DUBLIN, IRELAND (Team Geared Up) - Well Lewis Gordon Pugh is the guy who has been swimming in the North and South Pole waters before so at least he’ll be used to the cold. He plans to kayak for 10 hours a day in which he hopes he will cover 100km a day. When he reaches the most Northerly point possible he plans to raise the flags of 192 nations to show that everyone has an effect on the melting ice caps. Check out his own personal website here and the expedition website to keep up to date with latest news.

Lewis on his Website:

On the 27 August I will attempt to become the first person to kayak all the way to the North Pole. I will start on the Island of Svalbard (just north of Norway) and paddle 1,200km across the Arctic Ocean, into the ice packs, and along cracks in the ice, till I get to the North Pole.

I am undertaking this expedition to show the dramatic loss of sea ice in the Arctic Ocean.  It shouldn’t be possible to kayak all the way to the North Pole.  It should be frozen over.  But a number of scientists are predicting that this year will be the first year the North Pole will be ice-free.  I hope they are wrong, and I do not get all the way there!

-Eoinod-

the speed here is a lot different today! Its great, makes a big difference to being behind Peter O’Farrell.

Peter will be chuffed to hear that!

That photo is Team La Fuma.

According to Valerie, today’s session included cycling over Pedlar’s Coom, trekking over Brandon Mountain and Kayaking from Ventry to Dingle Harbour!

-Aisling-

Images are Valerie’s!

You have till midnight Monday to get the entries in…the clocks are ticking…. ;-) Thanks to Rowan McMahon for the reminder!

Prizes sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor Store.

-Aisling-

Image from Not the Sunday Run’s Picasa page of last year’s event.

SINGAPORE (Team Geared Up) - We know less about our oceans than we do about Space. Google are about to shift things a little and produce a consumer tool (a version of Google Earth) that lets you fly around the seabed, through canyons and over buried treasure.

Announcing Google Ocean:

The company has assembled an advisory group of oceanography experts, and in December invited researchers from institutions around the world to the Mountain View, Calif., Googleplex. There, they discussed plans for creating a 3D oceanographic map, according to sources familiar with the matter.

The tool–for now called Google Ocean, the sources say, though that name could change–is expected to be similar to other 3D online mapping applications. People will be able to see the underwater topography, called bathymetry; search for particular spots or attractions; and navigate through the digital environment by zooming and panning.

This is great news for the adventure & scientific communities. From being able to see the depth of channels for sail racing tactics or diving to knowing what’s under your kayak right now. Link this up to a GPS and actually find out what is under you without just a depth sounder.

Add in some multimedia, imagery, video and some educational material and you’ve got a serious educational tool. For example, watch this amazing video of an octopus vanish with camouflage (unreal!):

And if you want to see the full thing, it’s in a 5 min TED talk (worth watching) by David Gallo:

David Gallo shows jaw-dropping footage of amazing sea creatures, including a shape-shifting cuttlefish, a pair of fighting squid, and a mesmerizing gallery of bioluminescent fish that light up the blackest depths of the ocean.

I’m looking froward to using this.

-Robin.

DUBLIN, IRELAND (Team Geared Up) - Just received Great Outdoors email newsletter and it’s the announcement of their annual Canoe & Kayak Sale on April 12th @ 9:30am.

….the annual clear out of our demo fleet of kayaks and any other second hand boats we’ve picked up over the last season. Oh there are bargains to be had for sure!!
If that’s not enough there will be massive discounts off a large selection of Cag’s, PDF’s and Pants that, for some reason or another, have been discontinued for next season. Some of these items have been our top sellers for the past few years…..

Most importantly for anyone looking for watersports gear:

To notch the sale frenzy levels up a notch or two we’ve decided to offer all our customers a 15% discount off everything in the Watersports Department on the day. Remember it’s all for one day only, so get in early……..doors open 9.30 a.m. sharp.

I’ve finished up my scuba diving days for now, but even I’m tempted to call in ;)

- Neal :) -

Name: Patrick Marshall
Have been involved with Adventure Racing for a number of years, however M.A.R.S is our first full AR team. My main sporting love in life is running which allows me to be fit to try anything else really. I’ve taken part in a number of shorter adventure races but this year will be first full expedition race and what better place to do it but on home turf. Currently doing lots of running and plenty of triathlon training.
Name: Margot Buchhorn
Has been involved with adventure all her life but only take the competetive plunge into adventure racing last year. Margot is not one to shine away from pain having complete numerous half Iron Mans and more recently a full Iron Man.
Name: Steven Cleary
A man never to turn down a challenge. It took him all of two minutes to commit to taking on a expedition length adventure race. Steven is an accomplished mountaineer and all round head case.
Name: Cornelius Marshall
All round very strong athlete. Has competed nationally and internationally on track,roads and mountains. A holiday for this man usually involves some ultra running, followed off with more ultra running.

Some photos from their training sessions here. They seem well prepared already with training sessions mapped out from here to June including shorter length adventure races like the one in Avon Ri (might see you there!). And they’re doing it all for charity. We’ll be watching their blog with interest… ;-)

-Aisling-

SINGAPORE (Team Geared Up) - We broke the news in January that an AR World Series race to be held in Ireland next summer. Valerie O’S just mailed in a press release to me.

The first ever World Series Adventure Race taking place in the South West in June 14-21 2008, as part of three major races taking place here along the western seaboard aimed at establishing Ireland as a premier adventure sports and tourism destination.

It looks fantastic.

The Turas Mór is a five day race which will trace a 650 kms course over the peninsulas and bays of West Cork and Kerry, encompassing trekking, mountain biking, kayaking, horse riding, traditional boat rowing, ropes, orienteering megalithic sites of the region.

The location for the first ever AR World Series event in Ireland is in the south western corner of the island, in regions of counties Cork and Kerry characterised by five great peninsulas and separating Atlantic bays.

Teams from 19 Countries have signed up for this exciting Race,these include, USA, England,Canada,Norway and Ireland,France,Mexico.Teams of Four must be able to traverse mountains, cycling over 150km a day, kayak over 45km, Row over 11km, sometimes without sleep for the five days.

Ireland’s arrival on the world stage of adventure racing seeks to honour athletic endeavor with a spectacular course that reflects the incredible natural and cultural landscapes of this place in a manner that promises a Turas unmatched anywhere in the World! .
Turas: a Special Journey,a pilgrimage,a sacred journey over land and seascapes,involving body,spirit and soul
For Further Information:

Daragh O’Suilleabhain
087-7842848

Looks great, for more see www.turasmor.com.

-Robin.

SINGAPORE (Team Geared Up) - Not just for the fishermen among us (yawn), I would imagine that this would be ideally suited to photography too!

This is the only kayak available that uses a patented extendable outrigger system to stabilize the craft, enabling outdoor enthusiasts to fish from a standing position. Made of durable polyethylene with stainless steel and aluminum hardware, the kayak has two independent outriggers that pivot outward 45 to its centerline, yet both swing back into position to form the aft section of the craft to allow for smooth paddling. Both outriggers can be removed for easy transport and each has a watertight storage compartment.

It also has a bar that pivots up as a handle to steady yourself. I think it’s clever.

I thought it was an idea worth sharing. Simple is best.

-Robin.

Choose from two events; GF6, the classic one-day multi-sport challenge for solo participants or teams with biking, running, trekking and kayaking; or take part in GF12 – featuring GF6 on the Saturday and then continuing with a “second stage” team event on the Sunday involving ropes, boats and navigation.

It’s on August 23rd and 24th so there’s plenty of time to get some serious training in!

-Aisling-

Image from Gael Force West gallery.

DUBLIN, IRELAND (Team Geared Up) World Surf Kayaking Champion, Irish Paddler of the Year and 3rd year student at DCU, Lenny Kelleher - gets no funding!! Because his sport isn’t recognised by his college. How scandalous is that! How many world champs do you know with no funding?! (I believe his brother is also ranked in the Freestyle kayaking world top 10.)

Crazy…..

EDIT: I should have included this promo video in my original post: Len Kelleher Promo Vid.

-Aisling-