Werner Blog

Need a Bomber Paddle?

 
Small World Adventures and Werner paddles are giving one away on September 15^th!  The winner gets to choose which Werner Paddle they want, up to the Premium Series.

The SWA crew (Don, Larry, Darcy) has been using Werner Paddles for the past 15 years and think that they are incredible.  We put a lot of hard use on our gear—we paddle 150-180 days just in Ecuador alone, not to mention our summer paddling forays into California, Idaho, Washington and British Columbia—and Werner has held up under our abuse.

Darcy prefers the Werner Shogun paddle.  The performance core blade is super powerful for pulling on those crucial boof strokes or building speed in big, powerful water; but the paddle itself is lightweight so doesn’t feel cumbersome.

Don paddles the Sidekick.  He loves the large blades and the power they give him when he’s charging it (and that boy knows how to charge)!  Even though this is designed as a playboater’s paddle, Don finds that it performs equally well on creeks and rivers.

Larry likes the Player the best.   The mid-sized blades offer ideal performance whether Larry is surfing big waves on the Quijos River or leading a group of paddlers down one of Ecuador’s many steep creeks.  The Player is Werner’s “one-stop-shopping” paddle that does it all well.

 
 So, if you want to add the industry’s leading paddle to your list of kayaking necessities, enter our contest for your chance to win! 

To enter, visit Small World Adventures. Scroll down and click the “win” link, fill in the form, and then stay tuned to find out if you’ve won.

 Good luck!

New England white water report with Regional Team Paddler, Ryan Mooney.

 
Thanks to Werner Paddles Regional Team Paddler, Ryan Mooney, from Massachusetts, for this New England white water report.

 
"Back from training at the US National Ski Center it is great to be back home and paddling locally as much as I can. Due to the lack of water I've been working on some new mountain bike trails, working to save up some money and paddling at some local play/creek spots that run with no water. The weekends mean paddling the Dryway section of the Deerfield River a local Class III-IV run. With the Dryway shut off this week a paddling buddy Dominic and I have beentrying to be creative in spots to huck.  This is an old 20 foot dam within just 10 minutes of my house that is some good fun.
 

Then there is this natural slide, slot thing that requires minimum flow out of the dam. Its very cool because you can either just float right down it and be fine or you can charge it and do some cool wall rides. I dont have any pictures of a good wall ride but some are coming! 

All of these pictures are at about 700 cfs but we have gone back and run it at 1200 cfs and it is so much more fun! I cant wait until it rains and I can go run it in a creek boat at 4-5k cfs!

Next weekend is Deerfield River Festival and everyone is getting super excited for that! The Dryway releases Friday, Saturday and Sunday with a big festival Saturday night. I am very much looking forward to these three days on the river. Its going to be a lot of fun!"  Thanks for the report Ryan.  If you are in the Western Mass area, or a North East Boater looking for a great time, go and check out the Deerfield Fest and support American White Water and the local shop Zoar Outdoor.  There is some great boating, music and of course great people like Ryan. 

 

Until next time,

Good lines, 

Ryan Mooney

Photo of the Day-"Give a kid a paddle and sit back and smile."

 
 
Blake Thompson, care of his Dad and owner of Down Wind Sports on the UP of Michigan, was out on Lake Huron all weekend long, on all sorts of paddling craft.  Want to see your pic on the Photo of the Day?  Send it over.

Photo of the Day-Scott Martin catching the Black River

 
Thanks to Scott Martin for sharing this photo of the Black River race in Water Town, NY.  Werner ambassador Justin Mcgiver going for the "Old School" look with the original bent shaft and old blue Player blade.  (That helmet isn't cutting edge either!)  Thanks Scott, keep them coming.  Want to see your pic on the Photo of the Day?  Send it over.

Undercurrents SUP Race Series

Undercurrents in Calgary are hosting an exciting fun-based SUP race series this summer. SASSS: The Southern Alberta Summer SUP Series!

The first race is on July 24th! The first race is actually two races. There will be a 7 km challenge race and a 3 km novice race - something for everybody!

Entry is only $20, if you pre-register a week or more, you'll get a FREE race T-shirt! The race entry includes the chance for great draw prizes,tonnes of fun and an invitation to our wrap-up barbeque. Winners get bragging rights!

Wrap-up barbeque? That's right, our third race is a down river race that finishes at a private picnic area. There we'll be having a barbeque and giving away the best draw prizes!! The third race and Wrap-up barbeque is on September 11th. Not to forget the second race on August 21st. It's a sprint race with a heats format. Sort of like boarder cross, but a lot friendlier and there is no snow!

Be sure to put these dates in your calendar and come on out for all the fun!

 

Picture of the Day: Nolichucky River

Nelson Jones is a photo boater on the Nolichucky River in Tennessee for USA Raft.  The Nolichucky recently got a spike in the flow when Nelson was on a playboating run and took this picture of his friend Mark Taylor wave wheeling through Roostertail. Thanks for the Picture of the Day Nelson!

 

The SUP Awards: Vote For Your Favorites

SUP Magazine is hosting an awards program where you get to vote in five separate categories. Top Three Male Paddlers.  Top Three Female Paddlers.  Movie of the Year. Top Expedition. Top Philanthropic Effort.

Werner is stoked to have several athletes and films represented in this list.  What an honor!

Check out Dave Boehne's video and then vote for him. Dave is a stylish surfer and animal on the race circuit.

GoPro SUP Session from InfinitySURF on Vimeo.

Werner's own Dan Gavere is on the list.  Be sure to vote for him too.  His film The Ultimate Guide to Standup Paddling is listed in Movie of the Year.

 

Nikki Gregg has already been named Standup Journals, Woman of the Year.  She deserves your vote because of her great paddling and infectious nature. Her film, Standup Paddle Fitness with Nikki Gregg also gets a nod in Movie of the Year.

 

 

Photo of the Day-another stunning sunrise from Bill at Down Wind Sports

 
Thanks to Bill Thompson of Down Wind Sports in Marquette, MI for this stunning sunrise shot.  Bill is an early morning guy and has been bagging shots like this for as long as I have known him.  If you want to see some amazing morning views over Lake Superior like this maybe you should consider the Great Lakes Sea Kayak Symposium coming up soon!  You want to see your picture on the Photo of the Day, send it over.