Werner Blog

Werner Paddle athletes at Freestyle Worlds. Competition starts tomorrow!

Check out our girl Adriene Levknecht and new comer Kelsey Thompson as they get ready for official competition tomorrow at the World Freesyle Championships in Thun, Switzerland.  (Photos of Adriene by Brian Jennings.)

    

We are stoked for Adriene as she is generally more comfortable racing down the steep creeks, no more evident than in her win at last year's Green Race in Asheville NC.  Good luck kid.

In his first year with Werner Paddles, Kelsey Thompson from Team Canada has had a lot to sort out, losing his best friend earlier this season in a kayaking accident.  He is taking day by day but is certainly focused and ready for this event.  Check out his blog, Atlantic Kayaker and see how his training is going and check out how huge this kid is going with his sure to be event winning Air Screws.  There are few harder workers or nicer people I have worked with this year for sure, I hope you'll join us in pulling for him to bring home the Gold. 

Nicole Mansfield, represents the female's perspective at Demshitz

We have been hearing plenty lately from Demshitz, as Jared and Dave have been on the road spreading the love as they see the country and paddle it's rivers.  Today we are stoked to have our first post from the loan female on the tour, Nicole Mansfield.  A hugely talented boater she has been running the goods and throwing down at all the play spots for the past two seasons whenever the van pulls over.

On a recent trip home to Upstate NY to visit family, travelling with Dave Fusilli, Nicole found out there was alot more boating to be found than she had ever remembered.  Read along as she reports.

"Most times when I return home to visit my family in Buffalo, NY I just stash my kayaks in the backyard and figure they will sit there unused for a couple of weeks.  Because I never knew whitewater kayaking existed as a sport while I lived there, I assumed that there was no whitewater in the area other than the obvious Niagara Falls

While Western NYmay not be the next mecca of whitewater paddling, there certainly are multiple opportunities to paddle some fun stuff even at the end of August without any significant rainfall.  Below are some pictures from the whitewater adventures we found within an hour of Buffalo, NY." 

"Right outside of Rochester, NY is Lock 32 Whitewater Park in Pittsford, NY. is a small diversion from the Erie Canal, the whitewater park is impressive because it is fun and shows what can be made with just a little bit of water and not much gradient. Check out the Genesee Waterways website.  Here are some shots of the last feature on the run, clearly the best play spot."

  

 

"The interesting thing about this creek,with the next more sizable drop, is that about 50 yards before the waterfall, the entire creek flows below the Erie Canal.  Check out these pics, the Canal is actually raised up and over the creek."

Dave testing the local juice. 

Thanks for a killer report Nicole!

Follow Werner Paddle's, Kelsey Thompson as he warms up at the World's.

Kelsey Thompson has arrived in Thun, Switzerland, the site of the 2009 Freestyle Kayaking World Championships.  

Check out his report as he gets his feet grounded in Eurpoe and feels out the wave for his initial practice run.  It's a pretty great report with some awesome "touristy" photos of Switzerland as he puts it.  It's not all Clean blunts, helix’s and air screws. 

Beau Whitehead Wins Seattle Nash SUP Races

Beau Whitehead won all 4 of the Seattle Naish SUP races using the Werner Nitro.   Here is a video of the races.  You can follow Beau on his blog as he paddles around the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

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

Werner's Dan Gavere SUPing Punchbowl Falls

Werner Paddles very own, Dan Gavere is again pushing the limits of River SUPing.  He recently ran Punchbowl Falls on the West Fork of the Hood.  Check out the video.

Demshitz reports, "They love Werner Paddles in Arkansas!" Check out the video.

The Demshitz boys press on and with this installment they report from a recent trip to Ouachita Outdoor Outfitters, in Hot Springs Arkansas.

After some heavy rains check out the local hospitality the local crew of boaters and Baker Creek served up.  To the...video tape!

Thanks to the Jared, Dave and the crew, to the local boaters and of course the gang at Ouachita Outdoor Outfitters, we love all the support.

Good luck Adriene! Werner Team Paddler is off to the World Championships.

Join us in wishing Werner Paddles own, Adriene Levknecht, good luck as she heads off this week to compete in the Freestyle Kayak World Championships, in Thun Switzerland. 

We know she has the talent and passion to bring home the Gold and we are really proud of her. 

Werner Team paddler, Kelsey Thompson, talks about training for the Worlds

Check out Team paddler Kelsey Thompson reporting from his training mission at the Skookumchuck wave in BC Canada.  Kelsey, in his first year paddling for Werner, made the Canadian freestyle Team and has been training to throw down in Thun, Switzerland with all the best names in freestyle kayaking at this month's World  Rodeo Championships.  Good luck Kelsey, bring home the Gold!

SUP at the Wedge

Check out this video.  These guys are paddling into some impressive waves at the Wedge. The Wedge is a world-famous bodyboarding, surfing and bodysurfing spot located at the extreme south end of the Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach, California. During a south swell of a particular size and direction, the Wedge can produce huge waves as spectacular and intimidating as any in Hawaii, Tahiti, or Australia.