A nice little video featuring Paul Kuthe paddling in some impressive tidal races. Shot and narrated by Bryan Smith and Fitz Cahall. Worth a watch.

The name Derek C Hutchinson is one familiar to generations of sea kayakers and there is no denying his huge influence on Sea Kayaking around the world. It’s certainly a name I remember from my childhood, sitting looking through the kayaking books on my parents bookcase. His book, Complete Sea Kayaking sat alongside ‘Living Canoeing’ by Alan Byde and early editions of the BCU Handbook. In fact, my first Sea Kayak, a second hand P&H Iona is a Derek Hutchinson design.

This video clip was shot in 2007 at the West Coast Sea Kayak Symposium in the USA and makes for interesting viewing. There are some interesting and diverse responses to this interview which were posted back in 2007, over on Paddling.Net.

The original poster of the video added the following note:

An interview with international sea kayak authority Derek Hutchinson at the 2007 West Coast Sea Kayak Symposium demo beach: he shares his thoughts on the BCU, kayak and paddle design, Greenland Style, paddling in England, and the origin of modern sea kayaking. Kayak designer Matt Broze of Mariner Kayaks also makes an appearance.

Useful Links:

USK Instructors Bio – USK Website Page about Derek C Hutchinson

Another interesting video here from the Body Boat and Blade Virtual Coach clips (filmed by Bryan Smith). This demonstrates not only the Stern Rudder (or Stern Pry) but also the Stern Draw. Many UK paddlers will be familiar with the Stern Rudder but it’s interesting how many have not then gone on to experiment with the Stern Draw.

The video gives some nice demonstrations as well as provide some ideas for potential ways to coach this stroke if you watch Shawna helping Leon feel the edge in a stationary position as he switches edge and blade angle as well as setting him off with a push when he is set up in position to experience a successful rudder/draw.

It shows Pete Astles, owner of Peak UK, demonstrating how to test the amount of buoyancy in a buoyancy aid. He makes it all look very simple and it’s got me interested in testing some of the buoyancy aids I have. An interesting little clip, worth watching.

An interesting glimpse behind the scenes of Kokatat with key employees discussing the changes and developments over the last 40 Years.

There is some nice video work in this short film – lovely scenery and location for Kokatat. It’s also interesting to see/hear from Kokatat Owner/President Steve O’Meara on how Kokatat began as a general Outdoor Equipment manufacturer then transitioned into one of the best known paddling clothing brands on the market.

Having been involved in paddling since the late 70′s it’s great to see some of the older designs of equipment and clothing featured in the video – certainly takes me back to my early days using Peter Storm cagoules and basic ribbed buoyancy aids, whilst paddling boats such as a Snipe.

Enjoy!!

Update: If you enjoyed this video, you might also want to take a look a a short post Helen Wilson has on her Greenland Or Bust website with photographs from a tour she took of the Kokatat Factory.

With the tagline ’5 Friends, 5 Weeks, 500 Miles’, No Experience Required is 33 minute film about 5 novice kayaking friends who make the trip along the Inside Passage from Vancouver to Alaska. It’s an interesting little film and certainly worth a watch…

Local Sea Kayak course provider Liquid Logistics have just posted a nice little video from their recent bespoke course to Anglesey, North Wales. Looks like a fantastic course, would love to have been there! There is a gallery of images from the trip as well as more videos from other trips and courses on their Youtube Channel. You can also find out more about Liquid Logisitics in our course provider listings.

This short video provides an interesting inside peek of the Palm Equipment Europe factory where boats, paddling clothing and other equipment is produced.

Introduced and hosted by Paul ‘Cheesy’ Robertson, the Palm Brand Development and Marketing Manager (and re-known paddler in his own right) the video shows just a little of what goes on at the factory. Worth a watch and also worth keeping an eye on the Palm website as their 2011 range of Sea Kayaking equipment is due for imminent release (more on that soon!).

Palm Equipment Europe Tour from Five Element Productions on Vimeo.

Trailer for an up-coming documentary on the British Columbia based ‘Hurricane Riders‘. Whilst it might not be everyones cup of tea, there is no denying the amazing technical skill of these paddlers in some very big water. I look forward to seeing the final documentary!

As promised, here is a shortish video taken last night using the new camera mount and a Pentax Optio W60. I never expected super high quality video so am quite pleased with the results.

The camera mount was superb – the 3 suckers allowed it to be placed on the curve of the deck with no problem and despite some quite lumpy conditions at time and a few waves breaking over the camera and mount stuck fast.