Werner Blog

Jason Self Posts A Trip Report: Fishing At Tillamook Bay

Jason Self is a unique paddler who is combining his love of paddling sea boats and fishing. Here is Jason's latest post about a outing under clear skies at Tillamook Bay, Oregon.  Read his post here. Check back here for more tips and trip reports from Jason as he explorers the waters of the Pacific Northwest. Thanks Jason!

Werners Dan Gavere and Nikki Gregg Featured On My Local Line Up

Check out his video of Werner's own Dan Gavere and Nikki Gregg as they talk about stand up paddling on rivers.  They have some great information about safety and gear needs for those folks who want to venture into the whitewater environment on their SUP boards. Please be aware that we recommend our Premium laminate SUP for river environments.  This would include the Carve and the Advantage.

Visit Mylocallineup.com to check it out.

 

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!

Canoeing Gets Some Long Overdue Attention

Canoeists are often overlooked in much of paddlesports media, with the lions share of attention going to whitewater, expedition sea paddling and the booming sport of stand up paddle.  But those days are coming to a close as film makers begin to focus on our single bladed brothers and sisters.

Justine Curgenven, who made sea kayaking cool with her award winning 'This is the Sea' series of sea kayaking DVD's, has been busy for the past year making a new movie about Canoeing, as in open top canoeing. Here's what Justine has to say about the movie:'THIS IS CANOEING” is a 2-disc celebration of canoeing, showcasing top single-blade paddlers in their pursuit of remote wilderness journeys or challenging white water. Multi-award winning film maker, Justine Curgenven captures the essence of canoeing in 12 short films. From open canoe slalom races to 1,000 mile birchbark expeditions, Justine provides insights into the diversity of the sport and the influential people who tell it’s story. Immerse yourself in this globe-trotting 3 hours of adventure to world class canoeing destinations in Canada, the United States, Scotland & Wales. Innovatively filmed with headcams and on-board cameras to take you to the heart of the action.'

There are plenty of familiar faces in the film including Werner supported athletes Bob Foote, Karen Knight and up and coming paddling sensation Hailey Thompson.  Even Werner's Eastern Canadian Sales Rep, Mark Scriver, makes an apperance.

Check out the trailer:

You can also see some single bladed love coming from the crew at LVM, as they showcase Eli Helbert on the Rio de Oro last week while filming for The Canoe Movie. Check out Eli's Golden Stroke...

The Canoe Movie is giving some well deserved props to canoeists as well.  Check out their trailer...

 

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.

Icebergs strike twice for the SUP crew at The Outpost of Holland

Any one remember this photo?

Well we are stoked if you do!  I can remind the rest of you, check out the February 10th 2009 post, on the Werner Paddles blog, sent in from Jim Misiewicz and the hard core SUP crew at The Outpost of Holland in Holland Michigan.  Well this was no circus stunt to drive up interest in stand up paddling, for these guys and gals SUP has become part of their souls and the ice is as much a part of their paddling as sand on your feet.  Almost a year to the day Jim sent us some more pics of their 2010 winter stand up paddling trips.

If you are in the Holland area, looking for a day trip or just a reason to get out of the house and try something new, be sure to check out the SUP pool demos The Outpost has going on all winter and spring. If this looks nuts you need to give it a try, the stability of the boards is just amazing and you are about as likely to get soaked as you are cross country skiing.  Thanks again to Jim and his paddling buddies for the post.  

 

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.