Its UK National Go Canoeing week and chance to show how much you love the sport – so get out there and take part.
National Go Canoeing Week marks the launch of Go Canoeing, a national campaign supported by Canoe England and companies including Palm to encourage and inspire more people to go canoeing more regularly.
So everyone of us that loves paddling should use this week to tell others. To give you some encouragement simply post a picture of you paddling on our Facebook walland you’re in with a chance to win a bag of Palm goodies for sharing your experaince. In fact why not share it with others and spread the message!
To win, simply take a snap of you or your paddling friends and post on our wall. Tell us who, where and when it was (between 6th and 15th of April) and let everyone know why the paddling was so great! We’ll choose the one we feel best represents the spirit of Go Canoeing and announce a winner on Monday the 16th.
Do you know what the ISO test is? How is fabric waterproofness measured? Is breathability in paddling gear really relevant. Will Kevlar® socks really stop a bullet? These questions and more will get answered at the end of January when we bring our head designer Barney Caulfield to the inaugural Gene 17 River Source Symposium.
He’ll be fresh off the back of Palm’s annual design week and no doubt buzzing with new ideas from planning our ranges for 2013, 2014 and beyond. So what better chance to get a unique glimpse into how Palm go about the whole process from product concept to manufacture – oh and its free, yes FREE!
But it’s not just about us showing off how we make stuff – although we’ll have a load of new gear on show Making the right kit choices can massively increase the enjoyment and success of you or your groups days out. Barney will be guiding from inside out so you understand how to get the most from your paddling gear and how to choose the right stuff.
Myself and some of the Palm crew have just returned from a fantastic weekend at Simon Westgarth’s Gene 17 Adventure Paddlers weekend on the river Dart.
I’m sure the rest of the team will update on the events of the weekend soon, but I couldn’t resist getting in there first to tell you about the most fun thing I have done for ages!!
I’m not even really sure how it came about, but I’m sure it was something to do with the combination of my own withdrawal symptoms from rafting in Costa Rica and a team of adventurers freshly returned from the jungles of Indonesian Papua. The result was a fair band of pirates (Pete Wood, Chris Easterbrook, Dave Fairweather and myself) at the put in to Dart Meet with one borrowed raft and a broken pump. Without even trying we somehow managed to get some friendly paddlers to help fix the pump and inflate the whole raft such was their desire to watch us descend the river, and no doubt provide them with hours of guaranteed entertainment! On the 50m walk to the put in we picked up two more heroic, but, as became apparent later on, rather disobedient crew members. They went by the names Luke Farrington and Tim Burne and had spotted the fun a mile away, immediately ditching their kayaks to join in!
I’m not sure what happened to the kayak race down the mad mile that was roughly planned for 2.30pm (did we hijack it?!) but we ended up being lead down the section by Simon Westgarth and being surrounded flotilla of around 40 curious kayakers, who I’m certain were hanging around to see a pin, a flip or a swim.
For some reason I decided that where the raft was going was my responsibility and turned into a surprisingly bossy assertive guide. But with such a dream team there was no way we could fail! We all turned into children again, the whole experience was a fantastic emotional rollercoaster of adrenaline, uncontrollable laughter, whoops and shrieks as we whirled down the river over holes and ledges. Wicked rumours were flying around the kayak flotilla that there were expressions of pure terror etched into the faces of those in the front of the raft on the precarious lip of Euthanasia and Surprise Surprise, however we all know that rumours are never true…
We managed to descend the whole river successfully, with only a few pins and swims. The aforementioned Tim Burne soon became the most unintentionally disobedient crew member by perfecting the art of tumbling from the raft disconcertingly slowly, and in such a way that we still just couldn’t seem to grab him in time.
Luckily pictures of the fun, courtesy of photographer Kev Winsor (who can be found at Paddle Photos on facebook) were taken, so enjoy. Check out the awesome splat at Lovers Leap – they boys were very happy with that! I hope it inspires you to try rafting – just because it is so ridiculously fun!
A big weekend coming up for WW warriors here in the UK.
Sarting on Friday night team paddler Chris Eastabrook will be at CIWW in Cardiff explaining why, amoungst other things, Palm Gradient boots are so popular in Papua New Guinea. He kicks off at 8pm, but don’t forget the course is on the monthly 12 cumec release, so worth a bit of freeride action beforehand.
Further South West at about the same time, the one and only Big O, Olaf Obsommer will be opening this years Gene 17 Adventure Paddlers Weekender. This years show is a refreshing step away from the all action format covered so widely in WW kayaking. Instead it highlights how Olafs skill as a camerman, editor and veretan kayak adventuere have developed to recognise that whilst the purpose is kayaking, the desinations afforded by this means of travel are sublime in themselves.
Oh, and needless to say, there will be some boating. Water is falling from the skies and we will be bringing as many new Dagger Mamba’s as we can squeeze into the van with team paddlers Rosie cripps, Finn Burrows, Nick Horwood and Lowri Davies on hand to give you the lowdown. For those wanting to check kit we’ll have the sample Spark suit, Luna ladies PfD and of course prizes for the Saturday night raffle.
Wherever and whatever your paddling this weekend – have a cracker!
Vaniljesaus is set for release this coming weekend at the Gene 17 adventure paddlers weekend as well as across the internet for free!
Here’s the final teaser:
“Vaniljesaus is a short film that follows a bunch of goons travelling through Norway for two months; searching far and wide for beautiful whitewater, new and classic.
We tried to film as much as we could, capturing the trip and trying to get the best shots we could. We found big water, small water, no water and a delicious custard drink called Vaniljesaus.
Two days to go until the Big Paddle event in Exeter on Sunday! The weather’s looking amazing, the river tours are filling up and we’re loading the van with cardboard for the cardboard canoe race!
So if you’re around in the South West of the UK this weekend and fancy a paddle, why not come along and join us on Sunday? Here are some images from last year’s Big Paddle at Symonds Yat to tempt you.
Guided Tours. Not sure of the route but don’t want to resort to the map? Then why not join one of our free guided tours.
An experienced guide will lead you round the Big Five paddle, making sure you don’t get lost along the way!
10.00am Nature Tour
10.15am History Tour
10.30am Guided Tour
10.45am Nature Tour
11.00am History Tour
11.15am Guided Tour
Nature Tours
Although just outside the city, the Exe Big Paddle route offers some wonderful opportunities for sightings, including Otters, kingfishers a wide variety of ducks, wading birds, dippers, wagtails and more! Accompanied by a local expert groups of ten will head out to see what can be found.
Guided nature tours will run in two sessions. The first starts at 10.00am and the second at 10.45am. Places will be on a first come first served basis. Please register online. Booking will also be available on the day if spaces are still available. Participants will need to provide their own equipment.
Local History Tours
Like the natural habitat, the Big Paddle Route is historic and local experts will be on hand to guide groups of up to ten along the route highlighting points of interest and the stories and facts that go with them.
Guided history tours will run in two sessions. 10.15am and 11.00am. Places will be on a first come first served basis. Please register online. Booking will also be available on the day if spaces are still available. Participants will need to provide their own equipment.
Booking onto tours
Please indicate if you’d like to join one of our guided tours when you buy your tickets.
Cardboard Canoe Race
The grand finale of the Exe Big Paddle will be the Cardboard canoe race. The race will take place in the Quay outside the Piazza at 3:30 pm, but all participants must arrive for registration and craft inspection at 3:00 pm. Entrants into the race should be 16 or over, and helmets and PFDs must be worn. Staff will be on hand with materials should you wish to ‘build’ on the day. There are prizes for best boat design, best-dressed boat (including paddlers), and of course race winners! The Cardboard Canoe Race will be governed by a ‘gentleman’s agreement’.
Come and try it
Whether its for the first time, or just to do something a little
easier, we are hosting ever popular ‘Come and try it’ sessions
throughout the day.
Our team of instructors from Globe 360 are experts at getting you on
and off the water in a fun, safe and relaxed environment. Over the
years they have been responsible for thousands of paddlers first ‘have-
a-go’ experience and can proudly boast that many have become hooked
afterwards.
Sessions will be hosted on the canal side and will run from 9.30am to
3pm on a rolling basis, with water time between 10 and 20 minutes.
It’s not limited to one session either.
You don’t need to bring anything, apart from a smile; although there
is a possibility you could get a little damp, so a change of clothes
may be worthwhile. Non-swimmers are fine.
You will need to fill out a registration form and under 18′s will need
a parent or guardian present to sign for them. Minimum age is 5.
So what are you waiting for – get on and have a go!
The Big Paddle is back and it’s set to be even more fun than the last time!
For those of you who missed the 201o event at Symonds Yat, Big Paddle events are about getting on the water and having fun. Whether for the first time or as a seasoned paddler there is something for all.
The Big Five Tour is the focal point of the event, taking in a unique five-mile loop of river and canal starting and finishing at Exeter Quay. A series of guided trips and masterclasses will be available to accompany the tour and the event culminates in some exciting contests including the Cardboard Canoe Race.
Off the water the event village at the Piazza hosts displays and activities dedicated to all things paddling and is a great place to meet and learn about the sport.
The forecast for the weekend wasn’t looking very good when we set off at lunch time Friday. It was supposed to be very windy, big messy surf and raining.
After a couple of hours driving some very dark clouds appeared in front of us and as we got up towards Bristol it started raining. At first it wasn’t very heavy but the showers were quite long and as we approached Swansea it started raining very hard. After several missed turnings because of bad visibility we finally made it to Llangennith camp site at about 9:30 where we found some other kayakers that we knew had arrived earlier and gone out for a surf. During the night it carried on raining and the wind didn’t drop, but thankfully it stopped raining at about 7-7:30am.
After breakfast we were told that the competition had been moved along the beach to Rhossili so we set off leaving the tent to be picked up when we’d finished. When we got there the surf was just as bad as the forecast said it would be – pretty big, messy and blown out. After the introductory speech we all got kitted up and carried our boats down the cliff path to the beach. The path was very long and zigzagged down the cliff with several gates and lots of steps.
Finally, down on the beach, the first heat started and I was judging. My first heat was the third of the day which was the men’s open long final. It went straight to the final as only four of us entered.
Next was the junior short final which was very interesting. I was using a new paddle for the first time which was a mistake. It was the same as my old one just shorter so I thought it would be all right.
I wasn’t placing the blade in the water at the right angle so I didn’t turn when I wanted to. I was getting used to it by the end of the heat but I still wasn’t comfortable with it. I had to wait for the sets to come through to get any good rides and then sometimes they got dumpy so it was hard to find a good one, though I was able to practice my exit moves!
Next was the Junior long final. It was getting bigger by then as the tide went out and it was a struggle to get out back. When the sets came through I found it a bit too dumpy so I stayed inside and caught several smaller ones.
We finished at about 12:30 and had lunch and then we had the prize giving. I came second in the Junior Long, third in the Junior Short and as expected fourth out of four in the Men’s Long.
Then we set off home and thankfully it didn’t really rain which made the trip nicer. JTG
So after Pringles gold medal in Kayak Freestyle Worlds 2011 in Plattling it´s hard for me to come up with some great news…
Beeing more a creek boater I made my way from the Teva Mountain Games in Vail (Colorado) to the Teva Extreme Outdoor Games in Ivrea (Italy) and then to Plattling.
Working for the organizing team during the day I tried to get in some practice rides late in the evening or at night.
Though Prelims didn´t go very well for me I made the cut to quarterfinals placing 18th. In the Quarterfinals I had three good rides and improved my ranking to the 9th place, so I made the top ten and went into Semifinals the next morning.
After I started playboating only two years ago I am more than happy to end up on the 10th place in the world of freestyle kayaking!
Congratulations to Palms Katya Kulkova placing 7th and James “Pringle” Bebbington for his awesome 1st place becoming Kayak Freestyle World Champion 2011!
All pics by Michael Neumann and Johannes Schmidt – thanks!
We’ve just got back from the Tryweryn Festival in North Wales. For now here are a few shots from the now legendary Palm 8-Ball Competition (boaterX, but with inflatable obstacles!)
Massive thanks to Bleddyn and all the guys at NWWC, and to all the coaches (especially Andy Turton and Lowri Davies) for working so hard over the weekend to make the festival a success.
It’s definetely one for the diary, we’ll let you know when next years’ dates are decided.
Making the right kit choices can massively increase the enjoyment and success of you or your groups days out. Barney will be guiding from inside out so you understand how to get the most from your paddling gear and how to choose the right stuff.
