Werner Blog

Shaun Baker's Jet Powered Kayak Races A TVR Tomcat

Once you think you have seen it all, along comes Shaun Baker in his jet powered kayak.  Check out this video where he races through a maze of ice as his opponent drives his TVR Tomcat.

 

Werner Paddles supports the 2010 White Water Symposium. Read the Press Release

Save the Date! ~ 2010 Whitewater Symposium slated for Oct. 8–10

  
The 2010 Whitewater Symposium is now gearing up for Oct. 8 – 10 at the Nantahala Outdoor Center in Bryson City, NC.

This year’s event planning for providing top-notch educational classroom and on-water sessions is being driven by an expanded organizing group that includes some of the Symposium's foremost presenters and ambassadors.

The symposium commitee is bringing great creative energy and ideas to the table, dedicated to crafting a broader-based event with more specific topics of interest for whitewater aficionados, product manufacturers, retailers, outfitters, educators, and all types of paddling industry providers.”

The mission of the Whitewater Symposium is to advance the spirit of whitewater paddling through bringing leaders of the sport together. The upcoming event’s theme entitled, “Whitewater 2010 – The Next Rapid Evolution” will focus on the people, products, services, and ideas that will evolve the sport into tomorrow.

Visit http://www.wwsymposium.com for registration information and program updates as they become available.  (new information will be loading daily, so keep checking back for updates.)

Canoecopia 2010. Rutabaga Paddle Sports and Werner Paddles, ready for the big one!

Next weekend, Madison Wisconsin, the biggest paddle sports show is back as Rutabaga Paddle Sports presents the 2010 edition of Canoecopia. 

Werner Paddles will be focused on not only fitting paddlers with custom paddles but educating and entertaining guests with the greatest team in paddle sports.  Our in booth instruction and paddle fitting will be going on all three days by the Doctors of Paddleology.  Stop by and learn why you can't make your boat go straight, why you are always stuck in a hole, why you are always last in the group or maybe learn more about stand up paddling.  Your Doctors will include, 2009 Ladies of the Lake headliner Suzanne Hutchinson. 

 
2009 Mexico expeditioner Carla Volkman. 

 
New editions to the Werner Paddles World Team, Ben Lawry

and Kelly Blades.  Team leader Doug Ragan

and fresh out of their first ever Puerto Rico stand up paddle surf trip, Jim Miller

and Danny Mongno.  If the stroke knowledge Ben, Suzanne, Danny or the rest of the team provides is just not enough to top off your tanks, be sure to hit the speaker rooms (Schedule) for even more detailed info.  Ben's Dry Land Rolling, Danny's Paddles and Paddling, a huge group of Werner team members like Shawna and Leon of Body Boat Blade and of course, allowed by Madison City Police for another year, "The Big Show" presented by Kelly Blades and Danny Mongno. (Pool Schedule-these fill up fast!)

We can't wait to see you all there.  All Werner Paddles will be 15% off with some special, "First Come First Serve," deals to boot.  Stop by, get a paddle, get some instruction and certainly share a few laughs.  See you there.

Riverside Kayak Connection Hosts An Evening Strokes Clinic With Werner Paddles.

Michigan paddlers, what are you doing March 18th?  We know you partied to hard on St. Patty's Day to go out again and your certainly not watching the Pistons or the Red Wings.  How about spending some time with the staff at Riverside Kayak Connection and Werner Paddle's instructor Danny Mongno as we present, Paddles and Paddling 3.0. 

Paddles and Paddling. Version 3.0 paddling in the wind

The sure fire way to guarantee more fun while paddling is to use less energy.  The best two ways to get started on this quest is to assure you are using the proper fitting paddle and to perform strokes more efficiently.  In Paddles and Paddling-Version 3.0, Werner Paddle's kayak instructor Danny Mongno will expand on the information he shared with us in past seminars.  Starting with the paddle, he will review low angle and high angle paddling, paddle fit options and help prescribe the perfect fitting paddle for each individual's style.  From their we will take the basic core principles of Boat and Body control, that we focused on in the past, and apply then to windy- wavy conditions. Something we all need to deal with at one time or another.  This will be an interactive dry land instructional seminar, with the ultimate goal to send you home with the knowledge of what is the perfect paddle for you and some skill practice and drills you can do at home, between paddling sessions.  Whether you a sea kayaker, fisherman or quietly exploring the waters in your back yard, bring an open mind and get ready to have fun.

Call the shop for directions or information regarding this free class.  Refreshments will be served and smiles will be had.  This will differ from the past two seasons, hence the 3.0, so come back and we promise you will take away something new.  Look forward to seeing you again or meeting you for the first time. 

Ouachita Outdoor Outfitters Serves Their Paddling Community

Ouachita Outdoor Outfitters is located in Hot Springs, Arkansas.  They have been serving Arkansas’ outdoor enthusiasts for over a decade with more than 50 product lines to equip you on your next outdoor adventure. 

They recently posted to their blog about Werner's Healthy Waters initative.  You can read the post here.  It is this type of engangement with the local outdoor and paddling community that will continue to draw customers to their door.  They are the real deal!  Thanks Ouachita Outdoor Outfitters for letting as many people as possible know about our commitment to helping with access, education and water quality issues. Keep up the great work!

Werner Athlete Paul Kuthe Featured In "The Season"

Werner World Team Member, Paul Kuthe, has made the landing page of Outside online right next to Lindsey Vonn.  Check out the latest installment of film maker, Bryan Smith's "The Season" which features Paul as he describes his special relationship with his father, his community and paddling. This is some of the best paddling cable cam footage I have seen.  Beyond the cinematography, The Season is simply great story telling.

Reel Paddling Film Festival Kicks Off In Toronto

The 5th annual Reel Paddling Film Festival premiered last night at the Bloor Cinema downtown Toronto, hosted by The Complete Paddler. The largest premiere audience in festival history was treated to the first screening of this year’s award winning films. it is not supprising that many of the winners are sponsored by Werner Paddles. Check it out... 

1. Best Sea Kayaking Film: In Paddle to Seattle, J.J. Kelly and Josh Thomas use their homemade wooden boats to kayak the 1,300-mile Inside Passage from Alaska to Seattle.
2. Best Canoeing Film: This is Canoeing is a celebration of canoeing, showcasing some of the single blade’s most talented paddlers, wilderness explorers and whitewater adventures.
3. Best Whitewater Film: In Into Perpetual Ice five kayakers visit Greenland to explore the whitewater of this remote island.
4. Best Kayak Fishing Film: Kayak Fishing: Game On 2 follows big game kayaker Jim Sammons on a three-hour battle with a 120-pound tuna.
5. Best Adventure Travel Film: Finding Farley, in which Karsten Heuer and Leanne Allison, along with their two-year old son, set out on a 5,000-kilometre trip from the Prairies to the Maritimes to retrace the literary footsteps of legendary author Farley Mowat.
6. Best Environmental Paddling Film: Facing East is the final descent of the mighty Yangtze River before it is completely underwater and transformed into massive reservoirs.
7. Best Paddling Documentary:  Kent Ford’s Call of the River traces whitewater’s history with as many twists and turns as the canyons its pioneers explored.
8. Best Amateur/Short Paddling Film: Falling is a thrill ride and a poetic meditation about harmonizing with the awesome forces of nature featuring the waterfalls of Agua Azul in Chiapas, Mexico.
9. Best Instructional Paddling Film: Sea Kayak with Gordon Brown offers exciting, practical instruction while on a four-day expedition around the Isle of Skye.
 
“Never before has the Festival seen so many amazing films,” said Scott MacGregor, RPFF producer and last night’s red carpet emcee. “There is truly something for everyone in this year’s World Tour.”

The premiere kicks off the Reel Paddling Film Festival World Tour, an international paddling film tour with 37 short-listed films screening in 75 cities hosted by paddling shops, clubs and events. For a list of all World Tour films, the World Tour schedule, and hosting information visit, www.reelpaddlingfilmfestival.com.

Hillary Expedition Grant Awarded To NZ Paddlers

Mick Hopkinson, Graham Charles, Zak Shaw and the recently seconded Keith Riley are recipients of a SPARC-funded Hillary Expedition Grant. The project aims to refresh publicity surrounding NZ’s stunning waterways, explore demanding kayak runs and photograph iconic NZ river environments -- particularly those threatened by hydro electricity generation. Read all about it here.

Photo courtesy of Zak Shaw.

Collinsville Canoe and Kayak's, "Paddle University" kicks off Werner's NE Events

 
There was a time when scenes like this, photo of Trish Walter, taken on the "T-Ville" section of the Farmington River, CT, were shared by "Experts Only."  However with advancements in gear and better instruction more readily available, paddling earlier or deeper into the shoulder seasons, or all winter long for that matter, is becoming more and more accesible to the everyday paddler.  It is the love of the peace and quiet, the solitude of off season paddling that spawned Collinsville Canoe and Kayak's, "Paddle University."  Join the staff of CCK, paddling instructors and industry experts as they kick off their 20 Year Anniversary on March 6th with this great new event. 

 
Throughout the day attend classes on the challenges associated with cold water paddling and how to dress and plan for it, on land stroke and skill work, choosing the best gear for you and individual segments looking at canoeing, white water boating, kayak fishing, recreational and touring kayaking and the exciting new sport of stand up paddling.   In between classes get your first look at all the new 2010 boats and gear as they continue to roll off the trucks and onto the shelves.  Werner Paddles will be represented by paddling instructor Danny Mongno, taking you through a variety of topics through out the day including  more efficient paddling by using the proper fitting paddle and better stroke work.  Be sure to call the shop (860) 693-6977 for more details or check out the web site for a class schedule.  Centrally located to so many paddlers, set in the beautiful Famington River valley, Paddle University is a must attend event for north east paddlers looking to meet up with friends, take some classes, check out some gear and kick off the spring paddling season.  See you there!

Tino Specht, gives Werner Blog subscribers a Super Bowl white water fix

The NFL's Super Bowl game, and all the parties this afternoon, certainly help to divert our attention from the fact that most of North America is still struggling to escape Old Man Winter's death lock.  Luckily Werner team paddler, Tino Specht, is giving us a life line to some white water action from his travels in Chile. 

 
Aside from killing it play boating and running the stout lines in his creek boat, Tino is becoming a very talented film maker.  Check out the short video he put together for our blog subscribers to try and remind us that winter will end and spring white water is not that far off.  (yes you can believe this as well VA, WV, PA and MD, even though you are arm pit deep in snow right now.)

Thanks for the update Tino and keep charging.