PaddlingInstructor.com

Dizzy: New Kayak Rolling Record Smashed

David H. Johnston — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:00:00 PST

Guinness World Record headquarters had just made it official. Randy Fine from Palm Beach, Florida how holds the world record for the most number of kayak rolls in one session. On June 14, 2009 he started rolling and 2,018 rolls later he stopped. I’m assuming it was because he was dizzy.

This beats the last time he broke the record which was 18 years ago when he rolled 1,796 times.

Astral Rolls out Limited Edition PFD [Order Up!]

David H. Johnston — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:00:00 PST

Astral, makers of really cool looking PFD’s has just announced their new Limited Edition program or LE as the hip kids call it. The LE program will now offer their GreenJacket in small, limited edition batches built out of their home factory in Asheville, North Carolina.

What makes the new program cool is that these jackets will each have an artistic style so they will be much more unique then their mass produced jackets. Also, the jackets will be made in the US so they are also selling it as a method to help support American jobs here at home.

New Valley Sea Kayak Website Almost Goes Live. Wait, is that a Rockpool Kayak there?

David H. Johnston — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:00:00 PST

As some of you already know, Valley Sea Kayaks has been suffering some major website woes over the past short while. The site went dark about a month ago with no official explanation or what happened or when it will be back. Since then they have been working like mad to redesign the site and get things up and running again.

The new site was supposed to go live today but as you can see by the screen capture below that they still need a few more days to get the cobwebs out.

The capture also gives a sneak peek of what the new site will be like along with a cool looking new company logo. But look carefully at the live site, is that a Rockpool Kayak in the photo all front and centre? It can’t be....can it? It sure looks like the Rockpool Starfish.

Has the World Gone Mad? Olympic Torch Carried by Skateboarders, Surfers and Kayakers.

David H. Johnston — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 21:00:00 PST

The 2010 Vancouver Olympics are coming soon and the traditional Olympic torch relay is currently going on. This time, the organizers of the event are focusing on alternative transportation and the different methods of transportation have been unique indeed.

Yesterday the Olympic torch was carried on surf board up in Tofino, BC for the first time ever by Raph Bruhwiler. It’s also been carried on a mountain bike, skateboard, canoe, wheelchair and a float plane. It was also recently carried by van when police had to get around some protesters doing what they do best, protesting stuff.

Keep an eye on day 11 of the relay (November 9, 2009) when the torch passes through Iqaluit, Nunavut. There it will be paddled in a traditional skin-on-frame kayak along the shoreline by Kyle St. Laurent, a long-time member and assistant coach with the Nunavut Speed Skating Association.

American Canoe Association Names Tom Lindblade ‘Instructor of the Year’

David H. Johnston — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 21:00:00 PST

A big congratulations goes out to Tom Lindblade from Rockford, Illinois. Tom won the American Canoe Association’s annual, “Excellence in Instruction” award which was handed out recently.

Nominated by fellow instructors and ACA members, the award recognizes outstanding contributions in the field of paddlesport instruction.

Over 75,000 People Trace their Garments back to the Farm

David H. Johnston — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 21:00:00 PST

Wellington, New Zealand (2 November 2009) – More than 75,000 people have used a revolutionary garment traceability programme launched by New Zealand merino pioneer Icebreaker a year ago.

Icebreaker’s Baacode programme allows people to trace the merino wool in their garment back through the supply chain to the stations (farms) in New Zealand’s Southern Alps, where it was grown. They can meet the growers and see inside the factories where the wool was cleaned, spun and sewn into garments.

New Canadian Klepper Folding Kayak website and Classic Product Launch

David H. Johnston — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 21:00:00 PST

October 31, 2009 – Ottawa, Ontario - Klepper Folding Kayaks launched a new Canadian portal www.klepper.ca, to better meet Canadian paddlers’ increased interest in Klepper folding kayaks.

“Canadians are passionate about paddling sports and have always been drawn to folding kayaks, understandably so, as you have so many lakes, rivers and oceans to discover”, says Gerhard Schedel from the Klepper head office and manufacturing facility in Rosenheim, Germany. “Like Germans, Canadians enjoy traveling and folding kayaks are a perfect companion for winter getaways on waters in the warm southern sun...” Schedel continues. The new Canadian website features Klepper folding kayaks, sailing gear and accessories, but more importantly, it is a portal which connects directly into the Canadian paddling experience and highlights Klepper events in Canada.

Paddle for Cure raises over $10,000 for Breast Cancer Research

David H. Johnston — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 21:00:00 PDT

OLD FORGE, New York - The 5th Annual Paddle for the Cure to benefit the Carol M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Fund of CNY, Inc. was held Saturday Sept. 26th at Mountainman Outdoor Supply Company in Old Forge, NY. Over 200 paddlers gathered for this year's event. Participants, along with corporate sponsors, helped to raise over $10,000 this year for breast cancer research. All of the monies raised go back to Upstate Medical University Hospital in the form of research grants for breast cancer research.

Dead Albatross Chicks with Bellies Full of Our Trash [Very Sad]

David H. Johnston — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 21:00:00 PDT

Boing Boing posted an article earlier this that really disturbed me. It was a collection of photos of dead albatross chicks taken on Midway Atoll, a tiny stretch of sand and coral near the middle of the North Pacific. The photo collection was absolutely devastating to me considering the massive amount of plastic in the chick’s bellies and the fact that the islands are 2000 miles from the nearest continent.

Sadly, none of the photos were altered in any way.

From the website:
These photographs of albatross chicks were made just a few weeks ago on Midway Atoll, a tiny stretch of sand and coral near the middle of the North Pacific. The nesting babies are fed bellies-full of plastic by their parents, who soar out over the vast polluted ocean collecting what looks to them like food to bring back to their young. On this diet of human trash, every year tens of thousands of albatross chicks die on Midway from starvation, toxicity, and choking.

Paddling Films to Watch on a Cold Fall Afternoon

David H. Johnston — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 21:00:00 PDT

This fall is shaping up to bring us some really good paddling films. I already talked about the new Gordon Brown DVD, Sea Kayak with Gordon Brown which is being released right now. It’s really good and I have watched a rough preview copy a couple of times already. Below is a quick trailer for it to wet your appetite.

More info: Official Website

The other movie that looks like it could do well in the upcoming paddling film festival season, is Paddle to Seattle. It’s being described as a “Journey through the Inside Passage is a feature documentary chronicling the progress of two intrepid adventurers paddling handmade wooden Pygmy kayaks from Alaska to Seattle.”