We’ve just arrived home from Paddle Expo; Europe’s biggest trade show for the paddling industry. It takes place every autumn in Nuremberg Germany, and is the industry’s first chance to see exciting new gear for the upcoming year.
New colours for the Amp vest…
As well as a chance to show off our gear, Paddle Expo is a chance to meet new shops, dealers, and brands, and check out what’s new in the world of paddling…
The Palm / Dagger stand in all its glory
Double desserts for Barney and Paul
Seppi came over all star struck when world slalom champion Vavra stopped by …
What’s new from Palm?
Here are a few videos showing a brief glimpse of some upcoming products, introduced and explained by the Palm design team. Enjoy!
Our staff favourites are here:
Seti & Wairoa layering options
Gear for Kids
Women’s Lofoten suit
The Atlas and Tempo – for everybody!
That’s not all, stay posted for more new boats, bits and bobs …
The final event of the 2013 Big Paddle Tour took place last Sunday, and despite the odd rain shower, we had a fantastic day!
So mixing bowls at the ready, here’s our recipe for the ideal paddling event:
First of all take a lovely location, with lots of space, greenery, facilities, and paddling for everybody! A mixture of whitewater and flatwater paddling will yield best results.
Secondly, set your weather predictions to optimistic. This is the UK, so never fear – even when the forecast says rain and doom, you could still be in for a bright and sunny morning!
Perhaps the most important ingredient is a generous serving of of people who have come to experience paddling for the first time. We like to use a mixture of families, young, and young at heart, and then baste them in games, fun and coaching, until grinning and hooked on paddling.
Next up, you’ll need to stir in a good spoonful of expert coaches, offering workshops and advice. We only use the absolute finest available, sourced directly from our supplier at Team Palm.
For a truly rounded and fuller flavour, we like to throw in lashings of freestyle, whitewater, open canoeing, and bushcraft.
Add in a few sprinkles of racing, preferably in a rare but entertaining high performance craft, we like to use the Dagger Green boat for the perfect blend of speed and fun.
Drop in two Ergo machines to keep everybody grinning …
… and a standing up race on a selection of entirely inappropriate craft …
Last of all, the key ingredient to complete any paddling event is a cardboard canoe race! You can use pre prepared boats, or throw in a pile of cardboard, and tape to see what appears. For best results throw in a mixture of both semi-seaworthy and downright ridiculous craft. This will ensure a great race, but more importantly, great entertainment for the audience!
Mix all the ingredients together, and serve on a warm summers day. You’ll be in for a treat!
A huge thanks to everybody at Teesside who helped out with the event, and thanks to everybody who came along and got involved.
We were excited to see so many new paddlers coming along to have a go, and we hope to see lots of you on the water in the future!
Stay posted for a mini video of the cardboard canoe race, coming soon …
On a Sunday in June, the Big Paddle came to town. It snuck up in the night, and when morning arrived it bought with it tents, gear, a huge fleet of kayaks, and an enormous pile of cardboard waiting to be transformed via imagination and parcel tape.
The idea behind the Big Paddle is that there’s nothing quite like getting out on the water powered by your own paddle, and we want to share our love of paddling with everybody. Young or old, expert or first timer – The joy is the same!
Our Big Paddle events have something to offer for everybody, whether you’re having your first ever go in a kayak or canoe, or you want expert coaching from the most experienced paddlers in the business, and everything in between. Here are some pictures from yesterday’s fun!
The Harlequin Paddler was rescued once again in the Throwline challenge.
Expert advice and coaching was in abundance form the Palm Team.
And some paddlers couldn’t find the water to paddle on, but made the best of it all the same with the Ergo Challenge.
Afternoon came around, and various cunning creations lined up for comedy and catastrophe in the Cardboard Canoe race, which this time around saw flying robots….
… a traditional welsh coracle ….
… prizes for the winners …
… and a swim for the losers, including team paddler Chris who spectacularly failed to navigate the course in Charlotte’s Pirate Ship.
All in all we had a great time, and met a few of the next generation of paddlers, who seem hooked already!
The final date of the 2013 Big Paddle Tour is coming up next weekend at Teesside Whitewater course, so come along and join the fun! We’ve got everything to take first timers out on the water as well, so if you know anybody who might like to come and have a go at paddling, bring them along too!
More information can be found at www.thebigpaddle.com, and you can also find us on facebook – search for the Big Paddle!
By nine thirty in the morning a small grassy hollow had been transformed to a travelling canoeists camp and a fire pit was under construction. The scene was perfect, the sun was out, the water was clear and crystal and the Mad River canoes pulled up with tarpaulin shelters creating some shade. Jules Burnard of Voyageur coaching was ready for the days activities and all around him other Palm Team coaches prepared their equipment for the wide range of workshops they were running.
The shore line of Llyn Padarn soon became a multi-coloured mass of kayaks, canoes, sit-on-tops and inflatables as families, friends and clubs all took to the water in the demo boats from Palm. With the lads from Plas-y-Brenin on hand to give a few pointers to those who’d not been paddling before, the Big Paddle Llanberis was quickly in full swing.
Outside the Palm Store the Paddle Plugs, Canoe Wales and Llanberris Mountain Rescue teams were busy setting some times on the Ergo Challenge and then challenging others to beat them. Surprise surprise one of the raft guides from Canolfan Tryweryn took home the best time over a two hundred metre dash.
Back down by the waterside, near lunch time, paddlers were taking a rest from trying boats or coming back from sessions. Marshmallows were being roasted on the Bushcraft fire but for those wanting something a little more hearty, Tŷ Newydd Organics were cooking up a some tasty treats. The Harlequin paddler took his turn sitting in his boat raising his hands for help and trying to catch the ropes from the Throwline Challenge contestants.
The sun was now brilliant in the sky and as groups headed back out for sea kayak workshops with Olly Sanders or skills sessions with Chris Eastabrook and Lowri Davies. The strange mountain of cardboard that had been built began to move as construction began for the grand cardboard canoe race.
By mid afternoon the armada of boats were cleared from the inlet, and marker buoys were set out. A motley crew of home made kayaks and canoes lined up for the finale. With names like Undersea Voyageur, Fragility and Sea Serpent the racers lined up for a Le Mans start. Three .. Two … One … Go – off they went into the water. Sitting, kneeling and in some cases swimming straight away the home spun boats set off. Pit crews and fans cheered them on and the racing was fierce until the boats still afloat finally touched the shoreline again and winners were crowned.
And then it was over, as happy paddlers headed up to the shop to take advantage of the sale and say their goodbyes the site quietened down. The trailers of boats were loaded up and the bushcraft fire dwindled and was put out. The Big Paddle Tour stop number one was over.
If you like the sound of this, then please join us next time http://thebigpaddle.com/thames-shepperton/
If you were there, thank you, why not share – https://www.facebook.com/TheBigPaddle?ref=hl
Looking focused on the eddyline.
The first date of the Palm Big Paddle tour is getting closer, and we’ve got a real treat, in the form of FREE (that’s right!) workshops and clinics from some of the UK’s finest coaches and most talented paddlers. Click here to find out more about the event, and to guarantee your space on a workshop by booking ahead. Check out the Activities here:
Dr Chris’s Kayaking Clinic
Reach for the sky!
Do you want some expert individual advice on your paddling? Some tips and technique specific to your needs?
Available only at the Big Paddle events, Level 5 coach Chris Eastabrook is offering free 1 on 1 clinics to analyse your paddling, and give you the advice you need to improve. Book now to avoid disappointment!
Bushcraft skills from Voyageur Coaching
Learn how to live off the land
This is a bushcraft skills course form Jules Burnard at Voyageur Coaching. Expect expert instruction on some of the forgotten and more traditional skills of shelter building, fire lighting, and cooking on open fires, together with the safe use and care of various tools used.
Beyond the basics – Progress your paddling!
It’s all smiles at Flow Free Coaching!
Have you got the hang of the basics? Or maybe you’re stuck in a paddling rut? Level 5 Coach Lowri Davies will give you the solid grounding and advice you need to progress your paddling further, whether you want to up your game to whitewater, or simply gain the confidence to explore the waterways of the UK at your own pace.
Sea Kayak Essentials with Olly Sanders
Man of the Sea Olly Sanders
There is no way to experience the beauty and wildlife of the UK’s coast quite like taking a sea kayak. Level 5 coach Olly Sanders is on hand to give you the skills, technique, and advice you need to get out and explore the coast.
As well as these amazing opportunities for free coaching, there will be tours, games, and of course the Cardboard Canoe Race.
So come join us for the Big Paddle tour 2013!
Hello all, we’ve just returned from the Tryweryn Festival in beautiful North Wales. With races of all kinds, freestyle, demo boats, and even a cardboard canoe race, there was plenty to get involved with, and plenty of entertainment for spectators too.
Palm Paddler Lowri Davies narrowly avoids a clobbering in the 8-Ball race.
Seppi Strohmeier enjoying the Sunday Sunshine
The Jitsu 5.5 was popular with the next generation of freestyle paddlers…
A sure crowd favourite was the Dagger 8-Ball race, in which competitors race head to head down the rapids, 4 at a time. The twist in formula is the dedicated team of disruptors, armed with inflatable kayaks, who’s job it is to block, barge, and bludgeon the racers, and generally entertain the crowd.
The formula made for some tactical racing, in which some made it through unharmed, and others felt the full force of an inflatable Orca.
Local coach Andy Turton gets 8-balled by a delighted Bleddyn.
The other racing highlight of Saturday’s line up was the Cardboard canoe race. Here at Palm We’re a big fan of carboard canoe racing , and entered into the spirit of things with a high performance cardboard whitewater racing machine. Although it did not perform entirely as designed, the event was great fun for all, and We’re already working on some revised designs for the upcoming Big Paddle Events …
Nick’s cardboard canoe, performing largely as expected.
Palm’s own Nick Horwood leads the pack in the extreme slalom..
Sunday Bought with it the first ever BCU extreme slalom, as well as a gloriously sunny freestyle event. Judged in an open ‘jam session’ style, the freestyle event was a real crowd pleaser, featuring a range of moves, old-skool and new. Prizes were awarded Carl Mitchell for commitment and enthusiasm, Lowri for bribing the judges (honest at least), and Eddie Mead for the biggest moves overall.
Lowri showing of her lovely Blue Fx and Element Suit combo.
A Big Loop in the Jitsu 6.1
The Shudder Rudder should never be underestimated.
Seppi and Lowri heading downriver, only blue and green allowed!
All in all another great fun event at the Tryweryn, thanks to the organisers for making it happen, and we look forward to more fun next year!
In the Nearer future however, The Palm Big Paddle Tour is rapidly approaching!
With the first event taking place at Surflines Shop in Llanberis on the 2nd June, we’ve got lots of fun activities lined up, from tours and workshops to the cardboard canoe race!
Find out more, and book your place on a free workshop with Team Palm at www.thebigpaddle.com.
The first ladies paddle symposium to be held in North Wales was a great success, and Fran Kohn did a fantastic job of organising the event, even booking good weather!
Here’s what Fran had to say:
‘From coaching on the Scottish Ladies Paddle Symposium last year I new we had to have one South of the Border, and no-one else was going to organise one for me, so I thought I might as well do it myself!
The main aim was to have a successful event where Ladies from different disciplines could get together and be in the majority for once! I wanted to provide a space where they could network with each other, build relationships and find some more paddling partners – and get some great professional coaching at the same time!
The Ladies were amazing, there was so much laughing and smiling over the whole weekend and the ladies were so enthusiastic, inspirational and supportive of each other and the event. I cannot wait to get started on organising the next one, we will be listening to all the feedback and making it bigger and better :)’
On offer for the weekend were courses and presentations in Sea kayaking, canoeing, white water, and also rafting! Very highly regarded coaches were on hand to run the courses, which ensured everyone would take away some very valuable skills from the weekend.
Saturday morning the sun was shining and everyone was ready to meet their coaches for a fun day of paddling. With great weather but low water, Some groups visited the Dee, and some headed off to the Tryweryn.
Saturday evening there was a happy vibe when we sat down to dinner. Everyone seemed to have had a very positive day and was excited to find out what everyone had been up to.
After dinner we all got together to listen to a variety of presentations, about various aspects of paddling.
First up was Diane Lee, who explained how she had fallen in love with canoeing after a drastic career change later in life. She made it clear that you can achieve anything if you put your mind to it.
Second was Justine Curvengen, founder of Cackle TV Productions. She treated us to some clips from her videos, which were all excellent. I will certainly be sitting down to watch these! Find out more at cackletv.com.
Paula Volkmer was the third speaker, whose presentation focused on fear and being in control. She explained how some people kayak for the adrenaline rush and others enjoy the feeling of being in control. Her advice for success in whitewater paddling is to focus on the line you want to take and not the thing you are trying to avoid.
Sunday bought with it great weather again, and we were in for an enjoyable day paddling on the Dee.
This event was great to bring ladies together and find new people to paddle with! I’m sure everyone made lots of new friends and will be arranging more paddling trips with them in the future!
All round this event was a great success and I look forward to seeing lots of people again next time around!
Thanks again to Fran Kohn, and to everybody who helped out!
Alison.
Sunny spring weather, a fun whitewater course, plenty of exhibitors and exciting side activites drew around 3000 visitors to the XXL Paddelfestival last weekend, making it the biggest kayak and canoe test event in Germany so far.
Before the festival, we at Palm didn’t really know what to expect. Snow and cold winter conditions had been persistent in Germany and no one could tell whether kayakers were prepared for an early start of the season yet. Also, we have had no idea what the event area was like. The course had been built only a few years ago and is located in the, for whitewater paddlers rather remote, town of Markkleeberg just south of Leipzig (Saxony). We went anyway and were curious what would happen. With us, a large number of manufacturers came and brought their latest products along for paddlers to compare and test.
Saturday started cloudy and windy but it soon became apparent that this wouldn’t keep paddlers away. As soon as the turbines started working and the course was openend, the water basin filled up with boats of all sorts in no time. Not only whitewater enthusiasts had come all the way to Markkleeberg. We counted dozens of touring paddlers in sea kayaks, people in open canoes, inflatables and on SUPs. The scenic lake right next to the course provided the perfect testing ground for calm water experts as well as beginners.
While paddlers kept coming, the clouds finally made way for warm sunshine. Everyone was so excited about the great conditions and the large variety of products on offer, that the number of boats on the water rose to an almost worrying amount. A certain queue time to get on the conveyor belt and back to the put in had to be taken into account. This, however, could do no harm to the fun and great time that everyone had.
In the evening, spectators were spoilt with a selection of Big-O kayak movie highlights and a spectacular boater X in the darkness with floodlight illumination. Drinks and stories were shared at the bonfire party, making sure that no one went to bed early.
Sunday brought even more sunshine and, you guessed it already, more people still. In the end the organisers counted a total of 3000 visitors, making the XXL Paddelfestival the biggest canoe and kayak testival in Germany so far.
Highlight of the day was certainly the Palm Junior Trophy, where a dozen kids between 5 and 14 years competed in a fun boater X which was held in the main pool.
The contenders raced in groups of 2 to 4 and had to paddle around big red floatation bags (converted into buoyes) in order to win one of the many prizes supplied by Palm.
No one, of course, missed out and in the end there were smiling faces all-around.
A big thank you goes to the organisers, Horst Fürsattel and the KANU crew, for coming up with such a fantastic event. There will certainly be a second edition next year. So make sure you’ll mark the date in your calendar. It’s definitely worth the trip!
As always, the beginning of March marked one of the highlights of the student paddling year, with the now legendary National Student Rodeo once again arriving in town. Held every year at Nottingham’s whitewater course, the NSR offers the chance for paddlers of all abilities to compete, paddle and party, for prizes, for honour, but most of all, for fun.
Since its early years as a relatively small freestyle kayaking competition, the event has grown and now has more of a festival feel about it, with the kayaking now accompanied by music, commentary, games, coaching, and other activities taking place throughout the weekend. Each year university canoe clubs try their best to out do each other both on and off the water, and a mention must go to Birmingham Uni this year, who all dressed as clowns for the whole weekend, as well as bringing a homemade circus tent, custom decorated kayaks, and even a candy floss machine!
The biggest crowd pleaser events are probably the Old Skool and Topo duo events, notorious for carnage, but always spectacular. The Old Skool catergory featured a selection of kayaks from history (none below 3.5m in length), with neon kit galore, and was once again dominated (3rd time now?) by Dave Burne, whose combinations of pop outs and paddle twirls had the crowd going wild.
One of my personal highlights is always the women’s novice final event, in which points are awarded primarily for crowd pleasing and originality. This year saw circus tricks, wipeouts galore, and a cheeky cider based bribe thrown to the judges mid ride.
Palm Equipment proudly support the safety team with the provision of throwbags, who once again did sterling work pulling countless paddlers and items of gear out of the course, allowing the event to run smoothly and safely for all.
At the end of the event each year, the grand prize of a custom made Dagger Kayak is awarded to the University who earn the most points overall. Below you’ll see the full line up of custom NSR Kayaks, from 2009 to the present day. Which is your favourite? Congratulations to Nottingham Uni this year, who took home the victory and the boat, a spectacular spotty clown flavoured creation.
A huge thanks to all at Leeds Uni who put in so much work to this event every year, and to every student who came along and got involved with our excellent sport!
To find out more about the event, and for a full results list visit www.nationalstudentrodeo.org.uk.
Spring has officially arrived, and the first weekend of March is kicking off with paddling events around the UK, and prizes galore!
Spring is Here!
In the Midlands – The national Student Rodeo is taking place at the white watercourse in Nottingham – never anything but lively, the one of a kind circus themed Dagger MX is the main prize amongst the rest of the shenanigans…
In the North West – The Manchester Canoes new mega store is opening – you could win a Dagger Mamba just by showing up!
visit www.manchester-canoes-and-kayaks.co.uk/ for more information.
Manchester Canoes Megastore Opening Weekend
- In the South West , the AS Watersports Big Winter Finale is happening at the River Dart Country Park. With paddling, a super slide , a big party and the chance to win a Spark suit, the event will help raise money for local good causes.
The Big Winter Finale
It’s great to see exciting new events popping up already, and we’re looking forward to seeing lots of you at these events, and out on the water as the weather gets warmer!
Happy paddling…
