Bliss-Fest 2007!

Big Air competition held in Dunedin, NZ with the main sponsor being Bliss-Stick.

Looks like a real good time! Can't wait to get on some surf myself!

Thanks for the video clip.

WaveDog Paddle Demo Arrives!

WaveDog Paddles.... Ever heard of them? If not, it is only a matter of time!

WaveDog Paddles is focused on bringing wood paddles back into the mainstream of whitewater kayaking. Free from corporate bureaucracy, their homegrown approach has resulted in a truly revolutionary product. From the bent shaft form lamination to the polymer coated blades. Finally, hand crafted bent shafts at prices comparable to mass produced composites.

WakaWai has been given the privy of being one of two online retailers for their paddles! We are very happy that they have given us this opportunity and feel that their paddles will fit nicely in to our repertoire.

We received our Golden demo yesterday and boy is it a beauty! You can tell that it is made by a fourth generation woodworker paying attention to detail. My wife called dibs on it yesterday, and made the inaugural voyage with the paddle. This is what she had to say:

Mind you that this was at a class II-III section for about an hour...

The paddle is constructed with layers of Ash/Pine/Carbon Fiber. (These ingredients will be changing to lessen the weight soon. Stay tuned.) Providing more strength than just wood. There are no joints at all in this paddle, making for one continuous piece. Keeping in mind, that most paddles that I have broken are broken where they are pieced together. Another noticeable difference is that, the ridge of the paddle is in the front of the blade as oppose to the back. Something that I have never seen or experienced on any other paddles. Another noticeable difference is the raised index for hand placement. This along with the curve of the blade make it feel extremely sturdy, able to a great deal of purchase from the blade and able to move faster and stronger across the water. Which leads to the feather and bent shaft that holds you accountable for keeping you elbows in and shoulders down, reducing wear and tear on these important parts of your paddling platform. The blades and the polymer coating speak for themselves! Bombproof and resilient to scratches.... magic stuff! It was definitely on the low side and I expected there to be more. Usually there are quite a bit more on a new paddle. The only thing that I would change is the length and that is something that can be easily taken care of... Probably would enjoy the Collie better...


Here are some pictures of that inaugural voyage...













So if you are in the Asheville area or see us at the put-in, feel free to ask or contact us for a demo!

Cheers.

Bliss-Stick Mystic Review... A Young Ladies Perspective

This is an independent review that was sent to me from Christine Boush.

She is the new Outdoor Recreation Coordinator for Spartanburg County, South Carolina.

I had a chance to hook up with her and a few others at the Tellico a couple of weeks ago for a demo.

She paddled the Mystic previous to this demo, but just wanted to make sure that it was the right creeker for her.

Thanks for taking the time to give feedback. Much appreciated!



Here is what she had to say:

Michael—
Headed out to the Watauga Saturday for my first run. Loved it—it was amazing! I think it’s my favorite run. The only way it could have been better is if I was in a Mystic.

So to break it down --- why I want a Mystic:

I’ve been paddling a rocker for about 6 months now. Before that, I was in a Habitat, and before that, a Fluid solo. I’ll start by describing what I didn’t like about those boats.

The Fluid was a very forgiving boat for a beginner in that it was very stable. As I progressed, however, the boat doesn’t respond well to being put on edge. It has an overabundance of primary stability, little secondary stability, is incredibly slow and boofs like a sluggish dog. (All of this in the context of the fact that I rely on my boat to compensate for my inexperience/weakness.)

The Habitat had similar issues – again, very slow, weak on boofing.

That brings me to the Rocker—I never was in love with the boat, but it answered a lot of my problems with the other two. Because of the very little primary stability, it was much easier to turn it. It also boofed beautifully because of the large rocker profile on the front. I hated the outfitting, finding that it never quite fit me. The boat also felt just large on me – it turns so easily ferrying in heavy current can be a challenge as well.

SO… that brings me to the Mystic, and is the end of looking for a creek boat. I’m oddly sized in that I’m petite, but quite muscular – so I need a boat that is small enough for me to maneuver, but large enough to support me. The Mystic is a little smaller, but just as stable. The aggressive rocker profile makes it a joy for boofing, and I don’t have to struggle. The edges help me with crisp ferries and eddying, and the outfitting is a dream. I have full contact from my hips down to my knees and feel like the boat is very connected to my body. I’m not sure how it rolls yet, because I haven’t flipped in it…. But even melting down Baby Falls, it resurfaced like a dream. The boat is forgiving enough to compensate for my weaknesses, but aggressive enough to let me run the shit. And that’s what I’m looking for – a boat that will help me style my lines. If I was a great boater, I’m sure I could ride a cardboard box over Baby Falls and style it, but with less than two years of boating under my belt, I need the extra grace of a boat that is well designed. It helps me do the things that are hard for me so I don’t have to struggle so much.

I can’t wait to get mine and learn every nuance of the boat.

Thanks for letting me demo—

Chris

Back in the Saddle!

Well the day finally came and today was that day!

And what a beautiful day it was!

After an 18 month hiatus from kayaking, my wonderful wife, Greyson, finally got to get back in her kayak.

Her hiatus was due to the pregnancy and birth of our daughter!

She was like a kid in the candy store, shoving off from the shore, in her new Mini Mystic, to run a set of class III's just outside of town.

Of course, nothing but smiles...

An 18 month off the couch review of the Mini Mystic to come....

Welcoming Jeff Coleman as our WakaWai Ambassador!

We are very happy to have Jeff Coleman become a part of WakaWai and look forward to building our future relationship.

Jeff grew up in Southern California making runs on the American with his uncle in 1986. For some reason, at that time, it didn't stick with him and Jeff turned his attention to golf. Jeff played golf in excess of 15 years when he made a life decision that it was not for him and he was leaving California. Moving to Knoxville, Tennessee from Southern California in 2002, he decided to get into kayaking after realizing that it was accessible without a days drive prior to reaching the run and that the Southeast has some of the best paddling in the country. His life decision also lead him to his wife, great friends and family.

Welcome!

I caught up with Jeff today and asked him a few questions...


MB: What person do you respect the most? Who is you hero?
JC: 1st Q: My Wife.
2nd Q:I would say anyone that influenced me at a time in my life when direction was needed and things worked out for the best."Fate"..

MB: What books/movies/tv/comics are you into right now?
JC: No books, action movies, kayak flix, news, funny ones

MB: What are you listening to these days?
JC: Everything! I can mix well with the element I surround myself with and always make do.

MB: What is the best concert you attended?
JC: Rolling Stones

MB: What are some of the things that motivate you?
JC: The sun, clear days on a river, my wife... oh and I guess money.

MB: What are some of the other sports you are in to?
JC: Golf, and now starting some tennis

MB: What is the most fun you have had while kayaking?
JC: When I Started doing class III, IV, drops punching a hole and hoping I come out the other side, learning!!

MB: What is the best trip you have been on?
JC: Running Crab Orchard Creek, blind with some people that I met at the get-in!

MB: What are some of the goals that you are working on right now?
JC: In search of property to build on.

MB: When people look at you and your life, how do you want to be remembered?
JC: As someone that always did the right things when he could to help others.

MB: What is your biggest accomplishment to this day?
JC: Looking for and discovering my destiny

MB: What is the one sentence that describes your life?
JC: The old saying goes what most envy,” you can step in shit and always come out smelling like a rose “ and that is how it is.


So if you are in the Knoxville area and want to demo a Bliss-Stick, have questions, or need another paddling partner, holler at Jeff Coleman.

Cheers.

New Product for WakaWai... Cottonmouth Nose Plugs!

The Cottonmouth Nose Plugs offer the latest in quality, design, and style. Higher gauge wire used for strength and durability. The wire is also covered, so the nose padding has something to bite into to keep from separating. Made to last longer and keep the water out of your nose during the worst thrashings! Made locally by Dinver McClure in Asheville. Down by the river!

Make sure to check them out in the online store and ask for them by name!

Mini Mystic and Mystic in Ladies Control!

This was the Tellico ledges this past Saturday at a level of about 1.8 to 2ft on the gauge and one of the first demo's in the USA of the Mini Mystic.

Also in company was the infamous Mystic!

Just goes to show that both versions of this kayak are comfortable with ladies in control!

Margaret Weise in the red Mini and Christine Boush in the yellow Mystic.

All I saw all day was smiles. smiles, smiles!

These boats rock!

To try one yourself, contact us at demos@wakawai.com

WakaWai

Cheers.

Mini Mystic Arrives!

After a very long wait, WakaWai finally gets it's Mini Mystic demo.

Rain is in the forecast and the Cheoah and Ocoee are both releasing.

It will definitely be getting wet this weekend.

Nothing like putting scratches on a new boat!

We will let you know how it does... stay tuned.