Paddle4Play

Paddle4Play: March 2014

Saturday 29 March 2014

New Shiny kit available on our web store!

So the past while I've been working hard on getting the website up to date here's a selection of what you can now find online.

Click the brand to go straight to the online store.

whitewater

 

Remember if you find the same product cheaper somewhere else give me a call and il see what I can do!

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Beaten by the darkness!?

So its been a long dark winter with the light evenings looming its time to reflect on what has been.
The past 6 months of shortened days and dark evenings are the hardest time for any outdoor enthusiasts with cold weather and darkness dropping motivations to an all time low.
The willingness and effort to stay focused really shows how far people will go for their sport.DSC03954

White water kayaking has generally been seen as a winter sport  this means paddling when everyone else is hibernating enjoying the warm fires and comfy sofas, we are out looking for ditches and rivers with water to enjoy.

Luckily for Irish Paddlers the weather doesn't really hit any extremes so by layering up you can stay on the water all year round.

Days off waking up to fresh winter days with bright blue skies and high suns make for some of the greatest days on the water really respecting the daylight.

Once the weekdays come and its back to work the darkness becomes our enemy limiting time on the water and pushing us to our limits.

The dark evenings mean getting out is difficult. Its too dark to get out to the river and only a few spots have floodlights
One of these is WWKC with sessions scheduled evenings the wave has generally stopped working so this really only offers flatwater training but with limited lighting its best for slalom or polo training on smaller courses.

Indoors polo training and pool sessions is what keeps many sane, time in the boat in a warm environment is super helpful for training and learning, building confidence in a safe comfortable environment will benifit people hugely when they hit the rivers again

Another spot we have is Sluice with the purchase of some high powered bike lights set up around the feature offering access to the wave during the darkest hours.

sluice dark

Over the past winter we were unfortunate to have had abnormally high flows for much of the time this left no feature at Sluice as it was washed out over the past few weeks it returned to a surfable level again which has meant time back on the water.

I was lucky enough to get a few days paddling in the UKs artificial courses at the end of 2013 paddling Cardiff, Lee Valley and Nottingham in an action packed three days this was possible as with most of my paddling because of the friends I take with me, For myself the reasons I paddle is because I love it and I love the friends I have with me, Paddling for me is a social sport theirs nothing better when your having a great time on the river than looking over and sharing the eddy / river with some of your best friends.

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I'm lucky that my friends are easy going and also love their paddling this is the biggest motivation to paddling on days where its easier to hibernate.

I hate to feel like I've been beaten by the darkness but the increasing frustration has led me to believe I've been bet this past winter.

But knowing the hours and days I've put in on the water on days off during the past 6 months makes me feel better the feeling that I paddled more than the previous winter and already this year ive paddled more of my freestyle boat then in the whole of 2013 really makes me think positive and then knowing that the light is returning and I'm motivated to get back on the water with daylight coming its an exciting time knowing the hour is about to change and the days are lengthening from here on, in our favour

So in reflection the quantity of paddling may have been limited this past while but the quality of both my paddling and the friends I've shared that time with has been outstanding. The darkness is purely an inconvenience and the time I've spent on the water I feel I well and truly beat the darkness this past winter

so I guess il see you everyone back on the water soon

it doesn't matter what craft, just get out and enjoy.

Ciao

if you didnt see it here our short clips “Dropping Off”

Dropping Off

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Monday 24 March 2014

Flying With Kayaks in Ireland

580284_590466985074_1445368887_n   Having travelled over the past few years to various European countries with a variety of kayaks from Composite Squirt boat through to Freestyle kayak and upto some of the biggest creek boats ive learnt a fair bit about flying with kayaks
Flying with kayakas has really opened up international paddling for many people making Europe a quick hop instead of the tedious days of driving.



Heres a few tips for flying

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Ryanair
Ryanair is Europes lowcost airline but at last check it was 50e each way to take a kayak, but its easy to book online with a clear kayak option in sporting equipment. it does give a 20kg limit this very much depends who you end up talking to at the desk,
In the past ive had my boat weighed and luckily it was the freestyle kayak but over the past year ive heard of lots of people taking creek boats with no problem
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Aer Lingus
Irelands comfortable airline, a nicer option with your own seats and less rushing usually friendlier than other airlines but at the end of the day they all get you their!
on the online booking you will need to book your kayak as a surfboard, at last check 30e each way, I havent heard of anyone coming across any difficulties with this but personally I always try to put it into a board bag (for my big mamba/Shiva I find a SUP bag works well) then at least it looks like a board…
Again it has a 20kg limit but with most big creekers now upto  26-28Kgs I havent had a problem,
A note for Aer Lingus when flying through Dublins terminal 2 the new oversize baggage system will only take upto about a medium Burn anything longer usually has to be taken by hand up the lift and across the floor, this is a nerving situation waiting for your boat to be taken.
In May 2013 Aer Lingus “lost” My Large Shiva for 5 days this is the only negative experience ive had with the airline – in fairness they got my boat delivered to the campsite in Val Sesia for me.
So when you turn up at the airport a few hints to make things smoother…
  • Only put bulky light items into your boat things such as PFDs and helmets try to keep it as light 20120621_215346-1_resizedas possible.
  • Either book an extra piece of sports luggage between your group for paddles or attach them carefully to your boat padded paddle bags are the job! – always take a spare!
  • Arrive early for your flight
  • be polite and be prepared to wait.
  • Take the lightest boat up first in case they attempt to weigh it and encourage the others are all about the same
  • A kayak is always 15-20kgs Winking smile
  • Be helpful and if they ask you to take your boat somewhere else politely agree and smile.
  • Try and wrap your boat in either a board bag or cloth sock – this will stop it getting abused so 20130519_142918_resized_1much.
  • Mind doors, lifts and other passengers boats on trolleys look great but become very difficult to manoeuvre
  • Once your boat is gone move on quickly before they change their mind!
  • at the other end wait patiently – they are usually the last thing out
  • Check for damage especially to paddles and report it on the scene
  • if it doesnt arrive make sure you have the address of the place your staying and contact numbers a description is also always good!

So whichever airline you choose for your next European Adventure just be polite and smile and we’ll see you on the river!  

EDIT; Eoin Rheinisch Adds his 2 cents
Eoin Has spent the past 15 years travelling the globe with slalom boat in tow heres his advice.

We are very lucky here in Ireland to have 2 airlines that will accept kayaks, many other countries around the world don't have this luxury and sometimes this is a result of claims that paddlers make. Companies like JAL, Air Canada and many of the US and European airlines will not accept a kayak of any kind. In some of these cases they used to accept them and sometimes free of charge. The change of heart comes when they receive too many claims for damage to one type of item. If a boat gets completely destroyed then of course people will make a claim but I have known people that make false or misleading claims in the past. For example claiming that a boat is beyond repair when that is not the case or generally exaggerating the cost of damage. In the long run this is very counter productive as eventually it leads airlines to ban an item completely from travel. This is exactly what happened with many of the US carriers. So if its only a small bit of damage and you want to look at the long term bigger picture its best to suck it up.

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#Followyourfeet Photo Comp with Keen Europe


Together with the KEEN Int. OCEAN FILM TOUR launching successfully in Hamburg last week, the KEEN Europe #followyourfeet Photo Contest on Facebook is open



Clickity Click to enter!!

Wednesday 12 March 2014

Choosing a Playboat

So its popping up time after time what is the right playboat for you!?boat 1
Play boats are not a new thing years ago boats got smaller and slicier when it was one boat for all your paddling and if you hit something hard ankle injury was expected, Nowadays most people will get into a bigger boat to learn their craft, a safer option which isn't usually as aggressive but for those people learning in what you think is an old boat a few years ago that was probably classed as a playboat!
Modern day freestyle kayaks are designed to open up the vertical realm, with lots of volume around the knees but still slicey enough, The hull of the boat is the money end this is what makes or breaks a boat is it too fast to slow, too wide too much rocker more on this later…
This question could be answered one of a thousand ways but I'm going to break it down into an easyish step by step guide which hopefully gives you all loads to think about. 
What's your aims?DSC_2498
So first things first, why are you buying a freestyle kayak?
Is it a fashion accessory is it because everyone has one?
Are you looking for a bit of fun to surf those local waves or a bit of fun on flat water or are you hoping to be the next freestyle master, Either way think about what you want to get out of the boat if your looking to be competitive you should definitely look for something more modern, boat designs have followed the trend of what the worlds best paddlers are able to perform (and also every freestyle paddler hates to be beaten by someone in an old design!) if your looking for fun and to try something new the second hand market becomes your oyster!
Budget
So how much are you looking to spend will usually dictate how new a boat yoloop2u should be looking at. But don't get bogged down theirs older designs out their which are still super competition and exceptionally fun to paddle.
When buying a boat its really important to try them first especially if you have no idea, most sellers are happy to give you a go in their boat, otherwise next time your in an eddy ask someone! most paddlers will give up their boat for you to have a go.
Any sponsored paddlers you spot definitely ask them! the reason they are sponsored is because they are good paddlers and love to show off their new shiny kit, most of them will give you a very honest review of their own boat and the others available on the market, especially if your in an older design many team paddlers love the opportunity to get back into something old and really throw it around again!
 
Comfort
We talk about comfort in play boating terms as a whole range of things,
Play boats should never be comfy!……. LIES!
271292_10150675251600714_4856876_oA modern freestyle boat is an extension of your body its designed to go where you do, Yes its a different seating position much wider and a different foot position which does take time to adjust to but if something is sooooo tight and uncomfortable you wont spend the time in the boat to learn anything you'll always be thinking of getting out and that your feet hurt too much!
When you buy a freestyle boat theirs usually a big bag of padding this usually gets tossed aside and forgotten its important to hang onto this and use the padding to give yourself a customised fit, any good kayak shop will help you out with this, everyone is different so you need to spend some time turning your very standard kayak into a customised glove to fit you,
 
Here's a video I made a while back on boat outfitting for some hints and tips

Outfitting a Kayak
When your demoing a boat its always difficult to get a great fit some people spend more time outfitting than they do paddling but realistically when testing a boat try and get the right points of contact first to give you a good idea of what the boat is capable of,
Feet, Knees/Thighs, Bum, Hips and Backrest if you an get a reasonable fit by using extra foam you can fine tune the setup once its yours.
Look at the shapes of the boats many of the older slicier boats are not as good for people with big feet as the ends get very narrow very quick think about comfort and sit into a few boats, with the right outfitting even the smallest boats can be comfy.
Think about footwear generally your gorge boots and canyoneers are not designed to fit in a freestyle boat a thinner river shoe or neoprene sock is a better option giving you protection and leaving you space inside the kayak so not to be too tight.
so this goes hand in hand when outfitting the boat wear the footwear your likely to use as it WILL make a difference
Weight Ranges
All boats are released in different sizes and weights most of these can be found on the shops and manufacturers website, otherwise hit up Google for some stats,
Ad Stern SquirtThe weigh ranges given are realistically a guide, take them with a pinch of salt many stats are put together pre-production and not really updated, if your looking at a boat you ideally want to be in the mid to upper end of the weight range, being too light for a boat will make it harder to initiate and throw around but make it better for river running, but being well over the weight range will mean the boat spends more time underwater, the rails will sit lower making it more unstable,
again take advice from people who have used the boats and try them out, weight sits hand in hand with trim of the boat, tall people often suffer with being tall and pushing the seat back making the boat react tail happy, look at different designs realistically its best to keep the seat as close to centre as possible as it allows the boat to spin around the central point in a well balanced way. most guys on a wave like to shift the seat back a little to keep the nose high and stop it from pearling (catching) this is great but remember when your in a hole and you cant initiate the nose because the weights too far back.
I'm relatively tall yet i always paddle the boat with the seat central before moving it to see how it reacts.
The weight range of a boat is something which is usually down to personal experience again deciding where your paddling will have a role to play.
Hull Design
The hull or underside of the boat dictates many things as this is the section of the boat mainly in the water its often the bit which gets neglected when buying a boat.
First off check for cracks, dents and other damage. a damaged hull is always difficult to repair so check for damage and large gouges.
Don't get too precious, boats will get scratched its just a matter of time, they are designed to bounce!DSCF1368a
So what does the hull do? this is your launch pad to the world this will dictate your speed your manoeuvrability and your stability, As a simple guide look at the rails and the sidewalls the sharper the rails the more aggressive the boat will be and the squarer the sidewalls the harder a boat will be to roll. Where as something with softer rails wont be as aggressive on a wave and round sidewalls will allow the boat to roll easier. A classic example is the Pyranha Jed this is a very aggressive boat absolutely insane on a wave as its sharp rails allow it to carve and accelerate really easy but try and paddle it on a river and you'll spend most the time low bracing as the trippy rails are still their where as something like the Jitsu from Dagger is much more rounded making it less trippy but still super fun.
The hull design conversation could go on all day, best thing to do is talk to people at your local spot and ask them which boats work well as this is where you will do most of your paddling getting a boat to suit the feature will help,
Where are you Paddling
Ok I just touched on this but its important to buy a boat for what you actually are doing and not where you aspire to be theirs no point buying a full carbon boat if your just learning the double pump, likewise buy something you can paddle many boats are better suited to holes or waves this comes back to hull shape, look at what others are paddling and ask advice you'll soon see what works in your local spot.sluice dark
Volume
This is another aspect of weight ranges, take them with a pinch of salt the volume of a boat is simply how big is is inside and measured on either litres or gallons with the ever changing position of where they put the volume its not essential, your better to look at the weight range as it should give a truer identification of what weight that size paddles best for.
Colour
This is the number one feature of an boat! make sure you like the colour! no really pick something that matches your kit and your style if you like the boat you'll enjoy paddling it!
Really though their is some truth in different colours shrink to different sizes but realistically this is down to MM here of their and nothing to worry about.keen loop
Demos
Try the boat in a fun safe environment don't drop onto Gower for your first time in a brand new boat you have no idea about or take it sea surfing where you'll end up getting beaten up, Take it to a nice feature with good eddy access and a pool to roll in or even better a swimming pool or lake (depending on the temperature) and just get used to how the boat reacts and moves, practice rolling and falling in make sure your happy with the boat before scaring yourself.
Boats to look at
So as a beginner to intermediate freestyle paddler with good kayaking proficiency looking to buy a freestyle kayak to have a bit of fun and a change from the rivers here's a few models which are great with some of my own opinions next to them, some people agree some don't but here's boats I've tried,

Wavesport EZ Fun Slicey boat cartwheels for days but old design without much pop
Dagger GForce One of the best Intro boats out their does everything a modern boat does at a fraction of the price.
Jackson Star Series 07-09 An excellent intro boat slicey and fun
Jackson Star Series 10-12 Probably the boat that moved the market these are coming up second hand snap them up a simply amazing boat paddled by world champions and friends all over the world 
Jackson Rockstar 2012 This boat was built for the Plattling worlds in 2011 a really good boat in a hole, starting to come down in price but still a top boat
Pyranha Molan Very narrow boat works well at Gower but a little unstable in a hole
Pyranha Jed A very aggressive boat you will only get the best out of it if your an accomplished paddler
Dagger Kingpin another excellent boat to learn in and should be nice and cheap these days
Dagger Gride a playboat with a little extra volume still very playful and surfs well very cheap to pick up
Pyranha Prozone The slicey brother of the inazone, if cartwheeling is your thing this machine will spin you around
Dagger Jitsu The latest from Dagger still very easy to paddle but high priced
Wavesport Project A great boat with good credentials works well all over the world a great design and easy to paddle
Wavesport Project X a great boat that just faltered in the market fun to paddle great to surf but a little aggressive at times
Wavesport Mobias The latest boat from the wavesport guys ultra competitive but big pricing
Squirt Boats Really open up the vertical world with the emphasis on technique but not great for in features
Girls
GOPR8523Ok its really important that the girls especially look to get something small and light enough they can firstly carry and move about but then throw around once on the water, think carefully and look to most of the small boats first, many of them are now prototyped and work out much better than getting into a padded out medium.
 


 
Where to buy
Ok heres the Bias bit always check out your local kayak stores theirs a great one in Dublin city Centre everyone should check out
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Great Outdoors - www.greatoutdoors.ie
Trade in and 2nd hand boats on Great Outdoors Facebook Page

Otherwise I-Canoe also have a good selection.

Canoe and kayaks for sale in Ireland Facebook group is another great spot to pick up second hand boats.
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Wednesday 5 March 2014

Icebreaker

Our Oasis Long Sleeve Crewe is an active base layer made from Bodyfit 200 merino fabric to keep your body at the perfect temperature when you're hiking or exploring the outdoors.

Having been introduced to the Icebreaker brand by some friends at Keen back in 2012 I spent a long time to really get involved with the brand having come out of a job coaching marathon and sprint whereby the only thermal baselayer system worth wearing was Craft. 

I cant say a bad word about Craft some amazing gear that has never failed me always warm and cosy but the smell of thermals whether left in the kit bag, the wash bag or to put on for another session was terrible. 

So the deal was plenty of thermals and keep washing them! 

Untill. .....

After lots of chats and eventually being sent a Icebreaker Oasis crewe 200 a light weight base layer not particularly technical or performance cut just a big standard baselayer or so I thought!

 

With a big price tag these things had to do something special so I had read the books about merino wool and how it doesn't hold bacteria hence no smell along with being fast wicking, lightweight and extremely warm I decided to jump in with both feet and take it for a test last year in Italy using the baselayer on and off the water all day everyday over the course of a week hang it to dry in the evenings and wear it the next day fresh as a daisy. I couldn't believe how good the base layer was so on my return to Ireland I got a second one just to make sure.it wasn't a fluke.

Last autumn I travelled around Europe for a few weeks trade shoe then Sickline and some more paddling and biking again taking my two trusty Oasis Crewe's and alternating them during the trip paddling, racing, mountain biking, walking by the last few days when I had run out of clean clothes and all I had which smelled clean were my Icebreaker baselayers which id been wearing on the river each day so river thermal became pub t shirt and travel home t shirt all combined.

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The base layers have kept me warm and dry over a number of different sports and environments during 2013 and are now the first piece of kit I put in the paddling bag.

Having really experienced the benefits of these garments I have since added hoodies and jackets to my icebreaker collection.

Icebreaker clothing is made using 100% New Zealand Merino fully traceable back to source, Check out their latest range at Great Outdoors Dublin 

Purchase Icebreaker Crewe Now from Great Outdoors

For More information on Icebreaker Merino Check out their Web Site HERE

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