The Hammer Factor

Check out her book, Amazon Woman, HERE.

Darcy Gaechter, the first and only woman to run the Amazon River source to sea, owner of Small World Adventures, and published author, joins us for this episode of the Hot Seat. Darcy talks about the planning, dynamics, and struggles of a 148-day expedition, coming face to face with yourself while writing a book, and the struggle of being accepted for making a life outside the box. With over 20 years old expeditions under her belt, Darcy has a great insight of living the life that makes you happy.

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For a limited time, use discount code ‘GTFOutside’ for 10% off your entire cart. (get the fuck outside!). https://coloradokayak.com/

Races, freestyle comps, free camping and more in New Mexico! MothersDayWhitewater.com

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Welcome to Hammer Factor Episode 72, ‘Paddling Through A Pandemic”.  I want to start off by saying we are living through unprecedented times.  Everyone listening to this show has seen their schedule, job and life in general drastically change in just a few days.  The situation in this country and around the world for that matter is evolving daily.  While no one can predict the future, the next few months will be something tomorrow’s generation will study in their history books.  To say we’re going to face adversity is a colossal understatement.  Having said that there will be another side to this. We will move through this cloud and that is what we want to discuss on this show.  Primarily can we or even should we keep kayaking through this era of social distancing and if should what is the best practice.

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Hipgrave Magic:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZM551Exbsqo&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR3xYpjqgcKz97Wzg_phZYx4za3mNOZ2BYi-3UGv3QqsnB_eIuFRlExDbc0

Jet-Powered Kayak:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1SVStFWg-g&fbclid=IwAR2LwQbB8bohX8nnJp6Au6QTUVkr6TEHpVv0VKoR-WubQAyBEdskEv5c1rA

Get Your Journal Here: https://squareup.com/store/hammerfactor/

Ladies and gentlemen, we are back!  70 freaking 1…how did this happen.

Anyway, we have an obnoxiously packed show lined up:

–  Things are looking grim for clean water.  The Trump administration has ‘clarified’ the Clean Water Act.  Louis explains.  

– Eric Jackson’s new company Apex Watercraft.  A conspiracy theory that turned out true!

–  John Mark Seelig, captain of the US Rafting Team comes on to describe their recent attempt at the Grand Canyon Speed record.  What’s next and will they try it again?

–  Bobby Kuepper, member/manager at CKS comes on to give us all the paddlesport retailer insider beta. What’s up with the split? Why doesn’t Hala make packrafts. Manufacturers selling direct are crushing retail, how can you compete?

Of course, we have some incredible listener mail and everyone is wondering what Louis will rant about this week.  Here we go!

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Hipgrave Magic:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZM551Exbsqo&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR3xYpjqgcKz97Wzg_phZYx4za3mNOZ2BYi-3UGv3QqsnB_eIuFRlExDbc0

Jet-Powered Kayak:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1SVStFWg-g&fbclid=IwAR2LwQbB8bohX8nnJp6Au6QTUVkr6TEHpVv0VKoR-WubQAyBEdskEv5c1rA

This episode is brought to you by the Whitewater Journal. Paddle more in 2020. Get your journal here! https://squareup.com/store/hammerfactor/item/whitewater-journal-1

We start this week’s show with a lashing from Kayak Pucon Hostile. Next, we discuss what Eric Jackson’s next moves may be. From there we get into listener mail and of course rants and raves! Thank you for listening, enjoy!

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Chris Hipgrave Email

What’s up gentlemen?

While we all throughly enjoy Weld’s passionate assessments of the whitewater industry, I feel strongly that his doom and gloom / glass half empty summary of current industry events, might only be telling one narrative of a much more complex situation.

First off let’s talk about overall participation in whitewater. The latest Outdoor Industry Association / American Canoe Association paddlesports report shows some really promising stats …

Anecdotically, I would also argue that whitewater kayaking is stronger than we give it credit. Just go paddle during Yough week, Gauley season, a solid Colorado season, etc. and the numbers of folks enjoying the river is astonishing compared to even just 10 years ago. In these regional whitewater strongholds, the only thing lacking feels like space in the eddy on some weekends.

So here at Pyranha we strongly disagree with the concept that whitewater kayaking is an endangered activity and we’re likely to end up making our own kayaks in our garages, as some have suggested (Corran). Could it be better? Absolutely, and there are great examples of clubs and individuals that should be applauded for acting locally to make huge difference.

Turning our attention to the recent spate of industry acquisitions, mergers and departures, again I would argue that these are inevitable in a young industry like ours that only started rotomolding whitewater kayaks 40 years ago. Folks probably don’t understand just how small the whitewater industry is, so when big things happen like these industry shake ups, we all probably feel somewhat threatened. However, we can choose to engage the reality that our young industry is realigning to a new retail reality, and adjust our own course, or we can choose to point out everything that’s flawed about it and yet out of our control. I hear many folks, including the Hammer Factor, comparing whitewater kayaking to the biking industry but even there we are seeing mergers and acquisitions as they grabble with the same changing retail landscape.

Here at Pyranha, we have zero plans to slow down our innovation of new and exciting boats just because of these industry changes and challenges. If one of our peers stopped manufacturing whitewater kayaks tomorrow, the industry would adjust, small manufacturers (Waka, Exo, etc), would step up to join the mainstream and once the dust settled, we’d all be back on the river doing what we love. The draw of the river will always be stronger than what manufacturers name is on the side of your kayak. Additionally, we strongly disagree with the assertion that fewer manufacturers means less innovation. To use your own example, the bike industry is dominated by Trek and Specialized and yet they have some of the most interesting and innovative bikes out there. iOS and Android, are another example. Innovation will only stop if we choose to make it stop and the paddlers out there demand that we don’t, so at Pyranha, we won’t.

Lastly, let’s address the Big Gear Show … on second thoughts let’s not. That whole thing just pissed me off!

Cheers

Chris Hipgrave – Director of Sales

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT SLALOM HERE

http://www.nwwhitewater.org/

http://www.penncup.org/

https://nantahalaracingclub.com/

http://www.potomacwhitewater.org/

http://www.durangowhitewater.org/about/

Big thanks to Ekstremesportveko for sponsoring the show! Check Out Ekstremsportveko Here!  https://ekstremsportveko.com/hammerfactor/

Weeks of pent up energy and the news that caused it can’t be contained for another second.  Let us begin.  We have a great interview with 15-year-old slalom phenom, Evy Leibfarth.   Next, it seems The Hammer Factor was correct in reporting on the financial struggles of the company formerly known as Confluence Outdoors.  Anonymous Boat Review Guy gives us the inner workings of the recent mergers and acquisitions.  This takes us to the news Jackson Kayak founder, Eric Jackson, has left the company…what on Earth?  Finally, the Paddlesport Retailer show has collapsed like a neutron star under its own weight.  This begs the question, is whitewater in an inescapable black hole and will anyone escape?  Thank you for listening, enjoy!

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Better late than never! We continue our discussion on the whitewater industry, from there we get into some pre-Green Race banter, listener email and epic rants! Enjoy!

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Corran’s Industry Margins Seminar

Bren Orton in China

https://youtu.be/EwRf-rwVVdc

https://youtu.be/aLlKVue4oBo

We got us a hell uva’ show lined up. Industry news, CO water rights with Dan Niemala and Kristina Wynne, Gore Race wrap-up with Hattie Johnson, and double rants and raves. Yes that’s right, we had several folks complain about rants and raves not being in the last show so we’re gonna open with rants and raves and close with rants and raves. Enjoy!

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Hardline Mountain Bike Race

Here is a look at the Paddlesport Retailer lanyard.

Beater Article

Great Opportunities for Instruction

Calleva

Colorado Water Rights and History Segment

Colorado Stream Flows: https://dwr.state.co.us/surfacewater/default.aspx

Pyranha Carbon Ozone

In this episode, we get Scott Byers, brand manager at Confluence Outdoor, on the show to set the record straight on rumors of trouble at Dagger Kayaks. Next, we dive back into Swiftwater Rescue. Lastly, we get Great Falls Race organizer, Geoff Calhoun on the show to talk about this year’s event. Enjoy!

***Dagger Outburst Auction***: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Hammer-Factor-Dagger-Outburst-Strategic-Reserve-Release/264421585415

Biblical Warfare

Bundyville Podcast

Dane’s rescue on Raven Fork:

Creature Craft Logic?

Meme Boof

In this episode, we auction off a Dagger Outburst to raise money for the Boise Whitewater Park and Outdoor Alliance!  Of course we hit listener mail, rants and raves and more!

***Dagger Outburst Auction***: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Hammer-Factor-Dagger-Outburst-Strategic-Reserve-Release/264421585415

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Brian Knights Squirt Boating Vimeo Channel:  Videos

Paddle Boarding Your Way To Better Kayaking:

Well the cat’s out of the bag now thanks to Grace. We had hoped to share this exciting news with the whitewater kayaking world when the results of our multi-year study were published in a peer reviewed journal, but I guess the time is now. The results are in and its definitive…if you want to be a better kayaker, go paddleboarding.

It all started about 10 years ago when we noticed a phenomenon. Here in Colorado washed up kayakers in their 40’s with a puzzling affinity for wearing visors, were flocking to paddleboarding like Phish had announced a four night stand at Red Rocks. If a paddler well past their prime could learn to successfully execute an eddy turn in class II after only 3 months of daily practice…what could this remarkable training tool do in the hands of an athlete in their prime?

So we set about a black box research project with two of the sports premier athletes: Dane Jackson and Gerd Serrasolses. While they took to the paddling very quickly getting their cargo shorts and shaka game dialed took some work. I don’t want to bore you with the science, so I’ll let the results of the Little White Race speak for themselves. The bottom line is simple… If you want to be a better class V kayaker, go paddleboarding in class II.

For those of you interested in learning more about how SUP can make you a better kayaker my Ebook “SUP-PRIZE! Paddleboarding Your Way to Better Kayaking” will be available later this summer. Grace thanks for shining a light on this important breakthrough in training and thanks as always for the work you do. -Mike Harvey, Salida, CO

In this episode, we have two-time world champion on the show, Mariann Saether to discuss her recent win at the prestigious North Fork Championship.  Enjoy and thanks for listening!

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN

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