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 2015 Line Up

I am excited that we get to break the "cone of silence" on what is new with Werner Paddles for 2015!

The focus continues to be on Stand Up Paddling (SUP), Fishing, a combination of the two AND a much anticipated configuration addition to our Canoeing lineup!

Let's start with SUP...and the new SmallFIT.

Performance starts with a great fit and 60% of our SUP customers are women.  The SmallFIT is available in our small (S) and midsize (M) blades only, in everything from our Premium Performance Carve series to the Ultimate Performance Racing Grand Prix series. Uncut, 1 pce STRAIGHT shaft only.  With the SmallFIT, the paddler is getting a smaller blade, smaller shaft and combined you have a paddling experience that has you on the water longer because the ease on your body is significant.

We are also excited to announce that all of our Ultimate Performance Racing Grand Prix paddles will have a shaft logo.  This is a paddle we are super proud of and we want folks to know it!

We are the pioneer in advanced fit options in all categories of paddling and that includes SUP.




The sport of Stand Up Fishing is growing, just ask guys like Ken Hoeve, Werner Paddles and Jackson Kayak team paddler and even our very own, kayak angler, Len Zilkowsky has given it a try.  Carve Hooked in the beautiful grey scales pattern.

Len Zilkowsky - SUP fishing on Cultus Lake, Chilliwack, BC

While it is not, as established in Western Canada as it is south of the border...like many things, prepare yourself because it's coming to the Great White North!  Below is Werner Paddles FIRST SUP fishing paddle, the

As many of you know canoeing is particularly near and dear to our hearts here at Nikki Rekman Sales and we are stoked with this new addition - Werner Paddles has introduced the 3 piece Bandit for 2015!!!  It came about, in very large part, due to the influence of my amazing Eastern Canadian counterparts at Watershed Sales, Johno, Paul and Mark.  Thanks guys.

Like all of our whitewater paddles, you got BOMBER RELIABILITY in all of our Bandit configurations.  These include: a 1 pce and 3 pce (the two piece has been discontinued) and they are available in our Premium Performance Fiberglass and Carbon.
Perfect as your spare or if you are traveling and space is at a premium.

 There is more to share and you will be hearing about it soon.  Dealers, if you did not get a chance to attend the Werner Paddles 2015 webinar earlier today please contact me and we will set something up, one on one.

2014 Molokai 2 Oahu Paddleboard World Championships - Lina Augaitis and Art Aquino

One of my favourite things is to watch and be a part of, people fulfilling their dreams particularly paddling/outdoor adventure dreams.  We have had this opportunity with Werner Paddles and Nikki Rekman Sales team paddler, Lina Augaitis.  Lina's been ALL over the world stand up paddling this year in pursuit of fulfilling a dream.  With the support of her husband Andrew, family, friends and sponsors we are thrilled to share with you another Lina update.  We also welcome, Werner Paddler, Art Aquino with his perspective of the race (thanks, Art!!)

Lina and Art

M2O (Molokai 2 Oahu) Partner Style - Lina

Last year was my first crossing of the channel (Molokai 2 Oahu) SOLO UNL. There were many firsts for me last year when it came to BIG ocean paddling. I kind of threw myself out there for the challenge and adventure. It was all AMAZING and a great learning experience. 

This year, I came into the race a different paddler with different goals and a different history.  Being a truly competitive person, I knew this year I would not have 3 weeks to train on Maui and improve my ocean skills. I did not want to do worse than last year so decided to change it up and find a partner and try it partner style.  It was something new and different and adventurous but I still got to be out there enjoying the amazing atmosphere and ocean. 

I asked Art (Aquino) to be my partner, it seemed like a great fit, we were both from PNW, rode SIC boards, paddled Werner Paddles and he is kind of obsessed with downwinding... I also found out he is one stellar guy.... I felt lucky to have him as my partner and share this awesome experience with him. 

We were on a production 14ft SIC Bullet V2 which really is a perfect board for these conditions. Stable, glides with ease, great for catching waves and has the trademark SIC handle for a great grip in the wind. 

Our boat Captain, Captain Dan had a fab boat and two awesome helpers with him, Shelley helped with getting us back on the boat after our switches and the other mate took a ton of pictures! 

Art and I paddled together for the first time on the Wed before the race.. haha... We met on Maui and shared a Maliko run. We talked strategy and he gave me some downwind pointers. On Thursday we practiced some switches with a leash and on Friday we were off to Molokai. We didn't have much time but we totally made it work!

The race: 

I started us off. I had a pretty good start but everything always gets a little crazy when boats start finding their paddlers.. HAHA. At least I managed to stay on top on the board:) Art and I decided to switch off every half hour which was great, we got a little bit of time to relax and then just enough time to push hard and get into a rhythm. I would definitely recommend this timing for teams thinking of partnering up for M2O.  So once the first half hour was up it was time to jump in the water. I was the most nervous about the switches, hanging out in the water treading water until the boat came around and picked me up in the middle of the ocean was very nerve racking, who knows what is lurking down there under me. I later found out that some paddlers actually had encounters with sharks... AH.. Funny enough once we started racing I didn't think about sharks and scary ocean creatures too much and rather enjoyed the feeling of being out there in the middle of the ocean treading water... hmmm.. 

Anyways, Art rocked it once it was his turn and we were right in there in the mix of boats and other paddlers. We ended up heading slightly more north than the main pack but that was fine.... I felt great out there, having fun catching bumps and then chillin on the boat. It was nice to be able to eat and refuel while resting on the boat and then push hard while on the water.  We ended up finishing the race with Art crossing the line on the board and I was swimming out to the finish line. FUN! 

We managed a 2nd place in the mixed team division with a time of 5hours 24sec. Not too shabby if I say so myself. Thanks Art for being a stellar partner out there! 

I was on a SIC 14ft Bullet V2, a beauty of a board and ideal for the conditions at hand. I was paddling with a Werner S1000 grand Prix paddle. It was the perfect paddle. I used electrolytes (Nuun and scratch lab), Vitargo, Vfuel gels, ClifBlocks, clifbars, and some fruit as my nutrition. Thanks to Feed the Machine and CLifBar. 

live, love, laugh,..DREAM!
lina

M20 2014 with partner Lina Augaitis - Art

M20 was an outstanding and very memorable event for me as it was my first Ka’iwi channel crossing. I am so grateful that Lina had asked me to partner up with her on this journey, M20 was on my bucket list but didn’t think it was going to happen for me this year seeing how it sold out soo fast, I thank her so much for the opportunity and was honored to be considered.

I believe we really complimented each other out there; I have to admit I am pretty much a downwind junkie and she is such an all around strong paddler and truly a great person to be around, we just made perfect team!

So as to be expected, the ocean conditions were very different from the Pailolo Channel/M2M race I took in last April. However the wind waves and ground swells were very similar in size… but shape and direction for the M20?? …not so much :)

Lina had an extremely solid start in the slightly bumpy water generated by boat wakes and other paddlers, she did a great job getting us out into the front portion of the pack. Our first switch came in at 30 minutes at which point I literally jumped off the boat for the on-water switch (very interesting feeling lemme tell ya…) and by this time a large percentage of the swells started coming from the north or on the right side of the board, so we were constantly dropping left into ocean swells some as big as head high or more and riding them right… we did this over and over as much as we could until the 20 to 25 mile mark at which point we slowly started to turn south and were able ride the swells similar to a typical downwinder but with much more chop than say a Maliko run. Then nearing the end of the race we hit the infamous China Wall section of the run, that’s where ground and wind swell oppose each other and push up against a cliff that drops straight into the ocean creating junkie swells that were pretty challenging to ride. Then we finally got around the point near the Spitting Caves and the waves started to flatten out… but we weren’t out of the woods just yet…  the wind direction changed to offshore and then once again powerhouse Lina Augaitis took charge as if it was truly no big deal and got us pretty close to the finish line until our last switch.

The race was over but the memories will pretty much last a lifetime. It felt soo good to be done but left me wondering about next year and the possibility of doing it solo. Hmm…  ;)

Special thanks to Bluesmiths, WernerPaddles,  Urban Surf, Paddle With Riggs & Captain Dan. 
Also, thank you SIC for lending us the board we couldn’t have done it without you.

 

After party, podium photo!

Tofino Surf SUP Race - Team Paddler, Eli Fischbuch

Check out this great write up from team paddler, Eli Fischbuch about the Tofino Surf SUP race last weekend

in Tofino hosted by Stuart and Andrew Robinson and the crew from SurfSUP

 

This past weekend I took part in my second race of this season, the Tofino Surf SUP race on July 19/20.  I have my new Werner Grand Prix M1000 which I was excited to test out, I’ve paddled a bit with it so far and love the extra reach that it gives on each stroke (this paddle is longer than my Nitro).   This race was part of the Vancouver Island stand up paddle board series.  This was the second out of three races of this series.  This race consisted of a short course which was on the first day of the competition and the second day was the long course.  The short course was the surf race which meant you can catch small wave when coming into the shore.  The long course was in the open ocean. 

 

Catching a little wave while going around a bouy photo: Taine Fischbuch

 The short course was super fun – it was made up of six bouy turns and a beach run in between each lap.  The youth, junior, surf class and masters did three laps and the open and elite classes did 4 laps.  I found this course challenging because there were four right turns and two left turns, which made it easy for goofy footed people but not for regular footed people like myself.  One of the right hand bouys was really close to the shore so you could catch small waves going into the turn and then try the turn while still on the wave.  For me, the first two laps went well for this turn but on the last I mistimed the turn and got caught by the wave and fell.  Another thing that added to the difficulty of this race was the beach run.  The tide was out, which meant that the run was extra long. This added to the excitement though – especially for the spectators!

It's a long beach run when the tide is out. 
photo: Taine Fischbuch

 

The second day was the 10km long course.  For this race we paddled straight out from Mackenzie beach into the open ocean, turned around an island and then paddled south towards Chesterman beach.  This was the longest and most difficult stretch of the race because the wind was coming from one side and swells were coming from the other side which made me fall in ALOT.  My board (Naish Javelin LE 12’6”) is great for flat water and I have had a lot of fun on it in downwinders before but for these open water, choppy conditions I definitely had a hard time!  This year the juniors were to paddle 2 laps of this course along with the open and elite paddlers.  After the first lap I was quite shaky on my board because of the conditions and had fallen in a lot.  I noticed a few of the open racers were going in after the first lap and thought this might be the best thing for me to do too.  I didn’t want to quit so turned away from the beach to keep racing but as soon as I did this I was back in the wind and chop and realized it was going to be too hard for me.  This made me stop after I finished the first lap.  Even though I think this was the right decision I was frustrated and disappointed to not finish this race.  Big congrats to the other juniors who had great races – especially the only junior girl, Mia, who completed both laps and still finished strong! 

First Place Junior - Evan
photo: Taine Fischbuch

Thanks again to Stu and family from SurfSUP and TinWis Resort for putting on another great event!