Oct 28 2009
Sponsors
Fluid was my first sponsor and I have been paddling their boats since the company started around 2003. Since then Fluid has grown to be a dominant brand in the whitewater world with a fully comprehensive range of kayaks. I was lucky enough to be involved to the in the development of their “freestyle surf kayak” called the element which is pretty much the perfect boat for what I do. I recently got my hands on the composite version and it has taken the boats performance to the next level!
I have been using snapdragon decks for a few years now and they are in my opinion the most bombproof you can buy. I use their EXP Armotex Reinforced deck which is made with super durable kevlar reinforced neoprene and also features an optional implosion bar . I haven’t had a snapdragon blow on me yet and I think it says something that guys like Steve Fisher, Pat Camblin, Tyler Bradt and Tao Berman all use snapdragon decks. Oh and Mike and Rich are super helpful guys as well.
When i choose gear, i look for something that is above all functional but still looks good as well and think Level 6 wins in both these categories. They make pretty much anything you could need for kayaking from drysuits to throwbags to off the water casual wear. The pieces of gear i use the most are probably the Chochee shorty drytop followed by their river boot. I had a pair for these booties on a 3 month trip to Asia earlier this year and they are great, super low profile, comfortable and grip really well, perfect for fitting into small playboat. To top it all off the owners Stig and Tyler are both kayakers and cool guys too!
I’m the type of person that is never far from my Ipod so when i heard about H2o Audio a few years back had to get my hands on some of their gear and I haven’t been disappointed! I use their Amphibx armband with the Surge earphones, everything is fully waterproof so you don’t have to worry about drowning your Ipod. The earphones come with 5 different sized earbuds to make sure you have the perfect fit. When off the water i use a smaller size and when i paddle i use a slightly bigger size for a more secure fit. The design of the earbuds means they act as earplugs blocking out any water getting into your ear and do a pretty good job of muffling out background noise so you get the full music experience. There customer service is also top notch so don’t hesitate in having a look at their products.
I have been with Team Jeep since 2007, they supply me with casual clothing as well as hook me up with products from companies like USN and Salomon. They have a big team of athletes in South Africa participating in a broad range of adventure sports, check out the website at teamjeep.co.za