(New Fluid Symbol)
OR this year was an epic adventure for the Go Big Rig, Joe Stumpfel, and myself. It started off with a 40 hr (2,100 mile) straight threw drive from Baltimore to Salt Lake. The Go Big Rig only overheated once on the long journey, and hasn't had any issue since. Hoping to get wet and in our boats for awhile we did stop at the Green Rive Playpark, but with low flows we only paddled for about 45 min.
(Celliers always working hard to design the next great kayak)
The show itself was a blast as usual. However, extremely hard work and really long days are par for the course at the show. The Fluid booth was bustling with retailers from around the world throughout the show checking out our full lineup of whitewater kayaks for 2006. Expect to have a Fluid retailer near you in the near future, if you don't have one close by already. Fluid had a strong presence at the show with Celliers Kruger (Fluid owner and designer), Billy Harris (designer and kayaker extrodinair), Joe Stumpfel (designer and C-1 extrodinair), as well as team paddlers Tracy Sage, Jeremy Adkins, and Leif Anderson in attendance.
(The Expediton Solo, Vaya, and Spice)
Fluid was showing off four new boat models for '06 as well as a new company symbol. The first new boat is the Expedition Solo, a hatched version of the Large Solo. An exciting addition to the Fluid Kayaks lineup for '06 is the addition of two sizes of the Spice (M and L), an all around river running boat. The Spice has a hull modeled after the Flirt, but with less aggressive rails, making it fast on a wave and extremely loose. The Spice is an extremely easy to roll, forgiving, and fast all around boat. The most unique new product offering from Fluid for '06 is the Vaya, a kids sit-on-top whitewater kayak. The Vaya is designed for kids 90 lbs. or less and is able to handle up to class II whitewater. The hull of the Vaya is modeled after the Solo hull, making it extremely stable and forgiving.
(The new Munson Freestyle helmet from Rock Hedz)
Rock Hedz helmets were also represended by me at the Fluid booth this year. With a new manufaturing process, a new lining system, and a new freestyle helmet design the helmets garnered a lot of attention. Ask about Rock Hedz helmets at your local paddling shop.
Fluid also had a strong showing at the '05 IR Big Gun Show with both a video and still entry. The show itself was a bit disappointing however since many of the video clips were cut way to short, the history of the show commentary didn't match the video being shown, and my photo entries weren't even entered into the contest. The carnage reel was unbelivable this year and Steve Fisher finally won the event, actually in two catagories. I look forward to seeing what people come up with for next year.
(Joe & the Go Big Rig at the Slick Rock trailhead in Moab, UT)
The Go Big Rig traveled four hours out of the way after the show in order for Joe and I to Mountain Bike the Slick Rock trail in Moab, UT. Joe and I managed to rent bikes afterhours, thanks to Wes at the Chile Pepper Bike Shop, and hit the trail for just under 3 hrs. of unbelievable riding. We both have vowed to get back to this area for some more riding, offroading, and rockclimbing sometime soon. We got off the trail and rolled out of Moab around 9pm to start our 39 hr (2,000 mile) trek back to Baltimore.
This year's show was a huge sucess for Fluid Kayaks. Our new boats are getting a lot of attention and our retailer network is growing exponetially. Be sure to check out one of these sweet boats on a river near you.
See you on the river- Bryon Dorr
