Werner Blog

Photo of the Day-SUP sunset from Binghamton, NY

 
Thanks to Tina Fetten of Binghamton, NY for today's Photo of the Day.  Want to see your pic up here?  Send it over.

Photo of the Day-meet the Photog at Zoar Outdoor's Demo Fest

 
Thanks to Werner Paddle's World Team Paddler, Tino Specht, for this unreal photo of Lorenzo Andrade Astorga at 22 Saltos, Chile.  If you heading out boating this weekend, maybe this one will insprire you to go big on your run.  Tino is an amazing paddler and young man, in you are in the north east this summer be sure to stop by Zoar Outdoor for their yearly Demofest and meet him in the Werner booth.  Along with our own Brian Good they will be teaching free classes while you demo all of our paddles and boats and gear from all top vendors.  Hope to see you there.

Want to see your picture on Werner Paddles "Photo of the Day"?  Send it over.

Lorenzo Andrade Astorga

Priceless...Kayak Angeler Features the Werner Kalliste

 
The latest editon of Kayak Angler magazine features the Werner Kalliste and it's "effortless efficiency."  Kayak fishermen know all about carbon and the benefits of having great equipment. Read all about it here.

SUP Magazine Announces the 1st Annual SUP Awards September 30, 2011

And They Need YOU to Rank The Best of the Best!

SUP Magazine is pleased to announce the First Annual SUP Awards in partnership with the Catalina SUP Festival September 30, 2011 at the historic Casino Ballroom on Catalina Island.

 
The standup industry has been crying out for a way to honor the sport's best athletes. SUP Magazine is producing the SUP Awards as the ultimate testament to paddling accomplishment. By visiting SUPAwards.com, paddlers from around the world will have the chance to decide who standup's top three athletes are and pick the "Movie of the Year", the "Top Expedition" and "Top Philanthropic Effort." Voters will also make their choice for the "Lifetime Achievement Award", given to a legend that has invigorated the sport. All voting will be done at SUPAwards.com starting July 1 and honorees will be presented at the SUP Awards show Friday, September 30, 2011.

 

Photo of the Day. Hunter and Max boofing the James in Richmond, Va.

 
Thanks Hunter for this great photo of Max Posner getting some rock with his Werner Paddle, boofing on the James River in Richmond Virgina. 

Want to see your shot on the "Photo of the Day?"  Send it over.

CKS and Werner Paddles joining forces at Paddlfest-Buena Vista CO

 
Join Werner Paddles Dan Gavere, Danny Mongno along with a slew of team paddlers like Nicole Mansfield, Nikki Gregg, Dave Fusilli and the entire team at CKS as we usher in the paddling season in Colorado at this weekend's Paddlefest 2011.  The schedule of classes, product demos and contests including the BV Pro-Am rodeo is robust to say the least and without a doubt offers something for everyone.  We hope to see you at the shop, on the water and on the local BV pub scene.

New Werner Facebook Page

For all of you that love paddling with their Werner Paddles.  We have created a new Facebook Business Page.  We are asking all of our friends to check it out and "like" us. 

Racers-Start your engines. Chicago Shoreline Marathon coming June 1st.

 

CHICAGO SHORELINE MARATHON

FIFTH ANNUAL EVENT – AUGUST 20, 2011

We invite paddlers of all abilities – from expert to novice – to participate in a unique opportunity to paddle the shoreline of Lake Michigan within the city limits of Chicago.

Sign-up for the 18-mile marathon and paddle past the magnificent skyline, the fabulous Navy Pier entertainment and exposition center and finish your race at the northern city limits where a variety of goodies will await you. Or set out at Leone Beach, our event headquarters and paddle four miles south to Montrose Beach, then turn back and see if you can beat the rest of the group. For the team spirited paddler, enter with your friends or colleagues in our four-member, three-mile each, relay event, and compete against several leading Chicago media teams.

 
 Event HISTORY

The Chicago Shoreline Marathon has its origin in 2005. A small group of experienced sea kayakers paddled from the south end of the city’s shoreline and while passing the towering downtown skyline felt that this experience should be shared with other paddlers as well. Thus, the idea of an open water race came into being. The Chicago Shoreline Marathon now is recognized as one of the leading open water paddling events around the world.

 The first CSM took place in 2007 and was a huge success that in subsequent years attracted world class competitors from as far as Australia, South Africa and Hawaii as well as many U.S. states and Canada. The quote by Dawid Mocke, from South Africa, who participated in 2009 says it best: “In the shortest and simplest way: Chicago is fantastic! The concept of racing the shoreline is brilliant. It's a long one, a marathon in its own right, but it seems to fly by as you work your way from one beach stop to the next. All too soon the race is over.” Marathon paddlers are required to stop at several beaches, both for timing and safety reasons. This allows the CSM to also offer “beach sponsorships” to companies who normally would not be able to promote their services or products on a Chicago beach.

Check out more comments, as well as race tips and detailed course descriptions from 2007 winner Erik Borgnes on our website www.chicagoshorelinemarathon.com. In the “Gallery” section there are many photos from all prior years’ events. We hope that these pictures will invite you to join us this year for our Fifth Annual Chicago Shoreline Marathon on August 20.

 

 

 

PROGAM COMPONENTS

The CSM festivities actually start on the Friday, August 19, prior to the actual race day, with clinics lead by leading paddling experts for paddlers wishing to improve their skills. The event also offers the opportunity to try out the newest kayaks, surf skis, paddles and paddleboards. For participants, there is the opportunity to check-in and drop-off/store the boats with security on site all night. Friday night will also host a pre-race dinner and a meeting that includes a marathon course review.

 

On Saturday, after the race, we will give out awards and many valuable raffle prizes donated by our generous business supporters. All participants and volunteers are also treated to a post-race party and dinner.

 

The CSM is supported by many well-known companies who have donated products and services to help defray the costs associated with the event and to recognize participants and volunteers. Please visit our website for a list of sponsors which we hope you will in turn, support as well with your business.

 

Registration for the 2011 Chicago Shoreline Marathon will open on-line on June 1, 2011 at www.chicagoshorelinemarathon.com

Werner Team paddler Kelsey Thompson sees the Ottawa River from a new perspective.

Kelsey Thompson, know primarily on Werner's blog for his role on our white water team picks up a new kind of paddle.  Read on...

Words by Kelsey Thompson-Photos by Cliff Pratt

Paddle to the Ocean

 
"While everyone in the Ottawa Valley seemed to be away at the Whitewater Grand Prix I spent the past few weeks on the Ottawa River doing something a little different. My close friend Zac Crouse just embarked on a sea kayaking trip from Beachburg, Ontario (home of the Ottawa River's whitewater section) to Halifax, Nova Scotia. He's doing the trip to promote sustainable modes of transportation and an active lifestyle. Zac approached me in the fall about the trip and was wondering if I could help him shoot a documentary about it. I jumped on board.

 
The Ottawa isn't typically known as a sea kayaking destination and both of us really like whitewater kayaking so rather than just start the trip in Ottawa we decided to spend two weeks in Beachburg so Zac could get warmed up for the trip and we could shoot some whitewater sea kayaking. It was also a great opportunity for Zac to get used to paddling the long boat in Rapids since he'd inevitably run into some on his trip.

 
With really high water this year in the Ottawa Valley our days on the river were pretty interesting. Close to the end of our two weeks together we paddled down river to Ottawa, something that I don't think many whitewater paddlers have done. It was really cool to see a different side of the Ottawa and the beautiful scenery along the way. I'm now back in BC while Zac is continuing to Saint John, New Brunswick by himself. Friends from Nova Scotia and I will join Zac there as he completes his trip. For more info on Paddle to the Ocean visit zaccrouse.com, also check out the little video I put together from our train ride to Ottawa and our first few days on the water. "

 
Thanks Kelsey and good luck Zac!

Werner Paddles fans, from Kayakasia Paddle Sports, kayaking in Thailand.

Thanks to Werner's own Shannon Davis for sharing these photos with that Huey at Kayakasia Paddle Sports sent her to the Werner Paddle's home office in Sultan, Wa. 

 
"We just came back from a 9-day paddle trip to Samui Archipelago (A10), Thailand. We had 8 Werners on the trip...Shunas, Camanos, Ikelos, Athena...

 
Consisting of over 60 islands, of which 42 of them lie deserted within the Ang Thong Marine Sanctuary. The biggest inhabited island, Koh Samui is known as a boutique island. Koh Phangan has raucous full moon parties every month. And Koh Tao is a former prisoners’ detention center now well-known for its marine life, especially whale sharks!  We saw sun setting in the west and full moon rising on the east, from our kayaks in a single hour! 

 
This eclectic mix of nature, pervasive modernity, and beach culture; with the physical demands of two open water crossing of 40km+...made for a beautiful and memorable sea kayaking adventure!"

Thanks for the photos and the words Huey.  If you are interested in a paddling trip to the islands of Thailand be sure to contact Kayakasia Paddle Sports for more information.