I never expected Nebraska to blow me away as a kayaking destination until I found myself gliding through the crystal-clear waters of the Niobrara River last summer. With over 79,000 miles of rivers and 10 designated water trails covering approximately 518 miles, the Cornhusker State has transformed from a "drive-through state" into my favorite Midwest […]

Last weekend on Lake Travis, I cranked my Sea Eagle Razorlite up to 5.8 mph according to my GPS – and yeah, I was showing off a bit to my buddy in his hardshell. But here's the thing: not all inflatable kayaks are created equal when it comes to speed and tracking. After paddling over […]

Last summer, I flipped my kayak right at the Narrows Bridge launch – in front of about 20 other paddlers waiting their turn. Pride bruised but gear intact (thanks to my waterproof kayak storage), I laughed it off and got back in. That's the thing about Turkey Run kayaking – even the mishaps become part […]

I'll never forget my first real paddle stroke on Lake Austin three summers ago. My arms were shaking, my core was screaming, and I couldn't paddle straight to save my life. Fast forward to today, and I'm out on the water 3-4 times a week, feeling stronger and happier than I have in years. That […]

Last weekend at Lake Travis, I watched a guy struggle to scrub algae off his neglected kayak hull for over an hour. His $2,000 composite kayak looked like it had aged 10 years in just one season. That's when another paddler rolled up with a gleaming boat that looked fresh off the showroom floor – […]

Last weekend on Lake Travis, I watched a game warden write three tickets in the span of an hour. The violations? Missing whistles, expired registration stickers, and one paddler who thought his swim trunks counted as a PFD. That's $600 in fines that could've bought a really nice paddle. After 15 years of paddling everywhere […]

Last Saturday morning on Lake Travis, I watched a couple struggle with their brand-new tandem kayak for 20 minutes. They were spinning in circles, splashing water everywhere, and getting more frustrated by the second. Their problem? Nobody had taught them the basic kayak paddle strokes. After showing them a few simple techniques, they were gliding […]

Last March, I watched a family of four struggle to load their brand-new kayaks at Lake Ivanhoe, clearly overwhelmed by Orlando's endless paddling options. "Where should we even start?" the dad asked, holding a crumpled tourist map. That moment stuck with me because I'd been there myself - Orlando has so many incredible kayaking spots […]

The first time I paddled through the morning mist on Windermere, watching the sun burn through the fog to reveal the Lakeland fells, I knew I was hooked. That was fifteen years ago, and since then I've explored waterways from the Scottish sea lochs to the Cornish coast, discovering that the UK offers some of […]

Last weekend at Lake Travis, I watched a guy struggle for 15 minutes trying to load his fishing kayak onto his truck. His face was beet red, sweat dripping, and I could tell his back was screaming. When I helped him lift the beast, I understood why – that monster weighed at least 120 pounds […]