The #CayugaLake #SUP Cup

July 31 - August  2, 2015

 

 Welcome to the largest fresh water SUP race east of Lake Tahoe! The Cayuga Lake SUP Cup takes place on July 31 - August  2, 2015 at beautiful Myers Park in Lansing, NY. The SUP Cup is a 3-day community expo celebrating lake, land, and human wellness in the beautiful Finger Lakes Region of Upstate NY. 

The Best Cheap Recreational #Kayak - 5 Things To Look For

By Christy Haussler

You're dying to get out on the water. You want to buy a kayak, but your budget is limited. You know that you want to paddle some lakes and a few rivers that aren't white water, but what kind of kayak do you buy? How do you know you are getting a great deal on a kayak? Will you even want to use this kayak in a year?

Let's answer all those questions and more to help you find the best cheap recreational kayak available.

First, let's make sure you understand what a recreational kayak is, before we even get to the point of talking about the best cheap kayaks on the market.

As the name implies, recreational kayaks are for the recreational user. They are perfect for the hobbyist who wants to get out on the water for pleasure, exercise, recreation and mental health. I just threw the mental health in there because it sure is true. Kayaking can be a huge stress reliever, but that's a different post for a different day! A recreational kayak is versatile enough to use on flat water and some rivers. It is stable enough for a beginner, and tracks well enough to be used for long paddles. It's a comfortable boat, with lots of storage room for your gear. The recreational kayak is a great choice for 90% of the people who kayak!

Whether you want to get a sit on top or a sit in kayak, there are a few things you should look for. Unfortunately for so many people, a cheap recreational kayak has turned out to be just that - cheap! You truly do get what you pay for when it comes to buying a recreational kayak. Just because I don't recommend getting a cheap kayak, that doesn't mean you need to spend a ton of money. I want you to get the best recreational kayak you can afford, and love using it for a very long time!

5 things to look for in a recreational kayak:

1. Comfortable Seating

Any kayak you buy should have padding on the seat and some adjustments that can be made to the seat. Never, ever buy a kayak with only a plastic roto-molded seat. You will regret the decision halfway through your first paddle. You are stuck with the seat on any kayak that you get, so your money will be well spent by making sure your seat is properly padded and adjustable.

2. Size Matters... not so much

Kayaks come in different lengths for a reason. Generally, the shorter the kayak, the easier it is to turn and maneuver. The longer the kayak, the better it tracks in a straight line. It is important to know what types of water you will be paddling in before you make a purchase. Recreational kayaks are generally between 10' and 12'. There isn't going to be a huge amount difference between a 10' and 12' kayak. Both sizes work great in several types of water, so don't sweat too much over this choice. Don't forget that a larger kayak will weigh more, so make sure you can pick it up by yourself.

3. Storage Space and Deck Rigging

Anytime you are looking at recreational kayaks, you want to pay attention to the available amount of dry storage space built into the kayak. Trust me, you will want to take things out with you that you don't want to get wet, so this space will be extremely valuable. Look at the outside of the kayak. Does it have a paddle holder and other bungee type rigging around the deck for storing items you want to keep within reach? You may think these things are not important, but they soon will be. You need to have places on your boat where you can stow things and attach items that you may want to use during your paddle. You also need to know that deck rigging, paddle holders and other attachments can be added to almost any kayak after you purchase it. However, you this may require professional installation.

4. Price

Realistically, you should plan on spending $500-$700 on a good quality kayak. There are plenty of name brand models that have good recreational kayaks in this price range. In this price range, you can get good storage space and great seating that you will be happy with for a long time. You can find kayaks much cheaper than $500, but honestly I would not recommend going with a kayak that is at the bottom of the price range. They will be much harder to paddle, they will have uncomfortable seating, and you won't have the storage space to be comfortable while you are out on the water. Remember, we want to get you the BEST cheap recreational kayak, not the cheapest one on the market.

5. Brands

You will never regret purchasing a kayak from a kayak building company. I have seen tons of generic molded kayaks made in factories over seas, that have a label slapped on them and they are widely sold at low cost outlets all over the country. There are a lot of reasons to avoid these kayaks, but the main reason is that they are not made by people who actually kayak. There are several US based companies that were started by kayaking enthusiasts, and they make great kayaks.

I want you to get the best recreational kayak you can, for the cheapest price. It may mean you need to shop around and look for deals. Buying from a kayak making company will mean you get a great recreational kayak that you can use for many years to come.

Here is a list of kayak manufacturers that I recommend, and the recreational models that fall within the $500-$800 price range:

Jackson Kayaks - Cruise 10

Wilderness Kayaks - Tarpon 100, Aspire 100

Perception Kayaks - Prodigy, Tribute, Impulse

Liquid Logic Kayaks - Remix 10

Hobie Kayaks - Lanai Old Town - Vapor 10 XT, Dirigo 106

Finding the best cheap recreational kayak, may not be an easy task, but if you do it right you will have a kayak that you will love for years to come!

Christy Haussler is an avid paddler with more than 10 years of experience. Christy gets out on the water in kayaks and SUPs whenever she isn't working. From paddling the flat water of Western NC and Upstate SC, to her ocean paddling experiences in the beautiful Florida Keys, Christy writes all about paddling on her website http://www.paddlegogy.com.

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Looking for Fun Team Building Activities? Try #Kayaking!

By Jennifer L. Koerner

Team Building and Kayaking go hand-in-hand for several reasons. Team building and kayaking have each become very popular activities over the past couple decades, for starters; and both encourage groups of individuals to work together as a team with a common goal or destination. And, if done right, both activities should be fun for everyone involved. A successful team building evolution will have full participation and will see individuals overcome personal challenges while working as a group to reach a common goal. By combining the two - team building and kayaking - you are guaranteed success!

Group kayak trips meet many of the challenges faced by team building specialists - they entertain employees enough to keep them interested in the activity while expanding horizons and teaching teamwork. Companies benefit when employees work as a team. Successful companies, like successful teams, share goals, experiences and vision. A group kayak trip is almost a team building evolution in disguise; because, without calling the trip a team building event, companies bring their employees together as a group, give them a shared experience and, in a fun and inspiring setting, allow each individual to face a new challenge with teammates sharing a common destination.

When setting up a group kayaking trip as a team building evolution, tell the outfitter facilitating your group what you're doing but tell your employees they are being rewarded for outstanding performance. Even if their past performance doesn't warrant a reward, rest assured their future performance will. Employees have a tendency to resist team building activities and new challenges, so the challenge is often to get full, optimistic participation. The outfitter can build-in elements to your kayak trip designed to create teamwork, cooperation and a shared sense of accomplishment while giving everyone a great time and a bonding adventure they will cherish.

To increase the team building value, ask the outfitter if they can accommodate your group with all tandem kayaks. Paddling a tandem kayak requires a great deal of teamwork and cooperation whether that's your goal or not. Putting everyone in tandem kayaks immediately forces people to let go of their individual issues and learn to work together as teams. With a group of tandems, each team must learn to negotiate their kayak in proximity to other team in their own kayaks. Together, these teams form a larger group of teams experiencing and overcoming the same challenges. In fact, it isn't uncommon to find one team sharing their own secrets of paddling success with other teams - coaching them through the difficulties they have just experienced and overcome. Isn't this the ultimate goal of team building in the workplace?

By the end of a group kayaking trip, everyone has learned something new and overcome challenges to reach a common destination or goal. When these individuals return to the workplace, the transformation will be obvious as they share information in a whole new way - helping their teammates through challenges with a genuine desire to see them succeed at what they are doing. Kayaking has a way of bringing out the best in people and encouraging - or forcing - teamwork and cooperation. At the very least, you will have an appreciative group of employees who have bonded during a shared experience and will look forward to their next adventure in team building.

Jennifer Koerner has been a professional kayak instructor for 16-years and is the owner of Up The Creek Xpeditions in St. Marys, Georgia. Up The Creek Xpeditions is a full-service kayak outfitter -- providing guided kayak tours, kayak instruction, kayak rentals and kayak sales since 1997. Up The Creek maintains a kayak fleet of nearly 100-kayaks and specializes in large-group kayak outings, team-building and providing exclusive resort kayaking services to destination resorts such as The Ritz-Carlton, Cabin Bluff, Amelia Island Plantation and numerous Fortune 500 companies.

Visit Up The Creek at: http://www.UpTheCreekX.com
Or, e-mail us at: info@UpTheCreekX.com

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Origin Of #Kayaking

By Milos Pesic

John MacGregor invented kayaking. In 1845, he designed Rob Roy (a canoe) and in 1866, he formed a canoe club with others interested in kayaking. In 1936, kayaking became part of the Olympics followed by white water race.

Kayaks History

People of Arctic, like the Inuit, first developed kayaks many years ago. Centuries passed away to design and redesign kayaks having supreme design for people of particular region. The term kayak means "hunter's boat" or "man's boat." The kayak is a boat powered by human. The deck of the boat is covered. The kayak has a cockpit covered with a spray skirt.

The first kayak was made of wood with a small hole in middle craft for the person to sit. Inuit and Aleut developed kayaks as a means for hunting. The design of kayaks varies considerably from one region to another. The design of canoes and kayaks differs distinctly as double blade paddles propel kayaks and canoes have flat bottoms and are propelled by single bladed paddle. In some countries like Ireland and Great Britain, kayaks are known as canoes.

One, two, or even more paddlers can be accommodated in a kayak. The paddlers sit in cockpits below the deck, facing forward. The spray skirt or any other waterproof material is attached to the edges of the cockpit in a secure manner to avoid water from entering the kayak and moving the kayak upright preventing the water from filling and ejecting the paddler.

Earlier people made different kayaks for different purposes, but now the term kayak is being used broadly for boat.

Baidarka- this is a double or triple kayak developed in Alaska as a means for transportation of goods or passengers and for hunting.

Umiak- this is a larger open deck boat. The Umiak (women's boat) ranges from 17 to60 feet and is made of wood and sealskin. Single-bladed paddles were used in it and had more than one paddler.

Material Used

Earlier kayaks were made of wooden frames covered with skinseal. They were made by people who would use it with skin jacket sewn into it to act as waterproof seal. With time, the material used to make the kayak has changed. Whalebone or driftwood were used to make kayaks. During those times, sea lion skin was used as covering with whale fat as sealant. Now kayaks are made from fiberglass, plastic, and carbon fiber materials. Nowadays, kayaks are light, durable, versatile, and sturdy.

Nowadays, kayaking is accessible by all skill levels and is a form of exercise, exploration and travel.

Milos Pesic is a successful webmaster and owner of popular and comprehensive Kayaking [http://kayaking.need-to-know.net] information site. For more articles and resources on Kayaking related topics, visit his site at:

=>[http://kayaking.need-to-know.net]

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#HowlandIsland and Owasco River

May 10, 2015 Howland Island and Owasco River

 The weather was iffy and those who overlooked the early morning downpour gathered at Mosquito Point eager to paddle. Oh, and true to the Point’s name, every foul mosquito came to greet us. We perfumed ourselves with OFF, so not all those hungry insects got a taste of our blood. Read More

Demo Day 2015

Packing a First Aid #Kit for Kayaking - Waterproof Kits for #InflatableKayaks

By Christine Layton
Even if you're heading into safe waters it's always important to pack a good first aid kit to bring with you while kayaking. A first aid kit should be stored in a strong waterproof container and include important items that will help you in an emergency, if you get an injury or if you just need to treat a few scrapes. The kit should also be very lightweight and suitable to fit in all kayaks, including inflatable kayaks.
First, select a durable container for your kit. The waterproof container can be a hard plastic case or just a very good bag that can be sealed easily. Many companies produce these containers that are designed for water sports like canoeing and kayaking.
Next, add basic first aid supplies. This includes band-aids in various sizes, ibuprofen, antibiotic ointment, alcohol and antiseptic wipes, self-stick bandages, antihistamine, tweezers and a first aid manual. You should also include some bug bite spray that reduces itching. Add a small bottle of strong sunscreen and any prescription medication you may need to take, including an inhaler. Finally, super glue can help to treat blisters, allowing you to paddle without pain.
<stron>Kayaking Supplies: What to Pack in Inflatable Kayaks</stron>
There are also some items you should bring specific to kayaking or heading into a more secluded area. A whistle can help you signal for help if you become injured or stuck. A drink for hydration like Gatorade is a good choice to keep your fluids up if you're stranded. You should also pack some emergency food like energy bars and trail mix. Dramamine in pill or chewable form can fight motion sickness. This is good to pack even if you've never experienced morning sickness in inflatable kayaks before. A bottle of iodine can treat water to make it potable in an emergency while a wrist support can give you the ability to paddle if you start to develop tendonitis or wrist pain.
Inflatable kayaks are a great way to enjoy the water but it's always important to pack a good first aid kit to be prepared. You never know when the weather will turn or you will suffer even a minor injury. Being prepared means you'll be able to take care of yourself in an emergency and get yourself to help when you need it. This list contains everything necessary for a very well-made kit, although there may be some additional items you can include for your unique situation.
Christine Layton is an outdoor enthusiast who works with Boats To Go, the best source for inflatable kayaks, boats and rafts. With the lowest prices in the country, Boatstogo.com is the first stop for kayakers who want a quality vessel.
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Demo Day 2015

First paddle of the 2015 CNY Kayak Club season April 26, 2015 Sterling Creek from Fairhaven to Sterling Nature Center Canoe Launch

 Camillus Kayak Shop Demo Day