Howdy! So, its been a while since Ive written anything for the website or blogged anything and I would love to tell you its because I have been on the water everyday and not had time to deal with technology but nothing could be further from the truth! Ive started University at Nottingham Trent University and have been really engrossed in my “studies”. All jokes a side, I have been paddling a fair bit and been helping Holger develop the new beam series paddle which were launched at the Kanumesse in Germany at the end of last year. They are now in production and I have just started using my first production set are paddling with the already great proto types! The first thing that hit me when I opened the wrapper was damn, are these tywarps! The new graphics and finish is totally different to the old models and they looked super sweet, I immediately planned a hurley session for the next day.

It was on a meaty three gates, a perfect opportunity for me to train on some new moves and get used to them! I got on the water and was immediately shocked by the weight of them, they feel like half of anything I have ever used before which is awesome as I lack muscle in my arms and needed something nice and light! Anyway, I found the paddles very close to the old models in regards to power but the flex is much better in these new models and that coupled with the new weight and power has made my past weeks paddling a delight! Ive spent the past few weeks working on getting my airscrews quicker, my blunts and pan am’s clearly distinguishable and my flip turns and clean blunts bigger!
Something I found perfect is the blade size, especially with flip turns and air screws, they are not soo big that they stick in the water too much causing you vital time loss but neither are they too small and lack power or balance! There was one small error though…no with my paddles…..or technique…..on going for an airscrew my deck “popped” on landing and I ended up taking first very first, yes first ever, swim at hurley! It was bloody freezing but I have been a gentleman and put the photo’s on this report along with the paddling shots for you to have a chuckle at my expense at! However, the same can be said in a hole with these paddles, I have been working hard on my phonix monkeys and with the new blades I am able to get them more consistently where as before I struggled, whether that has something to do with the paddle or not I don’t know but I’ll let you decide! Anyway personally, I think you should get down your local paddle shop and try one of these new bad boys for freestyle or whitewater paddling, you won’t regret it! If you don’t know where to get them from then come and ask me or mark for a go with ours, we will fight you for them back though, what I meant to say was contact www.wwc.co.uk for the details on stockists!

Hope you enjoy the photo’s and video!

Stay safe and Go Big, Peace Out,

Matt K