PaddleXaminer had the privilege to test and review a wide range of paddling gear in 2019. Large items, small items – innovative designs and gear that left a lasting impact on how we enjoyed our time on the water. From whitewater rivers in the Colorado Rockies to the coast of California and beyond, here’s our staff picks of the top ten items that kept us going throughout the year. 10. Costa Sunglasses OCEARCH® Fantail When the PaddleXaminer staff first put our heads together t

The 2019 California OC-6 racing season came to a close this month with the annual Catalina Channel Crossing. The season ran just over five months from April to early September and is divided into three components: Iron Season – which concluded with the California State Championship in late June; Sprint Season – takes place in July and is a bit of a dying breed here in California; 9-man Season, which involves a crew of nine paddlers and an escort boat. Practices took place in

Shelta Dares to be Different – and Excels The ubiquitous trucker hat with all its various colors and screen printed logos has long been the staple head wear in the paddling community around the world. They are inexpensive, easy to customize and offer a modicum of sun protection. Trucker hats represent the status quo in an era of innovation leaving a fertile market for something new and different. Shelta, a California small business co-founded by Jurgen Schultz, has firmly ste