Posted by derrick on
April 19, 2008
This week I received a pair of Tamalpais II multi-spot shoes from Anhu. The plan is to put them through the paces this season and see how they hold up. The Tamalpais II are designed for light hiking, trail running and of course just bombing around in. They are also the shoe that the folks at Ahnu thought a paddler would like. Throughout the summer I’ll pop in and show you how they are surviving the paddling life and share some experiences with them as well.
To get all the specs just visit the Ahnu Website at www.ahnufootwear.com.
Posted by derrick on
April 18, 2008
And they were all impressed with your Halston dress
And the people that you knew at Elaine’s
And the story of your latest success
You kept ‘em so entertained
- billy joel
So this morning I sit here drinking Starbucks coffee from a mug with a fancy Venetian theme. Now that would be all fine and dandy if not for the fact that I also realized that the dark roasted Starbucks coffee in the bag bears an amazing resemblance to that dark loam you get your worms in for fishing.
Posted by derrick on
March 29, 2008
"You should know everything about the Thorn business. After all it will be yours one day. "
I was having paranoid delusions again. One should never watch OMEN sequels before bed.
Imagine if you will, one corporation slowly & quietly, yes almost inperceptively taking over the paddling world. Sure you can imagine Damien Thorn here if you like, however you have to imagine him in a paddling jacket.
Over time this “Thorn Industries” of paddling begins to collect paddling related companies like baseball cards. Chances are you’d really never notice. The names and logos wouldn’t change. Maybe some of the reps would disappear to be replaced with guys in tan Dockers & polo shirts, but all in all it would happen pretty quietly. They’d collect a stable of paddle makers (high & low end), kayak and canoe makers (both high end and low), safety equipment makers, a clothing company or two, and even camping gear & hiking gear. Of course with all these brands, the average person would never tie them all back to “Thorn”.
Posted by derrick on
March 24, 2008
Sea kayaker Magazine sent out an email asking how they could promote products better. How about a readers poll?
Does magazine advertising influence your purchases?
Posted by derrick on
March 13, 2008
Wouldn’t you give your hand to a friend?
Maybe it’s not the end
- melissa manchester
Ok, so the UK’s Daily Mail is not quite the same as consumer reports but this story’s mention of Shark Shield is certainly worth a look. Apparently there is some evidence to suggest that Shark Shield may in fact, ATTRACT sharks. While researching the attack and death of Jarrod Stehbens, Adelaide University in Australia suggested that the Shark Shield’s electronic wave form may actually attract a shark before it repels them. According to the article in the Daily Mail there are several recorded incidents of sharks actually biting through the Shark Shield Device. I started wondering then if the pulse attracted them, it may actually be the taste of the thing repelled them. . .
Posted by derrick on
March 11, 2008
I would walk two miles on my, hands and knees
ain’t no doubt about it, baby, it’s you I aim to please
I’d wrestle with a lion and a, grizzly bear
it’s my life baby but, I don’t care
ain’t that tuff enough?
- fabulous thunderbirds
Now here’s the issue with the gear we use and wear when we paddle. Most of it comes with “care” instructions. The stuff we are supposed to do to make sure it lasts. Yeah, well that’s great and whatever but it’s not always realistic. Anyone who’s found an old paddle jacket that has become a fuzzy science experiment in a hatch knows what I mean. Life does not always follow the “product care” instructions. The really good gear is the stuff that lasts in spite of our lifestyle, not gear that asks us to coddle it so it will last a season.
Posted by derrick on
March 6, 2008
Remember I posted about the new SPOT satellite messenger a while back. Well, it’s obviously doing it’s job. Check out this article. In the end of what was no doubt a scary situation, the paddler was rescued by local folks in a dingy. The article wraps up with a note to editors that the paddler is available for interviews and that high resolution photography is also available on request. (lemonade anyone?)
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