2nd Annual Toby Creek Race 2016 – Werner Odachi

Thanks to guest-blogger, Allen Yip from Aquabatics Calgary for his thoughts on the recent Toby Creek Race in Panorama, BC and his paddle of choice, the Werner Paddles Odachi. 

I was super stoked to compete in the Toby Creek Race.   This year, thousands of dollars was up for grabs thanks to the sponsors and organizer.  $1000 CAD for 1^st Place in Elite Men’s division!  Needless to say that this attracted plenty of dirt bag kayakers in search of the next bag of loot for their next paddling adventure.

With the money up for grabs, I was excited to get my hands on the new Werner Odachi.  I knew I need the extra edge to beat the other competitors.   And so the Odachi became my weapon of choice for the summer.  I made good use of it instructing on flat water to running steep creeks. Including taking the Odachi down some good ol’ British Colombia classics such as Kicking Horse, 7 Canyons of the Toby, St Leon, Callaghan and the Cheakamus.

Even though I didn’t place in the race this year’s race, I couldn’t be happier with the Odachi.  Certainly made crushing every stroke easier J

If you’re interested to seeing some more photos and footage of the Odachi in action, please check out my page:  https://www.facebook.com/watchallencharge/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel

Thanks for reading this blog post,

Allen Yip

Age: 26

Height: 5’ 7’’

Weight: 158  lbs.

Country: New Zealand

Kayaking Experience:  8-9 years of Creek Boating

Kayaks: Dagger RPM and Pyrahna 9R

Current Paddles: Werner Shogun and WernerOdachi

Home Run: Kaituna (NZ)

2016 Werner Grand Prix Review

Welcome to our guest blogger, Werner Team Paddler, Mike Darbyshire.

After hearing about the changes to Werner Paddles SUP linefor 2016 I was eager to get the paddles into my hands and into the water.  I placed my pre-order at the end of last year for 3 new paddles to replace my current paddles and so far I have not been disappointed!

Werner has always staked their reputation on making the highest quality paddles that perform at a high level. 

Hand-crafted in Sultan Washington, their paddles have for a long time been the standard in kayak paddle quality and performance.  This quality and performance is maintained through their SUP line and my favourite part is the design that goes into making specific paddles for specific uses.  

A wise man once told me that the word ‘compromise’ when it comes to outdoor gear usually means you are going to get the worst of all worlds.  While this isn’t always true, a paddle that ‘does it all’ will likely ‘do it all’ poorly rather than provide excellent performance in a particular area. 

As a gear junkie and somebody who loves products designed for specific purposes I have always appreciated Werner’s dedication to putting a lot of thought, design and testing into specific shapes, materials and sizes that would provide the best performance in the specific discipline.

I get a lot of questions asking what paddle I use? What size is the blade? What length are you using? And my answer varies depending on which area of SUP I am being asked about.  Here is a breakdown of the 4 paddles I am using now. (I am about 5’11”)

1.    Werner Grand Prix 86

a.    Dedicated racing paddle

b.    Length: 78”

c.    Blade Size: 86 sq.in

d.    Weight 413 grams

2.    Werner Rip Stick 79

a.    Surf Paddle

b.    Length: 74”

c.    Blade Size: 79 sq.in.

d.    Weight 454 grams

3.    Werner Legend 99

a.    Whitewater Paddle

b.    Length: 76”

c.    Blade Size: 99sq.in.

d.    Weight: 535g

4.    Werner Soul S (for 2016 check out the Flow 85)

a.    Teaching Paddle

b.    Length: 78”

c.    Blade Size: 90sq.in.

For this post I am going to focus on the Grand Prix.  This paddle will be in my hands for the majority of the season. I log a lot of hours training and racing through the season and the paddle is the one constant throughout the season. 

Since I started racing 5 years ago my race paddles have gradually been getting smaller and smaller. My first race paddle was a Kialoa Shaka Puu which was 82” in length and had a 101sq.in. blade.  As you can see from above, my paddle this year is 4” shorter and 15sq.in smaller in the blade.  This change is fairly common through the SUP racing world and seems to be driven by a couple of factors.

The first reason I moved to a shorter paddle with a smaller blade was to take some stress off my shoulders.  I found myself getting a sore right shoulder after racing and even had a couple close calls in the surf where I felt like my shoulder was close to dislocating.  The smaller blade and shorter shaft has reduced a lot of this stress.

The second reason I moved to a smaller paddle was to focus on my strengths.  I love how inclusive SUP racing is and by that I mean that it lends itself to all sorts of body types, weights, heights etc.  It’s all about how you move your own body across the water.  I found that the best way for me to move quickly and efficiently was with a higher turnover and quicker strokes rather than focusing on longer stronger strokes, I seemed to be better suited for a higher cadence with a bit less power.

This is where the Grand Prix fits in so nicely. It has a generally narrow blade which allows for a quicker turnover and a cleaner entry and exit from the water.  The smallest blade size has been reduced from a 91sq.in. blade in 2015 to an 86sq.in which results in a little less stress on the joints and a quicker stroke turnover. The Grand Prix also has what I would consider a ‘softer’ flex in the paddle shaft which can also help in keeping some stress off the body.

So far I’ve logged about 60km on the new Grand Prix and it feels great.  The feel of the paddle remains much the same as it has the past couple of years but the smaller blade is definitely noticeable, especially this early in the season. Werner has also maintained the relatively high 12 degree offset angle in the blade which results in a cleaner exit and a more vertical blade throughout the stroke. This off-set is an excellent efficiency feature but can feel a bit different for paddlers who are used to a more tradition 8-10 degrees. The Grand Prix continues to be one of the lightest race paddles on the market while still maintaining the high level of durability you can find with all Werner Paddles. The Grand Prix comes in a straight shaft or a benth shaft and can be purchased in 3 different blade sizes: 86sq.in, 93,sq.in and 100sq.in.

If you are in Deep Cove you are more than welcome to give my paddle a try or use one of our many Werner demos!  Or stop by our retail store Deep Cove Outdoors to chat with one of our staff who can help you pick the right paddle for yourself.

Keep checking back in for more product reviews!

Mike on the Slocan River with Werner Paddles, Western Canadian Sales Rep, Nikki Rekman photo: Mark Klein

Werner Paddles Rip Stick Review by Mark Temme

Mark Temme, is a SUP Surf athlete based out of New York state, check out what he had to say about his Werner Paddles Rip Stick

Got my Rip Stick! Big Thanks!!! Used it today in some good surf here in Surf City, New Jersey. Hands down the best SUP Surf Paddle I have ever used! Whether paddling thru whitewater or spinning around to catch a wave it gives me the quick bursts of acceleration needed to maximize performance. The light weight, progressive blade design and surface area also allows for the most efficient handling I've ever experienced while riding a wave. It allows easy paddle transfers and the smoothest, cleanest interface with the slope and shape of the wave. Definitely the best paddle i've ever used to SUP Surf!!! Already showed it off to the crew hanging out at the top of the dune after my first session using it! Big Mahalos!

The Rip Stick is available in two sizes - 79 & 89 and designed from the ground up by professional surfers, one of which is Fiona Wylde. With it's unique double concave and strong dihedral you've got great power pockets and a self-centering blade that makes every stroke count!

Fiona recently came in 2nd at the 2016 Waterman League Turtle Bay's Pro Women's Competition. This was stop #1 of the Stand Up World Tour and you can expect to hear more about the Rip Stick as the premier surf event in the US, Santa Cruz Paddlefest takes place THIS weekend.

Contact Mark at New York Kayak Co. in Manhattan to find out more about SUP paddling in NYC or on the surf in NJ.

2nd Annual Tofino Paddle Surf SUP Invitational

We had a great weekend in beautiful Tofino with the crew from Tofino Paddle Surf, thank you Catherine, Zak, your staff and the many volunteers.

Although we did not have our new Werner Paddles Rip Stick available for folks to demo we had ample opportunity to talk about it and the rest of our fantastic 2016 stand up paddle line-up (Check out our past blogposts about the new paddles HERE and HERE) The Rip Stick will be available to purchase from your local Werner Paddles dealer by the end of November. It is the first surf-specific SUP paddle available, with a design inspired by pro SUP surfers, Fiona Wylde and Dave Boehne. Available in both 79 and 89 square inch blades in a 1 pce,  Adjustable (2 pce) and a Travel Adjustable (3 pce).

Cox Bay (just outside of Tofino, BC)

This was our last event of the season and an opportunity to connect with friends new and old. As sponsors of the 2nd Annual Tofino Paddle Surf SUP Invitational we were joined on the beach by two of our Werner Paddles dealers, Kevin from Kalavida Surf Shop (home of the famous, Kal Classic) and Justin from Ocean River Sports.

Kevin from Kalavida Surf Shop and Mark goofing around as we get set up on Day 2 on stunning Cox Bay.

So fun to spend some time with my friend and Werner Paddles team member, Lina Augaitis, her husband Andrew Dye and their babe who will make their debut in late December/early January.

Werner Paddles Team member and friend, Mike Darbyshire

This year's King of Kalamalka, Jason Bennett. Super nice guy!

The beautiful and stylin', Karly Cox 

One of my favourite lady's in the biz - Eileen Meehan from Sun n Sup (Naramata, BC)

Werner Paddles Ambassador and Nikki Rekman Sales team member, Genna Flinkman - looking forward to getting that Rip Stick in her hands!

Home town girl and owner of  T'ashii Paddle School and Tofino SUP, Tsimka Martin

Longtime industry friend and colleague, Andrew Woodford

For a few more photos and for larger sizes that you can download and share check out Mark's Flickr account HERE. If you decide to share, Mark (Klein) would appreciate the photo credit.

A very special thanks to our friends in the BC SUP community who have always welcomed us, despite the fact that we are relatively "green" when it comes to being SUP paddlers. Our friend Kristian and the folks at Starboard have helped us out and we now have our very own boards. Let's get out on the water this winter!

Pacific Paddle Games 2015

We once again welcome, guest blogger, team paddler and Werner Paddles

Ambassador, Genna Flinkman. Genna was in California for the Pacific Paddle Games at beautiful, Doheny State Beach in Dana Point, California earlier this month. 

Well PPG is over and I have to say, for me it lived up to the hype. The whole event was larger than life. From the moment you walked through the Pacific Paddle Games Entrance you were greeted with an amazing spectacle involving the biggest brands and names in the paddle board world. One thing I noticed right away was the effort put in by the volunteers and organizers to make everything run smoothly, and I think they succeeded. 

The race formats consisted of the traditional technical and distance races. In addition, there was also a team battle where each assigned athlete could garnish points for their board sponsor. Because of this, I was lucky enough to have an awesome tent to sit under with the always fun and amped up #infinityspeedfreaks. 

 

Genna is just beyond the wave

 The first race of the day, and my first race, was the open technical. The men took off first and for the most part, got out clean. The organizers did a great job of planning the start so that we did not have to go out in the big sets. The technical races was fun with lots of buoy turns and the challenge of going out through the break and coming in with the waves. I had a solid race, I got around the buoys well and managed to get a good wave on the way in to pass a few ladies. With the good fortune of a wave, I was able to move up two positions to snag 1st in my age class and 6th overall women’s open. Everyone did amazing and the level of skill in the open race was fantastic. 

Genna on the right

Of course the highlight of the day was watching the elite groms, and elite women/men. With big sets rolling in, the races had everything a spectator could hope for! There were amazing feats of getting over waves, tight buoy turns, party waves, last minute passes and unexpected winners. However, no matter the intensity of the race, once done everyone had a smile on their face and high fives. 

The second day was comprised of the distance races and finals for the elite technical. Generally distance is not my favourite race but this one was pretty fun. However, it was definitely a challenge as all mens and women’s open took off at the same time. This meant that for roughly a mile and a half, saying that the water was choppy was an understatement. Above that, there was the challenge of big rolling waves, boat wakes, and warm weather conditions to contend with. My favourite part was catching a wave to surf in to the finish line. Again, I was lucky enough to snag 1st in my age class and 9th overall women’s open.

The elite technical finals were extremely exciting. With two of the buoys close to the beach, spectators were in a prime spot to see the athletes catch waves, make amazing buoy turns, party waves, and crashes. It was easily one of the most exciting races to watch all year. It was not uncommon to see the lead change multiple times, especially for the women, so it was a nail biter to the end.

All in all, the weekend was amazing. I could not have asked for better weather, people, vendors, race organization, and support. It was a weekend I’ll never forget! A enormous thank you to my sponsors Werner Paddles, Nikki Rekman Sales, Infinity SUP, Virus Canada, CJC SUP Fins, and Spy Optics. Without the support of these companies, my friends, family and husband I would not have had the chance to attend all of the races that I went to this year. Each company gave me the best equipment possible to put me in a position to do well and I am extremely grateful for that. Also, a huge thank you to all of the volunteers, contestants and Infinity Family for making PPG so memorable. I could not have asked for a better event to end the race season on. 

Until next year, cheers and enjoy the snow!

Re-Cap of the Kal-Classic Featuring Guest Blogger, Genna Flinkman

The Kal-Classic was a tough race for us to miss this season and we were bummed not to cheer on our very own, Genna Flinkman but as a Guest Blogger, she gives us a great re-cap of the event and her racing. Thanks, Genna and congratulations.

"Saturday started early, as everyone wanted to set up so we could enjoy the amazing atmosphere and people. Myself and most participants were at the beach by 8 am to snag a parking spot and a prime location on the beach. I have been to many events in Canada but the Kal Classic was brimming with as much excitement and people as many of the bigger races in the US. It was exciting to run into the people that I have became friends with in previous events like Semiahmoo, Hood River and Endless Adventure. The day began with a quick meetings, a pep talk from Lina Auguitis and a group circle where we took a moment to appreciate the amazing community that SUP has created and our connection to each other and the lake we are so lucky to race on. There was a lot activity on the beach with families, racers and vendors out to enjoy the weekend. At any given time you could see people talking to CJC Sup Fins, testing out the new Werner Paddles, chatting up the Starboard rep and cheering on the contestants.

The Saturday races were comprised of the Eagle Dash, Kids sprints, Open Sprints and Elite Sprints. The atmosphere was amazing with everyone cheering each other on and giving it their all. The number of people that showed up to race was huge, their biggest yet! For me, the excitement of the day was during the Elite races. Racing against the likes of Shannon Bell, Avery Bridges, Leanne Stanley and others was both exciting and humbling. The Women’s Elite race took place with three heats each counting for points, the third counting as double points. However, there was a twist this year; the moment the first person crossed the finish line five minutes was put on the clock and after that five minutes was up the next heat started. Therefore, you had to go 100% in each heat so that you had time to recover. The heats were awesome, with buoy turn pile ups, passes and sprints to the finish. In the end I was lucky enough to finish 2nd overall. Shannon Bell took first and Leanne Stanley got third with only one point separating 2nd, 3rd and 4th. It was a close battle each heat. Everyone did amazing and it was probably the most fun I have ever had on a SUP.

The day slowed down for me after that. The Men's Elite race went right after the women's and put on an exciting 4 heats. Again, everyone did amazing and it was awesome to see the competitiveness but camaraderie between the racers. It was a great day of fun, races, demos, family and friends.

The second day the wind picked up for the crossing, shifting in our favour providing a tail wind. It was exciting to see the kids and open go before me and battle the wind and chop. The first 6km were a blast as I spent my energy connecting little bumps to gain glide. Then the wind died down and it was a grind the whole way to the beach.  The 17km was much harder than I anticipated but then, distance was never a friend of mine. It was just a matter of grinding it out and enjoying the breathtaking views along the way. Crossing the finish line made it all worth it when everyone who had finished was there to cheer you on and congratulate you. Probably the best moment of the day was when Jennifer Lawsen came in as the first crosser ever on a prone board. Finished paddlers greeted her with a row of raised paddles and encouragement to congratulate her completing this huge feat. Everyone else trickled in with cheers and smiles as the day slowed down for awards.

 

All in all, it was an amazing two days. A huge thank you to Kalavida Surf Shop, Kevin, Lina, the volunteers, sponsors and vendors that showed up to spread the stoke.Congrats to everyone that competed and to the winners. I cannot wait for next year but for now I look forward to the PacificPaddle Games and the excitement that it will offer."

Genna Flinkman

Werner Paddles Whitewater and Canoe/Raft 2016

Last but definitely not least we show you what's new for 2016 in whitewater and canoe/raft.

Werner Paddles continues to have a reputation in the whitewater community for BOMBER RELIABILITY on the river and in 2016 we remain committed to that. We have added some flare with the new HD Graphic, Search:Rave Green and from our research, this colour is going to be a huge hit so add this to your current Premium Performance Powerhouse and Sherpa selection.



New HD Graphic available in the Premium Performance Powerhouse and Sherpa - Search: Rave Green


And the most innovative whitewater paddle on the market is the ODACHI (od-da-chee) named for the long sword used by Japanese Samurai warriors. This paddle has been built for whitewater racers and the most important thing when racing is going forward and going forward, FAST! This paddle falls into our Ultimate Performance category and is lightweight. It's symmetrical tip is perfect for that vertical racing stroke and provides a smooth release. The strong dihedral in the blade provides stability and less flutter. This paddle is available in a straight shaft and a bent shaft. You will notice in the photo below the offset between the blade and shaft, it's approx. 2" 




The Odachi




Obvious blade to shaft offset for Ultimate Racing Performance






Smooth backside of the blade for no disturbance through the water.

Not a ton new in our Canoe/Raft category for 2016 but we are very excited to showcase another HD Graphic, the "Fire On The Water" on our Guide Stick.


Fire In the Water HD GRAPHIC


Check out our other blogposts on 2016 product HERE

Werner Paddles 2016 Part Deux

So yesterday you got a peak at some of the 2016 Werner Paddles line-up and I hope you are as excited as we are along with the entire Werner team!!!

Let's continue with SUP -

The entire line-up has been redesigned and you will notice this in performance from our Ultimate Performance category all the way to our Standard Performance category.

The Trance 85 & 95 are replacing the Nitro and the Flow 85 & 95 are replacing the, Soul. Check out the backside (non-powerface of the blade on both of these models). It's smooth design will mean no disturbance behind the blade when the paddle is moving through the water. What does this mean? Efficiency and ease on your body, allowing you to stay out on the water longer!

You can also see that our trusted and reliable adjustability is featured on both of these new models. The push-button adjustablility is fast and easy to use, not to mention, field maintainable.



Flow on the left and the Trance on the right








The Prodigy 85 is our kid's performance paddle. It's adjustable 60-67.5", features our SMALL FIT and two colour options: RED and TURQUOISE




Zen 95 Hooked in Catch: Lime Drift will be great for all the anglers but you don't have to be an angler to LOVE this new HD GRAPHIC

Stand Up Paddling Surfing and River Stand Up Paddling continue to be growing markets in the SUP world and Werner Paddles is leading the way.

We are very excited to add to our River specific lineup featuring the popular Session and Stinger with the addition of the Ultimate Performance, Legend 99. This is a mid-size blade at 97 sq inches. This paddle has been reinforced for bomber whitewater reliability but with an amazingly light swing-weight. The edging has been reinforced with dynel (the same material you see on our Ultimate Performance Whitewater Kayaking Paddle Blades). 

The Legend 99 is available in 1 pce, Performance Adjustable and Travel Adjustable.

Stay tuned for more information on our SUP Surf specific paddle called the, Rip Stick.

Werner Paddles 2016 - Raising the Bar

Last weekend I had the pleasure of attending my Werner Paddles Summer Sales Meeting in WA to see all that was new and exciting for 2016 and once again our R & D team (Tammy Ritchey and Ben Kinsella), Production (lead by Keith Kruger) and Sales & Marketing (Doug Ragan and Danny Mongno) teams did not disappoint! They knocked it outta the park!

Here is a holiday Monday teaser....

Kayaking Fish and SUP continue to be our main focus but touring and whitewater have not been left behind in 2016.

For Kayak Fishing check out our NEW HD GRAPHICS. Brighter, sharper and wicked shelf appeal and still the best Kayak Fishing Paddle is the Best Kayak Paddling Paddle! We also gave you a NEW HOOKED LOGO.

Camano/Shuna Hooked is now available in the following colours - Trophy: Charcoal ABOVE and Catch: Lime Drift BELOW

New colour for our Hooked series - Catch: Lime Drift

The Skagit Hooked in the Hi-Vis Orange will be an addition to the brown

Stand Up Paddling continues to be a strong category for Werner Paddles and in 2016 we will not only be the number one brand for paddles but also for SUP PADDLES!

- NEW REDESIGNED line-up 

- NEW HD GRAPHICS

- NEW FAMILY and TRAVEL Adjustables with LeverLock

- NEW BLADE & LOGO colours

- NEW RECONFIGURED BLADE SIZING

Fantastic HD GRAPHICS and new BLADE LOGOS and LOGO COLOURS

Our new Vibe and Thrive 95 are family and travel adjustables with the Leverlock, Starting at $139.00 USD. The Vibe is stiff and has a well-designed progressive rectangular shape, best paddling paddle in this class

The Thrive with its FG blade performance and family adjustable and travel leverlock has incredible value and performance at $199.00 USD.

NEW LEVERLOCK - quick and easy to use with a "guide" to ensure you have your grip in the right spot. Convenient 16" of adjust-ability for the entire family (4'10" to 6'2"). Available on all sub $200.00 USD models.

Our touring line-up also so the addition of HD graphics. Check out Swellz Blue that will be available in our Premium Performance Camano, Little Dipper, Shuna and Corryvrecken.

Swellz Blue in our very popular, Premium Performance, Camano

Check back tomorrow for more info on what is new!!!!!!

Kayak Fishing on the Fraser River

What a day on the Fraser River yesterday with Kokatat Western Canadian Regional and Nikki Rekman Sales Team Paddler, Laura Demers and her fishing-partner, Sandra Ramsey. Laura and Sandra work for Kokatat and Werner Paddles dealer, Western Canoeing and Kayaking in Abbotsford, BC and these women know how to fish and they are passionate about it. 

Sandra

Laura

Who better for me to head out on the water with to make a serious go, at claiming the Werner Paddles Sales Rep Fishing Contest title (stay tuned, I won't know till our sales meeting on the weekend :).

It was a hot, hot Fraser Valley day but the fish did not disappoint me. I learned so much from Laura and Sandra and they were extremely patient as it took me a little bit to get comfortable with the gear. Those lead weights are heavy!

Werner Paddles HOOKED Camano and Cyprus

Laura and Sandra are in the process of teaming up with Fred's Custom Tackle in Chilliwack and Abbotsford to do some guided sturgeon kayak fishing trips on the Fraser River so you can have this amazing experience too. Stay tuned to my blog for more info about their new venture as it becomes available.

Not gonna lie, he was a little unruly!!! LOL. #where'sNikki

What a thrill - 4' and about 50 lbs.

Thank you again, to Laura and Sandra for giving me one of my best days on the water all year! Thanks to, Kevin Henderson for the use of the Wilderness Systems Ride 115 and the rod/reel. A day I won't soon forget!!!!