There's always a few people who enjoy taking a leisurely activity like kayaking on the lake or paddle boarding with friends on a warm Saturday and turning it into a competition. These race events usually happen to the left and right extreme of the USA, but the midwest if finally catching on. Even Iowa has a river race. Check out the Great Iowa River Race in you're near Iowa City in June.
The MR340 has been around a few years and is gaining in popularity as an endurance event. The only midwest alternative to a river race is on a lake. Expect more of these events to pop up in the coming years. Once there's a template in place, several groups will begin hosting races of their own.
The Shawnee Mission Lake Hump Day 5K group currently holds show and go fun races every Wednesday evening beginning March 14th. They have also begun to plan the very first organized race event for kayaks and paddle boards. Expect the race to be on August 25th, start times will be around 9am. Follow their FaceBook page for details and registration information.
Don't forget to check out the Paddle Board KC website and FaceBook page!
Wednesday, March 7, 2018
Tuesday, January 9, 2018
River Fins
There's three major forms of paddle boarding. Surf and open water with waves, flat water lakes and various types of rivers to explore. Paddling on rivers can include rapids, rocks, sandbars, logs and numerous hidden hazards. Here in the mid-west we have a number of small rivers to explore along with larger rivers like the Missouri and Mississippi. Smaller or faster flowing rivers will have more hidden hazards to cause a loss of balance and also damage your fin.
The best way to avoid hitting your fin on an underwater object is to not have a fin. But that won't be a very efficient way to travel. The next best option is to minimize the depth of your fin. There's several points to consider when trying to determine how small of a fin you can tolerate, but that's another topic for another cold winter day.
The latest option I've found is a retractable fin that retracts when in contact with an underwater object and springs back in place on it's own. This sounds like a very reasonable option but I would like to try it before giving a full recommendation. You'll maintain a fin deep in the water that provides lateral torque resistance without the extra bulk of a traditional dolphin shaped fin. With the extra mass near the fin box I would guess there to be increased drag, but a small price to pay for a deep fin that won't knock you off your board when you glide over that underwater log.
Check out Frog Fish Fins for more info about the features and benefits of this design!
The best way to avoid hitting your fin on an underwater object is to not have a fin. But that won't be a very efficient way to travel. The next best option is to minimize the depth of your fin. There's several points to consider when trying to determine how small of a fin you can tolerate, but that's another topic for another cold winter day.
The latest option I've found is a retractable fin that retracts when in contact with an underwater object and springs back in place on it's own. This sounds like a very reasonable option but I would like to try it before giving a full recommendation. You'll maintain a fin deep in the water that provides lateral torque resistance without the extra bulk of a traditional dolphin shaped fin. With the extra mass near the fin box I would guess there to be increased drag, but a small price to pay for a deep fin that won't knock you off your board when you glide over that underwater log.
Check out Frog Fish Fins for more info about the features and benefits of this design!
Saturday, December 16, 2017
Cheap Waterproof Action Camera for your SUP
The temps outside have dropped and the warm days of summer feel like they will never return. But when they do I'll be ready, will you? The winter in Kansas City is the SUP off season, a time to research products and discover more ways to enjoy paddle boarding.
I've always been without a waterproof camera so I'm limited on sharing my paddle boarding experiences. I was recently at my local Westlake hardware and noticed a GoPro knock off on sale for only $25! The brand is itek and the camera is called an the Action Pro sports camera. This brand and others like it are typically around $30 online. The need for instant gratification was strong and I always feel better about purchasing something from a brick and mortar store so it can be easily returned if my expectations aren't met. This camera DOES NOT come with a memory card unlike GoPro. However, the $300 GoPro at walmart only comes with a 32GB card that sell for about $15 at most every place these days.
I've always been without a waterproof camera so I'm limited on sharing my paddle boarding experiences. I was recently at my local Westlake hardware and noticed a GoPro knock off on sale for only $25! The brand is itek and the camera is called an the Action Pro sports camera. This brand and others like it are typically around $30 online. The need for instant gratification was strong and I always feel better about purchasing something from a brick and mortar store so it can be easily returned if my expectations aren't met. This camera DOES NOT come with a memory card unlike GoPro. However, the $300 GoPro at walmart only comes with a 32GB card that sell for about $15 at most every place these days.
I first did a little research online before I made my purchase and only found a couple areas of concern. For $25 the lower lens quality and risk of a leaky waterproof case was well worth the price. The customer review with the leaky case was "snorkeling" when it leaked so no telling how far down they were. Shouldn't be any issues from surface splashes and light submersion during paddle boarding. It does come with a waterproof case and numerous mounts.
I'll be posting a few test videos on the Paddle Board KC FB page and giving a follow up review on this blog site. Check it out and keep preparing your paddle board for those warm days on the lake. They'll be here before you know it!
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