Spring Fling Newsletter

While we aren’t ready to give up on winter just yet, Mother Nature has other ideas! This pic of Turner taken on March 4th, could potentially be our last skate ski of the season! We are still hoping for a bit spring corn snow for downhill!
The 2024 instruction schedule is posted. The season starts with two pool sessions April, a full week in New Jersey in May (this is private session and won’t be posted on our site but drop an email if you are interested.) We also have 2 weekend sessions on the Maine Coast, and a few sessions up here in Brownfield, too! Privates lessons or demos are always available.
2024 Instruction Itinerary available

Find your Edge!

Exciting news! We are testing out Edge Kayaks of Norway, our demos should arrive in the early summer!
We are excited to have had a lovely conversation with Edd Bjorke of Edge Kayaks in Norway. He is going to ship us 2 Edge kayaks, a low volume and medium volume!
We are interested in playing with a kayak that is a bit shorter (13′). It has a low back deck which makes it still easy to roll. Its primary purpose is superb playfulness in the surf and dynamic conditions. He was adamant about it being a tough kayak, so they will not be super lightweight, but it is more important to have something that will stand up to rocks and waves.

Stay posted for Demo days as soon as they arrive!

Skinny Stick Roll/Paddling Instruction

Check out our 2024 Itinerary page
Rolling
Paddling
2 days, 1/2 day your choice!

Specials, Used Gear and Kayaks
We have a couple used random kayaks we also have a few new Tiderace, and Rebels in stock. Taking Tiderace orders now. Check out our used gear. We have knocked the prices down again. We also have DVD deals, and a Gearlab deal as well.

Kayak Inventory

We currently have a dozen kayaks available for sale this Fall, and hoping to order more Tiderace and Rebel kayaks. Decisions, decisions! Make it easy and send me an order for 2024!

We do have several Rebel and Tiderace models, both new and used, as well as expected delivery dates for kayaks on order. 

Simply click on the link below to access a detailed list:

Current Inventory

For a quote, delivery information, or placing a custom kayak order, be in touch with Turner at turner@kayakways.net.

Kalleq & Ipik, a Visual Comparison

As often happens, one good answer asks a question that develops another answer. What could follow the well-regarded, unshouldered Kalleq paddle by Gearlab?  The Ipik, a paddle with shared attributes and significant differences. Whereas the Kalleq transitions from a central round join to a clean and sharp-edged blade.  The Ipik has a distinct shoulder transition, from an oval loom to the sharp blade. The result is a mid-section that is remarkably different, and blade tips that are virtually identical. So different, and yet so alike! (The Ipik is on the left and the Kalleq on the right)

To incorporate a continuous loom, the first puzzle was creating an oval section that could express a relaxed and easy shape that naturally fills the hand, and maintains a shoulder that suggests 'hold me here!' This was achieved with a continuous carbon-wrapping technology that offers a pleasing, ergonomic shape and benefits the shoulder shape and section.

This view of the loom reveals increased volume, and consistent loom depth.

Isolating the shoulder in these next two pictures, oriented for the blade face view, demonstrates again the benefit of carbon-wrapping as the shoulder modulates the journey between loom and blade. It is wider and clearly faceted where and when the fingers of your hand and the paddle join together.

Having turned both blades 90 degrees, the Ipik shoulder reveals a sharper edge sooner in the paddle length. By placing the interior crease of the first knuckle of the your fingers on this edge, and then sliding the index finger and wrapped thumb to the loom, you'll realize a blade entry that slices deep on the stroke, powers up on the differential flow pressure, and releases easily at the exit, all while keeping your hands relaxed and wrists neutral.

Chungshih knocking

Introducing Ipik by Gearlab

How it all happened…Our history with Gearlab

When Gearlab paddles first hit the market, we contacted Chungshih. He graciously sent us paddles to review. We sent him our detailed opinion. Years passed; we noticed that the paddles were steadily improving...

Then the Kalleq came out. Those sharp lenticular blades got our attention. Just prior to the pandemic, we asked Chungshih to come visit. And he did.

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Print of octopus by Sarah Perry

The Artist in the Family!

Meet Sarah Perry, the artist in the family, she is married to Cheri's son, Josh.  We are fortunate to have a few artists in our collective families but she is the featured one for this blog post.  Sarah is working very hard towards becoming an art teacher.   On her long arduous path towards cultivating artistic talents in young folks she has created many beautiful pieces.  We have encouraged her to share some of her prints with our Kayak Ways friends, we hope you enjoy them!

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Rafting up with Turner on Cayuga Lake

Oops! But we’re paddling on…

While most of folks think that I look graceful in a kayak, I am quite klutzy by nature!  Turner will attest to this he is always commenting on that fact, “for someone who is so graceful when she rolls, you wouldn’t know it when she is out of her kayak.”  It is true, I often do some dumb thing usually without much consequence, getting by with a bump or a bruise, a strain, or sprain, but not this time.

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Kayak Ways Demo Day at Willard Beach

First Demo Day of 2021

It was great to see so many folks at Willard Beach for our first Demo Day of 2021! We had a decent weather window; warm air temperatures tempered the chillier ocean. Cheri mentored paddlers as they dipped into some of their first rolls in our fleet of Tiderace and Rebel Kayaks.

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Cheat Sheet and PowerStretch Hat

New Merch

Trying to sort out your first Roll?  Need some help?  Cheri and Liz have been busy creating a Cheat Sheet for the Standard Greenland Roll.  It encompasses a basic key word for each step at the front of each row and a photo of corresponding step both on the land, AND in the water, the final box has a description of what is happening in each phase.  Best of all its laminated so it is water ready!  Just tuck it under your decklines for easy cheating!   Cheat Sheets for the Standard Greenland Roll are $10. 

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Website Renovation!

 A Big Shout Out to our friend, Liz Johnson!

by Cheri Perry

Liz Johnson

Lots of you may know Liz Johnson, she is a Maine Sea Kayak Guide and Instructor, she organised the Greenland Gathering on Peaks Island in 2019 that was a huge success.  She has worked as a guide and instructor for Maine Island Kayak Co.  But did you know that besides kayaking and other outdoor interests she is a website designer?

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Snowy mountaintop in Brownfield, Maine

Wow… What year that was!

Just over a year ago, we realized that 2020 would be like no other in anyone’s living memory. Adjusting to new rhythms and circumstances is par for the course. In the last couple of years, even before the virus struck, folks may have noticed that we have taken a break from traveling the world and teaching kayaking. Suddenly, everything around us came to an almost full stop.

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