Paddlers Round-up: 5500km New Zealand expedition, Adventure Kayak going to the movies, Outdoor iPhone apps, and new paddling marketing program

By: David H. Johnston on Wednesday May 12, 2010

Published in Paddling Raft-Up

It’s been a very hectic couple of days for me. I have been prepping for the National Sea Kayak Symposium which is taking place this weekend. I’m going to be teaching a couple of clinics including one on navigation and communication as well as a something on surfing and currents in long boats. I'm bringing my daughter along. It's the first time she has been to anything like this so she is as excited about it as I am.

Over the past couple of days there has been some really exciting things going on in the paddlesports world. Here is a quick rundown to keep you in the loop:

Tim Taylor is currently planning to become the first person to solo kayak around New Zealand. It was completed back in the 1970’s by famed paddler, Paul Caffyn but he did it over a period of 3 years. So far nobody has done the 5500km trip in one shot. Tim is hoping to do it in 6 months.

The latest issue of Adventure Kayak is out. You can read the latest online issue for free. In there you will find a thought provoking article on rough water sea kayaking becoming more popular. Is it a short or long term trend? Also, there is an article I wrote on the best outdoor iPhone apps. I wrote it a couple of months ago and since then there has been some even better apps released. It was really fun digging through the 2 trillion apps in iTunes and testing them out. Most were complete duds but I was able to find 10-12 real gems which I highlited. Make sure you check out Pocket Universe and the Navionics Nautical Charts. They are both amazing.

Speaking of Adventure Kayak, they posted to their blog today that an issue of Adventure Kayak is going to be included on the set of the upcoming sci-fi movie I am Number 4 directed by D.J. Caruso. The synopsis on IMDB reads, “Nine alien teens come to Earth after their planet is destroyed by an enemy species. But soon discover that their enemy is now after them on Earth.” Not sure where Adventure Kayak Magazine fits into the picture but it sure sounds like a real Oscar contender to me.

Still on the topic movies, the trailer for the third trailer for the M. Night Shyamalan film, The Last Airbender was recently released. I have been keeping my eyes peeled for Adanac's Greenland paddles to show up but nothing yet. If you remember we solved the mystrey back in November when owner, Jill Ellis was sent an order for paddles to be included in an upcoming “mystery film”.

There is an awesome new program/website just starting up called letsgopaddling.com. It’s described as a, “grassroots effort aimed at helping communicate the fun, and lifetime fitness benefits of this family-friendly water sport.”

Backed by some real heavyweights including the National Park Service, US Canoe/Kayak, American Canoe Association, and worldkayak.com, the letsgopaddle.com program is looking for paddling schools and business to get involved in their new welcome centre program. You get access to a wide variety of benefits including marketing materials and program information on their new “DARE to Kayak” anti-drug school curriculum.

I think it looks like a fantastic project so check it out.

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