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< Nov/Dec 2002
	Hotline
Hotline Blurbs

Paddler Purchases Kayak magazine

In a move aimed at serving the burgeoning whitewater community, Paddler magazine purchased dormant Kayak magazine from former publisher Njord Rota in August. "There’s a whole generation of hardcore, new school paddlers out there who crave whitewater-only coverage," says Paddler Publisher Eugene Buchanan. "This magazine will be for them." Kayak, which published four issues in 2000 and 2001, will bring Paddler’s flavor and quality to whitewater, including profiles, competition coverage, expedition reports and a photo-heavy format. The magazine will be published twice yearly, in the spring and fall, and will not affect Paddler’s well-rounded blend of whitewater and touring offerings. Buchanan says that Paddler is uniquely qualified to create a whitewater-only publication. "Unlike before, Kayak won’t have to solely support an entire staff," he says. "We already have the infrastructure in place to make it succeed." He adds that Paddler’s editorial staff has over 30 years of Class V paddling experience and is a regular and respected part of the whitewater scene.

See-through Sea Kayak

Now you can see the sea while you sea kayak. In January, Clear Blue Hawaii unveiled a see-through kayak, the Molokini, which lets paddlers see the sea beneath their seats. Debuting in such high-end catalogs as Hammacher Schlemmer and Sharper Image, the boat is made from high-tech polymer—the same material used in fighter jet canopies —and measures 11’1" long by 33.5" wide. "The response has been great," says co-owner Andres Fegrera, who uses the boat with several rental operations in Hawaii. "You can see anything you can with dive mask." He adds that the 40-lb. boat, which retails for $1,459 and comes with an aluminum frame, has been especially well received for night tours when you can shine a light straight through the hull to illuminate coral reefs below. Our question: How do you avoid snorkelers looking for a free peep show? Info: www.clearbluehawaii.com.

Cash Cow Kayakers

Fisher pockets $12,000, Kelly $11,000 at Ford Gorge Games

Taking home the biggest purse in whitewater kayaking history, Steve Fisher and Nikki Kelly walked—er, paddled—away with beaucoup bucks for winning their respective divisions at July’s Ford Gorge Games in Hood River, Ore. By besting Scott Shipley in the extreme race, Fisher pocketed $10,000, and picked up another $2,000 for out-pacing Eric Jackson and Brad Ludden in the head-to-head. Kelly sprinted away with $11,000 total, including $10,000 for besting Anna Levesque in the extreme event and another grand for taking second to Shannon Carroll in head-to-head. In all, equal cash prizes totaling $39,500 were awarded for the top four men and women in each division, making it the biggest single-event payoff for boaters in history. "I heard they were offering some decent prize money, so I trained for about two months beforehand and went with the full intention of winning," says Fisher. "But I’ve never won that much before, and all of it will go back into kayaking. I have a simple method: the more money I have, The more I travel and paddle."

Canyon Crud

Several river runners on the Grand Canyon this summer had a hard time making it through Upset Rapid without upset stomachs. An outbreak of gastrointestinal illness hit 59 Grand Canyon river runners from five separate rafting trips near Mile 54 in early June, with symptoms including nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Grand Canyon National Park officials worked with public health investigators to determine the cause of the illness, ruling it the result of a Norwalk-like virus, the most common cause of gastrointestinal illness in the U.S. The first reports of the sickness began trickling in from mile 52 on June 1. Within a week, 19 cases were reported stretching to river mile 164, near National Canyon. Two weeks later, the number had ballooned to 59 cases, prompting park officials to schedule a special trip to sample sites along the river to determine possible point sources. Nine more cases were reported Aug. 1 by a commercial guide camped at Hells Hollow at River Mile 183 near Whitmore Wash. Evidence from stool specimens indicated that they, too, were caused by a Norwalk-like outbreak. Illnesses with similar symptoms occurred during the summers of 1994 and 2000, prompting the Park Service to develop a reporting system requiring guides to immediately report any illness occurring in three or more rafting participants. "The Park Service continues to stress the importance of good sanitary practices to lessen the chances of contracting the illness," says Grand Canyon spokeswoman Maureen Oltrogge. "River users are reminded to be extra vigilant."

ACA Launches iPaddle.net

Want to brand yourself as a paddler to everyone you deal with on the Internet? Springfield, Va.’s American Canoe Association (ACA) has just launched a program that lets other Web surfers know you’re wave surfer. Designed specifically for paddlers, iPaddle.net is a private, branded Internet service that includes Internet access, e-mail addresses and access to the iPaddle.net home page. The paddle-specific ISP is offered in conjunction with Annapolis, Md.’s Velox Communications, a company specializing in dependable, branded Internet service. Paddlers who sign up for the $19.95-per-month service (less than many other ISPs) receive their own "iPaddle.net" e-mail address, Internet access via a top-tier global network, three e-mail accounts with 5MB of storage and 24-hour tech support. Best yet, a portion of every member’s monthly service charge is donated to ACA’s conservation efforts, meaning your surfing is also helping save the nation’s waterways. Info: (877) 605-6500, www.iPaddle.net.