|
Jan Kellner has posted a report on the Eskimo blog page but here's our rambling version of events..... |
|
 After a weekend paddling the Mafia and Salto on the upper Dart with his mate Andy from Canada, Glenn and I met up to commence the journey to the Dusseldorf boat show. |
 Eskimo had a large stand with their complete range on display including their two latest models, new components, prototypes and CAD models of new designs on Jan Kellner's computer. |
 The Xeno is really comfortable thanks to the omission of the foam centre pillar that is a feature of almost every other kayak. I'm not a big guy so often find the foot bumps are in the wrong place for me and I end up with cramped feet. Not so in the new Xeno. |
 Glenn is at the opposite end of the size/weight spectrum to me. For him it's very hard to find a boat that is comfortable enough to spend long periods in. With the full plate footrest and padded thigh braces removed he found the new Xeno very roomy! |
 Jeanette (an apprentice designer at the Rikutec factory - the company that produces Eskimo kayaks). She has never kayaked before but was very keen to help out at the show and Glenn soon managed to convince her to model the new Kendo for the camera ;-) |
 The NEW "KISS" (Keep It Smart & Simple) thigh brace is adjustable in 8 positions with only one bolt so it is very quick and easy to adjust..... |
 ...or remove altogether if you're a larger paddler! Glenn wasn't convinced he'd fit into the Kendo but Jan was positive he'd fit (well that's what he told Glenn)! |
 Jeanette and Glenn (she's the one in heels). |
 The new Cerro should be very popular with larger paddlers, centres and clubs. It is easy to paddle over long distances thanks to its length (3 metres exactly) BUT it turns very quickly and smoothly for a boat of it's length. |
 Glenn in the Cerro. This boat is cavernous inside so there's plenty of room for big people or piles of equipment if you fancy spending a few days in the wilderness. |
 Another view of the new Xeno. The boat will not normally be available in this colour but there are about 5 in the factory just like it. If you want to get your hands on something a little different then get in touch with us right away. Contact us via: e-mail: sales@highnmighty.co.uk or telephone: 01227 281 111 |
 The Speedo "tiger". For 2006 the Speedo will be available in black/ orange with black on the inside. We thought it looked really cool. |
 The Diablo, Salto, Speedo and Kendo on display. |
To make room for 2006 spec
boats we do have some |
 Eskimo paddler Fritz in the blue Xeno with Jan's wife Sandra in her mango Kendo. |
 Another view of Fritz in the Xeno. |
 Fritz performs the infamous "tailie" |
 Jan Kellner stern squirts on the eddy line. |
Other stuff:While in Germany we stayed at Jan's placed with his wife Sandra and his kids Lea and Leon who were all really great and made us feel at home from the moment we arrived until the time we had to leave. Jan isn't one to make a big thing out of his numerous competition successes and very few of his trophies are displayed in his home but the hallway of his apartment has an engraved tile on the wall from his win at the first rodeo world championships at the Bitches in 1991. Beneath that there's an even more interesting award from a competition in Finland in the late eighties. It's a sort dish as used by the pan-handlers who shuffle grit for gold. Hard to describe I guess but really cool. Jan's kids were great fun. They are full of energy and really funny. One morning they burst into our room and proceeded to show us children's books which I struggled to read to them (in German). I think that their English is far better than our German! While in Dusseldorf we also met up with Harmut and Gerhard from Kober and discussed their plans for new paddles andsome other related products. They have so many great products in the pipeline especially their wooden kayak and open canoe paddles. Look out for more Kobers in the dealers and on the water with every passing month. Those who know Glenn should enjoy this one.... Glenn ate broccoli soup AND sauerkraut!!!! ;-) After dinner one evening we got to talking about TV shows and the fact that UK and US TV shows are often popular in other countries. Jan mentioned that some years ago he spent a lot of time in the UK (while working for Pyranha). During that time he developed a liking for the UK comedy "Allo Allo" which is basically about a French cafe owner during the second world war. The characters range from incompetent German soldiers, sexy French waitresses and resistance fighters, an incompetent British spy who dresses as a French policeman, 2 very odd British airman, a very strange SS officer with a limp and his female assistance who seems to shed clothing in every episode.... (I guess you get the picture). Jan still had a videotape of the show and put it on after the meal. It was very funny and some of the jokes were much repeated the following day.... Particularly the pepper grinder line: "It's old but it still grinds" which seemed to be a favourite with Eskimo's Eric Thomson (once president of the infamous Alpine Kayak Club (AKC)). Well folks, that's all for now... Jon |
|
