Indholdsfortegnelse for Paddle World 2015 i Kayak Session Magazine

"Whatever the craft, as long as you have a paddle in your hand." For many years,“paddlesports” primarily meant canoeing or kayaking and the main differentiating factor was the type of water paddled: rivers, lakes, or oceans. Over the past ten years, a few new and very popular forms of paddling have appeared (or re-appeared), with stand up paddling and kayak fishing representing two of the biggest trends. But paddling culture in many different forms also goes back hundreds of years. Outrigger canoeing in the Pacific Islands and kayaking in Greenland are two of the best-known examples, and a great many ethnicities around the world have their own historical form of paddlesports. Paddling is no doubt a current affair, but today’s paddlesports and their associated events made all the richer by…

GETTING THERE: By Air: Vueling offers flights to Menorca (Mahon) from Paris or Marseille via Barcelona. Book early to take advantage of the best rates and availability. By Ferry: From Barcelona or Valencia with Balearia (balearia.com) is 5 hours 30 minutes to Ciutadella, 45 km from Mahon. From Valencia with Trasmediterranea (trasmediterranea.es) it’s 15 hours,arriving in Mahon. Around €500 for two persons + car. WHEN TO COME: Since wind regularly sweeps the island, the sky is often clear and the sun is dazzling. Extreme temperatures do not exist there and the thermometer displays an average of 12°C in the winter, and 25°C in the summer. The most favourable period extends from mid-May to mid-October. OUTFITTERS: Guided trips: Patrick Ferrando from the sea kayaking company Nomad Kayaks has offered guided kayaking…

The health of any sport is measured by many milestones, from participation numbers and retail sales to innovation in product design and increased media presence. It all boils down to enthusiasm, which fuels the growth of these elements. In many successful sports, this passion is fevered by competition. Competition at the grassroots level spurs on regional growth as active communities tend to be very visible and non-participants want to give it a try. Competition at national and international levels lights the fires of enthusiasm and creates sport loyalties to individuals, countries and even manufacturers. By and large, competition is one of the most effective marketing means for any sport. It is a mechanism seen today in the US especially for bass fishing where millions of spectators follow a handful of…

APTITUDE MOTIVATION ATTITUDE With its pristine lagoon and jade green mountains, Bora Bora sets the ultimate stage for this week-long event. Targeting water lovers of all abilities and ambitions, the Liquid Festival features world-class watersports competitions such as long distance OC-1 outrigger, SUP, surfski, prone paddleboard and open water swim races, and inclusive events for everyone ranging from short sprint races and team relays to beachfront Zumba classes for those who want to do nothing more than dance in the sand or enjoy sunset happy hour with live music. Held each year during the first week of December, the Liquid Festival allows visitors from around the world to mix it up with over 2,000 Tahitian locals, enjoying a full menu of activities while soaking in the South Pacific ambiance. Whether…

Greenland is a beautiful barren wilderness, yet everything that makes it beautiful made it challenging for the inhabitants to eke out an existence. For many months of the year,the only available source of sustenance was sea life. To ensure their survival,over many generations the Greenland Inuit developed techniques and equipment that allowed them to become efficient hunters of mammalian sea life. It was through this process of development that the traditional Greenland kayak emerged as the preferred means to hunt. More than just a source of food, every part of the sea life the Inuit hunted was used. Whether it was blubber used to waterproof the clothes and craft, bones used to make harpoon tips, or meat used to feed the village, nothing was wasted. Only the available resources defined…

In the kayak fishing world the acronym CPR has taken on a whole new meaning. “Cardiopulmonary resuscitation” is what it means to first aid practitioners (just as a friendly reminder) and, yes, it is also how we help keep fish alive. No, it’s not mouth-to-mouth. CPR stands for Catch - Photo - Release and it is the standard way to score your catches in kayak fishing tournaments. As simple as it sounds, you Catch the fish, take a Photo of it on a measuring board (usually with an identifier proving it was caught the day of the tournament), then the fish is Released right back to the water, happy and healthy. There are some variations across different tournament trails on what is allowed for scoring. The two main topics are:…

Elwood Blues: It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses. Jake Blues: Hit it! Canoeists gathering ahead of “Le Grand Descente de la Drôme” commonly evoke the spirit of Jake and Elwood's classic road-trip adventure. As the clock ticks around to 10.30am, a few basics are checked – and it's time to be off! “La Grand Descente” is the heart of the Paul Villecourt's Open Canoe Festival – a remarkable, hugely atmospheric and truly international celebration of a pastime and an entire culture of adventure and outdoor living, all alongside the fast-flowing, emerald-green waters of the Drôme. In six short years, the Open Canoe Festival has contributed to, and heightened awareness of, a long-awaited “renaissance”…

Delcroix, Lousiana: Over 60 teams of two battled navigational challenges, long, wind-blown distances through tough fishing conditions, shallow stretches that can leave a paddler stranded in yard deep mud, and time for the longest total catch. This format included the need to reach checkpoints and register a fish at each checkpoint to score. A minimum of three checkpoints had to be scored to avoid disqualification. Each checkpoint was over five miles apart with unending mazes of alligator laden islands, winds and sometimes difficult to find fish. This format brings the best out in kayak anglers. It also shows a true differentiator between traditional fishing tournaments and kayak angling and demonstrates a true paddling challenge bringing the elements into full play with athletes alongside fishing skills.…

PW: Where did the idea of the 7 Rivers 7 Continents project come from? MK: I mostly blame my girlfriend. After completing a source to sea descent of the Amazon River in 2008, I walked alone across the entire Islamic Republic of Iran from north to south. No paddling involved but an absolutely amazing experience. Upon my return I was tossing around ideas of what expedition to undertake next. All of them were interesting but fairly disparate and not all were paddling focused. My girlfriend suggested a long-term project whose elements were connected to one another. Why not source to sea descents of the longest river on each continent? Why not indeed. The completed Amazon River, as the longest river in South America, would provide an excellent base from which…