WINNIPEG, MANITOBA. June 13, 2018. In just a few weeks, eighteen-year old Winnipeg kayaker and GEARLAB athlete Alex Martin will embark on a first of its kind solo expedition to circumnavigate Lake Winnipeg. The goal during the 1,750 km sea kayak journey is to raise awareness about the critical need for sustainable watershed management in the region.
The 1,750 km sea kayak journey will take approximately two months and kick off on June 27 from Manitoba Grand Beach Provincial Park. Along the way, Alex will stop in communities around the lake to be able to share stories, promote the campaign, and photograph the lake in its dynamic state along the coast.
Alex has chosen the GEARLAB Nukilik paddle as the trip’s paddle. “The light carbon-fiber design makes it great for long distance paddling, and the replaceable tips makes it ideal for expedition trips,” Alex says. “Totally great on windy days!”
Developed over thousands of years by the Inuit, Greenland style paddles offer efficient power and precise control. As the first modern Greenland-style paddle with exchangeable tips, GEARLAB paddles and accessories incorporate ancient wisdom and modern materials, fusing efficiency and technology into the best touring paddle on the market.
For Alex, the timing is critical. In recent years, harmful blue-green algae blooms have contaminated beaches, reduced water quality, and threatened the fishing industry.
“The trip will serve as an awareness campaign regarding the dire need for change in the way that the government and private corporations, along with people who live within the Lake Winnipeg watershed, think about sustainability in regards to Lake Winnipeg,” says Alex.
While circumnavigating Lake Winnipeg, he will paddle the shoreline of a number of areas recognized for their importance in the lake’s ecology, such as the proposed UNESCO World Heritage Site of Pimachiowin Aki, Fisher Bay Provincial Park, and Kinwow Bay Provincial Park.
In addition to visiting 12 local schools to speak about water conservation and stewardship, Alex has partnered with Lake Winnipeg Foundation, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society: Manitoba Chapter, and the First Nations group Pimachiowin Aki.
For updates on the trip, visit https://www.lakewinnipegcircumnavigation.com
About GEARLAB:
For past seven years GEARLAB has designed and manufactured Greenland-style carbon-fiber paddles for ocean kayakers around the world. Created by a team of award-winning industrial designers and outdoor enthusiasts, the paddles are adapted from indigenous Inuit designs. Greenland paddles provide the longest range, efficiency and precision while reducing injury and fatigue. Made from 100% continuous carbon-fiber material, GEARLAB perfects thousand-year old ergonomics with advanced material strength and durability. GEARLAB paddles will open up a new realm of adventure for both weekend kayakers and professional.
