From Canada’s capital to the home of the Bluenose, along historic voyager & native trade routes:
1050 km on rivers,
216 km on land,
250 km on ocean,
4 world class white-water destinations,
0 km using gas

Expedition Duration:
May 1st – July 31st, 2011.

Expedition Description:
In the spring of 2011, Zac Crouse will be gathering a group of boaters on the Ottawa River to remember a friend. Corey Morris (1979 -2009) died while kayaking on a creek in Nova Scotia. He lived an active, healthy lifestyle full of kayaking & adventures.

That will be the beginning of Zac’s sea kayak/bicycle expedition Paddle to the Ocean.

From Beachburg, ON to Halifax, NS. Through class IV white-water on the Ottawa & St Lawrence Rivers, then using a bicycle & a modified trailer to portage the sea kayak to the headwaters of the St John River. At the bottom of the St John River; Zac will navigate the whirlpools & hydraulics of Reversing Falls, before crossing the Bay of Fundy & riding the Shubie tidal bore & paddling up-river to Halifax.

Expedition Purpose:
To honour a friend by encouraging Canadians to lead the kind of active & healthy lifestyle that Corey did.  Zac Crouse will be paddling his kayak & pedaling his bicycle from Ottawa to Halifax to inspire Canadians to lead active, healthy & sustainable lives that do not involve car-based transportation.

Paddle to The Ocean has partnered with The Ecology Action Centre (EAC) & the NS Heart & Stroke Foundation (NS H&SF) in order to raise awareness of their respective programs:
1. Making Tracks (EAC) is an program designed to encourage parents & children to walk & bike to school & throughout their community.
2. Heart & Stroke Walkabout (NS H&SF) is a provincial initiative designed to teach people how to walk more in their daily lives.

All funds raised by Paddle to the Ocean will be spilt between these two programs.

Here’s a quick video with some shots from the train ride from Halifax to Ottawa and Zac’s first few days on the water. For more info on the trip visit: zaccrouse.com

Paddle to the Ocean: The Trip Begins from Paddle to the Ocean on Vimeo.

Music: Tanya Davis- Eulogy for You and Me
Shot and edited by Kelsey Thompson

submitted by Kelsey Thompson

Locals Only follows some of the worlds best paddlers to the place they call home and explores the unique attributes of each region. Since people began paddling whitewater as a form of recreation they’ve flocked to certain areas to get their fix. There’s no question that different areas appeal to paddlers with different priorities but what is it that draws in the crowds and keeps the pros coming back for more. Locals Only searches for the answers to these questions and more. The idea is simple, let the locals showcase their home turf and explain what it has to offer from their perspective. All footage in Locals Only will feature the local paddling at or near their home.

More info available on the Locals Only Website

Here’s a really creative video from Astral team paddler Kelsey Thompson that shows some of the places, faces, and sick freestyle moves that went down at this years World Championships in Thun, Switzerland.

2009 World Freestyle Kayaking Championships from Kelsey Thompson on Vimeo.

Check out more from Kelsey on his blog:  -Atlantic Kayaker

I’ve spent the last month playboating almost everyday and thoroughly enjoying my Willis PFD. After paddling at a variety of spots such as the Skookumchuck Narrows (big wave) and the Kananaskis River (Play run with small holes) here are my thoughts on the Willis, Astral’s latest Freestyle PFD.

Features:

I didn’t think it could get any better than the Newton (Astrals previous Freestyle PFD) then along came the Willis. The Willis comes standard with everything a paddler could ever want in a PFD. Contoured fit, upper and lower torso panels, knife tab, large pocket, side or over the head entry, easy shoulder strap adjustment, and it’s made with environmentally friendly materials.

The Willis was made with comfort and mobility in mind which is very apparent. The contoured foam stays high up the middle of you back and wraps around your torso making for greater rib and spine protection while maintaining mobility and increasing flotation. This is a nice feature for people who like to run rivers and stop for the occasional surf as the majority of Freestyle PFD’s have little protection. Separate foam panels for your upper and lower torso, as first seen in the Newton, allow more freedom than any PFD on the market. The rear foam panel also comes with an inner mesh back band that allows your body to move independently from the PFD’s rear panel. The foam lined shoulder straps make carrying a boat on your shoulder much more comfortable and add a little extra flotation.

Under the front panel you’ll find a pocket large enough to fit a full bottle of sun screen, some granola bars, paddle wax and whatever else you like to carry in your PFD. Its hidden location also ensures that you look stylish on the river no matter how full it is. On the front panel you’ll find a knife tab in an easy to reach location well away from your face.

Adjusting the Willis is very simple. The inner torso panel has three adjustment straps on each side to firmly secure it around your stomach and two front adjustment straps that double as a torso length and shoulder strap adjustor. One of the Willis’ nicest features is the buckles located on the right torso adjustment straps. If you prefer a side entry PFD undo the buckles when putting it on and taking it off or if you’d rather slide your PFD on and off over your head simply leave the buckles done up.

As with all Astral PFD’s the Willis is made to have as little environmental impact as possible incorporating features like PVC-Free Gaia foam.
Bottom Line:

After paddling with the Willis at multiple locations I can confidently say that it is the most comfortable play vest I have ever worn. It has excellent rage of motion, all the features I could ever desire, and it makes me look damn good…which isn’t easy to do! I have yet to have it ride up on me, even after multiply face surfs at Skookumchuck, and there are zero signs of wear. The independently moving front and back panels allow me to lean forward with greater ease than ever before by moving out of the way when I bend. With three sizes and two colors to choose from I’m sure there is a little fella named Willis out there for everyone.

Kelsey Thompson

Check out more of Kelsey’s adventures on his blog: Atlantic Kayaker

High sierra season is here and i have been out on a hucking bender. The thing i like about California is when your here and you want to do every run in the book, you really can’t stop. Back to back to back big runs! Its been super good here are just a few of the photos that have gone along with the summer. Hope you enjoy them.

photos: Jonathan Ramsay …paddler: Evan Garcia

p.s. Ian, back in MT, just grabbed the first descent of a 100-115 foot waterfall pretty much all vert fall as well, could have been the new world record but he swam at the bottom, he stuck a sick line but skirt blew off and had a bum hand roll. He reports on a big hit but pretty smooth for how big it really was. Im stoked for him.

later-

Evan