Kayaking trip to Älvsborg fortress

June 6, 2011

We have had a long weekend in Sweden with excellent paddling weather. My friend Maria and I went our for three days of paddling in Göteborg Archipelago. The scenery in Göteborg archipelago is really nice and the access is also really good. I’d like to see the Älvsborg fortress again, and Maria had never been there before. It is located in the entrance of Göteborg harbour. So the distance is short but we have to cross the inlet to the harbour to reach the fortress. The traffic to and from Göteborg is sometimes very heavy but today it was just some ferries to and from Denmark that we had to keep attention to.

Maria outside the fortress

The guns at the fortress used to guard the city of Göteborg. But did it quite poorly…

Denmark has been succesful in capturing the fortress and the Swedish taxes raised to pay the ransom for the fortress i 1570. Since then we have kept the taxes at a high rate.

From Älvsborgs fästning we continued paddling to Galterö where we spent the first night. I have been to Galterö before before. The weather was nice but it got cold during the night.

Tent spot at Galterö. The second day offered really nice weather.

Kayaking among the skerries outside the island of Vargö.

From Galterö we paddled south toward Rävholmen. We had a nice soft tailwind and it did not take long until we reached Rävholmen.

We spend the second night at Rävhomen.

My Allak from Hilleberg at the tent spot at the island of Rävholmen

My new Qanik is really nice.

I was very pleased with my Qanik from the beginning and I start to appreciate it even more. I have re-mounted the back support. It gives me great support but it takes some time to adjust it before paddling because I sit on the back support each time I sit in the kayak. But it is worth it. I tried without the support but I was not strong enough to keep myself in a good paddling position. The acceleration of the Qanik is impressive. I catch waves that I have not managed to catch before. This was also the first time I have been out for more than one night with the Qanik. It works really well.

Kayaking trip to Galterö

June 3, 2011

Yesterday it was windy and pretty cold during our kayak trip to Galterö in the archipelago of Göteborg, Sweden. Today it is really warm and hardly no wind. Sunscreen on!

Upcoming kayak events

May 29, 2011

Kayak orienteering

Kayak orienteering is an annual event and will take place on the 4 June in the archipelago outside Fjällbacka, Grebbestad and Hamburgsund in Sweden. The track will have a length of 20 km. It will consist of three to four orienterring routes, with control markers on land. Route choice between control markers is free and the idea is that participants will be brought to navigation and routing problems. I have been kayaking in Fjällbacka archipelago several times and it is beautiful.

Paddle for the planet

A world wide challenge to unite the paddlers around the world for a one day relay in effort to raise environmental awareness. It’s a great initiative from Dawid Mocke. The magazine Paddling is organizing a paddling event on the 5 june.

Seamasters 2011

Seamasters will take place on the 27 August in Arkösund/Oxelösund, Swedish east coast, Baltic sea and is a 25 km long Ocean race open for Surf ski, Outrigger, Stand Up and Sea kayak paddlers. I’ve never been in the area before, so it might be a trip to the East coast in August. More information will be found at Seamasters.se but is not updated but you will find information about last years race. You will find more information at globalsurfski.com and surfski.info.

More events 2011

 

Paddelvarvet 2011

May 21, 2011

Göteborgsvarvet, the world’s biggest half marathon, took place today in Göteborg. Approx 75,000 runners will participate in one of the races during the GöteborgsVarvet weekend 20-22 of May 2011. Today was also the first time the newly instituted paddling race Paddelvarvet took place. The Paddelvarvet is not as big as the Göteborgsvarvet. About 30-40 participants struggled for 21 km in Göteborg Harbour and channels.

The paddlers are crossing the Göta Älv to do the first leg in the Channels.

One paddler passing the fish market Feskekôrka

The winner? Jens Thorild paddling the channels for the second time and is in leading position.

Some parts of the race is really nice

Paddling in the city center

Paddan is the tourist trap. Why go by motor boat when you can use a kayak!

Mostly Sea Kayaks but also some surfskis. Here is an Epic V10 L.

Next to the Garden Society of Gothenburg

A pleased kayaker in the first race!

The course is passing the central station as well.

Two of the paddlers were not in a hurry. They stopped and chatted with friends at city hall.

And for those who didnt felt that 21 km in a kayak was enough. There was some time to recharge the batteries and jump into your running shoes. I took some photos from the Goteborgsvarvet as well.

Results: Top 3

1. Martin Flinta, 1.55.09.1
2. Jens Thorild, 1.55.09.2
3. Gunnar Castmo, 1.58.07

Facebook status update resulted in paddling trip

May 9, 2011

My friend Carin’s facebook status earlier today was “I am heading for Gothenburg”. So I asked her if she wanted to join for a short paddling trip in Göteborg Archipelago during the evening. It was a really short trip with a beautiful sunset and a nice meal together with friends on one of the closest islands.

Patric, Carin and Fredrik in the sunshine late this evening. Great evening on the cliffs in Göteborg Archipelago.

The Qanik is in the water!!

Surfski Spring Camp 2011 Timelapse

May 8, 2011

Here is a short timelapse video from the Surfski Spring Camp 2011 at Barnens Ö in Sweden. Enjoy!

Related Link

More photos from the Surf Ski spring Camp 2011

Kayaking in Fjällbacka Archipelago

April 26, 2011

The spring has arrived and it’s a very nice period in Sweden at the moment. My friends and I traveled to Fjällbacka archipelago for a few days of paddling over Easter. Fjällbacka located on the west coast, halfway (150 km) between Gothenburg, Sweden and Oslo, Norway. The archipelago is absolutely fantastic here. An absolute favorite kayaking destination in Sweden.

Fredrik is heading west from the starting point, close to the small picturesque city of Fjällbacka.

It was very calm days and hardly any motor or sailing boats. This part of the season is great!

Malin has built a Black Pearl during the winter but she chose her second kayak today.

And so did Jonas.

There are many pretty fishing villages in the archipelago.

Väderöarna (Weather islands) just visible in the mist

The water was calm and looked like a mirror

Some of the islands are pretty high. The View from Norra Dyngön is impressive.

Erik and Pia dropped by for a nice evening at St Måkholmen. They have an excellent kayak site, kajak.nu.

There is a fun story about the labyrinths at Måkholmen. A few years ago revealed the secret of the labyrinth. Scientists believed that the labyrinth was from the eleventh century. But it was some youngsters who had build them during the fifties.

Slackers at Stora Måkholmen!

We were not the only paddlers in Fjällbacka archipelago this weekend. This was a group of leaders from the outdoor organisation Norrviken (really nice pictures) from Stockholm.

The famous Swedish actress Ingrid Bergman (staring in Casablanca) used to live in Fjällbacka archipelago. She lived on a small island called Dannholmen. There is a statue of a pigeon that is clearly visible when approaching Dannholmen.

Stockenträffen 2010

August 29, 2010

Stockenträffen at Orust was, as always, a very pleasant event. I haven’t heard any numbers but I guess the number of participants was about 200. The weather was quite good. Sunny and just a light breeze.

Besides good paddling and opportunities to meet lots of fun kayakers there was arranged paddling trips and different courses. Courses was held by Björn Thomasson. We went to the light house at Måseskär and some circumnavigated the island of Härmanö. On Saturday night was the traditional dinner at the Tofta Gård. Bengt Rodin showed his photos and talked about the kayaking trips he has done in Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego.

The Kayak Association of Tjörn, arranged trips both days.

Björn Thomasson held courses in paddling technique and rolling technique.

The coolest skirt at the symposium this year!

It was crowded at Hermanö.

Some had  a looong lunch break

CJ and Marie raced against this old beautiful ship

Åsa, who joined us at the trip to the High Coast a couple of weeks ago, is getting ready for a shorter trip!

Måseskär lighthouse

Video clip from Stockenträffen

Upcoming kayak events in Sweden

August 22, 2010

Next weekend, 27 – 29 of August, is the annual Stockenträffen at Orust. I’m usually there every year and it is the biggest kayak event in Sweden. Last year it was attended by approximately 250 kayakers. Freya, Dubside and Nigel Foster are among former instructors but unfortunately none of them are coming this year. It is always great fun and often it is good opportunities for those who wants to play in white water.

The Stockentraffen is free of charge but it is a camping fee. Registration for participation in some courses and/or trips might be needed. If you want to join join the the Saturday night dinner/BBQ you must make a reservation in advance.  Check out the information at Orust Kajak.

Here is a videoclip from last year that I found at Youtube. Best part is from 3.50 in the clip.

Lars from Horisont kayaks in Stockholm at Stockenträffen 2008.

The 3 – 5 of september it time for the Rävholmsträffen (in Swedish) in Göteborg Archipelago. It has no program. The weather decides the activities. Some years there has been paddlingtrips to the light houses of Vinga and Tistlarna and some has been surfing in the bay at Rävholmen. The atmosphere is relaxed and about 50 – 60 kayakers are ususally attending if the weather is good. Come as you are! No registrationen is needed. It is free of charge. Just bring your kayak stuff, tent, food and something to drink.

The bay at Rävholmen

Final kayak event this year  held by the magazine Paddling at Tjärö in Blekinge. The Tjäröfestivalen is held 10 – 12 of september and has a nice program and activities, both interesting talks from Swedish adventures and kayak designers and work shops. Unfortunately is the information only in Swedish. There is a registration fee of 795 SEK. In that price is all activities on land and sea, BBQ and Camping included. To bad I can’t join Tjäröfestivalen but I am Hiking in the North of Sweden!

Kayaking at the High Coast – part II

August 12, 2010

Last week my friends and I paddled from the city of Härnösand to the city Örnsköldsvik. We passed the coastline called the High Coast (Höga Kusten in Swedish). It is a really nice paddling trip. The High Coast offers an amazing variety of natural surroundings. Since 2000 the High Coast has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage. What makes The High Coast Unique is its post – glacial rebound. It is still rizing at a rate of eight mm per year. The area has one National Park and heaps of Nature Reserves.

The kayak trip along the High Coast maybe is not the easiest choice for beginners because some parts are really exposed and it can be hard to find easy landing in strong winds. We had great conditions almost everyday with a slight tail wind. One day we had a headwind (near gale). We then decided to have a bonus day at Högbonden.

We started downtown in the City of Härnösand. Our plan was to paddle about 20 km every day and do some longer stops at some islands along the trip. We paddled for seven days. The coastline is pretty rough due to the post glacial rebound. We had excellent support from Höga Kusten Kajak in Härnösand who helped us with transport back from Örnsköldvik to Härnösand.

We started in Härnösand in cloudy weather

We are used to camp straight on the cliffs but at the High Coast we sometimes camped in the forests.

Åsa, Fredrik and Patric.

The red Rapakivi granite has been a geolocial symbol for the area.

The lighthouse of Högbonden. The old lighthouse keeper’s house is now a youth hostel, Högbondens vandrarhem. We spent an extra night there due to headwind. A really nice and cool place.

We also had calm weather! Fredrik is paddling his Legend

Crossing between some islands.

I will post a full trip description. But it may take some days before it is finished. Here is two different video clips from the trip.

Here is the first videoclip edited in my Iphone

Here is the second videoclip edited at home

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