Paddling tips, tricks, news and gear reviews from an Unsponsored point of view

Category: Unsponsored (Page 22 of 38)

Scotland: The Sequel Part 1

The Scottish mountains are old, older than the furthest reaches of comprehension. They do not expend their energies on the frivolities of spires and sharp peaks as their younger brethren do. Instead they simply rise out of the ocean and sit there obstinate, old and awe-inspiring. They are indifferent to your fleeting existence and this is all too clear as one stands in their shadow.

Our last trip to Scotland did not go to plan and was probably best described by the term ‘compound cluster-fuck’. This year we were keen to reduce the expletives used to describe our trip.

We arrived in much the same way as we had before; at night. In the darkness the mountains were shrouded by cloud illuminated only by our headlights and the ominous glow of the fuel light reminding us of the regrettable decision to not stop off in Glasgow. Despite this when the sun rose in the morning we were greeted by a sight I never believed I would see – Blue sky in Scotland. Looking out across the Loch we weighed up our options and decided with such beautiful weather the Etive would probably be the only river running.

Scotland: The Sequel Part 1

A beautiful and sunny Glen Etive. Photos by Tom Clare of Tom Clare Photography

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Risk vs Reward, Skill vs Balls, Attention vs Enjoyment

We all know that one person that doesn’t care about the risk, has the balls and likes the attention, but thankfully there are many paddlers out there that will go out and get the reward purely from the enjoyment of having the skills to paddle something… they don’t need to shout about it.

Risk vs Reward Skill vs Ball Attention vs Enjoyment

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Teifi Tour

Giddy-up! Grab your boots, chaps and cowboy hats… Teifi Tour tickets on sale Wednesday 7th September at 12′ noon!!

Teifi Tour

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Surf’s Up

Surfs Up

Zak Dunnings takes full advantage of high summer water levels.

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River Safety – WW Safety Anthology

As an honored and respected member of the WW community CMM and HMH are requesting your cooperation. In 2017 it is proposed that a WW safety anthology of stories and rescues will be published. This is a new take on a river safety manual – it is not a boring safety manual but a book full of first person accounts, where the reader can learn from your experiences.

We are looking for true and accurate submissions, without the need for scenario evaluations. 2000+ word count – The book cannot evolve without your help. It cannot help grow the community, from which we all learn. Our request for your inclusion within the book has not been taken lightly, your experiences and knowledge are sure to be of benefit for our readers.

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Competition Time

It’s competition time at Unsponsored HQ. Our head gear freak has selected a brand new Palm Equipment Lightning throw bag as the prize for June 2016.

Unsponsored Competition Time

You can subscribe to the newsletter right now using the form below and you’ll be entered into this competition and all subsequent competitions as long you remain subscribed. We won’t be using your contact details for anything else or sharing them with anyone outside of Unsponsored HQ.

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Zepher Crew

Del Mare nationals 1975, the Zepher Crew tore the world of competition apart, a punk ass team of misfits from dog town revolutionised the once balletic activity of skateboarding and made it more that it dreamed it could be. Taking it from the ocean to streets.

zepher

Did we have that moment in kayaking?

Did we ever have a group, an individual or a sector that made such drastic changes in one quick moment?

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Palm Lightning Throwbag – Competition

For your chance to win a brand new Palm Equipment Lightning throw bag simply sign up for the Unsponsored newsletter and share this post via your social media channels.

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You can subscribe to the newsletter right now using the form below. We won’t be using your contact details for anything else or sharing them with anyone outside of Unsponsored HQ.

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#WheresYakAt

Yak Adventure Equipment is delighted to announce that following the success of last year’s #WheresYakAtcompetition, the mischievous Yaks are back and this time you decide the winner. Herds and herds of squishy Yaks inthis year’s colour… blue… are descending upon selected Yak retail outlets and Yak sponsored events across the globe and we want to see what they are up to!

#WheresYakAt

#WheresYakAt – Win £500 worth of Yak gear

Get into your local Yak retail outlet or Yak sponsored event where the herds have descended to get hold of your very own squishy Yak! Snap the best pic of your Yak going about its crazy business and post it on the Yak Adventure Equipment Facebook page with #WheresYakAt, to be in with a chance of winning.

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Small World Adventures (SWA) – News

Small World Adventures (SWA) is under new management, previous owners Don Beveridge and Darcy Gaechter have bought the company back along with former SWA guide and good friend Liam Kirkham.

Small World Adventures (SWA) - News

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Palm Equipment – Factory Tour

Earlier this year I had the opportunity to visit the guys at Palm Equipment.

palm-logo

Palm have been around since 1979 and not only do they manufacture a wide range of watersports softwear they are also the brains and organisation behind Dagger Europe along with a number of other Confluence brands in Europe.

Andy Knight started the company, Palm Glass Fibre Mouldings Ltd as it was known then, in 1979 and as the name suggests the company focussed on composite kayaks. The first range of paddle clothing was launched fives years later at the Crystal Palace canoe show (London).

I received an invite from Paul Robertson (Cheesy) to travel down to Palm HQ for a tour and an opportunity to talk about forthcoming developments. How could I possibly turn that down? So a suitable date and time was arranged and I travelled the hundreds of miles south with my camera gear in tow.

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Jackson Kayak – Tyler Bradt

Jackson Kayak signs up whitewater superstar Tyler Bradt as its newest member of Team JK.

Jackson Kayak - Tyler Bradt

First off, it’s exciting to be writing a letter of introduction into Jackson Kayak! Kayaking has been my life’s journey and to conjoin with a company of people whose passions parallel my own is a great feeling. It’s been a long amazing path to end up with a company I respect so much. In the following paragraphs I’ll explain what has brought me to Jackson Kayak and why this is an exciting partnership.

Decades in this sport has given me many lifetime experiences and sculpted my perspective and involvement in the whitewater industry. My goals in kayaking, aside from realizing the apex of my physical ability and performance, have been to heighten the sport of kayaking in participation, skill, discipline and innovation. In short, to give back to the sport which has given me everything. While extreme and expedition kayaking are the things which I will continue to be known for it’s really the simplicity of life on the river, joining a river on a journey of its own, and being in the presence of river people which are the aspects of paddling I will always hold close. Without a doubt we are involved in the greatest sport and lifestyle imaginable! I feel incredibly lucky not only to have paddling in my life but also to have been able to shape it into my career and continue to progress in this process, bringing me to Jackson Kayak.

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