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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California State Library Parks Pass allows free vehicle day use entry at over 200 participating state parks units.
California State Parks and the California State Library today announced an additional opportunity to advance safe and equitable outdoor access to all Californians. Starting this week—National Library Week—California State Parks will be distributing the California State Library Parks Pass to public libraries across the state for checkout by library patrons. The new pass will allow free vehicle day use entry at more than 200 participating state park units.
“Spending time in nature is crucial to our mental health and well-being,” said First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom. “We’re lucky to have the largest state park system in the nation, and I am thrilled to partner with California State Parks and the California State Library to help make those spaces more accessible to California families. With the California State Library Parks Pass, anyone with a library card will be able to unlock the benefits and beauty of our majestic state parks.”
Research shows that spending time in the outdoors is associated with better mental and physical health, and that many Californians face barriers to accessing their parks. California has a wealth of state parks, and many public libraries are likely within driving distance of one. By reducing barriers to park access and partnering with entities such as public libraries, the state can help more Californians explore the outdoors and generate positive impacts in the area of health, natural resource stewardship, and historical and cultural connections.
“Parks and libraries have the potential to be powerful symbols and agents for California’s open spaces,” said California State Parks Director Armando Quintero. “It is an honor to work side-by-side with the California State Library, Newsom Administration and partners to advance outdoor access to all Californians via public libraries, inspire stewardship for the state park system and build a healthier California.”
As part of a three-year pilot program starting in April, each library jurisdiction will receive at least three California State Library Parks Pass hangtags per branch for checkout by library patrons, including mobile libraries. Park Passes will enter circulation on a rolling basis throughout April and May for checkout by library patrons; library users can contact their local library for more information. Library-card holders will be able to check out the pass for the allotted number of days allowed by the local library, then return the pass to the library for others to use. The pass is valid for entry of one passenger vehicle with capacity of nine people or less or one highway licensed motorcycle at participating state park units.
“Libraries are trusted community hubs where Californians know they can find what they need to work, play, and thrive,” said California State Librarian Greg Lucas. “This partnership with State Parks now allows Californians to ‘check out’ California’s great outdoors at their community library.”
Libraries are already an important part of Californians’ lives. There are 1,184 public library buildings in California, and more than 23 million Californians have library cards. In 2019-2020, these libraries circulated over 97 million items free of charge, such as books, technology, Wi-Fi hotspots, videos, music, instruments, tools, telescopes and more. Additionally, the libraries hosted over 300,000 programs in 2019-2020, with almost 7.5 million people attending. The California State Library Parks Pass program is one more way that Californians can get empowered through their libraries. Additionally, the California State Library will be providing grant funding to libraries for outdoor-related items for checkout, programs that teach natural resource stewardship and outdoor skills, or to encourage their library patrons to enjoy the outdoors and make historical and cultural connections to parks.
“All Californians should have the opportunity to be outdoors in nature,” said California Secretary for Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot. “Yet many of our state’s residents live in communities without adequate parks and open space. This innovative new program will enable more Californians to explore our incredible State Parks system, and in the process create more equitable access to nature and the outdoors.”
The 2021/22 State Budget included initiatives to advance equitable access to state parks and open spaces for all Californians. A $9.1 million one-time General Fund investment was included in the budget to launch a state parks pilot to expand parks pass distribution, especially for youth in disadvantaged communities. The pilot includes the California State Park Adventure Pass program that provides free day-use passes for fourth graders and their families, the revamped Golden Bear Pass Program and the California State Library Parks Pass.
“California State Parks Foundation was honored to work with First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom to secure funding for the California State Library Parks Pass program and other innovative pilot programs to increase access to the state’s magnificent park system. We firmly believe every Californian should have access to the beauty and benefits of parks, and we know that cost can be a barrier to visiting. We’re excited that local branch libraries will now be a gateway to state parks,” said Executive Director of the California State Parks Foundation Rachel Norton.
Detailed information on the new California State Library Parks Program, including full terms and conditions, is available online at CheckOutCAStateParks.com. For more information on all the new parks pass programs, please visit parks.ca.gov/CaliforniaOutdoorsForAll.
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
International Canoe Federation President Thomas Konietzko has promised a review of structures to ensure more women are appointed to influential positions at all levels of the sport.
Mr Konietzko used an end-of-year video address to the global paddling family to pledge more will be done to make the pathway to leadership roles for women much clearer.
“More women have taken up important positions in the national federations and the ICF structure during the last year,” Mr Konietzko said.
“We need to do better here and I can only encourage more women to get involved in our sport. We will improve the structures within the ICF and provide access to important positions especially for women.”
Mr Konietzko also promised to continue developing new initiatives across paddling sports, citing the success of the inaugural ICF Virtual World Cup earlier this month. And he said the ICF will continue to lead in the fields of sustainability and athlete safeguarding.
Thomas Konietzko’s end of year speech can be found here.
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
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
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
Beach Eats TO GO resumes this Thursday, May 28th at its new location in Lot 11 (14101 Panay Way, Marina del Rey) from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Now through September 24th, some of Los Angeles’ most popular food trucks will be featured to bring you delectable food options. Beach Eats TO GO is a grab and go, ONLINE ORDERING ONLY event. No cash or credit card transactions will be accepted on-site.
Visit bestfoodtrucks.com/beacheatstogo to place your order, select your pick-up time, and check out the food truck lineup in the coming weeks You can even place your online order up to 48 hours before each Beach Eats TO GO and select a pick-up time on Thursday that works for you.
This week’s food truck lineup includes:
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Habibi Shack (Mediterranean)
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Roll’n Lobster (Seafood)
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Maravilla Latin Cuisine (Mexican)
Unlike the traditional Beach Eats weekly food truck event, Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors has modified it to comply with COVID-19 precautions and L.A. County Department of Public Health directives. A face covering and a 6-foot physical distance from other patrons is required. Please note that picnicking in the parking lot or on Mother’s Beach is prohibited and adjacent picnic tables are closed to the public until further notice. Please enjoy your order in the comfort of your own home.
Parking is available in Lot #11 at a rate of $0.25 for each 10 minutes. There is a $2 minimum for credit card payments.
For the weekly schedule of trucks, visit bestfoodtrucks.com/beacheatstogo.
Hailing from the desert island of Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands, Germany’s Sonni Hönscheid has literally been rotating her home from one exotic island locale to another throughout her life. The daughter of a professional windsurfer, Sonni was born on the small island of Sylt in the North Sea near Germany’s border with Denmark. The family traveled the world throughout her father’s career, during which they spent a considerable period of time on Maui (her older sister was even enrolled in school there), before relocating their permanent home to Fuerteventura when the budding surfer girl was five.
Long before her 2014 victory in the prestigious annual Molokai to Oahu stand up paddleboard race, the 31-year-old athlete began her water sports career in competitive surfing where Sonni holds the distinction of being a 12x German Surfing Champion. Her upbringing has instilled a set of interdisciplinary skills which make her among the most well-rounded athletes in the sport of stand up paddling. “I like to be competitive, give everything and get to my limits (sometimes even over them). And I enjoy the feeling of crossing the finish line,” she told me from her home in Fuerteventura during a well deserved break from competition.
Sonni Hönscheid cruising in Hawaii. Photo: Sussana Teng
In a manner similar to her contemporaries around the globe, Sonni enjoys the freedom that comes with stand up paddling. There is perhaps no other discipline that can be shaped and molded to make the most of one’s surroundings while offering the opportunity to specialize in certain conditions. When it comes to racing, Sonni prefers the challenge of a good downwinder or extreme conditions with a lot of wind and waves. “I like the challenge and difficult conditions [which] makes it more exciting as you don’t know what to expect,” said Sonni.
Unsurprisingly, her favorite race is the annual Molokai to Oahu event traversing the renown Channel of Bones. “It´s a big challenge mentally and physically, more than just a race against other athletes, it´s also a race against yourself,” she said.
At home on Fuerteventura, the Hönscheid family owns and operates North Shore Fuerteventura, an all-inclusive surf, windsurf, kiteboard and SUP shop in the town of Lajares.
Sonni Hönscheid showing her skills in the waves. Photo: Mario Entero
The family’s patriarch, Jürgen, designs and shapes all manner of boards for the activities promoted by the shop and each member of the family shares the management duties. “My dad shapes unreal windsurf, surf and SUP boards in his workshop,” said Sonni. A cursory glance at the shop’s website and the photos it contains are an indication of the strong bond between Sonni and her family. The assembled collage is a pictorial history of the Hönscheid’s travels through life and contains multiple images of Sonni from an earlier time.
Etiquette in the water, knowledge about the elements specially in the surf zone, currents, crowds etc. I was teaching my daughters all these things before they even got their first wave. First they were on boogie boards to learn, then on surfboards and later on Sonni got to windsurf as well. For my daughters it was a natural thing to step up into surf sports. ~ Jürgen Hönscheid
Sonni Hönscheid: Talented On and Off the Water
In contrast to many top athletes, the SIC Maui team rider’s accomplishments do not stop at the water’s edge. Sonni is an incredibly talented and inspiring artist who can be regularly seen sporting her own designs via her apparel line with Chiemsee. “I have liked to paint since I was a kid,” she told me.
Sonni Hönscheid, more than just a paddler. Photo: Janni Hönscheid
“Painting is a real enrichment for me, it feels really good to have another way to express myself outside of my sport. I used to always draw Lobos (the little island next to Fuerteventura) with faces, dressed up, as a princess, etc. Then in 2010 I found my style or the style found me! Everything happened really quickly after that – I had my first art exhibition on Sylt [in 2013] and I began designing for brands such as Starboard, Jucker Hawaii, Capri Sonne and Chiemsee clothing, where I have my own collection.”
In August 2015, Sonni will hold her second art exhibition at the Kaamp- Hüs Gallery in the town of Kampen back “home” on the island Sylt. The exhibition is named Peace, Love, Sylt II and will feature works highlighting her unique blend of colors and ocean inspired themes. She draws inspiration from traveling the globe and spending time on the water. “Painting is like writing a diary for me,” said Sonni, while disclosing that she enjoys listening to the German soap opera Sturm der Liebe (Storm of Love) as a way to relax while painting. Sonni’s goal is to one day hold an art exhibition in Maui, where the tropical ambiance of Hawaii would provide the perfect backdrop for her colorful oceanic themes.
Maui is always on her mind, an element no doubt instilled during her youth following her father’s windsurfing career. It was perhaps no coincidence she chose SIC Maui as her board sponsor and cites the Paddle IMUA/Bluesmiths race on Maui as one of her favorite events alongside Molokai to Oahu and the Stand Up World Series-Turtle Bay on neighboring Oahu. Regardless of the venue, Sonni’s cheerful demeanor is guaranteed to shine and will most certainly bring her additional success along each of her chosen paths throughout the years to come.
Twin brothers, Alex and Mike Faherty grew up in a quiet beach town, surfing and spending most of their lives in swimsuits and on the water. As they grew older, they found they couldn’t find high-quality, casual eco-clothing at their local surf shops. So they set out to fulfill a lifelong dream of opening a clothing line.
“Our life-long dream has been to create clothing for life’s great moments, the ones spent by the water, around a bonfire, catching waves or watching sunrises,” say the brothers. “It’s what makes the morning commute, the boss you don’t like, and the pile of work on your desk not so bad. We’re proud to design clothing made from unique and sustainable fabrics, and develop close, personal relationships with our manufacturers to craft high quality goods.”
Photo: Jonathan Kemnitz
Before opening their clothing line, the brothers paid their dues working desk jobs. Mike spent some time working in design at Ralph Lauren while Alex worked in finance/business in the private equity sector. After gaining the experience they deemed necessary for launching a business, they set out on their own in 2013 with the support of their family.
They spent a year researching sustainable practices and how they could implement them into their designs. What they found was a way to repurpose plastic waste and refine it into yarn. They were excited to discover a process that allows them to offer stylish and functional clothing with a minimal impact on the environment.
With six in-store locations and an online catalog, Faherty offers a wide selection of swimwear from men’s board shorts to women’s one-pieces and bikinis. The selection is vast and there are some suits ideal for lounging on the beach while there are many other stay-put styles ideal for paddlers.
In addition to sustainable swimwear, Faherty offers a wide selection of men’s and women’s clothing. They have it all: pants, jackets, tees, tanks, beach cover-ups, and even accessories. Like their swimwear, all their clothing is crafted with a casual, beach style in mind.
Faherty is an awesome brand with an awesome vision. They’re committed to protecting the environment, while making clothing suited for your every need.
To learn more, visit: fahertybrand.com
#EnvironmentallyFriendly #KeepitGreen #Sustainable #SustainableSwimwear