Photo: Under the Midnight Sun in Iceland

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February 16, 2016

Hot springs, volcanoes, moonlike landscapes and a surprisingly common belief in elves are just some of the unique features that bring close to a million tourists to Iceland each year. For professional photographer and paddleboarder, Franz Orsi, it was the endless summer days and opportunity to shoot surf, river and lake paddling all in one location that brought him to the land of ice and fire.

On a road trip around the small island nation, the globetrotting Starboard athlete experienced some of the warmest days Iceland offers (a sweltering 60 degrees Fahrenheit), as well as days that bottomed out at just 41 degrees Fahrenheit, with water temperatures hovering around the same.

“Everything about the trip was extreme—extreme weather, extreme landscape, and everything changes super quickly.” says Orsi.

Orsi got in touch with Iceland’s very small community of surfers (“Not more than 20 or 25,” he says) and contacted its four windsurfers to get beta on the best spot to catch surf. “None of them had tried standup before. One of the guys was very interested and started paddling afterwards—he’s probably the first standup paddler in Iceland,” jokes Orsi.

This photo was taken shortly after midnight near the shore of a glacial lagoon. Though there had been perfect surf and light for photos, the water was full of ice. “It was so close to the glaciers that little bits of ice were floating in the water and extremely sharp,” says Orsi.

In this photo, Orsi and road trip partner and pro surfer, Filippo Orso, are seen just after their surf session. “He’s making fun because of the size of my board of course,” says Orsi. It was a spontaneous moment—“two people sharing passion for the water, but divided by their passion for their own sports.”

While Orsi loves capturing on-water action, it’s off the water where the magic happens. “What’s been really interesting to me about standup is documenting the lifestyle. It’s related to the crazy action sports, but there’s also another side of the sport, of exploration and enjoyment.”

Standup paddling offers new perspectives of looking at the world, says Orsi. “It enables me to get to places and into situations that I would never go. It’s such a simple way of travel—even rudimentary—that it breaks down barriers with people I’d otherwise never meet.”

In his minimalist travel kit, Orsi packs two Nikon digital SLRs, a waterproof-housing unit, and two lenses, including a telephoto.

“There’s no way to shoot a standup trip with a lot of gear,” he says. “There’s a saying I always have in mind before a trip: pack light and you’ll go farther.” See more of Orsi’s work on Instagram at @supnomad.

This article originally appeared in the 2016 Paddling Buyer’s Guide issue.

Subscribe to Paddling Magazine and get 25 years of digital magazine archives including our legacy titles: Rapid, Adventure Kayak and Canoeroots.

Kayaks Should Come With Warning Labels. Here’s Why

By

Virginia Marshall

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February 12, 2016

Kayaks should come with warning labels.

I don’t mean the standard sort of cautionary risk disclaimer (the sort you’ll find in the masthead of Paddling Magazine):

Paddling and other activities described and illustrated herein are inherently dangerous and could result in serious bodily injury, including disability and death. Do not attempt without proper supervision, training and safety equipment…yada, yada, yada…

While it’s the head’s-up our litigious society demands, it doesn’t do much to sell the sport and, more than that, it seems kinda obvious in the way that “don’t stick a fork in an electrical outlet” and “look both ways” are by the time you’re old enough to read mouseprint.

No, I only wish someone had warned me that kayaking would take over my life. Consume my daydreams, holidays, basement, bookshelves and career. I would have started paddling sooner.

We’re used to negative advisories on things we might want to avoid: violent movies and video games, cigarettes, alcohol, profanity-strewn records, bear-plagued campgrounds. But here’s a thought—how about slapping portentous labels on good things?

Sleeping bags and pads—who needs a bed and sheets? Kayaks and canoes—I am being productive, I’m going paddling. This Buyer’s Guide—Honey, I’ve found the perfect, high-return investment for our nest egg!

Warning labels work by getting our attention and triggering psychological and emotional responses. In the case of labels on controlled substances like tobacco, a recent study by Cancer Council Victoria, in which researchers surveyed smokers in the U.S., Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom, found that larger labels that included images were most effective at capturing smokers’ attention. Simply trying not to look doesn’t help, says the study’s author, “This just goes to prove the idea that the more one tries not to think of something, the more one tends to focus on it.”

Adventure Kayak and Paddling Buyer’s Guide readers, of course, already know this. Photos of happy, adventurous kayakers plying scenic coasts trigger overwhelming urges to drop everything and go paddling.

Paddling will make you a crusader for this watery planet. Will make you care deeply about aquatic and oceanic ecology and every other environment on our bluish-greenish-brownish globe. May shift the way you think, shop, drive, dress, work and vote.

There’s another advisory we could put on boats, but maybe we should keep it under our hats for now. Paddling will make you a crusader for this watery planet. Will make you care deeply about aquatic and oceanic ecology and every other environment on our bluish-greenish-brownish globe. May shift the way you think, shop, drive, dress, work and vote. Mind-altering, life-changing stuff.

It’s no coincidence our long-time columnists and contributors often share their concern for our society’s shift out of nature and into cubicles, and the estrangement of the next generation from wild places.

So turn the pages and dive in, but don’t say I didn’t warn you. If kayaks and paddling magazines came with this “lifestyle advisory,” it might read something like this:

Attention: Kayaking is addictive and is a leading cause of good health, mental wellbeing, and meaningful relationships with friends, family and nature. Paddlers may experience cravings and emotional highs after brief exposure. Prolonged use can result in enlightenment, heightened fitness, and environmental awareness and appreciation. Enjoy!

Recirc is a column celebrating our favorite stories from 20 years of Adventure Kayak, Rapid and Canoeroots. This article first appeared in the 2016 Paddling Buyer’s Guide.

This article originally appeared in the 2016 Paddling Buyer’s Guide issue.

Subscribe to Paddling Magazine and get 25 years of digital magazine archives including our legacy titles: Rapid, Adventure Kayak and Canoeroots.

5 Questions With The Rediscover North America Expedition

By

Conor Mihell

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February 12, 2016

Mission impossible? Mission accomplished. | Photo: Rediscover North America Expedition

Just months after completing the first-ever west to east canoe journey across Canada’s Yukon, Northwest and Nunavut territories in 2012, Minnesota-based adventurer Winchell Delano, 30, felt an itch. He scratched it by planning a 5,200-mile south to north expedition from the Gulf of Mexico to the Arctic Ocean.

To complete the journey in a single season meant starting in January—and traveling against the current for most of the route. But the six-man team lucked out: Low water meant easier upstream paddling, and their route avoided the hotspots of an active wildfire season in northern Canada.

Delano and his friends, Adam Trigg, Luke Kimmes, John Keaveny, Dan Flynn and Jarad Moore, touched down at the mouth of the Coppermine River in Kugluktuk, Nunavut, in September 2015.

The documentary of their trip is available to rent or buy here.

[ Paddling Trip Guide: View all canoeing trips in North America ]

What was Rediscover NA like compared to your last trip?

Trans-Territorial was an anxious sprint. This was an interpersonal marathon. We knew it was possible to paddle from the Gulf of Mexico to the Arctic Ocean because several people have done versions of it. The question was, could we come together and do it as a group of six. I’d rather have longer, harder workdays than have to discuss every decision ad nauseam.

Mission impossible? Mission accomplished. | Photo: Rediscover North America Expedition

Why call it Rediscover North America?

I was out in Utah working in wilderness therapy. I was trying to get a rapport with a kid, describing this upcoming trip, asking him if he had any ideas for a good name. I could tell he didn’t give a shit about it, yet one thing he said stuck: He called it a rediscovery. That’s exactly what we did, stitching together all these existing routes into one big journey.

Where did you meet the most interesting people?

We thought there’d be a juxtaposition between the heavily populated south and the empty north. However, kindness transcends geography and encounters with people were the greatest highlight of our trip. It didn’t matter where, people who had no reason to welcome us would call us in to shore, feed us a meal and give us a place to sleep.

Who made the biggest sacrifice to join this journey?

You could make a compelling argument for anyone. A year and a half ago, I gave everyone the same prospectus. It outlined the trip, how long it would take and what type of conditions. When you do a 245-day trip you give a lot up. But you gain a lot, too.

That’s a good question. It’s been three weeks since we finished and I still have a trip hangover. It’s weird to be home and not have my day revolve around eight hours of paddling. I’m still waking up at four in the morning, thinking we need to get up and move.

Watch the Rediscover North America Trailer:

This article originally appeared in the 2016 Paddling Buyer’s Guide issue.

Subscribe to Paddling Magazine and get 25 years of digital magazine archives including our legacy titles: Rapid, Adventure Kayak and Canoeroots.

Find The Perfect Whitewater Boat In Just 10 Minutes

By

Carmen Kuntz

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February 9, 2016

It’s demo day at your local outfitters, a chance to get on the water and try out different boats. The catch: the only water nearby is flatwater. How do you translate what this boat is doing on flatwater to what it will do in whitewater?

Simon Coward, whitewater kayak instructor and owner of Aquabatics kayak shop in Calgary, Alberta, offers these tips for making sure your flatwater demo converts into to the purchase of the perfect whitewater companion.

Ample bow volume and rocker, just like the Phantom, helps the Rewind resurface and maintain speed after drops, while its slicey, low-volume stern turns every eddyline into a play opportunity. | Photo: Scott MacGregor

Best Whitewater Kayaks For 2026

5 steps to find the perfect whitewater boat on flatwater

1 Fit it

Proper outfitting is a key component to feeling comfortable, safe and secure in a kayak. When you are hopping in and out of demo boats, it’s important to take the time to adjust the outfitting so you can get a real feel for the boat.

“With most modern boats the outfitting is pretty turn-key; bulkheads are easily adjustable, back bands are simple to move forward and backward,” says Coward. Bring a footblock for trying out playboats and extra foam shims to help adjust hip pads in creek boats. As long as you can get snug and comfortable in the hips you are good to go, adds Coward.

Beware of red flags. This is not the boat for you if you feel uncomfortable, even with a minimal amount of outfitting; if you continually bash your knuckles on the hull; or if the boat feels too big or too small—trust your gut on this one.

2 Paddle it

These flatwater drills will give you a feel for how the boat will handle in moving water.

3 Forward paddle

Take two-dozen forward strokes. Does the boat track nicely? Is the trim balanced, and are the bow and stern even on the water? How quickly does the boat accelerate? It’s important to note that the boats that accelerate quickly may be less maneuverable, adds Coward.

4 Go for a roll

“Many beginner and intermediate paddlers talk about certain boats being easier to roll than others. To some degree this is the case,” says Coward, “though with a really solid rolling technique, it doesn’t make much difference. However, from a confidence standpoint, you want to know you are comfortable rolling the boat.”

The Delta 10 and 12AR recreational kayaks utilize a unique design with a stable pontoon hull in the stern transitioning to a V-hull from under the paddler to the bow

Kayak Hulls—And Why They Matter

5 Put it on edge

Practice edging the boat. See how the kayak transitions from sitting flat (primary stability) to on edge (secondary stability). Is it a smooth transition? Is it balanced on edge? Get a feel for the tipping point of the boat by putting it on edge while paddling and practicing a low brace. This will help in finding where the secondary stability fails. Consider this: boats with very defined edges offer more primary stability, however have less secondary stability than boats with less defined edges. “Carve some circles and get the boat on edge with some speed,” says Coward. “The boat should feel balanced on edge and should accelerate easily.”

Carmen Kuntz is a freelance writer and kayak instructor at the Muskoka Kayak School.

Speed dating. | Feature photo: Jordan Manley

Video: Canoe-Over-Canoe Rescue Technique

By

Paddling Magazine Staff

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February 7, 2016

Learn the Canoe-Over-Canoe Rescue Technique to right an overturned canoe on your next camping trip—an essential skill for any paddler.

Erik Fenkell from Temagami Outfitters show you how to perform a T-rescue with this simple step-by-step approach.

Find more great paddling skills and technique instruction from Canoeroots magazine here.

Discover great paddling adventures at ontariotravel.net/wateradventures.

Editorial: Full Circle

By

Scott MacGregor

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February 5, 2016

The evolving crossover kayak category is whitewater’s newest boat category for whitewater’s oldest category. We’ve seen half-a-dozen new models emerge over the last few years—from Dagger’s Katana, Pyranha’s Fusion sit-on-top to Jackson’s Traverse. This growing breed of kayaks is our rotomolded polyethylene DeLorean time machine back to the future.

Last spring we took a handful of our favorite crossovers and headed downriver. To compare this burgeoning category we gathered a motley crew of paddlers that ranged in experience level from a never-successfully-rolled fisherman to a former pro freestyle athlete. Why such a range of paddlers? Because that’s who we think should be buying.

All the boats were about nine or 10 feet long with some configuration of deck rigging, skeg and stern compartment with bulkhead and hatch. The similarities ended there. One could pass for a creek boat, another charged across lakewater sections like nobody’s business. Another did a little of both, like a crossover of crossovers.

Over the years we’ve tried shorter, flatter, rounder, slicier and bouncier, and lately bouncy with a little more slice. It seems there are no limits to the mash-ups blending what have become traditional categories. Essentially, we’ve been giving whitewater paddlers newer and better options.

In 2008, the Liquidlogic Remix XP invited thousands more to the party. Originally crossover meant crossing over from recreational kayaking to whitewater. You may be surprised by how many people take department store kayaks on class II-III river trips. Now they too have newer and better options.

While I’m excited to see whitewater growing in new ways (or again in old ways), not everyone has jumped on the bandwagon. A few Rapid readers have commented disparagingly something along the lines of: “The kind of boat I want my buddy to paddle so he can carry my beer.” Read: Not a kayak for real boaters. Think: They don’t get it.

Attending the Gull River Festival a number of years ago I watched as a crew of young athletes—sent by their sponsors—arrived late Saturday morning to teach the clinics that were already on the water. There were hundreds of weekend paddlers working the different sections and dozens more in the lake below working on skills, drills and rolls. I overheard one of the pros ask the rest, “Who are all these losers? I don’t recognize anybody.” They didn’t get it either.

These losers watch live streaming freestyle events on their lunch hours. These losers get together every weekend at different put-ins. These losers are real boaters. And someday they may just want to do self-supported, class III-IV, multi-day river trips. Why? Because around a blazing campfire at a takeout on Sunday afternoon one of them will pull out a map, and on that map will be an unknown thin blue line longer than they can paddle in one day.

With so much innovation, marketing and hype surrounding hucking downright frighteningly high waterfalls and the leading edge of freestyle, crossovers offer something a little different. Newbie to expert, creeker to freestyle phenom—we can all get behind crossovers, can’t we?

Crossovers are our ticket back to before double fist pumps below 80-footers and before waiting in line for 45-second rides. Crossovers take us down rivers to a simpler time, a time when paddling was about exploration and freedom and adventure. And who couldn’t use a little more exploration, freedom and adventure? Not to mention a waterproof compartment for food and a sleeping bag.

Scott MacGregor is the founder and publisher of Rapid Media.

This article originally appeared in the 2016 Paddling Buyer’s Guide issue.

Subscribe to Paddling Magazine and get 25 years of digital magazine archives including our legacy titles: Rapid, Adventure Kayak and Canoeroots.

7 Most Common Mistakes Of Wilderness Canoeists

Skills

By

Cliff Jacobson

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February 2, 2016

After canoeing North America’s lakes and rivers for more than 60 years, author and adventurer Cliff Jacobson has unfortunately seen all the mistakes you can imagine. In his own words, America’s renowned canoeing authority shares seven of the most common—and dangerous—errors he sees on the water.

[ Paddling Buyer’s Guide: See all expedition canoes ]

Most Common Canoeing Mistakes

1 Not scouting ahead

Round the bend of your local river, you might see the dancing horsetails of a rapid you’ve paddled a dozen times before. Don’t be tempted to dismiss scouting and plunge confidently ahead. I’ve done this myself, only to see a sapling blocking the way. We capsized and wrapped the canoe. View the route you’re paddling with fresh, clear eyes, each and every time.

2 Leaving an unsecured canoe

Spend enough time tripping and you’ll be sure to spot an unlucky paddler’s previously beached canoe drift by. In wind or current, and especially in remote areas, a runaway boat is a serious problem. Always secure your canoe overnight and during breaks by tying off the bowline to a tree or other immovable object. If you stop briefly where a tie-up is difficult, string out your bow and stern lines along the ground. If the canoe drifts away while you’re watching, you can make a dash to grab a line.

3 Rushing the journey

Stop when you must and run when you can. If you’re being beaten by a headwind, put ashore to wait it out. Too much focus on keeping to a schedule can lead to bad decision making, exhausting the group—or worse. Paddlers can often make up lost time by paddling longer on nice days, or by paddling in the quiet hours of dawn and dusk.

4 Paddling with an unzipped PFD

Drowning deaths where PFDs are worn properly account for between only two and 13 percent of incidents, according to the Red Cross Society. In the event of of capsizing, swamping or collision with another boat, wearing a PFD properly is your best assurance of returning home.

[ Paddling Buyer’s Guide: See all PFDs ]

5 Overloading the canoe

Whether its enthusiastic weekend warriors stacking beer, guitar cases and duffel bags high above the gunwales, cottagers stuffing in too many passengers or experienced paddlers taking home an awkwardly sized trophy, overloading leads to instability and is one of the most common causes of serious river accidents. I’ve had the unfortunate experience of having a found caribou rack caught in a low hanging sapling above a class II rapid. Escape meant cutting the cord that held the rack—and hoping a tine wouldn’t spear me as it rolled out.

woman and girl paddle in a wilderness canoe on a river — Avoid overloading your canoe to ensure a pleasant wilderness trip. | Photo: Courtesy of Mad River Canoe

6 Incompetent back ferry

Anyone who plans to travel on a wilderness river with a loaded canoe should learn to back ferry effectively. A back ferry allows for moving from one side of the river to the other, and slows the canoe, buying time to evaluate the next obstacle and position the canoe. Boat control is a problem for many paddlers when learning this maneuver, so practice this technique before you need to execute it.

7 Too many loose items

Loose items must be minimized and secured. Not only does this make portages much more efficient, if your canoe capsizes the cleanup is much quicker. Your friends will thank you.

Plan ahead to minimize these mistakes when canoeing far from civilization. | Feature photo: Courtesy of Old Town Watercraft & Accessories

Story Behind the Shot: Wuthering Heights

By

Steve Rogers

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January 29, 2016

Cascade Head is a secluded beach break on the central Oregon coast, accessible via a short paddle down the Salmon River system, making it difficult to reach other than by kayak. This gives the area a remote feel despite being relatively close to several small towns.

I had traveled south from my home to shoot surf photos at the break with talented Oregon locals Dave White and Paul Kuthe.

When we reached the coast, I managed to paddle my own kayak over to the north side of the break, where I noticed the sweeping view to the south encompassed crumbling sea stacks and chaotically spilling waves beneath a bank of moody clouds drifting off the ocean. I wanted to layer all of these elements into the shot to try and capture the charged atmosphere that makes this area feel so special.

While Dave and Paul contended with sets of overhead breakers, my own challenge came when I decided I needed a little elevation to bring all the elements in line. What looked from below like an easy 100-foot scramble up the cliffs turned into a leg-shaking mini epic when I managed to get myself into a position of no retreat 80 feet up, surrounded by horribly crumbling shale and mud.

After 10 minutes of desperately searching for a way to down-climb—with the roar of the Pacific and my own elevated pulse pounding in my ears—I was forced to accept a risky six-foot, upward scrabble, clinging to nothing but tufts of grass anchored tenuously in the mud. As I lay in the meadow atop the cliff, breathing heavily and thanking my lucky stars, White caught this set and I managed to grab my camera and rattle off a few frames with my shaking hands.

This article first appeared in the Fall 2015 issue of Adventure Kayak magazine.

Subscribe to Paddling Magazine and get 25 years of digital magazine archives including our legacy titles: Rapid, Adventure Kayak and Canoeroots.

Video: 5 Tips for Packing Your Touring Kayak

By

Paddling Magazine Staff

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January 28, 2016

Efficiency is key when packing your kayak for a wilderness trip. Let Aria Kooy from Parry Sound, Ontario’s White Squall Paddling Centre share her expert advice.

Learn how to protect your clothing and gear from moisture, make best use of space and how to ensure you remain balanced and buoyant.

Discover more great skills and techniques on Adventure Kayak’s Techniques page.

Discover great paddling adventures at ontariotravel.net/wateradventures.

Suffering Tools Gladly

By

Scott MacGregor

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January 27, 2016

We set out with two very different canoes.

Kate and I were test paddling a brand new carbon fiber epoxy-infused H2O Canoe Co. Prospector. With integrated composite gunwales it barely tipped the scales at 37 pounds. Despite it being a classic Chestnut Canoe Co. shape the construction is all state-of-the-art stealth fighter jet.

Dean, on the other hand, found his cedar strip at a yard sale. It was in need of much repair, some of which had been started and abandoned by the woman’s husband, who she admitted wasn’t such a handy fellow. This was Dean’s first canoe restoration and first foray into woodworking. Using Ted Moore’s book Canoecraft and the encouraging advice on wooden boat forums, over the course of three winters, Dean brought his stripper back to life.

Without really doing the math we chose a route down the Barron River on the east side of Algonquin Park. The river was low and the route leapfrogged over the dry rapid sections from flatwater pool to flatwater pool until we reached the deep and majestic Barron Canyon. Around the campfire we calculated we would paddle 23 kilometers, walk nine kilometers and drive 300 kilometers over the daylight-short weekend.

Growing up a truck driver’s son, I learned the value of having the right tools for the right job. Now I have a barn full of tools. I have whitewater tripping canoes, solo playboats, tandem whitewater slalom racing canoes, whitewater squirt C1, freestyle kayaks converted to C1s, and on the dock at the office I have a training shell for misty morning workouts.

Dean had invested a few hundred dollars into materials and wood working tools and too many hours of sweat equity. He built a steamer box and learned to bend new ash stems. He now knows just the right

amount of resin to apply with each sheet of fiberglass and he knows what three extra layers of varnish feels like after two trips over three back-to-back 600-meter carries.

There is a 29-pound weight difference between my stealth black Prospector and Dean’s cedar reno. By the end of the second day, I was teepeeing the canoe for Dean. I could still one-arm shoulder carry mine out of the water. On the steep rocky portage trails, Dean admitted to fantasizing about sexier composite canoes. On the water I appreciated the quiet natural beauty of his wooden labor of love.

This Paddling Buyer’s Guide is a 292-page tool catalog of dreams. On any given page you can complete the following sentence, “Now that would be perfect for…” Add in proper nouns, like the names of trips, rivers, waves or races, or substitute verbs, such as flying, lifting and carving.

We’ve UV coated the cover of this issue because readers tell me how their copies get ragged, dog eared and ringed from sweaty beer bottles and coffee cup stains. We like that. We know that shopping for gear is often the catalyst for grand adventures. We know you circle items and think to yourselves, if we had this we could go do that.

Don’t let worrying about the perfect purchase stop you from going. What Dean, Kate and I learned this fall is it didn’t matter much which boat we paddled. Our canoes were completely different yet both got the job done. I know that I probably had the perfect tool. But I also know that in a pinch you can fix many things with an old, rusty pair of Vise-Grip locking pliers. Sure, Dean’s shoulders were a little more tender but his stories in the office on Monday morning sounded just as good as mine.

Scott MacGregor is the founder and publisher of Rapid Media. He lives with his family in the Ottawa Valley.

This article originally appeared in the 2016 Paddling Buyer’s Guide issue.

Subscribe to Paddling Magazine and get 25 years of digital magazine archives including our legacy titles: Rapid, Adventure Kayak and Canoeroots.