Sea Kayaking TV Website

The website/You Tube Channel provides a large and growing number of videos covering an eclectic mix of topics from stroke technique, equipment, navigation and chart work, safety and rescue. Some videos are squarely aimed at beginners others at more intermediate to advanced paddlers.

It seems as if Sea Kayaking TV has a lot of scope as the content grows and many Sea kayakers will find videos of interest to them within the various sections provided.

There are also provides access to Sea Kayaking TV’s Facebook page and a comment section for discussing content available.

Certainly worth a browse.

skirtfit.com

Although it is provided by Immersion Research, it is not a designed as a sales tool, simply a collaborative effort to create a one stop spot for checking on cockpit details. If you particular kayak is not listed, skirtfit.com would be ask you to submit the dimensions to add to the site.

Visit the site at: www.skirtfit.com

Having listened to the podcast, I did some investigation on paddling on the Thames and came across this interesting slideshow by Natalie Maderova of a paddle between the Isle of Dogs/Richmond and Tilbury.

Paddling Light Website

As well as publishing an interesting article on his philosophy on Lightweight Paddling, Bryan also has a simple statement to explain the ethos of the site:

Paddlinglight.com offers information about lightweight canoe and kayak travel. We promote self-direction by emphasizing the do-it-yourself culture in the sport of paddling, and we believe growing paddlesport participation advances wilderness protection.

Another draw for me with Paddling Light is that Sea Kayak Instructor Bryan, who is based in Minnesota, USA, is also a damn fine photographer. Although his gallery and photography is found on the Bryan Hansel Photography website, his pictures are often used to illustrate articles in Paddling Light.

Paddling Planet

What the visitor gets is a chronological stream of posts/articles/content from some 100 or so Sea Kayaking related websites. Some contributers choose to show only the inital part or a summary from their posts whilst others submit their content in it’s entirety, however each post or article is linked directly back to the original website so you can see the entire post and discover more content on the original website.

Paddling Planet is a great way of discovering new sea kayaking content and websites from around the world and well worth adding to your favourites.

Find out more at www.paddlingplanet.com

Paddling Instructor is the brainchild of Paddle Canada Instructor Trainer David Johnston. This excellent website contains a blog, reviews of equipment, articles on all aspects of Sea Kayaking and a new and growing forum area.

The coaching articles are particularly interesting dealing with a wide range of topics from basics such as ‘learning students names’ to in depth analysis of teaching particular strokes. Similarly, the gear review section also covers a wide range of equipment and is worth perusing.

Find out more about Paddling Instructor at www.paddlinginstructor.com

Mark Tozer's Blog

Mark is a highly qualified BCU coach, holding the following awards.

• Level 5 Sea Kayak Coach
• Level 3 Inland Coach
• Level 3 Canoe Coach
• BCU Coach Educator and Assessor

and his blog provides an interesting insight into some of the courses he runs, assist on and attends as well as providing paddling news and the occasional review of equipment Mark uses along with some great photographs.

Worth a visit!

Kajak.nu

Kajak.nu is a Swedish website so navigating around it can be interesting although there is a set of translation links at the top left of the homepage. However, photographs transcend language barriers and the website has some wonderful images in it’s galleries – look for the link to ‘Bilder – Uppvlet‘ link on the top navigation bar.

Sea Kayak Photo

I came across Sea Kayaking With Sea Kayak Photo after hearing one of the excellent Sea Kayak Podcasts where host Simon Willis interviewed Douglas about his love of photography and how he has so successfully combined it with a real passion for sea kayaking.

Alongside descriptions and stories from of a huge range of sea kayak trips around the coast of Scotland, Sea Kayak Photo also contains a number of reviews including some great write ups on Sea Kayaks.

It is no wonder that Douglas’s talent for writing and photography has led to a forthcoming book release with Pesda Press.

I would heartily recommend subscribing to the Sea Kayak Photo feed or look out for Douglas’s posts on Paddling Planet.

New Valley Logo

Paddlers who are regular visitors to the superb UK Sea Kayak Guidebook forums may be aware of the discussions and comments regarding the Valley Sea Kayaks website and it’s relatively long ‘hiatus’ during the revamp.

The homepage of the new website has this message:

I know for many, including ourselves, this has been a long time coming but at last here we are. Whilst the site is now live we are still in the process of populating some areas, so if you find a page isn’t working or something is factually incorrect please come back in a few days, when hopefully things will have changed.

The new website is definitely has the makings of a clearer, more detailed brochure for the Valley Sea Kayak range but has plans to include more dynamic content such as paddler blogs and a news section along with proposed video and article downloads including, interestingly, the trip report from the famous 1975 Nordkapp Expedition which led to the final design for the Valley Nordkapp Sea Kayak, arguably one of the best known Sea Kayaks.

With regards to the ongoing development of the website, Peter Orton, Director of Valley Sea Kayaks, posted the following message on the UKSKGB:

So for now enjoy the site but please appreciate certain content will be added and edited over the next couple of weeks, the aim being to have all areas populated and functional by the end of January. On a final note, anyone with images that might be good for the gallery section, these would be very much appreciated.

Well worth a visit and certainly worth the wait. Oh, and if you are considering a Valley Sea Kayak, perhaps the offer of a free copy of the ‘Sea Kayak with Gordon Brown‘ DVD with every Sea Kayak purchased might prompt you to place an order!