kayakr.net

First test of Fenn Swordfish

kayakr — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 11:37:04 +0000

I have tested the Fenn Swordfish. The Swordfish is the newest surfski from Fenn. When I was working in Stockholm last week I had the opportunity to borrow a Fenn Swordfish. I just had a short trip in very calm conditions but it gave me a great feeling and I’m eager to try it more. Compared to my surfski, a Fenn XT, it felt a lot faster, less stable but still very stable. I tried the Fenn Mako 6 earlier last week and the Swordfish is much more stable. In the Mako 6 I had to use brace strokes many times (more wind and waves) but in the Swordfish I felt safe and could focus on getting forward. The sit comfort wasn’t great but that was proberbly due to the seat was padded on both sides. I will try the Swordfish even more sometime in the next coming weeks. Then I will give a more detailed report.

Jens is paddling his Fenn Swordfish in Stockholm city.

Helen Wilson is coming to Sweden

kayakr — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 18:34:30 +0000

The greenland kayak rolling expert and teacher Helen Wilson is coming to Sweden during the end of June. She is planning to hold kayak rolling classes in Göteborg at Göteborgs Kanotförening the 27 and 28 of June and at Grebbestad kajakcenter the 29 and 30 of June. The class on the 30 of June is already full. Helen is eager to learn others about the greenlandic culture, traditional paddling and the joy of rolling a kayak. I will try to attend one of the classes in Göteborg.

Helen visited the team Fat Paddler last year and held a kayak rolling class in Australia.

(Thanks Sean for permission to use the image)

First paddling trip for the season

kayakr — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 20:52:49 +0000

I have been paddling in January but this weekend was the first paddling trip for the season. The ice is almost all gone. We carried our kayaks about 200 meters from our club house and we had to paddle between some ice floe to reach open water but it wasnt that hard. We had a really nice trip to Valö in Göteborg archipelag. Valö is an island and also the outer harbour for our kayak club. On valö is a lighthouse and some cabins located. The cabins are available for the members to stay in over night.

Patric is breaking through the ice in the harbour

We had a nice evening paddling to Valö

Johan and Patric in the cabin

The lighthouse gives good protections from winds from north

We took a short walking trip at sunday morning

Patric is packing the new club kayak from Kayakpro

Johan is packing his Clapotis

I have started to use a Braca IV Wingpaddle last year.

Johan is pulling his kayak on the ice. The ice is pretty thick the last 50 meters.

Kayak sweep roll

kayakr — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 22:48:00 +0000

Last Sunday we had an indoor pool kayak training session in Göteborg. Practicing in a pool is very thankful, at least in our latitudes at this time of the year. It gives us great opportunities to practice rescue exercises in calm and warm conditions.

I took the opportunity to practice my kayak roll. I’m doing alright but it isnt as graceful as Johan’s roll. Johan does it really good. Watch and learn.

Surfski Spring Camp 2012 with Dawid Mocke

kayakr — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 10:51:29 +0000

It is time to register to the Surfski Spring Camp 2012 in Sweden. It will take place the 10 to 13 of may at Barnens Ö, about 100 km north of Stockholm. I was there last year and it was the first time I tried Surfski paddling. It was really great and I can highly recommend it. I’m going back this year. One of the best surfski paddlers, Dawid Mocke, is attending this year and will be holding classes.

Barnens Ö is located close to the Stockholm International Airport, only 80 km, if you are interested in attending.

Dawid Mocke in Norway, during the ASKR 2011.

The program contains:

Beginners courses
Downwind paddling
Paddling technique
Re-mounting technique
Paddling classes with the elite paddlers for input and advices
Surfski Safety
How to choose the right Surfski

More information is found at globalsurfski.com.

Hand of God

kayakr — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 15:57:58 +0000

A good technique for rescuing a fellow paddler in trouble is the Hand of God. SeakayakingTV has done som instructional kayaking video clips on youtube. Unfortunately they have lots of ads on the latest videoclips. Some of them are in two versions, as this one:

Arctic Sea Kayak Race 2012

kayakr — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:10:02 +0000

I havent decided if I shall go to the Arctic Sea Kayak Race this year but I can strongly recommend it if you havent been there before. My friends and I went to the ASKR last year and had a really good time. The date for this year event is now set to the 22 – 27 of July. More info will be find at the homepage of ASKR.

Vaida is showing some balance skills in a Nuka from Arrow Kayaks at the ASKR.

Cool winter paddling

kayakr — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 10:39:54 +0000

Yesterday I went out for a downwind paddling trip togheter with my friend Jens. Average winds 16 m/s (31 kt) with top winds of 21 m/s (41 kt). Water temperature + 1 C (34 F), Air temperature -1 C (30 F) and heavy snowing. Great fun but I wish I was on the southern hemisphere…

Winter paddling in Sweden. I had to swim a few times. Good clothing with good insulation is essential. I use a dry suit from Ursuit. Neoprene gloves and hood.

Kayaking trip to Vinga

kayakr — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:10:41 +0000

Johan, Patric and I paddled to Vinga last weekend. It was pretty calm weather and I haven’t been to Vinga in January before. The island Vinga is located furthest west in the Gothenburg archipelago. It’s is exposed it is a fairly long day trip, nearly 32 km back and forth. Vinga has one of oldest and also is one the most famous light houses in Sweden. Anders paddled with us the first part of the kayak trip but turned back at Böttö. I was really tired back home.

Johan in his Clapotis Sea Kayak and Patric in his Surfski from Zedtech. Just before we got the headwind at Böttö.

Lunch break by the light house. The light house stairs protect us from the wind.

16 km each way from the harbour to Vinga. I was so tired and fell asleep in the cinema later in the evening.

Paddling in January

kayakr — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 18:16:49 +0000

A year ago I went iceskating in the Archipelago. This year is the Winter late and the sea is still open. That’s perfect. More time for kayaking.

Today I went for a short trip chasing the ferries in the Archipelago. Nobody else on the water these days.

The Braca wing paddle for sea kayaking works out really fine.