Werner Blog

Whitewater Stand Up Paddling Clinincs being offered

The Worlds first SUP Whitewater Clinincs will be held in Buena Vista Colorado, July 17-19, featuring Dan Gavere as the guest instructor.  Dan will offer 3 days of WW SUP.  The first 2 Days will be an introduction to the exciting new sport of Stand Up Paddling and the basics of paddling, healthy stroke technique, and an intro into moving water.  Day 3 will be for intermediate paddlers with focus on healthy strokes, board techniques for moving water, and safety as it pertains to paddling moving mater up to class 2.  For more information please go here:

http://cksblog.com/?p=2281

Family SUPing Over the Fourth of July

I went paddling with my to kids over the weekend at Elk Lake which is in the Cascade Range of Oregon.  We set our picnic lunch up next to the Elk Lake Lodge.  It is a very low key affair with a restaurant, general store and marina. 

Stand Up Paddling is a great activity for the whole family.  The kids would play in the sand, swim out to the floating dock, and paddle the stand up board.  They had a great time and could make the board go where they wanted with just a few minutes of practice. 

There were about half a dozen other SUP'ers and twice again as many kayak and canoe paddlers. The lodge rents all of these crafts so if you get to beautiful Bend Oregon be sure to check out all of the beautiful high mountain lakes.

Payette River Experience

Werner Athlete, Devon Barker checks in from Idaho...

Idaho had two white water festivals this month.  The first was the Payette Boise Revival (PBR) (which had great sposnorship from Idaho River Sports and NRS) and the second was the Payette River Experience.  Both events had down river races, slalom, and freestyle contests.   The organizers have been working with the dam operator of the Bladder Dam.  3 out of the 5 days the epic wave was in.  The good news is that if the river is between 8 and 15 K the dam operator is able to dial in the wave.  For the second event the water dropped below 8K and there was not enough pressure to hold the bladder dam down to make the crease for the wave.  We hope to hold more events in Idaho on this great wave now that we know the flows that are needed to make it work. 
The highlight was using my new carbon Twist paddle from Werner with my new Dynamic Duo.  Ethan and I surfed it but Jimmy Grossman and his 7-year-old son Buey stole the show by entering the freestyle event in the Duo.  They were great! 

Enjoy the photos and stay tuned for more big wave competitions in Idaho on the Bladder Wave!  Alec Voorhees and I are off to Couch Wave on the Salmon to surf the Duo.  Come surf in Idaho with us.  The season lasts all year.
Devon

Werner Athlete, Dave Collins Makes His Move With SUP Jousting

Here is a post from Dave Collins from his recent trip to Canada...

I competed this last weekend in the first ever Qualicum Beach SUP Race sponsored by Island Longboards of Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island, B.C..  My Werner Nitro helped propel me to a second-place finish in the approximately one-mile race.  But I put my Nitro away when it came to the next and final event: paddle jousting, a medieval twist to this booming sport.  The object: knock your opponent off his or her board before he or she knocks you off of yours. 

Two paddles with foam taped around the grip were provided.  This was a co-ed event and I was paired up to duel with a local “lady” on my second round.  I had all intentions of taking it easy on her, which was my first mistake.  She came at me from a kneeling position, whacked me across the head and sent me face first into the soup before I had time to be nice.  I walked away from the duel stunned and humiliated and would have been eliminated had she not later apologized for letting her competitive spirit get the best of her, and renounced her victory.

That opened the window for me into the finals where I was pitted against a burly local who proved extremely tough to oust from his board.  We put on a good show with several sketchy recoveries on each of our part.  Being on the heavier side of the scale for racing (200 lbs.), I often feel at a disadvantage because of my weight, but not the case in paddle jousting where some extra mass is beneficial.  The event combines balance with strategically creative paddle moves.  I´m not sure if paddle jousting will showcase at other SUP events, but it was a clever way to wrap up this inaugural event, drawing in new spectators who might otherwise have kept on walking by.  Coverage of the whole event, which will be an annual affair, can be found at here.     

Summer Camp Falling Creek Style

Great note from Ben Williams the Outdoor Adventure Director of Falling Creek Camp.  These guys have a great youth paddling program. Read on...

On Tuesday, June 30th the advanced paddlers from Falling Creek paddled the Upper Green as their first run of the season, as you can see from the photo we were all using the best paddles on the market.  If we get any other good shots, I will make sure to pass them on.  I would like to thank you and Werner personally for the commitment you all have made to incorporate the development of youth paddlers into Werner’s business plan.

Thanks again,
Ben Williams
Outdoor Adventure Director
Falling Creek Camp

Werner Paddles Team Paddler, Hadas Feldman, Invites You To Paddle Israel.

World renowned expedition kayaker and instructor, Hadas Feldman starts to shake with excitement when she talks about how amazing the paddling is in her home of  Israel.. 

Although Hadas is invited to teach kayaking each year around the world, has taken part in major expeditions circumnavigating Japan, South Georgia Island and most recently New Foundland;  it is at home in the warm waters, wonderful surf and with the happy people of Israel that is she is most happy.  Along with her gang from OptimistKayaking and the OptimistKayak Club, she would like to invite you to join in their annual Sea Kayak Symposium, October 29^th-November 1^st. 

With the water still warm before winter approaches, you can take instruction for the best coaches from around the world, including Werner team paddler Ben Lawry.  Above and beyond kayaking this event is about beautiful water and great friends both old and new and the opportunity to explore new places.  Be sure to check out this great event and thanks to Optimist and Hadas for providing another great paddling adventure.

Werner's Dan Gavere: Paddle Long, Paddle Hard

Ever think about doing a long paddle on your SUP board?  Perhaps three hours.  What an awesome workout.  How about racing your SUP board? The sense of competition and adrenaline that comes with it.  Now lets combine the two.  There are only a hand-full of athletes who can go hard for five and a half hours. That is exactly what happened this last weekend as a group of paddlebaorders and SUP'ers raced for 28 miles across Monetery Bay. Werner Paddles, Dan Gavere, finished in third place overall and was the first stand up paddler across the line with a time of 5:30:42.

The event was hosted by the Ghostryders Waterman Club, which plans to donate proceeds to local Junior Guard programs. To  make things a little more exciting there was a shark sighting by one of the safety boats.  To read more check out  the Santa Cruz Sentinel. (photo courtesy of SC Sentinel).  For more on Stand Up Paddling in Santa Cruz check out The Kayak Connection, they offer lessons and rentals.

Werner Team Paddlers, Jared & Dave of Demshitz, Report From Colorado

Check out Demshitz, starring Werner Paddles Team members Dave Fusilli and Jared Seiler, as they blog about there travels in Colorado.  "Demshitz have been on tour in the Team Pyranha van in Colorado for the past month. Along with competing in extreme kayaking races and freestyle competitions we have paddled some great creeks and rivers, including Pandoras Box on the Animas river which served up one of the best days of paddling yet! Check out a video from a day on Pandoras Box as well as some amazing photos below."

 

"Keep checking back for updates from Demshitz as we move north into Montana this week followed by a few weeks in Washington state. We will be premiering our movie "Demshitz The Movie" everywhere we go and offering FREE kayak demos and clinics. "Demshitz The Movie" is available for purchase online for $19.95 US and be sure to check out our schedule for the next month."  Thanks Gentleman, keep up the great work.

Werner Team Paddler Ben Lawry: Perfecting Your Forward Stroke

At Werner Paddles we focus on the two key elements; using less energy on the water and paddling more efficiently. Start with a lighter swing weight, custom fit paddle and then master your technique.  For a guide to your perfect fitting paddle be sure to check out our interactive Fit Guide on wernerpaddles.com and for a great time on the water including world class instruction on kayaking technique, meet Ben Lawry.  

Ben is a well rounded paddler and  is happy teaching from a white water eddy, calm water back river, or with ocean waves washing along a rocky shoreline.  Ben is also an entertaining and engaging instructor. For a look at his powerful approach to teaching, take a moment to read the article on Active.com discussing one of his trade mark classes, the forward stroke.  If you like what you see you should take some time to learn more about Ben and check out all the classes he is offering.  After all, who wants to waste time and energy?  Remember the keys to more efficient paddling, get the perfect fitting Werner Paddle and get yourself some Ben Lawry.

Werner Ambassador Brian Good Brings His Infectious Smile To The Potomac

Brian Good packed up his new born son Fletcher, his girlfiend (paddler, Jessie Rice) and headed North out of Asheville.  The community was sad to see him go.  After all, there are few people you meet with a more fun loving attitude for paddling and life in general as B Good. A native of the white water mecca, Fayettville, WV; he started his paddling career when he took his smile and non stop comedy routine to the back of a raft, keeping people in stitches as he guided down the New and Gauley Rivers.

His fun going way landed him opportunities to guide rafts and work with kids in Fiji as well as guide all over the West coast.  Like so many raft guides, the alure of kayaking, drew Brian into a hard boat and life as a video kayaker.  His long time relationship as a paddler for Pyranha Kayaks and Werner Paddles was developed as he hit the white water kayaking scene hard, running the steep creeks and getting new paddlers stoked on the sport. 

As he rolled out of Asheville this past November he turned to his next opportunity in the sport, as the manager and a kayak instructor for the Mid Atlantic retail giant and kayak school, Potomac Paddle Sports.  Although an established program, they were stoked to get Brian's energy and enthusiasm in the shop and more importantly, on the Potomac with their students.  Being a good instructor is so much more than knowing the techniques, or being a good kayaker yourself; it is all in the experience you give your students and how much fun they have.  Brian has the fun part down pat, get ready to smile.

Sky is the limit for Brian, Fletcher and Jessie and they are stoked to be a part of the new community of paddlers on Potomac River.  If you are passing through the area or are a Potomac local yourself, be sure to stop in the shop or by the put in at Anglers and introduce yourself to Brian, you'll be happy you did.