If you haven't listened to Simon Willis's latest podcast you need to. It is a great interview on how to prepare for a BCU 5* course. I want to personally thank Simon for taking this project on. I wrote Simon way back in October (I think) to see if he could put me touch with an instructor who could help separate fact from fiction on what how to prepare for the 5*.

You see over the years, I have dreamed about taking a 5* course. Everybody I talked to told me stories about how it takes years and years and you need to be such and expert that you can't pass it if you don't also know how to fly the rescue helicopters that will come out and save you. Pretty much; you need to be the Jack Bauer of sea kayaking.

Simon said he would keep an eye out for somebody and send them my way. I kept doing my own research and to be honest, didn't expect to much. Then I got a nice little Christmas present. He said that he turned my idea into a podcast!

Listening to it, I got tons of really great information on what to prep for and what course is really like. Listen for yourself.

Also, let's talk about 24. If you haven't been watching so far, you still have time before the 24 train completely leaves the station.

Here is all you need to know. We are 4 hours into it, Jack is out saving US of A from the bad guys and there has been some mild violence.

Watching 24 has made me decide that I need to work on my fighting stamina. I don't do a lot of fighting and I haven't really been tortured but, I am pretty sure that if I was tortured with a hot knife, bamboo fingernail torture, or even the old knife if the thigh, I wouldn't be able to jump up and bust my way out the door then continue fighting for the rest of the show.

Yep, I am making it my new (old) year's resolution. Work on my fighting/torture stamina... Watch out.

Dear Weather Guy,

How do barometers work? Why do meteorologists use barometers? What do barometers do? When were barometers first invented? How do you make a model of a barometer? How accurate are barometers?

Outdoor Retailer, the leading outdoor industry trade event today announced that the Trade Association of Paddlesports (TAPS) will have a strong presence at this year’s Winter Market in Salt Lake City. According to Michael Pardy, executive director of TAPS, TAPS will make their Winter Market debut in response to the paddlesports market’s desire to extend sales and marketing efforts beyond the summer months to an annual basis.

Warren is multi-talented: a highly-skilled sea kayaker in the traditional style, wooden boat builder, and nature photographer. This is Warren as we all know him best, ripping it up in his kayak in the tidal race at Deception Pass. Yes, this movie features the famous shot where he gets vertical in a whirlpool with his Anas Acuta. Greenland Style doesn't get much more EXTREME than this! It's so much fun even Nanook has to join in! Also featured are friends Roger and Nancy, and a guy in a Klepper.

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The Professional Paddlesports Association (PPA) announced today that it has changed its name to the Paddlesports Industry Association.  The name change is the first step in the organization’s adoption of the recommendations put forth by the Paddlesports Industry Unification Workgroup (PIUW) to create a single trade association that represents the entire paddlesports industry.

I recently came upon some classic Sesame Street kayaking footage tonight on YouTube. It's fantastic and really shows how much things have come along in both paddling skills and boat/gear technology.

The funny thing is that I think I was using the same helmet until just last year when I replaced it with a new fangled one.

Want to relive your childhood? Check out this collection.

I also added a new category to our video collection. We are now showing whitewater videos so throw some popcorn into the microwave and sit back and enjoy.

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Joe Raposo's underscore adds a nice mood to this impressive film.

(I wonder if that guy is Jim Henson?)

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Footage from a swiftwater rescue course.

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National Geographic covered the WaterKite in it's recent "Rescue" episode of its "Marine Machines" series. Film was shot on the Capilano River in British Columbia, Canada.

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WaterKite whitewater rescue demonstration on the Capilano River at high water near Vancouver, BC in August of 2004.

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