Sea Kayaking

The International Whitewater Hall of Fame recently announced its 2013 class of honorees, bestowing kudos on everyone from explorers to boat builders and even a Czech slalom racer who defected to the U.S. and brought along a popular paddling stroke with him....

The paddling community was deeply saddened this weekend when hit by the bombshell of the death of Bomber Gear founder Rick Franken, who reportedly passed away in his sleep this past weekend while camping on a kayaking trip to Alabama with his son, Kai. Franken reportedly died in his sleep due to respiratory failure...

Frankly my dear, I don’t want a damn…And last year, communities in 19 states shared that sentiment. Non-profit orgs and state and federal agencies worked in partnership to bring down 65 dams in 2012, restoring 400 river miles for paddlers and other river lovers to enjoy.

A bill introduced by Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA) would remove long-standing Wild and Scenic River protections from a section of California’s Merced River, inundating almost a mile of one of California’s last, best, free-flowing rivers. The bill would also mark the first time a Wild and Scenic River is essentially de-designated.

Don’t be surprised if you see a little mayhem on the Mississippi this spring. On May 5, 2013, The Mountain Folk Adventure Series officially begins with the launch of the Mississippi River Run, a free-for-all journey down the entire 2,350 miles of the Mississippi River—starting at Lake Itasca, Minnesota and ending in New Orleans…

This summer four female whitewater paddlers look to understand, document and enjoy the world’s third-longest free flowing river with their wide reaching Nobody’s River Project.

Like two kayakers dropping onto the same wave, it was tie at this year’s 30th annual 2013 National Paddling Film Festival in Frankfort, Ky., for Best Professional Documentary between Steve Fisher’s hair-raising Congo: The Grand Inga Project and The Nomad by Anson Fogel and Skip Armstrong. Congo also was awarded Best of Show…

Okay, okay. We know you’d rather read about boating than business. But all that good weather we had in 2012? While it might have wreaked havoc on ski resorts, the balmy conditions proved a boon for boating business. Read on to see to how the year fared according to Leisure Trends Group…

The City of Oklahoma City recently awarded S2o Design and Engineering the contract to design a new whitewater park, part of ongoing economic development that has revitalized the city’s seven-mile long downtown riverfront known as the Boathouse District, which already boasts flatwater offerings and other outdoor recreation.

Paddling legend and author Jon Turk will be speaking at Canoecopia 2013 to profile what it was like to be part of the first team to circumnavigate Ellesmere Island in Canada’s high Arctic by kayak.

One of the canoeing world's biggest proponents -- both by building watercraft and going the extra mile to encourage people to use them -- was honored recently with one of the most pretigious awards in paddling. Mike Cichanowski, owner and founder of Wenonah Canoe, Inc. recently received "The LaBrant Award" from the United States Canoe Association...

There’s soon to be a river and mountain lover in the White House. In a move that can only be good for the protection of our wild lands, REI Chief Executive Officer Sally Jewell has been nominated by President Obama to become the next Secretary of the Interior.

After this winter's pullout by Teva of the Vail, Colo.-based Mountain Games, which began more than 11 years ago as the Jeep Whitewater Festival, event organizers and GoPro have agreed to a long-term partnership, placing the company as the title sponsor for what has become one of the world’s premier celebrations of mountain sport, lifestyle and music.

The Pan American Sport Organization (PASO) announced women's canoe events will be added to the sprint and slalom program as Olympic track sports, and women's whitewater slalom will make its Pan American Games debut in Toronto in 2015.

It’s a good time to be a member of a world rafting team – at least if part of the reason you’re competing is to travel the world. After venturing to Costa Rica’s Pacuare River in 2011 and in hitting New Zealand’s North Island this coming fall, the World Rafting Championships are continuing their grand world tour by heading to Brazil in 2014 – home to the next Summer Olympics -- and Indonesia the year after.

Sailboats may not be your typical shuttle vehicle, nor the fastest way to get to international put-ins, but in this case the journey is more important than the destination, as world-record holding extreme kayaker Tyler Bradt leads a rotating band of adventurers, artists and athletes around the world for the next five years. In March, the sailboat Wizard’s Eye will slip quietly out of the Bay of La Paz, Mexico, and begin a multi-year journey across the planet.

Founded in 2003 by Scott Shipley, S2o Design and Engineering recently completed New Zealand’s first in-stream whitewater park, the Camphill Surf Park, near Wanaka on the South Island, and it is earning rave reviews by boaters of all abilities.

The canoeing world lost a true pioneer with the passing of Chicago’s Ralph Frese on Dec. 12, 2012, at age 86 from cancer complications. From his Chicagoland Canoe Base shop on the Northwest Side, Frese, a fourth-generation blacksmith by trade, introduced thousands of people to paddling by founding events, building replica canoes and more. His contributions were such that he received the Legends of Paddling award from the American Canoe Association.

After 114 days, 4200+ miles, 12 paddlers and two countries, and a cast of support people marathon paddler West Hansen recently completed his National Geographic-sponsored source to sea expedition down the Amazon River in record time...

Nova Craft is bringing back the classic Ocoee OC-1 design in honor of whitewater paddler, competitor and boat designer Frankie Hubbard, who passed away in 2003. As a thank you to the family, the company will give a boat away to a young paddler every year, in his name.

With Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announcing his resignation recently, effective at the end of March, more than one river conservation organization will be mourning his loss. “Secretary Salazar has been a true champion for protecting and restoring rivers and his leadership will be missed by everyone who cares about healthy, free-flowing rivers,” says Bob Irvin, President of American Rivers.

Don’t be surprised if Julian Monroe Fisher starts saying, “Dr. Livingstone, I presume?” Fisher is one-fifth of the way through his five-year Great African Expedition, exploring Africa’s interior using Folbot Greenland II expedition kayaks...

Okay, all you paddlers. Here’s your chance to put one of your peers on the podium. National Geographic just released its candidates for its Adventurer of the Year, with kayaker Steve Fisher making the cut for its People’s Choice category for last year’s run of the Congo’s Inga rapids, as documented in his film The Grand Inga Project. So get off your duffs and vote…

Long-time rafting supplier Avon was sold as part of a package that included the entire Zodiac line. OpenGate Capital, LLC has acquired Zodiac Recreational from Zodiac Marine & Pool, a portfolio company of The Carlyle Group. It is unknown how the acquisition will affect production or distribution for Avon customers.