Western Canoeing and Kayaking

Clipper at Klemtu

2012-01-21T13:03:00.000-08:00

One of our canoes that will see the water, but never 'see' the water, if you know what I mean.

This special version of the 31' Northern Dancer, with a fiberglass deck was commissioned for the new Klemtu Ferry Terminal. I think it looks very small up there.

The canoe greets those entering the new terminal. The white Kermode bear on the plaque (left), reflects Klemtu's location in the Great Bear Rainforest.

Four 'copper' paddles have been mounted in the deck.
The images represent; salmon, killer whale, mouse woman and the 4 seasons of the moon.

Photo courtesy- tranbc.ca

WCK winter update.

2012-01-19T14:13:00.000-08:00

The Fraser Valley has been hit with one of the coldest snowiest winters in recent history. You may be wondering what does a canoe and kayak retailer do during these cold wintery days. Well, we do what any self respecting paddle junkie would do and go kayaking, all be it behind a snowmobile in our parking lot but its still kayaking.

So, yes, despite the best efforts of mother nature we are still open for those hardy Canadians not about to let a little cold weather slow down there paddling.

Happy New Year and have a great season on the water in 2012!

Jackson Cuda Promo Video.

2011-12-23T10:31:00.000-08:00

Jackson Kayaks has expanded its fishing kayak line with a new kayak the Cuda. Check out this promo video going over all the features that are bound to make this one of the hottest fishing kayaks for 2012.

Call or email to book a test paddle in the Cuda for 2012 or come check it out at the BC Sport and Fishing Show in Abbotsford, March 2-4 2012.

New Jackson Kayaks Arrive at Western

2011-12-14T10:41:00.000-08:00

Staff were kept busy on Tuesday unloading 92 new Jackson Kayaks.

One of the many piles of new boats recently arrived at Western Canoeing & Kayaking

We've got the brand new Jackson Fun Runner. Come in and check out the new fishing sit on top, the Cuda. Thinking of getting your kids into kayaking? We've got the Little Hero and the Fun 1.5.

We're open Tuesday thru Friday now thru December 23rd, so it's not too late to come in and outfit that kayaker on your Christmas list.

Immersion Research Double D Dry Suit now in stock!

2011-12-08T12:27:00.000-08:00

You spoke and we listened, by popular demand we have brought in the infamous Immersion Research Double D Dry Suit. The Double D is known to be one of the best fitting most durable dry suits on the market. Add that to the 3 other models of Dry Suits, that we carry in stock, and you have guaranteed selection for winter long paddling comfort.

"Our premier dry suit. Build upon the Comp LX platform. Ergonomically cut pants, and the jacket is articulated for a paddling position. Fabric booties. Back entry zip for the driest seal with a skirt tunnel and most comfort while paddling. Relief fly zip. Pattern designed to have zero 4-way cross seams- a classic leaky spot on seam sealed garments. Every seam on the entire suit is hand-trimmed to 1/8th of an inch to ensure maximum seam tape contact. With a 4 layer waterproof, breathable Entrant® shell fabric, super flexible and easy-to-open dry zippers, bigger back entry zipper, and reinforced fabric booties you can't go wrong." - From IR web site

Our Newest Clipper

2011-12-05T13:00:00.000-08:00

Western Canoeing staff was out early Monday morning testing their latest Big Canoe model, the 39' Northern Dancer XL. With seating for 18 paddlers, this northcoast aboriginal design will hit the water in spring 2012.

Northern Dancer XL

2011-11-24T11:25:00.000-08:00

Our newest Big Canoe, tentatively named the Northern Dancer XL (for xtra long), is coming along way ahead of schedule. This 39' beauty will seat up to 18 paddlers.

The initial 'stripping up was completed last week. Fiberglassing the hull exterior started early this week.

We pulled the prototype off the stations this morning and will be fiberglassing the interior and adding some seats in preparation for a test paddle the first week of December. If you would like an update on when we'll test paddle, and or would like to join us please email me at : westerncanoe@telus.net

New 2012 Naish Boards have arrived!

2011-11-16T16:40:00.001-08:00

Its no secret that Stand Up Paddling is the fastest growing niche in the world of paddling, what you may not know is that WCK is following suit by hugely expanding our SUP offerings for 2012. New boards, new paddles, new accessories, lessons, tours and certified instruction staff will all help to make WCK the leader in SUP in the Fraser Valley and beyond.

To start things off this week we received our first of many Naish shipments. We now have stock in new 2012 Nalu's 11'4" & 11'6", as well as the Nalu Sport. We are also entering the race market with the our first new race board for 2012, the Naish Glide 12'6".

Don't worry ladies, we haven't forgotten about you, come check out the all new Alana 10'10", while this board is "pretty" enough to hang over the mantle as a decoration let there be no mistake, this board was designed to paddle, OK and look pretty.

New CLIPPER Takes Shape

2011-11-05T12:37:00.000-07:00

Something new in the works at CLIPPER.

After nearly a year and a half of talking about it, we've decided to add to our Big Boat line up once again.

The tremendous success of our 31' Northern Dancer, prompted us to come up with something a wee bit bigger, and a bunch more stable. The 39' NDXL (working name only) is starting to take shape. With enough room for you and 17 of your closest friends, this canoe will be plying coastal waters this summer.

Designed by James van Nostrand, the NDXL should be ready go sometime in April. If you want to be notified when the prototype hits the water, sometime in January/February, please drop us a note.

New Boats for the Vancouver Kayak Club.

2011-11-03T09:20:00.000-07:00

The Vancouver Kayak Club has been introducing paddlers to the great sport of whitewater kayaking for over 50 years. With club trips, training events, festivals, movie nights and tons of great people there is already a long list of reasons to join the Vancouver Kayak Club and, as of yesterday, there are 3 more great reasons, a Wavesport Diesel 70 and 80 as well as a Jackson Hero.

Yesterday, Rob stopped by and picked out 3 shiny new boats (ok, new to the club). These boats will no doubt take many paddlers down their first rivers and beyond. Way to go VKC, looking forward to another great season and another great festival!

Peak UK Dry Suit Review

2011-10-21T11:47:00.000-07:00

For 2011 we decided to try some new Dry Suits at the store from a company called Peak UK. Peak has been around for a long time in Europe but has never had a large presence in North America, until now that is.

For the last couple of years we have only sold the highly coveted Kokatat Gore-Tex suits. While these suits are arguably one of, if not the best suits on the market they are sometimes a little out of the price range for many recreation paddlers. At a couple of hundred dollars less than a Gore-Tex suit we thought we would try a few Peak suits and see how they went, and went they did. We sold out of our first Peak suits only a couple days after we got them in.

As soon as we received our first suits from Peak, I was really intrigued by some of the new ideas they have applied to their suits. The most obvious new feature is also the coolest, the leg entry. The leg entry is awesome, it's far and above easier to get in and out of this style than the traditional front or rear entry suits. The Zipper goes from one ankle up the inseam and down to the other ankle. You pull the suit on much like you would a hoodie. Aside from making entry and exit a breeze it's also really comfortable. You don’t notice the zipper at all while sitting in a kayak or canoe, not something that can be said for the other styles of suits. The entry zipper also doubles as a relief zipper (a must have feature on a dry suit) for both men and women. On some front entry suits the zipper creates a spot where water can leak through the tunnel on a spray skirt as it creates a ridge the skirt can't conform to.

The Peak dry suits also come with all the other standard features we have come to expect from dry suits. A double tunnel, built in waterproof socks, breathable material, and reinforced high wear spots all come standard on the Peak. Some extras on the Peak suits that don’t come standard on most other suits are things like armor pockets for whitewater paddlers to add some extra padding when running the steep and manky stuff. Also the Explorer suit (sea kayakers & canoeists) comes with a standard built in hood that hides away in the collar when not in use. The sea kayaking crowd really loves the adjustable neck closure on the Explorer suit. Most sea kayakers don’t have the need for an uncomfortable latex neck gasket. The Explorer suit has a super comfortable Lycra neck closure that can be opened up for ventilation or cinched tight for a dryer ride.

Picture of the 2011 Peak Adventurer Suit. For 2012 there are new colors and more pockets.

Me about to test my Peak UK Creek Suit off a 35 foot falls on St.Leon Creek. Photo by Mikkel St.Jean Duncan.

I have had my Creek suit from Peak for 5 months now and have over 50 days in it, with no complaints.

The Creek suit sells for $749, (optional shoulder, elbow and spine armor sold separately), the Explorer suit will be selling for $769.

Picture of a 2011 Creek Suit, for 2012 the suits are red and have pockets.

Come check out these cool new suits and extend your paddling season this winter, safely and comfortably.

Ryan Bayes

Hobie Pro Angler Review

2011-10-21T11:35:00.000-07:00

Last week we received a rather large shipment of Hobie Kayaks, over 65 to be exact. Being only the second season of carrying Hobie kayaks those numbers should tell you something about how popular these boats were last season. Largely Hobie’s popularity is because of two things. The first, kayak fishing. This new phenomenon for the North West is gaining unbelievable momentum. Secondly, Hobie’s patented Mirage Drive pedal system is amazing. This propulsion system is somewhere between 2 and 3 times as efficient as a traditional paddle, and possibly best of all it's hands free. Hands free, and kayak fishing just seems to be no brainer.

Before I go any further I should probably bring you up to speed on my fishing career, or more accurately lack there of. Most of my fishing occurred 10+ years ago while on family canoeing trips. Most of my fishing was done for Rainbow Trout on remote northern rivers using a fly rod. So going out with a spinning rod in the local jet boat infested waters with aspirations of landing a salmon in a kayak were a little overwhelming at first.

Now, back to the boat. The Pro Angler is a fishing masterpiece that even a novice like myself can appreciate. The boat at first glance can be intimidating, it's packed with so many features that every time I get back on it I find something new and useful. With 8+ rod holders, several tackle boxes, a rudder, and several storage compartments this things is laid out with one objective in mind, catching fish.

Aside from the unbelievable efficiency of the Mirage drive the other thing that sets the Pro Angler aside from other fishing kayaks is the amazing stability. Unlike other fishing kayaks, that claim you can stand in them the Pro Angler really delivers on that. On more than one occasion while out on the Harrison River I had jet boaters go out of their way to make a little extra wake for me, even with a 2 foot rolling wave I was able to stay standing, much to the dismay of the red necks piloting the jet boats.

Aside from not actually catching anything yet I have had an amazing time on the water, in fact kayak fishing may have turned me back into a fisherman, all be it a non successful one yet.

If you haven’t yet tried fishing from a kayak I highly recommend you do, even when you don’t catch anything you get a lot more exercise than you do sitting at home watching the fishing channel or sitting shotgun in your buddy's noisy aluminum boat.

Ryan Bayes

Stay tuned for some kayak fishing specific events coming to the Fraser Valley next year. We are planning to host a kayak fishing seminar and possibly even a kayak fishing derby. Sign up for our email news letter to stay in the loop on upcoming events.

Film Premiere: Tracing the Columbia

2011-10-15T11:25:00.000-07:00

In July 15, 2011, exactly 200 years after explorer David Thompson arrived, the Columbia Voyageur Brigade arrived in Oregon's Astoria Harbor. On Saturday November 19, 2011 we will be helping to host the premiere of the film Tracing the Columbia which chronicles this six week expedition.

Come to the Premiere of the film Tracing the Columbia-- Saturday, November 19, 2011, in Abbotsford, BC. There will be a reception afterwards

Where:University of the Fraser Valley
33844 King Road, Abbotsford.
Lecture Theatre B101

When: 7pm, Saturday November 19th

Tickets available: In advance at Western Canoeing & Kayaking or at the door.
All tickets $10

The evenings events are hosted by: 2011 David Thompson Columbia River Brigade Society. With assistance from: The University of the Fraser Valley and Western Canoeing & Kayaking

New Member on the WCK Whitewater Team.

2011-09-28T17:55:00.000-07:00

WCK is welcoming 'on board' the newest member of our Whitewater Team, Jen Eddie.

Choosing Jen was really a no brainer when we were picking the team. Jen's enthusiasm for whitewater kayaking is hard to miss. Aside from her day job, teaching in Lytton BC, she spends a lot of time getting youth in her area into kayaks. When picking people for the team we weren't looking for the gnarliest of the huckers (all though Jen does fit that bill as well) we were looking for people that portrayed whitewater in a good light, and promoted the sport in a positive manner. If you have ever paddled with Jen you know that's exactly what she does. The massive smile never leaves her face from put in to take out.

Jen throwing a big blunt.

Jen was more excited about having access to our demo and rental boats, and gear to help get the local kids in her area out on the water, than she was about the sweet deals of being on the team. This only reassured us that we chose the right person.

Surfing on the Slave during the Slave River Festival Rodeo.

Jen will be posting trip reports and reviews on the Fraservalleywhitewater.com site from her many exploits across Canada with her kayak. Check the FVWW.ca forum for her updates on the Frog Wave (Thompson River) as well as other local runs like the Stein and Nahatlatch.

Yup, there's that smile.

Jen showing she ain't just about the play boating.

Keep up the great work Jen, glad to have you on board!

By Ryan Bayes

Liquid Logic Now at WCK

2011-09-28T17:37:00.000-07:00

Liquid Logic Kayaks are now in stock at Western Canoeing and Kayaking. The Stomper 80 and 90 are this year's most highly anticipated new Creek boats. After a quick test paddle by some of the staff this new boat is now a favorite . The Stomper combines many of the hull features from the hugely popular Jefe and Remix series by Liquid Logic. Its flatter hull and massive rocker make for a forgiving ride with out loosing the feel of the water like some other soft mannered boats.

We have lots of stock in the Stomper and even some demo boats. Call now to arrange a demo paddle . . . if we can pry it away from the staff that is.

We also brought in Liquid Logic's already classic Remix XP series. The cross-over category of kayaks has been way more popular than we could have ever guessed. This just goes to show that our paddlers want something that can take them from mild to wild depending on their mood, or current paddling conditions.

Designed to excel in flatwater and up to class 3 whitewater, cross over boats are largely popular due to do their versatility, not to mention they out perform most flat water boats even on flat water. Rec boats have become so stable that by some standards they now lack the performance they once had, problem solved with the Remix. Aside from coming in 2 sizes 9' and 10' for small and bigger paddlers the Remix is packed full of all the features you would expect from any good boat, recreational or whitewater.

With more boats arriving all the time, check back to see what else Liquid Logic has up it's sleeve for 2012.

WCK Staff Rocks it at Tamihi Five-O

2011-09-20T15:58:00.000-07:00

Team Paddler and WCK ace sales person Laura Demers placed in the medals in all three events she entered at this years Tamihi Five O, held Sept 17-18 on the Chilliwack River here in B.C.

Tamihi Five O is a fun slalom race for open canoes. Held every year in September, this 4th annual event is just 40 minutes from Western Canoeing & Kayaking’s front door.

Race organizers report that “This is not an event where you'll find lots of trained racers - you'll find mortal river-runners just having a good time trying to get through the gates. Experienced paddlers can try for a fast, clean run; newer paddlers may "decide" to skip a gate or two, and that's OK!”

A large contingent of competitors came from the Beaver Canoe Cub. Paddlers also attended from Washington, Oregon, Colorado…and as far away as Toronto and the UK! Laura finished up the day by doing the course on her “Imagine- Rapid Fire” SUP board. This was the first time a Stand Up Board has been used at this event. She made it look so easy, I kind of expect to see this as a full on event at next year’s T5-O.

Thanks to Steve Charles of Totem Photographics for the use of his pics.

Georgian Bay in the 185 MacKenzie

2011-09-07T11:23:00.000-07:00

Clipper owner Larry Norman sent us this note and photos about his family's summer canoe trip.

Lynne,
Another summer and a few more trips in the Mackenzie 18.5'.
A few weeks ago we were on Georgian Bay at Philip Edward Island for 6 days. This boat is absolutely the perfect canoe for this place. Our kids are now 5,7 and 9 and still tons of capacity. This area is more commonly traveled in sea kayaks than canoes, as winds can come up fast and there are some vast reaches of open water on the bay.
Even so with one eye on the weather and some care it can be safely explored in a canoe,...in the right canoe anyway. Our good friends, experienced paddlers were also in an 18'5 made by someone else , and with one less passenger, so we thought we would all be equally comfortable in the waves. As the swell rose on the second day, we were bone dry and rock solid as we watched their bow bury and take on water before a quick decision to make camp on the lee side of the nearest island.

Fortunately it was a beautiful site!
Larry

Happy Customer

2011-09-03T10:04:00.000-07:00

Linda just picked up a brand new Current Designs GTS.
She wondered if it would fit on her Mini Cooper.

We said, 'no problem'.

Linda is one of many happy customers who purchased a new boat at our Huge Sale this past week.

We would like to thank all the folks who stopped in during the past few days. It's really been an exciting week.

2011-08-22T13:45:00.000-07:00

Our end of Summer Sale starts this Saturday.

Pricing on canoes and kayaks will be posted on Thursday evening, click here

For phone inquiries call Friday 1.866.644.8111 or 604.853.9320

Clipper Big Canoes off Vancouver Island

2011-08-15T15:14:00.001-07:00

Please click on the attached album for some photos taken during

the Pulling Together Journey off the coast of Vancouver Island,

Summer 2011. All canoes pictured were built by Clipper.

Album

Clipper 16 Prospector: Super Lite

2011-07-28T10:28:00.001-07:00

The Clipper 16 Prospector has long been one of Clipper's best selling models. Modeled after the traditional Chestnut Prospector it's easy to see why, with smooth lines and a lively hull the 16 Prospector has been a favorite amongst river trippers and traditional canoers for many years. The canoe has a loose feel that appeals to more experienced paddlers or paddlers wanting a boat that can handle tandem and solo duties as well as tackle some moderate class 3 with its great maneuverability and dry ride.

The Clipper 16 Prospector already came in 5 different layup options using 3 different materials, Fiberglass, Kevlar and Basalt. For 2011 Clipper now offers this classic in a new lighter layup, Super Lite. The Super Lite is a spin off of the Ultra Lite. The Super Lite uses Clipper Canoe's single wooden gunnel borrowed from the race boat series to save weight as well as shedding some of the reinforcing that made the ultra lite such a durable boat. The Super Lite has a thinner layer of S-Glass for its initial layer and a few less layers in the bow and stern. Trimming this extra material has made for some great weight savings. This new laminate will no doubt be less impact resistant but the weight saving of 12 pounds is hard to argue with. Coming in at just 40lbs this boat is almost as nice to lift and carry as it is to paddle.

Here are some shots of our first ever Super Lite 16. Sorry though, this boat sold the first day we put it in the showroom, but don't worry #2 is on it's way through finishing right now with more scheduled to be built this week.

WCK whitewater team: Island Trip Video

2011-07-21T12:52:00.000-07:00

While the weather in Southwest BC has been far from ideal for touring and recreational paddlers the whitewater paddlers have been loving the slow gradual melt of snow, this means good flows in river and creeks across BC much longer than most seasons.

Here is trip report and video from a trip to the Island with some of the WCK Pro-Team paddlers.

http://vimeo.com/25535615

Ryan Bayes

Bill Reid and the Haida Canoe Opens at the Bill Reid Gallery

2011-07-09T10:00:00.000-07:00

1993 Ink Drawing by Bill Reid

Bill Reid and the Haida Canoe Opens at the Bill Reid Gallery 639 Hornby Street, Vancouver –Exhibition is open to the public at the Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art, June 22, 2011 – January 8, 2012 . The show conveys the pivotal role of the canoe in Northwest Coast art, cultures and communities. The visitor experiences the revival of canoe building and paddling along the coast and beyond.

Reid, was convinced that the canoe played a generic role in the evolution of Northwest Coast art. In his words, “Western art starts with the figure – West Coast Indian art starts with the canoe.”

The exhibition will travel to the Canadian Canoe Museum in Peterborough, Ontario in 2012

Gallery Hours: Wed – Sun, 11am – 5pm Feature Exhibition: Bill Reid and the Haida Canoe - June 22, 2011 – January 8, 2012Follow us on Twitter!http://twitter.com/billreidgallery

Steaming of the Lootaas, 1985. Photo by Robert Semeniuk

Lootaas in Paris, 1989 photo by Philip Hersee Photography

Stoaked about Sweet Protection Gear!

2011-07-08T14:20:00.000-07:00

It seems like this year is all about new gear. New lines, new models of boats and lots and lots of new gear. In keeping with this theme of newness I would like to unveil the latest addition to Western Canoeing and Kayaking already ample supply of top of the line gear.

Sweet Protection has been at the for front of awesome gear for whitewater paddlers for many years already. Known best for their top of the line helmets Sweet has now ventured into other realms like dry gear, urban cloths and paddling accessories.

Here at WCK we are now fully stocked on Sweet gear, and the gear is just that, SWEET! With lots of helmets ranging from full face's to brimmed baseball style helmets to suit every paddlers need, and possibly more important every paddlers fashion needs. No seriously though, lots of styles and lots of colors.

Aside from helmets, we have some dry tops, dry pants, paddling shorts and gear bags all from Sweet. With some of the stock already sold before it even arrived be sure to swing in soon and see some of this great new gear.

The Rocker Full Face is the next level full face. Composite carbon construction, super comfy and adjustable outfitting, Sweet visor for mad sexy points and sun blocking and two sizes to ensure a good fit for all day comfort.

The Sweet Strutter will have you strutting your way down the river or through the surf zone, without having to squint at reflecting sun off the water. The original brimmed paddling helmet.

The Rocker Full Cut offers great protection when you don't need the full face. All the same great features of the Full Face without the jaw guard.

The Wanderer is Sweet cheapest helmet, but its not short on Sweet features. Built with Carbon Fiber reinforcing and Sweet's already legendary outfitting. At $139.00 its easy to see why this is such a popular lid.

We all love Gore-Tex, and so does Sweet. Made with Gore-Tex the Shadrach Top offers extreme dryness in all conditions and durability to hold up through the worst conditions. the cut of these tops is great, after one run in my new top it never pulled tight even for freestyle moves and didn't leak a drop.

"Its brand NEW! The gear bag you've been waiting for. Big compartment for wet gear with a long zip on the side. Front zip pocket, and integrated tarp to keep your feet clean when changing. Straps for easy carry." Sweet Protection, Dirty Frank Gear Bag.

"A highly technical paddle shorts especially designed to complement our dry tops. It’s constructed to provide an excellent fit while seated, and the neoprene liner provides warmth. The legs are extended over the knees for padding and protection." Sweet Protection

Shambala Shorts!

Who ever said blue wasn't a high visibility color? (Tacky 80's shades sold separately)

The maiden run of my new Sweet top and shorts in the Chilliwack River Canyon. With outstanding dryness from the Sweet Top and the Jackson Villain there wasn't a drop of water in my boat at the end of the run . . . even after a few dunkings.

Check out Sweet's full line up of gear here. Their Lifestyle Collection of clothing is super cool as well.

PEAK UK, keeping you dry and warm!

2011-06-15T13:44:00.000-07:00

Western Canoeing and Kayaking is now officially Peak UK's largest dealer in Canada. Once you see this gear and the amazing prices you will understand why we dove head first into this very innovative line of layering and dry gear. European paddlers have long enjoyed this quality gear and now we're bringing it to B.C.

With everything from Dry-suits and Dry tops to socks and thermal layers Peak offers a wide range of gear to keep you comfortable out on the water no matter the conditions.

For Dry Suits, Peak offers 2 styles. The Creek Suit is made for heavy use in demanding whitewater environments and is packed full of awesome features like, X4 fabric for great waterproofing and breathability, optional elbow, shoulder and spine padding (for those rare occasions you find yourself offline). But possibly coolest of all is the leg entry zip system, this unique zipper system is fully waterproof and makes getting in and out of the suit really easy, it also doubles as a relief zipper so you don't have to gear down every time nature calls.

For touring paddlers Peak offers the Adventurer Suit. Made from the same bomber material as the Creek suit this piece of gear is going to keep you dry for years to come. The Adventurer comes with a neoprene neck gasket instead of a latex for added comfort on long hauls. This suit also uses the handy leg entry zip system. The stowed away 2.5 layer hood means you can adjust for changing conditions on the water. With built in socks, like the creek suit, and lots of reflective taping this suit doesn't only keep you comfortable it also offers an element of safety.

Now for the best part, both the Creek and Adventurer suits sell for $699.00, yes, you read that right.

If you don't need the full on dry suit for your paddling, Peak also offers the Deluxe Dry Top, with the same material and many of the same features as the dry suits this is a really great top and like the suits, it's an amazing deal at only $259.00 for a full dry top with double tunnel and latex gaskets at the wrists and neck. (Still waiting on some sizes so call before you drive out)

To keep your hands warm, Peak makes ultra light weight Pogies. Made from 2.5 layer breathable fabric these pogies pack up small enough to fit into a life jacket pocket when you don't need them, and you won't notice the extra weight on your nice carbon paddle. $37.95

You can loose heat through your head faster than any other part of your body, to keep your noggin warm on the water Peak makes the Neoskin Headcase. This fleece lined Neoprene head warmer sells for only $22.95.

We also have a wide range of Peak's 2.5mm Neoprene Socks. With a super tough and super thin sole these socks will work great in even the tightest surf boats or can be used as some added warmth in your booties on those really cold days. $21.00

If you have paddled for very long you already know you can never have too much fleece. Peak also knows this and makes some really nice fleece pants and long sleeve tops. The Peak fleece tops are a medium weight tight fit so they will fit inside your dry suit or tops without bunching or making you look like the Michelin man, or woman. At $49.95 for the pants and $54.95 for the tops these pieces are going to be hugely popular.

To top it all off we have brought in some really comfortable PFD's from Peak at the unbeatable price of $69.00

Shayne Vollmers joins the WCK pro-team!

2011-06-02T10:20:00.001-07:00

For 2011 WCK has started up our very own pro-team. These pro team paddlers cover all types of craft, be it whitewater, touring, canoeing, and fishing. Unlike most pro-teams though our goal is not simply an ego stroke and cheap gear for some hot dog paddlers. Instead we've selected paddlers that give back to the community they represent and acknowledging their efforts to further the sport in their region.

So, I would like to welcome out first paddler to the team. While Shayne Vollmers does fit into that category I mentioned earlier of hot dog paddlers his passion for the sport of whitewater kayaking is unrivaled. Shayne is based on Vancouver Island and is basically a walking encyclopedia of island whitewater. If it has water, gradient and has been paddled or will be paddled on the island, chances are Shayne knows it, and his sketchy napkin maps and descriptions are usually bang on. (keep in mind though the island folk grade their whitewater a grade or 2 short sometimes).

When his day job of teaching doesn't get in the way, you can usually find him shredding ocean waves at Tofino and Skookumchuck or bombing down the endless supply of creeks and rivers on the island. During the winter months when the island rivers and waves are all primed you can usually find a group of kayakers loitering in his living room and sleeping on couches at what has aptly been dubbed Shayne's Nanaimo boater hostel.

So, next time you're on the island keep an ear open as you drive past rivers and chances are you can hear the shreaks of joy from Shayne and screams of terror from paddlers getting the Shayne Vollmers island tour, and maybe you will be lucky enough to find out exactly what we mean when we say "the Shayne Filter"!

Stay tuned for more updates on the new WCK pro-team.

Ryan Bayes

Jackson Funs and Coosa Fishing Boats debut at WCK!

2011-06-01T15:46:00.000-07:00

Its likely not news anymore at this point, but we here at WCK are still mega stoked about our newest line of boats by Jackson Kayaks. These guys just won't stop coming out with sweet new boats.

The latest additions to our line up is the super cool Coosa Fishing kayaks. The Coosa has unique written all over it. With Jackson's always new and fresh 'take' on kayaks they have built one of the most comfortable and versatile new fishing machines out there. The Coosa is at home on flat water, but really shines in mild whitewater. This just makes way too much sense for fishing in BC. While there is some great lake and ocean fishing all over South West BC there is certainly just as much or more great river fishing, and now we have the perfect craft to get you and your rod to where you need to be.

I'm not going to go into detail on the countless amazing features this boat has to offer the fishing crowd as that is likely better suited for a short novel than this blog. However, there are just a few features I can't help but mention.

First off, the seat, it kicks butt (no pun intended). It's hugely comfortable and adjustable, it can even be elevated for a better casting position, bonus! The seat is also removable, so on fishing trips you've got an A+ seat whether you're on the water or enjoying a nice cold beer on the beach after a day of fishing.

Another super cool feature is that this boat is designed for standing in, so casting with a little elevation while your fly fishing from a kayak is no longer an issue.

I also really love the inside storage, the inside of the boat is designed so that rods can be stored internally and the hatches lock to keep your gear safe and secure on your next trip, this also reduces time spent setting up for a day of fishing; load the boat, drive to fishing spot, unload boat, start fishing!

For the full scoop on this floating fish catching platform check the JK site here!

The Coosa isn't the only new boat for us this week from Jackson. After an astonishing number of requests we have fully stocked ourselves with Jackson Fun series of boats, with demos and stock boats in the 2fun, Fun and 4Fun we now carry every whitewater boat made by Jackson.

If you paddle whitewater, likely the Fun series needs no introduction. If you're new to the sport then you will soon find out why the Fun is one of the most popular whitewater kayaks on the market today. It's a river running play boat, with gobs of stability, heaps of surf-ability and an excess of comfort! Hence the name Fun.

Starting at $999 for the Super Linear model the Fun series will offer you a great platform for learning and advancing your paddling, without smashing open the bank account.

More on the ultra classic Fun series here.

Immersion Research now at WCK!

2011-05-26T12:07:00.000-07:00

It's like Christmas in May today. We got our first shipment of some hot new Immersion Research gear. Immersion Research is known for making awesome gear and seemed like a no brainer fit for WCK. The company is run by paddlers so you can rest assured the gear is all tested and ready for some action.

Laura drooling over some sweet looking IR pants and decks.

The first round of IR gear brought with it the already famous rubber rand Lucky Charm Skirt. As if the IR Rubber Rand skirts weren't already dry enough now they have extra sealing flaps on them to make these one if not the dry-est decks on the market.

Extra dry flappers means no unwanted water in your boat!

At $110 the IR Shockwave deck is a great value for up and coming paddlers not requiring the extra holding power of the rubber rand skirts.

The IR Competition pants with neoprene ankle gaskets and waist enclosure offers added safety over rubber ankle gaskets while offering an almost dry fit for time spent standing in the water.

IR offers a wide range of super comfortable back-bands to upgrade your ride with. We are stocking the Forward Adjust Reggie back band. this kit comes with everything you need to swap into a Jackson Kayak for people looking to swap from the rope back bands that come in the Jackson to the ratchet systems. Check IR web site for a detailed install video on a Jackson Kayak.

Check back soon to see what other great gear we will be bringing in from IR.

Meet the Peace

2011-05-24T17:55:00.000-07:00

INFORMATION RELEASE
The Story of the Peace River and the Threat of the Site C Dam

The Treaty 8 First Nations, the Wilderness Committee and the Peace Valley Environment Association are embarking on a province-wide speaking tour to talk about the threats to the beautiful and the ecologically important Peace River Valley.
And it’s coming to Victoria, Vancouver, Roberts Creek and Whistler.
The beautiful Peace River Valley is under threat. Come learn about the consequences of the Site C project and hear first hand from some of the people most directly impacted by the project. If you care about climate change, food security, indigenous rights and wilderness areas, or are curious about energy demands in the province, this is a must attend event.
Our province is full of beautiful places, but there are few places with both the spectacular beauty and the ecological importance to match the Peace River Valley.

Nestled in the northeast corner of British Columbia, the Peace River flows from the Rocky Mountains towards the Arctic Ocean. The valley is home to Treaty 8 First Nations' hunting, fishing, and trapping grounds, fertile agricultural lands and farms, old-growth boreal forests, and is one of the most important wildlife corridors in the Yellowstone to Yukon migration corridor chain.

In an area already fractured by oil and gas development, and on a river already choked by two existing dams, the government of BC wants to build the $8 billion Site C Dam. The proposed 60 meter high Site C mega-dam would flood over 100 kilometres of river valley, drowning a land area equal to 14 Stanley Parks, and causing landslides as the banks of the reservoir erode over time.
The cost of the proposed Site C Dam continues to skyrocket and it’s going to hit the pocketbooks of all BC citizens. In 2006, the estimated cost of the 60 metre high dam was less than $3 billion. In 2008, the cost jumped to $6.6 billion. Currently, BC Hydro’s revised estimate for the mega-hydro project is almost $8 billion. This astronomical amount, in addition to a budgeted $6 billion dollars for maintenance on existing dams, is bound to increase residential rates well over BC Hydro’s estimate of 50% in the next 5 years.
Thank you to Council of Senior Citizens Organizations of BC's Sunshine Coast Chapter and the Sunshine Coast Conservation Association for partnering with us on this stop on the tour.

Our Speaking Tour Presentation Schedule is as follows (all presentations are from 7 -9 p.m.):

Victoria Vancouver Roberts Creek Whistler
Monday, May 30 Tuesday, May 31 Wednesday, June 1 Thursday, June 2
First Metropolitan Heritage Hall Roberts Creek Whistler Public
United Church 3102 Main St. Community Centre Library
Corner of Quadra and 1309 Roberts Ck Rd 4329 Main St.
Balmoral

Naish Boards now at WCK!

2011-05-19T15:19:00.001-07:00

We received our first shipment of Naish boards yesterday. These boards are sweet!

Laura getting to know the Nalu 11'6'

We are stocking the soft tops, some of the Nalu's and even a race board or two.

Dion sussing out the 10' soft top.

Canoe and Kayak Demo's underway!

2011-05-14T12:54:00.000-07:00

This last weekend Team Clipper was on the road doing some clinics and boat demos with our 3 Okanagan Valhalla Pure dealers in Kamloops, Vernon and Kelowna. With knowledgeable staff and a large selection of Clipper Canoes in stock it's easy to see why these 3 stores are such strong dealers for Clipper.

Our first demo was on the North Thompson River in Kamloops. Along with the reps from Confluence Watersports and Delta kayaks. Between the stores demos and all the reps boats there was no shortage of boats to pick from. All though there were a few snow flakes falling during breakfast the weather stayed decent until after the demo.

Neil from Valhalla Kamloops taking out the always beautiful Basalt Prospector by Clipper.

The local outrigger and dragon boat teams were also out for a paddle that morning.

The next day we were headed to Pioneer Park in Oyama for a joint Vernon /Kelowna Valhalla demo. Despite grey cloud and threats of snow there was a huge turn out for this demo. Lots of people came out to paddle that morning with more future canoes owners than I've met in a long time.

The Tripper S by Clipper and The Commander by Wilderness Systems out for a cruise.

While the snow manged to hold during our demo's it wasn't afraid to remind us, on the way home just how persistent winter can be here in BC. Extra snow in the hills means more water in the rivers, don't miss out on this awesome year for whitewater paddling. Check here for whitewater kayak: Purple Hayes lesson Schedule.

Western Canoeing and Kayaking has also been running some local demos at Cultus and Mill Lake as well as Jericho beach in Vancouver. With the addition of Hobie Kayaks and their unique Mirage Drive as well as paddle boards we have had to add a lot of extra demos this year. Look here for the next WCK Demo days.

Shelly on the Big Easy by Starboard with the 3 demo Hobie Islands ready to go on the beach. Even with only light wind the Hobie sailing kayaks really fly.

Laura giving the run down on the Hobie controls. The cool 'roller fairing' sail and boom less design make learning to sail a Hobie really easy.

The Hobie Pro Angler is the ultimate fish killing platform. It comes from the factory with upgraded Turbo fins on the Mirage drive and is as mobile as any sleeker kayak but offers enough stability and room for standing and walking around. This thing is seriously decked out for fishing.

Stay tuned for more updates on Demo's and clinics.

Paddling Across Canada

2011-05-05T19:46:00.000-07:00

The week of April 11th saw two different expeditions pass through our doors, hoping to paddle across Canada in the next six months.
Dave and Matheson Turgeon arrived by train early Wednesday morning with all their gear ready to go, they just needed their new Clipper Tripper canoe. We loaded them up and took them down to the Fraser River, under the Mission Bridge and sent them on their way.

The Turgeons are paddling to raise money for Sick Kids Foundation, and after paddling up the Fraser River to Hope, they will be portaging and paddling to the North Saskatchewan River following traditional voyageur routes to Montreal. They hope to complete their journey in early October. You can check out their website at http://www.canoeacrosscanadaforsickkids.com/

On Thursday morning, Ross Phillips and company arrived to pick up the third of three 18.5 Jensen kevlar Whitewater II's. Their expedition, called Cross Canada Canoe Odyssey, left the Pacific Ocean on April 17th paddling up the north arm of the Fraser and continuing on up to Hope where they will be pedaling, paddling, and portaging their way to New Brunswick.

This hearty crew is hoping to raise awareness for the efforts of the Nature Conservancy of Canada and the Canadian Heritage River System. You can check out their website at http://cancanoeodyssey.sportisite.com/

Canoe Art

2011-05-05T19:37:00.000-07:00

We always think our canoes are works of art, but this one really is. This 31' Northern Dancer canoe has been freighted up to Klemtu on the coast of British Columbia to the new ferry terminal there. No this isn't a new vessel for BC Ferries, it will be mounted on two totems and be the gateway into the new terminal.

The canoe in front of the 'Klemtu Canoe' is a 45' long Outrigger we're working on. The canoe behind, just being constructed in a mold, is a 36' Pacific Dancer...lots of big stuff happening at CLIPPER Canoes.

Lyn

2011-04-20T12:36:00.000-07:00

The only thing we love more than making great canoes here at Clipper is getting feed back that people love paddling them as much as we love making them.

Check out this link sent to us by a group of happy Clipper owners "christening" their newest Clipper into the fleet.

Thanks for the great review guys, and may you enjoy many more days on the water in your new Clipper Canoe!

http://100lakesonvancouverisland.blogspot.com/2011/04/bettys-petite-yonah.html

Ryan

New paddles, PFD's and more!!

2011-04-14T09:44:00.000-07:00

There is no shortage of new boats this year at WCK. To compliment all these great new models we've ordered in some new exciting gear too.

This year we have some new PFD's, paddles, footwear, dry-suits and more new stuff arriving every week. Here are some of the hot new accessories, available now, to make your time on the water that much more enjoyable.

These colorful new Feelfree Paddles come in four colors and three lengths, 220cm, 230cm, and 240cm. We will be stocking them in both Fiberglass shafts ($99.99) and Aluminum Shafts ($69.00). The aluminum paddles are a great value for recreational paddlers, schools and camps. The Fiber Glass paddles are suited for light touring, day trips, recreational paddling and everything in between.

The Teva Gnarkosi is also new for us this year. These new water shoes have draining ports for quick drying and Teva's legendary Spider Rubber to make traction in those slippery situations a non issue. Best of all, they look more like skate shoes, so you can go right from the river or lake to the pub, bonus! We are stocking both men's and women's Gnarkosi's.

The new Drifter and BetSEA from Stohlquist have been redesigned for 2011. With a new "Wrapture Design" and built in fleece hand warmers along with the cool new graphics that are sure to make this remake of the already classic BetSEA and Drifters as popular as their predecessors.

This year we've got some brand new Select Paddles whitewater blades. These blades come on bent or straight shafts and are offered in many different constructions from Fiberglass, Carbon/Kevlar to straight Carbon. I have been using a bent shaft lately for creeking and play boating and am really impressed with the quality and feel of this paddle.

Select Paddles also offers a few unique options like the adjustable ferrule that makes their white water blades a 2 piece, handy for travelling or fitting into a boat. This ferrule option also allows paddlers to set any feather or offset angle they wish as well as change the length up to 5cm on the bent shafts and 10cm on the straight shafts. We should have these paddles in time for the Vancouver Kayak Festival at the end of the month.

This year we also brought in some Dry Suits from NRS. NRS has been outfitting whitewater paddlers for decades and their price point dry-suits will keep you warm and dry, even if you are paddling on a budget.

We have lots more exciting new gear still coming, so check back to see what else is new for 2011.

Ryan Bayes

Never Ending New Models!

2011-03-29T15:19:00.001-07:00

Yesterday we received even more NEW MODELS from Jackson Kayaks in both Recreational and Whitewater kayaks. It's really promising to see a North American kayak company continue to produce multiple new models every year in an economy still cautious from the recession. Better yet is the caliber of new models that they have turned out this year, from the new 2011 Hero's, to the Rockstars, and now the Rogues, and soon the new Ibis model, as well as terrific new fishing kayaks.

Jackson doesn't just apply their out of the box thinking to their boat design, they also applied it to their shipping practices as seen in the picture below. In the roughly 1000 kayaks that we receive over the course of a typical year here at WCK we have never received a shipment of kayaks packaged quite like this before. This up-right approach to shipping their white water boats means less chance of damage in shipping, so your new boat will be 100%, no complaints there! Also we love the creative usage of packaging, reusing produce boxes to protect their boats is awesome, sorry, no fresh produce on this shipment. This efficient use of space keeps freight costs down as well as helps lower their carbon footprint allowing for other cargo to be sent in the same trucks. Lower freight rates means less cost which equals better deals on boats for the end users, another plus.

Possibly though the boat that had my stoke meter all but maxed out would be the new Rockstars. We received a couple for stock and a demo in each of the 3 sizes. Stay tuned for info on the upcoming WCK play boat demo on the Chilliwack River and try one out for yourself.

Check out this awesome video on the Rockstar.

We also received our demo Super Hero (in the funky new "rasta colors"). If it weren't for me wanting to paddle this boat I'm not sure we would have needed a demo model. Without people even trying the boat we sold through all the Heros and Super Hero's we had within the first 2 weeks. Not something we're used to seeing with whitewater kayaks. That says something about how confident people are in Jackson's design team.

Last but not least is Jackson's new Rogue. The Rogue will come in 2 sizes 9' and 10' . The Rogue is their 2nd generation cross over boat. It has all the features you would expect from any cross over boat and then all the typical Jackson ingenuity on top of that. Rear hatch, comfortable and performance oriented outfitting, and drop skeg. The hull is a perfect blend of flat water and class 3 for a truly do anything type of boat.

With all the new models from Jackson and Hobie our demo days are filling up fast so book now to avoid the mid summer wait.

Ryan Bayes

Large Varuns are in!

2011-03-24T19:20:00.001-07:00

The 'Large' Pyranha Varun has finally landed on the shores of North America, and we've got the first batch are here at WCK. After rave reviews on the 'Medium' which was released several months before, we actually had a couple Large Varuns pre sold. That doesn't happen here all too often with whitewater boats. Come on in, check 'em out.

We will have them at the VKC Festival on the Chilliwack River for demo, or by appointment through the store.

Check out a review of the medium Varun on FraserValleyWhiteWater.com

Ryan Bayes

New boats and after work runs.

2011-03-24T18:30:00.000-07:00

Daylight Saving time is always a highly anticipated event here at WCK.

In the winter, the switch back to Standard time brings with it the end of the after work paddles, at least an after work paddle with light that is. Likewise every spring we turn the clocks forward an hour and turn on the after work paddles.

Timing was perfect this year for the spring ahead event as we had just received some more new models that everyone was itching to try out.

Some of the new boats from Venture Kayaks and Pyranha.

We received our first ever shipment from Venture Kayaks. The Easky 13 and Flex 11 are recreation kayaks, more suited towards actually kayaking than many of the rec boats on the market today. Both models are equipped with a retractable skeg, rear bulkheads and hatches (Easky 13 has a front bulkhead and hatch). Both boats are also rudder ready should you decide down the road you want to add a rudder.

The Flex 11 is a really stable platform for novice to intermediate paddlers that want a shorter boat with out sacrificing performance, like some recreational kayaks geared strictly towards 1st timers. Don't forget, your only a first timer once. The cockpit also is more suited towards adventurous paddling, its big enough for easy entry and exit but not so big that using a skirt becomes more of a hassle than a benefit.

The Flex 11 with one seat up and one seat down.

The Easky 13 like the Flex is solid enough in the water for first timers but will carry the paddler well into their intermediate paddling. With an extra 2 feet of storage and a front bulkhead the Easky is suited to handle some light weight weekend trips for the conservative packer. The Easky also comes with a handy dry Storage Pod that mounts to the front deck within reach of the paddler.

The first WCK Easky 13's.

Both are outfitted with the super cool flip-top backrest. I was impressed with how comfortable the seats were before I even realized you could flip them up to increase the back support. Possibly my favorite part of this is that when its folded down it doesn't stick up above the cockpit, so you can actually use a nice dry fitting neoprene deck, again more kayak less toy.

The drop skegs are also super solid, the tried and tested spring loaded system on the Feel Free boats drops down with authority, you can be sure when you drop the skeg it's actually dropping. With the skeg down the boats track really well considering how maneuverable they are with the skegs up. Pull the skeg up and lean these boats over and they really carve.

Both the Easky and Flex come standard with a quick use paddle holder and flat areas to mount one of their rod holders to make your kayak a multi purpose boat.

The demo days are filling up fast so book your spot now to try out one of the Venture Kayaks.

Ryan Bayes

Vancouver Kayak Club Whitewater Festival

2011-03-23T15:08:00.000-07:00

Vancouver Kayak Club Whitewater Festival - April 29th to May 1st 2011The Vancouver Kayak Club will be hosting its annual Whitewater Festival on the Chilliwack River from Friday, April 29th to Sunday, May 1st, 2011. For the fourth year running, this laid-back social and fun weekend event has established itself as a kick-off party for Western Canada’s whitewater enthusiasts. The beautiful Chilliwack Valley offers several excellent class II – IV river runs with boulder gardens, pool drops, and surfing waves for paddlers of all interest and skill levels, including the famous Tamihi Rapid.

http://www.vankayak.org/festival/

Meet new and old paddling buddies, demo the latest in gear and boats from our sponsors, and enjoy the free shuttle service to/from the Chilliwack River. Always a spectator favourite, all paddlers are invited to compete in the downriver race and other popular on-river contests.

In addition to the amazing paddling, the festival has been known for its silent auction and raffle where sponsors have donated some awesome prizes, such as boats, spray decks, paddles, helmets, PFD’s, and other kayaking related products and services. The paddler’s social with live music by the band “Switch” has been a crowd favourite during past years. There are also activities for non-paddlers including nature walks in the forest and hikes in the mountains.

Any questions? please feel free to post them on the VKC forum and we'll be glad to help.

http://www.vankayak.org/forum/index.php?board=36.0 Festival registration includes two nights camping, one dinner, and two breakfasts; as well as a free T-Shirt if registered by April 17th.

Many Thanks

Barney Willis

For a recap of last years festival check out the FraserValleyWhiteWater.com site here.

Ryan Bayes

2011-03-18T11:28:00.000-07:00

Reel Paddling Film Fest was an amazing success. We showed over 3 hours of terrific paddling films and had an audience of 110 or so, at the University of the Fraser Valley here in Abbotsford.
We raised over $450 for Greg Mortenson's - Central Asia Institute...you've heard of "Three Cups of Tea", if not give it a read.

Central Asia Institute's mission is to promote and support community-based education, especially for girls, in remote regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan. The philosophy is to empower the local people through their own initiative. As of 2010, CAI has successfully established 145 schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan which provide (or have provided) education to over 64,000 students, with an emphasis on girls' education.

If you missed the Film Fest, we'll be back again in March 2011

Reel Paddling Film Festival

2011-02-25T15:05:00.000-08:00

Come out and check out this years best paddling films!

The Reel Paddling Film Festival will be showing, once again, here in Abbotsford at a new location. Show date is Friday March 11th. at 7pm.

This year's show will be at the University of the Fraser Valley, located at 33844 King Rd in Abbotsford, just up the road from WCK. From the main King Rd. entrance, come up the stairs and enter the building to your right, and head down the stairs, inside, to room B101.

The festival is an international film tour presenting the world's best whitewater, seakayaking, and canoeing films of the year on screens in 100 cities across Canada, the US, the UK and Europe.

Most of the 10 festival category winners and some of the other inspiring paddling films that have been short-listed will be shown. Audiences could expect to see stand-up paddle surfing, hairy whitewater action, sea kayakers exploring remote coastlines, headwaters canoe expeditions, international river films, and hilarious short films capturing the lighter side of paddling life.

To see film trailers click here.

Advance tickets are $10 and can be purchased here at Western Canoeing & Kayaking or right next door at Valhalla Pure Outfitters. Tickets will also be available at the door for $12.

Theatre doors will open at 6:50pm, show starts at 7pm

New Constructions for Clipper Solo Canoes

2011-02-03T17:01:00.000-08:00

During the winter months here at the Clipper Canoe plant we get a little bored and have some free time to experiment with different canoe constructions. With big growth numbers in our solo line of canoes last year it seemed that the Packer and Solitude were good fits to try some new constructions on.

This was perfect timing as we received a request for a custom kevlar Packer with foam core carbon ribs. This is a layup we had never done before in a Packer and we were eager to give it a try.

The Custom Kevlar Packer turned out amazingly well and the wood trim really sets off the honey clear color of the light weight kevlar. What a great looking canoe and weighing in at just over 25lbs we couldn't be happier.

The carbon seat and ribs with the wood trim make for a really sharp looking boat.

The next solo Clipper to get a make over was our most popular solo boat the 15'6 Solitude. The Solitude is hugely popular for open water and light river tripping, so durability is key in this boat. While we wanted to make something sharp looking and functional we knew it was going to be a delicate blend of light weight, durability and a pinch of sexy. We all love the expensive look of carbon fiber but it lacks in some areas in regards to strength and abrasion. So we decided to mix it up a bit and use some super light weight carbon fiber on the side walls and stick with the Kevlar laminate in the hull. The Gel-coat on a Kevlar boat provides a layer for abrasion resistance that's hard to get from any other material. Keeping the Carbon up higher on the sides and out of the high wear spots , and in full view seemed like a good idea.

Our Solitude mold is a three part mold, this is required on boats with lots of tumblehome in order to get the boat out of the mold. That made the job of getting a nice clean line for the transition from carbon to gel coat that much easier. In the end it came out looking as good as we had hoped.

The end weight of just under 40lbs was great as well. It weighs as much as a traditional ultra light layup with the added abrasion resistance of a Gel-coated boat. Sweet combo, the pictures tell the rest.

In the hull of most our Kevlar canoes we use a foam core to give it the stiffness you need to have the best performing canoe possible. We substituted the normal Kevlar core cover for a carbon fiber one, this does two things, brings the weight down and the sexy up.

Our first ever Carbon/Kevlar hybrid Solitude atop its throne in the WCK showroom.

Check back for more new and exciting stuff from the team at Clipper.

Ryan Bayes

Delsyk Akula 16 Review

2011-02-03T16:54:00.000-08:00

Delsyk Akula Review:

Delsyk Designs new 16’ Akula proves itself worthy as a full fledged Sea Kayak built for paddlers looking for a stable yet agile craft. It will accommodate paddlers of most sizes, however, larger paddlers may feel less comfortable with the narrow beam.

For myself at 165lbs and 5’8” it was a perfect fit. The adjustable seat back support and leg lift add a level of comfort not found in many plastic touring kayaks. Having a flatter bottom with hard chines makes this kayak great for both its initial and secondary stability. Leaning it over on it's side with my sprayskirt underwater I was able to hold it there without my paddle even touching the water. The hard chine also makes this boat remarkably maneuverable; it practically turns on a dime without the aid of a paddle stroke. I would highly recommend this kayak to anyone looking for something a little playful but still super stable. Come out and try one today!

Specs:

Length: 16.5'

Beam: 23"

Cockpit: 33"x15"

Laura Demers

December Kayak Win

2011-01-25T16:13:00.000-08:00

The Thirkell family were the big winners of our December Necky Kayak Promotion. WCK Staffer Laura Demers (left) helped the Thirkell's to load the newest addition to their fleet.

Wilderness Systems, Perception and Wavesport, more new models for 2011

2011-01-12T10:51:00.001-08:00

While southwest BC continues to get hammered with snow most people's thoughts of outdoor adventures are of mountains and enjoying some white fluffy stuff. But we here at WCK find ourselves buried under piles of snow and BOATS.

The pile of 90 new kayaks, delivered between snow storms.

With more lines and models of canoe and kayaks than ever, we continue to receive shipments of new product for the 2011 season. Manufactures have come out with more new designs for 2011 and our list of exciting new models continues to grow.

This week we received a mountain of boats from Confluence Water Sports. With a few new recreational kayaks from Perception and some updates to current boats there are lots of new options and features for recreational kayaks.

Perception updated their already popular Prodigy 10 with a new and improved seat, with more adjustability and comfort than before. A rear hatch and bulkhead have been added for dry storage and safety in the event of a capsize.

The 10' Impulse with the rear cargo compartment and forward gear tray.

Check out the new Perception Impulse here.

Prodigy 10 with hatch, bulkhead and new seat.

Updated Prodigy can be seen here.

Wilderness Systems has expanded their hugely popular fishing/recreational boat the Commander 12'. The Commander was a favorite amongst the fishing crowd and paddlers who were looking for a stable comfortable boat to take the kids or dog out on the water. For 2011 the Commander will come in a 14' length offering greater stability, higher capacity and more speed and tracking. Now you can bring the dog and the kid! The Commander 14 will be offered in an angler package as well as with an optional rudder.

14 Commander with Angler package and optional rudder.

Video of standing and fishing in a Commander 140

Possibly the most exciting new addition to the WCK flotilla (at least for me) is the highly anticipated Project X from Wavesport. Wavesport doesn't come out with as many new boats as other whitewater companies but when they do they come out big. The Project X is no exception to that, we had boats sold before they got here. The X has some super hot lines to it and has an 'ocean surf boat' look. The reviews have all been phenomenal and a quick google search will yield an endless supply of videos and pics of the new Project X. Bring on the spring snow melt, I can't wait to try this boat out on some real water.

The stern of the Project X is ultra short to make throwing the newest freestyle moves just a little bit easier.

The first Project Xs in BC waiting for their new homes.

Click here for specs on the 3 sizes of Project X's

Check back next month for flatwater and whitewater demo dates.

Jackson Kayaks now at WCK!

2010-12-18T12:06:00.000-08:00

We've got a lot of new stuff for 2011, possibly the most exciting of which is the latest addition to our kayak line up. While Jackson is one of the newer kids on the block in the kayaking industry, they have definitely taken the kayak world by storm. After enjoying much success in their whitewater line up, they are now raising the bar for touring and recreational paddling as well.

Jackson is known for its innovation, and has a habit of introducing multiple new boats each year. We like new, so making the Jackson line part of our family was a no-brainer. Aside from making boats that actually fit all sizes of paddlers, big or small, Jackson isn't afraid to try something new. This is evident across their line of boats from whitewater, rec and touring to the always growing fishing kayak market.

This week we got our first shipment of shiny new Jackson boats, and I do mean shiny. These guys keep their molds in top notch condition and it shows in the finished product. The shine and finish to these boats are as good as anything I have seen before on plastic kayaks, bravo!

Our first mound of Jackson boats.

Jackson does an awesome job on their mixed color boats. This Super Star was our of my favorite color mixes.

The Journey comes in 13.5' or 14'. It's got comfortable outfitting and a really nice loose feel on the water. Considering this is the first ever light touring boat they have built, they should be pretty happy with the outcome. We have demo's available for all Jackson Kayaks.

Jackson's Villain series of creek boats is their newest whitewater boat and it's getting great reviews, especially by the big boys. The larger Villain is one of the largest fitting creek boats on the market. There is a ton of room for multi days in the back of this bad boy.Laura Demers and Ryan Bayes in the new Dynamic Duo dropping into the last hole on the Chilliwack Canyon. We took a nice brisk December swim a few seconds after this picture. A Gore-Tex Dry Suit is a must for winter whitewater in BC.

Check our website in February for spring demo dates and come try out some Jackson for yourself.

More new stuff arriving for 2011

2010-12-16T14:39:00.001-08:00

As 2011 creeps closer we are starting to get in new product for next season. Some of the new items that have arrived include:

New Deck Stash Bag Never lose a water bottle again.
The Deck Stash Bag is the perfect accessory for keeping your necessities close at hand.
The water bottle holder will fit the typical 25 oz. stainless steel water bottle. The zipper mesh compartment is great for storing items like suntan lotion, lip balm, sun glasses, stirrup, etc.
Easy to attach and remove with 4 side squeeze buckles that connect to the deck line or bungees in front of the cockpit (water bottle not included).

We've also got some new dry bags from Outdoor Research. OR has some cool new takes on keeping your gear dry. With everything from cool graphics, to window bags and double roll top closures give the ultimate in dry protection.

Indian Arm Explorer;

Hiking & Kayaking around Indian Arm, Vancouver:
Cutting deep into the Coast Range Mountains, Indian Arm is Vancouver’s very own “local fjord”, and offers a wealth of exploration opportunities to kayakers and boaters alike. Visitors to these (relatively) sheltered waters will experience rocky islands, cascading waterfalls, secluded beaches, camping spots, quaint oceanfront dwellings and a wealth of marine wildlife.

Those of us that already own the Astral Green Jacket know its one of the best pieces of paddle sports gear money can buy. The green jacket is unrestricted for any type of paddling and packed full of goodies like pockets, quick releases and just about anything else an avid sea kayaker or whitewater paddler could hope for in a PFD. So, how could this ever be improved upon?? Well the good folks at Astral stepped up the sexy on this latest "Limited Edition". The LE4 has some super retro colors that clash so hard they actually work. As the name suggest the Limited Edition is, well, limited so get one before you're left looking just like every other paddler.

Were also excited about a new line of skirts for 2011. After viewing the samples we were sure that Seals Skirts were something we should be carrying. Seals Skirts are all hand crafted in New York, its very refreshing to see some paddle sports gear still being made in north America, and their quality backs up their claims of top notch gear. We have several models now in stock and more to come.

Check out their full line of skirts here.

Laura Demers modeling the new Astral Green Jacket, Seals Skirts and OR dry bags.

Check back for more updates on all the new gear for 2011.

More new boats arriving at WCK in time for the Holidays.

2010-12-08T11:46:00.000-08:00

I just got back yesterday from picking up another load of kayaks from our friends at Pyrnaha. This shipment is particularly exciting for us as there are several new boats that we have never had at WCK before.

The Everest, Karnali, and Varun are all new additions to our ever growing whitewater line.

The Karnali is a river running creek boat with softer edges than other Pyrnaha whitewater boats giving it a more relaxed feel for paddlers who are not as comfortable with aggressive edges.

The Everest is the 'big boy' in expedition paddling, at home on rivers or creeks this kayak has a ton of storage and volume and makes it a favorite amongst bigger paddlers as well as people looking to load up the back of their boat for self supported multi day trips.

The Varun is Pyrnaha's new river running play boat, and it shreads. There is a review on this kayak that can be found on the local whitewater website Fraservalleywhitewater.com. The medium size unit is the only one we stock now, but we will be getting in the Large and Small sizes as they available.

The Fusion S (Small) is now also in stock. The Fusion is truly a cross-over kayak designed for flat water paddling up to moderate whitewater river. The new smaller size will give smaller paddlers a better fit and more control for venturing into whitewater. These are super stable and beginner friendly boats for people wanting to get out on the river but not having a ton of experience. Even though it's not a full on whitewater boat we still recommend taking some lessons before hitting the rivers.

Both sizes of the Fusion come with retractable skeg and rear hatch and bulkhead making flat water paddling and loading a breeze for longer trips.

We will be getting in some new Jackson rec. and touring boats, as well as whitewater kayaks in the next week. Stay tuned for updates on that and Western's new line of composite kayaks made by Stellar. Steller kayaks are infused composite boats and some of the lightest on the market.

Ryan Bayes

Four Creeks We are in Danger of Loosing

2010-12-03T11:15:00.000-08:00

Four Creeks we are in Danger of Loosing by Ryan Bayes

Independent Power Projects, aka IPPs, are being planned here in our back yards - and most of us don't have a clue what has been going on. These creeks include: Big Silver, Shovel, Tretheway and Statlu.

There are over 800 applications for Run-of River projects on B.C's creeks and rivers. These are just four. They've been labelled as green energy, but that couldn't be further from the truth.

The above photo was taken at a recent IPP site on the Ashlu River.

These projects destroy huge amounts of wildlife habitat, ruin recreational experiences for everyone from kayakers, canoers, hikers, dirt bikes/atv's as well as fisherman. These projects have been proven time and again to have a huge negative impact on fish habitat.

As if that wasn't enough, these projects are all owned by American Corporations making millions of dollars off BC's resources. Very little of this money will stay in B.C. BC hydro is forced to buy the power these projects produce for astronomical rates. Ultimately this is going to increase the rate B.C. citizens pay for electricity. Right now we enjoy some of the lowest hydro rates anywhere in the world, as we should.

There are four projects currently planned for the Harrison Lake area. including all the major tributaries to the lake. If we don't make ourselves heard now, these pristine areas will be lost forever.

Most IPP's have a terrible track records for environmental mishaps on their projects. And for the most part they are never called on the carpet for their mistakes. Having part of the flow diverted, as is the case with IPP's, will mean a river never reaches it's full flood stage. These really high water events are the river's way of naturally flushing out wood and debris that can build up over a season. Without 'high water' it is highly likely that log jams and other hazards will build up over time and eventually make a river to dangerous to paddle.

At high water, or flood, the river will also replenish gravel and sand banks that have washed away during the season. This is key for fish habitat and spawning. Sediment will build up in the 'hold back' at the intake for the projects and never make it down stream where it's needed by fish and other wildlife.

It's time to stop these projects from taking BC's resources and in the process permanently scarring our beautiful province for ever.

To read more comments about these projects, please log on to www.eao.gov.bc.ca/index.html

More info on Run-of-River projects in BC can be found at:
fraservalleywhitewater.com/misc/bc-creeks-need-your-help/

www.ippwatch.info/w/

http://www.citizensforpublicpower.ca/

Please pass this along to anyone you know who fishes, hikes, paddles..and enjoys B.C.'s pristine back country. Help us keep British Columbia 'The Best Place on Earth'

small cars & canoes

2010-11-13T12:33:00.000-08:00

From time to time people will tell me they can't put a canoe on their car because it's too small. I beg to differ.

Please feel free to pass this on to your friends who are skeptical.

The white OC-1 on top of the yellow canoe, on the green Suzuki is 23' long...ok, so that is a little big.

But the red canoe on the Smart Car is just under 16'.

I'd have to say the hardest vehical to put a canoe on, that I've had to work on, would be an older model VW Beetle. For that we just customize a set of foam blocks to take care of that roof curvature.

Happy paddlers and their new Clipper Tripper

2010-10-26T14:56:00.000-07:00

To Marlin and the group at Western Canoeing.

Attached are two photos of a September 2010 trip to Bowron Lakes. Of course, the Tripper is an excellent canoe. It performs excellent, turns on a dime even when loaded. We are thankful for the craftsmanship of your group at Western Canoeing. We get many compliments on the fine canoe. We refer the people to WCK. Keep up the good work.

The weather wasn't always so beautiful. It snowed the next day.

Regards,

Rob and Elizabeth Savage.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Great pics Rob and Elizabeth, I'm sure there will be many more great memories to come in your Clipper. Have fun making them!

Ryan Bayes

3rd annual Tamihi 5-0- Open Canoe Slalom

2010-10-07T11:13:00.000-07:00

This past September was the 3rd annual Tamihi 5-O Open Canoe Race. Tamihi 5-O is held on the world famous Tamihi Rapid on the Chilliwack River. The race is a fun orientated slalom race on a challanging class 3-4 rapid. With multiple gates to hit the course provides lots of spectator amusement as paddlers scramble to make gates on their way down stream.

This year WCK's very own Laura Demers cleaned up taking top place in the Women's Solo and mixed Tandem with Don Frose. Laura paddled her Clipper Probe in the Women's Solo division and a Dagger Caption in the tandem. Laura was crowned "Queen of the River" for her multiple wins along with Don Frose as "King of the River".

Big thanks to Clipper, Esquif and Kokatat for demo boats and drysuits. Please click here for a complete list of sponsors and volunteers.

I went out to train with Laura on Saturday but couldn't make it in time for the race on Sunday, when I did arrive I was surprised to see the river a lot higher than the night before. This transformed the course from a gentle class 3 to a much more rowdy and faster moving rapid, it made hitting the gates a lot harder but all competitors put on a good show.

Check back next year for info on the 2011 Tamihi 5-0.

Laura Demers and her "Queen of the River Trophy".

Laura and Don on one of their tandem runs.

The Esquif Zephyr is one sexy boat.

For being an older design Clippers Kev/Dflx Viper is still really popular, that was evident by the number of them at the race.

Stand Up Paddling Round Bowron

2010-09-21T16:05:00.000-07:00

Stand up Paddling, better known as SUP is quickly becoming the fastest growing paddle sport around. This, plus a little encouragement from Marlin, the owner here at Western Canoeing & Kayaking, is what gave me the courage to try something no one had ever done before; SUP the 116k Bowron Lakes Canoe Circuit.

For my trip I chose the Starboard
'Free Race'. This board is a terrific choice for fast touring, and it worked great. My paddle was the Werner 'Spanker' - really light, I loved it.

The first obstacle to overcome in planning this journey was how to carry all the gear. I figured I could take a couple of dry bags on the board itself but would need a sherpa of some sort for the rest. My lovely boyfriend, David, decided to take on the task. He paddled a Clipper Tripper 'S' with a solo seat just behind the yoke and carried the rest of our gear, about 150# worth.

We had originally planned on taking 7 days to complete the circuit and thought even that might be pushing it for time and energy. In the end it only took us 6 days. We paddled an average of 20k a day, which was only about 7 hrs per day. On the second day my abs were really feeling the core workout. I was also surprised that my legs weren't weak. After the first day of calm glassy waters we struggled with headwinds for most of the trip thereafter. If I stopped paddling I would instantly start moving backwards. So much for using those Wind Paddle Sails!

I wore a dry suit for practically the whole trip, as it rained 4 of the the 6 days we were out. I used the Kokatat Meridian, and was dry, warm and comfortable the entire time.

The portages were interesting to say the least. With me carrying the board it was pretty much impossible to assist David with the loaded canoe (on a cart) on portage trails. In the end we both seemed to manage ok.

People we met along the way called me crazy and snapped photos like the paparazzi. They just couldn't believe what they were seeing. The Germans we met just couldn't get enough of it. They said they had never seen such a thing and wanted pictures to prove it when they got home. Everyone stood by to watch as I ran the infamous Chute on the Isaac River. I made it past the first couple of big waves and then came crashing to the water. I managed to rescue myself and hop back on the board for the rest of the river. Thank goodness for that helmet I brought.

All in all the trip was a success. And, yes, I stood up the whole way!

Laua Demers
Sales/Demo Coordinator
Western Canoeing & Kayaking

2010-09-10T10:36:00.000-07:00

Former Western Canoeing & Kayaking employee Joe O'Blenis, Circles Vancouer Island in Record Time

On Saturday Sept 4th, Joe completed a circumnavigation of Vancouver Island in 16 days, 12 hours and 9 minutes. Starting in Nanaimo, Joe headed north and completed the circuit counter clockwise.

Joe, who held the record previously, beat his own and Sean Morely's recent time by 16 hours. He likely would have been faster had he not encountered 'technical difficulties' in Tofino, where he lost almost a full day.

Joe emailed us today and said that he is considering doing it all again in a Clipper Sea-1, the same canoe he paddled across Canada in, in 2004. Or maybe in a tandem Sea Clipper..hmmm.

Congratulations Joe on your record breaking feat.

2010-08-23T11:22:00.000-07:00

We just love getting cudos. Got this one today from Todd.

Hello,

I just wanted to say thanks again for your great customer service and say thanks for making a great product. I bought my Tripper-S last winter and was able to use it over 40 times this spring and summer. We have done lots of fishing, camping, and river trips with it. And it has been great! I'm sure you already know what great products you make, but I just wanted to make the point of saying it again!. Everyone that asks about (the Tripper S) gets an ear full of how good you guys are to deal with. I am looking forward to getting many years out of it.

Thanks again

Todd

New boats @ WCK for 2010/2011

2010-08-21T08:52:00.000-07:00

Every year WCK staff head down to Salt Lake City for the annual Outdoor Retailer show to insure we're the first shop with all the new must have paddle gear. Although this year's on water demo was dominated by the SUP (stand up paddling) craze, we did find some cool new kayaks floating around.

One of the new boats that got me most excited was the Pyranha Fusion. The Fusion is a great cross over kayak that at 10' is perfect for light touring and up to class 3 white water. It's a great boat for some of the flatter rivers we have here in the Fraser Valley. The Fusion also has a drop skeg to help keep you going straight on the flats. The cross over category of kayaks has largely been dominated by boats more suited to recreational flat water and class 2 paddling like the Dagger Approach that we've already been selling for years.

The Fusion comes in 2 sizes and has 2 outfitting options. Being a little narrower than other more recreational oriented cross over boats the Fusion has more speed and better maneuverability from the increased rocker. Although the Approach's larger flatter hull gives it unbeatable stability an experienced paddler will likely enjoy the more aggressive outfitting and hull on the Fusion.

If you're looking for a more full-on whitewater experience we've also got Pyranha's line of whitewater specific boats from creeking and river running to their new super popular play boat the Molan (now in stock).

Aside from some cool new boats being offered by the brands we already carry like Wilderness Systems, Perception and Wavesport we also fell in love with the Hobie kayak line. Many of you will know Hobie from their great line up of sail boats, but they also build some very unique kayaks, that allow you to propel the boat with your feet . . . yes there is also a paddle included with these boats. If you are unfamiliar with Hobies "Mirage Drive System", you should definitely check out their site or swing into the store and see what it's all about. Using a combination of Hobbie's Mirage Drive and the fiber glass paddle, allows the paddler (or peddler) to get a full body work out. The Hobie also has a distinct advantage for fishing and hunting as its hands free operation allowing you to focus on more important things like that next fish.

The Hobie Rep will be at our Aug 28 sale with his demo boats for people to see. Our new Hobie stock should arrive in the next few weeks.

Stay tuned for more updates on new gear for next season.

Ryan Bayes

2010-08-13T15:03:00.000-07:00

Instore special on now thru August 27th
Ocean Kayak Torque w/ electric motor. Listed at $2299,
on sale now for only $1999 plus receive a free Minn Kota
MK-105P battery charger. Great for 'stealth' trolling.

2010-08-13T15:01:00.000-07:00

Purchase any new WaveSport or Dagger Whitewater Kayak and receive 10% off the list price and an additional $75 instore accessory credit, to be used at the time of purchase.

2010-08-13T14:55:00.000-07:00

Special on now thru August 27th
Any new Current Design Solstice Titan or Titan LV at 15% off the regular list price.
Also, get a $100 accessory credit to be used in store at the time of your purchase

2010-08-13T14:52:00.000-07:00

Purchase a Necky Looksha 14 for $1499 and receive a $175 accessory credit to be used in store at the time of your purchase.

2010-08-13T14:49:00.000-07:00

August Special - on now thru Aug 27th

Purchase a new Necky Eliza at 15% off the list price and receive a Stohlquist BetSea PFD, valued at $129.99 with your purchase

2010-08-12T13:49:00.000-07:00

August Special on now thru Aug 27
Purchase a new 2009 model Necky Manitou 14 at 15% off
the regular price and receceive a $100 accessory credit to be
used instore at the time of your purchase .

2010-08-12T13:40:00.000-07:00

August Specials - no now thru August 27th

Purchase any new 2009 Wilderness Systems Tsunami 140, 145,160,165 models at 15% off the regular price, and receive a fiberglass AT T4E Straight Shaft touring paddle (valued at $134.95) with your purchase

Clippers on Powell Forest Canoe Route

2010-08-04T15:22:00.000-07:00

The Davies Family wrote to tell us that they recently took their

Clipper Canoes around the Powell Forest Canoe Route

...and that they LOVE their canoes.

We always like to hear that :o)

They even sent pictures.

2010-07-02T10:08:00.000-07:00

David Thomson Brigade Brigade, paddling in the "Silly Summer Parade"
Photo by: Ed Kaiser, edmontonjournal.com

2010-06-12T15:45:00.001-07:00

Bellingham Ski 2 Sea Team
CLIPPERCANOES.COM

Ski2sea 2010
Clippercanoes.com had a smashing finish at the recent Bellingham Ski to Sea Race.

464 teams competed in the relay from the Mt Baker Ski area to Bellingham Bay.
Our team came 5th overall, 4th in our division and just seconds out of the medals.

Top teams from Bos Construction won the event.

We’ve been competing in this event for over 10 years – almost always finishing ‘in the medals’ even finishing first in 2007

Dan Roycroft competed for us in the X Country leg and came in 5th. Passing off to Trevor Jordan who had a fall in his leg, loosing a few spots. But, Sean Chester of Victoria, who bless his heart likes running down hill, brought us back up to 2nd place again.

When Trevor fell the lanyard on the timing chip broke, so when Sean passed the lanyard on to John Meehan, our road biker, it ended up getting caught in his spokes. Narrowly missing doing a header over his handle bars, John had to come to a full stop and untangle the mess. This put us back significantly. But bravo for John for getting back in there and fighting his way back up to 10th.

John passed off to canoeist Harry James who sprinted to the river jumping in with fellow paddler Ron Williams. Ron slipped in the mud at the start and was, for a moment, under the canoe. They ended up well though, beating their time from last year.

Ron and Harry passed off to Ricky Federau our fearless mtn biker, who managed to pass several bikers and make up over 3 minutes in our overall time.

Our final leg was completed by Ian MacKenzie who paddled his surfski across Bellingham Bay in 43minutes and 45 seconds. Finishing mere seconds behind 3rd place

We’re very proud of our Ski to Sea Team – and we’ll be back next year to medal for sure.

2010 Vancouver Kayak Club Festival -Chilliwack River-

2010-05-05T16:31:00.000-07:00

The Vancouver Kayak Club pulled of its 3rd annual festival on The Chilliwack River. Like the two before this year's event was another great success. With shuttled runs, down river races, free style throwdowns and a live band there was lots to keep you busy.

Dan Bentley running the log drop on the "Lake Down" section of The Chilliwack River.

There was an absolute mountain of gear to be raffled and given away at this years festival. Western Canoeing and Kayaking were one of 3 gold level sponsors and donated a Dagger KingPin 6.2 along with some gift certificates and other goodies. Wavesport has always been a gold sponsor of this event and was so again this year with the donation of a Fuse 56.

The lucky new winner of a Dagger KingPin 6.2, she used the boat the next day to come in second in the women's beginner class at the Throwdown.

The throwdown was also a great success. A throwdown is basically a informal free style competition aimed more towards having fun than crowning the best paddlers. The turn out of beginners was awesome, some paddlers even had their first surfs ever during the competition. Check here for more information on up coming throwdowns.

Jeff Cowan and myself trying earn some points in the Throwdown with a tandem surf.

VKC Festival

See you all at next years festival.

Ryan Bayes

Reel Paddle Film Fest

2010-02-27T15:45:00.000-08:00

INTERNATIONAL PADDLING FILM FESTIVAL
COMING TO ABBOTSFORD

The 5th Annual Reel Paddling Film Festival is coming to Abbotsford Friday, March 12.

The Reel Paddling Film Festival is an international film tour presenting the world’s best whitewater, sea kayaking and canoeing action and lifestyle films of the year on screens in 75 cities across Canada, United States, Europe and the United Kingdom.

Sponsored by Western Canoeing & Kayaking and Valhalla Pure Outfitters, the festival will be shown at Columbia Bible College in Clearbrook. This year’s event features 3 hrs of paddling films short-listed for the World Tour, including the nine festival category winners. Audiences can expect to see a variety of hairy whitewater action, sea kayakers exploring remote coastlines, coast-to-coast canoe expeditions, international river travel films, motivating environmental documentaries, grueling kayak fishing battles and hilarious short films capturing the lighter side of paddling life.

For tickets and information call Western Canoeing & Kayaking, 604-853-9320, westerncanoe@telus.net,
Tickets are $12 at the door, and $10 in advance.
Advance tickets also available at Valhalla Pure Outfitters

Columbia Bible College – Chapel is located at 2940 Clearbrook Rd.
Show begins at 7:00 pm (doors open at 6:30 pm).

River Safety Tune Up Day

2010-02-23T16:51:00.000-08:00

With all the local rivers frozen or dry and spring paddling just around the corner February was a perfect time for Western Canoeing and Kayaking along with Purple Hayes School of Kayaking to throw their first ever "River Safety Tune Up Day". WCK uses Purple Hayes for whitewater kayaking lessons and "River Rescue" courses.

The idea behind River Safety Tune Up Day was to give an opportunity for newer paddlers to learn some new skills and give experienced paddlers the motivation we all need to practice our skills that for the most part we don't practice enough, and hopefully never need.

With around 25 canoers and kayakers ranging from rank beginner to expert there was a good mix of teachers and students. Kay was stuck doing the always exciting knots station while the rest of us floated around the throw bag and more technical rope skills section. Moving the Hyundai with the Clipper Canoes delivery truck anchor was my favorite station.

To wrap it up we had a throw bag competition with 1st place taking home a $50 gift certificate to WCK.Were hoping to run two Safety Tune Up days next year so stay tuned for dates next winter, and don't forget, you don't need an event to practice safety techniques. How much more efficient would we all be at rescuing if every time we waited for a shuttle or late paddler we practiced our rescue skills?

Ryan Bayes

Clipper Canoe Carries Olympic Torch in Vancouver

2010-02-18T12:08:00.000-08:00

Clipper was invited to be part of history on the opening day of the Olympics. Our 29' Langley joined the torch relay on the last day of the 'run', paddling the Olympic flame across False Creek in downtown Vancouver. A dragon boat carrying Olympic K-2 paddler and medal winner Hugh Fisher (at the '84 LA Olympics) passed the flame on to Olympic K-4 paddler Kamini Jain. Kamini paddled in both the Sidney and Athens games. That's our GM, Lynne, with the blue hoodie in the Langley canoe.

Thanks to Ben Lee of Lethal Weapon Photography for the Picture.

Ryan Bayes

Delta 10' Sneak Peak

2010-01-13T15:54:00.000-08:00

Being neighbours with one of Canada's newest and most innovative kayak companies can have its perks. Take last Tuesday for example when Mark Hall showed up with Delta Kayak's newest prototype in search of some guinea pigs to take it for a test paddle.

Delta Kayaks uses thermoformed plastic to build a wide range of boats. In case you've been out of the market lately or stranded on some West Coast island happily paddling away in your old glass or poly boat there's a new player in town for kayak construction materials. While there are lots of companies thermoforming kayaks, or at least trying, Delta has been the leader of the pack for some time. Thermoforming kayaks can be tricky but the guys at Delta have it dialed in. The fit and finish of their boats is better than any other thermoformed boats I've seen. That's probably why we use Delta almost exclusively for thermoformed boats.

To give you a quick idea about thermoformed kayaks, they come in somewhere between the price of fiberglass and polyurethane boats but are closer to the weight of glass boats. They're tougher than glass - we have yet to have one come back to us with damage actually sustained while the boat was being paddled and not transported. If you're looking for a boat you can back over with your truck on a regular basis then poly may be a better choice, however the icing on the cake with thermoformed boats is really the extra stiffness the material offers. Stiffness translates to efficient and responsive, something we're all looking for in a boat no matter your skill level.

So back to Delta's new rec boat. . . after a quick paddle by WCK owner and avid canoeist Marlin Bayes, and employee Laura Demers (Delta's favorite test paddler) it's quite obvious Delta's new rec boat will be a big hit. While the pictures show that Marlin would still rather be in a canoe he was very impressed with the speed and tracking of the new ten footer. Laura's first comments were also about the boat's great tracking. With over 35 years in the industry Marlin said it may be one of the fastest and straightest tracking ten footers he has ever paddled.

How did Delta manage to achive all this speed, tracking and stability in a ten foot boat? They used the same hull design that their new floating fish slaughtering platform the "Cat Fish" uses. The design is by no means a new one but it is newish to the kayaking industry. The Cat Fish and Ten Footer use a twin hull design that allows for a wide stance without a super wide foot print on the water to slow it down.

Like all of Delta's other boats the new rec boat offers a roomy, comfortable fit. While this boat won't be available for a few months rest assured we will have a good supply of them and even a demo for you to come try out.

Thanks to Delta Kayaks for yet again coming up with something exciting and new.

Ryan

New addition to the WCK Family!!

2010-01-09T11:44:00.000-08:00

The Grand Poobah's here at Western Canoeing and Kayaking and Clipper Canoes have just become a little grander. The eldest son of owners Mary and Marlin Bayes now has a son of his own. About 45 minutes after the stroke of 12 on new years eve Aaron and Laura Bayes welcomed their son James Darwin Bayes into the world. If that wasn't exciting enough, James was the first baby born in the new year in the lower mainland. James came about a month and half early, we figure he was in such a hurry to go on his first paddling trip he wanted to get a head start on life.

We are currently working on retrofitting a baby seat into a Clipper Canoe for his first trip down the Harrison River. I may have a harder time convincing my brother and sister in law to let me take him down the Chilliwack River, but the hunt for a baby dry suit is on.

Welcome aboard James and thanks to Aaron and Laura for taking the grand-baby presure off of me.

Ryan Bayes

Photo: Jenna Hauck
Chilliwack Progress

Clipper Canoes heading east for the Holidays

2009-12-11T09:06:00.000-08:00

One of our newest Clipper Canoe dealers is Jenda Paddle Sports in Osgoode Ontario. In just under a year Jenda has not only become our newest dealer but also one of our biggest dealers. After spending a weekend with the Jenda crew at the Ottawa Boat & Sport Show last year it's easy to see why.

Jenda is family run business and they are as passionate about paddling as we are. That paired with the huge demographic of canoe-aholics found in Ontario made selling Clipper Canoes in Ontario a no-brainer.

The only hurtle for us to overcome was the logistics of shipping 40+ canoes to Ontario. This didn't prove to be so hard though. With a 53 foot container and a little lumber to build a rack inside the container we were able to fit 40 canoes in one load.

Some Yukons, an Escape, and the new Basalt Prospector 16' tucked away for their ride to Ontario.

The canoes should arrive at Jenda a couple days before they close for the Holidays, so its not too late to lock down a Christmas Clipper for that someone special in your life . . . Ohhh what the heck, you're special enough go ahead treat yourself.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from everyone at Clipper Canoes and Western Canoeing and Kayaking.

Ryan Bayes

New and cool boats for 2010

2009-11-12T14:54:00.000-08:00

This last week we had our first shipment of 2010 boats from Confluence Watersports. Among the pile of some 120 boats were some cool new surprises. The first things that stood out were the crazy new colors from Dagger kayak's white water line up. For 2010 the old fire color got a new look as well as an addition of 3 new colors. Rain, Ember and Glacier are all new. While these colors are borderline retro ugly they have been a big hit with everyone that comes through the door. You can check out there new colors here. Dagger Kayaks

This first shipment brought with it a new cool boat from Wilderness Systems. The Commander 120 is a hybrid crossover. It looks like a sit on top but with raised side walls for a dryer ride. The entire boat is wrapped in slide trax to make outfitting for fishing a breeze. The boat offers 2 seating positions as well as the ability to stand and fly fish. There is a great video of the boat and its features found here. This boat will no doubt be a hit with the kayak fishing crowd that is growing huge each year.

Wilderness Systems has always been out in front as far as kayak comfort goes. Seen here with their Phase 3 Outfitting and hugely adjustable seat. The Commander takes it to another level though by having the Phase 3 seat removable, this allows you to use it as a camp or picnic chair while not in your kayak.

The last cool surprise was the new sit on tops from Perception Kayaks. The new Tribe models come in 3 lengths, 9.5, 11.5 and 13.5. The 13.5 can be paddled solo, tandem or can even accommodate a threesome. The kayaks were all built to be stacked. Even the different lengths stack nicely on each other. This makes storing them at the cottage a little easier. They're also considerably lighter than most other sit on tops we're used to.

Well, I have another 100 or so boats to unwrap so I'm signing off, but check back as we will be getting some new and exiting boats in from Necky and Current Designs soon including the new Ocean Kayak stand up paddle board.

Ryan Bayes

Preparing for cold weather paddling.

2009-11-05T13:23:00.000-08:00

For many paddlers the changing of summer to fall means the end of the paddling season. For many other paddlers the change in season simply means a changing of gear. Shorty dry tops, rash guards and neoprene shorts are put away and the dry suits, pogies and skull caps come out.

Paddling through the winter can be very rewarding if you're prepared for it. Watching the leaves change colour, salmon returning to the river and not having to dodge motor boats and water skiers at your local lake are advantages of off season paddling. Winter usually brings a quiet calm to most paddling spots that used to be busy and bustling with summer recreation.

So how does one dress for cold weather paddling? The biggest issue with winter paddling is keeping warm, in and out of your boat. It's always important to be dressed for a swim. Even the most experienced paddlers are simply 'in between swims'. Just because you're warm enough in your boat doesn't mean you will be if you find yourself submerged in cold water.

The two most popular forms of cold water protection are wet and dry suits. Wet suits have been around for years and are the cheapest way to keep you warm in cold water. Wet suits are made from neoprene and work by absorbing water that your body heats and insulating you from the surrounding cold water. Often people start with wet suits but will soon develop a condition known as dry envy. Dry envy is usually a contagious condition developed from continual exposure to paddling friends with dry suits. Dry envy can only be cured by the addition of a dry suit to their paddling wardrobe or by masking the issue with things like pottery and sewing classes to keep you off the water. Realistically though if you paddle year round and more than once or twice a month you will probably end up with a dry suit at some point in your paddling career. Often a dry suit purchase will be the biggest paddling gear purchase since your boat. It is rarely one that is regretted.

So now that you have your core heated in case of a swim, there are a few things you can do to keep yourself warm and comfortable in your boat. Beanies, as they are often referred to, are made of fleece or neoprene or sometimes both. Beanies, touques or skull caps, depending where you're from, are an easy way to keep warm while paddling. A large portion of body heat will be lost through your head especially since the lower part of your body is insulated in the cockpit with a spray deck. Beanies are easy to put on and take off if you find yourself getting too hot or cold while paddling.

The next part of the body we will try to keep warm are the hands. Hands are often close to, if not in, the water and are one of the first parts of your body to get cold while paddling. Lucky for us though, there is a wide range a hand warming goodies from gloves, mitts, pogies and even fleece lined hand warmers in your life jacket. This is one area where paddler preference is split widely. Gloves are usually made from neoprene and can be different thickness depending on conditions they are going to be used in. One set back gloves have is the loss of feel between you and your paddle. Having 3 mm of neoprene between you and your paddle can make you feel clumsy and feel like you've lost the orientation of your blades. On that note, enter pogies stage left. What is a pogie you ask, well it,s not for dinner. A pogie is like a mitt that attaches to your paddle shaft that you reach into and hold your paddle. This allows you to actually feel the shaft of the paddle while keeping wind and water off your hands. I suggest trying both if possible because this is really a matter of personal preference.

So now that you're comfortable and safe, some other things to consider are where you will be paddling and the conditions you are likely to encounter. In winter and fall, quite often conditions will change quicker. This means you are more likely to be caught out in a storm. Paying extra attention to weather forecasts is a good idea when paddling open seas in winter months. A marine radio will enable you to contact help as well as keep you up-to-date with weather conditions while out on a trip.

It's also not a bad idea to brush up on those rescue skills and re-entry methods before the winter sets in. This is often a good time to check for local pool paddling sessions.

Here is a really informative video on the affects of cold water and how to survive a cold water swim.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1xohI3B4Uc&feature=player_embedded

So stay safe, and enjoy your paddling season this winter.

Ryan Bayes

Pacific Dancer

2009-01-20T16:36:00.001-08:00

It's been over 12 years since the successful launch of CLIPPER Canoes' first native style canoe, the Northern Dancer. Now it's time to welcome the next one, the Pacific Dancer. At 36 feet, this work of art made for water, is much more stable than traditional designs thanks to a flat mid section. The stability of this boat was first apparent on the initial test paddle where we were able to lean it over comfortably to the point of almost dipping the gunwales. It has a long straight water line that gives it incredible speed and tracking, yet carves into turns effortlessly. Compared to traditional dugouts of its size, the Pacific Dancer is going to weigh in at less than a third of the weight of that of a dug out canoe. This helps the already sporty feel take on a truly nimble feeling on the water. The light weight of this canoe makes moving it around on dry land almost as rewarding as moving it around on water.

With 9 seats, there is room for 18 paddlers and some passengers as well as an elevated sternsman position, providing a good view and leverage to the captain. Some other standard features will be a kevlar reinforced laminate that is equally as strong as it is light. With over 25 years building big boats we know exactly where the kevlar reinforcing needs to be. We use a foam core in the hull to keep all 36 feet stiff and responsive. With foam filled flotation tanks in the bow and stern, as well as foam filled seats, there is ample flotation for even the roughest of conditions. With a wood free construction this boat is virtually maintenance free. We only recommend a light wash after use and a wax job once a year to keep this boat looking like the work of art that it is.

We also have the option of adding custom graphics or decals by special request.

This boat will be a welcome addition to our fleet line up, and we anticipate it to be quite popular with First Nations journeys, tour businesses and schools up and down the West Coast. With orders already coming in and only one mold available, now is a good time to get your order in.

Here are a few pics of the build up and test paddles. Hope you enjoy paddling it as much as we've enjoyed building it.

Ryan Bayes