Four years ago, Brenna Kelly left the security of her job as a whitewater kayak instructor on the Ottawa River to do what countless adventurers and entrepreneurs before her have done—to go west.
Brenna Kelly’s Adventure Paddle School
The Smiths Falls, Ontario Native Was Drawn To The East Kootenays As The Perfect Place To Start Her Business, Adventure Paddle School. No stranger to a good paddling pun, the competitive kayaker—Kelly was a member of the 2012 Canadian National Freestyle team—says the experience has been full of “ebbs and flows.”
Earlier this year, she sold the school to Columbia River Paddle. However, she remains the head instructor at Adventure Paddle School, where every summer 250 students “rapidly” learn to standup paddleboard and kayak.
We spoke with Kelly about what it was like to navigate new waters, some 3,400 kilometers from home.
Why did you choose Invermere, B.C. as your location?
I was the manager and kayak instructor at the Ottawa Kayak School and in the winter, I would go west to be a ski instructor. After a while, it was getting tiring moving every six months. I wanted to make my life in British Columbia and I want people to like kayaking as much as I do.
Out here, the rivers are shallower, faster and they don’t necessarily end in a calm pool of water. Most of the lakes in B.C. are also glacier-fed, which makes it really difficult to start as a kayaker, because the first thing you learn is wet exits and trying your roll.
That’s why Invermere was the perfect spot to start a paddle school: The lake is warm, it’s cottage country for Calgarians and Edmontonians, and there’s a small class I to II river up the road.
What were your biggest challenges as a young entrepreneur?
It was very difficult to access financing to start the school. There are a lot of specific requirements for each grant, and we didn’t meet a lot of them. It forced me to develop my business plan fully and gave me a great understanding of where I was and where I wanted to go. To anyone starting a paddling business from scratch: Start small and make organic growth. Once you have proven your business is growing, you can apply for grants or put more of your own money into it. But the grand vision will take time. Let it.
When should someone take a lesson?
It’s funny because people are like, “I can standup paddleboard.” Then you see them go out in only the calmest conditions and kind of sunbathe. It’s not something where if the wind picked up, they’d be able to paddle back. We do standup paddleboard whitewater classes, which is cool because kayaking isn’t for everybody. Standup paddleboarding is another way to get down a river and still get to see all the beautiful sights.
Where do you think there’s room for growth?
There doesn’t seem to be as big of a culture of wanting to learn the proper strokes and skills. It’s all too easy to try something and assume you have mastered it and go onto the next thing without even challenging yourself. By taking lessons, you learn new skills and challenge yourself. Sometimes you fail—but ultimately, you succeed because you’re taking on new skills, allowing you to paddle in cooler places and meet more passionate people.
Who are you most excited to teach?
I just had my first child three months ago, so that’s the new adventure at the moment. Eventually, Piper will get big enough we’ll have her out on the water. We’ve already been doing swimming lessons, just getting her comfortable splashing and interested in water stuff. She’s on the trajectory to be a paddler herself.
If a paddler sends it but no onesees, did it really happen? Not a concern these days. | Photo: Tegan Owens
The convergence of rapidly improving camera technology and the dramatic rise in social media use over the past decade has changed the way we paddle.
For many paddlers, packing a camera to capture the action is almost as important as packing a paddle. A decade ago, adventure photography remained the domain of a few skilled individuals, carting heavy equipment and protective, waterproof housing. Today, adventure photography is accessible to anyone with a few hundred dollars to spare.
The company largely responsible for changing how outdoor sports are recorded is GoPro. Launched in 2002 by American Nick Woodman, he wanted to create a camera for consumers to capture professional quality action photos. The turning point for the company came in 2006, when GoPro launched the groundbreaking Digital Hero, a tiny, but durable digital camera capable of shooting 640×460 photos and 10-second 320×240 video clips.
While the quality couldn’t match even the early digital SLR cameras, the size and video capabilities changed the game of capturing outdoor adventures. In the 12 years since, GoPro has released nearly two dozen variations of its Hero line of cameras. The latest is a top-of-the-line Hero6 Black—a waterproof, image-stabilized camera capable of 12-megapixel photos and 4k, 60fps video.
GoPro obviously isn’t the only action camera on the market. But competitors such as JVC, Sony, Nikon and Garmin, along with many knockoffs, haven’t overcome the original action camera’s reputation for simplicity, quality and remarkable durability.
One company providing remarkable competition is DJI, a Chinese drone manufacturer launched in 2006. Like GoPro with action cameras, DJI has been the leader in groundbreaking unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology for both commercial and consumer use. And also like GoPro, it’s hardly the only drone brand, but it holds a massive market share, said to be close to 85 percent for the consumer market.
Aerial photography has come a long way since Gaspar Félix Tournachon took the first successful aerial photograph in 1858 from a hot air balloon tethered 262 feet above Paris.
While DJI’s commercial drones are now being used to film blockbuster movies, the company’s inexpensive entry-level drones can be flown by just about anyone and have onboard, gimbal-stabilized cameras capable of 4K video and 12-megapixel images.
We have always been trying to make the best flying cameras we possibly can and keep the price point as accessible as possible,” said Michael Oldenburg, senior communication manager for DJI North America. “It’s all an effort to help people capture life’s moments from a new perspective.
Sure, paddlers use them for getting incredible shots and rarely-before-seen angles, but you could argue it’s just progression in aerial photography. What is innovative is how drones are being used to scout rapids and by search and rescue organizations across North America.
The company’s latest drone is the Mavic Air, an $800 consumer UAV folding small enough to fit in a jacket pocket. It’s packed with the latest camera and drone features such as Smart Capture mode, allowing users to take photos using gestures, and Active Track, so the drone will follow you as you paddle away.
You don’t need someone on shore filming you anymore,” said Oldenburg. “That’s one of the great uses for drone technology. We’ve tried to make it easy, even if you don’t have a lot of flying experience.
What’s the next investment when your paddling kit already includes a GoPro Hero6 and a DJI Spark or Mavic Air? Go full 360. Many believe virtual reality is the next big technological shift. While its adoption has been slow, the camera technology to capture 360-degree images and video is rapidly improving.
A handful of brands such as Ricoh, GoPro, Garmin, Samsung and even Kodak—yes, that Kodak—now make palm-sized 360-degree cameras capable of shooting incredibly high-quality images. Postproduction software allows you to grab single, traditionally-cropped images from literally any angle. It’s like having dozens of high-quality cameras mounted to the front of your kayak and pointed in every direction.
For better or worse, armchair adventurers will soon be able to enjoy the most extreme river experiences without ever getting wet.
Paddling addicted journalist Dan Dakin worked as a sports reporter for 12 years before becoming a full-time freelance writer. | Feature Photo: Tegan Owens
We wanted a family gear-hauling cat raft that would play on day trips and fish spring trout rivers. We settled on AIRE’s performance series 16-foot Jaguarundi with 24-inch tubes—not just because Jaguarundi is so fun to say. The Jag sits in the sweet spot between AIRE’s expedition Lions and their sportier Wave Destroyers. We added AIRE’s cat floor and one of their welded aluminum dry boxes for a bench seat and to hold our food, kitchen items and camping gear. See you in the Canyon, or wherever.
www.aire.com | $2,699 USD
2. NRS Top Cat Frame
Cat Frame. | Photo: Scott MacGregor.
The Top Cat is a perfect fit on the Jaguarundi. For expeditions we replaced the high-back, drain-hole seat and rigged it with cooler, dry box and still had room for another box or a gear sling compartment. Seventy-two inches wide is enough to make our Jag cat plenty stable and is wide enough to drop in 37-inch wide coolers and dry boxes. A few years ago NRS retooled all their LoPro fittings and oar mounts to a hot-forged aluminum alloy making the most adaptable frame system way more polished. Shop NRS.com for frame parts and accessories like the NRS Frame Side Rail Racks or to convert the Top Cat for fishing.
www.nrs.com | $1,495 USD
3. Cataract Oars SGG & SGX Shafts and Cutthroat Blades
Cataract oars SGG & SGX shafts and cutthroat blades. |Photo: Scott MacGregor.
We’ve been using Cataract’s SGG and SGX fiberglass and carbon fiber blended shafts for years. The SGGs are spun flexier to feel like wooden oars while the premium SGXs are 33 percent stiffer. Take your pick balancing performance to ibuprofen. This time we upgraded to Cataracts’ clever H2O Counter Balance system of interchangeable weighted or unweighted handles.
Even more clever is Cataracts’ new thumb indexer so you can feel your blade angle at the grip. So simple. With fishing in mind, we ordered Cataract’s Cutthroat blades designed for shallow gravel bar trout rivers. Not getting a descent blade catch is almost as frustrating as the fish not biting. The greater submerged oar blade surface area allows for maximum propulsion on any low-water summer river.
www.cataractoars.com | SGGs with H20 counterbalance handles | $168.95-$202.50 USD each; cutthroat $84.95 USD each
4. Canyon Cooler Prospector 103
What we love most about Canyon Cooler’s Prospector 103 is the built-in lip so the cooler sits on the raft frame instead of hanging from straps. The other clever touch is the second drain plug on the front—you know what I’m talking about, no more pulling a loaded cooler from the frame to drain water.
The Prospector will hold two sliding organizer baskets on two interior levels so you can get to the meat quickly while keeping the lid open as little as possible… yes, I’m looking at you, Margaret.
www.canyoncoolers.com | $369.99 USD
5. Wet Dreams River Supply Cooler Cover
Canyon cooler prospector 103 and Wet dreams river supply cooler cover. |Photo: Scott MacGregor.
When Jason at Wet Dreams heard we ordered a Canyon Cooler Prospector he sent us one of their custom cooler covers. The 22-ounce vinyl coated polyester and a vinyl-coated mesh base create a sleeve for the 1- or 1.5-inches foam to be inserted adding insulation and cushion for extended trips.
The corner flaps have slits so it hinges when you open the cooler lid and so you can access the cooler latches. Options include stainless steel snaps, sewn-in straps, additional foam and a mini-cell foam upgrade. Choose one of the available 12 Canyon or Yeti sizes or custom order a cover for almost any cooler size.
www.wetdreamsriversupply.com | $54-$120 USD
6. Primus Kamoto OpenFire Pit
Primus Kamoto Openfire Pit. |Photo: Scott MacGregor.
The Primus Kamoto OpenFire Pit is a new solution to no trace fires on rafting rivers. This clever scissor folding unit collapses flat and easily fits in the smallest of dry boxes. Burn wood or charcoal and roast on the open flame or drop the grill in place to cook steaks or as a base for pots. The bottom is an ash pan and protects the ground from fire scares. For big groups, Primus makes a larger size accommodating 16-inch logs.
www.primus.com | $129.95
7. Kala Brand Music Waterman Ukelele
Kala Brand music Waterman ukelele. |Photo: Scott MacGregor.
Why is the ukulele the top-selling instrument in America? Four strings, baby. Even I can hammer out a campfire version of Brown Eyed Girl on the Kala Brand Waterman series of waterproof soprano and concert ukes. Sure, it’s ABS plastic but it has nickel-plated tuners and sounds way better than you’d think. No need to pack it away for Lava Falls, one person rows the other strums C-F-C-F-C-F-D-C-F because in the Grand Canyon, “You can’t always get what you want, You can’t always get what you want, You can’t always get what you want, But if you try sometimes, you just might find, you get what you need.”
www.kalabrand.com | $69.99 USD
8. NRS River Wing
NRS River wing. |Photo: Scott MacGregor.
Where I live we have trees for shade and anchors for tarps of any shape, but on the beaches and in canyons of western rivers you need the 40-denier ripstop nylon NRS River Wing self-supporting canopy. At 17 feet long and 16 feet wide you can hunker beneath for dinner prep shade or to wait out the storm. Reflective strings and burly stakes are provided for each corner. Pack along the provided three-piece aluminum poles or do as we do and just use your oars.
Who wouldn’t run a boat named Phantom down a line called Dragon’s Tongue. Graham Kent big water testing on the Middle Channel of the Ottawa River. | Photo: Kaden McLaughlin
Dagger Kayaks’ latest whitewater kayak design and the newest contender in the popular nine-foot creek race category almost didn’t make it to the starting line.
Dagger Kayak’s Phantom Kayak Specs
Length: 8 ft 11 in Width: 26.75 in Weight: 49.5 lbs Volume: 89 gal Paddler Weight: 145-255 lbs Price: $1,249 USD/$1,589 CAD dagger.com
During the reveal of the Phantom kayak, Dagger’s pro team manager Chris Gragtmans told Paddling Magazine publisher Scott MacGregor the behind the scenes story.
Beginning as a secret passion project by Gragtmans, Dagger Kayaks’ designer Mark Robertson and some team athletes, an early Phantom prototype caught fire in the mold. The little episode caused an evacuation of the entire factory. When management pushed to know if anything was damaged in the fire, the boys had to come clean about their covert project. Once the smoke settled, the Phantom was allowed to become more than just a factory team pipe dream.
Dagger Kayak’s nine-foot creek boat
So the Dagger Phantom shares the nine-foot creek race boat category with the Jackson Nirvana and the Pyranha 9R. All three of these kayaks share similar key ingredients but in different portions.
None are over nine feet long, all have a planing hull, they are sort of narrowish, aggressively rockered in the bow with more relaxed stern rocker, and all have a squared off stern—keeping the waterline longish but truncating overall length to play within the race rules. But stir these up with different spoons and they all come out quite a bit different.
I am a proud owner of a Pyranha 9R. I’m completely sold on the #fastisfun mantra of the creek race category of boats. Kayaks like the Phantom are not just for pro paddlers, or kayakers on the hard core creek race circuit.
I enter all six categories in just one race a year. The race is on my home river, basically in my backyard. I bang off at least one training lap almost every night of the week from when the ice goes out to race day.
These boats are just plain fun to paddle. Anyone looking to increase the fun factor of their local creeks, or looking for challenge without stepping up to more consequential runs, needs to try one of these boats.
As you’d expect in today’s creek boats, the Phantom comes with Dagger’s adjustable bulkhead foot brace, plastic step-out pillar, gear loops, water bottle clips and multi-way adjustable thigh braces with backhand ratchets tucked inside. | Photo: Scott MacGregor
How do you dramatically improve your paddling in just 30 minutes? Take the time to dial in Dagger’s contour hip pads and ratchet-adjust leg lifter seat. Do it. | Photo: Scott MacGregor
Dagger Kayak’s racing kayak outfitting
Let’s get talking about the Phantom, specifically. I’m a complete fanboy of Dagger’s outfitting. In my opinion, none of the other brands come anywhere close to the adjustability, quality and comfort Dagger is bolting into their whitewater kayaks.
There are those paddlers who will complain Dagger’s outfitting is too complicated with too many nuts and bolts and moving parts. Adjusting a Dagger boat for the first time can be a daunting task.
Being a planing-hull style kayak, the Phantom has defined edges like a modern river runner.
For me, I know if I spend 30 to 45 minutes setting up the rotomolded seat with Leg Lifter, adjustable thigh braces, comfy hip pads, and ratcheting backband, I can have a kayak fitting me like a glove, truly becoming an extension of my body. If I could, I’d retrofit Dagger outfitting into every boat I own.
For me, at 5’11” and 190 pounds, the Phantom still felt big, but not so large it was unwieldy. Compared to my 9R, the Phantom is an inch-and-a-half wider, and has 11 more gallons of volume. With a paddler weight range of 145 to 255 pounds, I’m very close to the middle of the range, which should be ideal.
Paddling Dagger’s Phantom creek boat
Initially paddling on flatwater and trying a few ferries and easy eddy moves, the Phantom didn’t feel as fast as what I was expecting. Being a planing-hull style kayak, the Phantom has defined edges like a modern river runner.
Just enough edge to be able to carve a turn, and control a surf, and yet these edges are very forgiving. While I could get the boat to carve a turn, it generally wasn’t a crisp, sharp turn; and when peeling into an eddy, dropping an edge alone often wasn’t enough to fully bring me around to facing upstream.
The softness of the edge keeps this boat feeling closer to the stability of a creek boat. Or like a chubby river runner, like a sportier Dagger Mamba. I can’t recall any occurrence of the current catching an edge and setting me off balance.
Faster boats often have a learning curve. You can find yourself crashing down a rapid out of control; this is especially noticeable in the 12-foot boat category, when you get moving downstream too quickly to make the moves required to style a line.
Race boats can also feel locked-in on course and difficult to turn. The Phantom did not seem to lock-in on a line, and making course corrections mid-rapid or maintaining the bow upstream while peeling out of an eddy was natural feeling. Again, more like a river runner than a race boat.
Same race length as the large Dagger Nomad; just a smidge wider than the medium Nomad; same volume as the Dagger Mamba 8.6. Cool to know. | Photo: Scott MacGregor
A big racing kayak for expedition kayaking too
While I love the 9R, and have been paddling it as my dedicated class IV to V creek boat for the last two years, I have started looking for something new. When I run remote class V runs in the 9R and start loading it down with gear, including large throw bag, pin kit, lunch, sat phone, first aid and survival kit and breakdown paddle, it’s just not big enough.
At 89 gallons, the Dagger Phantom was more than large enough, especially with plenty of volume up front. It rides over features and surfaces very quickly.
The Dagger Phantom is more like a nine-foot creek boat I can burn down my river on race day and pack it for an expedition the next weekend.
I couldn’t get over how much bow rocker the boat feels like it has. It’s like the bow is waiting for me to give it something to climb over. Even on photo shoot day with two pro DSLR cameras, lens and my girlfriend’s lunch in my boat, the extra load was hardly noticeable.
I find race boats are typically best paddled aggressively—leaning forward and utilizing bow control strokes. The game is to use the boat’s speed to your advantage to skip over holes and boils, and the edges to carve your way between features.
Typically designers pull back on the stability cushion provided by today’s creek boats in exchange for the downstream performance of race boats. If you try to float your way through rapids, cross currents will play havoc with the long sterns, tugging on your edges—these boats are meant to be driven hard down the river.
The Dagger Phantom on the other hand is more like a nine-foot creek boat I can burn down my river on race day and pack it for an expedition the next weekend.
Working under the cloak of corporate darkness the Dagger design team created a vision for a kayak they themselves wanted to race and paddle. While the cause of the fire may remain a mystery, the Phantom is real. For more top picks and expert reviews, check out Paddling Magazine’s guide to the best whitewater kayaks here.
Who wouldn’t run a boat named Phantom down a line called Dragon’s Tongue. Graham Kent big water testing on the Middle Channel of the Ottawa River. Feature Photo: Kaden McLaughlin
Over The Past Four Years, I’ve Had The Privilege To Work As An Expedition Paddling Guide Year-Round By Working On Board Expedition Cruise Ships In Polar Regions.
Working with Quark Expeditions last winter on board the Ocean Endeavor, I spent three months sailing multiple times between the end of the earth—fin del mund—in Ushuaia, Argentina and the Antarctic Peninsula.
Once the group makes the two-day, 550-mile crossing of the notoriously rough Drake Passage, we spend our days sailing along the coast of the frozen continent nearby the penguin and seal colonies of the Gerlache Strait. When not sailing, we take excursions on land, where we walk amongst thousands of penguins, or on water, where we cruise with icebergs and marine life.
I Was Initially A Bit Skeptical Of Paddleboarding In Antarctica. It was introduced as a new activity last year, and I knew more than half the guests I took out would be trying SUP for the very first time. What I could never have predicted was how tranquil the experience could be. In comparison to kayaking, the paddleboard’s higher vantage point allows for a superb view of the marine life cruising just below.
In Addition To Seals And Whales, Penguins Are One Of The Animals We Encounter Most Often In Antarctica. They’re curious and often interact, darting underneath boards or porpoising alongside. They swim behind the paddleboards—the board’s disturbance in the water stirs up plankton which attracts krill which the penguins feed on.
Majestic is the only way to describe the underwater glide of these flightless birds. The chinstrap penguin, seen here, is a surprisingly speedy creature, able to swim 20 miles an hour. For comparison, American Olympian Michael Phelps can swim six miles an hour on a good day.
This Photo Was Captured During A Paddling Excursion At The Mouth Of Mikkelsen Harbor. I was working as a support guide in a Zodiac inflatable, acting as the paddleboarders’ personal paparazzi. While on the lookout for curious wildlife and monitoring shifting ice conditions from wind and tide, I had the opportunity to position myself for taking fun photos away from the hustle and bustle of the other passengers.
To Get Low For This Shot, I Hung Off The Side Tubes Of The Zodiac And Had The Lens Just Above The Water Level To Get A View Of Penguins Cruising Around The Paddleboarders. I took this with a Nikon D500. Having a 80-400mm zoom lens allowed me to capture the action while keeping out of the way. While no photo can truly do justice to Antarctica’s grandiosity and beauty, capturing this moment offers a glimpse.
Jimmy MacDonald is a canoe and kayak guide, as well as a swiftwater and ice rescue instructor. Find more of his photos at www.pawistik.ca.
As I Stood On My Board Paddling Through The Massive Green Limestone Karsts Jutting Into The Red-Sunned Sky Of Northern Vietnam, I Couldn’t Help But Think, “Here Be Dragons”.
Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay are known for the towering karsts dotting the bays, creating a surreal experience for paddlers. Vietnamese legend suggests thousands of years ago the people of the Vietnam region were fighting invaders from the north and called upon dragons to help them fight the enemy’s navy.
[ Plan your next paddling adventure with the Paddling Trip Guide ]
When the dragons destroyed the attacking ships, emeralds are said to have fallen from their mouths and these created the 2,000 karsts which make Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay famous.
I Was Lucky Enough To Explore Lan Ha Bay-The less touristy of the two bays, paddling amongst floating homes from which locals catch fish. I also kept an eye on shore hoping to spot one of the 60 remaining Cát Bà langurs—one of the world’s most endangered primates.
Ha Long Bay is protected and beautiful for paddleboard tours. When Ha Long Bay became a protected area several years ago, all of the floating homes of the bay were forced to pack up and move or give up their way of life.
This exodus led to a massive influx of floating homes in neighboring Lan Ha Bay.
Wildlife
While most jellyfish in the bay are harmless, the fire jellyfish will give a good sting. They’re most common in the summer months, so consider swimming with a rashguard. If you’re lucky, you might spot a Cát Bà langur.
Exposure
Because of the many karsts surrounding the area, the bay is usually calm. And no matter where you are in the bay, you are always close to some type of shore. The Vietnamese sun is not so forgiving. Pack plenty of sunscreen and drinking water.
Outfitters
Asia Outdoors (www.asiaoutdoors.com.vn) runs half day and full day paddling tours of Lan Ha Bay. They are environmentally conscious and work with local fisherman to help clean up the area and create sustainable tourism.
Accommodation
Cát Bà Island is the place to stay. With hotels for every budget, prices range from $5 to $150 a night. Just be sure to choose a place with air conditioning.
The bay has had issues with garbage over several years as currents bring trash from China in the north and from southern Vietnam, and now the higher numbers of floating homes have added to the problem.
Several tour companies now work with the locals to clean the area. I tried to do my part as I paddled along picking up the odd plastic bottle or soda can.
After Returning To The Transport Boat After A Glorious Day Of Paddling Amongst The Dragons’ Emeralds, I Headed Back To My Hotel On Cát Bà Island.
Cát Bà Island is one of the largest karsts in the bays and has a town with several hotels, a national park and fantastic beaches.
This is the place to relax and enjoy the beautiful sunsets over the harbor.
What To Do In Ha Long Bay
Half Day:
Take a short boat trip from Cát Bà Island into the heart of Lan Ha Bay.
Spend your morning or afternoon paddling through the maze of karst islands dotting the area, and explore hidden lagoons, limestone caves and floating villages.
Full Day:
Take another boat trip in the heart of Lan Ha Bay. A full day trip offers time to land on shore to relax on the many small, deserted sandy beaches in the bay.
Enjoy lunch on your support boat before heading to another area of the bay to experience more of the impressive karst archipelago.
Turn Your Next Paddleboarding Excursion Into A High-Speed Adventure. This is the promise Collingwood, Ontario, local Chris Vermeulen is making to his customers with his new invention VeFoil, a bolt-on jet propulsion system for surf and paddleboards.
Vermeulen has always been a tinkerer. As a kid he built a dirt bike, a go-cart and remote-controlled airplanes. Now 37 years old, his latest creation is set to take the e-surf world by storm. His successful Kickstarter campaign raised more than $2,000 in the first 36 hours. And now, with 100 backers, he’s raised more than $7,000. One look at his project and it’s easy to see why he’s succeeding;
Chris Vermeulen’s paddleboard jet drive
Vermeulen Is Creating Something Anyone Who Has Ever Stood On A Surf Or Paddleboard Has Only Dreamed Of. I want to create a propulsion system, which will attach to the bottom of any SUP and any surfboard, with a bracket system so you can bolt it on to any hydrofoil,” says Vermeulen. “It’s a remote control jet drive.
His prototype features a 12-horsepower motor powered by LiPo batteries, though the production model uses lithium ion batteries. Among the numerous hurdles while bringing his dream to fruition has been the controller—no company was manufacturing a decent waterproof remote control to throttle up or down engine speed.
Working alongside an ever-growing team of local tinkerers and paddlers, including Ian Brown, Simon Fischer, Pedro Monsalve and Miles Hammond, they solved this problem by designing and beginning to manufacture the first commercial, floating, waterproof trigger-style remote. It’s a piece of kit the e-surf world is excited about and may turn out to be the most successful part of Vermeulen’s venture.
Since the entire kit can mount to just about anything, top speeds of the finished product will differ. Vermeulen believes the top speed of a paddleboard with the VeFoil will be about 30 miles an hour and the battery will last 30 to 60 minutes, depending on what it’s mounted to.
Vermeulen created his jet drive to catch the surf
One Of Vermeulen’s Big Gripes With E-Surf Boards Is You Can Never Truly Catch A Wave With Them.
“When you catch a wave with an electric board, unless you throttle the board perfectly, you’re either falling back off the wave from the propeller resistance, or you’re shooting in front of the wave,” he says. So he designed a system when the throttle is off, the nozzle will close. Allowing you to catch a wave with the motor, shut the motor down, surf the wave, then power up to get out of the wave.
As a DIY kind of guy, Vermeulen’s final product will be a bolt-on kit retailing for about a tenth of what a full production model, like competitor Lift eFoil, is going for.
The whole plan we’re working on is to try to build it with stock parts,” he says. “We order bulk motors, bulk computer systems, get everything pre-programmed with all our settings, we’ll put on special plugs, so it’s plug and play. It’s a DIY kit. I’ll put the kits together and say, here they all are, here’s the instructions, here’s the video clip. Bolt it together, plug in the battery and you can transform any of your rides.
“We’re hoping it’ll retail for about $1,750 USD,” says Vermeulen. “That’s the goal, but we won’t know until we’re totally done.” Final testing is ongoing, with the entire kit available for shipping late this summer.
It’s a riddle. What do you call a treasured waterway with no defined beginning, a very distinct end and many personalities along the way?
It’s a source of food for many, recreation for others, and untold tragedy for some. It’s within an hour’s drive of millions of people, yet few ever dip their toes into its ever-changing waters.
The answer to this riddle is the Grand River – A scenic and varied estuary flowing nearly 280 kilometers southeast, from rural Grey County to its outlet at Port Maitland on Lake Erie. Also known as O:se Kenhionhata:tie to the Indigenous Iroquois communities living along its shores—named for the watershed’s many willows—the Grand is the longest river entirely within Ontario’s boundaries.
Because its headwaters start with shallow ditches around Dundalk, the section worth paddling runs from Belwood Conservation area more than 220 kilometers to Lake Erie. At that distance, and with a fairly brisk flow, the Grand River can be paddled over a long weekend if you’re ambitious.
My introduction to the river came as a teenager when I attended a summer camp in the quiet town of Paris. The campground was located across the street from the river, and a quick hike down an embankment brought us to an isolated, shallow section, where we could walk across to the opposite shore during the dry summer months. In my twenties, I kayaked sections of it.
In my late 30s, I took up standup paddleboarding and started racing on it. After a few long-distance races, I knew covering 50 or more kilometers a day was a realistic goal. With 2018 being the year I turn 40, I decided this would be the time to solo paddle one of Ontario’s hidden-in-plain-sight treasures. I circled the May long weekend on the calendar, booked a vacation day to make it a four-day weekend and crossed my fingers for good weather.
An end-to-end paddle of the Grand relies heavily on high water levels, which are rare except in spring and fall. There’s also a risk of the water being too high, which can lead to dangerously fast flows and flooding.
The Grand showed its might in a horrific way last February when a three-year-old boy was swept from his mother’s arms as they tried to escape a vehicle in the river. The boy’s body was found 13 kilometers downriver more than two months later.
Although the flooding had long since subsided, the tragedy weighed heavily on my mind leading up to my chosen weekend. A dry start to May meant traversing the beautiful, but boney Elora Gorge on the upper reaches of the river wouldn’t be safe on a paddleboard. Instead, I planned a 212-kilometer journey, starting at the south end of the gorge.
Of my four boards, I opted to paddle my 12-foot-six inflatable Blu Wave Catalina, which offers excellent balance and quick handling, as well as straight-line efficiency for covering distance. I used both a 4.5-inch and an 8-inch flexible fin, switching between the two depending on the depth and flow of the section of river I was in.
The rest of my kit included an older carbon paddle I was willing to risk damaging in exchange for its weight savings, as well as a PFD, helmet, two-liter Camelbak hydration pack and quick-release leash.
While it was a solo endeavor on the water, my wife volunteered to be my one-person support crew, supplying me with lunches, water refills and encouragement. Her support extended to driving me to camping locations each night, removing the need to paddle with days of food and camping gear. With my four-day plan requiring an average of more than 50 kilometers per day of paddling, I knew it needed to be a supported journey or nothing.
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On the first morning, I pushed off on the Grand just after 10:30 A.M, and I was quickly reminded of what makes this river so special. I went from paddling easy rapids to calm, flat water passing a group of artists painting the lush green landscape from shore. Soon after, I passed under the oldest wooden covered bridge in the country, found in the quiet hamlet of West Montrose, population 267.
There are nearly a dozen dams and weirs along the length of the Grand, but only six had to be portaged. Leading into the town of Paris on the second day, an unseen rock in shallow water tossed me off the board and I was swept through shallow rapids.
On my third day on the river, the fast-flowing waters of the Grand slowed and my arms and shoulders started to feel the distance behind me. The river turned east toward the quiet First Nations lands around Ohsweken and Caledonia. I encountered motorboats for the first time, changing the dynamic and feel of the river.
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With just 43 kilometers to complete on the fourth and final day of my journey, I was paddling under beautiful sunny skies when I spotted a pair of bald eagles soaring overhead. They were just one of many bird species I witnessed along the route, but certainly the most majestic.
Plenty of motorboat traffic greeted me as I neared the river’s outlet at Lake Erie. As I paddled past dozens of fishermen along the pier and rounded the lighthouse that guides ships in Lake Erie, I felt a sense of euphoria knowing that the journey was complete. After more than 28 hours of paddling and 212 kilometers covered, I arrived at the end of my journey.
I was tired, sore and ready to be done, but my love of the Grand River had only grown. It’s a river steeped in history, and one that can flex its muscle with sometimes tragic consequences. And yet, its many personalities means that anyone with a board, canoe or kayak will find a section to enjoy.
Paddling addicted journalist Dan Dakin worked as a sports reporter for 12 years before becoming a freelance writer. He races on his paddleboard whenever he can.
Relying On The Right Gear Allowed Me To Race A Total Of 367 Kilometers In Expedition Paddleboarding Races Last Summer.
Successful expedition racing requires technique, endurance, navigation skills, strategy and sometimes a bit of luck. In most races—which range in length from the Muskoka River X’s 58-kilometer Sprint class to the sprawling 715 kilometers of the Yukon River Quest—most paddlers are set first and foremost on just getting to the finish line, rather than reaching the podium. Take a peek inside my kit to discover what to look for in the eight essentials every expedition racer needs.
1. PFD
PFD. | Photo: Philip Quade
An inherently buoyant PFD is usually mandatory in expedition races and often better suited as many courses include swift current. Look for a low-profile vest to ensure your life jacket isn’t restricting freedom of movement. In my opinion, the more storage the better—a front zippered pocket can stash all sorts of goodies, including a whistle, water purification tabs, snacks or energy gels. Opt for bright colors—pink, red, orange, yellow—for optimal visibility on the water.
Eddy Flex PFD | 119.00 | www.salusmarine.com
2. Paddleboard
Paddleboard. | Photo: Philip Quade
A great SUP expedition race paddleboard marries speed and stability. It’s typically 14 feet in length and has enough volume to support the added weight of your mandatory gear. “Many people convert their race boards to touring race boards,” says expedition racer and SUP instructor Norm Hann.
“Most of those race boards do not have gear attachments points, so you have to add them on and figure out for yourself where the weighting is best for gear.” One size never quite fits all, but Hann recommends a narrow racing board to maximize speed, between 25 to 27 inches depending on the paddler’s stability and comfort.
Starboard All Star | $3,799 | www.star-board-sup.com
3. Bivy
Bivy. | Photo: Philip Quade
An emergency shelter is gear you must bring, yet hope never to use. It’s mandatory equipment for most expedition races over 24 hours. In an emergency or if the weather takes a turn for the worse, you may need to seek shelter. Packing a lightweight, compact, waterproof and durable bivy is key to being self-sufficient and protected from the elements. Choose breathable and ultra-lightweight fabrics featuring fully taped seams.
“Don’t your feet get tired from standing all day?” Give your dogs a break with racing footwear maintaining comfort, warmth and a good connection to the board. Expect to be walking through water and over rocks during portages, and select a closed toe shoe with a grippy rubber outsole. Depending on the season, opt for materials that will dry quickly and keep you warm, such as hydrophobic canvas or neoprene.
Astral Brewer | $99.95 | www.astraldesigns.com
5. Drybags
Drybags. | Photo: Philip Quade
Keep your kit organized and protected with a drybag. Look for one with 30 to 40 liters of volume—enough room to store your gear during the race, without the opportunity to overpack and weigh down the board. You’ll appreciate backpack straps on portages. An external pocket will help optimize efficiency, allowing for quick access to gear you want to keep close at hand, like Snickers bars.
A watch for expedition SUP racing must do more than tell time. Look for a timing device with distance tracking in order to follow your route and locate portages. A watch displaying calories burned is useful for monitoring nutritional intake requirements and managing energy levels. A pace function is a critical feedback to know if you must speed up to make a checkpoint timing and to understand the effects of current and wind on performance. Ensure your watch is water resistant and has sufficient battery life.
Garmin Vivoactive HR | $200 | www.garmin.com
7. Hydration
Timing and hydration. | Photo: Philip Quade
Staying hydrated for the long haul requires a few key pieces of kit to work together as a system. A hydration backpack allows for easy access to drinking water without breaking stroke, while water purification tabs paired with a Nalgene keep carrying weight at a minimum and cover resupply. Though less conventional, I prefer a LifeStraw filtration bottle because I can reach over the side of my board and fill up at anytime and then drink without having to wait for a chemical treatment to take effect.
LifeStraw Go | $55 | www.lifestraw.com
8. Lighting
Lighting. | Photo: Philip Quade
Navigation on the water and along portages is challenging in the dark. Overnight races will require a bow navigation light, stern signal light, and a headlamp. Choose lighting systems that are lightweight, durable and use LEDs.
Consider the lumens—a measure of how bright the light is—in combination with run time and illumination range. A 150-lumen headlamp works well for camp chores, but you’ll want something brighter for finding portages in the dark. Outfit a red flashing light on the stern of the board for vessel visibility. And remember waterproof lights are essential.
Lupine Piko Headlamp System | $335 | www.lupinenorthamerica.com
Courtney Sinclair is an Ontario-based SUP instructor who competes in ultramarathon paddleboarding races. In 2017 she won the Ontario Ultra Paddling Points Series. She loves cruising waterways of all types, while her dog, Sully, rides shotgun. You can find out more at Court Outdoors.
“Which one do you do? With the sling, or without? Are you on your back, or lying on your belly? Do you inflate it first or after?”
Initially, it sounds like this might be interesting kinky talk. But no, it’s sea kayak rescues again.
Sea Kayakers Lust After Safety
Rescues are the hottest topic of sea kayaking conversation by a nautical mile. The number of different techniques is astounding.
Despite all the safety talk, sea kayakers often have surprisingly modest skills, eschewing an emphasis on judgment, conditioning and strong technique in favor of amassing safety gear and studying a near endless litany of rescue maneuvers.
Safety, Apparently, Has Nothing To Do With Good Judgment Or Paddling Skills
It’s all about rescues and rescue gear. From the sounds of it, the best way for me to be safe is to cover every inch of my kayak deck with a sea of international orange rescue equipment. Is it me, or does this seem like slamming the aquarium door after the sea horse has already escaped?
I’d rather invest my time practicing the avoidance of calamities rather than perfecting 20 different rescues to deal with disaster after it has occurred. After all, an ounce of prevention is worth 40 pounds of paddle floats.
Flares, floats, slings, signals, radar reflectors, radios, compasses and GPS units don’t, themselves, actually keep us safe.
Rescue Gear Doesn’t Save People—People Armed With Knowledge And Forethought Save People—Often Themselves. Deep down, sea kayakers know this. After all, we are typically intelligent, older, post-secondary-educated professionals, not 20-year-old, wet-behind-the-ears whitewater punks—who, despite their cockiness, can actually brace and roll in rough conditions.
No, sea kayakers are mature. They live well and reside in desirable neighbourhoods. They drive Volvos and drink mocha-frappuccinos produced by environmentally conscious coffee roasting companies. Sea kayakers have dinner reservations at Le Jardin and opera tickets. Their lives are good. They should be highly motivated not to die.
But Most Sea Kayakers Don’t Find The Time In Their Cosmopolitan Lives To Learn To Paddle Well. Instead, they try to buy safety. And they are abetted in believing they can do this. There’s a veritable raft of rescue gear out there promising to keep them safe, even if they know nothing about kayaks or the movements of the ocean.
So where did this blind faith in equipment and the false sense of security it instills come from?
Perhaps it’s just part of a wider trend in a society bent on effortless accomplishment: find the most corrosive bathtub cleaner on the market so you won’t have to scrub, start a diet starving your body of fuel so you won’t have to be active to burn it off, buy a Volvo (there’s that word again) and be safer on the road without having to slow down or change your driving habits.
Then again, it might have something to do with the fact the vast majority of paddling instruction is offered by kayak retail businesses. This presents a conflict. It’s great a store can offer instruction but don’t expect there won’t be a mandate to sell gear via the instructional programs.
After All, It’s A Lot Easier To Sell A Bit Of Kit Rather Than The Concept Of Conservative Good Judgment. You can’t buy good judgment, you can’t really teach it, and you definitely can’t bottle it for sale. If you could, I’d buy a two-four of it every weekend.
Alex Matthews is the co-producer of the instructional video, The Ultimate Guide to Sea Kayaking.
