Lendal™ In Action

Photographs from Fiordland, New Zealand

Hi,

I uploaded the photographs from my last trip - paddling Fiordland, New Zealand: http://www.hoichman.com/fiordland_photos

The site of the Fiordland, New Zealand kayak expedition is: http://www.hoichman.com/fiordland

-Misha Hoichman 

Numerous Typhoons

Lendal_blog42 In 2004 I set out with Hadas Feldman on a 6500 kilometer sea kayak odyssey, a full circumnavigation of Japans four main islands. Our Lendal Kinetics powered us through four climatic zones, numerous typhoons and the effects of a major earthquake, we managed to complete the journey in a total of 139 paddling days, we chose Lendal for both their design and durability.

We made the right choice.
We chose Lendal paddles again in 2005 for the first British circumnavigation of South Georgia, long considered to be the K2 of sea kayaking. Setting a speed record of 13 days and 8 hours, this time however I chose to use the Lendal Kinetic wing blade.

Once more i made the right choice.

Links: http://www.seakayakingcornwall.com/jeff-allen/index.html

Traffic Jam, Vanuatu Style

       

Lendal_blog1__image_2They ask:
You come from whea?
You goin whea?
You going too-far in dat too-small boat!

We ask:
Now exactly what are you going to do with that lawn mower?

I love the feeling of a kayak in the open ocean: from the North Bering Sea, to the wilderness off Cape Horn, to island hopping in the South Pacific. The kayaker travels vulnerable, a creature of the sea, with few possessions, and stories to tell. Thus the kayak is a passport to friendships.

In the summer of 2007 Jon Turk and Nina Maclean paddled along the Vanuatu chain in the South Pacific, propelled by the incredible efficiency of Lendal Paddles. Read about this adventure and more at www.jonturk.net.

      

Low Water Hucking

Lendal_blog2Well… lack of rain and a desire to paddle had led to one easy conclusion. Some low water hucking with the boys from Bangor uni was in order. I’ve been really lucky whilst at uni to meet some of the nicest guys to paddle with ever, people I literally trust with my life. I’ve also recently been really lucky to build up an ongoing relationship with Adrian Trendall, a local photographer who’s also a keen outdoorsman (who just loves taking action shots of the local WW)

Anyway here’s some of the photos from the day, on the creeks I’ve been favouring a double torque XPS set of carbon kinetics at the moment. I’m loving the overall durability of the blades and the general response I get off the tip. I don’t like paddles that just glide through the water, when I stick my blades in I like knowing that their going to get me somewhere. For me, nothing does this quite like the kinetic XTI’s

Learning to Fly

P920028_low_res As we fly 35,000 feet above the blue Pacific on our way to Vanuatu, understanding the principle for the lift of wings does not make them look large enough to keep this massive 747 aloft.
 
Now, buoyant on the sea, we are paddling along the beautiful Vanuatu Island chain. Sudden eruptions of sleek fish burst out of the waves and fly on tiny wing-like fins.  They go improbable distances, fast.   

Jon and I sink out of sight from each other as waves pass.  The ocean is at our fingertips and we can paddle to remote waters in these small boats.   With the Lendal Kinetiks, we have joined the vast world of wings.

For the story of the Vanuatu journey and other expeditions visit us at www.jonturk.net    

“New Alltime Low”

       

Lendal_blog3 Temperatures dropped dramatically since my last diary entry 5 days ago. The rain does not seem to end, and the wind seems to always blow from the direction I wanted to paddle in. Met Eireann told of ground frost and hail storms in parts of the country, and locals are wearing ear mufflers, gloves and down jackets. In July! Both the weather and the weather forecast are becoming increasingly unpredictable, turning longer crossings into a gamble with the elements. A gamble I thought I would loose today, when the weather deterioated too fast to reach the safety of the shore. The paddle today in high winds and seas somehow left a permanent mark on my psyche, and will put me on a permanent unease for future longer crossings. I felt lucky that I was able to “muscle” my way out of this gale today, but I am not willing to accept the reasoning why my chosen hobby – sea kayaking – would put me in such a precarious situation. I am feeling a huge anger towards my hobby, which for the first time is appearing to be dangerous. In addition I am developping an anger towards all sorts of things: The weather, the again incorrect weather forecast from Met Eireann, the forecasters who read the incorrect forecasts to me on the radio, and most of it all, a huge anger towards myself. This is what I thought about while trying desperately to reach the shore in a off shore wind blowing Force 8. Combined with the exhaustion of paddling for 7 long hours as hard as I possibly could towards shore in these most challenging conditions, a feeling of desperation, total fatigue, and pure scorn set in when I finally reached the shore close to Raghly in Sligo Bay, where I am right now, writing this ina cold and wet tent andf sleeping bag. After having paddled for the past 20 days in strong winds, living in a now moldy tent, and eaten and slept in mostly driving cold rain, I am declaring (after having made the identical declarations the previous 4 days) this moment as the new and updated “New Alltime Low” of the trip. I am unable to find the reason why I expose myself to the uncertianties of 20+ Miles crossings, paddle around exposed headlands, or around entire countries at a time and place where Small Craft Warnings are rather the norm than the exception? Is it to get a new perspective for my own life and little problems by experiencing these humble feelings? Thankfully every time I declared a “New Low” during the trip, something wonderful and uplifting happened shortly after which made me forget my little misery within seconds. A few minutes ago, a farmer asked mw what I am doing “out here” and after explaining, he insisted in driving me to the next store to buy food supplies, and then to a pub to buy me a beer. This is the most amazing trip, and thing in general, I have ever done mfor myself.

www.marcusdemuth.com

      

Gemma Rawlings

Gemma Rawlings is part of the Sea Kayaking Lendal Pro Paddling Team!  Check back often for more information.

Jeff Allen

Jeff Allen is part of the Lendal Whitewater Pro Paddling Team!  Check back often for more information.

Gordon Brown

Gordon Brown is part of the Lendal Whitewater Pro Paddling Team!  Check back often for more information.

Ed Smith

Ed Smith is part of the Lendal Whitewater Pro Paddling Team!  Check back often for more information.