For Immediate Release
11/17/11
Asheville, NC

Astral Buoyancy Company is proud to announce a new plan for servicing its dealers in NC, SC, TN, VA, WV, KY, and AR. Starting on November 10th 2011, veteran paddlesports sales representative Spencer Cooke will service Astral dealers in our home territory.

Spencer Cooke has worked closely with Astral for years as both a team athlete and sub-rep. Now, under his business “Effort Inc,” Spencer has added Astral to his portfolio of strong paddlesports brands including Immersion Research and Shred Ready.

Astral CEO Philip Curry commented, “We have worked and kayaked with Spencer Cooke for many years. He has an amazing work ethic and is dedicated to the mutual success of manufacturer and retailer.  We can all count on Spencer to provide honest and clear information in the best interest of business prosperity. Spencer is the man. Trust him, love him, and go kayaking with him.”

In addition to his wide array of talents as a sales rep, Spencer has a strong history of multimedia experience and will assist Astral’s marketing department with product knowledge video production, event coverage, and other grassroots marketing campaigns.

Here’s an ad featuring Greg, former employee at Mahoney’s Outfitters who now works for NFS as an Environmental Scientist. We salute Greg for his efforts to keep our waterways safe and free of contamination.

If you happen to be at the news stand and see the May issue of Self Magazine take a look at page 165. There’s a nice review of the best women’s paddling gear available, which highlights the Bella. Here at Astral we love to see the Paddlesports Industry get a little mainstream exposure like this…who knows, maybe Gwyneth herself will learn the boof stroke this year?

media submitted by Francisco Lisci

Our friend Francisco is an accomplished paddler and photographer from Mexico. He has a great eye for style and just sent in this update from Bleu and Blanc magazine as well as a few photos that he wanted to share. We are proud to hear that Francisco just completed his degree in Industrial Design. He’s also getting ready for an upcoming mission with his good friend Rafa Ortiz where they will tackle some of Mexico’s best whitewater. More to come on that soon, but for now here’s some eye candy from Francisco:

Next 4 photos: Paddler,  Francisco Lisci

The Ronnie is one of three new jackets we unveiled at the Outdoor Sportstrade show Aug 2011. Stay tuned for photos and details in the very near future

The Linda is one of three new jackets we unveiled at the Outdoor Sportstrade show Aug 2011. Stay tuned for photos and details in the very near future

words by Rafa Ortiz

photos by Alfredo Martinez

This past February, we set off into an incredible adventure with a mission: finding the roots of kayaking in Mexico. Pancho Lisci, Joel Kowalski and myself, spent a couple of weeks with the local Lacandonian tribes learning their stories and then negotiating huge river descents. “Nature must be respected as it is, as a whole. We don’t chop more wood than we need”.- Lectured us Cayum, the chief of the tribe. These people carve tree trunks into 30ft long ‘kayukos’, which they scare crocodiles away with, when paddling across the lakes. And later the freefall, the specialty of Chiapas.  Travertine rocks form the steepest paradise, marginally sane. I hope the pictures tell the rest.

Here’s a recent ad from Budweiser American Ale that appeared in the December issue of National Geographic Adventure.

We’re happy to see EJ enjoying his American Ale (and his Willis).

above, Tyler in Corsica sporting his new Greenjacket

With the large numbers of paddlers gathered in Corsica it is no wonder the locals and tourism board of Corsica took notice. This year the largest amount of kayakers were recorded paddling on the island in history. To help the cause of introducing more Corsica inhabitants of the value of kayaking tourism the National newspaper COUSE MATIN showcased a very large article in the news print. Of course I managed to claim the front cover of the paper, which impressed my mother as well as all the kayakers gathered on the island and hopefully left a kayaking imprint on Corsica.

Tyler Curtis

check out more photos of Tyler’s trip on the Corsica Gallery

If you are a whitewater paddler and own an Ipod or computer then you should really check out the In Between Swims podcast. This installment dubbed “Back to the Core” features an Interview with Astral’s founder and president Philip Curry, where Philip talks about what it was like to sell Lotus to Patagonia, Coast Guard PFD certification, and the future of PFD’s.  Also on this issue Immersion Research’s John Weld swims The Potomac’s Horseshoe and Shane Benedict joins from Zwick’s on the Green River to talk boofing.

Listen to the BACK TO THE CORE MP3

learn more about this podcast at the In Between Swims Homepage

or get the In Between Swims Itunes Download