Share your favourite moments from this year, we’ve got limited edition T-shirts to give away, do something over at Facebook (link).
We’ve had another amazing year here at Palm, with ups, downs, and some incredible memories. There’s almost too much to take in, so here’s a quick snapshot of some moments which have inspired us in 2015.
That wave!
Photo – Dave Jackson
Bren Orton has had a huge year, with a solid performance at the Worlds, and some impressive descents as well. Back in the early spring when the ice was melting in northern Quebec, Bren was ready and waiting for this monster to come into condition. Is this the biggest river wave ever surfed?
‘Just paddle towards the sun’
Dean Dunbar departs from the Isles of Scilly as the sun rises. Dean has almost no sight, making this the first SUP crossing from the Scillies back to the mainland by a registered blind paddler.
Arctic Gurkha
While most of us in the northern hemisphere were enjoying our summer with flip flops and ice cream, Jon Armstrong and Arjun Limbu were undertaking a truly epic ninety-three day attempt to circumnavigate Ellesmere island in the Arctic circle. 1,000 miles self supported in the company of polar bears and walruses is a staggering achievement.
Charlie’s first fish!
Another milestone moment came from Charlie Gibson, who borrowed a Calypso kayak from us to enter the Oxwich Kayak Fishing Competition. Here she has just caught her first competition flounder! We’re constantly impressed by the sheer enthusiam and dedication of the kayak fishing community. This year’s Oxwich event became the European Championships, and included for the first time a youth category.
Welcome inside the Palm factory!
We were really excited this year to invite you all to see inside the Palm factory in Vietnam, in our short film; Inside Out. We’re very proud of our facility, but what stood out so strongly is how proud our staff are of the gear they make. The limited edition neon T-shirts went down a storm! If you haven’t alread seen it, check out our video here.
XXL Paddelfestival
The XXL Paddelfestival in Markkleeberg goes from strength to strength, with huge numbers of paddlers coming along to get involved. From complete beginners through to paddling veterans, young and old, this event is a true celebration of paddling!
Cheese brings home the silver
Despite reaching a landmark birthday in 2015, Palm’s Brand Manager Paul ‘Cheesy’ Robertson put in a phenomenal effort at the World Kayak Surfing Championships, bringing home the silver medal. Having only taken up surf kayaking two years ago, he’s a reminder to us all of much variety there is enjoy and learn in paddling!
Erin’s adventures continue …
At the 2015 Ladies’ Paddle Symposium we watched our ambassador Erin give an inspiring talk about her thirty day self supported expedition in Patagonia. This photo comes from her trip this autumn to circumnavigate Corsica, and we think everybody could learn a lesson from Erin’s attitude and enthusiasm. Put simply; choose your adventure, big or small, then get out there and go for it!
European Champions!
Palm have been supporting the GB Women’s Raft Team for several years now, and we’ve seen the enormous amount of hard work and dedication that goes into their training. It was glorious to see them take the overall gold medal at the 2015 European Championships. Followed up by further great results at the Worlds in Indonesia this month.
Save the Conwy – time is running out …
Amongst the great stuff that has happened this year, there is a dark cloud looming over the UK’s paddling community in the form of a hydro scheme on the Conwy River’s Fairy Glen. The Glen is a national treasure inside the National Park, and is in danger of trampled by shortsighted profit seeking. The effects of dams on the ecosystem has this year become a bigger talking point thanks Patagonia’s film Damnation, and it has been great this year to see the community becoming more active and engaged with other groups in these efforts to protect the environment and the rivers we love. Find out more, and help us fight this environmental vandalism at savetheconwy.com
Content retrieved from: palm.equipment/blog/en/ten-photos-which-inspired-us-2015.
