I launched my Acuta from the demo beach. A big bit of un-natural green indoor outdoor carpet protected our hulls on the rocky launch. Of course on the way down I gave the guys from GRO a chance to see my angel and talk to them about the Nordkapp that Wenley had ordered. Oh, and to remind them not to be taking any more orders for replicas of mine. ) Then I went down to the water and launched behind the little break wall. This was the only spot in the bay that was deep enough to roll in while being out of the wind and waves that were quickly tearing up the bay. After a few calm water rolls my plan was to head out into the full on conditions to test how my traditional rolls worked in something other than a placid lake. But that’s another story. For the moment let’s stay behind the wall.

You have to tuck up tight to the rusty steel & concrete barrier and right ahead of a single small boat moored there. In that spot the water is fairly deep, but if you start sliding a bit north you’ll catch the rocks that form the shallow landing. In the end my Acuta has some nice new scratches from those pointy bits of limestone. So there I was rolling away pleasantly when all of a sudden in the midst of a shotgun, my head hit a rock! I quickly rolled up. It only took a moment to realize it was just a minor scratch, but then my eyes caught the reason for my suffering. Alex was paddling in with his group right behind me! You see, Alex Pak’s evil presence is growing strong enough now he does not even need to touch you!!

Simon Osborne found out all about Alex’s evil tendencies when he came over to the Midwest in May. We were then attending the West Michigan Kayak Symposium. This was the first for Alex as an instructor. It was then when Alex broke Simon’s beloved Lendals! Snapped the shaft right off trying to do an under the hull skull!! To think those trusty Lendal paddles had made it around Ireland and Britain only to die at the hands of Alex Pak. Now, let me mention here that Simon was at least mollified by the fact that they WERE Lendals, since he could just replace the one bit of the shaft that broke and not the rest of the paddle. You wouldn’t want to let Alex around your 2 piece system! Simon also got some satisfaction in that he CAN do an under the hull sculling roll with a Euro AND in Alex’s boat as well! Isn’t there a phrase somewhere about never rolling another man’s kayak?? Let alone something they can’t do. So how’s that one working for you Alex?? )

So now we move forward to Door County where Alex again is the new “cowboy” on the block. (As Alex mentioned we are now turning sea kayaking symposiums into a costume party as well. I apparenly am dressing like a pirate these days) Of course everyone who knows Alex knows he just wants to teach rolling. But our glorious leader had other plans. “You must learn to walk before you can run. . grasshopper.” So Alex got to teach all sorts of fun things. All the basic stuff we all know so well. Paddlefloats, forward strokes, bow rescues and the like. How can you possibly get hurt doing these sorts of things is a safe, professionally instructed atmosphere? Well, be another instructor and work with Alex of course!!

Now I’m sure he could share some details that I don’t have, but Kristin G. (the poor woman in the picture above) was working on a roll. Alex was kindly there ready to offer a bow if she needed one. Well, she was heading over to set up for a second roll as her first was a bit sloppy. It was at that point that our over zealous cowboy in shining armor came in for a suprise save. Next thing you know there’s Kristen walking up the road with a giant goose egg on her forehead just about the same size as the bow of a Nigel Foster Kayak. Another victim of “Alex the Impaler”.

Oh, but don’t let this little story sway your opinions of Alex. He’s a great young instructor. You’ll be lucky to have him teaching you. You’d be even luckier if you survive! )

** For those of you who don’t know Alex, we just tease him because he’s so damn good at everything! (a little dangerous maybe . . .)

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Kickin’

Congrats To Freya!!! She finished 6th overall in the 80k marathon in Greenland. One of just two women to complete the course. Alison Sigethy was close behind. Congradualtions to Alison as well.

btw, having Freya’s Kayak Trolley at Door County was a real life saver!

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Kodachrome

I’ve posted our Photo Gallery from the Door County Symposium Here (top gallery)

- d