For the next three weeks we’re sharing the finalists from the Paddling Kids Story Contest. Read their stories and vote for your favorites to crown a winner! Comment below, or like and comment on Facebook and Instagram to register your support (maximum one comment per week per user). Voting for “San Juan Madness” is open […]

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For decades, Grey Owl Paddles has been a fixture in canoes across Canada. Now, as the brand marks its 50th anniversary, it’s found a new home. The acquisition is the perfect off-season match to complement an already thriving hockey stick manufacturing business, says new owner W. Graeme Roustan, executive chairman of Roustan Sports Ltd. Grey […]

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We awake early in the tent, mentally prepared for the daunting crossing of the Sermilik Fjord. My partner, Julie, and I dismantle the polar bear perimeter guard, grab the rifle and walk out to our launch point to reassess the crossing. Chris Christie dodges icebergs in East Greenland The marine fog is burning off, revealing a […]

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When a husband-and-wife paddling team set out on a 1,000-mile, 64-day unsupported canoe trip through Canada’s northern Barren Lands to solve a century-old mystery, they knew success would be like finding a needle in a haystack. One hundred years prior, John “Hermit of the North” Hornby and British financier John Critchell Bullock set out on a […]

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Dream of capturing the photo of a lifetime? Use the recipe below to photograph a tundra wolf, barren-ground grizzly, caribou or muskox. Though not complicated, this recipe is time-consuming, requires risk and contains ingredients you likely do not have at home. Do not be discouraged—the results are fulfilling. How to photograph a tundra wolf Step […]

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Just like paddleboards themselves, paddle technology continues to evolve to the point that it’s nearly impossible to only have one paddle in your arsenal. If you’re anything like me, you’ve got a quiver of boards to choose from depending on the conditions or type of paddling experience you’re looking for. Using a lightweight carbon race […]

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Pardon me in advance for yelling. On morning radio the other day, a 20-something municipal recreation administrator was interviewed about a new protocol to make flooding the neighborhood skating rinks safer. In his city, self-organized and well-intentioned volunteers had done what they needed to do for years, working early in the morning and late into […]

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Only once in nearly 30 years of paddling have I found myself facing a familiar adage in real life. I couldn’t help but chuckle when I realized my mistake while unloading my kayak at the put-in: I’d forgotten my paddle at home. No one wants to be caught up a creek without a paddle. But […]

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Recreational kayaks easily make up the largest segment of the paddlesports industry. What exactly is a recreational kayak? They are generally shorter, wider kayaks that focus on stability and comfort for a day on the lake, bay, slow rivers and other sheltered waters. You can buy a rec kayak just about anywhere, from box stores […]

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If you began paddling before the rise of plastics, chances are you’ve sat in an aluminum Grumman canoe. These iconic canoes have led many adventurous families, scout troops and Burt Reynolds wannabes on their first canoe trip. In 1944, Grumman Aircraft Engineering’s Vice President, William Hoffman, conceived the idea to build an aluminum canoe with […]

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Built in the “The Great Lakes State,” Sun Dolphin kayaks are some of the most affordable on the market. Sun Dolphin began making pedal boats on the shores of Lake Michigan in 1982. Today, they’ve expanded their offerings to include bargain-priced recreational and fishing kayaks, paddleboards and other watercraft. You’ll find both sit-on-top and sit-inside […]

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Long trips, short trips, any trips out on the water are money in the Bank of the Soul. We can catch a sunset paddle, make a full day of it or head off on a weekend outing, sleeping on the beach and enjoying a mini adventure. These short trips are typically experienced with a high level […]

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I’m a big fan of tandems. In my many years working as a kayak guide, these two-person boats have been the most consistent MVPs on the water. They haul our gear while leveling the playing field for paddling pairs, families and groups with diverse abilities. The best tandem kayaks are fast, stable and make it […]

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Space is at a premium in so many aspects of modern life. Garages fill to the point that vehicles are relegated to the driveway. People living in cities may not have the luxury of a garage at all. And when it comes to traveling, roof racks quickly get to capacity with bikes and roof cargo […]

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Paddling used to be as primal a need as food or sleep. Now it fits into my life about as conveniently as polo or skydiving. I fell in love with a woman who’s afraid of the ocean. The same thrills that drew me to kayaking in the first place—bobbing on open ocean swell in a tiny […]

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Kayak angler David “D.J.” Jones Jr. nearly broke the internet when he posted this video of himself rescuing a young boy from the St. Louis River near his home in Duluth, Minnesota. The six-year-old had become separated from the family sailboat when it pulled anchor and was quickly swept away in the powerful currents. Jones, […]

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Today is February 2nd. Actually. I’m basically Bill, a bitter weatherman forced to cover the same breaking news in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, again and again, except instead of reporting on a rodent seeing its shadow, I’m writing 1,000 words about the new Esquif Ocoee. Esquif Ocoee Specs Length: 11’2” Width: 29” Rocker: 5.5” Depth: 16” Weight: […]

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Every kayak has an origin story. In the best designs, that raison d’être is described in every detail, from the hull shape and material choice to the placement of hatches and deck fittings. So it is with Stellar’s light touring flagship, the S14. Drawing on Stellar’s expertise in crafting ultralight surf skis and Olympic rowing […]

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Trying to find storage for a full-size touring or recreational kayak can be a real barrier to owning your own boat. Add to this the challenge of transporting these heavy, awkward-shaped recreational vessels. Enter the foldable kayak. A fold up kayak provides paddlers with a packable paddling craft that can be stored in an oversized […]

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The U.S. Coast Guard recently released the 2024 Recreational Boating Statistics, and while overall boating deaths are at a 50-year all-time low, paddlesports are seeing an alarming trend. Paddlesports continued to account for approximately one in every three boating fatalities in the United States last year. In particular, standup paddleboarding saw a 164 percent increase […]

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