Supratex neoprene incorporates a four-way stretch allowing for an easy fit of the deck onto the cockpit rim.Abrasion resistant material protects the deck, extending the life of the skirt. The single sheet design of Snap Dragon avoids potentially weak areas where seams would meet, producing a stronger and more flexible deck. Snap Dragon’s Power Cord provides a watertight seal around the rim. The uniqueness of the Power Cord features the strength of rope but with some of the stretch of shock cord. Stitched directly to the deck edge under tension provides the renowned taut fit paddlers demand.

OPTIONAL: Reinforcement is heat welded onto the top of the neoprene at the high wear edges of the deck. While the Reinforcement further extends the life of the deck it also protects paddlers knuckles during play sessions. OPTIONAL: Implosion Bar adds enhanced rigidity to the spray deck. The custom bar is attached to the underside of the deck and positioned to leverage against the cockpit rim of the kayak. This keeps the deck secure when looping in holes or running the biggest drops. COLORS: Platinum or Black

TUBE SIZES: Height: 7” Circumference: XXS 24-26” XS 26-28” S 28-30” M 30-32” L 32-35” XL 35-38” XXL 38-40”
DECK SIZES:See Fit Chart (www.snapdragondesign.com/fitlist.asp) XXS, XS, S, M,L, XL </s

http://podcast.sciam.com/weekly/sa_podcast_081112.mp3

Devon Barker reports:

“Fall 2008 was the first fall I have been home in Idaho since 2000.  I knew I was missing my home, my house, but I did not know I was missing the surf. I guess I somewhat forgot as I was on the Ottawa, in WV, and surfing in Tennessee, Chileʼ, Ecuador, Costa Rica, and Spain, which offered incredible surf and kept my mind off of not being at home.  This fall has been awesome.  We have been surfing at Catʼs Paw, since the beginning of September”.

The campground we use has been named PawVille and last weekend we had 17 campers enjoying the fall weather and the great surf.

Young paddlers Tanner Griffith (14) and Ethan McLeod (13) surf in tandem.

Snap Dragon paddler (and Sawyer Paddle rep) Conner Jackson brought his sister Brindi to enjoy the surf.

Devon is very good to the kids.  She coaxed Brindi out in the fast water and got her on the surf.  It was her first surf, and a big fast one at that.

Great job Devon!

Christie met up with Inka and the Nepali Girls Project in Kathmandu. “We’re teaching the girls to swim, kayak and raft so they can get jobs with local rafting companies. They are doing really well! Next week they all head out for two weeks of river training and safety courses on the Sun Kosi River. I’m going to join up with them again at the end of the month at the Himalayan Whitewater Festival. I’m posting updates at www.northwestlivin.blogspot.com if you want to check them out.”

I went to Vietnam the first time because I knew so little about the place, especially its people. During seven years I returned four more times, spending most of my time exploring its long coastline, where one-third of Vietnam’s 85 million live. Along the way my teams and I spent days with rich and poor, fishermen and entrepreneurs, almost all beach dwellers who live and depend on the sea. For many, we were the first Americans they had ever met. During our longest exploration, in 2001, I was accompanied by photographer Rob Howard who made beautiful portraits of many of those we met.

Perhaps my most compelling travel was done with Ngan Nguyen, a Vietnamese refugee who’d fled the south with her family in 1975 and had grown up in the U.S. Traveling with her, especially through what was North Vietnam, was eye-opening for us both. The most emotional day for Ngan was when we kayaked along the Ben Hai River which had been the man-made demarcation separating north from south. The river symbolized for us all the tragic loss of more than 3 million Vietnamese lives, as well as more than 56,000 Americans … which still today seems hard to rationalize, no matter where in the world you were born.

Visit Jon’s Web-site at http://www.jonbowermaster.com/dispatches…

WOW! What a trip. It was a blast the whole time, between boating some amazing play-spots, hanging with and making new friends, traveling across Europe, and competing in the World Cup.

For me it started with a road trip to New York, a flight to Washington, and a connecting flight to Munich Germany. On arrival we realized that half our paddles were broken, that was a bummer, though it got better once we found everyone and we were focused on heading out to do some kayaking. Jackson Kayak rented out some wicked black FBI vans for the team to travel in. Once we had loaded up all our belongings we were off to Prague, in hopes to get some training in before the crowds showed up. It wasn’t long before the eddy lines were 10 people full. We were camping at first, but with Emily’s deathly cough, we got a hotel room for the competition. The competition at Prague was amazing. It was the first of the three competitions so they had the opening ceremonies for the World Cup, with parties and concerts every night of the competition. The feature was man made, which made it interesting for some of the moves. There were some great European competitors, some that I had met like Peter Csonka, Mathieu Domoulin, Ed Smith, and then there were also some ripper’s that I hadn’t met before, such as, Simon and Seppi Stohmeier, Tuomas Kurnen, Tomasz Czaplicki.

My Favorite part of the Prague competition was the semi finals. The Men’s Semi Finals were held at 9:30 at night, in the dark! It was the coolest feeling ever, there was music blaring, flashing colored lights on the banks of the river, there were multiple spot lights lighting up the hole, and the most spectators of the whole competition, it was packed! It literally felt like there was a river, flowing threw a nightclub. As a competitor, we were in the eddy up stream, in the dark, and as you paddle into the feature, BAM, you’re in the spot light and you are the entertainment. I had a ton of fun, and after it was over, EJ and myself stayed out doing hand-paddling rides. The next day was finals, were Peter Csonka took 1st, I placed 2nd, and Mathieu Domoulin was 3rd.

From Prague the Jackson Team and myself packed up our tents, and were off to Augsburg Germany, to the Eiskanal. This was a really fun venue, it the where the 1972 Olympic games were held for slalom. The course was really fun, and it was amazing how well designed it was for being over 35 years old. The hole was called the Washing Machine, because it has a tendency to work some people. It was really good for pretty much any move, though the loop moves went the biggest. Some people like Jason Craig, Stephen Wright, and Jonathan Shales, were practically landing on the Moon.

We were camping in Augsburg as well, and Emily illness was continuously getting worse. We had gone to the hospital twice, and once was the night before finals. She had some x-rays, a couple IV’s, and had given blood, and they diagnosed her with bad Bronchitis. Though by finals she was obviously feeling better enough to win, and throwing both a Mc Nasty and a Phonix Monkey in her rides. Ruth Gordon did amazing as well placing second, and having a 400-point ride in competition. I was judging the Jr. Men’s who all had some great rides and Huge Loops, though in the end it was the local German boy who took it home. In the Men’s class, Dustin Urban took the top seat on the Podium, with some greats rides, following him where Peter Csonka, and EJ. I ended up in seventh place, though I felt like I had an amazing ride, the only problem was the judges still didn’t think so.

From Germany we headed to Thun Switzerland, the land of Chocolate. Thun was just a beautiful little town. All of the buildings are old looking, and very European looking ski town. The continuous joke was that “Thun looks a lot like Vail Colorado.” This was the first competition of the World Cup were the feature was a wave. The Wave was right in town, there were hotels and stores on either side of the river, and there was this nice little wooden covered bridge just upstream of the wave. I was lucky enough to stay in the hotel over looking the river, though it cost an arm and a leg being that everything else was full. The wave would always surge, so it was hard to tell who would be the man to beat. There were a lot of Europeans who did very well. Peter placed third, while Stephen Wright and myself battled it out for First place. It was down to the wire, but I beat him by a mere 24 points. Though I think we were both just excited at how well we paddled, with breaking the 900-point barrier.

They also had the Over-All Results for the World Cup, as well as for the Thun Competition. Peter Csonka took the well-deserved Gold, while I was excited with Silver, and the Father to be, Dustin Urban took Bronze.

In the end it was a great excuse to go paddle some great rivers in Europe, and hang out with some good friends.

Nick Troutman

Kristine, EJ, Dane, Emily and Nick are all excited. Check out the Jackson web page www.jacksonkayak.com for pictures of KC.

KC will be a nice addition to their paddling lineup. Could this mean an even smaller boat will be coming out?

For the ultimate in relaxation check out Rx Rivers www.rxrivers.com, hosts Aren and Sarah Rane provide a cozy camp located alongside the  river with Kitchen and Bath House, Hot Tub for 2 and Riverfront dining. In addition to great kayaking is Horseback riding, and Fly Fishing.

Contact: Aren, Sarah Rane
1.505.280.1922
 projectfuta2 at hotmail.com