Jason Smith's The Ed

New Addition

We had a new addition to the CKUK Team this week. Please welcome Ruby. She's an eight week old Jack Russel Terrier and is at this moment busy chewing on an old pair of wet suit socks, (we thought dogs had a good sense of smell) but she's looking forward to getting out in a canoe just as soon as she's old enough. Altogether now...1...2...3... Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Posted by Jason Smith

Canoexpo - The dust settles

Well what can we say, what a great weekend. The CKUK stand was mobbed from the moment the doors opened and we were bowled over by the enthusiasm, great feedback and passion you lot have for our sport. Many of you told us that CKUK inspires you to get out paddling, well it's you guys who inspire us to put the mag together every month, and to get out paddling more too! Because the stand was so busy it was difficult to get out and about and take in the rest of the show and the fantastic lecture programme, but from what we saw, and from what you were telling us it's fair to say that Canoexpo was a success. So a big thank you to the Brookbank Crew for putting in the graft and organising and to everyone who came and said hello to us over the weekend. We always knew our readers were the best ever!

Posted by Jason Smith

It's Show Time!

Canoexpo is finally here and we're about to hit the road to head down to Coventry and set up the CKUK stand. Reading through the Show Guide it looks set to be an awesome weekend and we're looking forward to catching a few of the talks and workshops. If you're heading to the show be sure and come and say hello and enter our fantastic competition to win a Dagger kayak, an AT paddle and a full set of Palm paddling gear. There's two packages to choose from a whitewater one with a Dagger Juice river-play kayak or a sea/touring one with a Dagger Charleston kayak. We'll do our best to post a few show reports up here over the weekend and you can find more info at www.canoexpo.com

See you there!

Posted by Jason Smith

Ed-Dee Service

After a late one to finish of next issue (85) it was off for a flying visit North Wales to shoot photos with Ed Smith for a new river skills series he's putting together. The original plan was to hit up the Tryweryn, but when we got there we we discovered that it was shut and the water turned off! We had phoned ahead and checked but the call to close had only come through to the centre that morning. Still, we weren't going to be beaten, so it was back down the A5 to a low, but sun kissed Mile End Mill. A quick change and we were on and away. Ed was highly amused at my dry bottoms and green wellies combination, but hey, it's the business for scrambling around on river banks. We paddled over to the far side and spent a few hours shooting in the evening sun. Once the sequences were out of the way Ed just had time for some soul surfing in some gorgeous light. Then it was back in the cars for the long drives home. Good day though.

Posted by Jason Smith

Wind Surfing

Following on the boat testing theme, it was off to Norfolk, and the East Coast to get the images for the plastic sea kayak test. An early start saw the CK wagon rolling with a rather natty homemade roof-rack and six sea kayaks on the roof!
The Sun was shining as we arrived at our selected destination, so chosen as we could drive right down to the water via a handy slip. The only problem was the wind! It was hurtling around the headland and blasting down the beach. Just getting launched was a mission and my arms were practically falling off after half an hour of paddling. It was fun though, the wind was throwing up some nice waves and surfing along with the wave and wind behind was quite a blast. I wasn't quite so chuffed when photographer Faye had me walking half a mile along a muddy shoreline with a sea kayak on my shoulder for a nice shot. At one point I swear I was leaning forward at about 45 degrees just to stay upright in the wind. It's an interesting coastline though, teeming with wildlife, and we're keen to get back in more welcoming conditions to explore this historic stretch of UK Coast

Posted by Jason Smith

Rain keeps falling on my head...

Now were usually fond of a spot of rain round at CK Towers, it means that they'll be lots of water around, but when the skies grow dark and the heavens open in the middle of a photo-shoot it's not so great. The CKUK Testers have had a bunch of river boats out and about recently, but when we arranged a get together at the River Dart the other month to shoot pictures it proved to be a battle against the elements. The river was already honking and, we arrived to watery winter sunshine. So far so good... But after waiting for the Floater to get changed it was absolutely howling down by the time we launched. Print deadlines wait for no man, so it was get it in the can or else. At one point I resorted to wrapping the trusty Nikon in plastic bags to stop it from getting too wet and exploding. Still being the troopers we are we got the job done, not to mention surfing a few sweet waves too for good measure. It was then off to the tea room for a brew before the six hour drive back via a very flooded M5!

Posted by Jason Smith

Kids Stuff

Been out testing so many boats recently that we don't know if we're coming or going. Still had a great day at Rutland Water Watersports Centre with two new young recruits to the CK Test Team Tom & Tyler. They braved some very icy water indeed and even looked like they were enjoying it when they ended up in the drink at the end of the shoot.

http://www.anglianwaterleisure.co.uk/index.php?sectionid=60&parentid=47

Posted by Jason Smith

Lady Killer

We always knew that our resident freestyler about town and extreme dude Ed Smith was a bit of a smooth operator. But even he was surprised when he donned a fetching hot-pink retro Palm slalom vest and was promptly mobbed by the ladies!

Cheers to Pete 'The Sub Mariner' Cornes for the pic ; )

Posted by Jay

Clarkson and Kayaks

Been working with the guys at the Sunday Times recently to bag a bit of mainstream publicity for our sport. They basically took a bunch of different CK kayak tests and re-edited them in their house style and then accompanied them with some editorial explaining a bit about the sport. It appreared in the In Gear supplement alongside CK's favourite motorised hooligan and broadcaster Jeremy Clarkson. The piece came out pretty well and will hopefully inspire lots of new prospective canoeists and kayakers to take up the paddle

Posted by Jason Smith