The VCOLD Hydroflex top differs from all other Hydrophobic tops in its overall weight and construction. Using a hollow yarn fabric that is super stretchy and light to wear, the VCOLD Hydroflex Top is able to trap a significant amount of warmth relative to its overall weight. In addition, the super soft plush lining feels so nice next to skin, you will be hitting the water with a smile no matter how cold it is out there!
Importantly, the Hydrophobic Treatment on the outer stops water attaching to the top meaning that you will stay dry and warm for longer than you would in our standard VCold Base Top.
Featuring Vaikobi's trademark side mesh breathable panels, this top is all set to control your body temperature for maximum performance in cool to cold conditions.
Product Features:
Available now at your local Vaikobi Dealer and at www.vaikobi.com
We are starting to get excited now that it is less than at week until the 2019 Vaikobi Auckland King and Queen of the Harbour which also doubles up as the New Zealand National Ocean Racing Championship!
Rachel Clarke from the Shaw and Partners Race Team will be gunning for her record breaking 7th title in the Women's whilst defending champ Andy Mowlem is going to have fend off a bunch of contenders such as Garth Spencer Tom Ashley Sam Mayhew, Jordan Mclarin, Simon Longdill and Leopold Tepa who are all looking to take his hard earned crown!
With Oscar Chalupsky also in town this week running clinics and racing, the vibe will be electric come race day this Saturday March 30th.
Don't forget to come by and register on Friday afternoon at the World Famous Ocean Culter in Takapuna where the full Vaikobi range of gear will be available!
Open to all Ski's, SUP's and OC's (Waka-Ama in kiwi speak), entries are still open at: https://www.webscorer.com/register?raceid=164095
John Curnow- Sail-World
Yep. That would be the other two-finger salute. You know, V. So if youre aiming to be victorious out on the water, and certainly look like it before you even start, then please read on. For Vaikobi can certainly assist you with both!
So good engineering is an integral part of any brilliant brand. R&D, real world testing, and then a graphic mnemonic that is just so memorable, are what elevate said brand to the much vaunted, and celebrated status of must have. Such is the case with Vaikobi, the brand that started out looking after paddlers, but has rapidly become the darling of OTB sailors, where fit for purpose is just as important as true, genuine and comfortable fit for your body!
The secret is that in actual fact, the founders know sailing, as they are sailors, but more importantly, they have an in depth appreciation of how to keep you warm, dry, protected from the sun, and safe whilst youre out on the sea having fun. Those four cornerstones are not only brand pillars, but essentially, exactly the way their products split into ranges, or departments. There is the sun department, the warm department, dry department, and the safe department, but well come to all of that in just a moment.
Vaikobi was established in 2012 by husband and wife team, Pat and Adrienne Langley, to provide the most innovative gear for performance water sports athletes. There is more than enough experience in both professional sailing, and also tremendous brands like Line 7, Musto, and Zhik, to go around twice over. As for the founders, well as they put it themselves, We sailed a B14 together a while, and as we survived the test of sailing together, we decided to get married.
All of the team at Vaikobi HQ have kids now, so they actively encourage flexibility for all staff. Youll regularly see them leaving early for school pick ups and after school activities. Likewise, youll often see kids around the office offering their helpful suggestions about the latest gear going into production! Best thing is, as all of the children are now sailing, so it is a great way to ensure they are on top of all the product requirements in real time. It is no mistake that in fact the work practices are simpatico with the products they make and sell, so it is very much a case of modern solutions for modern times.
Focussing initially on the paddle market was also part of the plan, for where they are headquartered on Sydneys Northern Beaches is a Mecca for all manner of watersports. Pat himself is a keen paddler, but here too, the lessons learned in terms of fit, mobility, breathability, durability, warmth, and protection have been well and truly honed, and this is why usability remains paramount.
No doubt this is reflected in the vast array of World, Olympic and National Champions across many disciplines that use/test/report on the gear, and are the companys biggest advocates. Today, you can now find Vaikobi being sold in over 20 countries, and this is set to build even faster from here courtesy of their new and ever-expanding sailing range. Incidentally, many a sailor also uses some of the paddling gear, and the paddlers are now taking to the sailing items rather smartly, as well.
Indeed it was this sort of cross-pollination that caused the Langleys to embark on their Vaikobi Sail Performance project 12 months ago. The aim was to develop sailing gear that worked harder to control your body temperature on the water. We worked with a range of Aussie sailors from the US-based, pro M32 crew on Bliksem, and the most dominant 16-foot skiff team over the past two years, Manly Surf n Slide. Additionally, we worked with a number of other sailors from 16 and 18-foot skiffs, 29ers, 49ers, Open Bics and 505s to ensure our gear performed, and identified any issues or opportunities for development.
In December we released the first of our Vaikobi Sail Performance range, which included our popular VX Race PFD, our VCold Flex2 Long John, and our VDry Performance Smock. Its all about controlling your body temperature when youre out on the water. Using our VCold Flex technology developed over the years, our gear is designed to keep you warm without overheating. We have also added in key design features based on athlete feedback, said Langley.
So the VX Race PFD is the companys signature product. It stems from a long history in creating athlete friendly, compliant, comfortable, and cool looking gear. Yes, we think we have gone a long way to making being safe a cool thing. If it becomes no hassle, because it feels better and looks better, then it is a no brainer. To do this, it was about getting the strap lengths being correct, the cut outs on the front, sides and back just right for comfort, and using our special form fitting foam that moulds on the body means you really dont know that youre wearing it.
Sailors and retailers alike are singing the praises of this one. Thats for sure. It is ISO approved, which aids in global distribution. Apart from being cool and funky, the brand is ultra-aware of its female customers, so there is a special pink version, and it also has its own subtle pattern through it. Quite possibly, this sort of awareness stems from not only the large number of female staff, but also the Langleys own two daughters. Yes. We are certainly aware of the requirement for comfort, and this does show through in our materials and designs.
You know the bright colours are more than just cool, they do stem from visibility, and some Downwind paddling races now specify not just a PFD, but a Vaikobi one at that! With the continued rise of fishing from kayaks, and the paddlers who can be up to 2nm offshore, you would think this sort of item is beyond anything but mandatory.
So from there we move to the warm department, which is called VCold. The layering (VCold Flex) of airprene with specific jerseys, lycra, and obviously strengthening/durability/reinforcement in the seat and knees is quite remarkable, but you also have a clever and unobtrusive shoulder Velcro strap to allow you to get into the item in the first place. If you cannot even get into in the shop, there is a fair chance youll never even buy it
The Long John product is where form, fit, stretch and breathability really amalgamate to give you the ultimate in body temperature control as you range from minimal movement on board, to full and even extreme exertion, and then also theres your range of movement. The hydrofleece panels on the sides attend to a lot of the breathability. It also means the chest area is never tight. Theres also a pocket on the leg for your knife or other. There is also the matching tech top (VCold flex top) that has the breathable side panels, and fleece collars, and heres also a lighter weight version (VCold base top) of that, as well, or choose one of the other existing garments from the range, all of which have no seams in the wrong places!
So then the sun department would be all about short and long sleeve UV50, light weight, 100% moisture wicking tech tops. These come in either fitted or relaxed forms, in a range of colours, and styles that suit every kind of waterborne endeavour, and very much lend themselves to be part of a team fit out scenario. There is a padded, full leg UV pant that can be matched to these, as well. It also benefits from having a high back and lower front, like many of the Vaikobi pants do.
One of the items really taking off is the VOcean board shorts. Originally an inspired paddling solution, these are making a mark in sailing, for not only are they a lot cooler and funkier than your average sailing shorts, they also incorporate an inner Lycra short, together with an airprene padded seat, and then there is the super-stretch board short shell on the outside. This is undisputedly a marvellous, general marine piece of apparel.
So then were off to the dry department, which would be VDry category. The signature item here at the moment is the VDry performance smock, which is a two and half layer, extremely breathable top. It has polyurethane collar and cuffs, adjustable waist, and the fit allows for not being too tight in the chest, too short in the arms, or rises too high as it is just too short. Not so here, in fact the tip is that you may well be one size under your normal selection, as they are generous fitments. Youll also be very happy about the price for what it is, so please do check it out. It will range of OTB to keelboat easily, and will provide cover right up until you start to need to worry about hoods and so forth.
Sitting under this gem are the single layer shell jacket, with mesh lining smock and vest, which also have a generous cut to account for sitting. So it is really about being a spray-protecting windbreaker, and there are cleverly disguised breathable panels across the back and armpits (jacket only of course), with flaps covering them over as a guard to prevent water from ingressing. They have a fleece collar, and a half zip for access, looking better, performing better when engaged in sporting activity, and there is every chance youll be in the either of them a lot for everything from going to the boat to walking the dog.
Now BoatCrewGear.com is an Australian small business that is passionate about sailing and paddling gear, as well as getting the customers the right product. Andrew Hawkins says of Vaikobi, They have always had a range of quality paddling products that we have enjoyed selling. The Vaikobi teams attention to detail and constant communication with the users of their gear has made them one of the market leaders.
When they told us they were releasing a sailing range, we were immediately receptive. Knowing that Pat Langley, one of the founders, is not only a keen paddler but a very accomplished sailor, gave us the confidence to stock the new sailing gear straight away.
"Vaikobi has a reputation for attention to detail, and listening to the users of their products. Pat is as passionate about paddling and sailing gear as we are. Vaikobi's sailing products have a lot of features that show that they have listened to sailors when designing their range."
As Pat Langley says, Overall, the Vaikobi story can be summed up in one word - passion. When you feel better on the water, you have more fun. This is our ultimate goal! See vaikobi.com for more information, product lines, and of course, a stockist near you. Great gear awaits you
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Pic: TJ has his eyes on the prize
This Saturday marks the return to Ocean Ski Paddling for champion Australian paddler Tim Jacobs at the Shaw and Partners 20 Beaches Ocean Classic.
Better known as TJ, Tim holds the record for the most wins in the history of the 20 Beaches, having won the iconic race an amazing Seven times.
TJ’s first win was back in 2000, which saw the beginning of a decade where Tim dominated the sport, winning all the major international races and was known as the man to beat.
TJ's last Ocean Ski race was at the 20 Beaches Classic in 2014 when he was pipped by London Olympic Gold Medalist Murray Stewart, (who Tim coached to the Rio Olympics), in a tight finish at Palm Beach.
Pic: TJ and Murray Stewart battle it out for the 2014 20 Beaches Ocean Classic- The last time Tim raced.
Over the past 4 years, Tim has been working hard, growing his construction business and spending more time with his Four kids and wife Renee, however he has not lost any of his speed and the lure of extending his record to eight titles plus the $10,000 first prize cheque has got TJ back on the water and excited to compete again.
TJ will be up against the current crop of the World’s best paddlers, some of which were only five years old when Tim won his first 20 Beaches Title.
The 20 Beaches Ocean Classic takes competitors along the coastline of the Northern Beaches which presents many different conditions and local nuisances that take years to understand. Tim’s intricate knowledge of the race track will no doubt play in the mind of the others he is racing against on Saturday.
When asked how he was feeling about his comeback, Tim commented “I have nothing to loose really and all the pressure is on the young guys who race all year round, so I am really looking forward to getting out there and having fun on Saturday.”
In regards to local knowledge, he commented that "It is a tricky race course and local knowledge will play a big part in deciding who gets to the finish first. I back myself to know the right way to go!”
Pic: Current World Champion, Cory Hill is the man to beat at the Shaw and Partners 20 Beaches Ocean Classic
It should be an excellent tussle up front with current World Champion, Cory Hill leading the charge up against a host of contenders including Jacobs, Mackenzie Hynard, Sean Rice (South Africa), Jasper Mocke (South Africa), Josh Fenn (South Africa), Tom Norton, Jeremy Cotter, Clint Robinson, Michael Booth, and Pat Dolan and Austin Kieffer both from USA.
One thing is for certain, not many of the contenders will be feeling comfortable seeing Jacobs hot on their tail at any point of the race!
The current forecast for Saturday is for a North Easterly wind, which will see competitors start at Station Beach, Palm Beach. From here competitors will race around Barrenjoey Headland before turning south and navigate around the notoriously rough Bangalley Headland before setting course for a fast run down the coast to Fishermans Beach at Long Reef for a total course length of 20 kilometres.
The Shaw and Partners 20 Beaches Classic is proudly sponsored by Shaw and Partners Financial Services and supported by KPMG and Fitness First in partnership with Ocean Paddler.
This year, Take 3 for the Sea is the official charity partner for the Shaw and Partners 20 Beaches Classic. For more information about Take 3 for the Sea, please visit: www.take3.org
For more race information on the Shaw and Partners 20 Beaches Ocean Classic, please go to www.20beaches.com.au
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Vaikobi has you covered this Christmas with stacks of gift ideas for your ocean loving friend. Check out these awesome gift ideas hand picked by the Vaikobi Team!
VAIKOBI PADDLE BOARD SHORTS
#1 on everyones gift list this year! The Vaikobi Paddle Boardies combine surf style and paddle function with an innovative “two in one” design featuring the standard Vaikobi paddle short (with 1.5mm seat pad) under a fitted 17” super stretchy and lightweight board short.
No more lycra tight paddle shorts for your man!
Available in Black/Cyan and Black/Orange
VAIKOBI TRAVEL BAG
The Vaikobi Travel Bag is your all in one travel solution. Designed to fit everything you may possibly need for your paddle trip in ONE perfectly sized bag!
Packed with features, this bag will become your "must have" for all your paddle travels to get your gear and paddle from A to B safely and cost effectively.
VAIKOBI HOODED DOWN JACKET
Warm up quickly after those cold sessions on the water with Vaikobi's Hooded Down Jacket!
Designed to provide fantastic warmth and insulation, the Hooded Down Jacket is made from 100% natural down and is extremely light and breathable making it a great jacket to keep you warm around your ocean adventures!
VOCEAN S/S UV TOP
Paddle, Surf, Sail, Swim or simply just hanging out at the beach, this is one of the most versatile UV tops in our range and is perfect for a Christmas down under!
Designed to be relaxed fitting, this will be your go to top, to keep you light and cool whilst also providing UV 50+ protection from the sun!
Available in Fluro Orange, Light Grey and Gunmetal Grey
VOCEAN L/S UV TOP
The VOCEAN L/S UV Top features our super lightweight and stretchy VLight fabrication which is extremely soft feeling for maximum comfort both in and on the water.
Providing maximum protection from the sun to keep your body cool and powering throughout summer.
Available in Silver/Cyan and Silver
VDRY LIGHTWEIGHT JACKET
On or off the water, keep powering with Vaikobi’s super lightweight VDRY Jacket.
The VDRY lightweight Jacket features a super lightweight outer shell, designed to protect your body from the elements whilst controlling body temperature.
You will barely notice you are wearing it apart from the sound of the spray deflecting off your Jacket and away from your body!
VCOLD FLEX PADDLE PANTS
Hands down, the best cool to cold condition paddling pants in the world!
Designed to control body temperature without over heating, the VCOLD FLEX Paddling Pants feature a hybrid of super stretch, perforated neoprene and hydro fleece fabrications, strategically positioned for maximum comfort, breathability and thermal regulation
Race on. The VX PFD has your back.
Introducing Vaikobi’s first Sail Performance Racing PFD, designed for maximum comfort in a sleek minimal profile.
Working with our team of legendary sailors, the VX PFD has been carefully designed to meet key weight and profile requirements to ensure maximum comfort and performance.
So light and comfortable, you will not even notice you are wearing it!
]]>How is possible for an awesome event to become even better? Well the 2018 Shaw and Partners Doctor held on Saturday November 24th, did just that with one of the largest numbers of competitors and arguably the highest level of competition across both the Men’s and Women’s in the history of the great race.
The Shaw and Partners Doctor is the most iconic ocean race in the World for ocean ski paddling, not just because of the amazing downwind run across the channel from Rottnest Island to Sorrento, but also due to the great efforts put in by the race organisers, Dean and Sherene Gardiner and Yanda Morrison.
These three combined with an army of helpers from the West and East Coast of Australia, help make this event special in so many ways.
Thanks to the amazing support from Earl Evans and Allan Zion from Shaw and Partners, the 2018 Shaw and Partners Doctor reached new levels of interest and competition with a record $50,000 of prize money on offer for the main race and an additional $15000 of prize money for the Shaw and Partners sprint series held on Friday November 23rd at Sorrento Beach.
Pic: Shaw and Partners Co CEO Earl Evan's, 20 Beaches Foundation Director Justin Ryan and Cory Hill after the Thursday night sunset series race
Pic: Testing the new finishing chute courtesy of Shaw and Partners!
In it's maiden event, the Shaw and Partners sprint series proved to be a massive hit for spectators and competitors alike with Naomi Flood dominating the women’s and Jasper Mocke from South Africa taking out the Men’s.
Pic: Jasper Mocke (RSA) taking out the Men's Shaw and Partners Sprint Series
Oscar Jones took out the U/19’s in a red hot field whist pocket rocket, Jemma Smith won the super competitive u/19 Women’s.
Jimmy Walker took out the 40+ Men’s whilst Todd Borland won the 50+
Pic: Guy Leach interviewing 40+ Shaw and Partners Sprint Series Winner, Jimmy Walker. For the first time in a long time, Jimmy was speechless
It is fair to say that this will not be the last time this event will be run and the on the beach commentary from Guy Leach was sensational!
Saturday dawned with a forecast for light sea breeze conditions of 10 knots building to 15 later in the day. Certainly not normal “Doctor” conditions but there was promise of some bump in the middle of the channel later in the day.
Pic: The Silverado loaded and ready to head to Rottnest Island
Pic: Light conditions on the way to Rottnest Island
With a small time window granted to race director Dean Gardiner to run the race across the channel in order to avoid shipping movements, the first group of starters (SUP and Wave 1 OceanSki) departed Rottnest at 12.30 pm, followed by the Women’s and Oc’s and then the main OceanSki start at around 1pm.
Pic: The main field start
Once around the green channel marker off Rottnest Island, all competitors turned left, aiming for the Centaur mark positioned 20km across the channel off Scarborough Beach.
Usually 1-2km offshore from Rottnest Island, the waves start building and the fun begins, however this year it was to take more than 16km before any decent runs emerged as the sea breeze built closer to the coast. The last 11kms of the race saw some nice runs emerge which made all the effort worth it...if you still had any energy to maximise them.
In the Women’s Ocean Ski, Surf Athlete Georgia Laird from Northcliffe Surf Club on the Gold Coast came out all guns blazing and together with her coach, Naomi Flood, took the lead early on with Teneale Hatton and Hayley Nixon in hot pursuit.
Pic: Georgia Laird the Shaw and Partners Doctor 2018 Women's Winner
In the end, it was Georgia who took home the $10,000 in a sprint finish with Naomi Flood who claimed $6000 for her efforts. Teneale Hatton finished 3rd with Vaikobi Hayley Nixon (Vaikobi, Eurosteel, Shaw and Partners, Carbonology) in 4th and Rachel Clarke (Shaw and Partners/ Vaikobi/ Epic/Bennett) in 6th on her way back from elbow injury.
Central Coast's Gemma Smith took out the u/19’s and finished an impressive 5th overall.
It was fantastic to see so many more women competing this year and we look forward to seeing even more girls racing at the Shaw and Partners 20 Beaches on December 15th.
The Men’s Ocean Ski saw the who’s who of international paddling all on the start line and ready to fire. The only people missing this year were Hank McGregor (new baby born) and Dawid Mocke. Everyone else on the World Tour was there and seriously gunning for the $10,000 first prize.
Sean Rice (RSA), Cory Hill (AUS), Macca Hynard (AUS), Kenny Rice ( RSA) Michael Booth (AUS), Clint Robinson(AUS) , Mark Ando Anderson (AUS), Tom Norton(AUS), Austin Kieffer (USA) and Jasper Mocke (RSA) were all expected to be contenders for the title with each having a legitimate chance of taking the title.
In the U/19 Men’s, a tight battle was expected amongst Oscar Jones, Josh Fenn and Noah Harvard.
It was a drag race to the Centaur mark with Cory, Macca, Sean Rice, Clint Robinson and Michael Booth all arriving close together in a pack. For the last 7 km’s, the pace lifted and the group began to fracture.
Pic: Cory Hill takes out the Men's Shaw and Partners Doctor
In the end, the Current World Champ, Cory Hill paddled his Fenn Elite S to a solid 20 second win from fellow Shaw and Partners/ Vaikobi/ Bennett team mate, Macca Hynard in his Think Uno Max, who is peaking at the right time of year.
Veteran Ocean Paddler and Olympic Gold Medalist, Clint Robinson finished an impressive 3rd from Sean Rice (Vaikobi, Think, PaddleLife) in 4th.
Michael Booth (Shaw and Partners Race Team/ Vaikobi/ Fenn/ Ocean Paddler) showed that his years of dominating the SUP scene has not slowed him down on the ski to finish an impressive 5th. Watch out for Boothy when he returns to the Ski for the 20 Beaches Ocean Classic in Sydney!
Pic: Men's Top 6 from Left to right: Tom Norton, Michael Booth, Sean Rice, Clint Robinson, Macca Hynard, Cory Hill
Pic: Women's Top 5 Left to right: Gemma Smith (5th), Naomi Flood (2nd), Georgia Laird (1st), Teneale Hatton (3rd), Hayley Nixon (4th)
In the U/19’s Josh Fenn from South Africa paddled a superb race to win from Oscar Jones and Noah Harvard in 3rd
James Casey took out the Men’s SUP from Tim Crypien and James Knowles in 3rd.
A massive congratulations to everyone for successfully completing the Shaw and Partners Doctor race again this year.
Pic: Ocean Paddler's 100+ ski's they supplied competitors for the Doctor, taking a much needed rest!
Without the brilliant support of lead sponsor Shaw and Partners, Event Organisers, Ocean Paddler and all the AORS sponsors- Vaikobi, Fenn, Epic, Think, ASN, Bennett, Gara, Kani and Sharkskin, this event would not be possible.
The focus now turns to the next round of the Australian Ocean Racing Series with the Shaw and Partners 20 Beaches Classic in Sydney on December 15th with $75,000 on offer. See you all there!
Full Race Results can be viewed at:
]]>World Champion Cory Hill
As part of our efforts to assist in the growth of Ocean Paddling around the World, Vaikobi is privileged to be part of the team who have been able to bring the 20 Beaches Ocean Classic back on to the Australian Ocean Racing Calendar after a three year hiatus.
Thanks to the amazing support of headline sponsor, Shaw and Partners and supporting partners KPMG and Fitness First, the 2018 Shaw and Partners 20 Beaches Ocean Classic is going to be one not to miss.
Importantly, the Early Bird Entry closes on November 15th, so don’t miss out on your chance to enter this race at the Early Bird price of $110 which is sensational value.
Enter now at: Shaw and Partners 20 Beaches Ocean Classic Entry
To motivate you all, here are 11 Awesome reasons why you just have to race in the 2018 Shaw and Partners 20 Beaches Ocean Classic:
1. Iconic Race: There is not a more iconic Ocean Paddling Race on the East Coast of Australia with the history of the 20 Beaches Ocean Classic, so get set to be part of history when the great race returns in 2018.
There will be a host of former winners competing as well as some of the best ocean padders from around the world, so get along and rub shoulders with the world's best.
2. Point to Point Race Track: Only dangerous conditions will stop us running a point to point race from Fishermans to Station Beach, so get set to race on what is the most scenic and awesome race tracks in the world. *Note we have a super back up "Storm Course" ready in the event that conditions are too big to run the normal offshore course.
The race will be conducted by the professional team from Ocean Paddler led by Dean Gardiner and Yanda Morrison.
Women's World Champion, Hayley Nixon from South Africa can't wait to get to Sydney
3. Free Vaikobi Ocean Performance Race Tee: Each competitor will receive a free Vaikobi Performance Race Tee valued at $55. There is half your entry value right there!
4. Free Beer and Burger at the Bavarian Manly for the presentation, 5pm Saturday 15th December. This is going to be a great party and a fantastic way to finish the last ocean race of the year. Get along with all your paddling mates to celebrate a great year at one of the best venues in Sydney.
5. Relay Race: This year, we are offering a relay option for those who are looking to share the race with a friend. The relay change over point will be at Mona Vale Basin.
6. $80,000 Prize Money: Thanks to our fantastic sponsors- Shaw and Partners, KPMG and Fitness First, we are thrilled to be able to offer a $80,000 prize pot to be spread across the divisions. Combined with the Doctor in Perth, the prize money on offer for these two races makes this the richest Ocean Racing Series in the World!
7. Safety: We will be using the Safe TRX mobile phone tracking ap for this race to support our strong on and off water safety team. Safety is our number one priority for this race, so if you are looking to compete in your first ocean race, then this is the one to do! The Mona Vale mid race turning mark is also another great safety feature for this race.
8. Race Hat: Thanks to Shaw and Partners, every competitor will receive an Awesome Vaikobi Race Hat. Rock it this Christmas Holidays.
Sean Rice (RSA) has been training the house down for the November and December racing season and can't wait to get his free Vaikobi Race shirt and hat!
9. Pre- Race training runs: This weekend we will be running our 2nd Pre- Race Paddle on Sunday 11th of November. Register at 20beaches.com.au
10. Because Ocean Paddling needs your support! The sport has been fantastically fortunate to have some amazing people put their heads together to sponsor, support and organise these great races, all with the common goal to grow the sport of Ocean Paddling.
These great people have put significant time and resources into running races like the 20 Beaches Classic, so get along and enter this great race to show your support for the sport of Ocean Racing.
11. Awesome fun! Just in case 10 was not enough. The 11th reason is simply because it is going to be awesome fun which you would not want to miss!
Vaikobi is looking forward to seeing everyone here in Sydney on December 15th 2018.
Austin Kieffer (USA) will be firing and ready to go!
]]>Vaikobi is a proud supporter of the Australian Ocean Racing Series including the Iconic 2018 Shaw and Partners Doctor Ocean Classic.
For 2018 we will be offering an Official Event Tee Shirt, Official On-Water Performance Tee as well as a Retro Doctor Truckers Hat.
All items will be available in Perth for pick up during registration from Vaikobi.
You can order either here at vaikobi.com or when you enter at oceanpaddler.com
See you all in Perth!
Order your gear HERE
We are so stoked to finally announce a new partnership between Vaikobi International and World Surfski Champion, Hayley Nixon with the establishment of Vaikobi South Africa!
For a long time, South African paddlers have been only able to access Vaikobi gear whenever they travel abroad. Despite the challenges in accessing Vaikobi gear, South African paddlers have embraced Vaikobi's range of performance paddling gear and accessories.
Today, we are pleased to announce that through a new partnership with Vaikobi Race Team member and World Surfski Champion Hayley Nixon, Vaikobi is now available for purchase in South Africa and ready to ship locally to you.
CEO and Co-Founder of Vaikobi, Pat Langley commented, "We have got to know Hayley personally over the past 18 months when she joined the Vaikobi Race Team. Over this period we have been absolutely impressed with Hayley's professionalism, character and humility and we are just so pleased to be able to work with her to create Vaikobi South Africa. With the paddling scene so strong in SA, we have been eager to be able to make Vaikobi Gear more readily available for SA Paddlers, so we are now excited to be finally putting the plan in place!"
Hayley Nixon, Vaikobi South Africa, is also thrilled to commence this partnership: "From the moment I was introduced to Pat, Adrienne and the Team at Vaikobi, I was amazed at their ability to consistently design and develop such innovative gear, designed specifically for what we do. From joining the Vaikobi Race Team of Athletes, to now having the opportunity establish Vaikobi South Africa is absolutely fantastic and I am stoked to be able to begin this journey with the Vaikobi Team.",
She added, "It is just great that we can now make Vaikobi gear more readily available here for South African Paddlers".
Customers will be able to order direct from the Vaikobi Website, www.vaikobi.com with only local shipping costs charged. Alternatively, Hayley can be contacted at hayley@vaikobi.com. Hayley will no doubt be at a race near you at some point soon!
Please visit www.vaikobi.com to learn more about Vaikobi and our innovative range of gear and accessories.
]]>We are excited to launch a new generation of the hugely popular Vaikobi Ocean Racing PFD- The V3 Ocean Racing PFD
The V3 Ocean Racing PFD features some new updates to increase comfort and performance including:
We have kept many of the existing design features which have made this PFD so popular, including our super soft, form fitting foam that bends around the body and our overall ultra lightweight construction.
If you are training or racing in the harbour or a few kilometres offshore in the ocean, the Vaikobi Ocean Racing PFD will not only make you feel lighter and more comfortable in the boat, but will also make you highly visible to those around you for when you want to be seen.
Key Product Features:
The new V3 Ocean Racing PFD is available in 3 new colour ways:
Fluro Yellow/ Grey
Fluro Orange/ Grey
Cyan/ Grey (Limited stock available, be quick!)
Available now through all Vaikobi Dealers and through www.vaikobi.com
Introducing the New Vaikobi VDRY Range of lightweight Jacket and Vests!
The Wind and Water are the enemy when it comes to maintaining optimum body temperature for peak performance when training across all seasons.
Enter Vaikobi's new VDRY range of super lightweight Jacket and Vests, designed to protect your body from the elements whilst controlling body temperature to ensure maximum performance.
Available now through your locally Vaikobi Dealer and through www.vaikobi.com
]]>Vaikobi's International Team of Ocean Ski Athletes will arrive in Hawaii this weekend in the lead up to the 2018 Maui Jim Molokai Challenge, which will this year be held on Sunday May 27th.
This 32 Mile (53 Kilometres) crossing from Molokai to Oahu is one of the most prestigious Ocean Ski races in the World and this year marks the 43rd Annual Crossing across the "Channel of Bones".
The 2018 Molokai will pit the Vaikobi Race Team against each other as they all battle for the title in both the Men's and Women's.
With Vaikobi’s 2017 Molokai Champion, Sean Rice, deciding not to return this year to defend his title, the Men’s field is wide open with a host of contenders looking to claim the converted Molokai World Championship.
Pic- Cory "Chill" Hill (AUS) has been putting in the miles with his training partner on the Gold Coast, Mackenzie Hynard (AUS)
New to the Vaikobi Race Team in 2018 is Current World Champion and 2015 Molokai Champion, Cory "Chill" Hill (Fenn/ Shaw & Partners Race Team/ Vaikobi), who is looking to re-gain the Molokai title after a few years of ups and downs in this race, including a wipe out in the last 2 kilometres of the 2016 edition when he cut too close to the rocks after exiting China Wall. Cory then backed up with a fantastic 3rd in 2017.
Pic- Mackenzie Hynard (AUS) had a breakout year in 2017 and is looking to continue his progression to the top
Mackenzie "Macca" Hynard (Think Kayak/ Shaw and Partners Race Team/ Vaikobi) from the Gold Coast is also looking to make an impression in Hawaii this year. Macca had his best year yet in 2017 with quite a few podium results and will feature strongly on race day as he continues his progression to the top.
Macca's training partner on the Gold Coast is none other than Cory Hill.
Pic- Austin Kieffer enjoying the sensational conditions in the recent Maui to Molokai
From San Francisco, CA, is the irrepressible Austin Kieffer (Fenn/ Vaikobi/OceanPaddleSports) who is gunning to be the first American to win the Molokai Challenge since the Hawaiian Kalai Handley won back in 1978. Austin is channelling his inner Tom Seleck for the race with a pretty cool handlebar moustache!
Austin recently finished 2nd in the Maui to Molokai behind Pat Dolan which was run in sensational downwind conditions.
PIC- Austin Kieffer (USA) will be starring as a young Tom Seleck in the remake of Magnum PI, to be released by HBO in 2019!
New Zealander, Andy Mowlem (Think Kayak/ Kayak HQ/Vaikobi) is also in top form after his recent victory in the Vaikobi King of the Harbour in Auckland. Andy loves the long distance and will be in contention in the end.
PIC- Andy Mowlem on his way to victory in the Vaikobi King of the Harbour
The usual list of contenders will be also gunning for the title including Jasper Mocke, Hank McGregor and Pat Dolan. Former race winners and legends of the sport, Oscar Chalupsky, Dean Gardiner and Clint Robinson will also be on the start line to prove that experience counts when conditions get big!
Outrigger legend and Hawaiian local Kai Bartlett, will be racing in the Ski race on his new proto type Ocean Ski, which will make him another one to follow.
PIC- Rachel Clarke of the Shaw and Partners Race Team in Sydney
The Women's race is set be the toughest in recent history with a host of contenders, arriving in Hawaii to race across the channel.
Two members of the Vaikobi race team will be battling it out in the front.
Defending Molokai Champion, Rachel Clarke (Epic, Shaw and Partners Race Team/ Vaikobi) from New Zealand, feels right at home out in the Channel and is looking to rack up her 3rd Molokai victory after completing another fantastic period of training in the build up to the great race.
Rachel's experience and her ocean skills will make her the one to beat.
PIC- Hayley Nixon on her way to claiming her first World Championship in Hong Kong in November 2017
Current World Champion, Hayley Nixon (Carbonology/ Shaw and Partners/ Eurosteel/ Vaikobi) from South Africa, has put in a last minute burst of training to be ready for the 53 Kilometre race. Hayley's marathon paddling experience and base endurance will come in handy as the race progresses.
The battle between these two will be fantastic to watch, however this year, there is a 3rd person joining the party at the head of the field, with Australian Iron Woman and Molokai Paddle Board World Champion, Jordan Mercer taking on Hayley and Rachel for the title.
The other interesting entry in the Women's is the 2016 World SUP Woman's Champion, Penelope Strickland from New Zealand. Pea has pedigree and endurance, so it will be great to watch her race on the Ocean Ski.
PIC- Rachel Clark in training in New Zealand in her Vaikobi VCOLD FLEX gear
PIC-Earl Evans from Shaw and Partners, with Rachel Clark and Pat Langley (Vaikobi) at the Shaw and Partners Race Team launch in Sydney. Earl will be racing the Molokai with Luke Horder in the Relay.
The action begins on Sunday the 20th of May with The Shaw and Partners Makapu'u Dash from Makai Pier to Hawaii Kai.
We wish all competitors a great week in Hawaii!
]]>The Vaikobi King and Queen of the Harbour were crowned in Auckland on Saturday with Andy Mowlem claiming the Men's title with a commanding performance and Rachel Clarke taking her 6th consecutive New Zealand National Championship title by again winning the Women’s.
ANDY MOWLEM WINNING THE VAIKOBI KING AND QUEEN OF THE HARBOUR
RACHEL CLARKE POWERING PAST DEVONPORT
Saturday morning dawned with nice bright sunny conditions with a gentle westerly blowing over the City of Sails in Auckland.
With the forecast showing a 15-18 knot westerly to build during the day, Race Director Garth Spencer set the “Hobsonville Humdinger” race course, aptly named due to the fantastic running conditions experienced when paddling down the Waitemata Harbour in a westerly.
As we got closer to start time, the wind kept building nicely and the sun made way for some light showers and overcast conditions further increasing the excitement amongst competitors.
RACE START
This year saw 88 Ocean skis and 11 SUPs take on the 23kilometre long course, whilst there were 6 Ocean ski’s and 1 SUP take on the 11km short loop course out of Takapuna.
The pace out of the start was frenetic with young Kayak Sprinters Jordan Mclarin and Quaid Thomson blasting out of the blocks in an attempt to blow away the more seasoned ocean ski paddlers. They had quite a bit of success in breaking up the field with a clear group of 7 paddlers forming the lead pack after the first ten minutes of racing.
RACE FIELD
Andy Mowlem managed to survive the fast early pace to then make his first move in the technical conditions and take a 5 boat length lead from Jordan Mclarin and the foxy Race Director, Garth Spencer in a solid 3rd place.
JORDAN MCLARIN
Once the field turned left at North Head, they were confronted with a 15-18 knot headwind all the way back to Takapuna Beach. Competitors were faced with the decision of staying closer to shore to get less headwind, or deciding to head offshore into more favourable current.
From North Head, Andy Mowlem extended his lead further whilst behind him, Garth Spencer closed the gap on Jordan Mclarin to eventually pass him in the last 2 kilometres of the race.
RACE DIRECTOR AND 2nd PLACE MENS SKI, GARTH SPENCER
At the beach in Takapuna, Andy powered home to claim an emphatic 2 minute and 7 second victory over the fast finishing Garth Spencer in 2nd. Jordan Mclarin showed his future potential to finish a fantastic 3rd place in the all class Kiwi field.
TOP 3 MENS OCEAN SKI
In the Women’s Ski, Rachel Clarke from the Shaw and Partners Race Team, claimed her 6th NZ National title in style with a big win over the evergreen Dene Simpson and co event director Danika Mowlem in 3rd.
TOP 3 WOMENS- OCEAN SKI
In the Doubles, Oskar Stielau and Robbie Ford scored a big win over Gavin Clark and Glenn Grey in 2nd and Anton Reiman and Len Beer in 3rd.
DOUBLE WINNERS- OSKAR STIELAU AND ROBBIE FORD
Whilst the SUP field was small this year due to a clash with the Carolina Cup, the level at the front was still amazing with James Reeves from Kawau Downwinders claiming a 2 minute and 5 second win over Matt Anderson and Jan Dunlop. 2016 SUP World Champion, Penelope Strickland dominated the womens to finish 4th overall.
TOP 3 MENS SUP- WINNER JAMES REEVES ON FAR LEFT
TOP 3 WOMENS SUP
The Vaikobi King and Queen of the Harbour continues to grow from strength to strength with a strong community of volunteers all combining to put together this great event each year. We are looking forward to welcoming you all to Auckland in 2019!
Full results can be viewed HERE
To view Pre and post race interview and replays of the FB live feed, go to the King and Queen of the Harbour facebook page HERE
2018 VAIKOBI KING AND QUEEN OF THE HARBOUR
TOP 10 MENS- OCEAN SKI
1. ANDY MOWLEM- ROYAL AKARANA PADDLERS- NEW ZEALAND
2. GARTH SPENCER- ROYAL AKARANA PADDLERS- NEW ZEALAND
3. JORDAN MCLARIN- WCMC- NEW ZEALAND
4. SIMON LONGDILL- ROYAL AKARANA PADDLERS- NEW ZEALAND
5. TOBIAS BROOK- WHANGANUI KAYAK CLUB- NEW ZEALAND
6. TODD BORLAND- WOLLONGONG PADDLERS- AUSTRALIA
7. HADYN LOCKIE- TASMAN BAY- NEW ZEALAND
8. LEOPOLD TEPA- HUAHINE SURFSKI- TAIHITI
9. QUAID THOMPSON- POVERTY BAY- NEW ZEALAND
10. JEREMY KUGGELEIJN- ROYAL AKARANA PADDLERS- NEW ZEALAND
TOP 3 WOMENS- OCEAN SKI
1. RACHEL CLARKE- TAKAPUNA BOAT CLUB- NEW ZEALAND
2. DENE SIMPSON- TAKA PUNA BOAT CLUB- NEW ZEALAND
3. DANIKA MOWLEM- NEW ZEALAND
TOP 3 DOUBLES- OCEAN SKI
1. OSKAR STIELAU/ ROBBIE FORD
2. GAVIN CLARK/ GLEN GREY
3. ANTON REIMAN/ LEN BEER
TOP 3 SUP MENS
1. JAMES REEVES
2. MATT ANDERSON
3. JAN DUNLOP
TOP 3 SUP WOMENS
1. PENELOPE STRICKLAND
2. ANGELA MCKEE
3. HEATHER NICCOLLS
SHORT COURSE TOP 3
1. ANDREW STEVENS
2. NENNI DISSE
3. THOMAS FRITZEN
]]>
Working with our international team of Athletes, Vaikobi is excited to launch our brand new Travel Bag, designed to make travelling to and from events super easy and cost effective.
Designed to fit everything you may possibly need for an away race in ONE perfectly sized bag.
The Vaikobi Race Team collectively clocks up hundred's of thousands of kilometres a year in travel to events. This product is a result of their feedback and testing!
The new Vaikobi Travel Bag is packed with features including:
- Super Tough 840D Jacquard Check Outer
- Super tough XL YKK zips
- 130cm long X 30cm wide X 28cm High
- One large long compartment which will easily store multiple paddles (Surfski/ Kayak 2 piece paddles, Outrigger & Dragon Boat Paddles) At the most recent Molokai Hoe, we had 8 OC Paddles in this bag!
- 2 smaller compartments to store clothing, toiletries and must have paddle gear
- Super tough truck wheels and soft padded handle to make moving around easier
- Padded reflective inner lining for extra protection of paddles and also to allow for wet items to be stored whilst keeping other compartments dry
- Super lightweight in construction to ensure you maximise your available weight to travel with
- Padded Shoulder straps for comfort when you need to carry instead of wheel
- Available to be embroidered and branded for Teams and Clubs
NOTE: This bag will be deemed as an oversized bag with many airlines however it has been designed to be counted as your one piece of luggage that you are allowed to travel with on most reputable airlines. Always check your airline's luggage policy on accepting one oversize bag as your one piece of checked luggage before you travel.
PIC: Sean racing in Tahiti
When Sean Rice is not winning on the world stage as one of the top athletes on the Vaikobi Race Team, Sean is spreading the stoke for SurfSki paddling around the World with PaddleLife www.yourpaddlelife.com
PaddleLife started out as a year long global tour of coaching clinics run by Sean and his wife Emily at every paddling venue you could think of, providing a variety of workshops and clinics catering for paddlers at all levels.
Continually supported by Vaikobi and Think Kayaks, the PaddleLife Global Tour as it became known, built a massive following of international paddlers who all enjoyed Sean's bespoke clinics, designed to improve their paddling and enjoyment of the Surfski Lifestyle.
PIC: Sean with Adrienne Langley (Vaikobi Co-Founder) and Paul Torriero (Vaikobi Canada)
Today, PaddleLife not only provides bespoke workshops and clinics located at key paddling venues around the world, but also offers a range of online coaching and mentoring options through the new HAKSU personalised online training system which now also includes video analysis to really fine tune your technique.
PIC: Another happy group of paddlers- PaddleLife Spain
Across both platforms, Sean uses his decades of paddling experience to identify your strengths and weaknesses and help guide you through your own journey of improvement and enjoyment on the water.
Sean gets a massive kick out of seeing paddlers at all levels progress to a new level of proficiency and enjoyment!
Vaikobi is stoked to be able to continually support this fantastic program which has had such a great impact on so many paddlers around the world.
For more information on PaddleLife 2018 clinics as well the HAKSU personalised online training program, go to: www.yourpaddlelife.com
We look forward to seeing all the PaddleLife paddlers out on the water this year!
]]>
In the never ending pursuit for perfection, the Vaikobi team have raised the bar yet again, with the latest VCOLD FLEX range of performance paddling gear.
Designed to increase performance in cool to cold conditions, Vaikobi's new VCOLD FLEX range has moved to a new level of comfort with the super soft and stretchy, next generation VCOLD FLEX fabrication.
The VCOLD FLEX range features a new hybrid of super stretch Airprene and hydro fleece fabrications, thoughtfully positioned for maximum comfort, breathability and thermal regulation.
In addition, the new VCOLD FLEX range features a plush inner fleece lining which maintains body temperature at an optimum level for peak performance, without over heating.
The new unisex designed VCOLD FLEX range consists of Paddling Pants, Shorts, Vest and Long Sleeve Top which can be interchanged to control body temperature across a range of conditions in combination with the VCOLD Base Top.
Available now from your Vaikobi Dealer and at www.vaikobi.com
VCOLD FLEX Paddling Pant AUD 139.99
VCOLD FLEX LONG SLEEVE TOP AUD 179.99
VCOLD FLEX PADDLE VEST AUD 119.99
Vaikobi is now able to provide a premium line up of Team Gear to compliment Vaikobi’s stock range of Ocean Performance Apparel & Accessories.
Our new line up of Team Gear has been hand selected to ensure your team, brand or event is able to access an extensive range of high quality gear to suit your requirements.
Check out some examples of our hand selected styles across Technical Shirts, Technical Jackets & Vests, Polo’s, Caps and Bags.
Vaikobi Teamwear will be able to organise your bespoke branding requirements and find a solution to ensure your team are looking and performing great!
To learn more about our full offering, please contact: Adrienne Langley on 0410 550 781 / sales@vaikobi.com for more information.
Vaikobi Ocean Racing PFD Vest: Inquire about your bespoke branding requirements for the hugely popular Vaikobi Ocean Racing PFD Vest
Vaikobi VCold Performance Gear: Inquire about how we can brand up our Technical performance gear with your Team's logo
SoftShell Jackets: Full range available in Men's and Women's across a range of colours and price points
H2X-Dry Hybrid S/S Tee: Available in Men's and Womens across a range of colours.
H2X-Dry Hybrid Long Sleeve Tee: Available in Men's and Womens across a range of colours.
Vaikobi VOcean Long Sleeve UV Top: Inquire about Custom branding requirements on Vaikobi's range of Long Sleeve UV Performance Tops across a range of colours
Down Jackets: Available in Men's and Women's across a range of styles and colours
Puffer Vests: Available in Mens/ Womens in Black & Navy
Vaikobi Stormtech Waterproof Duffle Bag- Large: Available in multiple colours.
Vaikobi Stormtech Waterproof Duffle Bag- Medium: Available in a range of colours
Vaikobi Stormtech Waterproof Backpack: Available in a range of colours
Travel Bags: Available across a range of styles and functions
Full Range of Caps from Flexi Fit to Truckers and much more: We guarantee to find you a cap to meet your requirements!
Full Range of Technical and Casual Polos: Available in a full range of fabrics, colours and price points
Technical Tops and Sweaters: Full Range of technical tops, sweaters and hoodies to suit your requirements.
There is nothing like starting again fresh.
Last year's victories and defeats, success and failure mean nothing now. All that matters is what lies ahead and your new goals and future adventures.
Now is the time to get ready for your next challenge and lock in your training program for the year ahead!
The key to every successful training program is to have the right gear to help you perform at your best, every time you hit the water. Vaikobi has you covered on this front with a full range of technical gear and accessories, designed to increase comfort and performance whilst racing and training.
Tested by our International team of Athletes, the comprehensive range of Vaikobi Ocean Performance gear will keep you powering to help you smash your 2018 goals!
What are you waiting for? #noexcuses
Check out our selection of popular kit HERE
See you on the water
The Vaikobi Team
]]>There is a big weekend of racing coming up in Hong Kong for the Surfski Worlds! The depth in both the Men's and Women's is super deep and the Vaikobi Race Team will be right amongst it and will be ripping in!
The Women's World Title Race will see one of the most competitive fields ever with numerous contenders who can legitimately lay a claim on taking out the Womens Title.
From the V Race Team, Molokai Champ Rachel Clarke from New Zealand and Hayley Nixon from South Africa will be at the pointy end of the field on the home straight and we will be super excited to see these two legends charge home to the finish.
The Pocket Rocket from France, Angie Le Roux will be looking to surprise and on her day will be contending for the title win.
Spain's Chloe Bunnett will also be looking to achieve her best result at the World Champs to date.
Headlining the V-Team in the Men's field, is 2013 World Champ, Sean Rice who has been in tip top form of late with a number of big wins this year including the Molokai World Championship.
Off the back of his big wedding day last Sunday to the stunning bride Emily McGrath, Sean will be on cloud nine this weekend and will be there when it counts....He just has to deal with his pesky younger brother, Kenny first!
Mackenzie "Macca" Hynard will be defending his World U/23 crown in HK and has strategically peaked at the right time. Macca knows when to light it up and will leave nothing in the tank.
Austin Kieffer will be looking to achieve the strongest result for an American at the Surfski Worlds as he continues to progress up the World Rankings. His compatriot, Tim Burdiak will be competing at his first World Champs in the distance format which will be quite different compared to his World Surfski title in Surf Life Saving achieved last year in the Netherlands.
There is a strong contingent from Spain featuring the ever green Esteban Medina who shows no sign of slowing down in his new fatherhood stage of life! The big man, Dani Sanchez Viloria the Policeman from Ebiza, is also in tip top form of late and will put in a strong showing as will our U/23 contender Ignachio Soler Fabre (AKA Nacho)
The French legend, Benoit Le Roux is excited about being in HK with his Okrea Surfski's which he custom builds in France. Benoit is no stranger to the big races and will feel right at home in HK.
The Big Kiwi Sammy Mayhew has been training the house down and is looking for his best ever result at the Worlds and the International Surf and Paddle sport superstar from the Sunshine Coast, Ryan Taj Paroz (AKA Rye Burger) will be looking to perform strongly.
Go well V-Team. We know you have got this!
Also a big shout out to the Australian Team who we are proud to support. There is plenty of talent coming from Australia this year and we are super excited to see them race hard in HK!
How to follow the action?
Unfortunately at this stage, information about the event on the official ICF Ocean Racing World webpage is pretty much non existent.
The good news however is that our friend Bruce Seymour from Hong Kong Paddler is on the ground and will help us all stay connected with what is going on. Follow his Facebook Page at Hong Kong Dragon Run 2017 for all the live updates and feeds.
The Womens Race will be raced in the morning of Saturday Nov 18th
Live Feed link: https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=0UKmKRlVd-E
The Men's race on Sunday Nov 19th.
Live Feed link: https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=rrbNMtzFIAU
]]>Vaikobi Race Team's Hayley Nixon (RSA) is hitting Australia this summer and will be holding a series of Strength and Conditioning workshops designed specifically for paddlers!
Sport Science is an often overlooked part of our sport, but which is critical for on water performance.
In this unique workshop, Hayley digs deep into key sports science areas specific to paddling which will improve your on water performance, improve mobility and help reduce injury.
Hayley will be holding workshops in Perth and Sydney over late November (Perth) and Early December (Sydney), so get in touch to learn more about available sessions.
For further information, please contact:
Hayley Nixon: hayleszn@gmail.com
or
Brett Greenwood: australianpaddlesports@gmail.com
]]>
Sam Mayhew (NZL) on a cracking winter westerly run on Auckland Harbour
Downwind Paddling is one of the special parts of our sport. Who doesn't enjoy surfing long ocean swells and going fast.
No matter if you paddle a Ski, SUP or OC, the adrenaline rush of scoring run after run at speed for miles and miles is something that is hard to describe to the non paddler. This rush becomes addictive and keeps you smiling long after you have returned to the beach.
Downwind Paddling is also a fantastic motivator to improve your fitness. To be an efficient downwind paddler you have to be good at lifting your rating at the right moments to pick up each run and stay on it for as long as possible.....basically a massive interval session.
Equally, with the right skills, it can also be one of the most relaxing things you can possibly do. How often do you get out there and time seems to fly by, because you are so relaxed, in the zone, locked into the endless movement of the ocean creating these great ramps for you to slide down.
If you ever hear Oscar Chalupsky coaching downwind paddlers, you lose count of the number of times he talks about "relaxing" and being efficient with your energy.
Ocean paddling legend- Dean Gardiner (AUS) enjoying a nice run, and looking relaxed, in the 2015 Doctor
There are so many facets to downwind paddling, all of which keep you coming back for more, and it really is something that keeps getting better as you become more experienced.
With the right skills, gear and buddy / buddies to team up with, you can spend plenty of time out on the ocean, developing your downwind paddling and maximising the fun for your time on the water.
This article is about encouraging paddlers to take the next step and get out on the ocean to enjoy some of the best parts of our sport with confidence.
This article is also intended to be a good refresher and motivator for all Downwind paddlers!
Vaikobi Race Team's Mackenzie Hynard (AUS) also known as "Big wave Macca"
Leanne Stanley (CAN) showing us just how good the view looks offshore from her OC1
Skills:
Developing your ocean paddling skills is probably the most important requirement because we need to be self sufficient whilst out there on the Ocean. If you have the right skills and knowledge, there are not too many situations where you will be unable to get back to the beach under your own steam.
More importantly, with the right knowledge and skills, you will not put yourself in these sorts of situations in the first place!
So really spend the time developing your paddling skills over a range of conditions and make sure you are in the right craft for your skill level.
Stability is king and you will catch many more runs when you are on a stable boat. Just ask our friend Boyan Zlatarev from Surfski Center Tarifa, who proves every day what sort of fun and excitement is possible on a stable boat! VIDEO HERE
Before you venture off for your first offshore downwind run, spend considerable time doing "out and backs" in a group situation off the beach or in the harbour in some moving water. Paddling upwind is perfect to develop your skills in the boat and the shorter downwind sections mean that you really focus on developing your downwind skills. You will never get too far from where you started in case you need to stop.
The nature of out and back sessions means that the group stays closer together providing everyone turns at the same time.
Out and back's are also really time efficient as they do not require car shuffling and you maximise your available time on the water.
Murray Stewart and Tim Jacobs (AUS)
Buddy up!
Paddling with a buddy/ buddies is another mandatory requirement for downwind paddling. Make sure everyone knows each others capabilities and also don't be afraid to "call it" when conditions change or deteriorate beyond yours or your buddies skill level.
Prepare for the session and have a plan!
Make sure everyone in your group knows the route and plan. Also have someone else on land who knows what you are doing so that you have back up should it be needed (like a pick up from a location along the way).
It is also extremely important to select start and finish locations which are manageable for everyones skill level and also be aware of potential obstacles along the way (breaking waves on offshore reefs etc).
Know the weather forecast, assess the conditions before you start and re-assess the conditions as you go.
Gear:
There are countless articles out there highlighting key bits of gear you should have with you on the water. It really is that important.
The amount of amount of safety gear you need is dependent on the conditions, the remoteness of where you are paddling and the level of competency in your group.
Keep it minimal but invest in the key items which can really make a difference in an emergency.
There is no substitute for skills or knowledge, so don't get complacent and put yourself in situations you are not ready for just because you have all the safety gear.
Key safety items:
PFD- Mandatory no matter what the conditions are like.
Set the culture in your group and call out anyone who does not comply.
Vaikobi and other great brands have worked hard to develop a range of Internationally recognised PFD's that are super light and comfortable for ocean paddling to the point that you often don't know that you are wearing it. Get a good quality, comfortable and visible PFD and wear it!
Leg Leash- Mandatory- When the wind is up and you fall out, it is so easy to part with your craft and they sail off at a rate of knots, which is faster than you can swim.
The old saying in sailing is that 'the best life raft you have is your boat'. Stay attached to it and make sure your leash is in full working order and has not had too many "stretch outs" if you have come off in the surf break.
Mobile Phone in Waterproof Case: Recommended- Make sure you have tested how it works in it's case, when wet.
Personal Locator Beacon (PLB): Recommended-
In Australia, you register your PLB with AMSA (Australian Marine Safety Authority) so that in the event of an emergency they have all your details and can be more up to speed with what they are dealing with along with your contact details. All countries have similar arrangements. Be aware that once you trigger your PLB, It will commence a full on search and rescue effort by the local authorities so only use it as a last resort in a true emergency.
Flare: Recommended- If you want to draw attention to craft nearby for immediate assistance, a orange smoke hand flare will certainly help. You only get one shot at it so make sure you use it when it is going to be seen!
Be Seen!
Now the next bit is something that Vaikobi is really passionate about! We know first hand how important it is to be seen on the water from a lifetime of being out on the ocean.
Primarily it is really important that your buddy/ buddies can see you. If they can't see you, they will start looking for you and this is often when plans come unstuck and confusion occurs.
It is also important for other marine traffic on the water to be able to see you. Particularly in the troughs of the ocean, it is so easy to be not seen on a Ski, SUP and OC, so wear bright fluorescent coloured gear to increase your ability to be visible on the ocean.
At Vaikobi we work hard to make gear that is not only highly visible, but also looks great too. Check out a few of our options available:
Hydration
It is important to stay hydrated out there so make sure you have a hydration system which allows you to access your water easily whilst paddling without having to use your hands. The Vaikobi Ocean Racing PFD has a hydration pocket on the back as well as guide tabs to feed your hose to position for easy access.
Have fun!
This is the most important aspect about Ocean Paddling. Don't worry about your GPS (although it is fun to check out your 1km splits later!), just focus on catching runs to the best of your ability and fitness level.
The adrenaline rush of roaring along on the top of a nice ocean swell never gets old and it is great fun to share it with friends.
Enjoying a coffee or beer afterwards with the downwind crew is also a mandatory requirement of downwind paddling. Somehow the runs get longer and faster in the debrief!
If you are looking to develop your downwind paddling skills and would like to get some coaching, please contact us at Vaikobi as we know some of the best coaches in locations around the world who we can recommend you to get in touch with.
Happy Downwind paddling from the team at Vaikobi!
Featured at Paddle Expo 2017, Vaikobi & Think Kayak Team Rider, Mackenzie Hynard (AUS) takes takes us on a ride around the world showing us the speed and excitement of surfski and downwind paddling. #Vaikobi #OceanPerformance
]]>Round 1 of the Shaw & Partners / Anytime Fitness Australian Ocean Racing Series, kicked off in style at The Gold Coast Classic Ocean Race held on Saturday September 9th with the who's who of the Gold Coast surf life saving scene all present and hunting hard to be the 2017 Champion.
Shannon Eckstein, Jeremy Cotter, Mackenzie Hynard, Kenny Wallace, Sam Norton, Mark Anderson, Karla Gilbert, Dean Gardiner, Yanda Morison, Georgia Laird, Jake Jensen, Matt Nottage, Nathan Meyer, Bruce Taylor, Guy Andrews, Dane Sloss, Maddie Spencer, Tommy Woodriff and Bruce Hoppa Hopkins were amongst some of the legends who rolled up at North Kirra Beach on Saturday morning, getting ready for a cracking race.
In the days leading up, Race Director Jeremy Cotter promised awesome downwind conditions and he delivered with a fantastic 18 knot South Easterly filling in by the start of the race at North Kirra Beach creating some awesome runs down the race track to Tallebudgera Beach.
Pre-Race at North Kirra, the 165 competitors across Ocean Ski, SUP, Prone and OC, all took a moment to remember legend Iron Man and paddler Dean Mercer, with a one minute silence in his honour.
First up the SUPs and Prones took off from the beach with a sprint out to the first turning mark before turning left on their way to Talle with the wind and waves building behind them making for a quick run north.
The second start saw the Ocean Ski's and OC take a course which included a sprint out to the first mark, before turning right for an upwind leg of 3km up to Snapper Rocks, before turning North for the 11km downwind slide for all the way to Talle....and there were some awesome rides to be had!
At the finish everyone was frothing about how awesome the runs were out there. For sure this event will grow in numbers as more and more paddlers hear about what a great race it is.
Race Director Jeremy Cotter not only pulled off being part of the organisation team for this race, but also pulled off a race victory with a 15 second win over Iron Man legend Shannon Eckstien with Sam Norton, 3rd, Vaikobi's Macca Hynard 4th and Olympic Champion Kenny Wallace in 5th. Not a shabby top 5 right there you have to say!
Notable mention to 17 year old Oscar Jones who finished 9th in the Open Ski, only 2 minutes 30 off the winner. One to watch for sure.
One of the awesome aspects of the GC Classic this year was the strong SUP turn out with 46 SUP's on the startline at North Kirra.
Jake Jensen scored a strong win in the Unlimited SUP Mens from Ben Tardrew and Chad Islip.
Matt Nottage pushed the unlimited's hard whilst taking out the Men's SUP 14' from Jackson Maynard and Tim Gyprien in what was a hot field.
In the Women's SUP, legend ex Iron Woman and now legend SUP racer Karla Gilbert, cleared out to take a big win over Vanessa Caley and Karen Masson.
Back in the ski's, the legend of the ocean and the man responsible for the Australian Ocean Racing Series, Dean Gardiner got the Team Ocean Paddler double fired up with ex Olympian Yanda Morison in the back seat, to take the win in the doubles from Heath Brown/ Todd Murray and Brook Crosse/ Peter Winton.
In the Women's Ski, Georgia Laird took a strong victory over Victoria's Wendy Reyntjes and Vaikobi's Maddie Spencer.
The Spec Ski saw Jy Timerley take a close win over Dane Sloss and Jon Locke in what was a strong turn out for this class, as you would expect on the GC.
Eight prone boards took on the GC Classic and in the end it was Iron Man Rhys Burrows who took the chocolates from Lochlan Jonquieres and Michael Chan.
Six OC1's were on the startline with Paul Chong taking a massive victory.
Congratulations to everyone involved in putting on this awesome race.
For Sydney based paddlers, this is a super easy race to do on a day trip due to the close proximity of this race to Gold Coast Airport, so lock it in to your schedule for next year!
Next up is Round 2 of the AORS with "The Chucky" Charles Stewart Memorial being held here this Saturday September 16th
Full Results available at: https://www.p2ftimingsystem.com.au/events/view/results/65
]]>Make your Dad Number 1 this Father's Day with a gift from Vaikobi Ocean Performance!
Vaikobi Ocean Performance Gear is designed and engineered to make your Dad increase his comfort and performance on the water.
Vaikobi gear also has the added effect of making your Dad even cooler than he already is!
Select from our range of VCold (Gear for Cool to Cold conditions) and VOcean (Gear for Warm to Hot conditions) tops and bottoms, designed to control body temperature for maximum performance.
Vaikobi also has full line up of our hugely popular Performance PFD's designed to keep your Dad fast and safe on the Ocean and is available through your local Vaikobi Stockist in Australia and NZ as well as online through www.vaikobi.com
Still undecided on what to get him, have no fear as there are more options available for you:
1) Get him a Vaikobi hat. Dad's always dig hats!
2) Purchase a Vaikobi Gift Voucher available in a number of values and let him select his gift later on.
If you are still struggling, then have no fear as you can Email our Fathers Day Emergency Help Line at sales@vaikobi.com for specific advice and we will help you work out the best gift for him.
Happy Fathers Day to all the cool Vaikobi Dads out there!
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Vaikobi is stoked to announce a renewed partnership with one of the world’s top racers in Stand Up Paddle boarding, Michael Booth!
Michael has become a hugely successful SUP racer after turning his focus to it at the start of 2016. Since then he has become arguably the best distance SUP racer in the world winning the World Championship in Fiji in 2016 and the European Tour in 2017.
Prior to SUP, Michael had a successful background in other paddle sports, including Surfski, finishing 2015 with a 1st in the Durban World Cup and a 2nd in the World Series. In Kayaking he represented Australia in 2014 at the U/23 and Senior World Championships in Moscow in K2 events. Further to that he has also represented Australia in two U/23 Surf Life Saving teams touring New Zealand and Japan.
Michael is dedicated to not only building himself as an athlete but also to building the sport of SUP racing into a more widespread and credible sport. He does this by raising awareness of SUP as an alternative healthy choice and water activity for the masses which perfectly aligns with Vaikobi’s philosophy to all Paddle sports.
With Michael being one of the first athletes to join the Vaikobi Race Team back in 2012, Pat Langley from Vaikobi said “It is awesome to renew our partnership with Michael as he continues to evolve as a paddle athlete. To see him become one of the best SUP racers in the world is fantastic and we are delighted to work more closely with Michael as we increase our focus on the international SUP market”.
About Vaikobi:
Vaikobi is a leading technical apparel and gear brand which is purely focused on performance paddle sports. Every item in the Vaikobi range is designed specifically for the paddle athlete to control body temperature, maximise comfort and increase performance.
For more information on the Vaikobi line up of technical paddle gear, please visit www.vaikobi.com
About Michael Booth:
Age: 26
Home Town: Perth, WA
Sponsors: Starboard, Shaw and Partners, Inamo, Zazik, VMG Blades, Oceanpaddler, Psyborg
Key Results:
Australian Ocean Ski Series Champ ion 14/15
]]>The Vaikobi race team completed a full domination of a world-class field at the Nelo summer challenge here in Porto, Portugal.
Pre Race forecasts on Saturday promised for great downwind race, however the a persistent high pressure system did not move away in time to allow for the wind to increase as much as anticipated, leaving competitors with the task of grinding out a tactical race down the Portuguese coast.
Vaikobi’s Sean Rice continued with his strong run of form this year where he dominated the field to score a massive 2 minute + victory over the Spanish Marathon Champ Walter Bouzan who relished the tough flat conditions.
Australian Vaikobi Race Team charger, McKenzie Hynard has also put his hand up as a strong contender for this year's tour with an extremely strong performance claiming third place overall. Macca was placed second for the entire race before being run down by the flat water specialist, Bouzan in the last kilometre.
In the Women's Vaikobi’s Hayley Nixon from South Africa also decimated the field with a massive victory providing a strong reward for all her hard training efforts over the last few months as she continues to gear up for some major races in the back half of the year.
The pocket rocket, Angie Le Roux from France paddled a fantastic race to claim third behind the gutsy New Zealander Teneale Hatton.
In a fantastic result for the Vaikobi race team, our athletes claimed 5 out of the top 8 places in the Men’s and 3 out of the top 6 spots in the Women's! Great work Team!
The World Surf Ski Tour continues this week where all the action moves to Squamish, Canada, BC, where the Canadian Surfski Championships will see some of best paddlers from around North America and the World complete on a fantastic downwind course on Howe Sound.
Following on from the Canadian Surfski Championship, the tour moves to Hood River, Oregon for the Gorge Downwind Championship which this year will see a record turn out of competitors enjoying the epic downwind conditions on offer at the Gorge.
Stay tuned for updates through the Vaikobi Facebook and Instagram pages.
Congratulations and thanks to the race organisers- Andre Santos, Marisa Magalhaes, Nuno, Oscar and the whole team at Nelo who put on such a fantastic event.
Nelo Summer Challenge Results:
Mens Top 10:
1st Sean RICE RSA
2nd Walter BOUZAN ESP
3rd Mackenzie HYNARD AUS
4th Gordan HARBRECHT GER
5th Nicolas LAMBERT FRA
6th Jasper MOCKE RSA
7th Esteban MEDINA ESP
8th Laousse YANNICK FRA
9th Stuart MACLAREN RSA
10th Bevan MANSON RSA
Womens Top 10:
1st Hayley NIXON RSA
2nd Teneale HATTON NZL
3rd Angie LE ROUX FRA
4th Jenna WARD RSA
5th Amaia OSABA ESP
6th Chloe BUNNETT ESP
7th Sara RAFAEL POR
8th Simone JUNKER GER
9th Sara MARTI ESP
10th Gras LISA FRA
For full results, please visit: http://summerchallenge.nelo.eu/new/results/
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The 2017 Maui Jim Molokai Challenge is over for another year and we were extremely proud to see two of our star athletes from the Vaikobi Race Team, absolutely dominate this years race.
Sean Rice & Rachel Clarke claimed both the Men's & Women's titles respectively giving Vaikobi an exciting double title in what was a gruelling Molokai this year!
In the Men's Sean Rice (South Africa) owned it from the beginning and pulled out a massive win over what many considered to be one of the strongest line up of competitors for a long time. To describe the calibre of this victory, one only has to see the names of the competitors behind him- Hank McGregor, Cory Hill, Jasper Mocke, Clint Robinson, Pat Dolan, Oscar Chalupsky & Lewis Laughlin....all absolute legends of the sport.
Sean has locked in to a strong training program out of his Richmond base in London UK and his perfect preparation showed as he dominated this race from start to finish.
We are extremely proud of Sean and everything he has achieved to date and we know that winning this race has been a goal of his for a very long time, so it was fantastic to see his goal achieved.
In the Womens, Rachel Clarke (New Zealand) set the pace from the outset and showed why she is one of the world's best ocean paddlers on the circuit right now. Rachel controlled her tempo and finished strong to take the Womens title- Her second Molokai title and we don't think she is done yet!
We are so stoked for Rach to be able to claim her second Molokai in such great style and we are excited to see her continue this strong form through the year.
Ryan Paroz (Australia) was the third Vaikobi Race Team member competing in the Molokai this year. 2017 was Ryan's 4th Molokai, which for a 21 year old is pretty awesome if you ask us! Ryan finished 19th overall and 3rd in the 19-29 division. Well done Ryano!
Below are the Molokai stories as told by Sean and Rach. Enjoy!
From Sean:
Today was a big day for me! Today I finally took the win at one of the most prestigious Surfski races in the world, the Molokai Challenge. I've been so close before, but 4th time lucky! The hard work and sacrifice that has gone on behind the scenes to me achieving this is endless and by no means all mine! I have to thank my sponsors, both Think Kayak Global and Vaikobi for their confidence and support they put into me. I just can't thank you enough! Thank you to the crew from Richmond Canoe Club for the quality training!
I want to thank my friends, family and most of all my Emily for the endless guidance and encouragement towards me achieving my best. I doubt my self a lot and you never do!
The racing was tough and the field was strong. Thank you to all the guys out there today for a fantastic and brutal race. I will be feeling it for a while haha.
The beers are going to taste as sweet as honey tonight!
From Rach:
After last years Molokai I didn’t think I would be heading back to race the gruelling 52km slog that it was. Dead flat glassy waters and I was just happy to finish the 2016 Molokai race. Late last year i thought to myself, you know what; I want to be the female ski paddler that’s known for Molokai, the most wins under their belt. I think for me the feeling when you cross the finish line in Hawaii Kai it’s a pretty unreal feeling knowing that you’ve just crossed one of the most dangerous channels in the world – ‘The channel of Bones’. Molokai is one of the most prestige races in the World so who wouldn’t want to go back?!
This year I arrived in Hawaii on the Saturday morning, 1 week prior to race day. I wanted to give myself enough time to acclimatise and feel comfortable during the week. Leaving Auckland with rather chilly weather it was quite nice to arrive in Hawaii with 28-30 degrees! Once I landed in Hawaii I spent the day with my mum just relaxing and checking into our Hotel. I had a rest day and just went for a swim and walk at the beach. Over the next couple of days I did a couple of downwind runs from Hawaii Kai (where the race finish is) to the Outrigger Club, this paddle is approximately 18km from the edge of China Wall. I had an awesome time during these paddles and thought to myself maybe this will be a downwind year for Molokai! The entire week was absolutely cranking conditions the daily shuttles were full. Once again as all the paddlers were looking on weather and wind apps it would seem we were going to have another flat year paddling across the channel. I wasn’t too phased by this, I had done majority of my training in the flat but of course a downwind would have been a lot of fun! On the Wednesday mum and I hired my dream car aka Jeep Wrangler and drove up to the North Shore for the day, we checked out the local town and spent some time checking out the famous Waimea Bay. That night we had a lovely BBQ at the Brand’s residence with fellow paddlers which was so lovely and amazing scenery to look out onto Pipeline from their backyard! Thank you so much Charles and Beth for having us! Days went by and I kept on checking the wind conditions but it was pretty set in that it was going to be flat. I continued doing my planned programme and tried to keep relaxed throughout the week.
This year I had decided to fly over to Molokai on the race morning, this meant I could have a hearty dinner and a early night sleep knowing that I would have to get up at 4am to catch the flight. By 6:30am we had landed on Molokai and it was about a 20 minute shuttle to the race start location at Kepuhi Bay. We arrived at the Bay and I had a about an 1 1/2 hours until the female start, the mens start was 30 minutes after us. I found my ski and got it all set up with my drink system and gels and made sure everything was set to go. The water looked rather calm and I though ‘Wow here we go again, flat racing’. At about 7:45 all paddlers gathered on the beach for a blessing which was really moving and I think made us all realise how special this race and channel we are about to paddle really is. At about 8:00am I located my support boat and waved him down, my mum then swam out to the boat with our gear bags and I got on the water for a warm up. I was feeling really good and was trying not to get too nervous. 8:30am and we were all lined up on the start line, also in the women’s start were the outriggers, double ski’s and a few on the intermediate male paddlers. The hooter went and I was off, I had a good start and was in a group with an OC6 and a women’s double ski. I stayed in this group for about 15km’s, I was feeling very strong and relaxed in the flat conditions. My plan was to stay controlled for the first 30km and then push it up a notch for the last 22km. With that in mind I didn’t want to push it too hard and have nothing for the last 2hours. This year I was paddling the Epic V12 where as last year I paddled the V10L GT (about 3kg’s lighter). The V12 is the ultimate downwind boat however noticeably heavier than the GT but that’s the boat I had decided to paddle and I love it. For the next 15km I was with the double ski and we had a few turns of taking leads. Up to 35km I was feeling really good, I went off on my own and tried to tick it up a notch. The muscles were beginning to ache and I was definitely starting to feel the pain. As I approached China wall there were a few pumps to catch but it was pretty hard work and as I got closer and closer to China wall it got messier, pretty much like a washing machine. As I rounded China wall I knew I had about 2kms to go, I gave it everything I had and pushed it to the finish. Crossing that finish line I was so happy, knowing I gave it everything and the icing on the cake to be the first female. I guess I was slightly disappointed to have done exactly the same time as I did last year but hard to compare with the conditions and paddling a heavier boat. I will definitely be back next year for another crossing!!! The mens race was one hot field with Sean Rice taking the win, Hank McGregor coming in 2nd and Cory Hill in 3rd.
A huge thank you to my sponsors for your ongoing support and helping me get here!!!!
Mahalo
LAUNCHING APRIL 20th 2017
Vaikobi is excited to launch the 2017 VCold Performance line up of paddle gear specifically designed to increase performance in cool to cold conditions.
The new 2017 VCold Storm fabrication features a slightly thicker outer ripstop fabrication for increased protection from the elements, whilst still maintaining the highest level of breathability and wick ability.
In the 2017 collection, we have updated the trusted and proven VCold Storm Paddle Pant and Paddle Top's with new design and fabrication features to further improve performance. We have also added in two brand new items in the VCold Storm Paddle Short and Vest, based on paddler feedback.
The VCold Base Top completes the line up as the trusted paddle top to keep you warm without over heating.
AVAILABLE APRIL 20th 2017 through all Vaikobi Dealers and www.vaikobi.com
https://www.vaikobi.com/collections/new-2017-vcold-range
]]>Vaikobi is excited to announce the arrival date of a brand new line up of Vaikobi's VCold Performance range of technical paddle gear set to storm on to the market in April.
Designed to control your body temperature for maximum performance in cool to cold conditions, the next generation VCold range features a number of new fabric and design innovations, engineered specifically for the paddle athlete to further enhance body temperature control, wicking and overall comfort.
Included in the range are updated designs of the hugely popular VCold Storm Paddle Pant, Storm Paddle Top & Base Top however there are some awesome new additions to the line up which will become "must have" items in every paddle athlete's kit bag!
Vaikobi's Pat Langley commented that "This exciting new range is the culmination of two years of R & D, working with Vaikobi's international race team and paddle athletes across all paddle disciplines. Over this period, our Athletes tested a number of new fabrications and designs across a range of conditions to ensure that the final product will deliver the ultimate in performance and comfort on the water".
Keep an eye out for the official range launch in April 2017 when the full line up will be announced and available through your local Vaikobi Stockist and through www.vaikobi.com