Sport

Back in late August, PaddleXaminer met up with Jeremiah from Hala to paddle the Blue River for the first time. The Blue, as the locals call it, runs right through Breckenridge and Silverthorne, Colorado as it cuts it way north before flowing into the Colorado river near Kremmling. The sections through town are generally not paddled by paddleboarders. The best section of The Blue to paddleboard is just after Green Mountain Reservoir which the American Whitewater Association rates class III and just is around four miles long. It cuts through a tall canyon for a couple miles which is a gorgeous setting for a paddle.

As we approached the put-in location, there were two paddlers prepping their gear. When we got closer Jeremiah recognized one of them as Jack who also works at Hala. He was on his day off and came down to paddle, so we formed a posse of four going down the Blue!

I topped off the air in my Hala Rado and we made our way down the hill to the put-in. Getting to the put-in was a bit tricky because it’s a steep hill (no boat access), but Jack had a tip to follow the fence line then use the stairs. This way you get an extra quarter mile on the river versus what we were initially thinking. Once on the river I couldn’t help but look around at the towering canyon walls jutting skyward for several stories on either side of the river.

The four of us set off with me in the rear because this was my first run on the Blue; I wanted to let the more experienced paddlers go first. I kept looking up at the canyon walls saying out loud, “man I wish I had brought my Go-Pro”, bam! I bumped into a rock and fell in the water. Time to focus on paddling.

Map showing the route of the Blue River in Colorado.

The Hala Rado performed well on the Blue. The flow was around 880 CFS which is not the best flow for the river but definitely runnable. You had to be extra vigilant about picking your line with the lower flow. Multiple times I felt the fin pop up into the Stompboxtm, my favorite feature of the Rado!

Our posse continued on down the river picking our lines carefully. I was feeling confident on my Rado, punching through the waves and letting the river rocker do the work. It was a lot of fun.

Somehow I ended up in the lead, continuing to pick my lines, with a few tips from Jeremiah. Suddenly I heard a loud whistle, I glanced back and Jeremiah was motioning for me to pull off to the side. When he caught up, he let me know “The Wall” is coming up around the corner and it would probably be best if he took the lead so I could follow his line. Makes sense to me!

I let Jeremiah take the lead with me a safe distance behind him. As we turned the corner the name is very apt, high canyon walls, more noise and big rapids; by far the biggest we’d seen that day. You can always tell a big section is coming up because you typically hear it before you see it. I followed Jeremiah’s line and charged forward, riding the waves and punching through the holes. The water was moving fast so you had to act quickly. Twice I was pushed forward but caught myself on my board. I quickly got back up in my stance and kept paddling. Man what a rush!

After the paddle, we hung out for a while before parting ways, such a fun run!

All of Hala’s board come in a backcountry rolling backpack. The bag is handy for storing your board, especially if you don’t have a lot of storage space. The backpack the Rado comes in is a bit small in my opinion. Perhaps the board will fit better after I’ve broken it in more; but currently it takes some work to get the board to fit in the bag and zip it up. The backpack my new Rado came in has been redesigned compared to the bag included with the Hala Nass I purchased two years ago. The older design opened from the bottom and zipped up all the way around the outer edges of the bag. The newer design opens up more like a suitcase with the top of the bag flipping open. At first I liked the new design and how it opened up, but functionally I prefer the old design because it’s easier to get the board in and out of the bag.

[Update: November 7, 2019] Hala realized the bags do not quite fit the 2019 Rado. If you have one that doesn’t quite work out, send them a friendly note to request a new bag with a better fit and they will kindly send one out.

#Colorado #HalaGear #StandupPaddling #WhitewaterPaddling

Safety is paramount in water sports and nothing is more important than wearing the right gear for the situation you are paddling. Inflatable belt pack personal flotation device (PFDs) are popular with standup paddlers. Their size makes them convenient and are generally considered to be non-obtrusive for paddlers.

Before you make your purchase or head out on the water it is important to know that not all models are the same. The two most popular  styles are an ultra-slim Type V and the slightly larger Type III. The key difference between the two is the amount and style of flotation they provide.

Watch the short video below as PaddleXaminer founder Matt Chebatoris walks you through the two most common belt pack types. Choose the type that is best suited for you and the conditions you’re paddling in.

Click here to learn more about different USCG certified life jacket and PFD types. You may also be interested in reading our reviews of popular models. Remember, the best PFD is one that you’re wearing.

Have fun, be safe and we’ll see you on the water!

Note: The Coast Guard is working with the water safety community to revise the classification and labeling of PFDs.  When completed, this information will be updated and hopefully be somewhat easier to understand.  Meanwhile, spending a few minutes to understand the many options available to find a life jacket or PFD that you’re willing to wear could mean the difference between life and death for you or a loved one.

Each PFD sold for use on a recreational boat is required to be provided with a guide to selection entitled “Think Safe – Choose the Right PFD”.  These pamphlets are tailored to the kind of PFD to which they are attached.

#LifeJackets #PFDs #Safety

PaddleXaminer met up with Body Glove rep Katie at the Summer OR in Denver this past summer. We looked at some of Body Gloves boards but one item which stood out to us was the Pr1me 3/2mm zipperless men’s fullsuit. 

The Pr1me is designed with Evoflex which is ultra light, flexible, and warm construction. The Pr1me was super flexible while paddling on Lake Dillon and the Colorado River. I barely noticed any resistance in movement. What I loved about the suit, even at 3/2mm is how warm it was. The outside temperature was a balmy 40 degrees yet I was super comfortable in the Pr1me wetsuit. It helped to also be wearing neoprene gloves and water socks.

The wetsuit’s flexible construction makes it a great option for paddling, particularly on fast moving waterways requiring constant movement. The Evoflex is made of a composite blend of light and flexible foam. This gives the wetsuit maximum warmth and performance. The pyrostretch forms the interior of the wetsuit; it is super soft on the skin and while keeping the user warm.

The features of the Pr1me include:

1. Zipperless Entry

2. Evo Flex exterior

3. Nano Tritec knee pads

4. Ultra-Light X-Dry plush woven fabric for superior warmth & quick dry properties

5. 3/2mm | Made for cool water: 56-65°F / 13-18°C

PaddleXaminer tested the Pr1me wetsuit while paddling this fall on Lake Dillon in Summit County CO. It was a cool 40 degrees (4.44 Celsius) day, but the sun was out which made for good weather conditions in late October. To put on the wetsuit is like putting on a onesie but a tighter fit. The wetsuit fit snug which is ideal; make sure you review the sizing chart if ordering online as it is spot on. The Evoflex kept me plenty warm while I was out paddling and didn’t hinder my movements much, if any.

The Pr1me wetsuit performed well for me paddling on Lake Dillon and the Colorado River. The flexibility of wetsuit allows the paddler the movement they need while on the water. The knee pads are also hugely important to prevent tearing the suit in the critical flex points.

Retail price for the Pr1me is $269.99.

Check out Body Glove’s website as they have a full line-up of other water sports gear as well!

#BodyGlove #wetsuits

Lifestyle brand BUOY WEAR has brought a water sports apparel line to market that makes protecting one’s skin while on the water easy-breezy due to the use of lightweight, moisture wicking, abrasion resistant and waterproof fabrics with a UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) rating of 50.

Following its success with the innovatively new floating hat, which launched in 2017, BUOY WEAR has been developing apparel among other products, such as floating sunglasses. The apparel line evolved after receiving many requests and positive feedback on the brand’s branded hoodies used as rash guards by the team. “We wear BUOY WEAR branded UPF 50 hoodies for sun protection and promoting our brand at the same time while out on the water doing what we love,” said BUOY WEAR founder and CEO, John Ruffing. “When more and more water sports enthusiasts started to notice and request these shirts, it became clear they were looking for more sun-protective gear to wear on the water. We had to set the development of apparel in motion.”

All BUOY WEAR products reflect the brand’s motto to “never sacrifice function and never sacrifice style”. BUOY WEAR’s first apparel style, the High Performance Long Sleeve Rash Guard, is not only comfortable and stylish – the UPF 50 feature blocks harmful UV radiation, making it the most effective sun protection. Yes, even more effective than sunscreen, as water and heavy perspiration cause sunscreen products to lose their effectiveness. In addition, sunscreens can be harmful to the natural surroundings. What’s more, the High Performance Long Sleeve Rash Guard’s lightweight, moisture wicking fabric keeps one’s upper body comfortable all day long and dries quick. Without the inconvenience of reapplying costly sunscreen, one can enjoy more time on the water.

Features of the High Performance Long Sleeve Rash Guard:

1. UPF 50 rating provides built-in sun protection

2. Abrasion resistance

3. Moisture wicking fabric

4. Color-locking technology ensures color and logos endure

5. Waterproof logos

6. Set-in sleeves

7. Unisex

The High Performance Long Sleeve Rash Guard comes in the colors black and blue, and in the sizes S, M, L and XL. It retails for $39.99 and is available exclusively on buoywear.com.

About BUOY WEAR

BUOY WEAR is a lifestyle brand committed to creating revolutionary gear for water activities such as surfing, kitesurfing, windsurfing, SUPing, kayaking, sailing, swimming, boating and fishing. Operated by globe-trotting water sports enthusiasts, the brand introduced its first product, the ultimate floating hat, in 2017 to prevent users from ever losing their hats in the water again. For more information on the brand and its products, visit buoywear.com.

#Apparel #SunProtection

There are any number of superlatives which may be used to describe a great shape. For me, the one which most effectively sums up the essence of the Infinity New Deal is one of a kind. Only a handful of brands have dared to boast a claim of having a performance longboard SUP. One or two more are poised to wager they have what it takes when their 2018 lineup hits shops in the coming months. I’m willing to bet that none will come close to match the unrivaled performance of the New Deal as I’ve experienced it first hand.

Let’s start with the depth of knowledge which went into the design, something I like to think of as board shaping IQ. The Infinity New Deal was designed by Dave Boehne, the son of Hall of Fame Shaper Steve Boehne. Dave is a bass ass shaper in his own right and is a consummate student of SUP design. Math has never been my strong suit, but assuming Dave learned a thing or two from his father about shaping one could posit there is roughly a combined 100+ years of knowledge that went into designing the board. Can anyone else match that?

I’ve been surfing the Infinity New Deal for a few months now and as I’ve written in the past, my surfing background only goes back a few years. There is no doubt the board has enabled me to improve my skills. Equally important, having the New Deal under my feet has given me complete confidence in my equipment. If I botch a wave, it’s on me as I’ve yet to scratch the upper limits of the board’s complete capabilities. Put it another way, the Infinity New Deal is a performance longboard shape that you can grow with. Super fun right out of the box and it gets better each time I take it out.

The level of detail which went into designing all of the board’s features is unmatched. From the thin foiled out rails enabling the board to carve, the deckpad construction combining two textures of foam, a great recessed carbon fiber handle so you can comfortably pick up the board, to the tight pintail facilitating speed. It has the appearance of a torpedo and I don’t think I’ve ever had a surf session where at least one person didn’t comment on the board. The Infinity New Deal is revolutionary. It is a head turner. A true performance longboard SUP. One of a kind.     

Photo by Maya Tani on Unsplash

Registration opened on February 14, 2021 for the 22nd Yukon River Quest (YRQ), which will be held June 23 to June 26, 2021. The event was cancelled in 2020 but will go forward this summer under COVID-19 health and travel mandates. As such, race registration will initially be limited to Yukon and Canadian teams only. Yukon teams currently on hold from the cancelled 2020 event will be registered first.

All international teams that were previously registered from 2020 will be withdrawn but will have the option of getting on a wait list for entry if travel restrictions are lifted before the race. They will not lose their spots in the queue.

The 715-kilometer (444-mile) marathon paddling race is run on the Yukon River from Whitehorse to Dawson City in Canada’s Yukon Territory during the last week of June. The race passes through the traditional lands of five Yukon First Nations and honours the cultures of those who have lived off the river and nurtured it for centuries.

The “Race to the Midnight Sun” for many years was the world’s longest annual paddling race and remains unique because teams race round-the-clock on a wilderness river and under a sky that never gets dark.

The allure of the Yukon River has made the YRQ a huge success. In the two years preceding the COVID pandemic, more than 100 teams registered, prompting race officials to adjust the team registration limit to 125 teams. During the last race in 2019, a record 117 teams were at the start line, and 86 of them finished.

The 2021 race may be limited in numbers due to health mandates, and several COVID-prevention procedures are in the process of being adopted in order to have a safe event on the river and in our communities.

For example, Canadian teams outside of the Yukon and any support crew members in their bubble currently would have to quarantine in the territory for 14 days prior to the event. It is hoped some restrictions will be modified as we move into summer, but the health of our territory’s residents, along with our volunteers and paddlers, is top priority.

Despite anticipated restrictions, the race will go on. Peter Coates, president of the Yukon River Marathon Paddlers Association (YRMPA), explained the board’s reasoning for moving forward with a race in 2021:

“The race will happen, come hell or high water, preferably high water. People need something to look forward to, and even if it is just a local race it keeps the name alive,” Coates said.

Online entry forms are available starting at 14:00 (2 PM) Mountain Standard Time on February 14 via a link under the Register tab on the race website https://www.yukonriverquest.com. Entry fees for the full YRQ are: $650 per solo team (C1, K1, SUP); $950 per tandem team (C2, K2); and $1550 for a C4 team, $2150 for a 6-person voyageur canoe (VC) team, and $2750 for an 8-person VC. Payment is required at time of registration to secure a spot.

While the overall limit of 125 teams likely will be reduced, there also is a voyageur canoe limit of 15 teams, and a solo team limit of 50 teams. Solo paddlers who have not completed a YRQ must provide a satisfactory paddling resume prior to registration to demonstrate that they have sufficient marathon racing or wilderness paddling experience. Paddling resumes should be e-mailed to the race office at [email protected]. See Register page for more details.

New this year for teams that want to get a feel for the race but not commit to the full YRQ experience is the Half Quest, which will end in Carmacks. A separate set of rules including entry fees is now posted on the website. It is hope that a lot of local Yukon teams will take advantage of this opportunity to race on the river. Regardless of which race you choose, you need to be prepared.

“Prospective paddlers thinking about entering need to be aware that this is a race that is tough mentally and physically,” Coates said. “Be prepared to be cold and sore, mentally and physically exhausted, out in the middle of nowhere. A very beautiful but unforgiving nowhere. Do not enter on a whim, but only if you are up to the challenge.”

All paddlers should become familiar with details in the 2021 YRQ COVID Rules, which are posted in English on the website, along with several preparation tips. Each team is required to have a SPOT, IN REACH, or similar tracking device mounted on top of their vessel and activated for tracking before the team is officially allowed to race. This requirement allows teams to be able to be tracked during the race from links on the Yukon River Quest website. Following the actual race live online has been hugely popular with spectators all over the world. During recent races, the reach exceeded more than 30,000 via the event’s Facebook and Instagram pages. Total possible prize money for the full YRQ remains at $42,830, based on 100 teams registered by June 1.

The purse is adjusted upward or downward by a percentage point based on the final number of teams registered above or below 100. The top three male, female and mixed teams per class receive prize money as long as they beat another team in its class and finish within 25% of the top team in the class. Bonus prize money also will be given in several areas to: the top 10 teams overall; any team that breaks a record in its class; the top All-Indigenous team; the top Yukon male, female and mixed teams; the top senior team (age 55 and over), and the top young adult team (age 19-24). Several special awards are also donated by Yukon sponsors. A complete prize breakdown can be found in the race rules on the website.

There will be no prize money for the Half Quest in this experimental year. However, many do the race for the personal satisfaction of staking their claim to a coveted YRQ Finisher Pin (there also will be Half Quest pins). Paddlers who have finished multiple YRQs also now covet entrance into the “Great River Club” which was

unveiled for the 20th anniversary. Racers who have logged 5,000 and 10,000 kilometers are members of that club and receive special pins. For more information visit the Great River Club page https://www.yukonriverquest.com/great-river-club/ ”

The full race is all about endurance. Aside from two mandatory layovers at Coal Mine Campground in Carmacks and Minto Resorts (new this year), teams paddle non stop to reach Dawson City. Teams in the full YRQ will have the option of choosing their rest times at the two layover locations, as long as they add up to 10 hours.

The YRQ course record still belongs to Canadian voyageur Team Kisseynew’s winning time of 39 hours, 32 minutes, 43 seconds in 2008. The 2019 overall winning time was 44:59:10 by the C2 team #wepaddletogether (Mike Vincent and Ivan English) of Saskatchewan, Canada.

The race’s continued success depends on hundreds of dedicated volunteers, who are greatly appreciated by our racers and have a good time helping out during the last week of June. Various volunteer opportunities are listed under the Volunteer page on the website, where you can see the various jobs and shifts and sign up online.

Watch for a schedule and more news about YRQ events as we move into spring. YRMPA also welcomes new members.

The Yukon River Quest is the premier paddling event in Canada’s North and is widely recognized throughout the paddling and adventure racing world. It has been featured in numerous publications, online, and in shows on NBC-TV, the BBC, and the CBC. The YRQ was named one of the ten toughest races in the world by renowned adventure racer and “Boundless” TV star Simon Donato. The race typically draws an international field, which we hope will be back in 2022. In 2019, 13 countries were represented.

The race was beautifully featured a decade ago in the National Film Board of Canada’s critically acclaimed “River of Life” about Paddlers Abreast, a voyageur team of Yukon breast cancer survivors that races every year. In 2021, they will be celebrating their 20th anniversary. Many other worthy causes have been represented as well.

Major logo-level sponsors are: Yukon 1000 Race Timing Software, Gold Trail Jewellers, Paddel Jumper, CKRW-The RUSH, Air North, Kanoe People, Whitehorse Star, PR Services-yukoninfo.com, Pepsi–Aquafina, City of Whitehorse, Up North Adventures, Superior Roofing YT, Total North Communications, Yukon Civil Air Search & Rescue (CASARA), Yukon Wide Adventures, The Coal Mine Campground, Minto Resorts, Fireweed Helicopters, North 60 Petro, and Make IT Solutions.

Many small businesses also have supported the race by sponsoring paddler bibs – see details on the website or contact the race office at 867-333-5628. For more information, view the pre-registration instructions, rules, and numerous paddler preparation links at www.yukonriverquest.com and watch for updates on Facebook.

With over 30 years of a performance boating background and having a lot of racing in my blood, I should know a few things about the effects the correct “Trim” position (Webster’s Dictionary: to assume or cause a boat to assume a desired position in the water) can have to your performance on the water.

My grandfather, Bob Nordskog, was the founder of Powerboat Magazine, a World Champion powerboat racer and I was one of his crew members for the Powerboat Magazine Race Team for many years. I built and raced my own stock outboard hydro at the age of 15 and my brother and I were also National Offshore Champions in our class back in 1987. As a surfer, paddler, waterskier and founder of OnIt Pro, LLC, I feel qualified to add my two cents on this matter.

Tests have shown that a hull which has Xtreme Cream, (Xc), applied to it, got on a plane quicker, had a smoother ride, reached a higher speed and reduced fuel consumption.

In performance boating, optimum trim results in more speed and less fuel consumption. In paddling, the optimum trim results in more speed and less paddle fatigue!  However, there are some major differences between the two because of the much higher speeds in a powerboat. The optimum trim for a boat brings the nose up out just enough to get most of it out of the water so as to not be dragging in the water creating friction and resistance which slows the craft down. If the nose of the boat gets too high out of the water, you lose speed as more air is trapped under the bottom of the hull and becomes more like a sail.

If you watch a boat start from a stand still, it plows through the water for a while before the speed of the hull reaches a point where it releases from the water and the transom of the boat lifts and enters a plane, as in a flat or level surface.

At higher speeds you want to create lift out of the hulls so there is less wetted surface running through the water. The friction of air is a lot less than the water! When you go into a turn at high speeds, you want to bring the nose down and let the hull bite the surface of the water helping you turn better, then as you come out of the turn, trim the boat out again to lift the nose down the straightaway.

Danny Ching steps back to execute a perfect buoy turn. Photo, OnIt Pro

With Stand Up Paddleboard racing it’s quite the opposite. Since the only horsepower is the rider digging with their paddle, the optimum trim for an SUP is where the board is riding as flat as possible through the water. If you are set back too much, the board will stall through the water and the tail drags will slow you down. On the turns you want to step back and get as much of the board out of the water to make your precise turn. You don’t have to worry about getting air trapped under the hull at these speeds!

After watching and studying all the great elite paddlers it seems to me that they all have one thing in common, (besides using OIP), they all know exactly where to stand on the board to get the best glide!

Top athletes of any sport, take it serious when it comes to their equipment. That is why most of the Top SUP racers have been applying XC on their SUP boards for the last few years. They know that if they reduce friction, they increase speed which allows their board to reach optimum trim for a better glide.

Check your photos and see where you ride on your board. Is the nose of the board sticking up and the tail dragging? Are you too far forward on your board to where the nose is plowing or purling deep in the water? Where are your feet planted? It’s OK to move around on the board to find the right trim and glide; all the great paddlers do! If you watch them carefully, they are moving all over the board. When you find the “sweet spot”, you’ll know it. Remember, each board and hull design are different and plane through the water a little differently.

Also, your weight is a factor. When a ‘grom’ paddles, their boards are not sinking in the water, thus they will get a good glide. The board is riding on top of the water, not submarining through it! With the unlimited energy the young kids have, they can be really fast on the water! It blew my mind the first time I saw Riggs Napoleon paddle a few years ago. I’ve never seen anyone with a paddle stroke so fast! Riggs is now an OIP Team Rider!

Obviously when you are on a wave or riding a swell things are different! You don’t want to purl the nose of the board and stuff it, so standing toward the tail and getting the nose up works best! This is why surfers are so good in open water and ocean races; they know how to move up and down the board to get the most speed and performance.

All and all, trim (or foot placement on your board) is one of the most important things to think about when paddling to get the optimum performance out of yourself and your equipment. Remember, every board has a different sweet spot for that optimum trim!

Erik Nordskog is the founder of OnIt Pro, LLC. OnIt Pro produces a speed and performance coating for watercraft to reduce friction on the surface.

#GuestWriter #OnItPro #PaddleTips #Technique #ErikNordskog #SUPRacing #Performance

Kenny Rice of South Africa. Photo: Courtesy ICF

Kenny Rice has continued South Africa’s dominance of the men’s competition at the ICF Canoe Ocean Racing World Championships, while Jemma Smith won Australia’s first women’s senior title on an exciting day of racing in Portugal.

Rice managed to sprint clear of teammate Hank McGregor in the calm conditions at Viano do Castelo to win South Africa a fourth men’s title in the six world championships contested since 2013. Rice finished second behind his brother, Sean, a two-time world champion, in 2019.

“It feels a little weird, I had no idea I was at the front,” Rice said.

“I was just pushing along there, I saw Hank on the inside so I just tried to race him into the beach, and had a really good section at the end. It was a solid race and I left it all on the line.

“I just tried to hang in there at the start, and then recalibrated after the first five kilometres and really had a go. After 12 kilometres I was just hoping for top five, but close to the finish I knew I had the upper hand and I just kept telling myself to shut the door.

“I’m really chuffed to bring it back home for the Rices.”

McGregor won his second silver medal, while Australia’s Mackenzie Hynard took his first senior world championship medal by finishing third.

The women’s race quickly developed into a contest between Australia’s Smith, the U23 world champion from 2019, and New Zealand’s 2019 senior world champion, Danielle McKenzie.

Smith took control in the second half of the race to secure Australia’s first medal in the senior world championship women’s competition.

“I’m really stoked with that, I came into this race not really knowing how I would go because we haven’t raced internationally for a long time,” Smith said.

“Seeing the world championships being run last year, and Australia and New Zealand not being able to contest was really tough and I was itching to get back this year and put a good race together.

“I think we were all probably hoping for a bit more wind, the first half of the course definitely had a bit more assistance than the last half. It got really tough towards the end. I just tried to keep my head down and go as hard as I could to the finish line.”

McKenzie finished second, with 2021 world champion Michelle Burn of South Africa taking the bronze.

It was a strong day on the water for South Africa, who also picked up three of the four under-age titles on offer.

Joshua Fenn won the men’s U23, Joshua Smith took the men’s junior title, and Saskia Hockly ws crowned women’s junior champion. USA’s Ana Swetish won the women’s U23 race.

Jemma Smith of Australia. Photo: Courtesy ICF

Results

Open Women

1. SMITH Jemma (AUS) 01:26:05.45

2. MCKENZIE Danielle (NZL) 01:27:31.06

3. BURN Michelle (RSA) 01:28:14.78

Open Men

1. RICE Kenneth (RSA) 01:17:10.78

2. MCGREGOR Hank (RSA) 01:17:22.18

3. HYNARD Mackenzie (AUS) 01:17:48.03

U23 Women

1. SWETISH Ana (USA) 01:30:37.36

2. BESTER Kira (RSA) 01:32:13.07

3. CAHILL Roisin (IRL) 01:35:06.34

U23 Men

1. FENN Joshua (RSA) 01:18:59.75

2. PEREIRA Bernardo (POR) 01:20:29.84

3. GEBHARDT Claas (GER) 01:21:29.15

Junior Women

1. HOCKLY Saskia (RSA) 01:32:00.95

2. SMITH Holly (RSA) 01:35:09.73

3. RAYWARD Jasmine (AUS) 01:35:10.50

Junior Men

1. SMITH Joshua (RSA) 01:22:59.43

2. LANEE Marin (FRA) 01:24:03.01

3. COETZER Matthew (RSA) 01:25:19.95

One of the leading innovators in inflatable standup paddleboards — Hala has come out with the Hala Rado SUP. The Rado is part of Hala’s River Series which features a hand-full of different boards designed specifically for whitewater paddling. PaddleXaminer recently met up with Jeremiah William, Hala’s Colorado Tech Rep, in Vail, Colorado to test the Rado on Gore Creek. Jeremiah lives in Vail so it was a great opportunity for him to share his backyard with me!

The flow on the Gore was running over 800 CFS which is a pretty solid. We put-in at the same location as the GoPro Games downriver race from a few weeks prior. Jeremiah walked me through the features of the Rado. 

Gore Creek – Vail, Colorado

The two features which I really dig are the stompbox retractable fin system and the river rocker on the board. In lower flows fin strikes can be a serious concern and can unexpectedly launch a paddler forward. The retractable fin system allows the fin to be pushed back into the board when it comes into contact with an obstacle in the water. 

The aggressive river rocker on the Rado is ideal for whitewater paddling. The entire board is curved for maximum contact in whitewater so you can punch those holes with confidence!

A look at the underside of the Hala Rado

As soon as I got on the water, I noticed the extra command I had with the Rado due to the river rocker design. The board was easy to turn and rode the waves with ease. We approached two big drops right after one of the many bridges standup paddlers have to duck under on Gore Creek; I followed Jeremiah’s line starting river left and moving river right to punch through the hole at the optimal spot. My first attempt was not a successful one, but I did get to test the side handles on the Rado after I took a brief swim! 

The side handles are ideally placed at the ten and two positions if one is standing square on the board with your nose representing 12. After I gathered myself, we headed to the “Gunbarrel”, a half-mile section of Gore Creek which runs parallel to I-70. There are four big drops in secession which can be quite challenging and fun!

Running the river! The “Gunbarrel” section of Gore Creek – Vail, Colorado

The board comes in a well designed suitcase/backpack which contains the board and pump. The backpack has a couple pockets to store fins and other essentials. The pack is equipped with wheels so you can easily roll it to where you need to go. For the more adventurous types, use the backpack straps so you can hike up to an alpine lake, and paddle in the beautiful landscape. The Rado River series is made with Core Constructiontm  (double layer drop-stitch) so it’s ready to take a beating and keep on ticking!  Hala, makes their home in Steamboat Springs, CO; they give a shout out to their home state using the Colorado flag colors are the Rado and Radito, the little brother to the Rado.

Features on the Hala Rado

1. 10’10” long x 35” wide x 6” thick (330cm x 89cm x 15cm)

2. 345L volume

3. Patented Stompboxtm Fin System

4. Two 4.5” Click Fins

5. River Rocker

6. Swallowtail

7. Two Side Handles

8. 12 soft rigging points

9. Diamond groove deckpad

10. Rolling Backpack

11. Industry leading three-year warranty

Retail price $1349

The Hala Rado is a great river board for downriver or whitewater, it’s designed with the bigger paddler in mind and can also be used for carrying cargo, nephews, or furry friends! Try out the Hala Rado at GearSpace in Steamboat Springs CO, or any other Hala Outfitter.

#HalaRado #WhitewaterPaddling #StandupPaddling #HalaGear #Colorado

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