First Glance at Mexico
The Canoe Guru just returned from a week of rivers, canoeing with Esprit Adventures in the Veracruz region of Mexico. Please visit the blog of ages page for more information on this annual adventure. You can click here for info on upcoming opportunities to paddle with the canoe guru staggered throughout the paddling season.
To order your copy of "This is Canoeing", please click here: “The best compilation of canoe films of all time. This really is canoeing”
Scott MacGregor, publisher, Canoeroots and Rapid magazines. www.rapidmedia.com
“
THIS IS CANOEING” is a 2-disc celebration of canoeing that debuts in March 2010, showcasing top single-blade paddlers in their pursuit of remote wilderness journeys or challenging white water. Multi-award winning film maker, Justine Curgenven captures the essence of canoeing in 12 short films. From open canoe slalom races to 1,000 mile birchbark expeditions, Justine provides insights into the diversity of the sport and the influential people who tell it’s story. Immerse yourself in this globe-trotting 3 hours of adventure to world class canoeing destinations in Canada, the United States, Scotland & Wales.FEATURING; KEVIN CALLAN – BECKY MASON – PAUL MASON – MARK SCRIVER - ANDREW WESTWOOD - KAREN KNIGHT – BOB FOOTE – RAY GOODWIN - WENDY GRATER - CHRIS COOPER – DAVE ROSSETTER – ELI HELBERT - JOHN ‘KAZ’ KAZIMIERCZYK – HAILEY THOMPSON – CAROLYN PETERSON
The DVD retails for US $29.95 ($32.12 after tax) and includes free shipping. Order your copy today from The Canoe Guru today and receive a free one-year subscription to both Canoe Roots Magazine and Rapid Magazine!
“This is Canoeing is everything that I love about paddling open canoes, it’s the beauty of the outdoors, the thrill of the adventure, the joy of gliding gracefully along on the water and the fun of doing all of those things in the company of good friends. As soon as I’d finished watching it I wanted to load up my canoe, grab my paddle and head out to the nearest water. Everyone who paddles, owns or has even thought about getting in a canoe should watch it.”
Jason Smith – Editor Canoe & Kayak UK Magazine www.canoekayak.co.uk
To order your copy of "This is Canoeing", please click here:
The Canoe Guru is thankful for the rain (but ready for more)!
Eli Helbert, aka The Canoe Guru, is psyched about the precipitation! Is there canoeing in your weekend forecast?
Contact me now to improve your skills before your next adventure. click here
press play to view a short video from GauleyFest '09
March 2010
March has decided to greet us as the proverbial lion! The Southeast continues to be hammered with snow this season. I've chosen the warm days and have begun 2010 with 16 paddling days through February. I am hoping for some heavy snow melt this week before I return to a classroom setting. On the 6th, I will be instructing a 9 day Wilderness First Responder course at Camp Broadstone near Banner Elk, NC. Bobby McKee and the British canoers will arrive in the midst of this course. Bobby is bringing the new OC-1 creekboat, The Force, from the new English company, Big Dog. I am very excited to see how this boat compares to the existing options currently on the market. We will load up our quivers of canoes to head towards the Ain't Louie Festival gathering on the 15th. This will be a short visit for me this year as I need to return to Table Rock, NC on the 19th to instruct another 9 day Wilderness First Responder for the North Carolina Outward Bound School. I hope we all find warm days to play outside this month. I look forward to seeing you on the water.
US Rodeo Canoers Compete at World Championship in Thun, Switzerland
Congratulations are in order for the USA's, Jeremy Laucks. Jeremy, in his own design, the "Black Fly" overcame stiff competition to become the 2009 World Champion Open Canoe Rodeo Paddler. Jeremy was able to hold off two-time defending world champion, Stephan Paetsch from Germany. Jeremy's victory gives the US continued bragging rights for the sport of open canoe rodeo. The USA now leads the world by holding 4 world championship titles to Germany's 3. Way to go, Jeremy!
For more info on the 2009 world canoeing champion, or to purchase a Black Fly to surf yourself, check out Jeremy's website: www.chasingrain.com.
L'Edge
For many canoers, the OC National Slalom Race was our first opportunity to try out Esquif's new canoe, the L'edge.
The L'edge was designed by local Wausau cheesehead and former US national open canoe team member, Craig Smerda. Craig and I share a love for Frankie Hubbards "edgy" canoe designs and I was eager to try this boat out. My first impression of the prototype was that it is fast for its length and very responsive. I enjoyed making effortless attainments and I felt that you could really carve the hard rails. These rails weren't quite as friendly while sidesurfing, although it rolled up easily! The prototype I paddled had the full decking option which kept the majority of the splash away. I am interested in trying the L'edge again soon with traditional gunnels after Craig finishes his modifications to appeal to the playboater in me.
For more info, check out: http://www.cboats.net/cforum/viewtopic.php?t=7960272 