Category Archives: Gear

Goodbye 2025

Well…Goodbye 2025

We’ve been, like many, dealing with a bit of adversity throughout 2025 and we are striving for more resilience through 2026!

In preparation for the spring, summer and fall, we are skate-skiing as conditions allow, and skiing of all varieties!

The goal this year will be to persevere in choppy waters and nippy cross-currents, and to have fun doing it!

What’s new?

We have new Tiderace kayaks!!

It wasn’t easy, Tariffs, delay, complications, but we got em!

We had a great teaching season, including Cheri’s trip to Spain for the Spanish Symposium, and she did some filming for Online Sea Kayaking.

Cheri and I drove cross country, so I could spend some time with my family, and Cheri did a long paddling trip with her friend Jackie (Next blog post.)

And finally, our internet hosting service devolved into chaos that necessitated a painful transition from our old host to a new one! Causing us to lose a fair amount of email. So if you emailed us and we didn’t get back to you, please email us again… sorry about that tech folks we are NOT!

I did mention new Tiderace Kayaks, yes?

Below, these composite beauties, in either Full Carbon Core or Carbon Kevlar layups, are ready for spring adventures and beyond!! If you happen to be looking for great kayaks embodying unequivocal performance, you have arrived! Each of these craft is available in our store.

New In stock.

3 – Xceed
Full Carbon Core Green over light Green w/ Blue bow and stern compass points, and matching Green keel strip

Full Carbon Core Blue over yellow w/ ‘Red compass points’ and white keel strip

Carbon-kevlar White over White with matching keel strip– this one has a slight blemish and is discounted for that reason, it is barely noticeable and a great deal. No photo available.

3- Xceed S
Carbon Core Green over White w/Blue bow and stern ‘compass points’, and white keel strip.

Carbon Core Full Dark Blue deck over Green hull with green keel strip

2- Xceed-XS
Full Carbon Core White over White with White keel strip with slight blemish and discounted as such no photo available

Lightly demoed Carbon Kevlar Orange panel over Dark Yellow body with Dark Yellow keel strip

3- Xtra
Full Carbon Core Blue deck over Dark Yellow hull with Orange decals and Dark Yellow keel strip.

Full Carbon Core Black deck panels over White Body, Red ‘compass points’ bow and stern, with White keel strip.

lightly demoed Carbon Kevlar Green Deck Panels over White Body.

A very small number of Rebel kayaks that remain from days gone by, and a few special used kayaks that should also appeal.

Gearlab Ipik News-
We have several Ipik 219 cm paddles (pre tariff pricing). The new longer 225 cm length in stock at a bit higher post tariff pricing. And news of the long awaited 214 cm, coming soon.

We also partner with Reed Chillcheater, check their products in our store, and Whetman hatch covers, all colours and most sizes in stock available now in our Store!

We will also be announcing classes as soon as dates settle!
Looking forward to paddling and rolling with YOU in 2026!

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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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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