W500 Kayak Stand Up Paddling From A Paddler’s Standpoint

13 Responses to W500 Kayak Stand Up Paddling From A Paddler’s Standpoint

1. Jeff McGovern says:

   July 31, 2011 at

   Butt has been kicked, names have been taken. The kayak world has something serious to worry about that goes by the name of Wavewalk. Well done sir, very well done. Frankly the W500 rocks!!!!!!
2. W kayak says:

   July 31, 2011 at

   “Butt has been kicked” The one and only Jeff hath spoken…
   How about “The kayak world has been given a glimmer of hope…” ?
3. Ezra says:

   July 31, 2011 at

   It looks like the paddler in this clip is a giant… what’s the catch?
4. W kayak says:

   July 31, 2011 at

   No catch: I’m 6 ft tall, and the helmet on my head adds about 2 inches to that. The camera is mounted on a small tripod attached to the top of the helmet, which adds about 5-6 more inches.
   I don’t like this “giant” effect, but I didn’t want to attach the camera on my chest, or on the side of my head, because either of these locations would have been more problematic than the top of the helmet.

   BTW, this is what the contraption looks like:

   
5. Rox says:

   August 1, 2011 at

   Awesome video, it really shows just how easy launching and paddling
   standing up is in the W500.

   In Fact, I find I can paddle stronger and faster standing then sitting.

   I took a friend out this past weekend, she has never been in any kind of kayak before in her life.
   She was paddling and standing within 20 minutes after getting the feel for the W500.
   I’ll be sending you that report soon Yoav.

   Tight lines and Paddle safe all.
   Rox
6. Paul Z says:

   August 2, 2011 at

   When paddle standing (I do, sometimes) I look around me rather than at my feet
7. W kayak says:

   August 2, 2011 at

   So do I, Paul, but this short demo / instructional movie is mainly for people who’ve never seen a W kayak before, and it was important for me to explain by visual means where your feet are located, and how your body works, especially when you’re paddling standing, although understanding the riding position is very important too.
8. Mike Ratigan says:

   August 2, 2011 at

   Great clip……it shows the basics very well and may help some prospects visualize how simply and easily the W is operated. It may also give the traditional yakkers something to envy. You can almost see the lower back pain drifting away.
9. W kayak says:

   August 2, 2011 at

   Thanks Mike, I think you gave me an idea for a new movie
   “Almost seeing” is pretty good, but not where I’d like to be – It’s time to make a video demonstrating the ergonomics of the W kayak.
   However, proving beyond reasonable doubt what is basically a subjective physical and psychological notion such as ‘comfort’, or ‘well being’ is not that easy.
   Any ideas?
10. Mike Ratigan says:

    August 2, 2011 at

    I totally agree with the demo clip idea. Use the footage from the paddlers viewpoint and also pan out to show the same maneuvers being explained by the narrator. I would demo beach launching, dock launching, jumping, sitting athwart ships with your feet dangling in the water, water entry over the ends, maybe even some in the surf. You could alternate between the helmet camera and a cameraman. Maybe you could get Rox or Jeff to don the helmet and show them landing a fish! That would be way cool, and something that no one else could demo. Just some thoughts.
11. W kayak says:

    August 2, 2011 at

    Thanks Mike,

    We know what’s causing the back pain in people who paddle common yaks, or fish from them, and we know why W yakkers don’t feel any back pain -
    From your standpoint as a guy who suffers from back pain, and could no longer go in common kayaks – How do I show the lower pain drifting away? -Without talking too much, that is …
    In other words, what kind of visual stuff would have made you stay in Rochester and mail me a check, instead of driving all the way here in order to test the W500 before buying one?

    -Note that we’re in the domain of movie making now …

    Yoav
12. Mike Ratigan says:

    August 2, 2011 at

    That is a challenge and also why I didn’t comment on it. Very subjective. We W yakkers know all about it, but how do you explain that to the larger kayak community? Possibly interviewing W’ers to see what prompted their purchase decision. Those of us with back issues are probably your biggest fans.
13. W kayak says:

    August 2, 2011 at

    Sounds good Mike!
    Interviews are still verbal, but it’s already a step in the right direction.
    I’d love to get a short “before and after” style video interview from you, in which you explain your back’s situation before you got a W500 for yourself, and after you got it: What it felt back then (pun…), and why, and what it feels now, and why.
    How does it sound?