the South Fork American River to see how the boat performed. So this review is from the perspective of how the boat will do for beginners (though it is also a viable choice for experienced paddlers looking for a general river runner). Kokatat: Kokatat Outfits Expedition Paddling Around Britain Press Releases - The GB360 Midlifekayak expedition sets off to circumnavigate mainland Britain by kayak on April 29th from the Cornwall coast in the South West of England. English paddlers Andy Mullins, Geoff Cater and Mike Greenslade will be equipped with Kokatat GORE-TEX® dry suits, PFDs (personal flotation devices) and accessories to help keep them dry, safe and comfortable on their 2,500-mile journey. Chris Korbulic Captures Powerful Imagery from the Heart of Africa First Ascent - Chris Korbulic recently returned from the heart of Africa while filming for the next season of Kaiak with First Ascent athlete Ben Stookesberry. This is his gallery of his most powerful images from the expedition. Biss-Stick Tuna Review Trent Thibodeaux - Bliss-Stick got it right, yet again with another sick design…The TUNA. The names derives from the river Kiatuna from which the design was created and tested. It is also the maori name for eel, hence the cool graphics on the side of the boat. Event: Nwcc 2012 Efl Race Day Exploring Elements - I made the big trip up from Cali back to the NW in order to attend one of the most fun local kayak gatherings of the year, the Northwest Creek Comp. This is a 2 day event with a different race each day. On Saturday everyone races on the gorge section of the East Fork of the Lewis ... Jackson Fun Runner in the Grand Canyon worldkayak blogs - I got invited to go on an18 day trip down the Grand Canyon on the Colorado River, 290 miles of mostly flat boiley water with lots of huge rapids. I've taken a Jackson Superstar and Rockstar down the Nile and Zambezi so I know how much fun a small boat can be on big water but also on the Zambezi the Rockstar was a little short for long flat sections. Donations for Friendsville River Access Exceed $22,000! Am. Whitewater - Mark Singleton, American Whitewater Executive Director, recently forwarded a check to the Town of Friendsville, MD for just over $3000, the amount raised on the AW Web Site this past month. The town, which is the takeout for the Upper Youghiogheny River, is working ... First Trip in the Coosa Jackson Kayak - The weather in the Northeast has been unseasonably warm this past week, with temperatures in the 70s and even breaking into the 80s. On Friday afternoon I got out of work a few hours early and took my new Jackson Kayak "Coosa" out to a local pond for its maiden voyage. I picked up the Coosa this winter specifically for this purpose. Last year I did not fish fresh water as much as I would have liked, since I rig my kayak very differently for stripers then for chasing bass in ponds. Couple this with the fact that my old kayak was quite large and cumbersome – it made quick trips for an hour or two more work than fun. Big Reds in Virginia Wilderness Systems - I received a text from a buddy who said I should be fishing the Eastern Shore VA, so I loaded up with hopes of big Reds. I have been through this before and knew when in search of big fish the payoff can takes weeks or even years before you get your trophy.

To see all the latest news, videos, forum discussions and more, visit Playak News Watch.
This is the standard version of the newsletter, covering all paddling disciplines. To change the tailoring, please login on Playak, and then click the yellow triangle at the very top of the page to set your interests.
To unsubscribe from this newsletter with only one click, click here.

Today's News Editor(s): bartw.