I do believe that if you asked any one of the 200 or so participants in our first Kitsap Peninsula Water Trails Festival how they liked the event, they would give a resounding “YES!”

There were smiles all around, from paddlers on the poker run to participants in the classes to renters in our new Silverdale kayak rental fleet.

It started with the poker run, a 6.5 mile paddle from Evergreen Park in Bremerton to Silverdale Waterfront Park in Silverdale. 37 paddlers were on the water, plus three volunteer safety boaters and two Olympic Outdoor Center staff.

One of the paddlers made a fantastic video of the poker run ~ thank you John Brady for making and sharing this! It brought tears to my eyes to see the loveliness of the trip and the joy it brought. I was too busy managing all the little things to be able to go on the paddle, but I got to do it vicariously through photos and videos.

All paddlers received a playing card at the beginning, then three more cards at water trails sites along the way and a final card at the end. The best and worst hands won a prize. The best hand was a smart little boy who chose a kayak deck compass over all the other goodies!

The paddle was a $10 donation, which will go to the North Kitsap Trails Association, whose members have worked hard to make the Kitsap Peninsula Water Trails a reality.

View from the poker run. Thank you Michael Kennedy for the photo!

The Festival at Silverdale Waterfront kicked off at 11:00 with a slow start, but as the sun started blazing the crowds started coming in. As people checked in and registered at our new concession stand, they received a free punch on our hot-off-the-press paddle punch card (like a coffee card ~ buy ten, get one free). They also got to choose a number, then find the box with that number and choose a goodie out of it. It was like Christmas in June!

Registering for the Festival at our new concession stand

Registrants also received a wrist band that gave them access to demo any kayak or standup paddleboard they wanted and take the beginning sea kayak class and beginning standup paddleboard class.

New as well as experienced paddlers of all ages grinned in the sunshine all day. It was a lot of work the led to those smiles, but the bright faces kept reminding me of why I do what I do.

Visitors from the Seattle Area Sea Kayaker Meetup group paddled 13 miles for the Festival! They did the poker run, then paddled back after enjoying the Festival. Thanks for making the trek!

Thank you to the participants, the safety boaters, the volunteers, the Olympic Outdoor Center and KayakProShop.com staff, the North Kitsap Trails Association, the Visit Kitsap Visitor and Convention Bureau and all the others who helped make this amazing day so incredible.

Oh, and thank you Mother Nature for raining sunshine down on us all day, and for putting the wind at the paddlers’ backs for an extra boost during the poker run ~ your support is much appreciated, too!

FOR MORE PHOTOS, visit our facebook page.

Please share your photos, ideas and comments about the Festival either through comments on this post or by e-mailing me at programs@kayakproshop.com.

Harbor Seal popping up behind kayakers in Poulsbo’s Liberty Bay

Yesterday was one of those days that make me glad ~ glad to be a sea kayaker, glad to live in the northwest, glad to be alive.

I taught a beginning kayak class in the morning to curious, technically minded and agile students (which makes it extra fun for me), then in the afternoon I led a Wildlife Kayak Tour on Liberty Bay in Poulsbo.

The wind was strong before class, but died down just in time for the on-water portion of class. The clouds released their raindrops, but only after class and before the tour.

Against all odds, the conditions were perfect all day! For the tour, the the water was glassy, the clouds were high but cut the glare and the temperature was perfect.

And the tide was low, which allowed us to see wildlife aplenty! We saw Graceful Crabs clinging onto their lunch (smaller crabs), tiny snails crawling on Moon Snail shells, numerous Ochre Sea Stars cleaning mussels off the pilings, and Northern Kelp Crabs picking their way around the sea stars.

But the highlight of the day was seeing Harbor Seals, as it always is. Liberty Bay is home to many of these fun creatures and mothers raise their young here. I’m used to seeing them but I get excited every time.

However, today was extra exciting…

While taking a snack break, one of the cutest seals I’ve ever seen popped up a few feet away from us. All seals are cute, but this one reminded another paddler and I of our beloved dogs ~ light tan, big eyes, small head, and a keen curiosity.

It popped up, dove down, then popped up on the other side of us, then dove down again. It kept everyone on their toes as we never knew where it would pop it’s little head out of the water. One paddler had never been kayaking before, so she was excited but nervous when it popped up just three feet from her.

Then, to everyones’ surprise, it popped up right next to one paddler’s stern near the rudder. It then lifted itself out of the water almost to it’s fins as if it were going to jump up onto his kayak. When it finally dove down again we all gasped ~ we’d been holding our breath the whole time!

It then popped up near at the front end of the other guide’s kayak, lifting it’s head further and further out of the water until it’s entire head was visible to me on the other side.

Again, we all held our breath until it finally dove down again.

“I was bracing for it!” David said. “I thought for sure it was coming onto my boat.”

Instead, it lead and followed us the 3/4 of a mile back to our dock, not leaving us until just 100 yards from where we landed.

                                                          Follow me!

As it popped up further and further away, it was like saying goodbye to a friend.

This is the kind of day I work all year for ~ all those days behind a desk, staring at a computer screen, hoping people will be inspired by our website, our fliers, our signs, our e-newsletter and our daily efforts to join us on the water.

All this work and worry pays off when a seal-friend is made and smiles spread across the faces of fellow paddlers. I live for the moment I see them be fully encompassed and entranced by the peace, beauty and wild-ness around us.

A perfect day, to be sure, and one I hope to repeat countless times throughout my life.

Happy Paddling to You and Yours,

Spring Courtright

Important reminders: Seal pups should never be touched or moved and paddlers should ALWAYS paddle away from seals. If they approach you in the water, that’s fine, but your approaching resting seals can cause major disturbances and even death. You’ll know you’re disturbing them when they start to move around and look over their shoulder at you.

Remember: you’re visiting their home. Approaching them is akin to a large bear walking into your living room while you’re relaxing on the couch after a long day at work.

Never, ever attempt to move a seal ~ young Harbor Seals go ashore or onto docks to regulate temperature and gain strength needed for survival, and mothers will hunt while they’re ashore. If you move a baby it will likely not survive.

For more information about seals in Western Washington, visit SealSitters.org.

TO REPORT A HURT OR SEEMINGLY STRANDED SEAL: call 1-800-853-1064

If you’re a paddler and you haven’t heard of the Kitsap Peninsula Water Trail, Washington Water Trails and the Cascadia Marine Trail, I highly recommend you check them out.

Together these trails provide hundreds of public access sites along waterways throughout Puget Sound and San Juan Islands, which I find to be AMAZING! Some sites are day use and some are overnight, but all are for human-powered watercraft.  Volunteers and dedicated individuals throughout the region maintain the sites year-round so the sites are either free or priced minimally (usually $12-$15/night).

My local water trail is the newly established Kitsap Peninsula Water Trail. At the end of this post is a map of the trail and a link to a pdf file where you can download it. There is also a link to information about the numerous other water trails in the Puget Sound region.

The Kitsap Peninsula Water Trail (KPWT) follows nearly 300 miles of shoreline and has about 80 public access points. The Kitsap Peninsula is a particularly beautiful place to paddle, with views at some points of Mount Rainier, Mount Baker, the entire Cascade and Olympic mountain ranges, the Seattle skyline, tree-lined cliffs, quiet sandy beaches, Sea Lions and countless other wildlife. There are sections with houses along  the waterfront, but even those are often quite nice to look at.

If you’re not a local and aren’t sure where exactly the Kitsap Peninsula is or what the borders are, here’s a map. It’s situated between the Olympic Peninsula and Seattle. It’s a 35 minute ferry ride from downtown Seattle and starts just on the other side of the Tacoma Narrows bridge.

The little arrow in the upper left is from the Hood Canal bridge, which leads to the Olympic Peninsula.

The public access points have been years in the making. My boss, John Kuntz, and many other dedicated souls spent hours of volunteer time talking to community groups, politicians and private land owners to coordinate access. The North Kitsap Trails Association members have played a major part in making the trail a reality.

The route for our original Paddle Kitsap weekend trip was one of the beginning stages of the trail ~ it went 35 miles from Poulsbo to Port Gamble along the Puget Sound and Hood Canal, with incredibly beautiful scenery. For five years John and others coordinated spots along the way for participants to pull up their kayaks and rest.

The trip went so well that we started Paddle Bainbridge along another classic water trail route - a 26 mile circumnavigation of Bainbridge Island. It takes paddlers on the swift waters through the narrow Agate Pass, along the east side of Bainbridge Island with its views of Mount Rainier and the Seattle skyline, past sea lions and tree-lined shores.

The Washington Water Trails campsite at Fay Bainbridge Park, with a long beach and sweeping views, is one of the most beautiful group campsites I’ve ever stayed at (and I’ve been an outdoor guide for 15 years!).

This year Paddle Kitsap will run a different route along the Kitsap Peninsula Water Trail: 20 miles from Silverdale to Poulsbo, with an overnight at Illahee State Park. For anyone who’s paddled the old Paddle Kitsap route, don’t fret ~ we’ll still be getting icecream at the little Keyport store!

On the trail, there are still a few public access points being worked out, but once they are, it’s looking promising that the trail will become an official part of the fantastic Washington Water Trails Association and the Cascade Marine Trail. The trail is already being nationally recognized…

In January 2013, the North Kitsap Trails Association posted this on their website:

“The National Park Service chose Kitsap’s Water Trail as Trail of the Month in a national newsletter, saying: ‘This Pacific Northwest water trail gives boaters access to some spectacular marine life and environments, scenic natural beauty, and historic port towns.

The trail was formally dedicated at an annual tourism paddle event this summer following release of a trails map showing routes and access points to the county’s nearly 300 miles of shoreline. The National Park Service worked with the North Kitsap Trails Association to develop a trails plan that was approved by the County Commissioners in late 2011. Grab your paddle and hit the trail!’”

I posted a question on facebook recently that was inspired by this photo I took just outside my office in Port Gamble, WA, which is a Kitsap Peninsula Water Trail stop:

View of Hood Canal from Port Gamble. There is a Washington Water Trail campsite just beyond the point in the distance (about a 3 mile paddle).

The question was, “…why are Port Gamble and the Puget Sound not nationally recognized as one of the most beautiful places to paddle in the nation?” The response I received, with a wink, was “I’d hafta guess it’s because people are trying to keep it a secret so it remains the most beautiful place to paddle.”

I get torn sometimes, about sharing the secrets about favorite outdoor play spots, but it’s just in my nature to share (or maybe my parents taught me a little too well?).

So now you know, I live and work in an outdoor lover’s mecca. The Kitsap Peninsula Water Trail and so many things here are just too good not to be shared.

We’re hosting a festival on June 1, 2013 to celebrate the Kitsap Peninsula Water Trail and as a fundraiser for the North Kitsap Trails Association. The festival will include a 7 mile paddle (in or on any human-powered watercraft) along a section of the trail.

The paddle is a poker run, with stops at water trail public access sites. This means everyone will get a playing card as they pass the sites, and the winning hand will win a prize at the end. Wish I could take credit for the poker run idea, but I can’t…I can, however, take credit for the duck race for kids that will also happen that day!

If you want to join us for the Kitsap Peninsula Water Trails Festival, here is some information about it:

Activities that will be part of the festival:

• Poker run paddle ~ all ages, experience levels are welcome. Kayaks and standup paddleboards can be rented through the Olympic Outdoor Center. A shuttle from Silverdale back to the Evergreen park will be provided.
• Demos of kayaks, standup paddleboards, paddles and other paddling equipment. Try out different types of equipment and ask questions of paddling experts.
• Games for kids, both on water and on land. No paddling experience is needed.
• Beginning standup paddleboard lesson at 1:00. Beginning kayak lesson at 3:00.

Registration for the Festival can be done at OlympicOutdoorCenter.com.

Want to paddle on the Kitsap Peninsula Water Trail on your own time? See and print off the map at the Kitsap Peninsula Visitor and Convention Bureau website (use the second link).

To learn more about Washington Water Trails, the Cascadia Marine Trail and other regional water trails, visit the WWTA website.

What are your favorite places to play on the Kitsap Peninsula?

I hope see you on the water!

~Spring

Whether you’re a SUPer, whitewater paddler or a sea kayaker, choosing a paddle can be confusing and sometimes overwhelming. It may seem like an endless sea of choices, but when you break it down there are some basic, simple things to look for and figure out that will help you make an informed decision.

The right paddle can keep you happy for many years. An improper one can cause injuries over time and you’ll end up paying for a different paddle and/or therapy. Trust me, I know from experience that choosing the right paddle from the beginning is a lot more cost effective and less stressful than an injury.

With this post and the accompanying videos, we hope to help you find a paddle that will keep your boat or board moving through the water efficiently and keep your joints happy.

In this post we’ll walk you through some of the main points in choosing a paddle: length, blade shape, shaft diameter and weight. These are points that can make or break your paddling experience (and your pocketbook), so I’ll try to be detailed without boring you!

If you want the information from this blog in video form, you can scroll through and click on the blue YouTube Video links. There are videos on choosing bent vs. straight shafts, shaft size, and separate videos on choosing paddles for sea kayak touring, whitewater kayaking and standup paddleboarding.

As always, we’d love to hear your comments, tips, tricks and ideas!

Here’s our YouTube video explaining how to choose bent vs. straight and small vs. standard shaft size.

Bent vs. Straight Shaft

Werner Camano with a bent shaft

There are two factors that will help you determine whether to get a straight or bent shaft:

1. If you’re planning to take long trips and/or you have repetitive use injuries in your hands or wrists, you may want to use a bent shaft. Bent shaft paddles are designed to be more ergonomic, so the tendons and ligaments in your wrist will be less stressed with each stroke.

2. If you have a tight budget, straight shafts are less expensive. They are also generally a little lighter. But remember #1…therapy can be expensive (I know from personal experience), so if you plant to go on long trips, you may want to scrimp a little on other things and get a bent shaft.

Shaft Diameter: Small or Standard

With higher end paddle brands, there are two choices for shaft diameters: small or standard. Thanks to Werner’s Paddle Diagram, this is another relatively simple question to answer. This is the diagram we use to help people decide their paddle shaft size:

Measure your hand from the base of your palm to the tip of your middle finger. If your measurement is 6.5 inches (16.5 cm) or less, you’re a small shafter. If this number is 7.25 inches (18.4 cm) or more, you’re a standard shafter. If you’re between 6.5 and 7.25 inches, you can try either.

Blade Size and Shape

Choosing a blade size and shape takes a little more consideration. These are determined by the type of paddler you are. Simply stated, the more surface area the blade has, the more work it is to pull it through the water. This goes for all types of paddling. There are more specific things to look for with each type of paddling…

Sea kayaking: For sea kayaking, you need to determine if you’re a high or low angle paddler and take your fitness level into consideration. The blade shapes are: wide and short, or narrow and long. The end of these blades are shaped differently due to the angle at which they enter the water.

Werner Corryvrecken has a high angle blade

Werner Kalliste has a low angle blade

High angle = larger blade. When pulling a paddle through the water, a high angle paddler will bring their upper hand to about eye level.  A high angle blade is shorter and wider than a touring blade.  This shape maximizes efficency given that the blade will be closer to vertical. High angle paddles are excellent for paddlers who wish to enact change to their boat quickly, it is no wonder that most paddlers in the surf zone or rock gardens will elect a high angle blade shape.  This shape also provides a bit more resistance when using stabilizing strokes like the high and low brace, and ultimately the roll.  The Werner Corryvrecken is a good example of this type of blade.

The size and high angle will create more power in your stroke, but it will also put more stress on your joints and be more tiring. If you’re in a long, narrow boat and/or are very fit  a larger blade is best for you.

Low angle = smaller blade. A low angle paddler will bring their upper hand to about shoulder height. This stroke is good for longer trips and people with sensitive joints and/or injuries, and some people just prefer it naturally. Low angle paddlers will want to choose a touring blade, which means it’s longer and narrower. The Werner Kalliste is a good example of this type of blade.

Here’s our YouTube video explaining low vs. high angle sea kayak blades.

Werner GrandPrix SUP paddle

SUP: High or Low Cadence? Before deciding on your paddle length, you’ll want to be clear on whether you’re a high or low cadence SUPr. Like a drum beat, cadence is the rapidity and rhythm of your stroke…boom-boom-boom, or boom….boom…boom. It’s best to paddle a few times, watch some videos and/or take a class, and try both styles before you choose a paddle.

Low cadence = larger blade. Generally speaking if you’re just beginning or you’re planning to go longer distances rather than in the surf, you’re likely a low cadence paddler and will want a larger blade. A larger blade has more surface area, allowing each stroke to provide more power. This blade won’t offer the same control as smaller blades, and once you’re used to paddling you may decide you like a higher cadence as it can be less fatiguing over long distances when done properly. Again, it’s good to try it out a few times before deciding.

High cadence = smaller blade. If you plan to spend most of your time in the surf and/or racing, you’ll want a smaller blade for high cadence paddling. Surfing requires the ability to quickly accelerate, stop and easy blade submersion. The high cadence blade offer the paddler the ability to vary power according to paddle depth.  Since the blade shape has close to a uniform width throughout and paddler wishing for more power may simply submerge blade deeper.  For short burts of speed the paddler may choose to only enter half the balde in the water allowing for a much quicker cadence and acceleration.  Racers will use a variety or blade shapes and sizes depending on the type of race, the distance and the conditions on race day.

Overall Paddle Length

Sea Kayaking: Height and Boat Width. Once you’ve determined if you’re a low or high angle paddler, you’ll want to choose the length based on your height and boat width.

Check out our YouTube video on how to choose your sea kayak paddle length.

For low angle paddlers: you’ll need a longer paddle because the shaft is held more horizontally, so the blades enter further from your kayak. There are two things to consider: your height and boat width. If you’re under 6 feet tall, a 220 cm paddle is recommended. If you’re over 6 feet tall, a 230 cm paddle is recommended. If you have a boat that is over 28 inches (71 cm), add 10 cm to the length. This is due to your need to reach the paddle further away to avoid hitting the sides of the boat.

For high angle paddlers: if you’re under 6 feet tall, a 210 cm paddle is recommended, and if you’re over 6 feet tall a 215 cm paddle is recommended. Generally, if you’re a high angle paddler you likely have a higher performance kayak that is under 28 inches wide. If not, the same rule applies: add 10 cm of length to your paddle length.

Choosing a Whitewater Paddle: River Boater or Play Boater

It’s easiest to determine your paddle length if you know you are (or are going to be) more of a river boater or a play boater. Do you want to do cartwheels and spins and play in the surf? You’re a playboater. Not so much of all that? If you are more into river running, creeking or paddling big water, then a river running blade might be more your speed. Not sure? Don’t worry, these paddles can do both ~ the length is just a little more tailored to one or the other.

Play boaters: most of the surface area on your blade is below the center line so that you can engage with the water sooner and have a better grip on it. A smaller statured person will want a 191, a medium is 194 and large is 197.  Remember not only will your stature effect the length of the paddle you will use but it will effect the blade size as well.  Make sure that you are matching your stature and fitness level to the proper blade size.

Werner Player is for Play Boaters ~ bet you couldn’t have guessed!  Notice the down turned blade shape and surface area below the center line of the paddle.

River boaters: most of the surface area on your blade is above the center line, allowing you to get more power with each stroke. You’ll want these sizes, depending on your stature: small: 194 cm, medium: 197 cm, large: 200 cm.  Remember not only will your stature effect the length of the paddle you will use but it will effect the blade size as well.  Make sure that you are matching your stature and fitness level to the proper blade size.

Werner Powerhouse is for river runners-notice there is more surface area above the center line

Choosing a SUP Paddle: Cadence and Height. Once you have decided which venue you will most likely paddle,you can determine your SUP paddle length by your height in inches. For Flat Water, take your height in inches and add 10 inches. So if you’re 6 feet tall, you’re 75 inches and so will need an 85 inch paddle. For high cadence, take your height in inches and add 8 inches.

Need to make a quick choice on a length? Werner’s suggestion is to put your hand over the t-grip at the top of the paddle. The t-grip should be right at your wrist. If it’s below your wrist, it’s too short and if it’s above your wrist it’s too long.

Here’s our video on how to choose a SUP paddle.

Material

We could do a long post just on materials, but you’ll quickly see that the lighter the weight, the higher the price tag. Since you take about 1000 strokes per mile (!) in sea kayaking (!) and 1200-1500 in SUPn (!!), we recommend the lightest paddle you can afford. For sea kayaking we recommend two of the lightest paddles you can afford (see our post on the twelve essentials of kayaking). Our preference is carbon fiber, but I personally also have a beautiful wood paddle that I use occasionally.

Here we’ll cover the more detailed and less covered material topics of swing weight and rigidity.

Lower swing weight = easier paddling/less joint stress = more fun. Swing weight is basically the amount of energy it takes to raise the blades out of the water. The lighter (lower) the swing weight, the easier it will be to pull through the water, which means more efficiency and less stress on your joints, which means more fun!

To test swing weight, hold the paddle in the center with one hand and lightly rotate your hand from side to side. Our video shows Forrest demonstrating this.

Higher rigidity = more efficiency = more fun. Rigidity is essentially how stiff your shaft and blade are. When you take a stroke, your shaft and blade flex with the weight of the water. Carbon fiber- most rigid Fiber Glass- a little less rigid Wood- A little less rigid Plastic- less rigid Aluminum- Less rigid.  (Just for the record, we’re not a fan of metal paddles except if you won’t be able to afford paddling without them.)

Conclusion

So there you have it! We’ve covered the main points in choosing a paddle: length, blade shape, shaft diameter, materials and weight. Hopefully with this information you can choose the perfect paddle.

However, we know there are more details and viewpoints on these topics, so please share!

If you have questions that haven’t been answered here, we’re happy to answer any time. You can find more information and our high quality equipment on our website: KayakProShop.com.

For professional kayak and standup paddleboard lessons, you can join one of our group lessons or schedule a private lesson through us at the Olympic Outdoor Center in northwest Washington state, U.S.A.

Happy Paddling! 

Spring, Forrest and the Olympic Outdoor Center/KayakProShop crew

Here’s a personal story to help illustrate the importance of blade size…

I’m a 5 foot, 125 pound woman and I’ve been a kayak instructor off and on for 12 years. I stay fit and am strong for my size. I used to use a larger blade and loved the power of it, but before going on an 80 mile trip I bought a smaller, narrower blade so I would put less stress on my joints. However, I was with a bunch of college kids and big men, and I felt I was working harder than them, so when I returned I started using larger blades again.

Now, ten years later, I’m starting to experience shoulder, elbow and wrist issues. I’ve been hard on my body in other ways, but I don’t doubt that my blade choices have helped hasten the onset of these issues. While I’m still strong and would like to use a larger blade, I now admit I’m a small woman and I’ll be using a lower angle touring blade for the most part to prevent further injury.

OK, so I’d heard about geocaching before, and even came across a little tupperware container one time with a note inside saying it was a geocache item, but the concept never really grabbed me.

Then Andree Hurley, our friend and the president of Washington Water Trails, came to our office with this fun little item, asking us to place it in a local geocache…

Washington Water Trails Kayaker Travel Bug

With this little guy was a note that said, “My current goal: To travel the waterways of the world by human propelled craft such as kayaks, standup paddleboards, sailboats, dingys, rowboats, etc.”

How could I not look into this? I learned that our accountant and her husband have been into geocaching for years, and the more I looked into it the more excited I became. It’s a scavenger hunt for adults! How did I not realize this before? And now there’s an item that can be carried around the world on the water ~ I can resist geocaching no longer.

What it is, for those who haven’t been bitten by the GC bug (I just made that up, that isn’t a real term…yet), geocaching is essentially using a GPS to find coordinates where items, or “geocaches,” have been placed. They can be ANYWHERE and almost ANYTHING! I’ve read about everything from handwarmers to coins from around the world to Starbucks gift cards. Sometimes there are even REAL treasures, like rare stones and Gameboy microchips.

There are twelve different types of geocaches, and they’re literally all over the world. I could go on and on, but I’ll spare you. You can read more at the official Geocache website.

Not being one to just stick a toe in the water, I decided to jump into the geocache ocean. I set up an account for the Olympic Outdoor Center and am going to start a little geocache site of our very own, right at the waterfront of one of our locations (I can’t tell you which or I’d ruin the adventure!).

Next Wednesday we’ll place the little Washington Water Trails Travel Bug, along with goodies from Olympic Outdoor Center and KayakProShop.com, in a waterproof container out in the big geocache world. Hopefully someone will come get the Travel Bug so I can follow my new little kayak friend as it travels around the world.

Hopefully that isn’t all though! Since there is now a OlympicOutdoorCenter geocache, I’ll hopefully get messages from people who have found our it even once the travel bug has traveled on.

And I’ll be out in the world now, GPS in hand, seeking out geocaches that are accessible in places I paddle, mountain bike, hike, ski and otherwise get out in the world.

I have a feeling I’m going to become a geocache addict, seeking out new treasures everywhere I go…

Are you a geocacher? I’d love to hear your experiences ~ what were your favorite items and locations?

Any ideas as to what we should put in our geocache?

Clue as to the location of our geocache: there’s a lot of history here!

Our very own Forrest Wells raced in the New Year’s Challenge last Saturday, a 6.5 mile race on Lake Union in Seattle. The race is open to all types of paddlers, but most racers are standup paddleboarders, sea kayakers and outrigger canoeists.*

Forrest, our shop and on-line store manager, had a great time. The conditions that day were ideal.  The wind was still at the start line and the rain missed the course as the paddlers made their way from Gas Works park to Sail Sandpoint.  As the 100 or so paddlers made their way to the start line it was a parade of varying colors, shapes and sizes.

“My favorite time of the race is just before the start when all of us are jockeying for position, waiting for the horn to sound.  The energy is intense,” says Forrest. “Once that horn sounds it’s a mad dash for position.  SUP’s, kayaks, outriggers, rowing shells and dragon boats are all set on establishing their lines and position while avoiding one another.

It can be a bit hectic at the start of a race with a large field.  It’s a good idea to place yourself in the field according to your speed.  As a SUPer I don’t want to start right in front of a rowing shell for example.  That is bad for both us since there is such a huge difference in speed.”

About a mile from the start the field settled out and people found their own rhythm, you could see the “packs” starting to form.  As the paddlers made their way through the cut out of Lake Union and into the more exposed waters of Lake Washington  they were greeted with a light tail wind that gave them a slight nudge all of the way to the finish line.

“The event is run well and it is fun to see all those friendly and familiar faces on the start line.”  Part of having a good race is knowing how to pace yourself to maximize your speed and efficiency over the entire course so that when the time comes to make a move you have some gas left in the tank.  “I made my move too early – I stepped it up going around the last bend and was in good position, then I saw it was a lot further to the end than I had thought and I bonked!”

Forrest races a few times every year, both on a SUP and in a sea kayak. He raced in the challenging Deception Pass Dash in a sea kayak in December and placed second in his class.  “The Dash is always a ton of fun.  There’s a part of you that hopes for calm conditions, but there’s also another part of you that hopes for high wind and waves,” he says.

The Dash had been calm for the last three years, but this year there were 2 foot high standing waves and wind, making it an extra challenge. The New Year’s Challenge is usually calmer as it’s in protected waters.

Both races bring out 75-125 paddlers each year, so they are a bit of the “who’s who” of the racing worlds. The most notable this year was Greg Barton, the Olympic Gold Medal paddler who won the Dash. The races are also just a fun opportunity for racers to keep their skills up and get out on the water with other like-minded paddlers.

To see photos of the race, click here. For cool points, tell us what stroke Forrest is doing in the photo!

To see a (very) short video clip from a SUPers perspective, click here.

If you want to get in on a SUP race in Seattle, check out the Round the Rock race on September 9.

* A person who canoes: spell check likes canoeist, we like canoer ~ what do you like?

Forrest at the 2013 New Year's Challenge, on a King's Paddlesports Board using his Werner Grand Prix Paddle.

Welcome to blog post #1! We’ll be sharing kayak and standup paddleboard how-to’s, gear reviews, paddling news, videos and other paddle sport related topics.

What we’re most excited about, though, is creating an on-line paddling community where paddlers can come to share thoughts, reactions, ideas, photos, comments and paddling news with us and with each other.

So, who are “we”? We’re paddling professionals who love to play from the Olympic Kayak Company, which is the parent company of the Olympic Outdoor Center (OOC) and KayakProShop.com (KPS). We started as a whitewater rafting and kayaking company in 1986. Now our focus is standup paddle-boarding, sea, surf and whitewater kayaking.

In our 26 years we’ve helped about 100,000 people get out on the water locally through the Olympic Outdoor Center, with classes, tours, rentals, summer camps, events and trainings for sea kayaking and SUP. We’ve helped thousands more around the world, get outfitted through our on-line store, KayakProShop.com.

Our Mission: We strive to provide the best possible experience for all of our customers through unparalleled customer service, expert advice and top notch instruction. It is our goal to provide a fun, safe environment and community for all, in order to nurture and inspire exploration in the outdoors.

Our employees have been paddling on the rivers, in the surf and touring all over the world since 1986. The products we have grown to trust and rely on through experience are the same products we make available to you.

We have a storefront in the beautiful historic town of Port Gamble, on the Hood Canal in northwest Washington state, USA. We’re in the town’s old fire station, with our own fire bell (ask us to ring it if you visit!). The building has been here since the town started in the mid 1850′s ~ it’s pretty cool if we do say so ourselves.

Olympic Outdoor Center store

We also have three, going on four, satellite locations where we rent standup paddleboards, single and double kayaks. We also teach classes and lead tours at these locations, as well as throughout our county. We’re located on the Kitsap Peninsula, which is part of the Puget Sound. All of our locations are on bays within 30 minutes of our store: Poulsbo, Port Gamble and Bainbridge Island, and hopefully Silverdale starting this summer.

Poulsbo's Liberty Bay

Silverdale's Dyes Inlet

Our beach in Port Gamble

We hope you enjoy, participate in and share our blog. The world of paddling is wild and wondrous ~ the more we learn and share the more fun it is!

We’d like to hear from you…

• What topics would you like us to write about?
• What are your favorite paddling places?
• What are paddling tips and tricks you’ve picked up in your experiences?
• What are your favorite paddling events, or events you’ve heard about?
• What’s your favorite piece of paddling equipment?
• What questions do you have about paddling that you’d like answers to?

You can also visit our facebook pages to see what we and our fans are up to: Olympic Outdoor Center and KayakProShop.com.

Happy Paddling!