PaddleXaminer is a veteran owned publication based in Los Angeles, California. We provide stories, gear reviews, and news for adventurers on and off the water.
© PaddleXaminer 2023 – All Rights Reserved
2020 has been an unpredictable year full of surprises, most notably the COVID-19 pandemic which brought much of the paddling world to a standstill in one way or another. Two things have proliferated like wildfire in the paddling world thus far: podcasts and virtual races. Both have a low barrier to entry and allow all participants to, well, participate, as a socially responsible distance at the place and time of their choosing. Chances are, if you were planning to attend a paddling event this summer, it has almost certainly gone virtual. Some event organizers are even going the extra step to send out SWAG to participants!
New Boats Have Arrived
Our friends at Nelo USA – West Coast received a container (or two?) of surfskis, kayaks, and other watercraft in mid-June. If you placed an order with them it has likely arrived. Word is their stock is limited so act quickly if you’re in the market to buy and have not already pre-ordered a boat. From the looks of things on social media there is a full spectrum of colors in the new range!
Vaikobi – Michael Booth Collaboration
Our favorite Australian paddling apparel company Vaikobi has partnered with Michael Booth to develop a signature range of Booth apparel. From jackets and paddling tops to pants and hats, there is a little bit of everything in the range. Vaikobi’s gear is second to none and Booth is a heck of an athlete, so it sounds like a fantastic match. You can check out the range here.
Group Paddles are Popping Up
With most formal paddling events cancelled for the foreseeable future, non-event group paddles are popping up along the coast throughout Southern California. Ocean paddling has a way of naturally allowing for social distancing and it is always fun to workout in a group setting. The next group paddle is this weekend in Marina del Rey – read all about it here!
Whitewater Paddling in Colorado
Vail hosted a limited run of their popular summer whitewater paddling series in June. Entrants were limited at each event, but our CFO and resident whitewater SUP paddler managed to snag a slot. Curious? Here’s a quick recap.
ICYMI: Gear Reviews are Still Flowing
Despite the frequent closures and cancellations, PaddleXaminer has managed to produce a few new gear reviews this spring and has more on tap for the coming months. Here’s a quick look at a couple of our favorites:
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Vaikobi VXP Race PFD: Packed full of fantastic features to enhance performance and elevate the style of safety gear, the Vaikobi VXP is well positioned to have a long-lasting impact on the paddling industry. As a former Naval Aircrewman and long time paddler I’ve worn my fair share of safety gear. The new Vaikobi VXP is far and away the most comfortable life vest I’ve laid hands on. Imagine a combination of the comfort of your favorite t-shirt and the performance and style of the latest hi-tech gear designed by NASA. This PFD looks sharp!
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Ferg Sunglasses from Costa: PaddleXaminer tested the Ferg with Sunrise Silver lens for a morning paddle on the Upper Colorado back in April. I noticed right away how the hydrolite grips the side of my head when I put them on. I played with the adjustable nose pads to get the right fit and the large frame’s of the Ferg keep the light out. The Sunrise Silver lens gives everything a light yellow pop to enhance your vision.
#GroupTraining #WhitewaterPaddling #Vaikobi #NeloUSA #Reviews
During the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, California State Parks, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)), and California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) advise outdoor enthusiasts to recreate responsibly by being prepared, flexible and respectful when venturing into the outdoors. With many activities limited during the COVID-19 pandemic, outdoor public spaces have been essential to many Californians. As a result, high visitation surges are expected this desert season, including over Thanksgiving weekend.
“With most of California’s counties now in the most restrictive COVID-19 blueprint tier, it is more important than ever for everyone to continue slowing the spread of the virus by planning ahead, wearing face coverings, and practicing physical distancing, even in the outdoors,” said Director for California State Parks Armando Quintero.
“We encourage visitors to remain vigilant when recreating on public lands. As a reminder, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention continues to issue critical information about COVID-19 and how you can best protect yourself from the virus,” said California State Director for BLM Karen Mourtisen.
“A thank you to outdoor enthusiasts, as we collectively enable responsible recreation to protect the health of all Californians,” said Director for Cal OES Mike Ghilarducci.
Here are 15 tips to help reduce risk of exposure to COVID-19 in any outdoor setting and to stay safe during the upcoming desert season:
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Stay Local: Stay close to home to slow the spread of COVID-19. Do not travel if you are sick or someone in your household has had coronavirus in the last two weeks.
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Plan Ahead: The COVID-19 pandemic continues to be dynamic and fluid. Prior to leaving home, check the webpage of the local outdoor destination you plan to visit to find out if it is open, if parking is available, if camping reservations can be booked and what visitor guidelines are in effect.
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Stay Safer at 6 feet: Do your part – practice physical distancing and recreate responsibly. Be considerate of others enjoying the outdoors by giving them as much space as possible in parking lots, at trailheads and out on public lands.
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Stay Covered: The state requires you to wear a face covering when you cannot maintain physical distancing of 6 feet or more. Individuals must have a face covering with them at all times. For details, please visit covid19.ca.gov.
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Keep Clean: Be prepared. Not all restrooms are available. In some cases, restrooms will be temporarily closed to keep up with cleaning schedules. Bring soap/sanitizer and pack out all trash. Camping: If you are camping in an RV, please use the restrooms in your own unit. This will help reduce the use of the shared restrooms at campgrounds. View additional camping tips.
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Minimize Campfire Impacts: Where permitted, use established fire rings, keep fires small and burn all wood and coals to ash. Make sure to put out campfires completely. Learn about campfire permits.
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Be Prepared: With many counties having restrictions, businesses may be limited or closed. Make sure to bring plenty of water and food. Carry plenty of water when hiking to avoid dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
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Dress Appropriately: Bring layers of clothing. Wear appropriate shoes such as hiking boots and close-toed shoes.
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Have an Outdoor Plan: Leave an itinerary of your trip with a family member or friend with information such as name and age of hikers/campers, level of outdoors experience, trailhead or campsite name and location, and time of departure and expected return. This will ensure law enforcement personnel have a better understanding of your location in the event of a rescue.
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Avoid Alcohol: Operating your boat or an off-highway vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or more is against the law. Impaired operators will be stopped and can be arrested even with a lower BAC if the conditions are not safe. Your off-highway vehicle and boat can be impounded.
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Share the Road: Observe posted speed limits. Stay in your lane on blind curves and do not cut corners. Do not pass on double-yellow lines and pass only when you have a clear view of oncoming traffic and it is safe to do so. Be prepared for equestrians, pedestrians, joggers, cyclists, wildlife, rocks, tree limbs, etc., on roadways.
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Know Your Vehicle’s Limits: Have a proper vehicle for your outdoor desert activities to be able to navigate through rough roads. Make sure to fill up your vehicle’s gas tank. Depending on your location, the nearest town with amenities can be a substantial distance.
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Cell Phone Use: Cell phone coverage can be spotty or nonexistent. This is especially true for desert public outdoor spaces. Have a way to communicate if there is an emergency. Find out the location of the nearest park ranger station. Bring a hard-copy map and know your route before leaving home.
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Dispose of Waste Properly: Pack it in, pack it out. Pack out all trash, leftover food and litter. All waste, including hygiene products and toilet paper, must be carried out and disposed in trash bins at home or trash receptacles provided by the park. Read Leave No Trace website.
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Respect Wildlife and Vegetation: Wildlife and vegetation are integral parts of the ecosystem and natural community of parks. As such, they are protected by federal and state laws. Help us keep this outdoor setting natural by observing wildlife from a distance. Do not follow, approach or otherwise harass wildlife. Never feed animals; feeding wildlife damages their health, alters natural behaviors and exposes them to predators and other dangers. Do not approach or attempt to move sick or injured wildlife. Please report any encounters to park staff.
Although law enforcement entities have the authority to issue citations, the expectation is that the public is responsible for adhering to the advice of public health officials, visitor guidelines and closures.
Below are some important COVID-19 links:
Last week I loaded my SIC Bullet V2 onto the roof rack, strapped it down and backed off the driveway. Instead of jumping on the I-405 North and heading towards Malibu for a downwind run to the Santa Monica Pier, I cruised past Culver City and got on the I-10 East. That’s right, east. There has been an escalating buzz surrounding the plans to restore sections of the anemic Los Angeles River, long ago encased in a venerable straight-jacket of concrete, but as I sped past downtown Los Angeles I continued my traverse across the concrete jungle. As enticing as it may be, the Los Angeles River would have to wait until another day.
Moving along the I-10 East to San Bernardino County I met up with the I-15 North and began to follow the route taken by countless Angelenos as they made their escape to the playground of Las Vegas. As the freeway climbed into the high desert, urban civilization faded away and was replaced by a patchwork of scraggly sagebrush and low lying vegetation. Turning off the I-15 onto Nipton Rd., I bounced along in my Jeep while the two lane road skirted the northern boundary of the Mojave National Preserve. Approaching the California – Nevada border, I popped over a slight crest and saw the sign I had been anticipating – “Welcome to Nevada”.
Nipton Rd. technically ended at the border, but the highway now referred to as NV-164 continued on through the desert. The area is thick with Joshua Trees and it was difficult not to conjure up feelings of the Irish rock band U2’s famous album from the 1980s and one of my favorite tracks – Where the Streets Have No Name.
NV-164 continued eastward, crossing the I-95 at Searchlight, where it assumed the idyllic sounding title of Cottonwood Cove Rd. As I began my gradual descent to the Colorado River, I paused briefly at the entrance station to the Lake Mead National Recreation Area where the park ranger waved me through with a warm smile saying, “Go on through, I trust you,” after I explained my National Park Pass was tucked away inside a bag in the back and would need to get out and retrieve it.
9th Island paddlers unloading at the launch site.
After approximately 4.5 hours of steady driving from Los Angeles I had arrived at Area 52, a nod to the U.S. Air Force’s Area 51 where experimental aircraft are tested far from the prying eyes of humanity. More publicly known to boaters and fishermen as Lake Mohave, the broad section of the Colorado River created by the Davis Dam has been a haven for outdoor recreational activity for decades only to be recently “discovered” by Braly Joy, the former SIC Maui Brand Manager turned venture capitalist, who recognized Lake Mohave as an excellent, quite possibly world-class, downwind run through the desert.
I met up with Braly at Cottonwood Cove Marina along with a cadre of his 9th Island paddlers, consisting of Las Vegas area natives and a pair of ubiquitous Hawaiian transplants. The later almost as essential as hydration when paddling in these parts. A steady southeast wind had coated Lake Mohave’s surface with whitecaps that afternoon. The seven of us loaded our boards onto a truck – six paddlers and our “shuttle” driver, snowboarding pioneer Shawn Farmer.
As we bounced along the gravel road heading south to the drop off point our crew began swapping stories and discussing exploits – past, present and future. We were an eclectic bunch, no two backgrounds the same, linked by the passion of paddling.
The wind was pumping steadily as we launched into the warm fresh water and made our way a to a rocky point a few hundred yards up wind before tacking out to the center of the lake to begin our downwind run. The view alone from the middle of Lake Mohave is spectacular. Ringed by a blend of jagged pinnacles and rolling desert plains, Nevada on the western shore and Arizona on the east. The wind propelled us towards the high canyon-like narrows north of Cottonwood Cove. The air temperature was in the mid-80s and the water felt warm – a stark comparison to the chilly Pacific off Southern California.
Ready and waiting.
Our group quickly splintered as we each found our own line. Some opted for an inside track along the Nevada shoreline. Others continually pushed towards the rough water in the middle where we paused every so often to regroup and discuss techniques for how to catch the best glide. My choice of the SIC Bullet V2 did not disappoint – the board was tailor-made for the choppy conditions that afternoon. As I caught my first runner I instantly heard the familiar rapid crackling sound created by the Bullet gliding over the rough water’s surface. Euphoric melodies filled my head and I was lost in the moment as the warm desert air rushed by.
Our run concluded back at the Cottonwood Beach Marina where Shawn had parked the truck with our gear in advance of our return. We tucked away our boards back inside their bags and gathered around the tailgate sipping cold beer, sharing snacks and stories. Just a bunch of ordinary guys. Nothing here, but the genuine vibe.
#BulletV2 #Area52 #LakeMeadNationalRecreationArea #Nevada #cottonwoodcovemarina #LakeMohave #9thIsland #QuickbladePaddles #SICMaui
Standup paddleboards have different shapes. It sounds simple and straightforward. A board’s shape give it its defining characteristics. The shape dictates how the board will perform and how it should be ridden to maximize the attributes built into the board by its shaper. When speaking of a board, shape = identity.
It is common for a manufacturer to list a SUP’s dimensions: length, width, thickness, and volume. Dimensions, however, are not a board’s shape. I could create a board with minimal effort that met a predetermined set of dimensions. Achieving a desired volume might be a little tricky without some arithmetic and knowledge of the material I was working with, but it could be done. Does that make me a shaper? Not even close.
Shaping is an art and listing the dimensions is only the beginning. They are a mere description of the size of the package. A quantitative metric that belies the qualitative attributes packed inside. Relying solely on a SUP’s dimensions as a measure of quality and performance is no more relevant than it would be to describe your favorite cake by saying it is 12” long, 7” wide, 4” thick and weighs 3 lbs. That’s great, but what’s it made of and who is the baker?
What went into designing your board and who is it’s shaper?
Who shaped your board? If you don’t know, well…
Dave Boehne, shaper of the Infinity SUP New Deal, provided an overview of the New Deal’s shape in Infinity SUP’s product release video on Vimeo. One word you’ll hear him repeat throughout the video is the word “performance”. I met up with Boehne earlier this spring for my first look at the New Deal after attending an event in Dana Point. “Look how heavy it is,” said Boehne with a smile as he removed the sharp looking surf SUP from a vertical rack and placed it on a display stand. “Wow!” I exclaimed. “That’s impressive!”
The New Deal is extraordinarily light. Carrying this board across the beach to the water’s edge is no longer a dreaded task. You arrived late and didn’t get the best parking spot? No worries. The Infinity SUP New Deal is a head turner. Custom or production, it does not matter. Easily recognizable by it’s distinctive longboard shape and unique three stripe insignia, there’s a good chance that someone is going to halt your forward momentum towards the beach and inquire about the board.
The New Deal’s carry handle, like the board itself, was designed by Boehne. Made of carbon to afford maximum strength and durability while not adding unwanted weight, the handle is elegantly recessed into the center of the deck. It isn’t the deepest or biggest handle on the market, but it doesn’t need to be. It has enough room to curl your fingers and firmly grab ahold. Sometimes good things come in small packages.
The shape of the New Deal is meticulously refined. This is particularly true of the production models. Boehne told me he went through numerous samples before affirming the quality worthy of the Infinity name. “My goal was to have a production model good enough for me to compete on,” he told me. “And I’d be comfortable competing on this board,” he said as he placed his hand on the sample laid out before us.
The longboard revolution
True to its longboard heritage, the Infinity SUP New Deal has a round nose and low rocker profile designed for long glides, and should you be up for it, riding the nose. For me, the later is one of the quintessential images of surfing culture. Sure, aerial maneuvers on a short board are fun to see, but they fall short when it comes to evoking the intense feeling of excitement which comes from riding a wave.
The rails on the Infinity SUP New Deal are thin and foiled to carve. Layers of carbon line the rails giving the New Deal’s edges stiffness and durability. I recently picked up a production model. So far I’ve only had the chance to get out on the crappy beach break in Hermosa Beach. Even so, the board’s performance and potential shined through amide the choppy waves.
The tail has a nice amount of kick and tapers near the tip with the incorporation of slight wings before finishing with a round tail. The slight wings help facilitate a clean release and are one of the New Deal’s unique features. Departing from the traditional longboard single fin configuration, the New Deal is shaped to be ridden with a progressive thruster set up and the production models come equipped with an excellent set of fins. Each fin is emblazoned with the Infinity logo and a bright orange horizontal stripe. A nice accent which denotes Infinity’s seal of approval.
The deck pad transitions from small dimples to squared grooves. Grippy throughout.
The same level of attention to detail was given to the deck pad of the New Deal as the rest of the board. Afterall, you don’t want to detract from an otherwise great shape by giving it bad upholstery. Top of the line, super premium, heat embossed closed cell foam is laid out across the primary standing area of the deck. The thin layer of closed cell foam is specially designed to minimize weight by shedding, rather than absorbing, water. Moving back towards the tail you’ll find a section of slightly thicker, grippier square textured foam and an arch bar to help guide your feet along the board’s center line. The rear of the deck pad contains a raised kick pad with the Infinity SUP logo stenciled on the side.
Equipped with Infinity SUP’s proprietary SUP Suspension technology, the New Deal’s unique carbon construction is intricately designed to promote flex in designated sections and stiffness in others. Just like inside your favorite cake, that’s where the magic truly lies.
This board has a personality of its own. It is alive and begs to be ridden.
Erika Benitez is not your typical American teenager. Yes, she goes to school like the rest of the kids her age, but that is where the similarities end. Instead of chasing boys at the mall, 14-year-old Erika is chasing them down on the water. More often than not, she wins. As the popularity of stand up paddling continues to grow, more and more young paddlers are gravitating towards the sport. This is particularly true in Southern California where a hip surfing vibe permeates the SUP community, regardless of whether or not participants themselves actually surf. Erika first tried stand up paddling in 2009 in flat water conditions at Alamitos Bay in Long Beach. According to her father, Erika began to get serious about her training regimen the next year.
Photo, Erik Benz
Committing oneself to a training schedule can be tough. Most of us have a range of responsibilities from work to family, along with a mix of additional obligations which altogether make it challenging to carve out the time to get on the water multiple times in a week and engage in something that vaguely resembles a training regimen. The daughter of a commercial diver and nursing assistant, Erika and her parents have dedicated themselves to a schedule which enables her to train four times a week at The Paddle Academy in Dana Point – an approximately 74 mile round trip journey from the family’s home in Stanton. “It feels like driving to Las Vegas twice a week, but its all worth it,” her father told me. “She is so happy when she is training and I’m so stoked to see her improving and getting stronger. I believe my passion and her passion for SUP creates the right balance.”
Each trip lasts around four hours when you factor the length of time necessary to drive there, train and return home. Erika typically does her homework and reads during the journey. An excellent student, her favorite subjects are Science and English and she is currently enrolled in advance placement courses in Math, English and Spanish. Erika possesses unmistakable natural talent and she focuses the same level of dedication and effort to her academic studies as she does SUP. Passionate about helping others and intrigued by anatomy, Erika would like to one day pursue a career as a physical therapist.
I first met Erika during a visit to The Paddle Academy earlier this year after having previously heard about her accomplishments from a mutual acquaintance. Her smiling, buoyant enthusiasm and humble demeanor was readily apparent. “Erika’s life is totally different from what it used to be. Before The Paddle Academy, we would train in Long Beach twice a week, but when she started training with The Paddle Academy, Erika’s perspective on paddling changed, she found an extension of her family,” her father told me.
Stand up paddling has opened a number of avenues for Erika to make new friendships and connect with the ocean. “Erika loves training and spending time with her friends at The Paddle Academy,” he said.
Erika has been a fixture on the Southern California Winter Series this season (a collection of events organized by local outrigger canoe clubs running from October through March), often times competing in both the grom and open class races. A cursory glance at her results on the race management site Paddle Guru indicates she is no stranger to the podium, although you would never know it from the consummate professionalism she displays both on and off the water. Indeed, if one were to draw a comparison between Erika and a top professional athlete from a whole person perspective, the most plausible individual would likely be Danny Ching.
Photo, Erik Benz
In a winning streak last fall which her father calls the Trifecta, Erika dominated her competitors by winning first place overall in the Junior 5 mile race and 1.5 mile sprint at the Sunday Sunday Sunday event in San Diego. The next weekend she competed in the Battle of the Paddle-California where she took first place in the kids race and finished second during the four mile open race in the 14 and under division [and was the fifth female paddler to cross the finish line]. Erika then delivered an encore performance with a first place victory the third weekend at the Urban Surf 4 Kids Paddlefest in San Diego. “I couldn’t believe all she accomplished in those two weeks…and that’s why I call it the Trifecta,” said her father.
While her efforts on the water have met with numerous success stories, Erika’s favorite events are the Race Lake of the Sky where the crystal clear water and mountain scenery captivated her spirit and the Los Angeles Waterkeeper’s Stand Up for Clean Water event at Paradise Cove in Malibu. “It was a beautiful beach and location. It was a very organized event with live music and amazing food,” commented her father.
Erika’s SUP racing continues to take her to new and exciting locations, however, her favorite place to paddle remains the Naples area of Long Beach where she took her first strokes on a paddleboard at age nine. Even so, she longs to one day paddle in Hawaii, “she’s been dreaming about it for the last two years,” her father told me.
Whatever the future may hold for Erika, her ascent as one of the world’s top young paddlers and strong academic performance suggests she will likely find success at whatever endeavour she sets her heart on.
#Dispatch #ErikaBenitez #ThePaddleAcademy #AthleteStories #StandUpforCleanWater #LosAngelesWaterkeeper #BattleofthePaddle
Photo: Jakob Owens – Unsplash
We put a lot of pressure on our feet every day, from walking around on the pavement to exercising or standing in an office. It will come at no surprise that nearly everyone around you has suffered from some sort of foot issue in the past. According to Foot.com, 75% of Americans experience foot problems at least once. If this is currently you, we’re here to help get you back on your feet in no time!
Most Common Foot Problems
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Plantar Fasciitis
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Bunions
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Heel Spurs
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Corns
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Blisters
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Injury
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Neuropathy
Best Shoes for Plantar Fasciitis
A very common foot injury, Plantar Fasciitis is painful and can affect your ability to walk normally. It is caused by the inflammation of the plantar fascia, a thick web on the bottom of the foot that connects your heel to your toes. When the inflammation happens, people often feel heel pain or pain across the entire sole of the foot. Usually this inflammation is a result of overuse or wearing improper footwear. To help restore your feet to normal, you should invest in quality shoes designed for plantar fasciitis. For example, men’s and women’s supportive sneakers will help ease the pain by distributing weight evenly across your foot and providing proper arch support.
Best Shoes for Bunions
Another type of inflammation, bunions are caused by swelling around the big toe joint and usually arise because of pressure put on that sensitive area. While bunions can be genetic, they can also be caused or exacerbated by improper footwear. If you are prone to bunions or already have them, trade all your pointy-toed shoes for shoes with a square toe box that allows room for your bunions to breathe. Make sure the shoes are made of a flexible material, like canvas or leather that will stretch with your foot, rather than squeezing it.
Best Shoes for Heel Spurs
A heel spur is caused by a calcium deposit that forms over many months underneath the heel bone. It can be painful to walk on and often requires treatment, from cortisone shots to custom orthotics. Without a doubt, you should switch out your shoes for ones that are more supportive if you are suffering from a heel spur. The best shoes will have great midsole support without a heel. Running shoes with orthotic level insoles are ideal.
Best Shoes for Swelling
Everyone gets swollen feet after a long day of standing or walking; it’s why we suggest trying on new shoes at the end of the day, rather than the beginning. However, if you find your feet swell all the time and it’s really uncomfortable for you, some changes to your footwear can help. Swelling is caused by a buildup of fluid and is often made worse by heat and having a high-salt diet. To decrease swelling, make sure your shoes are not tight and have great ventilation. Sandals are great in the summer. Otherwise, choose women’s or men’s comfortable sneakers made of lightweight canvas that are breathable and can be adjusted to be looser. Avoid heels as this will concentrate the pressure on one area of the foot.
When paddling rivers you want to protect your feet from the rocks, sticks, and other debris in and around the river; the Adidas Parley Boat Shoes fits the bill. The Adidas Parley is designed to be in the water with its light-weight breathable fabric which feels cool and it weighs a mere 7.6 oz. The bottom of the shoe has 12 drains with wire mesh covering to allow the water to drain while at the same time keep small pebbles and debris out. The soles of the shoes incorporate Traxion, a non-marking sole construction. The name Parley actually comes from Parley Ocean Plastic™ which is made from recycled waste intercepted from beaches and coastal areas before it reaches the ocean.
Paddlexaminer tested the Adidas Parley on the Yampa River in Steamboat Springs, Colorado this spring. The solid traction on the sole of the shoe is perfect for paddleboarding. At the launching spot I had to put my feet in the water; when I stepped on my board the water completely drained from the shoes. There was no soggy shoe feeling when wearing the shoes. The knit fabric breathes well. When I fell in at C-hole on the Yampa my feet dinged a couple rocks on the river bottom but the Parlay shoes easily protected my feet with their solid construction.
Adidas Parley – at home on the rocks!
Overall the Adidas Parlay is the perfect shoe to paddle in because it protects your feet, performs well in the water, and looks stylish enough to wear around town after getting off the water.
The Adidas Parley are available in three colors:
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Core Black
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Carbon
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Chalk White
The are offered for both men and women sizes retailing for $72.
Julbo traces its heritage back to 1888 in the heart of the French eyewear industry. Throughout the decades, Julbo has focused on innovation in its quest to continually design high quality sun protection eyewear. Each pair of Julbo sunglasses embodies the spirit of adventure and provides customers with the ability to freely roam and see the world.
Julbo Paddle
PaddleXaminer tested the Julbo Paddle Sunglasses while paddling on Lake Estes in Estes Park, Colorado. Anytime you paddle, shades are an essential piece of equipment to protect your eyes from the glare of the sun off the water.
The Julbo Paddle sunglasses have polarized polycarbonate lenses which are light and shock resistant. What makes these sunglasses great for watersports is the bubble frame. There are thousands of tiny bubbles built into the frame so the sunglasses float. We tested this feature and the sunglasses indeed float! The nose piece was a little too big for us so the sunglasses didn’t fit snug on the nose as we’d prefer even with the foam grip on the nose pad. The frames have an ergonomic profile which wraps around the user’s head to help keep the sunglasses’ tight around your head. The end result is the shades stay on our head, but will bounce up and down on your nose.
Features
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Foam Nose Grip
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Bubble frame – floating
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Curved temples
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Floating cord
On Lake Estes the Julbo Paddle sunglasses worked okay; the bouncing up and down on the nose was a bit annoying. The conditions didn’t help as it was quite windy that day (20+ mph) so there were some waves to manage which contributed to the rough conditions.
Color options:
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Translucent Black
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Gray Tortoiseshell
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Translucent Orange
Julbo Stream
Julbo Stream
The Stream are full coverage, semi-wrap around style sunglasses specifically designed for intense, high endurance sports. They are available in a range of seven color options and come packed full of technical features intended to help athletes maximize their output no matter what the conditions.
Technical features:
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Nose Grip: Flexible, shock-absorbing grip insert on the bridge.
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360° adjustable temples: The ends of the temples can be moved in all directions. Under a helmet, over a hat or on the head, the frames are held in place.
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Air Flow: Venting incorporated into the frame to facilitate air circulation and prevent fogging.
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Grip Tech: Exclusive soft-comfort material on the temples that doesn’t stick to hair, giving perfect grip and comfort
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Wraparound wide shape: Wraparound profile combining protection and good vision.
We tested out a pair of the Julbo Stream sunglasses paddling outrigger canoes, surfski, and SUP. Our favorite feature is the integrated venting system. The vents are etched into the frame around the lens and facilitate continuous air movement to prevent fogging. The feature works extremely well and held up throughout the intense Southern California OC-6 season last year and continues to serve us well as we dabble in other paddling pursuits.
I’ve been told sea turtles are somewhat ubiquitous in Hawaii. Here on the West Coast, however, they are not frequently encountered. You can therefore imagine my surprise when I had the good fortune to find and rescue a green sea turtle during a spontaneous excursion up the Ballona Creek in Los Angeles one evening last July. The green sea turtle, an endangered species I subsequently learned, was taken to the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California for rehabilitation.
The hook is clearly visible on the x-ray taken by the Aquarium of the Pacific.
My wife and I had visited the aquarium not long after we moved to Los Angeles back in 2008. It is an amazing facility and I’m not sure why we had not been back since our initial visit other than the fact that there are so many new things to see and do in the area. At the invitation of the Aquarium of the Pacific, we had the opportunity to spend an informative evening at the aquarium and were able to meet the head veterinarian, Dr. Lance Adams, responsible for rehabilitating and caring for a wide range of animals at the Aquarium of the Pacific from the colorful lorikeets to sharks and marine mammals, and of course turtles. We learned that based on the level of rust which had accumulated on the hook lodged in the turtle’s throat it had possibly been stuck in Ballona Creek for as long as two weeks before I found it. I say “it”, as the gender of a green sea turtle is not determined until the turtle matures, which can be anywhere between the age of 10-15 years, on average. While at the aquarium we had the opportunity to see the turtle swimming freely in a rehabilitation tank behind the scenes – the recuperating animals are not on public display – and had the chance to see some of the impressive inner workings of the aquarium.
The turtle I found was estimated to be around 5-7 years old and other than the nasty hook in its throat it appeared to be in good condition. The pattern on its shell was amazing and looked like a picture perfect example of a sea turtle shell.
Relaxing in the rehab tank.
The recovery period lasted a bit longer than the aquarium’s veterinarian team had initially anticipated due to the tissue damage caused by the hook. Fortunately, the turtle hung tough and fought through the ordeal to make a full recovery, even gaining 4-5 lbs in the process I was told! In comparison to a second green sea turtle undergoing rehabilitation during the same period, it turns out “my turtle” was not a very picky eater and enjoyed a protein rich diet of thawed shrimp and crab, among other treats a young turtle needs
Return to the Sea
I had been in contact with the aquarium since our visit and was pleased to receive an email from Marilyn Padilla, the Director of Public Relations at the Aquarium of the Pacific, announcing that the turtle was fully recovered and was scheduled to be released, along with another rescue turtle, on Tuesday, 1 November. Marilyn invited me down to watch the release and I readily accepted the invitation.
We met around mid-morning at the aquarium where I was introduced to some additional members of the veterinary team and a representative from the National Marine Fisheries Services who would oversee the release. The turtles were wheeled out in two large heavy-duty wheelbarrows with a small entourage of aquarium staff in tow. After the turtles were loaded into a large white crate on the stern of the Aquarium of the Pacific’s boat we made our way out into the main harbor and headed south towards the mouth of the San Gabriel River.
It turns out, the water near the mouth of the San Gabriel River is warmer than the surrounding area and is the home to a colony of green sea turtles. The colony is a bit of a quirk of nature as green sea turtles prefer warmer tropical to subtropical water and tend to not venture further north than Mexico. We waited for the go-ahead from the Marine Fisheries representative who was responsible for assessing the suitability of the location based on the water temperature before spinning the boat around and positioning it for the turtles’ release.
Ready to take the plunge!
The team draped what was essentially a padded exercise mat off the stern and allowed each turtle the thrill of a mini slip & slide ride into the ocean. By all appearances, both turtles felt right at home and quickly disappeared beneath the waves as they darted away from the boat with a sense of freedom and purpose.
It was an amazing feeling to have been a part of the turtle’s recovery and to have the opportunity to see it through from the perilous beginnings back in Ballona Creek to the happy ending when it was released back into the wild. We all enjoyed the boat ride back to the harbor with a sense of accomplishment at having each played a role in the rehabilitation of the animals. It was nice, and is something I’ll always remember.
For additional information about the Aquarium of the Pacific, visit: www.aquariumofpacific.org Wherever you may be, make the effort this winter to visit your local aquarium and support their work. It’s a great way to make an impact on the lives of marine wildlife and help preserve the aquatic environment we all enjoy.
See you on the water!
Photo Gallery
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