In case there is subscriber out there with a burning interest in sea kayaking off the northern coast of Norway, here goes: Arctic Sea Kayak Race is a five-day late summer event arranged (almost) annually since 1991 by sea kayak enthusiasts of the Vesterålen islands in northern Norway. You can either take part in the Race (which is pretty tough - four competition days and one day to catch your breath), the Ramble (touring) or the Camp (beginners). Last year it took all in all 20 hours for the Race winner to paddle the total distance of roughly 200 km. For some reason, there doesn't seem to be any information about ASKR in English on the web. The ASKR main page - in Norwegian - can be found at http://www.nif.idrett.no/padling/naskr.html I'd be glad to provide a participant's view on 1998 ASKR (no Race for me, Ramble was definitely sufficient), just mail me in that case. I'll mail the list if there is a more widespread interest. Rgds from Niilo Sweden *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Niilo Alhovaara wrote: > In case there is subscriber out there with a burning interest in sea > kayaking off the northern coast of Norway, here goes: > > Arctic Sea Kayak Race is a five-day late summer event arranged > (almost) > annually since 1991 by sea kayak enthusiasts of the Vesterålen islands > in > northern Norway. ... I strongly recemmend that paddlers visit this area if you ever have an opportunity to do so (even if you can't make it for the race). The Vesterålen islands are among the most beautiful in the world, with spectacular mountain scenery and crystal clear water. I must confess that I am not unbiased (since my family is from the Vesterålen islands), but it really is an incredible place. > ... For some reason, there doesn't seem to be any information about > ASKR in > English on the web. The ASKR main page - in Norwegian - can be found > at > http://www.nif.idrett.no/padling/naskr.html Well, I was about to provide a translation of the essential information when I noticed that this has already been done. The URL is: http://www.nif.idrett.no/padling/askr.html Dan Hagen Bellingham, Washington *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Niilo Alhovaara wrote: > ... Last year it took all in all 20 hours for > the Race winner to paddle the total distance of roughly 200 km. ... Ouch! That's 10 kilometers per hour (duh!), which works out to about 6.2 mph (statute miles per hour), which is just under 5.4 knots. Now I remember why I don't race... :-) Dan Hagen *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
>From: Dan Hagen <dan_at_hagen.net> >To: Niilo Alhovaara <nordic.seakayak_at_bigfoot.com> >CC: Paddlewise <paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net> > >> Arctic Sea Kayak Race is a five-day late summer event arranged >> (almost) >> annually since 1991 by sea kayak enthusiasts of the Vesterålen islands >> in >> northern Norway. ... > >I strongly recemmend that paddlers visit this area if you ever have an >opportunity to do so (even if you can't make it for the race). The >Vesterålen islands are among the most beautiful in the world, with >spectacular mountain scenery and crystal clear water. I must confess >that I am not unbiased (since my family is from the Vesterålen islands), >but it really is an incredible place. > I third this endorsement of the Vesterålen islands, and, at the risk of stiriing up provinical rivaleries, suggest that if you have the chance, you paddle from the Vesterålen islands out through the Lofoten Island chains. Almost every nook and cranny that can be landed has a village of some type, but Norway has a very civlized law, wereby you can camp even on private land so long as you are not in direct view of a house, and you do not damage the land. There are also Rurbo (spelling?). Orginally these were rough fisherman's bunkhouses that were rented to summer time visitors. Today they range from pretty authentic, to buildings more like Chalets, with proportional rents. They are usually have kitchens, so you can cook your own catch of cod or mackreal (eating out in Norway is very expensive, and the food is not usually better than you can make yourself - the exception being the seal stew which is served at an inn the Lofotens which has been around since the Middle Ages (the inn, not the stew!). . N49°16' W123°08' Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Philip Torrens wrote: > I third this endorsement of the Vesterålen islands, and, at the risk > of > stiriing up provinical rivaleries, suggest that if you have the > chance, > you paddle from the Vesterålen islands out through the Lofoten Island > chains. Yes, I suppose that the Lofoten chain is also worth a visit. > ... There are also Rurbo (spelling?). Orginally > these were rough fisherman's bunkhouses that were rented to summer > time > visitors. ... Close--it's "rorbu". Here are some photos of rorbuer: http://www.lofoten-info.no/Eliassen.htm (click on the cabins in the foreground of the first photo, and check out those mountains in the second photo! Note that one of the listed features is "Anti-stress".) Here are some sites with interior shots: http://www.lofoten-info.no/nyhavn.htm http://www.lofoten-info.no/Arntzen.htm http://www.lofoten-info.no/Rorbu.htm Dan Hagen *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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