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Go Pro Photos.

Here are a few shots I took with a Go Pro camera.
It was a “nice” day for northern Alberta in mid November so I figured I would do a bit of a “downwinder”.
Air temp was about -2 celsius with the wind chill and the water was right around zero.

The camera worked great.
You can set them to take a photo every 2 or 5 seconds, or it can shoot video.
It takes a 2 GB card and that will get you either about 700 photos or just under an hour of video.
It is amazing that so many cool features can be packed into such a small case.
They are waterproof to 100 feet and you can get a ton of different mounting kits for them.

The brand new Go Pro HD cameras have just hit the store as well. They are just over $100. more than the regular ones and they shoot up to 1080p. The HD version will also shoot video at 60 frames per second – so you can do full slow motion!

Stop by the shop and check them out – just in time for Christmas.

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Ice Breaker Paddle

Went for a paddle on the North Saskatchewan river last night – what a blast!
The air temp was a balmy +1 C and the water was some where around zero.
I learned a few things about paddling with ice flows – and in case any of you decide to try it out, here they are:

1) You spend a lot of time an energy dodging the big ones. The paddle was a slalom race around moving ice.
2) When going up stream into the ice flows – the current can “close a gap” that you are aiming for very quickly.
3) If you stand really far forward on a Starboard Pin the bow acts as an ice breaker and can split the flow in half.
3 a) If the nose doesn’t split the ice – the board will push the ice down and then it hits the fin and stops you dead – especially going up stream.
3 b) To break the ice once it has gone under the board – rock back and forth with your feet right as the ice gets under your feet.
4) The water splash on the board freezes in to a nice, slick layer of ice – so get comfortable with your stance because you aren’t going to be able to move around much.
5) Do not ever get hit broad side by a flow as you are turning around to go back down stream – they can take the board out from under your feet.
6) Your paddle will collect a nice coating of ice making it several times heavier than it should be.
7) Try it – it was one of the neatest experiences I have had on a Stand Up Board!

p.s. Thanks to Quiksilver for making kick butt wetsuits, booties and gloves!

(click on the photos to view full size)

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Easy Rider – SUP Appreciation Dinner

Last night (Nov. 9) was the first ever Easy Rider – SUP Appreciation Dinner.
Thirty Eight SUP’ers met at Fiore Cantina in Edmonton for a night of fine food and Stand Up Paddle talk.

After dinner we unveiled our SUP plans for the upcoming season, which included lots of fun events / races / demos / surf trips / race trips / camping trips and a fishing derby.

Stay tuned for more information on what is Sup for 2010.

Thanks to Scott, Trident, and Dave for the Draw prizes.