Paddling Community News
Kayaker attempts Vancouver Island speed record
Arcata, CA - In September 2008 California based British sea kayaker Sean Morley will attempt to break the record for the fastest circumnavigation of Canada’s Vancouver Island. The records currently stand at 23 days 10 hours for a single kayak set by Joe O’Blenis and 19 and a half days for a double kayak set by Kieron Tastagh and Jeff Norville, both in 2007. Paddling a Rapier 20 single kayak manufactured by Valley Sea Kayaks, and representing Kokatat Watersports Wear, Sean aims to complete the 700mile journey in less than 18 days.
“Vancouver Island can present some of the most challenging conditions a kayaker can face including fierce winds and huge waves off the notorious headlands of Cape Scott and the Brooks Peninsular, high surf and treacherous reefs guarding the remote beaches of the west coast and raging tidal rapids reaching speeds of 15knots in the myriad of channels separating the Vancouver Island from the mainland” says Sean.
Sean now lives in California where he runs River and Ocean LLC; a sales and customer service agency in the paddlesports industry, and is the Western region sales representative for Kokatat. He has been a member of Kokatat’s athlete team since 2006 and is the current World Masters Surf Kayak Champion in the High Performance category. In 2004 Sean completed the first solo circumnavigation of the UK and Ireland and all the inhabited islands; a six month, 4500mile expedition and the longest journey ever undertaken by kayak in British waters.
Sean will begin his attempt to break the record for the fastest circumnavigation of Vancouver Island immediately after the West Coast Sea Kayak Symposium on September 22nd 2008. You can follow his progress by following the links on the expedition website:www.expeditionkayak.com and his blog http://riverandocean.blogspot.com/
Hope Floats—Kayak for a Cure III
Each summer, kayakers of all levels of experience launch their boats at Vancouver’s Jericho Beach and cross English Bay under the “Kayak for a Cure” (KFAC) banner. KAFC is an annual event that raises money for cancer research through pledges gathered by participants.
KAFC Founder, Mark Starkey says, "We want to make Kayak for a Cure an experience that we give to participants, not the other way around. Participants who raise $1000 or more are invited to a VIP reception the night before; we hold a beach party after the event, and have a BBQ for the participants followed by an awards ceremony. We don’t want people to raise money, show up to paddle and then go home. It’s about celebrating people who influenced our lives and were affected by cancer, meeting new people, and having a good time doing it."
"Kayak for a Cure I raised $1125, Kayak for a Cure II raised $20,000 and our goal for Kayak for a Cure III is $50,000. It’s ambitious, but we really believe something special is brewing here and Vancouver is the perfect place for an organization like ours."
Hope Floats is on August 17th in Vancouver, BC on August 10th in Victoria BC, and August 2nd in Columbus, Ohio. Learn more and sign up at www.kayakforacure.ca. Event is sponsored by Ecomarine and FCV Technologies.
The wildest race on earth?
ORFORD, QC - Tourism Lower North Shore is hosting the 2008 Coast Raid Aug. 20-24. The event will welcome athletes from around the world on the road of the pioneers who first set foot on North American soil.
The Coast Raid will wound its way through more than 300 km of the rugged backcountry of Lower North Shore Québec. The goal is simple: each team, with skill levels ranging from weekend warriors to world-class athlete, must travel quickly using trekking, mountain biking, trail running, ocean kayaking, swimming and fixed rope skills. Teams will have four days and three nights to complete the course. Teams from eight countries will battle not only the physical aspects of adventure racing, but also some of the most brutal mental and psychological challenges of any competition.
Coast Raid is one of the few adventure races that will not allow assistance crews. Teams are allowed only what they can carry from one transition point to the next. The event will be broadcast with GPS-Iridium satellite tracking. Everyone on the planet will be able to follow their favourite team live. The media will also have access to rights-free TV and high-resolution pictures every day of the race.
For further information, contact Jean-Thomas Boily at (819) 847-2197.
TAPS heads to New Jersey
MILNER, British Columbia - July 9, 2008 - The Trade Association of Paddlesports (TAPS), a non-profit trade association supporting the paddling industry in North America, today announced event details for the North East Canoe & Kayak Symposium (NECKS) September 5-7, 2008 at the Spruce Run Recreation Area in Clinton, N.J.
A three-day festival open to the public, the NECKS event offers paddling seminars, new product demos and beach-side exhibits for paddlers of all ages and skill levels.
"Spruce Run Recreation Area's more than 1,300 feet of beach front, along with some amazing water, is the perfect backdrop for our first east coast event," said Michael
Pardy, executive director of TAPS. "Situated one hour west of Manhattan and Newark
and 1.5 hours from Philadelphia, we hope this event serves as a gathering of the
east coast paddling tribe; an event that will attract both experienced and novice
paddlers and their families."
Classes
During the day, attendees can participate in one of a number of classes that best meet their needs. Topics range from Kayak & Canoe First Strokes, Kayak & Canoe Advanced Strokes & Maneuvers, Greenland Paddling and Kayak & Canoe Basic Rescues.
Other ongoing daily clinics include topics such as:
* Charts;
* Compasses and Crossings: Basic Navigation Skills for Paddlers;
* Weather Considerations While Sea Kayaking & Kayak; and
* Camera, Sea: Digital Photography While Kayaking.
John Bowerman
Event attendees are invited to spend Saturday evening, September 6, with National Geographic writer and explorer Jon Bowermaster and preview the new sea kayak adventure film, Oceans 8. The film documents a series of Bowermaster's expeditions to explore the worlds' oceans from the seat of a sea kayak along with local cultures, histories and environmental issues.
North East Kayak Polo Tournament
On Saturday and Sunday evening attendees will enjoy watching the North East Kayak Polo Tournament. Similar to water polo, two teams in small kayaks move the ball
by throwing it, dribbling it, passing it to a team member or shooting it at the
opposing team's goal. When a player is in possession of the ball, an opposing player
may hand tackle him with a hand push on the upper body or kayak tackle their boat
to force the player in possession to lose control of the ball. Teams from Boston,
Toronto, Texas, along with nationally ranked players will be participating.
The North East Canoe & Kayak Symposium hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Friday
and Saturday and 9:00 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. Beach-only passes give attendees
unlimited access to the product demos for $20. Daily Passes which give access to
the product demos, clinic and seminars and keynote presentations can be purchased
for $75 per day or $200 for a weekend pass. A special $375 family rate is available
for registrants before August 15.
For more information about the North East Canoe & Kayak Symposium or to register
online, please visit www.necanoeandkayak.org.
New Cetacean Sightings Website
The BC Cetacean Sightings Network has launched a new website. Visit www.wildwhales.org to learn more about conservation and research or to report a sighting of a whale or sea turtle.
West Coast Expeditions’ Legacy Continues
West Coast Expeditions, one of Canada’s earliest marine ecology and sea kayaking tour specialists, has new owners—David Pinel, Chris Nagle, and Bev Hansen. Dave, long-time WCE guide and manager of operations, has been at the centre of WCE’s success for over a decade. Together with his wife and veteran guide, Caroline Fisher, they have teamed up with Chris and Bev to keep building WCE’s programs in the remote Kyuquot area on the northwest coast of Vancouver Island. Chris and wife Michelle (also a guide) bring over a decade of guiding, instructing, and business experience to the WCE team, having worked with a number of companies on the coast, including Deep Cove Canoe and Kayak, Spirit of the West Adventures, Northern Lights Expeditions and Pacific Northwest Expeditions. Bev is from the Ka:'yu:'k't'h / Che:k:tles7et'h' (Kyuquot/Checleset) First Nations, and notes that “this is a dream come true to become an owner of WCE in my home territory.” Living in Kyuquot, she knows the area intimately, has strong interpretive skills (including cedar weaving), on-water guiding abilities, and years of administrative experience.
WCE’s base camp on Spring Island—the Kyuquot Field Station—has been established for over 30 years and is perfect for family kayaking adventures, instructional programs, and other uses such as themed retreats, reunions and field study programs. The nearby paddling options are diverse for all interests and abilities. WCE programs will continue to provide a strong educational and instructional focus, emphasizing connections with the local ecology and remote community of Kyuquot. This maintains the legacy of previous owners Jerry Lang (1972-1990), Rupert Wong (1988-2004), and Kim Letson and late husband Mike Simpson (2005-2007). For more information about trip options, visit the new WCE website: www.westcoastexpeditions.com
Westport Marina Receives "Clean Marine BC" Recognition
Westport Marina in Victoria has recently become the first eco-rated marina in British Columbia under Georgia Strait Alliance’s new Clean Marine BC Program. This voluntary environmental recognition program for marinas, yacht clubs, harbor authorities and boatyards encourages best practices and continual environmental improvement. To become certified, a facility must commit to the Clean Marine BC Policy and undergo a thorough independent audit. Once through the audit process, a certificate is awarded and the recipient is entitled to fly the Clean Marine BC flag. For more information on this innovative program, visit www.GeorgiaStrait.org and follow the link from the Green Boating page.
Saving Puget Sound: A Call to Action
What’s at stake in saving Puget Sound and what’s it going to take? "Puget Sound is like a peach, it looks great on the outside but if you cut it, it’s rotten on the inside..." So says artist/educator Tony Angell in the new seven-minute video produced for People For Puget Sound. The video explores urgent issues and what people can do to bring the Sound back to health. Visit www.pugetsound.org to view the video.
New Paddle Trail in the Gulf of St. Lawrence
For more information about the new paddle trail in the Iles de la Madelaine Archipelago in Quebec, visit http://www.tourismeilesdelamadeleine.com/watertrail. A series of 7 maps covering the most interesting areas to paddle in the archipelago will be available for free online.
Archived news:
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THINK Kayak International Challenge: Whatcom Lake, WA vs Deep Cove, BCMarch 25, 2008 This two day event will see paddlers from both sides of the border putting it all on the line for bragging rights. Bellingham and Deep Cove are hot spots for kayak racing, supporting populations of enthusiastic sport paddlers. The THINK Kayak International Challenge Trophy will go to the nation who fronts the fastest 10 paddlers. For more information: www.thinkkayaks.com Saturday, May 3 - Whatcom Classic (12 Miles) |
Big Chop Summer Paddle SeriesMarch 13, 2008 The Mountain Equipment Co-op Big Chop Summer Paddle Series is a 10 race series happening on Thursday evenings in Vanier Park, Vancouver, BC. The race is open to OC 1 & 2, Kayaks and Canoes. The Series starts on Thursday, May 17th, at 7pm. Collect series points and win great prizes! » more |
Croatia and Vietnam by KayakMarch 10, 2008 A presentation by Maria Coffey and Dag Goering at Ecomarine's Granville Island Retail Store, Vancouver, BC on March 11, 7 pm. No charge. Europe's most spectacular coastline lies in Croatia: here stark serrated mountains drop down to meet the sea and form the verdant Dalmatian Coast. Strewn along this seaboard lies an archipelago of 1000 spectacular islands where traditional hospitality and a relaxed lifestyle are still the norm. Ha Long Bay, Vietnam is one of the world's ultimate paddling destinations. From our base aboard a beautiful, traditional sailing vessel, we spend eight days paddling the bay, winding through its labyrinth of limestone islets, and finding secret passages to hidden lagoons and magical sea caves. We visit the floating villages of fisherfolk who live their whole lives aboard tiny bamboo boats, and we witness their animistic ceremonies. » more |
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Free Sailing Starter Kit for KayakersJanuary 22, 2008 Good Old Boat Magazine is offering a starter kit (a short primer on the basics of sailing) for kayakers who might be interested in moving into mothershipping with a sailboat. » more |
The Great River Amazon Raft RaceJanuary 8, 2008 Mike Collis from Iquitos, Peru has issued an invitation to paddlers to participate in the Great River Amazon Raft Race in September 2008: the Amazon Rafting Club, based here in Iquitos, Peru cordially invites you to send a team to compete in the "Great River Amazon Raft Race 2008." This is not a "fun thing" but the longest raft race in the world covering 132 miles of the mighty River Amazon. Our club motto is "The faint of heart need not apply." For details please click here: www.iquitostimes.com/raft-race-2008.htm. |
Deep Cove Tuesday Night Paddlesport Races - 10th season!!
Western Canadian Paddlesports Leadership Conference 
Innovation Award for Walker Bay Boats' Airis Kayak 
BORÉALDESIGN Changes Hands