General News

Here is an incoming email from my friend Alan Drummond. Make sure you tune in tonight tomorrow night!

Hello All, be sure to watch this Tuesday's edition of The Mercer Report on CBC at 8:00 pm EST.

Good friend of mine James Roberts of www.learntokayak.ca teaches Rick Mercer of CBC's The Mercer Report some kayaking at The Toronto Outdoor Adventure Show the all important skill of the wet exit. I got to meet and talk briefly with Rick as well. Also, he was wearing my drysuit for the taping.

It was a lot of fun to watch it being taped, we hope a lot of it ends up on the show.

You may see me in the background of some of the shots when Rick is trying stand up paddle boarding.

For those of you who do not get CBC, do not have a PVR, or miss the show you can watch it here, www.cbc.ca/mercerreport, a day or two after it has aired.

or

If you are interested in taking kayaking lessons you can contact learntokayak.ca at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  

Have a good one

Alan

General News

"I'm going to buy myself a kayak, an ocean kayak. My husband (Peter Guzman) has done some amazing ocean trips on the kayak and he's going to teach me. I'm going to go on some adventures with him.” - Clara Hughes

Congratulations to Canadian Speedskater, Clara Hughes who captured a bronze medal in her final race ever, the 5000m yesterday (Feb 24, 2010) at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, BC.

According to Wikipedia, Hughes is one of only five people who have won medals in both the Summer and Winter Games (speedskating and cycling), and is the only person ever to have won multiple medals in both.

Read more: Duly Quoted: Clara Hughes - Olympic Speedskater

General News

There was a lot of excitement at our house this past Friday night. It was the opening ceremonies for the Winter Olympics and everybody was thrilled. Not that we are any type of sports fans at all. The last time I went to a hockey game was when I was 17 years ago when my father felt that we would feel manlier if we went.

Anyways, team sports just aren’t our thing and I think that’s why I like the winter Olympics over the summer ones. It seems like there are a lot more individual sports.

Below is a short clip of the video that played right at the beginning of the ceremony:

Read more: Kayaking Sneaks into the Winter Olympics Opening Ceremonies

General News

I just love this photo from the Olympic Torch Relay. Collette Child is carrying the flame in Port Hardy, British Columbia on Day 96 of the relay.



Photo Credit: © VANOC/COVAN

It’s almost as good as the surfing photo I posted a couple of months ago when the relay started.

More awesome photos of the relay: The Big Picture

Read more: Olympic Torch Relay Canoe Photo [Go Canada!]

General News

Justine 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]

General News

I 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!]

General News

Two 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

General News

If you have young readers in your household take a look at the new book, Kayak Anna and the Palindrome Creek by author and paddler, Lina Lukashevich.

The story is about 11-year-old Anna who finds adventure and mystery via a mysterious kayak she finds. Along the way she learns about the importance of protecting our water water how to fight polluters.

I’m always a big fan of books that include kayaks, leeches and trolls.

Read more: Kids Book Review: Kayak Anna and the Palindrome Creek

General News

Since my recent post about kayak expeditions to watch for this year, several readers have sent me links to other trips that are also the works. Of course I can’t highlight them all but here is another wave of trips that are so exciting that I wish I was out there with them. Instead, I’m going to sit here at the computer and pretend that I have already paddled the routes. That strategy is going to be a big hit at parties.

Read more: More ambitious kayak expeditions for 2010

General News

Junior photobugs out there will want to take note that Canoeroots & Family Camping Magazine has just announced a photo contest and are looking for the best photos of your family well, camping.

Each issue they will select and print a selection of the photos submitted and the best photographer will win a $90 jacket from Sierra Designs. All photos printed in the issue will receive a free one-year digital edition subscription to Canoeroots Magazine.

So get out there (with some kids) and get shooting (with your camera).

More info (with some really legal sounding rules): canoerootsmag.com

Read more: Canoeroots Family Camping Magazine Photo Contest

General News

2009 was a solid year for major kayak expeditions with the biggest one being that girl who paddled around that little island called Australia.

2010 is also shaping up to be a banner year for expeditions taking place all over the world. Here is a breakdown on a few to keep an eye out for:

Read more: 2010 Kayak Expedition Round-Up [Serious Mileage]