Team Paddler Luke Vollmerhaus and His Mexican Vacation

Okay, so clearly I am doing something wrong when in the last 10 days or so we've had two Nikki Rekman Sales team members reporting from sunny Mexico.

Here's a trip report from Luke Vollmerhaus that will having you yearning for Spring or hoping on the next plane to visit warmer waters!

Hey Paddlers!

I hope everyone’s winter is treating them well and anyone playing in the backcountry of the Rockies has been VERY careful.  We’ve seen some of the most reactive avalanche conditions in years this season.

Anyhow spring is just around the corner (it’s a marvelous +10⁰C here in Calgary) and I managed to make it down to Mexico at the end of February to hit the beach!

We stayed in a town just outside of Puerto Vallarta called Sayulita, less people more waves! We were super fortunate with weather and had blue sky days the whole week we were there. I was lucky enough to have both my family (Andy, Lori and my brother Jakob) and my girlfriend Allison along for the trip.

I could barely wait to taste the salt water so when we arrived my first move was to get a board and hit the ocean. The local surf shop had some great SUP boards. The waves were small the first couple of days but this was an excellent warm up and an easy catch for the SUP board. One comment I have to make at this point regards the ocean floor in this area. The bottom was comprised of oyster beds, for any non-surfers out there this means you’re surfing over a bed of small knives. This is a little hard on the feet and surf-wear, I was incredibly impressed with my Kokatat Surf Trunks which stood up to the beating without issue, no awkward streaking out of the water holding shreds of shorts for me!

During the first days of our trip we took a couple of small SUP tours out of Sayulita’s bay, an incredibly beautiful area, warm water and we even had the privilege to see humpback whales spy hopping!

As the week passed the waves got consistently bigger, nothing impressive but definitely more fun to ride! I got out on a surf board for a couple of days and went back to the SUP later on.  My family had their boogie boards as well as a play boat we dragged along with us, everyone managed a few great rides every day. I even managed to get Allison on a surfboard and after just a couple of short learning sessions she was up and riding like a pro! Her long board practice at home definitely helped.

I must really recommend this area for anyone looking for a sweet cheap vacation, there’s tenting spots right on the beach if you’re worried about accommodation blowing your budget and food is cheap!

I brought my own paddles down for this adventure and got to put Werner Paddles’ Stinger through its rounds in the surf and I must say I was very impressed. The blade surface area provided tons of acceleration when catching the wave and it’s shape made an excellent brace and rudder for cranking the big board through a tight turn.

I’m back in Canada now and eagerly awaiting the spring melt to start our rivers pumping! See you on the water!!

Cheers,

Luke

Purpose Built Paddles

Welcome Guest Blogger, Mike Darbyshire! 

**Mike did up this great post on his blog and we thought it was too good not to re-post here! 

I can appreciate the ease of having one paddle that "does it all". The problem with that is usually a paddle that "does it all" comes along with a number of compromises in performance. Most paddle companies have a few different models with end-use, cost and durability in mind. Werner Paddles has been making paddles for a long time and they have a pretty good idea of how to make paddles to handle different environments.

Racing:  Werner GrandPrix M1000  -  81"

This is Werner's race specific paddle.  It is full carbon and extremely light to allow for a faster stroke rate and less fatigue over time.  I tend to prefer a faster stroke rate and I really like the longer, narrow blade rather than the wider teardrop shape.  I am noticing a lot more companies coming out with this narrow shape for 2013 so there must be something to it.

Werner also makes this paddle in the bent shaft.  I have started using the bent shaft for training paddles this fall and am looking forward to using it for some longer distance races.  The bent shaft gives a noticeable increase in forward reach but does take some getting used to especially if you have been paddling straight shaft for some time.

Surf: Werner Nitro - 79" 

In the surf I use a paddle that is 2" shorter than my race paddle.  This allows me to paddle comfortably in a surf stance when I am crouched low to catch waves.  The shorter paddle also allows me to use a high cadence stroke for quick acceleration.  Surfing can put a lot of stress on the paddle so it is important to use a good strong paddle that you can rely on.  When I'm surfing I pull harder to catch waves than any other paddle or race. For this reason I like to use a smaller blade to reduce the risk of injury.

Whitewater: Werner Stinger - 78"

The newest SUP Paddle from Werner.  This paddle is truly purpose built and performs its duties very well.  The Stinger has a very unique blade shape that is perfect for whitewater. The narrow tip of the blade allows for a lighter stroke and a soft catch. The blade gets larger towards the shaft of the paddle to give the paddler more surface area for bracing and power when needed.  The reverse teardrop shape lets you decide how much blade goes into the water.  The rounded tip of the blade is also great for moving the paddle around under the water.  A lot of whitewater strokes like draws, rudders and braces keep the paddle in the water in transition.

I understand that it doesn't make sense for everyone to go out and buy 3 or 4 different paddles but it does make sense to choose a paddle that is designed for what you do most.  Make sure you pick a paddle that feels good in your hands and that you trust.  I always recommend paddlers spend a little bit extra on their paddle.  It can be the most important piece of equipment you use so take the time to pick a quality paddle that is right for you.

 

Another River SUP Paddler Sings the Stingers Praises

Welcome, Guest blogger, Luke Vollmerhaus.  

Luke works for Aquabatics Calgary a proud Kokatat Watersports Wear and Werner Paddles Dealer.  He is also a member of the Nikki Rekman Sales Team.

 

Smooth. 

For a paddle that might seem like an odd descriptor but for the Werner Paddles Stinger it fits perfectly. 

With each stroke this blade eases into and out of the water without the slightest suggestion of a catch. This enables the paddler to take more confident strokes in the complex balance situations presented by White water SUP boarding. In a sport as progressive as this you don’t want anything holding you back and the Stinger does just the opposite, accelerating your skills better than ever!

Here’s the physics behind the feeling: Your classic wedge shaped blade delivers a powerful forward stroke and is by far the most commonly used style as SUP boarding started on flat water and ocean environments. The down side to this design is that as soon as you get the tip in the water you immediately have a very significant portion of the blade in the water. This can cause something called a ‘catch’ where you suddenly have a large amount of resistance against the blade. If this resistance isn’t perfectly in line with your intended stroke (due to something like say… river currents) then it can pull you off balance and land you in the water. 

Werner has conquered this issue by inverting the wedge shape of the paddle so if you only put a little of the blade in the water you only get a little bit of resistance. The angle of the wedge also makes sculling braces much easier as it doesn’t bury the blade in the water as easily so your paddle stays high and utilizes maximum leverage and surface tension.

I got in a September surf session on Harvie passage in Calgary to test out this hot new blade and it was all it was that Werner promised and more!   

This paddle is a huge step in the progression of white water SUP.

Keep a paddle in the water!

Luke

Review of the Stinger - River Running SUP Paddle

Check out this great review of the Werner Paddles Stinger - River Running SUP Paddle

Review by: Colorado Kayak Supply
 

Inflatable stand up boards were designed to be used in places that could potentially damage or break an epoxy or hard shell SUP. Because of their incredible durability and versatility, they have dominated the river scene. Up until about 2 weeks ago, there was no whitewater specific paddle to accompany you and your board downriver. Werner was able to identify this void in the market, and design an all new blade from the ground up. It’s called the Stinger, and it’s packed with features designed specifically to make river SUP easier. This all new paddle is very easy to identify due to it unique shape. What’s up with the funky design? Check out the review to find out:

Specs:

• DURABILITY:If you’re a whitewater kayaker, than you most likely know about the Werner Powerhouse. It’s a staple here in Colorado, ready and able to slay any manky, rocky gnarl that you throw it’s way. Think of the Stinger as The Powerhouse of SUP. It’s built with the same quality construction as the legendary creek blade. The tip is reinforced with an extra layer of fiberglass, the shaft is heavy duty, and the ABS palm grip is built to take a beating as well.
  
  

  The ABS plastic grip is as durable as it is comfortable.
  
  

  These blades are not coming off, or going to take on water anytime soon. MADE WITH PRIDE IN THE USA.
  
  

  Reinforced fiberglass tip. Push off of rocks, bash whatever you need to when you are going to battle on a class III run.

  
  
• RIVER SPECIFIC BLADE SHAPE:The concept behind the reverse teardrop blade shape is simple. The paddle has less surface area near the tip  which means that it’s smaller, and has less of a chance getting stuck between rocks. Also, having less surface area allows for quicker and more precise strokes when paddling in shallow water. The paddle gets wider at the throat. The increased size helps with bracing, and is also powerful when you dig deep.
  
  

  Less blade at the tip for shallow rocky water, and more in the throat for improved bracing and power on a full stroke.
  
  

  The reverse teardrop shape is apparent when the Stinger is placed next to the Carve.

  
  
• AVAILABLE IN A 1, 2 OR 3 PIECE:1 piece paddles have the advantage of weighing less and being stiffer. If you do not care about portability or adjustability, and want to max out paddle performance, go for the 1 piece. 2 piece blades are probably the most popular. They are cost effective, and adjust to fit a wide range of sizes (7.5″ of adjustment). The 3 piece breakdown Stinger is a great way to compliment an inflatable SUP. Most inflatable’s come with a travel bag, with an attachment for a paddle. For traveling, and portability, the 3 piece is the way to go.
  
  

  The 3 piece Stinger compliments any inflatable SUP well. When portability is important, a 3 piece is the only option.

  
  
• STIFF:The fiberglass shaft used on the Stinger is as strong and stiff as any SUP shaft out there. When paddling, stand up paddlers are about 3 feet higher (than kayakers) off the water, and apply more leverage on the shaft and blade. Werner accounted for this fact, and reinforced the right areas of the paddle.
  
  

  Making an attainment move requires a powerful blade, and a shaft with very little flex.

  
  
• MADE IN THE USA:ALL Werner paddles are made by hand in Sultan, WA USA. Werner also has incredible customer service. If you don’t believe us, then give them a call…

Cons:

• USE SPECIFIC, NOT GENERIC:The Werner Stinger is intended for whitewater paddling. It is not designed for flatwater touring, or to be a utility paddle that does a little bit of everything. If you want a blade design that is more utilitarian,check out the Carve or Advantage. They are both designed for all around use.
  
  

  The Stinger is designed to be used on the river, and withstand the rigors associated with downriver paddling.

The Verdict:

If you’re a whitewater kayaker who has recently begun drinking a form of a highly addictive Kool-Aid, known as River SUP, you should take a look at the Werner Stinger. It’s the ONLY river specific whitewater stand up paddle on the market. Leave it to Werner, to build a true whitewater SUP paddle, that can withstand the rigors of downriver paddling. Besides all of the cool features packed into the Stinger, it’s made in the USA, and backed by Werner’s awesome customer service. That is a pretty tough combination to beat for only $218.95.

Weekend Wrap Up

What an amazing weekend of all things paddlesports!  Saturday we were out at Western Canoeing and Kayaking for their end of season sale.  Selling Aqua Pac Accessories, Esquif Canoes, Jackson Kayaks, Kokatat Watersports Wear and Werner Paddles! 

Sunday the weather was fantastic for the Vancouver SUP Challenge at Jericho Beach and we were joined on the beach by Werner team paddlers, Nikki Gregg and Mike Darbyshire.

Jade and Azul Beach Patterns

Lots of paddlers came by the booth to demo paddles and check out what's new for 2013 particularly our new lighter weight Premium and Performance Core SUP paddles, the updated beach patterns, the 3 pce. Fiji and our SUP River Running paddle - the Stinger.  Check out the video of the Stinger HERE.

A huge shout-out to Gary Parsons and his crew for hosting a great event.  The vibe was awesome and all paddlers were welcome, newbies to the pros and groms all the way to our more distinguished silver-haired participants!  Thanks to Mr. Bell (Shannon Bell-Parson's dad) for the tunes and the fresh peaches.

Gorgeous Paddles photo: Mark Klein

Start of the 14' Race photo: Mark Klein

14' Race - Norm, Bo, Mike and Lina photo: Mark Klein

Yannick Michaud from Ocean River Sports in Victoria, BC photo: Mark Klein

Nikki Gregg photo: Mark Klein

Laura Demers from Western Canoeing and Kayaking in Abbotsford, BC - you rocked Laura!!! photo: Mark Klein

Check out more photos on our Facebook page