Wave Sport has partnered with Core77 to create a new generation of boat graphics for their Fuse 56 river running / freestyle kayak. The Top 5 designs will be displayed at the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market Show in Salt Lake City in July 2009. Winners will also receive a kayak with their own design.
From April 1, 2009 through August 31, 2009, Wave Sport (a Confluence Watersports brand) will roll out a brand new program designed to support local organizations, introduce more people to paddling and establish a platform for a long-term sustainability initiative. The program is called “Paddle It Forward.”"Paddle It Forward” is a simple concept in which everyone gives a little, and receives a lot. Donate your used hard-shell kayak or canoe to any 501(c)(3), outdoor or environmental educational organization and bring the proof of donation to a participating Confluence dealer. With this proof of donation, you will receive nearly 20-percent off the cost of a new kayak or canoe.
Participating local retailers will give an immediate 10-percent discount off the price of a new Wilderness Systems, Dagger, Perception or Wave Sport kayak, or a Mad River Canoe. A mail-in rebate to Confluence will garner an additional, manufacturer-sponsored, 10-percent discount off the net purchase price.
“‘This program engages the whole paddling community in supporting local charities and schools that may otherwise be seeing a dip in donations right now,” said Sue Rechner, CEO of Confluence Watersports. “It offers us a unique opportunity to support the re-use of boats and directly influence the growth of the sport at the local level. We’re very excited for the community-wide charitable potential; and we also believe consumers and our dealer partners will benefit. It as a winning proposition for everyone.”
Confluence has an unyielding commitment to encouraging a sustainable participation in all forms of paddling. “Paddle It Forward” can be a major proponent for this initiative, all while supporting the charitable efforts of local and regional not-for-profits.
To participate in the “Paddle It Forward” program, please contact your local specialty retailer.
Check out the upcoming documentary on National Geographic TV - Monster Fish of the Congo, which follows a team of kayakers (some paddling Wave Sport kayaks) in death defying adventures. Check out the clip and description below.
Information on the film
What would more water than the Mississippi at flood, raging between cliffs only 1,000 feet apart look like? What would paddling huge whitewater in a country at war with only a few hundred miles of paved road feel like?
Could a team of kayakers handle bringing 150 pounds of scientific equipment on a five-day first descent? What discoveries could this team of kayakers make while collaborating with some of the world’s best hydrologists and biologists?
At 1.25 million cubic feet per second, the lower Congo rapids are the highest volume rapids in the world. During the summer of 2008, a team of kayakers from the Epicocity Project set out to answer these questions and more. They were successful in descending these rapids and learning much about the Congo River, the people that live on its banks and the breeding ground for species that exists beneath its surface.
The crew escaped an attempt to take them hostage at gunpoint and whirlpools the size of school buses. They emerged successfully with never before seen scientific data and footage of the epic adventure.
The National Geographic film “Monster Fish of the Congo” tells the tale of this adventure and their discoveries. It airs at 7pm and 10pm on the National Geographic Channel on Tuesday February 10th.
A third showing will happen on Saturday February 14th at 4pm
Check out this new website from USAFK, with how to pages and training videos for tons of freestyle kayak moves. Wave Sport team members will be participating in some upcoming videos to be posted on the site, so check back frequently.
USAFK Makes Learning Fun for Beginners and World Champions
Multimedia Moves Library Conceived to Train Judge Skills Brings All Moves to All Paddlers
(Takoma Park, MD) - USA Freestyle Kayaking has announced their commitment to promoting a broader understanding and appreciation for freestyle kayaking by creating a Multimedia Moves Definition Library, a resource for paddlers created by the community.
“What started as a competition judge training concept has evolved into being a versatile library of moves people are performing these days,” says USFKA Rules Subcommittee Chair and multiple-time US Team member Clay Wright. “We encourage paddlers to upload videos of themselves and their friends doing freestyle kayak moves and will match them to the moves recognized by the International Canoe Federation. The videos that do the best job illustrating moves will receive comments posted by members of a multi-national group of experts (including Peter Csonka (SL) Ingrid Schlott (DE) and Mathieu Demolin (FR) so that both the video producers and other viewers can gain a better understanding of how competitors are scored.”
“This is a training resource that, while it will not replace live training will be a good tool for many events around the world to help us grow the sport,” notes Simon Hirter, organizer of the 2009 Freestyle Kayaking World Championship in Thun, Switzerland.
“The Library should help us move away from relying on athletes to judge themselves because they are the only ones sufficiently familiar with the moves,” adds Jimmy Blakeney, former US Team athlete and USAFK Steering Committee member. “Best of all, kayakers will have a new way to learn and understand the moves and the rules regardless of their plans to compete.”
For more information about this project, contact Risa Shimoda 00+1+301-502-6548 risa@theshimodagroup.com.
Trip Jennings paddles his Wave Sport in an underground section of the Pandi River.
Team member Trip Jennings is featured in National Geographic Adventure in a fascinating Q&A about a first-of-its kind expedition last year to Papua New Guinea delivers first descents, underground rapids, and a couple cases of malaria.
Here’s how it starts..
Last fall Jennings (who is a National Geographic Young Explorer grantee) set out on his greatest challenge yet: a first-of-its-kind expedition to explore the rivers, jungles, and caves of New Britain, a 370-mile-long (595-kilometer-long) hunk of karst limestone off the coast of Papua New Guinea. The group, which included geologist-caver John Lane and a crew of scientists, was tasked to help develop sustainable tourism to protect the untouched jungles. For Jennings and his team, this meant scouting and running the island’s raging whitewater.
Read the rest of the details over at National Geographic Adventure’s website…
From the article at Paddling Life Magazine Christmas Wishlist with Pro Kim Russell:
Wave Sport’s new Diesel 60, 70, 80
Meet Wave Sport’s redesigned Diesel, the ultimate 4×4 of kayaks. With its new rocker profile and increased flared sidewalls, this kayak is faster than its predecessor. In addition, its is even more maneuverable, loose and forgiving! With its comfortable, easy-fit outfitting, its new thigh hooks, and three sizes, this boat fits anyone and everyone. This boat is truly the 4×4 of kayaks, running rivers effortlessly and even rivaling the Habitat for its creeking ability. But it’s also great for beginners. So, if you’re looking to give to a boater who wants to run-rivers and wants to step it up on the occasional creek, this is the boat for you.
