MEC Paddlefest Victoria 2015

This morning, Louise and I headed down to Willows Beach for the 2015 iteration of the MEC Paddlefest Victoria. This year's event probably could not have taken place on a better day. With nearly constant sun and nearly no rain since April, today was another gorgeous day. Okay, I'm trying to put a nice face on it -- we're actually facing some extreme drought conditions and forest fire dangers in the province. It's going to be a long, hot summer. But things aren't bad enough that we can't put those thoughts aside for a while and enjoy today's event.


First, Louise and I wandered down to the Ocean River area where we bumped into Ben, and chatted with him for a while as we caught up with each other.


But of course the whole point of a paddlefest is to go paddling, so Louise and I took turns trying out the new Delta 17.

I enjoyed paddling this boat so much that I forgot to take a picture of it.

Then we bumped into our old pal Mark of Kayak Distribution, and spent a while catching up. We're starting to do more talking then paddling at these things.


Another successful paddling event!


Trip length: .10 km
YTD: 8.44 km
More pictures are here.

Another Paddlefest Visit

While I had hoped to see Louise and John at Willows Beach this morning, a last-minute cancelling of my house-sitting this summer got me running around first, and then bussing to the beach about an hour later than expected. Though I didn't run into John and Louise at MEC's Paddlefest on Willows Beach, there were plenty of other paddlers... about 3/4 of the local paddlers, or just about anybody who wasn't OUT AMONG THE ISLANDS on this bright day.

What a great day! John's photos are great for showing the boats on the beach... but even his shot of the carbon Eliza in black and wood grain doesn't do that kayak justice. That boat had my vote for "Most Beautiful Kayak of the Day" -- and that's with a hand-built wooden kayak on display with gorgeous padeuk inlays.

I tried out inflatable stand-up paddleboards today, from Red Paddle Co, but didn't do the standing part. Kneeling works well too, for those of us with balance issues, eh? The model I liked best among those showed to me by two young demonstrators from New Zealand was their 12'6" Explorer... very stable. It's a little heavy for me, so I'm hoping with practise that a 10 foot Surfer model might be suitable. Still have to try the SUPs from Advanced Elements.

Good to see Brian Henry of Ocean River on the beach, and Sterling Kayaks, and the SISKA table. And a nice chat with the Blackline Marine people, who do such good repairs. And back to the bus stop, to wait only moments before the bus came. Not a bad day at all!

2014 MEC Victoria Paddlefest

Well, you couldn't ask for a nicer day for a paddlefest, and this year's MEC Victoria Paddlefest hit the weather jackpot. One of the hottest days of the year so far shone down on paddlers of all types as they gathered at Willows Beach to try boats, gear and equipment. Louise and I were there early to check it out.

Stand Up Paddleboarding appears to still be the "next big thing" in paddlesports, but here's an interesting twist that turns it into Sit Down Paddleboarding. It's a contraption that attaches to your paddleboard and turns it into a rowing paddleboard.

You can even bring along a friend if you like.


We saw this beautiful boat, a Necky Elias, forlornly lying on its side. What a gorgeous finish.


Participants were getting on the water anyway they could....

...although a few needed some help.


We hadn't planned to hit the water ourselves; I've been nursing a wonky knee for a while, that's one of the reasons why we haven't been out much this year. That, and we really needed to focus on taming our backyard jungle this year before it takes over our whole house. But Louise spotted the new Delta 15s, a boat she has really wanted to try for while. So she suited up and took it out for a spin.



And she loved it. I'm not sure we have room for another kayak! :)

2013 MEC Victoria Paddlefest

You couldn't ask for a better day for a Paddlefest. Well, you could, but that would be greedy.
In the midst of an incredible run of sunny weather, Louise, Paula, Bernie (yes, even Bernie!) and I arrived at Willows Beach for the 2013 version of the MEC Victoria Paddlefest.
And it was a picture-perfect day, unlike last year's "Fog-fest."
But bright sunny skies made for a big turn-out this year, as we bumped into old friends and paddling buddies.


There were already a lot of kayaks in the water when we arrived....

...so we headed up the beach to check displays and boats. Here Louise and Paula watch as a potential customer checks out a boat.


Paula chatted up the Necky rep for a bit....

...then headed out on Ocean River's Discovery Island tour....

...so Louise and I tried out some boats.

Louise headed out in a Sterling Reflection on loan for the day from one of The Hurricane Riders.
No sooner had Louise got in the kayak, then our friend Mark rolled up onto the beach in another Reflection. He and Louise traded notes while I continued to practice the art of taking unflattering photos of kayakers.

While Louise was out in the Reflection, I took a Sterling Grand Illusion out. These are nicely outfitted and sturdy boats. And insanely light to carry.

Next, Louise took out a Tahe Marine boat. I didn't catch which model it was, but I think it's a Reval.

Louise wasn't as keen on it, and didn't like the seat very much. I took a Boréal Design Epsilon C300 out for a spin and quite enjoyed it.

All in all, a gorgeous day at the beach.


Trip length: .42 km
YTD: 29.03 km
More pictures are here.

Summer News from BC Marine Trails, Georgia Strait Alliance, and MEC Paddlefest!

The latest news from BC Marine Trails sounds pretty darned good. There's a "leave no trace" campsite at Musgrave Point on SaltSpring Island, and the Alert Bay 360 is coming up. Check out the update at BC Marine Trails, or go to their websit at bcmarinetrails.org.

Then there's the latest word from the Georgia Strait Alliance. They have a new program called Save the Salish Sea!  You can also check out their website at http://www.georgiastrait.org/ to see what they're up to lately.

But this weekend in Victoria? The happening place on Saturday is Mountain Equipment Co-op's Paddlefest on Willows Beach. From 10:00 am to 4:00 pm Saturday, there'll be boats on the beach and booths on the shore! Take the #2 bus to Willows Beach, or lock up your bike at the extra bike racks... and there'll be some street parking for cars as well.

Paddling the Ice Kap

No, I didn't get up North or to Antarctica, to paddle either of the actual ice caps. Instead I got to try out a kayak model called the Ice Kap, from Sterling Kayaks.

At the MEC Paddlefest on Willows Beach, there was a terrific assortment of several models from Sterling Kayaks. Each is a custom job, with the foot pedals set to accommodate the paddler's own leg length, for example. While Marlena went off in the Discovery Island Shuttle that was giving free rides, I got to sit in an Illusion, but even with the footpedals run as far forward as possible, my feet still couldn't reach. That would be no problem if I bought one of their kayaks, explained the designer, Sterling Donaldson. He would put the footpedals closer to the seat for someone as short as me.
What a great experience, to meet the kayak designer and builder! He's got fibreglass under his fingernails and epoxy all over his hands, he complained at one point. But there's no substitute for the hands-on approach when customizing a kayak for someone who wants a day hatch sealed off from the big rear compartment behind the bulkhead.

The foam seats (Joe Greenley Custom seats) are a terrific support... lifting the knees a little and fitting around the butt. I'm guessing that my partner Bernie would find THIS style of seat causes way less pressure on his back and sciatic nerve. The seat back is good support for the pelvis, but low enough to encourage good rolling posture. On each side of the seats is a glassed-in support for foam padding, to customize the fit to the paddler's thighs.

But enough about the Illusion, which I never took on the water, as without footpedals I'd just be like a toddler wearing her daddy's shoes. I got into the Ice Kap! This is the boat that Dubside uses, when he's not commando kayaking with a folding kayak.

The Ice Kap is designed for smaller paddlers. The coaming is low. Low, low, low. As in approaching the waterline. As in half-way up my thighs when I'm seated in the kayak with feet on the pegs. No more rubbing my elbows on the coaming with each stroke! That happens in most kayaks for me, perpetuating the toddler-in-her-daddy's-shoes feeling. As the designer Donaldson pointed out, most shorter people are not only short in the leg, but have short backs as well. It's hard to roll a kayak when the coaming is up at your waist.
John took a photo of me on the water in the Ice Kap. It's pretty clear in the photo that this boat has a lot of rocker. I'm used to the rocker in my rotomolded Necky Eliza, which brings the keel up in the bow and stern and makes for a lot of fun in waves. The Ice Kap has more rocker, enough to bring the bow and stern up much higher out of the water than the Eliza. I expressed some concern about the front deck being so high out of the water, and the stern so high -- wouldn't they catch wind and weathercock? "None of our boats weathercocks," Donaldson insisted.
The Illusion has a similar hull to the Ice Kap, but the coaming rises a little higher at the paddler's thighs and sides. John didn't even consider trying either model. At 6'4", he went for their Grand Illusion that fits the 6'3" designer, but the model on the beach had been padded to fit a thinner paddler. No dice.

Louise tried the Ice Kap as well, just to add another model to her research for her new boat. We compared notes afterward. She's 5'4, I'm 5'1, and in our opinions:
   -The Ice Kap is a sporty, responsive kayak that turns on a dime.
   -It's well suited to people up to about 5'6 (I've met Dubside, and he's about the size of my son who is a lean 5'8".)
   -Very small adults from 4'10" to 5'2" should definitely give this model a try, as it is suited to a paddler with short legs AND a short back.
   -Very light adults should also try this model, as it's recommended for paddlers up to 165 pounds. I'm at the top of the weight class, and definitely felt BIG and MEATY in the Ice Kap.
   -Though I have little or no sense of balance, that was not a problem as the Ice Kap fits the paddler like a fine shoe. The responsive feel was terrific, and allowed me to control the boat with confidence.

Afterwards, John and Louise changed out of their paddling gear while I just wandered around evaporating. One of the pleasures of commando kayaking is that my paddle clothes evaporate dry quickly. Should also give a shout out to John Kimantas, who said hello while promoting his magazine, and Mike Jackson who was there to roll and show his terrific Greenland paddles. The Discovery Island Shuttle came back, and Marlena teetered down the ramp, grabbed her coffee mug in both hands and drank half in a gulp. We piled into the Kiwanis tea house and waited a while for fries etc.

Our verdict: if you're a thin, short man or woman who is wanting an exciting kayak instead of a barge to noodle around in, get down to Ocean River Kayaks and try the Ice Kap in their rental fleet for a kayak suited to riding waves or rolling. If you're not thin, try the Illusion as the coaming is just a little higher instead of pressing on the sides of your thighs.
And if you're a differently-able kayaker (like every member of our paddling group, and plenty members of SISKA and VCKC and the entire crew of the Breaststokers Dragon Boat team), talk to Sterling Kayaks about how to customize a kayak to meet your needs. This designer understands. Other designers talk the talk, and come through as well as they can. Sterling Donaldson not only talks the talk, he walks the walk with one leg and crutches on the beach among his demonstrator models.

2012 MEC Victoria Paddlefest

When Louise moved up from her Delta Fourteen to the Seventeen a couple of years ago, she did it with some trepidation. Although she didn’t mind the Seventeen, she much preferred the Sixteen; however the Sixteen was not yet in production and she had only paddled in the prototype. The Seventeen has a hard chine and Louise preferred the Sixteen’s rounder hull shape. However, there was no timeframe as to when the Sixteen would be available and in spite of her slight misgivings, she went with the Seventeen.
In hindsight, she should have waited. She’s never been entirely comfortable in that boat and therefore not entirely comfortable on the water. And after trying all sorts of tricks like padding out the boat, using weights to change the boat's balance, and self-hypnosis (okay, I made that one up), she’s decided it’s time for a different approach: buy a boat she likes better.
That task begins in earnest today, as we headed to the 2012 MEC Paddlefest Victoria to, among other things, test drive some boats.
Of course, much like last year's Paddlefest, the weather wasn't the best. We've been calling it June-uary, the coldest and wettest June in half a century in these parts. Why should the last day of the month be an exception? Heavy drizzle greeted the start of the day this morning, but even though the rain had stopped by the time Louise and I arrived at Willows Beach, we were greeted by something unexpected: fog.


The weather was cloudy and and wet at last year's Paddlefest, but one could argue the fog this year made it even worse. But fog does burn off, sometimes anyway. Would it burn off today?
We soon bumped into Mark and Robyn (of the great Gecko Paddler blog) and together we quickly checked out what was what on the beach before Louise and I changed into our paddling togs.


The first boat Louise tried was a Stellar S16. Brian Henry from Ocean River Sports discussed the boat with her.

These are insanely light boats, but seemed very sturdy and well made. Carrying it to the water it felt as light as a feather. A large 16 kilo feather made of kevlar and fibreglass. You know what I mean. Louise liked the boat, but it didn't make her want to take it home.

Next up, Louise tried a composite Necky Eliza.

Louise has had some experience in an Eliza, having paddled Paula's plastic one a few times, and using a plastic one on our recent paddle on Salt Spring Island. However, the composite model is narrower and slightly shorter and has a sharper rocker than the plastic version, and some paddlers have argued that the differences in the ride between the two are enough that the two models should have two different names. Louise feels the same way and actually likes the ride of the plastic version more.
In between demos, we spotted Mike Jackson heading out.


Then Louise got her chance to paddle the Delta Sixteen.

Clearly, there is no question that she loves this boat. Look at that grin. She was out there edging and leaning, things she was reluctant to try in the other boats she tried today. It's pretty obvious to us that this is the boat she should have bought, and it's the boat she should buy now.

While we discussed her options, Ocean River's Discovery Island Tour boat arrived on shore.

Yes, it's so cool that even stand-up paddle-boarders bow in tribute to it.
Actually, it's pretty cool set-up, and certainly a quick way to get kayaks out to a destination.


I took a Necky Looksha out for a little cruise.


By this time, Paula had joined us on the beach and she and Louise each took out a Sterling kayak.

These are beautiful and well-made boats. Both Louise and Paula had minor quibbles with the hip pads in the seats, but since these kayaks are all custom made for the buyer, those issues could be easily worked out upon purchase. We all thought these were great boats.

As we were leaving, we bumped into Mark and Robyn again, and found Mark trying out a P&H Delphin.

"I'm looking for a rock boat," he said. Why do I have a feeling they're going to be looking for garage space soon as well?



Trip Length: 1.83 km
YTD: 54.01 km
More pictures are here.

2011 MEC Paddlefest Victoria

The rain let up just as Louise and I arrived at Willows Beach to enjoy the 2011 MEC Paddlefest Victoria. Overcast skies and a breeze greeted us as we began out tour of the information booths.

Nothing says kayaking like a donkey! Or did we miss a turn and somehow end up at a 4-H event?


No, it's a paddlefest. We found Paula manning the Straitwatch table.

Here we met a local shark researcher investigating the local waters for basking sharks. They are listed as endangered in BC waters as they were hunted to near extinction in these waters in the middle of the last century. In fact, extermination of the basking shark was official (and short-sighted) government policy in the 1950s.

It's not known how many basking sharks are left on the coast of BC -- there might not even be any -- but there has been a sighting or two in the last couple of years, giving hope that at the very least the occasional transiting basking shark might be paying regular visits.
If you've ever seen a basking shark in local waters, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans wants to hear from you.

After that we hit the beach....

...and I took an Atlantis Titan for a spin. I also wanted to take out a Current Design Solstice GT Titan but the guy manning the Current Design booth didn't seem very interested in helping me.
However, Tony from Tony's Trailers was keen to show off his kayak trailers for bicycles.


The weather seemed to be keeping the crowds away, but those of us that showed up had a great time!



Trip Length: 1.27 km
YTD: 105.01 km
More pictures are here.

2010 MEC Victoria Paddlefest

This time last year, a record-smashing heat-wave had just broken; this year, we've been waiting for Spring to start. We're into our third month of unseasonable cool temperatures. Yes, there's been the odd day when temperatures have climbed into high double digits and a mysterious burning yellow ball has been spotted in the sky, but the last few days, like many before them, ain't been anything special.
But today turned into a bright sunny and warm day. Often in this part of the world it seems like Spring only lasts a couple of weeks and we jump straight from Winter into Summer. This year, we seem to have skipped even that meager portion of Spring altogether, as today -- finally! -- felt like a summer's day. And that made it perfect for Louise and I to go to Cadboro Bay to check out the 2010 edition of the MEC Victoria Paddlefest.


After we checked out some of the information tents, including the fine folks at Ocean River, Straitwatch, SISKA, and Wavelength Magazine, we pulled on the neoprene and climbed into some demo boats.
After my rolling lesson last week, I couldn't help but notice that my instructor (as well as some of the instructors with SISKA who were sharing the pool with us) were using Valley kayaks. Hey, if they're good enough for the pros, they must be good enough for us pudknockers, eh? I headed out in an Aquanaut HV...

...while Louise tried a Nordkapp LV.

We found these boats to pretty well made and a decent ride. We both noticed that they had less initial stability then our much stabler (and wider) Deltas, something which Louise wasn't fond of but I didn't mind too much. I found it to be a bit of a tight fit, but I certainly wouldn't mind giving these boats another try. Louise, not so much.

Next, Louise tried the Delta Sixteen.

She currently paddles a Delta Seventeen which she really likes, but often feels a twinge of buyer's remorse and wishes she had waited until the Sixteen was available, often saying the the Seventeen is just slightly too big, while the Sixteen fits her like a glove.
Yeah, I know. How often do you hear of a kayaker who wants to trade down?

Then Louise gave the Necky Chatham 16 a whirl.

She liked it a lot and had it out on the water for a good while. She found it a little snug to get in, "...but once you're in, you're in." She liked it so much she almost flipped it. It's definitely been added to her wish list.

Next we tried the Seaward Infinti. I went out in the 175TX, Louise tried the shorter 155TX.

No question, this is a fun boat. It carves edges like a knife through low-fat margarine with no Trans Fats. There's no question you could get a lot of play out of this boat.
We tried a few more Seaward boats but with a little less success. I tried to get in to an Ascenté but I got stuck and then my legs started cramping. That wasn't any fun! And too bad, because it's a sweet looking ride.
Louise got into a Legend...

...and after about 10 seconds on the beach said, "No. I need to get out." Sometimes you just know right away.
But Seaward redeemed itself when Louise and I took out the Passat G3 tandem for a spin.

This kayak can motor! And fairly responsive for a boat of its size as well. I've never really given much thought to tandems, but this one certainly opened my eyes to the possibilities. Now if I could just stop Louise from splashing me in the face all the time....




Trip Length: 1.42 km
YTD: 81.28 km
More pictures are here.