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
Los Angeles could hit 90 F for the first time since November as the hottest air since 2021 builds over the southwestern U.S. late this week.
A wave of warmth is set to build over the western United States from Wednesday to Saturday, putting multiple records at risk of being broken and increasing the fire threat as temperatures climb well above average.
By Wednesday, temperatures in portions of Southern California and southwest Arizona are forecast to surge upwards of 90 degrees Fahrenheit, including heavily populated regions west of the San Gabriel, San Bernardino and San Jacinto Mountains. Downtown Los Angeles is expected to climb past 90 F for the first time since Nov. 13, 2021.
“Temperatures across California will jump about 10 degrees from Tuesday into Wednesday; however, they will peak on Thursday and Friday at around 20 degrees above average,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Heather Zehr said.
Multiple locations spanning from the Sacramento Valley to San Diego will soar high enough to threaten daytime high records on Thursday and Friday.
Forecasters say that temperatures will range from 95 to 105 degrees F across much of Southern California during the peak daytime heating hours Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Heat advisories have been issued across portions of Ventura County, the Santa Clarita Valley and San Fernando Valley for 11 a.m. PDT Wednesday through 6 p.m. PDT Friday ahead of the building heat.
The flow of warm air pushing across the Southwest will not only challenge daily records but will also heighten the risk of wildfires. Gusty Santa Ana winds are expected to develop from Tuesday to Thursday, further exacerbating the fire danger.
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
Paddling in the cooler temperatures requires the right set of gear. A solid base layer under your drysuit is just the ticket; enter Icebreaker! PaddleXaminer meet up with Icebreaker rep Anna at the Summer Outdoor Retailer convention this past summer in Denver. Icebreaker was started in 1995 with the objective to create outdoor garments with less reliance on petrochemicals. They combine nature and technology to create a great, sustainability minded product. While paddlers don’t always wear more than boardshorts or a wetsuit, base layers can be good options under a drysuit.
The Merino Base Layer short-sleeve shirt with BodyFitZonetm technology is an extremely light-weight base layer. The shirt comes with zoned body mapping technology which helps regulate the users temperature based on the different body areas. It feels super soft to the touch with 150 gm corespun merino wool. There is mesh in strategic locations to help ventilate your body heat, or as Icebreaker calls them “heat dumping zones”!
PaddleXaminer tested the Icebreaker base layer while paddling this winter under a drysuit. The shirt is very comfortable and feels increadibly soft on the skin.
Pro Tip – it’s best to wash it once before use; this helps break in the garment.
Paddling with the base layer on was a breeze. It kept my body warm, but not too warm. Some people have complained about the shirt being itching; I didn’t encounter this issue.
The Icebreaker BodyFitZonetm base layer is a great addition to any paddlers repertoire!
Specs:
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Corespun fabric for durability
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Lycra for stretch and mobility
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Strategically placed mesh for ventilation
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Flatlock seams to prevent chafing
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Underarm gusset for comfort and mobility
Retail price $85
PaddleXaminer met with Go Lite at the Summer Outdoor Retailer in Denver back in June. GoLite is the maker of sustainable performance gear from trail running, kayaking, standup paddleboarding, and yoga GoLite has you covered. Based in Seattle, Washington, GoLite has the outdoors on the brain. We spoke with one of their reps at Summer OR to see what new products GoLite has coming out. Here are a few PaddleXaminer tested.
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ReLite Shorts
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ReActive Boxer Brief
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ReActive Tee
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RePlay ½ Zip
All GoLite’s products are made using recycled plastic bottles. In fact, they tell you on the website and on the tag of the product how many recycled bottles were used to make it; how cool is that! The ReLite Shorts come in black and Gull (think seagull). They are water resistant, provide UV protection and keep you dry by wicking moisture away from your body.
PaddleXaminer tested the ReLite Shorts while paddling on Lake Dillon and on an afternoon jog in Denver. The shorts are very light which is a huge plus. We love the four pockets on the shorts; you have two front pockets which you would expect, plus one pocket in the front with a zipper and one rear pocket which zips up too! The inseam is only 8” so keep that in mind if you have long legs.
At home in the Rockies with my trusty Hala Nass SUP.
The ReActive Boxer Brief and ReActive Tee are made from recycled bottle fibers to make a comfortable and function fabric which is surprisingly soft on the skin. PaddleXaminer tested the shirt and boxers while paddling and running. The best thing we like about them is how light they feel. People think, oh it’s recycled material it can’t be that great. Well GoLite has proven any skeptics wrong with their ReActive series!
Our favorite is the RePlay ½ Zip. It’s a light-weight, long sleeve, mid-layer. It comes in three colors: Citron, Fjord, and Gull. Just like the previous products tested, the RePlay ½ Zip is very light-weight and comfortable to wear. We like to throw it on in the morning when it’s cool before we head out for a morning paddle. The fabric has enough stretch to it so you can stay active and not worry about the fabric bunching up like other products do.
You know all those green plastic bottles we put in the recycle bins? We all think they are being recycled but they usually end up in a landfill because manufacturers can’t get the green tint out. Well, GoLite said we can use them! They came up with a Windbreaker called ReGreen Windshell. Using recycled bottles reduces the energy required to make the fabric by 50% and reduces the water consumption by close to 80%!
Also check out GoLite’s GoAid and GoResponsibly programs because they truly care about the planet and you should too! Give GoLite products a look. They are performance grade, light-weight, and sustainable.
Retail Prices:
Hey Mel, how did you get into standup paddling?
My husband, Jack, taught me to surf in Waikiki 14 years ago, first longboarding, then tandem surfing. It quickly became a lifestyle and I surfed every chance I got. I was hooked right from the start, it brings so much joy to my life. We flew to California to learn tandem lifts from the best, Steve and Barrie Boehne of Infinity Surfboards. We also tried standup paddling for the first time with them, back in 2008 at San Onofre. I borrowed Barrie’s board, paddle, and wetsuit and it took me 3 hours to catch 3 waves, but I loved it! However, tandem surfing is still my favorite way to play in the water. Wow I had no idea you surfed tandem! That’s incredible!
It was natural. I was a ballerina until age 14 and a cheerleader in high school. It was a way to express myself, plus I love getting tossed around in the air. After college, I joined the Portland Trailblazers Stunt Team and got to cheer professionally for a couple of seasons. Then I moved to Hawaii, met Jack, and fell in love with surfing. Tandem surfing is pure trust. The biggest waves I ever surfed were on a tandem in Waikiki. Big waves make it easier to get the girl up in the air. My favorite lift is called a One Arm Back, where I get to watch upside down from the air as the wave breaks on the tail of our board. Jack does all the hard work and I just smile and point my toes!
Do you use that huge board Steve Bohene told me about?
Yes, the S.S. Quadnundrum! When we moved to California in 2010, Steve Boehne decided to shape a 4-person raceboard for fun. He ordered a blank from Texas, shaped it, and called it the S.S. Quadnundrum because it’s 21 feet long! It was the first standup paddle raceboard I ever paddled on. Steve loves introducing beginner paddlers to the Quadnundrum because it’s so fun and they get to see so much more than if they were paddling on their own. He calls us his “galley slaves,” and he still paddles it every Wednesday night. In 2013, Jack, Dave Boehne, and I paddled the Quadnundrum in the distance race at Battle of the Paddle. We easily kept pace with the race leaders and it was great cheering on team members and seeing the race unfold first hand! What a fun way to watch a race! Pacific Paddle Games (PPG) was fun too and you podiumed last fall. How did you train for the competition?
I train with Anthony Vela and Performance Paddling SUP Team. When AV started Performance Paddling with Candice Appleby, it was initially a training group for kids. Soon adults were asking for a training group, so PPSUP was born. My paddle skills went from a nil to pretty good in a matter of months. I had no idea how to turn a raceboard when I first started. Training with a group is so much more comprehensive. We learn skills as we draft, practice starts, and go around buoys together. Anthony teaches us all these skills, including mental training, motivation during races, and sportsmanlike conduct. I love my PPSUP family and paddle with them 3 days a week.
S.S. Quadnundrum at the 2014 Hanohano Huki race in San Diego.
I had a blast with you and everyone I met at last fall at the Pacific Paddle Games. What is the race scene like in your area?
Racing is super fun, and we have all kinds of venues, from flatwater harbor and bay races, to surf races and distance. Fellow paddlers are what make SUP racing so fun, I swear SUP attracts just the coolest people. PPG last fall was much improved, emphasizing the Open athletes and their contribution to the event. How great was it to have Elite racers, such as Danny Ching, waiting for us at the finish line to congratulate us? The event organizers really paid attention to feedback from the prior year and strengthened the event as a whole. The technical and distance courses were far better for both the racers and spectators.
The winter series in California is pretty fun, too. Newport Aquatic Center is an Olympic training center for canoe, rowing, and kayaks, and has welcomed SUP in their races throughout the year. It’s a fun way to keep in racing shape during the off-season. One of our favorite events is the Santa Cruz Paddlefest every March, featuring a SUP surf contest at Steamer Lane. Infinity rents a team house and the shenanigans are freaking legendary. You obviously love what you do.
Very much. I recently started a new position with Infinity SUP and I can’t believe how fun “work” is! September was a busy time with PPG and the new 2018 product launch. I have learned so much, trying to soak up knowledge like a sponge. As Ambassador of Stoke, I help with whatever is needed, from taking orders, bookkeeping, event planning, and assisting athletes. One of the many benefits is my flexible work schedule to go surf when big swells come in. Getting in a great surf session in the morning makes my day, and motivates me to get the job done.
A bit of history on the area, Shoshone is the name of the hydraulic power plant located along the Colorado River. Built in 1909, it has been providing power to Colorado for over 110 years! The name “Shoshone” comes from sosoni, a Shoshone word for high-growing grasses. Some neighboring tribes called the Shoshone “Grass House People,” based on their traditional homes made from sosoni. The Shoshone North American Indian group occupied the territory from what is now southeastern California across central and eastern Nevada and northwestern Utah into southern Idaho and western Wyoming.
The Shoshone section starts directly downriver from the Shoshone power plant. There is a small parking lot and boat ramp paddlers can use to put-in on the river. This is a popular section for tourists to raft down the Glenwood Canyon. The Glenwood Springs area is roughly 10 miles west from the put-in, so super close. There are lots of family friendly summer activities to do in the Glenwood Springs area. It’s funny to see the looks of people when you walk up to the river just carrying your Hala Rado!
There is no warm-up for Shoshone, it throws you right in the fire; the first rapid is aptly named Baptism! The river is not super wide and can be technical, so there is little room fom error. I learned this the hard way on my first lap. After Baptism there are a couple smaller features, then you enter Pinball which has multiple rocks to avoid as you navigate the river.
Next up is The Wall, which features a big arcing S move in the river. This is the longest, most sustained rapid section on Shoshone. You start out in placid water entering at the lip of the rapid. There are basically two entry points you can take depending on your risk tolerance. Either way, once you enter the rapids there is a hard right turn followed by a big wave train; you then move slightly left and exit out of the rapid.
The river offers up fun class three sections with some eddy’s mixed in so you can catch your breath. After a break in the rapids, comes Refill then Tombstone, mostly likely named after a rock which looks like a big tombstone. There’s a quick move at the top of Refill then you can more or less shoot down river right past Tombstone. After a short break is Maneater!
The approach is a steep drop into the rapids with the Maneater wave roughly 25 meters downriver. The ideal line is slightly to the right of the main rapid but I got pushed straight at it; I was looking right at the wave, rode it down to the bottom, looked up three-four feet over my head then rode my Hala Rado down the back-end being pushed to the front of my board, amazingly staying on! I quickly got to my feet and paddled forward through the rest of the rapids before glancing back. I looked back to see how the raft in our crew was doing just in time to see the bottom of the raft as Maneater flipped it! Everyone was okay as they were able to right-side the raft quickly. I snagged a paddle and one flip-flop floating downstream.
After Maneater there is a half mile of mostly flat water to the take out where we loaded up the raft and SUPs for another lap!
Sadly, this summer the Grizzly Creek fire in Glenwood Canyon burned over 32,000 acres, including areas near the Shoshone power plant. Luckily the power plant was unharmed. PaddleXaminer got an up-close look at the area along the way to Zion National Park this fall. Some areas were spared, while others were not so lucky. It was a bit eerie to see the charred trees still standing among the darkened landscape; mother nature is resilient though and will bounce back.
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
Going on a two day paddleboarding trip and need to keep your food items cold but don’t want to drag a hardside cooler? Icemule coolers is the perfect solution! It combines the effectiveness of a cooler with the convenience of a dry bag. The Icemule cooler is a soft-side cooler that doubles as a dry bag and will keep ice frozen for up to 24 hours.
The tough exterior material is very durable and functions just like a dry bag. Paddlexaminer tested the Icemule Cooler Classic in Olive Green on a recent paddle on Chatfield Lake on a warm 70+ degree day in Denver. I strapped the cooler to my board with the tie-down straps on my Hala Nass and cruised around the lake covering 6 miles. When I arrived back at my launch-point two hours later, my lunch and beer in the Icemule were still cold!
IceMule Mule Tech
Icemule Coolers are engineered for maximum durability and portability. Icemule uses its proprietary technology called MuleSkinET™. The MuleSkinET™ is a sturdy exterior fabric combined with MuleSkinEV™ a tough interior layer to create a robust shell that protects against the elements and keeps your beers cold. Bottom line, this is one tough cooler!
Unlike hardside coolers which take up a lot of space, the Icemule cooler can be rolled up and stored in a compact roll due to its soft-side design. It comes with an air valve built into the side of the cooler which you can use to add or release air from the cooler.
Just going to the beach or the park for a day, the Icemule cooler is the perfect companion to keep your drinks and food cold while you soak in the sun with family and friends. Icemule Classic Coolers comes in four different sizes depending on your needs: SizeMiniSmallMediumLargeCapacity9L/six cans plus ice10L six can plus ice15L/12 cans plus ice20L/18 cans plus iceDimensions14” x 7.5”16” x 8”16” x 10”16” x 12”Weight (empty)1.4 lbs1.6 lbs2 lbs2.1 lbsPrice$44.95$49.95$59.95$69.95
Icemule Classic Coolers come in five colors: Icemule Blue, Crimson, Seafoam, Olive Green, and Blaze Orange
There are also three other styles of coolers to check out if you’re looking for a bigger Icemule cooler.
According to Stanford University, Americans throw away 25 percent more waste during the holiday season, amounting to approximately 25 million tons of garbage. To help combat waste this holiday season, consider wrapping with reused and recycled materials, power your lights with renewable energy sources, and shop for sustainable gifts. To make things easier, we’ve compiled a eco-conscious holiday gift guide, with something for everyone on your list. Happy shopping!
Sustainable Stocking Stuffers
KooShoo Hair Ties
If you’ve ever ventured out into the surf with your hair pulled back, the ocean has likely claimed your hair tie a time or two. Made from 75 percent GOTS certified organic cotton and 25 percent natural rubber, Kooshoo hair ties are the first and only plastic-free hair ties in the word. Made in a Fair Trade certified facility, these hair ties are fully biodegradable, so you can rest easy should you lose one during a surf session. Available in five different color schemes, KooShoo hair ties keep your hair firmly in place while adding a bit of flair to your style, making them the perfect gift for the eco-conscious athlete in your life.
Jungmaven Scrunchies
Good for you hair and the environment, Jungmaven’s hemp scrunchies are made in the USA from quality, globally sourced material. To cut down on the companies’ waste as a whole, their scrunchies are made from scrap material. Perfect for pulling back your hair during or tough workout or wearing on your wrist as an outfit accessory, Jungmaven’s scrunchies make a perfect stocking stuffer for the paddler in your life. Available in six different colors, you can purchase as a pack or simply pick your favorite.
Evolve Travel Goods Towel
At Evolve, they claim to manufacture the ultimate adventure towel. After 12 months of sweat and love, they developed a unique Ecolite fabric—a soft, lightweight fabric that contains 20 recycled plastic bottles per towel. Developed by a high school science teacher, the towels pack down small, dry quickly, are antimicrobial, and are sand free. To further their efforts in sustainability, 10 percent of profits are donated to environmental charities committed to saving the wild. Although we haven’t had the opportunity to try all the towels out there, Evolve’s towel definitely sets the bar high as a top notch travel and adventure towel.
Outerknown APEX Trunks
Founded by surf legend and 11x world champion Kelly Slater, Outerknown’s APEX trunks are Kelly’s signature trunks made with the environment in mind. Made from 86 percent recycled polyester and 14 percent spandex, the APEX trunks are sewn in a Fair Trade certified facility and each pair contains 10-12 recycled plastic bottles. The trunks are ultra lightweight, dry quickly, and pack down into their own back pocket, making them the perfect travel trunks and stocking stuffer.
Raw Elements Sun/Skincare Products
As paddlers, our skin is constantly exposed to the sun, even during the cooler winter months, which is why sunscreen is so important. While traditional sunscreens are laden with chemicals that are bad for your skin and the environment, Raw Elements crafts their creams from natural and organic ingredients. 23 percent non-nano zinc oxide is the only active ingredient and their sunscreens are hypoallergenic and contain no fragrances or preservatives. When it comes to sun protection, Raw Elements has everything you could possibly need but a few of our favorite items are the Face + Body Tin, Tinted Face Stick, and the SPF 30 Lip Rescue. Fun fact, Raw Elements sunscreen can even be applied while underwater!
Costa Untangled Collection Sunglasses
Through the Untangled Collection, Costa is taking old fishing nets and recycling them into a collection of polarized sunglasses. Featuring men’s and women’s styles, the glasses are comfortable, durable, and good for the planet. Each pair features nylon frames made from recycled fishing nets, PLUSfoam recyclable nose and temple pads, mineral glass lenses, texture patterns along temples and frame face, and a recycled aluminum Costa logo detail. Available in seven different lens colors, Costa’s Untangled Collection has something for every waterman and waterwoman in your life.
Eco-Conscious Gifts
Patagonia’s Better Sweater
There’s nothing better after a chilly training session than cozying up in a warm fleece. Available in men’s and women’s styles, Patagonia’s Better Sweater has the aesthetic of a wool sweater but is instead made from 100 percent recycled polyester fleece. In addition to being made from recycled materials, the fleece is dyed with a low-impact process that reduces the use of dyestuff, energy, and water when compared to traditional dyeing methods. The sweater is ultra-warm and durable and is available in quarter-zip, full-zip, and pullover styles, so you can easily find one for everyone on your list.
Patagonia Black Hole Pack
With the holidays comes lots of travelling. Whether you’re visiting family, taking a much needed vacation, or simply exploring your own backyard, Patagonia’s line of Black Hole packs has you covered. Made with the environment in mind, the Black Hole pack is made from 100 percent recycled polyester fabric, 100 percent recycled polyester lining, and 100 percent recycled nylon webbing. Packs are thoughtfully crafted and include laptop compartments, water bottle pockets, easy access stash pockets, a padded shoulder harness, and a sternum strap. Available in a number of different sizes and styles, the pack is ultra strong and durable, perfect for any adventure you may throw its way.
Sand Cloud Bag Towel
As paddlers, we’re constantly on the move. Whether it is in search of perfect waves or a quiet, secluded lake, a packable towel always comes in handy. Sand Cloud’s Bag Towel is a full-size towel that easily packs down into a backpack, with a zippered pocket included. Made from 100 percent Turkish Cotton, the bag towel is the perfect way to dry off and stash your goods, all at once. If you’re more old school, Sand Cloud also has a number of other traditional towels and eco-friendly accessories, so you can find something for everyone on your list. Additionally, Sand Cloud’s mission is to help save marine life and 10 percent of profits are donated to marine conservation.
Carve Designs Arleta Sleepwear
After a long day on the water, nothing is better than snuggling up next to the fire in a comfy pair of pajamas. Carve Design’s Arleta Leggings and Arleta Long Sleeve Henley are manufactured from sustainable fabric made with biodegradable, earth-friendly yarns and non-GMO pesticide-free cotton. Available in two fun colors, the leggings feature a drawcord and elastic waistband while the Henley features a four-button neck, making them super comfortable. Both pieces fit loose and run large, so if you prefer a smaller fit ordering a size down may be a good option. In addition to sleepwear, Carve Designs offers women’s athletic wear, swimsuits, and street clothes, perfect for wearing on the water or a night out on the town—we’re big fans of the La Jolla Reversible Top and Stinson bottoms paired with the Haley Bomber Jacket.
Soulti Surf Onezie Swimsuit
No female paddler’s wardrobe is complete without a comfortable functional, one-piece swimsuit. At Soulti Surf, they make eco-friendly surf suits for women on the move. The Onezie features long sleeves for wind and sun protection, an open back for effortless paddling, seamless stitching for a sleek design, and a hidden key attachment to stash you key. All suits feature a sustainable techno-fabric made with Econyl, a regenerated polyamide fiber from post-consumer materials such as recycled fishing nets. Soulti Surf’s suits are feel like butter against your skin, are cute, and most importantly, they stay in place.
Recover T-Shirt
Whether it’s for a workout or lounging on the beach post-paddle, everyone can use some comfortable tees in their collection. Recover is all about the environment from start to finish. To make their shirts, plastic bottles are first shredded into flakes, then they’re melted into pellets, converted into yarn, and finally, knit and cut. The result: a soft and comfortable t-shirt. Additionally, all products are shipped in a recyclable mailer and are packed in fully compostable packaging. In addition to classic t-shirts, Recover has comfy sweaters and lightweight layers to keep you warm during wintertime workouts. Since the company was first founded in 2010, they have diverted 7.8 million plastic bottles from the landfill and saved 29.2 kilowatts of energy, 11.8 million pounds of carbon emissions, and 2 billion gallons of water.
Big Ticket Items
Swellness Coaching ‘Where’s the Bliss?’ Online Course
SwellWomen surf retreats’ sister company, Swellness Coaching is a six-week online course designed to help women become unstuck and reconnect with their truth, power and purpose. Based on a proven methodology, the powerful course is aimed towards motivated women who want to make a shift in their lives. In just thirty minutes a day, women will explore glowing health in mind, body, and spirit. There’s nothing more sustainable than investing in your own well-being—if you know a special woman who is ready to make a change in her life, this could be the ultimate gift. Tested first-hand by PaddleXaminer staff, ‘Where’s the Bliss?’ is sure to help give you the push you need to make a positive shift in your life.
Nosara Paddlesurf Retreat
For the ultimate gift, invest in a week of SUP surfing and coaching in Nosara, Costa Rica for yourself or a loved one. All-inclusive surf packages include jungle tropical lodging, airport transfer, homemade meals, two surfs a day, expert coaching advice, video feedback, educational workshops, and a massage. The water is warm, the lineups are empty, meals are excellent, and coaches are knowledgeable and personable, making for an amazing week on the water. As we can personally attest, a week at Nosara Paddlesurf is the perfect way to hone in and improve your skills while having a great time.