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SK
Newsletter - May 2, 2007
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Features
Speaking
Up
by
Christopher Cunningham
In our April SK Newsletter I raised the
issue of approaching ostensibly novice paddlers when it appears they
aren’t adequately equipped or skilled for the paddling they’re
doing. I recently had occasion to talk to two such kayakers.
I was at Bowman Bay, just outside of Deception
Pass, the fastest moving tidal waters in Puget Sound. A friend of mine
had launched a new sail boat there and we were taking it on its maiden
voyage in the protected waters of the bay. A man in a whitewater kayak
flagged us down so we killed the motor and drifted up to him. His kayak
was old and had a lot of duct tape on it; his PFD was new and still had
a cardboard hang tag wrapped around one shoulder strap. His name was
Chris. He said his friend Vince, Vince’s daughter and his
own daughter were in another kayak and had paddled out to Deception Island.
Vince had intended to make a short trip out to the island and back but
they were 30 or 40 minutes overdue.
Cold-Water
Boating Brochure
Chuck Sutherland, an advocate for kayaking
safety, has developed a brochure to help spread the word about the risks
of boating in cold water. It could be a very useful tool to educate novice
kayakers. If time and circumstances don’t lend themselves to having
a conversation with poorly equipped paddlers, offering this brochure
may be the best way to get some good information in their hands. The
National Safe Boating Council has contributed to this project by funding
the printing of the brochure, but to make it available to everyone, Chuck
has authorized us to make a PDF file of the brochure available to you.
You are invited to download the PDF from the link on this page,
print copies and hand them out to the people who could benefit from them.
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Q&A
Paddle
Design
We
thought it would be enlightening to have the designers and manufacturers
in the kayak industry provide us some insight into the products they make.
In the reviews we publish in the magazine we usually look at the finished
products, whether they’re kayaks, paddles, PFDs or some other element
of our kayaking kit. Here we’ll look at the ideas and philosophies
that begin the process of creating a product. We’ll start by taking
a look at some of the thinking that goes into paddles.
We composed a list of questions on paddle design and sent that list to all
of the paddle manufacturers we could find. We heard back from seven of
them in time to be included with this first installment. In subsequent
newsletters we’ll be presenting more of the answers we received.
We’ll also be alternating between this discussion about paddles with
similar types of questions and answers about kayaks, PFDs and other gear.
Is a lightweight carbon paddle a worthwhile investment for a beginner?
Is dihedral (the angle between the sides of the blade) an important
aspect in the design of a paddle? Does the type of paddling determine how
much dihedral one should have? Does dihedral effect sculling/draw/sweep
strokes?
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Sea
Kayaker Store and More
NEW
BOOK
"Sea
Kayaking Rough Waters" by Alex Matthews
Whether
your interest is in paddling in more challenging conditions,
or in learning new skills and concepts that will boost your confidence
for sheltered paddling, Sea Kayaking Rough Waters will
take you there. With stunning photography, fun illustrations,
and a gold mine of knowledge passed on by expert sea kayaker,
Alex Matthews, Sea Kayaking Rough Waters is a must-have
for all sea kayakers.
Click here
to order.
 A
companion read for those interested in paddling in the rough
waters of the North Atlantic, check out the bookAround
the Rock by Ken Campbell.
During a 1700 mile circumnavigation
of Newfoundland the author encounters icebergs, whales, pristine
wilderness and grueling open-water crossings.
Click
here to order.
Stop
By and Say Hello!
Sea
Kayaker magazine will
be attending the following show:
Adirondack
Paddlefest
May
18-20, 2007
Sweepstakes:
Enter to win a Feathercraft K-1 Expedition!
For show
contact information and to see a complete calendar of events
Click
here.
Congratulations
to Shawn Payment of St. Johns Island, SC!
Winner of the Epic Mid Wing Paddle drawing at the
East
Coast Canoe and Kayak Festival,
April 22nd in Charleston, SC
Online
Sweepstakes!
Tick, tick, tick. Time
is running out- the contest ends May 24th at 11:59pm. Have
you entered the P&H Quest LV Kayak Sweepstakes yet? If not, tick,
tick, tick... (Remember, only one entry per person/email address.)
Click
here for more info and to enter.
Sea
Kayaker Magazine
Published
bimonthly, be informed- read product reviews, techniques, safety articles,
destinations, and more!
Clubs
Listing
Kick
off the paddling season and check out the Sea Kayaker magazine
web site for kayak clubs. We list clubs from around the world.
Our featured region this month is the Northeast, United States.
Click
here.
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From
the Advertising Manager
North Atlantic Paddling
Resources
by
Paul Riek
This
issue of the SK Newsletter we’re taking a look at the North Atlantic,
a region in our Resource Section and our web-page advertising links.
It’s a very big area stretching from
New York City, the heart of the business
world, to Halifax, the heart of the Canadian
Maritimes.
Having
grown up in western New York, I know from experience there is nothing
better than that first day in spring when you can feel that winter
has released the land from its icy grip.
Click
here for more information.
Sea
Kayaker Magazine, Independently owned and operated since 1984
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Copyright 2007 Sea Kayaker Magazine - All Rights Reserved | |
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