Tuesday, February 09, 2010
   
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Call for Presenters at the 2010 National Paddlesports Conference

Category: Industry Stuff

American Canoe Association LogoThe American Canoe Association has just announced that they are looking for presenters for their upcoming National Paddlesports Conference later in the Fall.

They are keenly interested in presentation on the following topics:

Read more: Call for Presenters at the 2010 National Paddlesports Conference

   

Goose Attack Video + Viral = Jay Leno

Category: Video

Goose Attack!

Since January 26, the kayak community has been buzzing about the viral video with kayak fishing pro Drew Gregory getting attacked by a goose. It’s really funny and I’m 100% positive that I would have reacted in the same way if I was in the same situation.

Since the video was posted it has gone viral outside the paddling community with over a 100,000 views on YouTube. Somehow the link was passed along to the producers of the Jay Leno Show and it’s scheduled to be highlighted tonight (February 5th).

The popularly of kayak fishing over the past 2-3 years has been growing at a tremendous rate and some feel that it won’t take much for it to become a common method of fishing (compared to using a powerboat). Could this be the perfect exposure that kayak fishing needs to go mainstream? I hope so.

Read more: Goose Attack Video + Viral = Jay Leno

   

Not to be missed (except by me): Golden Gate Sea Kayak Symposium

Category: Events

Golden Gate Sea Kayak Symposium LogoThe Golden Gate Sea Kayak Symposium in San Francisco is clearly shaping up to be one of the best events this winter season (if not one of the best of 2010).

The speaker/coach list is a massive collection of the biggest movers and shakers of the sea kayaking community today. It includes, Jeff Allen, Rob Avery, Tom Bergh, Kelly Blades, Gordon Brown, Bryant Burkhardt, Kenny Howell, Jen Kleck, Ben Lawry, Christopher Lockyer, Sean Morley, Helen Wilson, Michael Pardy and many, many others.

On top of that, it was just announced that Freya Hoffmeister will be a keynote speaker when she gives a presentation about her epic circumnavigation around Australia back in 2009.

Read more: Not to be missed (except by me): Golden Gate Sea Kayak Symposium

   

Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz latest invention: The BO-AT

Category: Funny

Dr. DoofenshmirtzIf you have kids (and cable) there is a good chance that the Disney television show, Phineas and Ferb gets watched in your house. If you don’t have kids that’s ok; just know that you are missing out on the best cartoon television show that Disney has put out ever. It’s filled with weird looking kids, really funny adventures; and a secret agent platypus that fights his nemesis, Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz.

So why bring it up tonight? One of tonight’s stories involved Dr. Doofenshmirtz trying to take over the tri-state area with some evil scheme once again. His secret weapon this time? The BO-AT.



Read more: Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz latest invention: The BO-AT

   

Real Life Toronto Beach [Video]

Category: Funny

If you were ever interested in what beaches here in Toronto look like, here is a very accurate representation.

Read more: Real Life Toronto Beach [Video]

   

RIP West Coast Kayak Symposium. We hardly knew ye.

Category: Industry Stuff

The West  Coast Sea Kayak Symposium. Photo Credit: John BolivarI just got an email confirmation that that the West Coast Sea Kayak Symposium is almost 100% not going to run this year which is really sad. Running for over 26 years, the West Coast Sea Kayak Symposium is the oldest in North America and one of the oldest in the world.

Read more: RIP West Coast Kayak Symposium. We hardly knew ye.

   

This is Canoeing Film Trailer Released [Movies]

Category: General News

This is Canoeing CoverJustine Curgenven has just released the trailer to her upcoming video, This is Canoeing and it looks great. I am really excited to see the final cut when it comes out.











Read more: This is Canoeing Film Trailer Released [Movies]

   

California Kayaker Magazine Coming Soon [New Magazine!]

Category: General News

California Kayaker MagazineI just got an email from Peter Donohue who let me know about a new (and some would say brave) magazine that he is starting up called California Kayaker Magazine. It will be published quarterly and focus on the local paddling scene in northern California and cover a wide range of topics including touring, racing, kayak fishing, whitewater and kayak surfing.

The great thing about California Kayaker Magazine is that it will be distributed free of charge via local paddling shops as well as made available to the rest of the world for free via their website at calkayakermag.com.

I really wish Peter the best of luck getting things off the ground. It’s been such a brutal year for publishers and many of the established magazines are struggling to be honest. In this case, the hyper-local focus of California Kayaker might just end up appealing to advertisers wishing to purchase advertising space.





Read more: California Kayaker Magazine Coming Soon [New Magazine!]

   

Bring the Outdoors to your Browser with Firefox 3.6 [Let's get Nerdy]

Category: Software

Firefox LogoLate last week Mozilla dropped the latest version of their fantastic browser Firefox. With the beating that Internet Explorer has taken in the past couple of weeks over that whole China/Google war; if you haven't made the switch, you really should now. With an updated javascript engine, Firefox runs better and loads websites faster than before. For example, Gmail and Hotmail users will notice a difference for sure.

One of the more interesting features of 3.6 is the ability to skin your browser via Personas. Firefox has a huge (and by huge, we really mean massive) collection free skins to make your browser more interesting to look at. If you can’t find one you like you have a problem because there are 36,000 to choose from.

Over the weekend, I poked through the gallery and pulled out a few that I liked. I will admit that with 36,000 skins it’s hard to really scratch the surface and the vast majority were really, really ugly. Here are a few outdoor themed skins that I liked:

Read more: Bring the Outdoors to your Browser with Firefox 3.6 [Let's get Nerdy]

   

Surfing Collision Leads to Court

Category: General News

Surfing Etiquette SignTwo Surfers, in Nova Scotia collided on a wave last year and ended up in small claims court. Donald Crowe and Jeffrey Adams ran into each other but things got nasty when Adams decided that he shouldn’t have to pay for Crowe’s damaged board.

Rather than fighting it out like good old boys do; Crowe decided to sue for the cost of a replacement board claiming that he had the right-of-way on the wave and Adams should have backed off.

After explaining the (sometimes complex) rules of surfing etiquette in court, the judge ruled in favour of Donald Crowe and told Jeffrey Adams to pay $750+89.68 in court costs.

Let that be a lesson to make sure you know what you are getting into before jumping in the water. Here is a quick lesson on the rules of the road when it comes to wave ownership. It makes good sense and things are a whole lot safer when everybody follows the rules.

Read more: Surfing Collision Leads to Court

   

Free Legal Advice: Volunteers are your friends until something goes wrong

Category: Industry Stuff

The JudgeRecreation lawyer and blogger, James Moss has got some great free advice for people who own an outdoor business.

Never forget what roll everybody is doing while on your course or trip. That will help in figuring out how you will sue you when something goes wrong.

A good group of people that often fall through the cracks when it comes to release forms are volunteers. They are not paid by you and not paying to go on the trip. They are usually friends of you or your staff or parents acting as an extra set of eyes. Remember that volunteers are there to help you but will likely sue if they get hurt so make sure they sign a release.


Read more: Free Legal Advice: Volunteers are your friends until something goes wrong

   

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About Me

David H. Johnston
David H. Johnston
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

"Procrastination is the greatest laborsaving invention of all time."

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