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Badger® WaterColours at Canoecopia 2013
Photo by attendee Stephanie Rochon
Our second year at Canoecopia was another whirlwind of sales and smiles. Mike was happy to see all the familiar faces as well as many new ones too. Without Fiona, who stays home with Makobe (but really hopes to be able to attend next year if Badger is invited back again!), Mike is all alone in the booth for the entirety of the show. Thankfully, both this year and last, popular blogger Preston (from Portageur.ca) attended as well - offering to help out so that Mike was able to catch a break here and there while Preston closed sales and made himself otherwise available to people for questions and conversation (about canoeing and portaging, what else?!).
The calm before the storm -
the booth is ready for Canoecopia 2013.
At first, there was some confusion about our paddle shapes. Mike hadn't had a chance to review the Canoecopia Gazette/Show Guide but realized something was up when people were coming into the booth looking for the bigger bladed paddles. Thankfully Mike had brought some Diggers with him so those really hoping for the larger blade surface, over our more traditional shapes, were satisfied and left with an ash or cherry paddle of their preference. He later realized that the mention of a paddle that was a "tad larger" (in the show guide) had gotten everyone a bit confused but he was able to match up paddles to people's preferences without a problem once he knew what they were.
Mike, as it happens, was really excited for this show as both the Badger-Tripper and the BadgerTail were NEWLY redesigned this year for a more fluid paddling experience.
BadgerTail (top)
Badger-Tripper (bottom)
The BADGER-TRIPPER, a very effective and popular canoe tripping paddle, is based on our "slicy" modified ottertails. A hybrid paddle, we have taken our favourite aspects from the original BadgerPaw and Tripper designs and combined them into one. The result is an extremely fluid, quiet, and aesthetically pleasing paddle. This design is definitely a top choice for trippers - or those who spend most of their day in the canoe. The BADGERTAIL paddle has a deep and wide blade with a lot of surface area to move large amounts of water but still sits deep enough to be a very effective rudder. Based on a traditional beavertail, the Tail is also great for prying strokes. By redistributing the volume of the blade, we have created a smoother paddling experience. With the bulk of the blade’s volume pulling in the deeper, more still waters - instead of higher up where the water is bubbling and gurgling from your stroke - the paddler's energy is conserved.
Mike was also excited to meet and see everyone again and to talk paddles and paddling. But there was another subject on his mind as well this year as he had brought with him a blue scarf from The Six Degree Project - which aims to get celebrities to wear their scarves in the name of autism awareness. We had already approached Kevin Callan - The Happy Camper (and Hap Wilson!) who (both!) agreed to help bring awareness and attention to autism for the next little while as totally willing participants.
Author and popular outdoor celebrity Kevin Callan wearing
a Six Degree Project Scarf in the name of Autism Awareness
in honour of Makobe & people living with autism every where!
photo credit: Portageur.ca
A happy portageur and a happy paddler too.
Thanks for being such a great salesman Preston!
On Sunday, Mike was excited again to be able to present our Maple Pancake Pitch to those he shared breakfast with. Last year Mike brought down some Bow Jam with him but this year, the Canoe Trippers' Syrup proved to be really popular with the pancake eating paddlers.
Prepared by Yummies in a Jar located right here in Muskoka, we were more than delighted with the flavour of our specially made "pancake glue".
Our Maple Syrup was a favourite
at breakfast this year!
We only made up a few bottles of this novel, but very delicious Canadian pure maple syrup, however we are definitely going to be getting more soon due to it's deliciousness and popular demand (we got a more than a few private inquiries from family and friends who would like to try it after seeing it posted on Facebook and those who did try it want MORE!).
If you are are wanting to try some yourself, send us an email or drop us a line via our Facebook page.
At the end of the breakfast, full of pancakes, Mike was ready to greet the last day of the show and was soon on his way home. But not before he made lots of new friends and made sure that many of his Badgers had found new paddling families.
Copy of the label on our (imaginative) Maple Pancake Pitch.
Special thanks to Preston (Portageur), Stephanie, Kevin Callan, Darren & family, Roch, Scott, David, Seaward Kayaks, Jerry Vandiver, Jeff Fitch and his very lovely wife, the very happy lady paddlers Donna and Joan, as well as Lou, and the Kayak Sailors, and the nice lady who let Preston make a sale - plus many more who helped to make Canoecopia so much fun for Mike again this year. Hope to see you all next year (when I hope to be able to come too)! ~ Fiona
We have received many heartwarming emails from paddlers over the past few years about their Badger® paddle(s). Some even ended up serving as testimonials. Some of these testimonials make us feel pride in our work and relationships with other paddlers, others have wowed us, a couple have made us smile, one or two made us laugh, and the most recent messages received actually made us tear up with emotion!
It may sound a little weird to think that a customer testimonial could make a business owner laugh or get all teary eyed, but it happens! Especially when we put so much thought and effort into each paddle and what (in our case Badger®) our business stands for.... when each thing we do or make contains so much of us, ourselves. It becomes.... well.... it becomes very personal. For us, there really is a piece of ourselves in every paddle we make. So, yes, sometimes a person's reaction can evoke pretty strong emotions for an artisan. I can say this because I speak from experience. It really means a lot to us when our customers, clients, and friends, share their experiences and thoughts with us about Badger®.
Here is a small collection of those testimonials and messages that fall into some of the categories referred to above:
We first were wowed by the great and lengthy review from The Fatpaddler. We felt really lucky to have made it onto ( author and paddling adventurer) Sean Smith's radar. As fans of Sean's, and followers of The Fatpaddler blog, we were really excited to see our paddles in the hands of someone "down-under" and a welcomed part of Fatpaddler's web-based chronicle. (Besides writing the popular blog, Sean also wrote a book depicting his near-death experiences, his struggle within the abyss of depression, and finding his way out again with the help of taking up paddling and the support of his new and loving family. It is inspirational and a "must read"!) Read Sean Smith's full review here: Badger® Paddles Review - Fatpaddler.com
But then... We were wowed again when we received this testimonial from Hap Wilson, artist, author, environmentalist, photographer and the Eco Trailbuilder, himself! Both Mike and I had read Hap's work and used his Temagami Guide book (the "bible" for canoe tripping in Temagami, ON) for years, and were in awe of his powerful history, his fascinating life and his impressive accomplishments.
"In this age of 'techno-gear' you don't often come across any hand-made products that really stand out. Badger Paddles is the exception. ... Every avid paddler needs a 'real' paddle, and I love my Badger" ~Hap Wilson
Also... Mike Wenholz sent us a testimonial message a while back, and it made us smile really big!
"I bought a Sliver in cherry, and really like the paddle. It's the first otter tail-style paddle I have owned. I have been learning to paddle the canadian stroke, knifing the paddle back through the water on the recovery, often keeping the paddle in the water the entire stroke. This paddle has made learning this stroke much easier.
Also, while battling significant whitecaps that were coming from two directions (across the lake and down an angling bay) the length of the paddle made it possible for me to keep us headed in the right direction with speed by reaching out wide to steer us through the angling waves." ~Mike Wenholz
Scott's made us smile big too, we love when people feel the strength of our paddles:
“I've used the paddle on some trips. I must say I love it!
It's solid, sturdy and it produces power.
I had little trouble fighting the current of the Vermilion River.” ~ Scott H.
We definitely felt a sense of pride when we read the following comments from Roger Parnis:
Photo credit: Roger Parnis
"Hi Fiona and Mike, I just got back from a 3 day trip to Little Trout Lake and I wanted to let you know how impressed I was with the paddle you made for me. The oil rub on the handle and shaft make it grip wet or dry. This was the most important feature to me. I found I had more power and control over the canoe than my previous paddle. The glossy finish on the blade looks great on my wall too! So it's the best piece of gear I've bought in a long time. Thank you." ~ Roger Parnis
But then there was the Angelina testimonial from Marcus:
"Had a new paddle arrive this week,a Badger Paddles Sliver. Shape wise it's an elongated ottertail,the timber is cherry. It's the Angelina Jolie of the paddle world,very long,very lean and totally sexy!! Using it is an absolute joy,very easy to move through the water,very slick it made underwater recovery very very easy.I was also surprised at the speed I managed from it." ~M. Grose
Marcus Grose's testimonial came at the same time that Angelina Jolie was in the news for sticking her leg out from under her highly split dress at the Oscars. There was even a Twitter account made for it called @AngiesRightLeg. So we couldn't help but laugh out loud when we read Marcus' comment regarding the association between the sexy Angela Jolie and our paddles! Right away the wacky thought of Angelina's famous right leg becoming a paddle came to mind. I (Fiona) sent Marcus the image (see the Angelina picture on left) for a laugh after receiving his email. I still smile when I think about that "very long, very lean and totally sexy" Badger paddle leg and the wonderful testimonial Marcus sent us. Thanks Marcus!!! Read Marcus' full testimonial here: Badger® Paddles Customer Testimonials
Another great review came from Nige Ayers (founder of the Simply Canoe and C-wav) complete with pictures which can be read here: Badger Sliver In The U.K. Thanks again Nige!
But the one unexpected testimonial that made both of us (Mike and I) actually tear up was this message just recently received from Ian. He took note of all the things that matter most to Mike and I as paddlers, paddle-makers, and outdoor enthusiasts:
“there's a lot of ideas about paddles out there -- i'm just advocating for things as i see 'em -- i notice little things, the subtle thickening of the shaft just before the blade, fine edges on the sides, stoutness still at the blade end, a well grained wood in a solid serviceable, not show-room-gloss finish, -- i see a lot of over-engineered laminate and composite paddles, or the clever and finely finished furniture grade pieces...i mean, they are nice, and i appreciate them for what they are -- but there is an elegant functional simplicity to (my) badger paddle that really works for me -- i wouldn't mind hanging it on my wall or snubbing off a rock in mild moving water mid-expedition. one the fantastic things about canoeing is the intersection between simplicity, aesthetic, and solid functionality and the badger paddle hits it dead centre...then factor in being able to banter 'bout paddle-stuff at a show with the paddle-maker...that's almost master-card priceless...” ~Ian Hanna
This hand painted ambigram paddle also came
with a laser engraved sparkly blue peace sign and
a personally written message to "Saffyr" from her Uncle's
own hand. This ambigram says "Saffyr" one way and
"Peace" when looked at from another angle.
Besides being one of Fiona's most favourite
commissions ever, it also led to a very cute
and personal video message that us Badgers will never forget!
But, truly, when all is said and done, one of our most favourite paddler portageur testimonials ever, came by way of a personal "surprise" video from Preston of Portageur.ca* starring his sixteen year old paddling and portaging niece Saffyre (a.k.a. "Saffyr" - belonging to the next great generation of paddlers portageurs) whose thankful smile stole our hearts, made us laugh, made me (Fiona) shed a tear, and helped us become truly aware of how thankful we are for being able to connect with such wonderful people like "Saffyr Peace" and YOU!
So a heartfelt thank you to all of our paddling friends who have taken the time to write to us and tell us how much they genuinely dig their paddles. Everyone of you has impacted our lives and business in a way that we will be forever grateful for. Thank you. No really... THANK YOU!!!
Written by Fiona Westner-Ramsay
*Scroll to near the bottom of this Portageur.ca blog posting (Christmas gift ideas) to read the short back story on this very special paddle for his very special paddling niece.
Please be sure to share this auction information as far and wide as is possible. Kirk Wipper, recipient of the Order of Canada and a founder of the Canadian Canoe Museum, had an extensive collection of the most interesting of objects. Many of them museum quality. This auction should definitely prove to be beyond interesting. Hopefully we will see you at the farm on Sunday July 29th!!!
Not long ago I came across this wonderful piece by Rebecca Foust titled "Mom's Canoe". It brought back many memories from my childhood as I spent many hours with my mom's back in view as we paddled a number of canoe routes throughout Algonquin Park.
My mom and I in our old canoe - made of aircraft aluminum
and with wood ribs and wood trim. This canoe is still in our family.
All-Girls-Canoe-Trip Circa 199?
I am sharing this poem here for Mother's Day, in celebration of all paddling moms (as well as those who have yet to canoe) and in thanks to it's author, Rebecca Foust - who captured, perfectly, the magic that moms have in, on, and out of the water. To read more works by Rebecca Foust, (who also happens to be an autism advocate as well), please visit her website www.rebeccafoust.com.
Mom’s Canoe
Do you remember your old canoe? Wooden wide-bellied, tapered ends made to slip through tight river bends swiftly, like shadow. Hull ribbed delicately, wing of bird Sometimes seen, never heard when it flew through the water more glider than boat, ponderous in portage, weightless afloat. Frail origami, vessel of air, wide shallow saucer suspended where shallows met shadows near the old dam. Remember how it glowed like honey in summer rubbed with beeswax and turpentine against leaks, cracks, weather and time. All your housekeeping went into that canoe, then you rode high, bow lifted, arced up like flight, all magic, power, evening light. You j-stroking, side-slipping, eddying out, frugal with movement, all without effort, just like you walked and ran. I still see you rising from water to sky, paddle held high, river drops limning its edge. Brown diamonds catch the light as you lift, then dip. Parting the current, you slip silently through the evening shadows. You, birdsong, watersong, slanting light, following river bend, swallowed from sight.
“Mom’s Canoe” by Rebecca Foust
For more written works by Rebecca Foust, visit her website: www.rebeccafoust.com
This past Spring, we attended our first Canoecopia with Rutabaga in Madison, Wisconsin. Thousands and thousands of people attended, and many were there to buy boats. Which usually prompted these purchasers to also buy paddling accessories like paddles, PFD's or maybe even some North Water equipment.
But as it turns out not everyone buys the canoe first! We definitely would have to say our favourite customer quote [ever!] came from Donna, who purchased a couple of "Reverse Splash WaterColours™" from Badger®/Rutabaga at the recent expo.
Interestingly, Donna informed us by email that she had seen one of our unique WaterColours™ paddles at Canoecopia and just had to order a couple for her and her cousin, Joan. In fact, Donna was so excited, her new paddles prompted the purchase of a canoe! (See Donna's quote below.)
Donna and Mike at Canoecopia 2012
"We are so excited about our new paddles. It’s even better to know the folks who are making them. I wasn’t even in the market for a paddle but had to have one once we saw the Badger Paddle display. I even bought a new canoe to go with my new paddle !" ~ Donna G.
Donna and Joan's special ordered "Reverse Splash WaterColours".
Donna went even further to request to have Fiona's signature on the "Reverse Splash" paddles created. These paddles are truly one of a kind! We really dig making special paddles for special people. People like Donna and Joan. Thanks, Donna, for letting us post your awesome quote, and for letting us have some fun creating your paddles!
Every Spring, for over twenty years, Bill has been taking his crew down to Guelph Lake for one of the biggest outdoor canoe and kayak sales you can find in Ontario. Stocked with hundreds of boats, from new to used, as well as paddles and paddling accessories, the show has become a popular tradition for many paddling folk - both novice and skilled alike.
But it's not just the boats that make the event so special. It's the people. First off, the Swift Crew (i.e. Bill, Mike, Jon, etc.) are the most fun and knowledgeable that you will ever meet. The atmosphere is very welcoming to everyone, families included. There is even an area for you to "try before you buy" where you are able to test paddle the boats to help you find the right fit for your paddling needs and life style. If you have questions, this is where they will get answered.
It's a Badger Fact: This sale is where Badger® Paddles first launched to the public - and Mike will be there, representing Badger® and Swift Canoe, again this year as he has since the Spring of 2009.
But beyond the sales aspect, The Swift Guelph Lake Sale is just a fun place to be. Smiles abound and laughter is aplenty. It is Spring after all, which may or may not have something to do with the fact that the Swift Spring Guelph Lake Sale is also where Mike and I (Fiona) fell in love over a decade ago! Okay, well maybe not fall in love, but it was the scene of our first kiss! But it is the place where I met and fell in love with my Mattawa. That is how much fun it is, people!
You just never know what the Swift Spring Guelph Lake Sale will bring to your life - whether it be the love of a good man, woman, canoe, or paddle - so why not go and find out?! At the very least, you will get to meet some great people and get some time on the water, if you can dig it!
We always enjoy pictures sent in by our paddling friends. Especially when they involve paddling and SUGAR. MMmmmmMMMMmm. Here is a canoe birthday cake we all wished we could to dig into!
Made for a paddling Dad, by his Daughter.
Looks like Dad has been captured in miniature!
A lovely canoe cake maker with a lovely canoe cake!
This talented daughter surprised her dad with her creative cake masterpiece.
Obviously, this would take lots of artistic talent. But Nikki, the daughter of canoeist dad Hugh, has no shortage of that. She is a wonderful photographer, and when not making fabulous canoe cakes for her dad's birthdays, Nikki keeps herself busy, and her audience delighted, with her amazing work. Visit Nikki's website here: http://nikkiwesley.com/ And thanks Nikki - and Dad (Hugh) - for letting us share your great canoe cake here. We really dig it!
According to Discover Canoeing: A Complete Introduction to Open Canoeing by James Weir a "bow jam" is "a stroke that will turn a canoe very sharply. When a paddle blade catches or jams under the canoe it will unbalance the canoe and turn it around. The bow jam harnesses this reaction and turns it into a very powerful paddle stroke."
So in celebration of our first Canoecopia - and just for fun - we did up a few Bow Jams for some of our favourite paddling friends. No - we didn't get out in a canoe for our Bow Jam - the lakes are still frozen here in Muskoka at this time of the year. But we still managed to come up with a number of Bow Jams, just the same.
"HEY! GET YOUR NOSE OUT OF THERE DIGGER!"
Badger Bow Jam: 125 mL jar of Strawberry Rhubarb Jam prepared
in Muskoka, Canada by Yummies In A Jar
Very limited quantities are available - contact us for more information.
Fortunately you don't need any special paddling skills for our Badger®Bow Jam - especially if you are trying it with toast for breakfast!
Thanks to Lynn Murden from Yummies In A Jar
for making such delicious "Bow Jam"!
Prepared in Muskoka by the locally renowed Yummies In A Jar, our Badger®Bow Jam is NOT made from canoe bows, but from delicious strawberries & rhubarb*! Inspired by Fiona's love of word play and thus named after the "bow jam" paddle stroke (a.k.a. running pry), as seen in the video examples below, our "Bow Jam" has been described as follows:
"Badger®Bow Jam: The fast and light flavour of the strawberries are perfectly balanced with the sharp, pivoting flavour of the rhubarb. Our Bow Jam will quickly turn any meal into a tasty treat. A delight to any canoeist’s style and taste buds - naturally it goes quite well with bannock!"
Picture of actual label on jar. Click on the image to enlarge.
Here is a paddler completing a single handed "bow jam".
Want to learn how to do a single handed "Bow Jam" yourself?
(And this time we don't mean the edible kind!)
Be sure to pick up a copy of the DVD
Advanced Classic Solo Canoeing with Becky Mason
For those who dig strawberries, sugar, rhubarb and wordplay!
*Ingredients:Fruit (Strawberries and Rhubarb), Sugar, Water, Pectin, and Lemon Juice (no sulphites).
Badger® Bow Jam:
both novel and delicious!
Contact us for more information if you think you would dig trying a Badger®Bow Jam. Remember, you don't have to be a master or advanced paddler to be able to do our Badger®Bow Jam!
But be forewarned - we only have a very VERY limited supply at this time so don't wait to badger us for your jar if you want some!
Badger Paddles T-shirts - $25.00 ea. CAD (**tax/shipping extra) Limited Time Offer:
Buy one for only $20.00 ea. CAD** until March 31, 2012.
When we put up our "Profits of Paddling"infographic online, we were truly overwhelmed by it's positive reception. It was shared over 3000 times across Facebook alone (according to our Page's Administrator Facebook Analytical Statistics). That's a lot of shares! It even ended up on a number of blogs thru-out the paddling world. Many of you even requested we make it into a Badger® T-shirt - so we did!
We were pleasantly surprised when so many people liked this infographic.
And so the good news is:
Our Badger® T-shirts are now available for purchase.
Our MSRP is $25.00 CAD (shipping/taxes extra)
BUT...
Because our followers (you) on Twitter and Facebook were instrumental in getting this t-shirt design to print - we are announcing a limited time offer and will be selling them for the "Special Thank You Price" of only $20.00 ea. CAD (tax/shipping extra) in thanks to you all! But only until the end of March, 2012 - after that the price is back to $25.00 so don't miss out. (While supplies last - Special offer ends March 31, 2012.)
In celebration of Valentine's Day this year, we have made some Valentine's Day images for you to share with your paddling sweet heart! Download or copy your favourite (from our website or this blog) and email, tweet, or share it with your special someone on Facebook via the Badger Paddles page. These paddling specific Valentine's Day digital cards are great for canoeists and kayakers alike - Happy Valentine's Day!❣
Many of us already realize the personal profits of paddling, but for those who are not aware, we have provided this handy illustration of the "facts". Please feel free to share this image with anyone you feel would dig it!
Update: Since posting this image, we have received lots and lots of positive feedback (not to mention almost 3000 shares just on Facebook alone!), however there is one question that seems to pop up, over and over again, that we would like to address here.
For those of you who are NOT in the know.... the centre thwart/yoke removal is based on a couple of - somewhat famous - quotes:
"A true Canadian is one who can make love in a canoe without tipping."
Pierre Berton
"Anyone can make love in a canoe,
it’s a Canadian who knows enough to take out the centre thwart!"
Philip Chester
And so now, you are all in the know!!! For those of you who might be interested, based on the popularity of this fun info graphic, we will be ordering up some t-shirts promptly!!!
_______________________________________
Note: a big thanks to the artist or team who created the Benefits of Bicycles infographic. When Fiona's friend shared this infograhic photo on his Facebook profile at the end of January this year, Fiona was immediately inspired to create one for paddlers. After all, any form of the power of self propulsion is to be celebrated!
This "Algonquin Carol" is whistled (or can be sang!) to the tune of the famous Holiday Christmas Carol: "Walking In A Winter Wonderland". It is the same song, in every sense, but some of the lyrics have been reworked from the perspective of a paddler in Algonquin Park, Canada. We hope you enjoy this fun version of a classic carol.
Badger Paddle Socks... for those who dig their gear.
**NEW** Compact, lightweight, stretches to fit almost any style paddle up to 65" in length. Click on the image to visit the official Badger Paddle Sock website.
FIND A BADGER RETAILER
Click on the above picture for a map of our list of retailers.
Click on the catalog image to start your download. Our catalog is a 2 MB PDF file.
Personalize your Badger Paddle
Personalized gifts for couples who love to paddle... great for weddings, anniversaries and unions. Click on the picture above to learn about more ways to personalize your paddle...
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