On the Road again…

Posted by Freya on April 25, 2008

Two by two kayaks - two epic’s, two NDK’s, two Rockpool’s, two Waterfield’s - one 3-pieces Explorer is allowed to travel inside!

 

…or better "On the water again" soon!

Can’t wait to hit some rough stuff , as my place had mostly flatish water only to offer. And I need MORE TRAINIG!

I’ll teach at the Anglesey Sea Kayak Symposium until Monday 5th,

Picture albums are finally up!

Posted by Freya on April 3, 2008

I uploaded all of my New Zealand trip pictures! As well as the pics from my 33-day trip around Iceland. Enjoy!

Australia

Posted by Freya on March 12, 2008

Yes, I’ll do it. Paddle around Australia.

In a kayak. Solo. Unsupported. Starting this year.

 

This was my commitment and mission statement on March 12th 2008.

Since then I’ve been busy working for my ice cream shops, working on my new web site and enjoying some Easter holidays with my son.

Now it’s time for research - anyone has any good ideas about how to keep the crocs at bay? – and to begin wrapping my brain around the Wonderful Wild World of OZ!

infected by the surfski virus - The Culebra Challenge

Posted by Freya on March 4, 2008
 
Trying out an epic V10
 
 
 
The internet connects the world…and occassionally can bring a highly infectious virus to your own house…
 
 
I got infected with the surfski virus just three weeks ago by watching some great videos on youtube — sent to me by  a kayak-crazy journalist from New York …he actually planned just to write some stuff about my NZ-trip…and happened to be a passionate surfski paddler, too.
 
At the same time I met Mr. Surf Ski Oscar Chalupsky – the 11-time Molokai winner. He was happy to show me the nuances of the forward stroke (see last post, 4 weeks ago)…On flatwater the surf ski didn’t thrill me but in the bumps, well, I’m rather attracted to the rough stuff!
  
Anyway, after meeting Oscar and trying out the Epic 18x  as a possible boat for my next big expedition, I paid a visit to Alex Craven from Oarsport, the German epic distributor in Hamburg, in order to try out one of these tippy surfskis by myself!

I tried to squeezed myself in the epic V10 – ouch! – but felt my hip bones needed a bit more room to breathe…Luckily when I sat in the wider (and more stable) epic V10 sport I felt instantly more comfi.

The epic story continues…

Posted by Freya on February 14, 2008

 

 

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.

Priorities…and the most eventful day of the NZ-trip

Posted by Freya on February 3, 2008

Being back home after three months abroad my mind was filled with all the post-trip work I still had to do:  sorting out pictures for a slide show, writing up the last days of the journey and, of course, my "real" work so I could earn money…

I found some NZPA finish day pics

Posted by Freya on January 14, 2008
Picture by Tim Cuff
 
 
Picture by Tim Cuff
There are some more on that link:
http://www.nzpaimages.co.nz/preview.php?image_id=40921

I’m back home! Some dumper launching pics…

Posted by Freya on January 14, 2008

Photo 1 by Mary Kirk-Anderson 

I made it safely back home: several uneventful flights and no extra charge for surplus weight…plus low shipping fees for m kayak…lucky gal!

What a difference it is to return home to winter! Cold, grey skies and short days…but I like the seasons so there is no time to be sad…

I’ve been busy since my return with buisiness meetings, checking on my shops, answering e-mails, phoning friends and editing all of my many pics !

Back Home on Wednesday

Posted by Freya on January 4, 2008

Since I managed to change my flight I return home on Wednesday, January 9th.

I just need to deal with 12hrs of jetlag…so all the promised calls have to wait some time then…and back to buisiness soon again, too!

I’m still busy here in NZ since there’s plenty of media interest! Regardless, I feel my biggest challenge once the trip is copmlete was the announced booklet…by making it public I put pressure on myself to get it donel…So first I have a heaps of office work to do — which is sure to put some of the weight I lost paddling back on. Luckily Paul promised some support!

The Final Leg - I’m done!

Posted by Freya on January 2, 2008

Well, what shall I write? There’s almost too much going on! There were so many people wishing me well: in person, via e-mail, on blog comments or on the phone! I would like to thank everybody again for the moral and practical support. I’ll answer all of your most welcome e-mails shortly!here (thanks to Derrick Mayoleth for uploading the file).