Werner Blog

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.

Werner TEAM Paddler Kelsey Thompson: Reporting From Colorado

Join us in welcoming Kelsey Thompson to the Werner Paddles team.  We will feature Kelsey's blog, Atlantic Kayaker, on our Whitewater News and Events section, so log in often and check out where he has been travelling, paddling and representing Werner Paddles.  This weeks entry, Kelsey blogs on the whitewater competition in Lyons CO.

Guide Training With Discovery Sea Kayaks

 

Got this great picture from our friends at Discovery Sea Kayaks, read on...

We packed our gear and loaded up to get on the water to practice doing rescues of tandem kayaks.  New guides with Discovery Sea Kayaks are always given the best equipment and we choose Werner Paddles for not just our guides but our clients as well.  In the image you can see two of my new guides, one is hard at work getting us loaded back in our kayak.  Practice builds confidence, so we get on the water as much as we can to work on our skills.  Having the right equipment goes along way in improving skill sets.

Discovery Sea Kayaks says thanks to Werner Paddles for building reliable  kayak paddles.

Surfing Magazine's International Surfing Day

Just got a note from Bill Kyte,Chairman of the Central Florida Surfrider Foundation about this upcoming event...

It's that time of year again. After much preparation and research, the Central Florida Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation is hosting Surfing Magazine's International Surfing Day, at Dinky Dock Park in Winter Park, June 20th from 10am-5pm. We will be celebrating, simultaneously, with over 60 places around the world, the summer solstice and the love of surfing. Travel Country of Altamonte Springs will be providing Stand up paddle boards and instructors for an all day surf clinic. We will have food and music, but please feel free to bring coolers and dishes for a pot luck.

We're expecting good weather, so bring friends and family to enjoy surfing and swimming in one of Central Florida's finest lakes. Check out the City of Winter Parks link to Dinky Dock, at Ollie Rd and Fairbanks Ave, just East of Rollins College.

Afterwards, we will go to Wekiwa Island, formerly Wekiwa Marina for more food and music by Maggie Mellville and the Illegal Beats.

Feel free to call or email with questions or concerns. Hope to see everyone there.

Sea Dogs Are Loose In The Adirondacks

Jim Gold, operating the camera and out of the photo, Alan Mapes, Julie Elson and Bill Smollin
(pictured left to right) are the Sea Dogs! 

This band of mid week paddlers explore the north country as members of the Adirondack Paddle Pirates.  The goal of the club, as read from their mission statement, is to encourage and support recreational paddling opportunities within and outside the New York State Adirondack region, as well as to network members, plan trips, highlight launch sites, and emphasize safety.  In these photos the Sea Dogs are following their mission on Kaydeross Creek in Saratoga, NY.  Check out the trip report Sea Dog Alan Mapes did on the Mother Bunch Islands of Lake George.  These two trips are just a small taste of the wonders of the Adirondack regions paddling.  Thanks for sharing with us Sea Dogs and thanks for all of your support of Werner Paddles, we certainly appreciate it.

Appomattox River Company Super Demo Day

 

Come out and join Werner Paddles at the Appomattox River Company Demo Day! Appomattox River Company will be having a “Super Demo Day” on June 13th, 2009 at Wilck’s Lake Park in Farmville, VA.  The event will be at the lake from 9:30am until 4:00pm, with boat and accessory specials all day back at the “Barn”.  There will be boats, boards and accessories to try from all your favorite brands, including Werner Paddles.  In addition to all the boat demo there will be fishing demonstrations and talks by the regions most knowledgeable kayak fishermen.  In addition to the demo there will be a fishing tournament on Sunday June 14th.  Here is the run down:

10am Kayak Fishing 101 with Wayne Bradby
Wayne will discuss the basics for getting started in kayak fishing, topics that will be covered include - boat selection, paddle selection, safety items, depth sounders, anchor trolleys, boat rigging, gear stowage, etc...

11am Kayak Fly-fishing for inshore species with Cory Routh, Werner Paddles very own athlete!
Cory is the Author of "Kayak Fishing the Complete Guide" and will give an on water presentation using the Native Ultimate as a platform for Fly-fishing; he'll discuss casting, presentation, equipment, maneuvering strokes, safety, etc...

12 noon River Fishing for Smallmouth Bass with Jeff Little
Jeff is the Author of "In Pursuit of Trophy Smallmouth Bass, my life in a Kayak" and a member of the Wilderness Systems fishing team, during this presentation he'll share some strategies and techniques for Smallmouth Bass fishing success.

1pm Fishing Lakes, Ponds Reservoirs for Largemouth Bass with Chad Hoover
Chad is also a member of the Wilderness Systems fishing team and will show benefits of "stand up" Kayak Fishing - sight casting, reading water, lure presentation along with rigging suggestions for Bass fishing flat-water.

2pm Maneuvering Tricks for Kayak Anglers with "Kayak Kevin" Whitley
"Kayak Kevin" is the first Kayak Angler to earn the Virginia "Master Angler" award and will explain some of the maneuvering techniques necessary to position a kayak for lure presentation landing big fish. He'll also discuss the VA fish tagging program which he is very active in, along with the thrill of hooking into trophy fish from a Kayak.

3pm Captains meeting for "Farmville Lakes Demo Day Tournament"
Meet at the Demo Site to get identifier, log sheet, and discuss tournament rules.

6am Sunday June 14 - Captains Meeting at Briery Creek Lake with Vic for late arrivals.

6am Sunday June 14 - Captains Meeting at Sandy River Reservoir with Ray for late arrivals.

For details call Vic at Appomattox (757) 890-0500
See you there!

Kittery Trading Post Hosts Kayak and SUP Demo

Check out The Kittery Trading Posts annual on water kayak and stand up paddle demo day this Saturday the 13th in South Berwick Maine.  While in the area it is a short drive to York Maine take a walk on the beach, grab a lobster roll and check out one of Maine's most visited sites and the Nation's most photographed light house, Nubbel Light.  Enjoy your Maine weekend and Kittery's great event. Plenty of great boats to try come on out.