Interesting plum paddle wouldn’t cha say? Well, this experimental color is hot off the bench at Novocra, a new traditional paddle company here in the Midwest. Owner Ron Steinwall has come up with an amazingly beautiful range of hand crafted, carbon fiber paddles including a steel blue that would get any kayak ninja’s attention.

Ron tells me that like many of us, not long ago he began to make the transition over to the quietly seductive Greenland style. And like many of us before him, he broke a few paddles learning some of those crazy rolls. Well, we all know the solution is refining your technique right? Well, Ron thought it couldn’t hurt to come up with some stronger paddles as well. I can’t argue with that. You can only have so many Norsaqs! From there Ron stared investigating a variety of ways to laminate paddles; fiberglass, epoxy and the like but never quite got the results he was after. He knew the next step was carbon fiber. That’s where the big leap came in. Ron being a guy who never does things half-way, jumped right in and started his own company. Why build yourself a couple nice paddles, when you can build a bunch for everyone? Welcome to Novorca.

Of course our little traditional paddling community is small and Ron knows that you don’t quit your day job to sell high end Greenland sticks. Yet he’s happy to make one of these unique, tough, colorful paddles at your request. Each custom paddle costs $400 + shipping. He will have wood paddles available soon as well.

Personally what turned me on to Ron’s paddles was that they can be custom sized to your specifications which was the thing always holding me back from dropping the big bucks on a carbon paddle. Alex Pak a very talented traditional paddler and friend posted about Ron’s paddles on QajaqUSA, He noted, “His paddles are well made and extremely light”. I’m looking forward to having a chance to get my hands on one at our little rolling clinic in a couple weeks with Greg Stamer & Freya Hoffmeister. Ron will have a few on hand. Very cool.

To learn more about Novocra paddles just head on over to their website. Oh, and yes, they do come in Black!

Mark your calendars! Sunday March 11th right after Canoecopia we will be hosting a Rolling & Strokes Clinic with Greg Stamer & Freya Hoffmester here in Baraboo. About a 40 minute drive on I-90/94 north of Madison. This is NOT just for traditional rollers. Anyone who wants to learn to roll, brush up or learn some of those funky Greenland strokes & rolls are welcome. Freya will also be putting some time in to show how she teaches the roll which will be great for current instructors. Greg will be opening the evening with a strokes demo. The clinic will be held after right after Sunday’s Canoecopia festivities at the Baraboo School District Indoor Pool starting at 6pm and will go to approximately 10pm. I know many of us will need to head back to our homes Sunday evening but for those of us who will be in Madison for Canoecopia this will be a great opportunity to learn from some of the best. Participation is limited. Cost is $60 per person and includes: rolling & strokes demos, instructor tips and personal instruction from Greg and Freya. Other instructors will be on hand to share their tips as well. Kayaks will be provided for instruction and a few boats will also be available for some free play & practice time as well. Lodging is available in Baraboo if you don’t feel like driving after the session. Feel free to pass the info on to anyone you think might be interested.

To reserve a spot, for lodging suggestions, or if you have questions just email me derrick@kayakquixotica.com. Payment can be made via paypal.

Again participation is limited and I’ve already taken 4 reservations before I even got this posted so if you want to take advantage of this opportunity contact me as soon as possible. This should be a fun relaxed evening we look forward to ending our exciting weekend with a little time in the water!

*Photo provided by Freya Hoffmeister.

“Right tool for the right job!” Well, that’s what they say anyway. So if you’re going to be around here for Canoecopia, you may want to keep the evening of March 11th open as well. But more on that later. . .

For today we can check in on Wendy Killoran doing the first in a series of “Chasing The Ana” webcasts provided by the guys at Race Recon. Wendy’s got that whole “FM Radio” voice thing going on. When it’s my turn you’ll be running for your power button just to avoid the CPU dissolving in a pool of silica dust! So Here’s a direct link and here is the link to our Race Recon page.

So I sat down today to tell invite you to read Ginni Callahan’s Blog. The picture above is of Ginni on the left and Justine Curgenven (right). You may remember Ginni playing in the surf, quite adeptly mind you in Justine’s first DVD. Ginni is also owner of Columbia River Kayaking in Washington State. When I sat down and started reading about Ginni’s battle with breast cancer I was just shocked by her internal strength. Sure I’ve met her once a couple years back she seemed like one of those “bigger than life” characters, but you never really know someone until they are faces with adversity. In her blog posts from December and January you could see her push forward with strength and confidence. Ginni is one tough woman. I didn’t want us to overlook her recent battle.

And speaking of tough, Vicki McAuley posted yesterday to thank everyone in the kayak community for their support. I don’t want her message to get lost. So this is from Vicki to all of you;

“Our most heartfelt thanks to the kayaking community worldwide for your support and kindness during this nightmare. My heart is broken, but not my spirit. Andrew will live on in our hearts and he will be my guiding light, helping me bring up our precious little boy to be just like daddy – to have that tremendous ability to believe that anything is possible!

Vicki & Finlay”

* photo by Alun Hughes. Thank you!

Happy Monday! I’m actually quite pleased to have a quiet home again. You see, both of my son’s birthdays were this weekend. Julian now 24 and Gryphon turned 6. If not for an interesting cocktail of drugs some six years ago they would have shared the same birthday. In the end that means a party with 20-somethings, followed the next day with a party with kindergartners. Funny how similar that can be. Well, other than the alcohol consumption anyway.

I’ve been invited to instruct at the Windy City Sea kayak Symposium in Chicago IL this year. Should be a good time. The dates on that one are June 1st through the 3rd. Keep you eyes on Geneva Kayak Center’s Website for details. Thanks to Ryan for the invite. Yikes with me and Kelly Blades at the same place at the same time you can expect to see a bunch of silly kayak games. Maybe I can get Kelly to work on that headstand! I might ask Kelly to teach me that scary Detroit Police head lock of his! Of course if all goes well I should have a shiny new Rockpool Alaw Bach to show you as well. Good times.

Happy Saturday! Well, Freya Hoffmeister did a great blog on the news about Rockpool and Aled’s new company IN-UIT. Suffice to say all the “Rockpool Kiddies” have been enjoying a flurry of conversations over the last few days. I’d probably not even mention it but of course I do have a big Rockpool logo on my website! Well, that and I’ve not answered the various emails asking how that effects our trip to Puerto Rico. So let me try to cover that as best as I can. Obviously we wish Aled Williams the best in his new venture and expect Rockpool to continue making the high quality Lexus of kayaks that they have been producing over the last few years. All I can really tell you is this; Both Mike & Aled being good people offered to continue their relationships with all of us on the Rockpool team. The down side is that we do have to choose mom or dad. Not an easy thing. After long discussions with the rest of the kids we all knew we had to go with our hearts and do what was best for us as individuals. So since this is my blog . . . I can only tell you what I’m doing.

Someone once posted on their blog a bit about sponsorship that didn’t really cover the realities. You see, none of us NEED kayaks. Sure who doesn’t want a new boat?, but that’s not what sponsorships are about. Nothings free. Sponsored kayakers pay for their gear. Don’t doubt it. For a company it’s about promoting their products to people of like mind. Well, that’s true of small companies anyway. When they choose to sponsor someone they’re looking for people that to some extent represent their way of thinking. An ambassador of sorts. You can’t just hand out $4000 kayaks to everyone who wants one. They quite rightly have expectations. They are making an investment in you. It’s a responsibility you have to take seriously. As a person accepting or looking for sponsorships you have to be aware of what you’re taking on. You know that you are tying your personal reputations to some extent with the company that sponsors you. How would you like to be the only guy in the room on the receiving end when your sponsored company has quality control problems?? Is “free kit” worth that? I doubt it.

Mike Webb owner of Rockpool kayaks is an artist and master craftsman. I wouldn’t know where to start building something. I am that guy who can’t nail two boards together. That’s why I don’t build my own skin boats! I respect a craftsman’s abilities. The patience and attention a good craftsman gives to his work is amazing. The long hours Mike puts in speaks to his character. Aled William’s cutting edge designs with the Alaw & Alaw Bach are candy to rough water paddlers. Nothing so sweet! These are the things that is attracted me to Rockpool. Sure, only a few boats come off the line each month, but each one is meticulously crafted and most often customized to their new owners. One of a kind. Something special. Something I know Rockpool will continue to do.

No one wants to choose between parents. All my dealings with Mike & Aled have been nothing but wonderful. In the end I had to go with my guts on this one. I’m proud to continue to be sponsored by Rockpool Kayaks. I’m thankful to Mike for taking the time he has with me. In the end it’s all about people and that’s what’s important to me. And all the best as well to Aled Williams & IN-UIT. Aled’s drive will take them to great places. I know the new boats will be fantastic!

* photo from Rockpool Kayaks

It’s just like this ya know. Especially when as a new paddler you’ve decided to take those first steps away from the warm local lake and find yourself standing on the edge of Lake Superior looking across a cold vast expanse of water that won’t end until to you arrive in Canada. It’s scary.

We never stop standing on the shoreline looking out. Maybe with time and experience we get into our boat a little fast sure, but we respect the vast expanse. You don’t have to attempt to cross the Tasman to have people call you crazy or say you’re not thinking about your kids or whatever. Heck when I quit my job to start my own business I took heat. How could I quit a good job just because I was so self-centered that I didn’t want to work for others? What was my problem? Shouldn’t I buckle down, reign in my ego and keep the good insurance? What I jerk I was! And what a jerk I still am. Having your own business there are no guarantees. Any day I could go under. Lose the lively hood that others depend on. And if that’s not bad enough I’m a sea kayaker. I go out there into that vast cold wasteland. . . . for what? Fun!?? Ego? What about the risks? What a creep.

I don’t know what it is that calls some of us out there. It’s how we’re wired. It’s what we do. We see something bigger than ourselves and want to meld with it. We want to alleviate a numbness that floats around our heads. Risk wakes us up, makes us feel alive. Like we’re actually existing in the universe. Something about going from temperature controlled home, car, office, mall, mega mart and all the rest just feels smothering. We can’t seem to function for lack of oxygen. So we stand there looking out at the cold sea with anticipation and fear, we slip our spray skirt around the combing and slip out into the unforgiving sea. This is not what kayaking is about to some. It’s about boats and gear and play. For me it’s those things too, but it’s also about life, energy and sensuality. If I don’t feel these things I can’t function. I’m no use to anyone when I feel numb.

It was weird the other day when someone pointed out I had been quoted in New Zealand newspapers. I looked it up and there was the headline, “Admirable adventurers, or Fool hardy glory-hunters”. There it was again under “Why Risk Your Life?”. Seems to be the thread of story’s about Andrew and here I am quoted in a juxtaposition because I said he was brave to turn back the first time round, and yet said he’d give it another go because he was a man of substance. Thing is people of deep feelings need to feel things deeply. It’s the way you work. It’s not about records or fame or glory. They miss the point. It’s about living. It’s about the reason for your existence. Life. We are not cogs in a global factory meant to produce goods. We were born with no choice but to live. Some of us feel a deep desire to come to terms with our world, our place in the universe. It drives us to do, as some would think, stupid, selfish things.

What is the lesson of death? The lesson is to live. No one plans to die while living life, yet it will happen to all of us. What lesson do we teach our children? That you have one life. Live it. Breath deeply, love deeply, feel deeply, care deeply. Take it all in. Should we do the “right thing”, be responsible and play it safe? Maybe. And yet I know many bad and abusive parents have good jobs and play it safe. The issue is not risk or death. It’s silly to spin it in that way. It’s shallow and superficial. There’s more to being a good person than being a provider. There’s more to parenting than just “being there”. There’s more to life than security. We each make our choices and do what we feel we must. But when you talk about sea kayakers, climbers and other adventurers don’t assume it’s about records, fame & glory. More often than not, It’s about life. And life is short indeed.