Werner Blog

"Living Adventure" confirms, spanish speaking Pelicans love Werner Paddles to!

Thanks to Gail Green of Living Adventure for this great photo.  Gail and her team at Living Adventures, along with having Apostle Islands tours in Lake Superior, WI, down to a science, spend the winter running trips in Yucatan, Mexico.  This curious Coastal Brown Pelican was quite impressed with their Werner Paddle's Skagit and its hand crafted in the USA quality.  (Or pehaps it was the gourmet style meals the crew at Living Adventure was serving up on the beach?)  Either way it is a great photo, thanks for sharing Gail!.

Living Adventure uses only the best guides and equipment on their trips, including Werner Paddles.  Be sure to check them out for your summer time vacations or much needed warm water winter get away.
 

Where's Jake? Let's check in on the progress of the Portage to Portage Paddling Project

Let's see how our friend Jake Stachovak and the Werner Paddles supported, "Portage to Portage Paddling Project," is doing on day 51.  Follow his daily journal, with photos, daily on his expedition blog.

 
Good luck Jake and I hope the weather starts to work with you a bit more.  Until then, sunsets like these have to make the hard work all day seem worth it.

Lenore Sobota Likes Her Werner Paddle On Ice!

I have known Lenore Sobota now for 5 years now and her genuine excitment for kayaking makes me look forward seeing her.  Whether it is at Canoecopia, Ladies of the Lake, Door County Sea Kayak Symposium, etc., etc. she is always working to learn more as a kayaker and have more fun on the water.

Lenore sent in an awesome shot of her New Years Day paddle that we just had to share with our blog readers.

It was 12 degrees out when this shot was taken on the Mackinaw River, just west of Bloomington, IL. Way to get after it and what a great way to bring in the New Year.  Thanks for the shot and look forward to seeing you at Canoecopia Lenore.

Werner Paddles Supports The Portage to Portage Paddling Project

“It's Not Really About Me - It's About the Water.  It’s about you and all the people along the route, and anybody else that cares to listen. “ I think this quote is an amazing way to bring you up to speed on who Jake Stachovak is and what the Portage to Portage Paddling Project is all about.  Over the course of the next year, Jake will paddle from Portage, WI over 5000 miles through the back yards of the some of the highest population bases in the United States, and back to Portage.  Along the way bringing kayaking to the people and showing them the adventures that lie right outside their homes.  We will be following Jake along his journey here at the Werner Paddle’s blog via, www.paddletoportage.com  Here you can take some time to get to know Jake, his mission and his watery route.  Once you got the basics down you can keep up on your own, or at our pace, with his blog that he updates daily.  

 
Here are a few words from Jake’s 12/27 post.
Somehow I thought the state of Mississippi would be a bit warmer. But apparently winter is winter wherever you go. The wind was already pushing ripples on the water before sunrise so I was happy to have an early start to avoid the big blows I’ve seen the last two days on the water. Luck was with me and I actually had a tail wind for a change and made great time on the way into Helena, Arkansas.

Stay warm Jake and enjoy the final push to the end of a great 2009 and the wonders of what 2010 will bring, we’ll keep in touch.

Advance Praise for "Sea Kayak With Gordon Brown" DVD

Werner Paddles is proud to be a sponsor of this fine new DVD. Gordon combines cutting edge instruction with a beautiful journey along the Isle of Skye.  But don't just take our word for it, there is a great deal of praise for Gordon Brown's newest DVD. 

"Gordon shows strokes in calm conditions followed by 'oh my god' conditions, displaying the same technique in both" - Justine Curgenven / This Is The Sea

"I sat in front of my TV, in a play boat, and learned more about boat handling skills than I have done over the last 5000 miles" - Patrick Winterton / Extreme Kayaker

"Open your mind to a whole new level of sea kayaking" - seakayakphoto.com

"A new standard for sports technique videos" - Ocean Paddler Magazine

"Absolutely fantastic...a lot less like a textbook and more like a documentary" - paddlinginstructor.com

"Dynamic coaching in inspiring scenery" - Justine Curgenven / This Is The sea

 

Check out the trailer on WernerTV.  Begining December 01, 2009 you will be able to pick up your very own copy direct from the Gordon Brown site, or from your local performance paddlesports store. Check back here for more info about Gordon's bookand DVD. 

Thanks Alder Creek Kayak and Canoe. Lumpy Waters Symposium was awesome!

Werner Paddle's own Danny Mongno  reporting from this past weekend's Lumpy Water Symposium, presented by Alder Creek Kayak and Canoe.

"I want to first say thanks to Werner for sending me to the event.  Dan Gavere has things so well covered on the Left Coast I rarely ever get to head out.  Thanks and kudos must go to the owners and staff at Alder Creek.  Their focus on making sure each person was looked after and happy on the water and off was amazing, killer attention to every detail.  I met so many great people on the water and can't wait to come back out and see you all again.

The Pacific did a great job of giving us "Lumpy" for sure, Friday and Saturday were full on.  With a solid swell running and high winds creating interesting conditions for say the least, students did an awesome job building confidence and truly taking their skills to new levels. 

 
Sunday's weather was perfect, warming up, no wind and much cleaner surf.  Teams made it to the outside to share waves with the local surfers while others explored the Three Capes region on a multitude of tours and classes.  

I made some great new friends and got to hang out with old ones I don't get to see enough.  If you missed this one you really need to check it out for 2010 and between now and then be sure to stop by Alder Creek to see all the programs they have to offer to get you ready."

If you missed the West Coast showing don't blink.  Danny lands in Asheville on Tuesday, jumps in the truck and drives right to Sea Kayak Georgia for some more rough water coaching.
 

4th Annual Down East Sea Kayak Symposium, Bar Harbor ME

Looking for great places to paddle and world class instruction in New England this fall?  Look no further than Carpediem Kayaking's Down East Sea Kayak Symposium.  Check the event site for a list of classes, confirmed coaches and more details on the symposium and everything Carpediem Kayaking has to offer.

White Squall and Paddlinginstructor.com Present- 2009 Storm Gathering

Sea Kayak Georgia's Skills Symposium. BCU, Surf and so much more.

Start planning now as Werner Paddles is proud to again support Sea Kayak Georgia's 2009 Skills Symposium and BCU Week, this coming October 21st-25th.  As I travel the country teaching and meeting people at events I always find myself explaining that, "I at not on comission from Marsha and Ronnie," owners of one the nations premiere paddling instructional institutions.  It is just that I invite everyone to Tybee Island because it is such an amazing learning enviornment.  Located about 30 minutes from one of the nations greatest cities, Savannah, GA, Tybee Island offers paddlers of all ability levels a water way that is not only a comfortable learning enviornment, but a great starting point for multi day trips.  Although having an element that caters to the advanced paddler, the event offers something for everyone. From paddlers growing with the BCU progam as well as beginner to intermediate courses, even in disciplines like canoe and stand up paddling.  It is a well know fact though that the warm water surfing enviornment of the famous "Triangle" draws paddlers from all over the world to SKG each October.  Few other places offer you n enviornment where you can you put your dry suit away and increase your comfort level, from beginner to advanced ocean conditions, under the watchful eye of some of the world's best coaches. 

Werner Paddles is proud to present the Most Improved Paddler Award each year.  All the coaches vote at the end of the week the "Chosen One" is the paddler who they felt grew the most in their skills over the course of the event.  That paddler walks away with a free custom fitting for their perfect Werner Paddle. 

Be sure to check out the schedule of classes and then give Marsha, Ronnie or Regan a call at the shop to set up the program of coaches and classes that will help you get the most out of your trip to Georgia.  On behalf of all the Werner Paddle coaches that will be in attendance, we look forward to seeing you.  (Words by Danny Mongno, who will be teaching at the event.  Photos by owner/instructors Marsha, Ronnie and the Sea Kayak Georgia staff.)

South Georgia Expedition Confirmed For January 2010

Just caught up with Hailey Shephard about her expedition to South Georgia. Werner is proud to be supporting Hailey's efforts. Here is an excerpt from her blog....

To ensure the South Georgia Expedition takes place, I have recently secured a bank loan to go towards the cost for the Mandatory support vessel required by British Law, just in case I am not successful in gaining sufficient sponsorship.

The South Georgia 'Kayaking to Save the Albatross' Expedition is happening this coming January!

The job I have right now is perfect. I spend up to 7 hours a day kayaking many miles of our gorgeous BC coastline, talking to paddlers along the way. My job is to monitor kayak movements around the resident killer whales who spend the summer months feasting on salmon which are migrating up rivers where they were born a number of years ago. I offer interpretive talks about the whales and the region aswell I educate people on the best way to view the killer whales without interfering with their daily routine and lives.

I am based in Alert Bay which is where I live, rather unique and refreshing actually working from my home.

I will continue to update my blog, keeping you posted as the South Georgia Expedition departure draws near.

It's all training and preparing from here! Cheers and thanks for your interest
Hayley