Northeast roadtrip ~ Fun whitewater in Valsesia and Soča

Playak News Flash - June 30, 2015
The world's latest paddling headlines.

News Watch Headlines Northeast roadtrip Kokatat Blog - When Diane and I moved to the East Coast I was excited not only about the new local rivers in my region, but also the rivers that were now within driving distance for me. Mistral Equipe 12-5 Inflatable Paddle Board – Only 18 Lbs AirKayaks - This year we had our first hands-on experience with Mistral's inflatable SUP line. Well-known for decades as a leader in windsurfing, the Mistral line originated in northwest US, but is now based out of Europe. Most recently, Mistral has forayed back into the US market, bringing their expanding inflatable SUP line. Fun whitewater in Valsesia and Soča Palm Blogs - I finished college for good and decided to celebrate by headed off to Valsesia in Italy for a week of paddling. We flew to Milan and rented two cars, and drove up to the village of Campertogno. Callaghan Creek 2015 Recap LiquidLore - 18 racers competed, 3 solo, and 8 teams, with one racer competing both solo and team. Level 2.55. The modified course was used because of very low water starting by seal launching at first ledge, finishing at the normal take out where race has always finished. Running OBD was optional. Post 30 – A Sunday Club Paddle Newfoundland Kayakoholic - Our club paddle today took place in Conception Harbour. We had a total of twenty-two participants. What can really be said about it other then it was a glorious day to be on the water. So instead of words, here are a bunch of pics to share. Hump day at the office Tony Paradise - Another Wednesday evening practice at St. Philips and another calm evening so most of us went for a paddle up to Portugal Cove and back. Dean stayed in the cove to play in the bit of swell around the rocks. I didn't get a shot of him but he's a familiar face on my blog anyway. Seven of us made our way along the shore under an overcast sky. At Paddles Whitewater Those Who Live It Know Confluence - Since 1993, Adventure Technology Paddles has introduced several groundbreaking concepts into whitewater paddle design, like their rock solid uni-body construction and fatigue-fighting full control grip. But behind all the technology and science there's something more, it's a restless spirit of adventure and an obsession for continuous improvement and only Those Who Live It Know. Kayak Fishing in Winter Become a Grunter Hunter Fluid - Hold tight when that Pignose Grunter bites, they don't call them The Steam Train for nothing. Kayaking Greece: The Land of the Gods Canoe Kayak - Rick Sweitzer's falsetto belts out from the stern of his tandem sea kayak. For the first time of the trip, I actually welcome Abba. Race the Lake of the Sky SUP Examiner - In many ways, one could dub Race the Lake of the Sky as Southern California goes to Tahoe. Dana Point's The Paddle Academy is here in force we were told every child and their parents made the trip and boards sporting stickers from West Coast Paddle Sports in San Diego dot the receding shoreline. Ask the World Heritage Committee to Protect Lake Turkana International Rivers - As a World Heritage Site, Kenya's Lake Turkana stands among such treasures as the Taj Mahal, the Grand Canyon and the Great Wall of China. Connor Baxter & Candice Appleby Win Suws Stop 1 in Barcelona Waterman League - Connor Baxter & Candice Appleby take the wins on Day 2 at the Iberdrola Barcelona Sup World Series to win overall and top the Male & Female Rankings after Stop 1 Connor Baxter (Starboard) puts on an awesome display of sprint paddling to take his second win here in Barcelona and take the Overall Win at the Iberdrola Barcelona Sup World Series. Post-Exam Weekend of Paddling SquareRock - On Saturday we took a trip to Lee Valley with our newest team member Ottie in order to train for the Youth Freestyle event in Cardiff next weekend. The first session was great as we tried lots of new moves including split wheels and spacegodzillas as well as linking moves together. Once our hour was up, we had a break before jumping on for a second session. We continued playing in the top hole of the course which due to the large number of boats on the water, quickly became the site of many spectacular collisions. Swift Water Rescue1 Break It Down Fluid - A rescue situation on a river can often be overwhelming. There is the victim(s), the group and yourself to consider. We would like to cover rescue basics in the Fluid blog, to familiarize those of you who enjoy time on the water. Champions Crowned in Krakow ICF - Matej Benus (SVK, C1M), Jessica Fox (AUS, C1W) and Vavrinec Hradilek (CZE, K1M) won gold on the ferocious and fast channel in Krakow, Poland as the second day of action at the 2015 ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup concluded.

Featured New for 2015: Maximus Centurion PFD - For 2015 Kokatat has added the Maximus Centurion to its popular and award winning Maximus PFD platform.

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.

2015 BIC SUP One Design Race Season is on! ~ Summer SUP

Playak News Flash - June 29, 2015
The world's latest paddling headlines.

News Watch Headlines 2015 BIC SUP One Design Race Season is on! BIC SUP One Design - The BIC SUP One Designs Race season is officially on and races have been popping up everywhere. The One Design Race is a perfect casual fun way to try SUP racing without all the pressure. Simply find an event near you and all gear is provided. All you need to do is show up with a smile. What I Wish I Knew Before the James River Rundown 100 John Nestler - The James River Rundown race is happening again this year, and if you enjoy the James River and human-powered watercraft I highly suggest you sign up. This year I believe they have the classic 100 miler as well as new additions of mellower 40 mile and 20 mile races. Summer SUP surfingsports.com - Standup paddling is a fairly easy sport to learn…we've taught over 4000 people over the last 10 years here in Santa Barbara great for all ages but, it's also easy to learn bad paddling technique without some instruction we start all of our SUP lessons with teaching proper paddling FUNdamentals. Overview of the Mirage 583 Sea Kayak Rod Swan - The Mirage 583 is a series of sit on top kayaks with the same hull design, length and width. The deck of the Mirage 583 has 3 different configurations. Then within those configurations you can specify which options you want to add, which makes the kayak very customizable. A different time zone in the Sound of Jura. SeaKayakPhoto.com - It was not just the tide that picked up when we left the shores of Jura. A nice little tail wind added to our gathering momentum towards the Kintyre peninsula. Shoulders, Quads, Reps: SUP Training Fun Elder SUP - My favorite paddle last week came on a windy day – with wind in the face while going upstream. As I dropped my board into the Deschutes River crowded with traditional summer-time tube-floaters and all types of paddle craft I was thinking about getting a nice interval training session. I was using my KIALOA Tiare Adjustable paddle extended almost 3 inches longer than when I used it last week for surfing. June Move(S) of The Month- Foam Rolling Level 6 - By now most paddlers are in the peak of their paddling season. The weather is HOT, water is flowing and paddling events are happening every weekend. With such consistent and intense paddling days on the water, our bodies need some down-time. India – Uttarakhand Lee Royle - After a month in Nepal helping out after the earthquake, our visas were running out and we thought it time to head to India before the monsoon took hold. From the Indian side of the town on Banbassa, there was a 7pm bus to Rishikesh where we could sort ourselves out for some kayaking. The Indian summer was just starting, and the weather was scorchingly hot already, but a blast down the Ganga (Ganges) in just a rash vest was the perfect way to keep cool and warm up into kayaking again after a while off. Picture Perfect Narraganset Bay Kokatat Blog - One of the treasures in the northeastern parts of the United States is Rhode Island's Narraganset Bay. Standup Journal with Adam Champagne SUPfm - We hope you enjoy this week's episode when Nick and Simon get to chat with Adam Champagne. He works for the world's biggest and most successful stand up paddle website and magazine, Standup Journal. Confluence Outdoor Pro Team Athletes Kick Off 2015 Season with Wins at GoPro Mountain Games and North Fork Championship Confluence - Dagger, Wave Sport, Bomber Gear, Adventure Technology, Boardworks and Badfish Pro Team athletes are off to an impressive start this season. Whitewater paddlers representing Confluence Outdoor brands had top results at the 2015 GoPro Mountain Games, which took place June 4-7 in Vail, Colorado. The North Fork Championships were held in Banks, Idaho the following week on June 11-13 PaddleFit and EXOS Announce Five Day SUP Performance Seminar SUP Examiner - Over the past 10 years, standup paddleboarding has become one of the fastest growing sports in the world, with millions of people taking to the water for the first time and experienced watermen and women pushing the boundaries of what's possible. To help SUP athletes and coaches reach the next level, PaddleFit, the world's only comprehensive SUP and outdoor fitness coaching system, and EXOS, the leader in proactive health and performance, are teaming up to offer a five day performance SUP seminar. Carried away by the tide in the Sound of Jura. SeaKayakPhoto.com - When we left Lowlandman's Bay on the east coast of Jura, the flood tide was already running north through the Sound of Jura and would be our ticket home to Carsaig Bay on the mainland. We took a last look to the SE at the long peninsula of Kintyre, which culminated in the Mull of Kintyre (at the extreme right of this photo) some 66km to the south. Payette River Games Behind-The-Scenes Gallery A Sup Mag Exclusive SUP Magazine - After last weekend's great success in Cascade, Idaho, where a vast majority of the elite SUP community gathered at Kelly's Whitewater Park for the 2015 Payette River Games, the downriver SUP event is being hailed by many in the paddling community as the most fun occasion on the SUP racing agenda. But it isn't all fun and games at the PRG. Wait, wait no. That's exactly what it is. The North Fork Championship 2015 Team Pyranha - The second weekend of June was the date, the IV North Fork Championship was going down in Banks, Idaho. The North Fork of the Payette is an awesome river that has 15 miles of amazing roadside whitewater.

Featured New for 2015: Maximus Centurion PFD - For 2015 Kokatat has added the Maximus Centurion to its popular and award winning Maximus PFD platform.

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.

Will the World Heritage Committee Stand Up for Lake Turkana?

Playak News Flash - June 27, 2015
The world's latest paddling headlines.

News Watch Headlines Will the World Heritage Committee Stand Up for Lake Turkana? International Rivers - In 1997, the UN recognized Kenya's Lake Turkana as a World Heritage Site, in line with other global treasures such as the Great Wall of China and the Grand Canyon. The remote desert lake offers a refuge for the world's largest crocodile colony and numerous other rare animal species. According to the UN, its fossil finds have "contributed more to the understanding of human ancestry than any other site in the world. Made by the Military Bote - Three of the people invited to participate, Cody Kavanagh, Danny Rimes, and Matt Lando, are active and former members of the military's elite special operations forces. These men know what it means to serve their country and understand the importance of all that SOWF provides to the families of fallen soldiers. They were all extremely glad to donate their valuable time and participate in this project. Monday After The Solstice Drum Circle SUP Radio Show - I am sitting in my basement studio early this morning. The sun coming through the windows is making interesting shadow patterns on the white rug. I close my eyes and I can still hear the beat, the rhythm from Saturday nights Solstice drum circle. This room continues to have a vibration from 17 drummers who joined together to welcome inner Solstice. It soothes me. It brings me into Monday with a calm feeling. Men'S Journal Calls V Drive Essential Quickblade - Besides wins at most of the major races of the 2014 and so far the 2015 season. The V Drive Paddle from Quickblade has been named by Men's Journal as one of the top five essential items needed for Stand Up Paddling. Along with such iconic items as the Yakima SUP Dawg racks and the Go Pro Hero 4 – the V Drive. Five Reasons to Attend the Payette River Games SUP Examiner - The 2015 Payette River Games has come to a close and what an event it was. From the amazing location in rural Idaho, overwhelming hospitality of the hosts and local community and the exciting, spectator friendly action on the river – the Payette River Games is truly a destination event unlike no other. Congratulation to Mo Freitas Sawyer - Mo Freitas has just won the 2015 Payette River Games following a hugely entertaining three days of racing here in Idaho. Using Dish Soap to Find Leaks in Inflatable SUPs Rob Casey - I visited my friend Jim Ramey , a local outdoor product rep to get a tutorial on finding leaks in inflatable SUPs.  Students regularly ask me how to do this, so Jim set up a demo. Check it out here... Bucket List A Case for The Inflatable Kayak Canoe Kayak - Extended self-support kayaking is soaring in popularity as paddlers realize the flexibility and adventure that kayaks offer on remote, wilderness runs. The Grand Canyon has become immensely popular recently, yet few eyes turn north to the self-support possibilities in Alaska. Olympic, World and European Champions Enter the Fray in Krakow ICF - Krakow will certainly provide a great benchmark for Martian, and others, to assess where they are on the world stage when the acton gets underway on Friday. Experienced campaigner, Martikan, ran away with world cup series title last season but opted not to compete in last week's season opener, instead preferring to limit his competition time in a bid to hit peak form for the crucial, and hotly contested, Slovakian Olympic selection races that start later in the season. World-Class Creeking In Veracruz, Mexico Rapid Magazine Blog - Seemingly countless sections of the Alseseca keep drawing paddlers to the region. Best known for running big drops, Ortiz now travels the world as a professional kayaker, but will never stop visiting Veracruz. there's something in Veracruz for everyone. You'll easily find whitewater within a class III and IV comfort zone on the Alseseca and other rivers nearby, plus a community of boaters to help you push your limits. ACA National Paddlesports Awards ACA - Do you know a paddler, or an entire organization, deserving of recognition? Nominations for the 2015 National Awards are now open. Recollections of the River American Rivers - Today's guest blog is a part of the America's Most Endangered Rivers® series highlighting the Harpeth River in Tennessee. In August 2003, John Guider walked out the back door of his home in Franklin, Tennessee, and placed a canoe in the creek behind his house. Wrap up of the 2015 Jamaica Bay Classic Jackson Kayak - The 13th Annual Jamaica Bay Classic now in the books as another great one. With 308 total registered it is one of the largest kayak specific fishing tournaments on the east coast. Czech, Mate: Czech Paddlers Dominate Home-court Prague World Cup Paddling Life - Call it a clean sweep, Czech-mate style. Three finals resulted in three gold medals for host nation Czech Republic at the first ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup of the season in Prague. Paddlewoo Does Sup Make Fisher Grant a Better Shortboarder? Standup Journal - This week on the PaddleWoo podcast I sat down (virtually) with Fisher Grant straight off of his win at the Surfing America's Championship where he took 1st place for SUP surfing, 2nd for Longboard and 5th for Shortboard.

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.