Paddle Love
Published August 8, 2011 | 
We all have gear that we love; A favorite paddling jacket or PFD, favorite shoes, camera, GPS, kayak and of course our favorite paddle. Athough not high on the outline, I think it’s fair to say that you can’t fully concentrate on your paddling skills until you’ve got your gear love sorted. If you’re still wrestling with an uncomfortable drysuit or a javelin-length paddle , you just can’t put 100% focus into your skill development. Sound silly? Well, maybe.. but I’ve watched plenty of paddlers spend most of their time on the water complaining or fiddling with some errant bit of gear while missing everything going on around them. Gear that is too short, too tight, too this or too that.. or simply doesn’t jibe with you’re soul is nothing but distraction. Continue reading
Pliable
Published April 2, 2010 | 
All that steel and stone
is no match for the air, my friend
what doesn’t bend breaks
– ani difranco
Thanks to a sudden bit of warm weather and a few hours of hard wind, the ice has cleared from my local lake. Finally I can once again go paddling just a few minutes from my front door. My first local paddle of the year was made even more interesting because I had a new kayak and a new paddle and both were happy to just go with the flow.
First I have to say that as much as the new skin-on-frame boat gives me hell when rolling, it tries it’s best to make up for it as a cruiser. It’s a fast and sturdy little craft. While you can feel a slight flexibility in the hull, my sense is that it’s much more sturdy than the more modern folding kayaks I’ve paddled. A kayak with too much flex can feel mushy and awkward to control, while a stiff hull tends to bang into waves and feel almost combative in the liquid world. A well made skin on frame, I’m told, should simply feel one with the water.
Jewel
Published March 23, 2010 | 
‘just take off my red shoes | Put them on and your dream’ll come true
With no words, with no song | You can dance the dream with your body on
And this curve, is your smile
And this cross, is your heart
And this line, is your path
– Kate Bush
Novorca Paddles has been a sponsor and supporter for quite some time now so Read At Your Own Risk!!
This is a beautiful paddle. It was created for me by Ron at Novorca. As you know Novorca paddles are carbon fiber Greenland, or “traditional” style paddles. What makes Novorca paddles unique is more than just the amazing colors, but also the fact that each paddle is essentially handmade while at the same time using modern engineering, materials and technology. Continue reading
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