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One of the most common mistakes made by paddlers choosing a new surfski or standup paddleboard is purchasing a craft that is too unstable. Sleek and narrow paddle craft can be fast, but only if you are stable when paddling. There is a popular myth running throughout the paddling community that you can “learn” or “grow into” a less stable surfski or standup paddleboard if you just commit to trying. In reality, you will quickly become discouraged and find you are either constantly falling, constantly bracing, or both. Either way you are not paddling, which, if you recall, is what you set out to do.

Wider paddle craft tend to be more stable. As the title of this article states, stability drives ability. If you are not stable, you will not be able to paddle. And that whole speed thing. Guess what! You will be 100 times faster on a more stable craft that you can comfortably paddle than you will be on a less stable craft that causes you to struggle.

When choosing a stable craft, don’t overlook the types of conditions you plan on paddling in. You may be able to paddle an elite surfski or 24 inch wide standup paddleboard in glassy flat water conditions. But if you intend to paddle in the ocean where wind and waves are constantly in flux, I recommend you go with a more stable option. Having a stable craft will enable you to focus on learning to paddle and progressively master more challenging conditions. With a stable craft you can be out there in the heat of the action instead of sitting in on the beach discouraged.

Many surfski manufacturers do a good job of defining the skill level each of their models are designed for. At present, I’ve only spent a limited amount of time in a surfski, but I’m impressed with how Epic Kayaks categorizes their models. Epic uses a naming convention built around a number. Broadly speaking, the lower the number the more stable the surfski.

Standup paddleboards are a different industry and there are boards designed for different conditions (flat water, rough water, whitewater, etc) making efforts to define the skill level for each board in a similarly linear fashion a bit cumbersome. Nevertheless, the antidote stability drives ability still applies.

If you’re looking to get into OC-1 [outrigger canoe] paddling things are much simpler. An OC-1’s outrigger or “ama” provides stability making it possible for a beginner to paddle an elite canoe. Terms and conditions may apply!

#Balance #outriggercanoe #StandupPaddling #Surfski

Summer is here and it’s time to get outdoors and on the water! Temperatures are heating up across the American West, COVID-19 cases are receding in regions with high vaccination rates, and there is no better way to make up for the lost summer of 2020 than to start planning an adventure or two. To that end, we’ve assembled a diverse list of useful items to help you make the most of your summer.

Shelta Hats and Amphibious Technical Apparel

Simply put, Shelta Hats are the ultimate hat for performance driven sun protection on or off the water. Available in five unique styles encompassing a range of brim widths, there has been a Shelta Hat on my head for every paddling and hiking session I’ve undertaken since 2016. I frequently wear a bright orange Raptor V2 model when paddling my surfski, a desert camouflage Condor when hiking, and love my bright orange Seahawk for its all around versatility in any occasion. In 2020, Shelta added a range of amphibious technical shirts which are every bit as good as the fantastic hats from which they are descended. Available with or without a hood, the UPF 50+ shirts come in five color options and are packed full of features you will not find elsewhere.

Nomad Cooking Kit

Born in the mountainous region of Savoie, France in a region where the Alps straddle the border with Italy, the Nomad Cooking Kit from Opinel is a must-have luxury kit for discerning adventurers seeking a touch of sophistication. The entire kit of a cutting board, serrated knife, corkscrew, folding peeler, and wiping cloth takes up no more than 8” x 5” and weighs just 14 oz. The Nomad Cooking Kit will easily fit inside a backpack or drybag to accompany you wherever life’s travels may take you.

Dry See Bandages

Active adventurers often collect an assortment of nicks and cuts during the course of their time outdoors. What is often missing is a reliable method of patching yourself up and continuing with the confidence that your wound is fully covered and protected. Enter Dry See Bandages. The waterproof adhesive bandages have an integrated liquid indicating gauze which confirms the integrity of the bandage while you get back on the water and continue on your way. The unique indicator runs the perimeter of the bandage and in the center point over the wound, so you can easily determine if your bandage has been compromised. Dry See Bandages are a must have for any adventurer.

The Campo

Is it a hammock, a poncho, a shelter, or a tarp? With the Campo, the answer is simple. All of the above! Weighing in at a mere 1.05 lbs, the Campo measures 7’5” x 4’7” of ultra water resistant fabric with a durable DWR finish. Complete with rugged YKK waterproof zippers, a hideaway poncho hood, and multiple utility loops to enhance the Campo’s multi-functionality, this is the Swiss Army Knife of minimalistic outdoor adventure gear. The Campo is compact enough to fit inside a drybag and secured on a paddle craft and will easily fit inside a daypack for terrestrial adventures ashore. Perfect for sticking in your gear bag when heading to your next paddling event or excursion.

iLive Waterproof Wireless Speaker

Waterproof Bluetooth speakers are a fantastic accompaniment for paddlers and the iLive Waterproof Fabric Wireless Speaker is a solid option for summer. Measuring 2.56 x 2.56 x 3.54 inches, the little conical speaker is compact yet delivers incredible sound. It also has an integrated microphone so you can receive phone calls without accessing your phone. If you are looking for a reliable, compact waterproof speaker, this little guy is the one for you.

Bivo One Water Bottle

The Bivo One water bottle was originally designed for cyclists as a stainless steel bottle with a gravity flow rate. In other words, the Bivo One is the same shape and style as a traditional plastic bike bottle, but made of long lasting, environmentally-friendly stainless steel. The high-flow sports nozzle is incredibly easy to use. So much so, you’ll wonder why this bottle wasn’t invented sooner. The bottle will easily fit in your paddle craft’s water bottle holder or under the bungees. All that is needed is your beverage of choice and you’re ready to go.

16oz Stainless Steel Insulated Tumbler from Pirani

Billed as the “last party cup you will ever need”, Pirani’s stainless steel insulated tumblers are one of the most impressive new additions to the sustainable drinkware market we’ve seen in a long time. While the majority of the industry has been focused on sustainable options to replace single use plastic bottles, Pirani has found a niche in fabricating a fantastic sustainable alternative for the ubiquitous red plastic party cup. I’ll be honest, I use my Pirani cup every day. It is that good. Hot beverages, cold beverages, or the occasional beer or cocktail (hint, hint!), this is one cup you’ll hold onto for years to come. Each Pirani cup comes with a well designed lid that securely fits inside the cup and they are stackable, should you decide to go all in and order a bunch!

Vaikobi VXP Life Jacket

No gear guide for paddlers would be complete without at least one item from Vaikobi and while the VXP life jacket has been around for a little while now, it is easily my most used piece of paddling gear. The Vaikobi VXP life jacket is lightweight, has an integrated hydration sleeve, large front pouch pocket, and adjustable side straps to fit any paddler. The Vaikobi VXP is available in five color options so you can paddle with confidence knowing you are highly visible and outfitted with one of the paddling industry’s very best.

Bollé’s Bolt 2.0 Sunglasses

Nothing says summertime like a new pair of sunglasses! Sunglasses are undoubtedly a key fashion accessory and when selecting your next pair I recommend taking a look at the Bolt 2.0 from Bollé. Available in a range of colors and lens options, I went with a pair equipped with Bollé’s Phantom lens technology. The Phantom photochromic lenses provide 100% UV protection and outstanding optical clarity in all situations. This translates into a very comfortable experience for your eyes on the water, regardless of the light conditions. The lenses are also constructed with Bollé’s anti-fog treatment and are the only sunglasses I’ve worn that do not fog up when paddling my fire engine red Nelo surfski.

Lithuanian K2 Champions Mindaugas Maldonis and Andrej Olijnik during their silver medal race at the 2022 World Championships in Halifax, Canada.

Olympic, Paralympic and world champions will headline a big field of competitors for the opening International Canoe Federation World Cup for the 2023 season in Szeged, Hungary.

The skills of five-time Olympic champion Lisa Carrington of New Zealand, Lithuania’s surging men’s K4 crew comprised of brothers Simonas and Mindaugas Maldonis, Ignas Navakauskas, and Arturas Seja, and Hungarian K1 1000 Olympic champion Balint Kopasz will be on display during the kayak sprint competition, starting Thursday May 11.

In paracanoe Australia’s three-time Paralympic gold medalist, Curtis McGrath, and Great Britain’s power trio of Emma Wiggs, Charlotte Henshaw and Laura Sugar, all triumphant in Tokyo, will be begin their tilt for Paris qualification in Szeged.

Szeged will be the first of four major ICF canoe sprint events this year. Athletes will race in the second world cup in Poznan, Poland, later in May, before heading to Duisburg, Germany, for the world championships and Olympic qualifiers in August.

The final event of the season will be an Olympic test event and world cup on the Paris course straight after the world championships.

The final athlete line-up for Szeged includes not just Olympic champions, but many of the reigning world champions from Halifax last year, alongside some of the most exciting young paddling talent on the planet.

The premiere individual races are once again shaping up as highlights, with all the medalists from the men’s K1 1000 set to lock horns again. Hungary’s Kopasz and Adam Varga, gold and silver in Tokyo, and Portugal’s Fernando Pimenta, will resume a rivalry which has thrilled canoe fans in recent years. Lithuania’s Andrej Olijnik, a K1 1000 specialist and Olympian from the 2016 Games in Rio, is a darkhorse contender and one to watch. Olijnik is coming off a strong winter training season and would like nothing more than to bump one of the event’s favorites from the podium.

Also in the field will be Olympic finalists Josef Dostal of the Czech Republic, Australia’s Thomas Green and China’s Dong Zhang.

One of the most fascinating duels in the women’s K1 500 could be between New Zealand teammates Carrington and Aimee Fisher. The pair had a hotly contested qualification series at home, with Carrington winning out to earn world championship qualification.

Denmark’s Olympic bronze medalist, Emma Astrid Jorgensen, and Tokyo finalists Linnea Stensils of Sweden and Alyce Wood of Australia will be among the biggest threats to the New Zealand duo.

The new men’s Olympic events of K2 and C2 500 will add an intriguing element to Szeged. In Tokyo and Rio the K2 and C2 were both raced over 1000 metres, but the shortening of the distance has meant a reassessment by teams of the best combinations.

Lithuania’s dynamic duo of Mindaugas Maldonis and Andrej Olijnik are set to return to the starting line after an emotional silver medal finish at the 2022 World Championships in Canada. Australia’s reigning K2 1000 Olympic gold medalists, Thomas Green and Jean Van Der Westhuyzen, have stuck together, but the only other crew remaining from the Tokyo final is China’s Tingkai Bu a d Congkang Wang, eight placegetters in Japan.

Similarly in the C2 500, only two of the crews from the Tokyo C2 1000 remain together. Seventh and eight placegetters Poland (Wiktor Glazunow and Tomasz Barniak) and Spain (Cayetano Garcia and Pablo Martinez) will be hoping the shorter distance will put them in the mix for a medal in Szeged.

The men’s K4 500 will once again be a highlight, with the top three finishes in Tokyo – Germany, Spain and Slovakia – having made only minimal changes since the Olympics. By contrast, all the women’s K4 500 crews from Japan have undergone substantial changes, making the event one of the most open in recent years.

The 5000 metre races have attracted several of the world’s best marathon races, including Hungary’s Vanda Kiszli and Denmark’s Mads Pedersen, who will both be certain to challenge for medals on the final afternoon of the world cup.

The ICF Paracanoe and Canoe Sprint World Cup begins on Thursday May 11 and runs through to Sunday, May 14.

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.

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© PaddleXaminer 2023 – All Rights Reserved

Just as board designs have changed, so to have the belt pack style PFDs on offer. The Astral belt pack PFD, with its attractive low profile style, is a far cry from many of the boxy shaped models produced by some manufacturers. As the name suggests, this PFD is designed to be worn at the waist. The straps are easily adjustable for a wide range of sizes and the excess can be tucked away out of sight.

Like most belt pack PFDs, the Astral model is activated by pulling down on a T-shaped handle which discharges a CO2 cartridge. The PFD is also equipped with a tube for manual inflation in the event the CO2 cartridge fails. Using the manual inflation tube is a great way to practice deploying the PFD. Once deployed, the PFD contains a yellow strap which the user places over their head. You can now comfortably hang your arms over the inflated yellow tube and swim to safety or wait to be rescued.

The PFD comes in an attractive black color and has an exterior pocket which work well for holding small items. Unlike some models, the Astral belt pack PFD does not contain a whistle. I recommend stashing one in the exterior pocket or attaching one to the belt strap for convenient access. Carrying a whistle is required by law in the U.S. and works well for signalling in the event of an emergency.

The Astral belt pack PFD is a great model for stand up paddlers who are experienced swimmers and paddling in calm water to mild chop. The design is aesthetically pleasing and after learning its features, any paddler should be able to confidently use this product.

Always read the label on your PFD for a list of complete operating instructions. Rules and regulations governing the use of PFDs may vary from country to country. Always consult local regulations to verify compliance. Wearing a PFD while stand up paddling is not a substitute for knowing how to swim. Learn the local conditions and your own limitations before entering the water. If you are unfamiliar with how to use a PFD, practice inflating it and putting it on prior to paddling.

Visit: www.astraldesigns.com MSRP: $119.95

#MattChebatoris #BeltPackPFD #Astral #supsafety #PFD #GearReview #Safety

Paddlexaminer met the founder John Salzinger and CEO Seungah Jeong of MPOWERD Luci lights at the Summer Outdoor Retailer show in Denver back in June. They were kind enough to sit-down with me and tell me the Luci story. The origin of the Luci light dates back to 2012 with the goal of making an affordable clean energy product people could use in any situation. With advancements in renewable energy, the Luci light was possible. The impetus of the Luci light was to give light to those who have none and replace the nasty kerosene lamps use by so many.

Paddlexaminer reviewed three different Luci lights:

1. Luci Base Light

2. Luci Connect

3. Luci Solar String Lights

All are solar powered lights with USB ports to charge devices such as your phone or tablet. Each set of solar lights can be charged via solar power or through a USB (if you need a quick charge). All three are great for camping or general outdoor activities such as chillin in the backyard or going on an evening paddle. The Luci Base Light and Luci Connect are both inflatable and waterproof so they can go anywhere.

I tested the Luci Connect as a lantern on my paddleboard for an evening paddle while visiting family, putting it on the front of my Hala Nass SUP. The light acted as a guide to illuminate the water in front of me. 

Back home in the Rocky Mountains, one of my new favorite activities is doing moonlight paddles. The ideal setting is when the moon is full and the clouds minimal; you get out on the water and the moonlight provides enough light to see without a headlamp. I left a Luci light on the shore to act as a marker to know where to return, similar to a lighthouse.

The one enhancement I recommend MPOWERD make is to configure the power button as an LED light or make it more concave so it’s easier to sense by touch. Often it’s dark and when I go to turn my Luci Base Light on but can’t find the power button. I end up fumbling around by touch until I find it.

The Give Luci program provides the ability to give a Luci light to those who can truly use it. Purchase a Give Luci light and one of MPOWERD’s non-profit partners will send it directly to someone who is living without access to electricity. 

MPOWERD is a B certified corporation. As Luci’s motto states, “life doesn’t stop when the sun goes down”. Many of us take for granted the ability to flip a switch and have light instantly. The Give Luci program provides anyone the ability to gift the same power to someone who needs it.

I love the Luci lights I tested! The Solar String lights are great for any location, inside or outside, to create a cool, low-key ambience. The Luci Connect changes into five colors and can be operated from an app installed on your smartphone. The Luci Base light is a solid replacement for those inefficient desk lamps we all use. The Luci light family makes the perfect gift for anyone!

Retail Prices:

1. Luci Base Light $44.95

2. Luci Connect $64.95

3. Luci Solar String Lights $40

#EnvironmentallyFriendly #MPowerd #Review #SolarLights

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.

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© PaddleXaminer 2023 – All Rights Reserved

I met up with Jordan Curet who represents Red Paddle Co (Red) in the US, on Friday August 18 for a demo of the Wild MSL board. We planned to paddle a four-mile stretch of the Colorado River outside of Kremmling, CO. The Wild is specifically designed for white water paddling and I was excited to try out the board. My previous experience on white-water has been on an all-around board which functions fine in the white-water, but I was interested to try the Wild and compare it to my past experiences.

The Wild MSL is 9’6” long, 34” wide and 5.9” thick (2896mm, 864mm, 150mm). Red takes a simple approach to graphics for their boards. They are clean and do not have an overabundance of color. The MSL construction involves fusing a second layer of hard-wearing polymer to the core at the raw material stage of production The high-tech industrial process saves weight while making the boards stiffer at lower pressures.

The first thing I noticed about the Wild is all the grab handles. When I thought about white water paddling, you tend to fall off more than if you’re on flat-water; having extra handles at strategic places would be helpful. The Wild has five handles, one at the front and back, and three across the midsection. The handles on the side are very helpful to pull yourself back onto the board or flip the board over if necessary. One disadvantage I found with the side handles is they are positioned right where I want to put my feet. I found myself on slightly uneven footing which was a bit of a distraction while trying to focusing on paddling through the rapids

We approached the canyon on the Colorado with anticipation. The Colorado river is around 40 yards wide for the most part but narrows down in the canyon to around 6.5 yards. I attacked the first section of rapids on the Wild, with one paddle stroke I was able to turn the nose of the board –  very responsive board. The Wild is very easy to maneuver in the rapids. I found myself turning too much at times because I was use to paddling a bigger board.

The Wild does come with four fixed fins and one center fin box you can use to attach a fin based on river conditions. The front has ample rocker which is ideal for white-water. The board also comes with Red’s world class Titan pump. The Titan has two cylinders which pumps air into your board at up to 60 mph.

Overall, the Wild is a great board for white water, so if you’re looking to step-up and tackle the rapids, I recommend giving the Wild from Red a try.

MSRP $1,349.

#ColoradoRiver #RedPaddleCo #sup #WhitewaterPaddling

The Vaikobi VDRY jacket is a 100% polyester lightweight and water resistant shell. Designed to regulate your body temperature and prevent overheating, the jacket is equipped with a full length zipper and vents under the arms and across the back. There are two generously sized zipper pockets on the front and an internal breast pocket with a velcro closure. In a special touch, Vaikobi added a luxurious fleece lined collar for extra comfort.

The VDRY jacket is available in three colors – orange, cyan, and gray and in a range of six sizes to accommodate any paddler.

Our Take

Realistically there are a lot of things you can wear to keep yourself dry: a rain jacket, hiking apparel, or even a bin liner. The difference maker is the Vaikobi VDRY jacket is purpose built for paddling.

PaddleXaminer has been using the Vaikobi VDRY jacket in a range of cool to cold paddling conditions in California waters since last spring. Out of the box, the first thing I noticed was how incredibly lightweight the jacket was. The jacket is constructed with a water resistant outer shell stitched on top of a soft mesh internal layer – the combination of which facilitates the free flow of air around your body and a full range of motion while paddling. The choice of colors and sizes ticks all the right boxes – the fluro orange is my favorite and absolutely oozes California vibes. It also has the benefit of being highly visible on the water.

One of the great aspects of each item in the Vaikobi range is its compatibility with other Vaikobi products. The Vaikobi VDRY jacket is no different and I enjoy the versatility of being able to add a water resistant windbreaker jacket to achieve the perfect balance to meet the conditions of the day. Word has it that a few of the guys in the Marina del Rey surkski paddling crew ordered their own jackets during Vaikobi’s recent sale, so I expect to see a few more of these on the water in the near future!

Autumn in Southern California is one of my favorite times to surf. The air temperature is generally warm thanks to a fairly reliable Indian Summer and the light takes on a golden glow. Most of the visiting tourists have long since returned home allowing the beaches to settle into a more civilized level of activity. The swell is still as unpredictable as always, Surfline forecasts notwithstanding, and locals jump at the waning days of “trunking it” before being compelled to pull on warmer attire.

I’ve been surfing the Infinity New Deal for the past few months and am pleased to report my initial chemistry with the Dave Boehne designed performance longboard surf SUP has continued to blossom with time. Infinity markets the New Deal as a board for intermediate to advanced riders. My experience with the board has confirmed that spot in the marketplace. With that assessment in mind, the Infinity New Deal is a fantastic board for someone who has established their initial SUP surfing chops on a larger all-around SUP and is ready to transition into a zippy performance shape. Why do I feel this way? Because that’s exactly who I am.

Growing up in Nebraska I never thought surfing was something I would do once, let alone on a regular basis. It wasn’t even something distant that I dreamed about. Surfing simply did not exist. I unexpectedly had the opportunity to move to Los Angeles about 10 years ago (I had been working overseas at the time.) and received my first exposure to the sport.

Sunset & PCH is a popular LA area surf spot where the optimal conditions are found at low tide. Low tide was also a convenient time for me, then a beginner paddler, to launch from the beach on my first SUP. I’d often linger out in the water on my return and cautiously watch the surfers. I gradually waded in and gave it a try. The rest is history. So, for all you folks out there who may be hesitant to give SUP surfing a try, if a guy in his early 40s from Nebraska can quickly progress to surfing the Infinity New Deal – so to can you!

Versatility

As all experience surfers know, boards come in various sizes and shapes optimized for different types of waves and styles of surfing. If you are similar to me and don’t come from a surfing background but are surrounded by friends who do, don’t succumb to false notion that surfing is about pursuing smaller and smaller shortboard style surf SUPs. Stay true to your path, join the SUP longboard revolution and pick up an Infinity New Deal. You’ll have an insane amount of fun and your friends will be left scratching their heads wondering where they went wrong. Why? For most surfers, the Infinity New Deal goes a long way to dispelling the notion of needing a quiver full of boards. It will work well in a range of conditions suited for experienced SUP surfers.

Riding the Infinity New Deal at the PV Cove on a Saturday.

I took my New Deal with me down to the Pacific Paddle Games earlier this month. As most readers are aware, Doheny State Beach experienced a period of small and inconsistent surf mainly limited to the 1-2 ft range during the event. While many were deterred from getting on the water, I was there and thus committed. As I already knew at this point, the Infinity New Deal excels in the small stuff. I caught a ton of waves, and had a blast working on stepping forward towards the nose. I’ve by no means mastered the exercise, but if you want to see what noseriding looks like on a longboard I recommend following Mike Muir, aka Muirman, on Instagram for some great footage.

Playing around in smaller waves is one of the best way to really get to know your board. You can modify your foot position over the fins or work on digging in the rails to carve a turn. Practice trimming the board to learn how it responds. In essence, learn how to become one with your board. Then you’ll be ready for the big stuff when a larger swell rolls in.     

The long-awaited south swell arrived one week later and peaked on Saturday, October 7th. Returning to Doheny wasn’t an option for me that weekend so I headed over to my local spot at the Cove in Palos Verdes for a few hours in the morning. Arriving at dawn, I was greeted by set after set of beautiful, clean waves averaging 3-5 ft. After paddling out and diplomatically letting a couple of waves roll through I charged in and snagged a large right breaking set wave and took the New Deal for a ride. I stepped back on the raised arch bar, buried the fins and sunk the rail, carving a long arch down the line and popped out over the shoulder as the wave broke behind me.

A fellow SUP surfer watched my run and commented that the way I buried the rail and carved a long graceful bottom turn reminded him of a watching footage of Laird Hamilton. Now I’m no where near that good, but I knew I had assembled a pretty good performance surfing that wave. The kind that when you are finished you still feel a rush of exhilaration from the ride. It was one of the first times I’ve been complimented for my surfing and speaks as much to the finely foiled rails of the Infinity New Deal which enabled me to pull off such a turn as it does my current abilities as a surfer. Simply put, the New Deal is a board which will enable a weekend warrior, intermediate level SUP surfer such as myself to develop genuine, respectable surfing skills while having one heck of a good time. The shape is perfectly tuned, negating the need to force anything. Just step back and allow the board to do what its maker intended.

As a student of history, I predict the advent of the New Deal will be looked upon as a marking a significant design evolution in the years to come. There is just nothing else like it. The Infinity New Deal is the real deal and if you are a passionate SUP surfer you owe it to yourself to try this board. #gamechanger

P.S. It’s also really fast!

#PalosVerdes #InfinityNewDeal #Surfing #DohenyStateBeach #InfinitySUP #InsidetheLineup