Non-Paddling Friends and My Love For Paddling

Like you, we have friends that don't paddle. Our friend MO is one of these--more of a landlubber than a paddler--but with the arrival of Hurricane Kayaks in our life, that all changed.

MO in her Santee 116 Sport, Kokatat Aries PFD using a Werner Paddles Premium Performance Camano kayak paddle

Last week we escaped for a few mid-week days to Birkenhead Lake Provincial Park, north of Whistler, BC with MO and the following Hurricane Kayaks: Santee 116 Sport (aka MO's boat), Santee 126 and Sojourn 135.

Over the past few years we have been getting MO out on the water more and more. She's been kayaking up on Otter Lake, Chilliwack Lake, Cultus Lake and even canoed down the Fraser River with us. For her, the Santee 116 Sport has been a perfect fit.

MO has two objectives in mind when it comes to kayaking:     

1) being on the water 1a) not tipping over and 2) getting a tan. 

The Santee 116 Sport is stable, lightweight and easy to get in and out of. MO has even decided that she wants to buy our Santee 116 Sport :). FYI - The Santee 116 Sport is a mere 36.5 lbs. Who knew our land-loving friend would want to buy a kayak, a few short years after us getting her out on the water? Not me and I am not sure she did either.

We love getting on the water with friends like MO and introducing them to what WE love about paddling so they can figure out what THEY love about paddling too.

Get the landlubbers in your life, on the water into a boat that they are comfortable in, that they can handle easily and most importantly, have fun in. It might change their lives and add more enjoyment to yours.

You can find Hurricane Kayaks at Aquabatics in Calgary and Wildways in Christina Lake. Stay tuned for a list of more dealers in Western Canada.

Updates from the Field - Hurricane Kayaks

While I am not in Salt Lake City this year, first time not going since 1997/98 (due to a family commitment), it was still important to me to get you updates from our annual industry trade show, Outdoor Retailer Summer Market.

I could not do this without great peeps on the ground so thanks to the following folks who are in Salt Lake City:  Colin Kemp, Johno Foster, Steve Jordan, Doug Ragan and Jameson Redding

First up today, Hurricane Kayaks...we LOVE these boats.  The weight is a game-changer for a lot of people and we have had first hand experience, on the water with people experiencing it and it's awesome.

Sojourn 126 in the new purple - photo: Craig Richter

There is plenty new from Hurricane Kayaks for 2015 and here we introduce the Sojourn Series.  This exciting new day-touring line will surprise and satisfy paddlers of all levels. With moderate rocker, a hard-chined hull and deep-V keel, the Sojourn line will make you feel like a champion the minute you hit the water. High initial stability offers beginners a solid platform for learning, while the Sojourn’s multi-chined hull allows experienced paddlers to carve and edge like a dream. Thanks to their lightweight thermoform construction, not only do the Sojourns outperform polyethylene competitors, they offer beauty and functionality in a highly featured package. Integral deck lines provide stiffness and subtle aesthetics, while comfortable handles, perimeter safety lines, security bar, bow and stern bulkheads, fore and aft storage hatches, adjustable thigh braces, a cool-mesh Airestream seat system, and optional Smarttrack rudder system leave you wanting for nothing. Simply put, the Sojourn kayak line offers superb performance and seaworthiness in a package that’s hard to beat.

3 sizes:

Sojourn 126           Sojourn 135           Sojourn 146
Length: 12’ 6”        Length: 13’ 5”         Length: 14’ 6”
Width: 24 inches     Width: 24 inches     Width: 24 inches
Weight: 43 lbs         Weight: 45 lbs        Weight: 47 pounds

Available: September 2014 --- September 2014 --- November 2014

The Sojourn 126 and Sojourn 135 are en route to us right now!

Sojourn 135 in Mango photo: Craig Richter

Sunshine Coast Stand Up Paddle Board Festival - Sunday July 6th

We are happy to give a shout out to Kokatat Watersports Wear and Werner Paddles dealer, Alpha Adventures and help promote their Sunshine Coast Stand Up Paddle Board Festival on Sunday July 6th in gorgeous Porpoise Bay Provincial Park in Sechelt, BC.


I had the opportunity to get on the water in Porpoise Bay this past Saturday while I was in town to clinic the staff at Alpha Adventures.  What a spot!  My friend, MO is new to kayaking and this was her first time on salt water.  She did great and loved the comfort and stability of the Hurricane Kayak Santee 126.  Another favourite feature of the boat is the lightweight at only 40lbs!!!

MO enjoying the Hurricane Kayak Santee 126

The view from the Hurricane Kayak Santee 116 Sport

Stand up paddle boarding, demos, clinics, culture and recreational racing - A great day of SUP activities!
Proceeds donated to Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue – (Coast Guard Auxiliary)

Both races are recreational.  Short Course - 2.4 km and Long Course - 4km.
Demos and Clinics – $5 per person gets you unlimited access to demo all boards and clinics (based on availability).
Races are an additional $15 entry fee per race, but remember, proceeds go to charity!

For more information contact the folks at Alpha Adventures at:  (604) 885-8838  or check out their website

Schedule of Events (TENTATIVE)-
09:00am- Festival Begins- demos available throughout the morning and some in the afternoon where board availability permits.
09:30am- SUP fitness clinic – 30 minutes
10:00am- Basic Paddle Strokes Clinic- 30 minutes
11:00am- Advanced Paddle Strokes Clinic- 30 minutes
11:30am- Short Course Racers meet at tent
12:00pm- Short Course Race begins
02:00pm- Long Course Racers meet at tent***
02:30pm- Long Course Race begins***
03:45pm- Awards Ceremony and Prize Draw
04:00pm- Festival Ends- have a great evening!
See our Accommodation and Travel Info page if you are joining us from out of town.

A Spring Run Down the Red Deer River

Put- in - Fort Normandeau

 This year, I am approaching my road travel very differently from the previous 9 years and it involves travelling with our toys ie. boats and bikes.

My body is demanding a different kind of pace and it's been wonderful.  This past Sunday I had the opportunity to get onto the Red Deer River in Central Alberta for a very fast and beautiful run (re: flood waters) from Fort Normandeau to MacKenzie Trails, in the heart of the city of Red Deer with Mark and my cousin, Jarret.

The sign at the put-in was awesome (see to the right). 

Historical Site

Fort Normandeau is a National Historic site and because of its shallows and low sloping banks allowed, historical, buffalo herds to cross here as well as First Nations peoples   It also makes for an great put in.  Special thanks, to Fort Normandeau Historian, Peter Allen for some additional river info. As well as the crew at Valhalla Pure Outfitters in Red Deer (our local Kokatat and Werner Paddles dealer).

Local knowledge is always important to access before venturing out on a river that is not known to you. 

Put-in, Nikki and Jarret

Mark taking our Hurricane Kayak, Excursion 128 through the paces.

Mark and Jarret

This was also a great opportunity to get into some of our demo boats primarily our Excursion 128 by Hurricane Kayaks and the Jackson Kayak, Karma Unlimited/RG.  While the Karma Unlimited/RG was not in its ideal waters (think whitewater creeking or ocean play/rock gardening) we were reminded of the unmatched outfitting by Jackson Kayak and the speed of the Karma.

We were very impressed with the Excursion 128, at home, in the Hybrid Touring category (Day touring quiet coastal waters and larger lakes).  This boat was lightweight and beautiful looking and it performed well with excellent tracking, stability and speed.  It was maneauverable even in a strong current, I could eddy in and out easily.  The outfitting was solid (loved the thigh braces for edging) and very comfortable with the AireStream Seat.  Watch the Hurrican Excursion video HERE.

Thanks to Kokatat for our super comfortable, Maximus Prime, Maximus and Aries PFD's.  Contact your local dealer today to try one on .  We used the following Werner Paddles: Premium Performance - Camano, Premium Performance - Shuna and the Standard Performance - best selling, Skagit.

"a bad day on the water is better than a good day at work" and lucky for us it was a FANTASTIC day on the water!

It's finally here!!!

We are very excited to announce that the new Hurricane Kayaks website is up and it looks fantastic!

New videos, new images and a fantastic resource for our dealers and the consumers.

Check it out HERE.

New rep for Hurricane Kayaks in Western Canada

 

I am very excited to announce that I am the Western Canadian Sales Rep for Hurricane Kayaks.  Hurricane Kayaks began back in 1998 in beautiful North Carolina.  They are thermo-molded or thermo-formed boats using a material called Trylon.  They are lighweight, rigid and look fantastic!  Hurricane Kayaks have a 3 year warranty and we are looking for dealers in Western Canada right now.

All Photos are ©2012 Hurricane Aquasports

We are working on getting our demo boats as I type this so we hope to get on the water very soon and hopefully YOU can join us!

All Photos are ©2012 Hurricane Aquasports

The quality of the Hurricane Kayaks really spoke to me at the recent Outdoor Retailer Show in Salt Lake City as did the aesthetics - they are beautiful.  What else stood out...the people.  I have been an acquaintance of my new boss, Steve Jordan since my early days in the industry (I'm going on 20 years next year!!!) and he has always struck me as a man full of integrity and passion (it helped that he has always taken the time to say hello to me over the years too) so I am stoked to 
be working for him.  

All Photos are ©2012 Hurricane Aquasports

I also spent a lot of time with Jon Stewart at the booth at Outdoor Retailer and he introduced me to all of the great Hurricane models and made me feel very welcomed.  Thanks Steve and Jon!

I will be introducing you to the specific boat models in the coming months.  In the meantime familiarize yourself with the Santees, Excursions, Expeditions, Tampicos and Tracers on our website.  We've got the boat for all your paddling needs: Recreational, Hybrid Day Touring, Day Touring, Performance Touring and Sit On Tops AND nothing over 54 lbs!!!!!!

I must admit we are pretty excited to get out on the water in a few of these particularly with the Airstream Seatback!!!

Stay tuned and you will be hearing from us soon!