Yesterday I got a brief glimpse into the future of SkirtworkS skirts. Here is what Karen and Charles had to say...
Good
Morning Michael,
Michael we wanted to tell you we are producing a new skirt it is called the Basic Hybrid this
is truly an awesome skirt, the real kicker here is the ripcord there is nothing on the market like it!!
We believe it is the SAFEST we have ever seen!! We took a basic deck added aramid to the front to accommodate paddle
marks, we did not cut out the basic deck we added aramid to it, it is 9mm thick this is a beefy skirt.
Then we added the rip cord to go around the rubber rand like normal, but then in stead of just hanging down we applied
the ripcord directly to the deck. This is a damn nice skirt!!!
Keep an eye on our website for pictures, we
have had people ask us how we make any money with a skirt this beefy?? We believe this is going to be a number 1
seller, we also want to incorporate this handle to all of our skirts. I think this completely stops any handle from
getting caught underneath of the cockpit rim.
We have are not advertising this skirt yet until we have it up in full production.
Coming Soon!! Thanks, Karen and Charles...
WakaWai will keep you posted!
Make sure to keep checking WakaWai for updates!
Designed by Richard Sage from Bliss-stick and shaped into Production by Matt McCrossan, along with a vast crew who have
worked hard behind the scenes producing this new innovative Playboat. The Smoothy is our answer to the Specialist 6'0
that we intended on doing, but as the new boat took its shape , it ended up having a whole new meaning to what we were doing,
so the new Smoothy is far from the features of the wicked little Specialist 5'9.
The biggest attack was in
the hull which is comparable to the Super RAD 180 in width but is longer in length and with more tail rocker, the overall
boat is 6'1 which lands it right smack in the middle of the RAD 180 and RAD 185 length.
The nose is where the
name Smoothy originates, with nice clean and simple lines. The tail has been nipped in the bud in width.... So really
the whole Smoothy is like nothing we have made before, it is a playboat of its own right, and we know that its going to fit
and perform to a vast range of paddler sizes, with its near 200 ltr (52 gal )capacity.
The cockpit rim has
been lifted to allow for thighbrace comfort and extra leg room, but this extra volume will also act as a built in Freestyle
beach ball, for making the huge pops and looping moves.
The New Smoothy is only being offered in its own flavour
of selected colors ... what will your flavour be? ..... Apple, Bannana, Orange, Strawberry, Blueberry or Raspberry
this new color range is made with a white base and the flavour is flecked in ... giving a natural looking, asceticly pleasing,
ass kicking kayak.
Matty laying in the final clean up and sanding of the pattern, days before being sent off to the foundry where they
cast the aluminum mold.
From the conception of the plug right through to being able to mold the first kayak takes all of 3 months on average,
Creek boats like the Mystic took alot longer.
The mold is heavily sanded and polished, we had 4 amazing workers on the sanding process with approx 200 man hours
of pushing sand paper back and forwards, a bit like a Karate kid movie wax on wax off, this was "sand forward "
and "sand backward" If you meet up with either Jack, Thomas, Ed or Tom from OPC outdoor centre, be aware
when you shake their hands, these boys are now buff with a rough grip.
This is Bliss-stick molder, Andy O'Connell opening the new mold for the very first time, we have to run a dark
color practice boat, which helps to test the molds joint line and picks up any grime left on the mold itself. Then we ponder
over the result with a few beers and then call it a day and a job well done to the Team...
Smoothy side profile with noticable changes to the kicked up tail and also the cockpit rim lift.
Widened rails on a lengthy hull
A very Bliss-stick looking tail section
with the width pinned in for more looseness.
A very different look to the front of the kayak.... hence the name Smoothy has come from.
A good close look up at the new Fleck Smoothy Apple flavour, along with the defined carving rails.
Rear Tail section, with Bliss-stick Mania, new Smoothy Graphic and drain plug recess.
The Hulls tail section, will enable to Smoothy to release .... well smoothly.
Serious carving rails for high performance
Matt McCrossan about to assemble boat number One, after months of anticapation this is the moment of reward and satisfaction.
Well actually this shot is, all done and dusted the new Smotthy 6'1 ready for action.
Team Bliss-stick
paddlers will have the new Smoothy in action this weekend on the Kaituna River, there pictures and feedback will be posted
up on the site early next week.
Daylight shot of the new Apple flavour,
Compare this to our original Lime.
This is with Smoothy number two , our Blueberry mix
We hope you enjoyed the first pictures of the new Bliss-stick Smoothy 6'1 and what ever your flavour Im sure you
will begin to see these popping up at playspots all over the World before to long..... just look out for the paddlers having
the most fun!
I had a chance this weekend to meet up with some old friends and paddle the Nolichucky on Sunday. What a fine day it turned
out to be. The clouds burned off and the water was higher than anticipated. I actually took the time to shot some footage.
Here is Andre Largente, Pete Pickering and Tate Evans. Again, Pete is showing us how the Super RAD 180 rips! Enjoy!
WaveDog Paddles.... Ever heard of them? If not, it is only a matter of time!
WaveDog Paddles is focused on bringing
wood paddles back into the mainstream of whitewater kayaking. Free from corporate bureaucracy, their homegrown approach has
resulted in a truly revolutionary product. From the bent shaft form lamination to the polymer coated blades. Finally, hand
crafted bent shafts at prices comparable to mass produced composites.
WakaWai has been given the privy of being
one of two online retailers for their paddles! We are very happy that they have given us this opportunity and feel that their
paddles will fit nicely in to our repertoire.
We received our Golden demo yesterday and boy is it a beauty! You
can tell that it is made by a fourth generation woodworker paying attention to detail. My wife called dibs on it yesterday,
and made the inaugural voyage with the paddle.
This is what she had to say:
Mind you that this was at
a class II-III section for about an hour...
The paddle is constructed with layers of Ash/Pine/Carbon Fiber. (These
ingredients will be changing to lessen the weight soon. Stay tuned.) Providing more strength than just wood. There are no
joints at all in this paddle, making for one continuous piece. Keeping in mind, that most paddles that I have broken are broken
where they are pieced together. Another noticeable difference is that, the ridge of the paddle is in the front of the blade
as oppose to the back. Something that I have never seen or experienced on any other paddles. Another noticeable difference
is the raised index for hand placement. This along with the curve of the blade make it feel extremely sturdy, able to a great
deal of purchase from the blade and able to move faster and stronger across the water. Which leads to the feather and bent
shaft that holds you accountable for keeping you elbows in and shoulders down, reducing wear and tear on these important parts
of your paddling platform. The blades and the polymer coating speak for themselves! Bombproof and resilient to scratches....
magic stuff! It was definitely on the low side and I expected there to be more. Usually there are quite a bit more on a new
paddle. The only thing that I would change is the length and that is something that can be easily taken care of... Probably
would enjoy the Collie better...
Here are some pictures of that inaugural voyage...
So if you are in the Asheville area or see us at the put-in, feel free to ask or contact us for a demo!
Bliss-Stick Mystic Review... A Young Ladies Perspective
This is an independent review that was sent to me from Christine Boush.
She is the new Outdoor Recreation Coordinator
for Spartanburg County, South Carolina.
I had a chance to hook up with her and a few others at the Tellico a couple
of weeks ago for a demo.
She paddled the Mystic previous to this demo, but just wanted to make sure that it was
the right creeker for her.
Thanks for taking the time to give feedback. Much appreciated!
Here is what she had to say:
Michael— Headed out to the Watauga Saturday for my first run.
Loved it—it was amazing! I think it’s my favorite run. The only way it could have been better is if I was in a
Mystic.
So to break it down --- why I want a Mystic:
I’ve been paddling a rocker for about 6 months
now. Before that, I was in a Habitat, and before that, a Fluid solo. I’ll start by describing what I didn’t like
about those boats.
The Fluid was a very forgiving boat for a beginner in that it was very stable. As I progressed,
however, the boat doesn’t respond well to being put on edge. It has an overabundance of primary stability, little secondary
stability, is incredibly slow and boofs like a sluggish dog. (All of this in the context of the fact that I rely on my boat
to compensate for my inexperience/weakness.)
The Habitat had similar issues – again, very slow, weak on
boofing.
That brings me to the Rocker—I never was in love with the boat, but it answered a lot of my problems
with the other two. Because of the very little primary stability, it was much easier to turn it. It also boofed beautifully
because of the large rocker profile on the front. I hated the outfitting, finding that it never quite fit me. The boat also
felt just large on me – it turns so easily ferrying in heavy current can be a challenge as well.
SO…
that brings me to the Mystic, and is the end of looking for a creek boat. I’m oddly sized in that I’m petite,
but quite muscular – so I need a boat that is small enough for me to maneuver, but large enough to support me. The Mystic
is a little smaller, but just as stable. The aggressive rocker profile makes it a joy for boofing, and I don’t have
to struggle. The edges help me with crisp ferries and eddying, and the outfitting is a dream. I have full contact from my
hips down to my knees and feel like the boat is very connected to my body. I’m not sure how it rolls yet, because I
haven’t flipped in it…. But even melting down Baby Falls, it resurfaced like a dream. The boat is forgiving enough
to compensate for my weaknesses, but aggressive enough to let me run the shit. And that’s what I’m looking for
– a boat that will help me style my lines. If I was a great boater, I’m sure I could ride a cardboard box over
Baby Falls and style it, but with less than two years of boating under my belt, I need the extra grace of a boat that is well
designed. It helps me do the things that are hard for me so I don’t have to struggle so much.
I can’t
wait to get mine and learn every nuance of the boat.
We are very happy to have Jeff Coleman become a part of WakaWai and look forward to building our future relationship.
Jeff grew up in Southern California making runs on the American with his uncle in 1986. For some reason, at that
time, it didn't stick with him and Jeff turned his attention to golf. Jeff played golf in excess of 15 years when he made
a life decision that it was not for him and he was leaving California. Moving to Knoxville, Tennessee from Southern California
in 2002, he decided to get into kayaking after realizing that it was accessible without a days drive prior to reaching the
run and that the Southeast has some of the best paddling in the country. His life decision also lead him to his wife, great
friends and family.
Welcome!
I caught up with Jeff today and asked him a few questions...
MB: What person do you respect the most? Who is you hero? JC: 1st Q: My Wife. 2nd Q:I would say anyone that
influenced me at a time in my life when direction was needed and things worked out for the best."Fate"..
MB: What books/movies/tv/comics are you into right now? JC: No books, action movies, kayak flix, news, funny ones
MB: What are you listening to these days? JC: Everything! I can mix well with the element I surround myself
with and always make do.
MB: What is the best concert you attended? JC: Rolling Stones
MB: What
are some of the things that motivate you? JC: The sun, clear days on a river, my wife... oh and I guess money.
MB: What are some of the other sports you are in to? JC: Golf, and now starting some tennis
MB: What is
the most fun you have had while kayaking? JC: When I Started doing class III, IV, drops punching a hole and hoping I
come out the other side, learning!!
MB: What is the best trip you have been on? JC: Running Crab Orchard
Creek, blind with some people that I met at the get-in!
MB: What are some of the goals that you are working on
right now? JC: In search of property to build on.
MB: When people look at you and your life, how do you want
to be remembered? JC: As someone that always did the right things when he could to help others.
MB: What
is your biggest accomplishment to this day? JC: Looking for and discovering my destiny
MB: What is the one
sentence that describes your life? JC: The old saying goes what most envy,” you can step in shit and always come
out smelling like a rose “ and that is how it is.
So if you are in the Knoxville area and want to demo
a Bliss-Stick, have questions, or need another paddling partner, holler at Jeff Coleman.
New Product for WakaWai... Cottonmouth Nose Plugs!
The Cottonmouth Nose Plugs offer the latest in
quality, design, and style. Higher gauge wire used for strength and durability. The wire is also covered, so the nose
padding has something to bite into to keep from separating. Made to last longer and keep the water out of your nose
during the worst thrashings! Made locally by Dinver McClure in Asheville. Down by the river!
Make sure to check them out
in the online store and ask for them by name!
Lately there has been some buzz about SkirtworkS spray skirts.
Who are they?
What are the differences
in their skirts as opposed to others?
And lately, has anyone had the chance to see or try one?
Well
as we all know, good things come to those who wait. Finally after much anticipation, here are some pictures of the SkirtworkS
Aramid Tough Rim Preferred Fit. Built for the SCUD and to my specs, it fits like a glove!
Notice that the Aramid covers the areas that are most vulnerable to wear and tear. The seams are taped so tightly
that nothing is going to penetrate through them. There are no gaps between the rubber rand and the materials where you can
see the adhesive used to put them together. This particular skirt is easy to put on yet providing one of the tightest fits
around the cockpit rim that I have seen. Needless to say I am not about to break my fingers or have an aneurism putting the
skirt on the cockpit.
Another thing that I noticed right off the bat was that the grab loop did not feel as if
it were going to be ripped off as I pulled excessively on it. On other skirts I have had, that are made in China, this feel
really flimsy and does nobody any good if they can't get out in time due to a grab loop failure. Trust me this does happen
and you do not want to experience this in the unfortunate case you need out of the boat.
So when you are ready
to step it up a notch with customer service, warranty, custom fit for both men and women in every model available, comfort,
and piece of mind knowing you got the best on the market, you let us know and we will get the ball rolling.
More
reviews of their skirts and accessories to come!
Make sure to check out these fine skirts and their accessories
that are made in the USA at WakaWai
The container of Mini Mystic DEMO'S were due in port at Seattle on Feb. 20th,
2008. The container must then go through customs, which could take several days. I hope to get an email soon!
You could expect the DEMO's to be getting to agents hands as early as
the first of March. KEEP YOUR FINGERS CROSSED! FULL RETAIL Mini Mystics are due to
start shipping at the end of March. Giving
you about a month between your first demo and actually getting your purchase.
By the end of March, give or take a
few days, inventory on all boats should be back to normal here in the U.S.
Send good vibes!
No need to wait
for a demo, Bliss-Stick has not let you down yet and this boat is going to fly out of the warehouse! If you want to pre-order
one to assure you a place in line, you can do that also.
I can assure you that these will be harder to get than the
Mystic is!
Lately there has been some buzz about SkirtworkS spray skirts. 
