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Debuted at the Outdoor Retailer Show in Salt Lake City in early August, epic kayaks launched a prototype of the new rudder for the epic 16x and epic 18x / 18x sport:
(Given that this is a prototype the finishing details are not perfect; they will be when the rudder is in production.)
When I thought of paddling a surf ski in America’s 50th state a bunch of images came to mind: warm water - BIG surf - rough water - sunshine – hardcore watermen and women — so even though I have none of the above on my doorstep in Germany, I figured that it would be exciting to join the Epic Molokai World Championships Surfski 2008. After all I’d had a great time at my first surfski race in Puerto Rico!
Oscar Chalupsky, co-owner of epic kayaks, told me that if I loved the epic wing blade I used for my sea kayaking trips then I must try the matching boat: the epic 18x sea kayak.
How could I resist the loquacious world champion? Especially when he was willing to throw in some private lessons on a the nuances of the forward stroke. Oscar was born and raised in Durban, South Africa — home to the raucous Indian Ocean — and he’s considered the best big water paddler in that paddling mad country world.
Thanks to Thomas Lindner from Aquaman Deutschland to help me on my New Zealand trip with his famous waterproof Aquapack-cases for my GPS, mobile phone, camera, PDA, VHF, Sat-phone and maps and charts - let’s stay dry - at least with those precious items! I’ll be happy to write after my trip about how they held up in those tough conditions.
Oscar Chalupski, epic kayaks co-owner, gives me a big hug and good luck for for my future adventures, for sure paddling again with a brand new epic wing blade.
All sea kayakers know and value the IKEA-bag as a high-volume carrying device for all dry bags, bits and pieces on a trip, but a s a low volume folding-down bag to store on top of the hatch in the loaded boat (no, I didn’t bother with getting sponsored by those guys… :-))) )
I used the blue bag for years - every now and then affording to BUY a new one for an Euro (some guys who do carry *yellow* Ikea bags around haven’t *bought* them!!! :-)) )
From a plain white fibreglass shell to a lovely shiny kayak!
The finished shiny, black new family member, nicely labelled with a fat "PROTOTYPE" sticker besides all company names…
… Anglesey Sea Kayak symposium 2007…a helicopter was in the air to demonstrate sea rescue…a rainbow colored helicopter was playing on the water, too…
Morgan Goldie from North Water donated me the first
It usually comes in black and red, is very detail-orientated made and a pretty useful item!
Now I think I need to prove I deserve that honor :-))
I was happy to use a long list of other North water items on my Iceland trip, too, and all of them proved to be a great choice! I’ll do a write-up soon.
