Moving Sale

Hey, all! I have officially moved my blog to my retooled (Hehe, I said tool) website. You can now come see me ramblings at www.kellyblades.com.

Thanks!

Massive Update...No, it'll be huge! Really!

Coming next week I will be updating my website for the rest of this year and into 2009. Please visit early and often to www.kellyblades.com and see the changes. It's gonna be good...or at least a little different. For fans of the site I will be answering new questions. If you have any you want me to sort out, please email me at kelly@kellyblades.com.
Thank you for your continuing support and I look forward to some interweb fun in the near future.
Your truly,
Kelly
(Souvenir overlord of all he surveys)

A Question to Ponder...

Is torso movement the most important element to the bodies contribution in kayaking?

Rescue Practice

I have declared Wednesdays the official evening of the week for rescue practice! Having said that, I will be out working rescues at Island Lake Recreation Area in Lyon Township, MI at 5pm on Wednesdays. Provided the weather is cooperating, I will do this as long as people show up ready to work. I encourage all of my loyal minions to follow suit and either join me at Island Lake or set up rescue practice in their area.

Go, team!

What's going on now...

Well, kids, it's been a while since I have updated the old blog site. Honestly, I didn't think anyone was reading the darned thing but who can tell what people do on the Internet? Lately I have been getting the "business" from folks regarding my lack of posts so I am back at it for all of my adoring fans...all 4 of them. So here's the heads up;

1) Why, God, why? Why haven't I posted in a while? Well as some of you know I have two little kids that are better than a knucklehead like me deserves. My youngest is entering his preschool years and it has been a chore to find him a place where learning and beatings go hand in hand. He is in point of fact my son and thus needs some chin music now and again...I speak metaphorically, not literally...well, not entirely literally. With that, preseasons, and all the other things that go along with that, my paddling has taken a back seat to family. This problem is being rectified as I type and I will be more active, kayak and typing wise, in no time.

2) Why am I not writing about exciting places and cool teaching opportunities? That one is simple; every time I post that I will be teaching somewhere cool, it falls apart without exception. Case in point, I was supposed to be teaching in Galveston in 2 weeks. For those of you that believe hurricanes only hit Louisiana, check out what Ike did to the Texas coast. In short, San Louis Pass is a pile of sticks and broken hearts. I can only imagine that my paddling karma had something to do with that. Sorry, Texas!

3) Why not do some more product evaluation for those companies you work for? Things are still getting settled for new gear with NRS and Immersion Research so when I get that product I will comment.

So, thanks for the comments and the emails and the Facebook posts. I will be back on the wagon an typing away from here on in!

Thanks, peeps!

Sometimes They Come Back!

Howdy, kids! Todays post is a bit different from the others. I don't know that you will find it exceptionally funny but rather, a bit on the heart-felt side. You see, when I was a wee sea kayakist making the move from white water boating, I had this guy who was of great influence on my developement. He was the guy who showed me that sea kayaking could be fun, exciting, and had a style all of it's own. He was not the guys who talked too much about himself but rather showed me that you did your talking in your boat through actions. He was the guy who proved that being a sea kayaker was less about gear and more about challenging yourself while still being yourself. That man was (and is) Scott Fairty. He took a break from paddling for a few years to become more mainstream and to put his family in the forefront of his life. As we all know, it's hard to get back into the rhythm of it all once you leave...you can never go home again, as they say.
Well, I am proud to say that he is back and getting into kayaking again. And, mind you, this is not just another pretty face. Scott's resume' spans decades in the paddlesports world including; Former Regional Coaching Officer for the BCU; ACA Open Water Instructor; BCU 5 star sea and Level 5 Coach aspirant; Old School Dagger rep (When Dagger was Dagger alone) for the East Coast; General Manager for Great River Outfitters: And general all around well respected paddler in every discipline of the sport. He is now on my P&H Midwest Paddling Team and will be looking to do tons of instruction this fall and I expect him to be a household word again in 2009. If you are interested in having Scott do some work for you, please feel free to contact me at kellyblades@gmail.com and I will pass along the info.

Hot ACA Open Water Action

Hey folks! I am pleased to announce that I will be helping out Ryan Ruston of Geneva Kayak Centrer with an ACA Open Water training, October 10-12. The assessment will be held on November 1-3 so Ryan and I can expect a mass of sugar hyped participants. If you are interested in these courses please contact Geneva Kayak Center for details.