Blog Archives

OZFlyte / SHK Team Paddler Amy Nurthen from Terrigal

SHK and Blast Paddlers launch the OZFlyte R21 Ocean Racing Ski

The rise of ocean racing ski paddling has been dramatic in Australia, with the Harbour regularly abuzz with these Formula 1 paddlers on their skinny boats.  Thus far the market…

Just a random artsy shot I took from the beach

Exploring Pittwater’s Western Shore

Cold, dark and quiet. This is how we found the put-in at the southern end of Pittwater this winter’s morning. Grumm, The Famous Tim Kennings and myself had met up…

Breaking light and breaking waves

Chasing the Dawn in the Choppy Darkness

The Famous Tim Kennings and I pushed off into the darkness, hunting the sunrise over North Head. The morning was proving to be the first really cold one for the…

Maelstrom Vaag - made by crazy people having crazy fun!

The Ultimate Play Boats – Maelstrom Vaag & Vital

There’s a new player in the Brit-style skeg boat market, hailing from the wonderful land of Quebec, Canada. Maelstrom kayaks, designed by a fun-loving bunch of kayak cowboys, are only…

A final look at Grumm's BD Labrador. Fast lines!

Grumm and The Famous Tim Kennings Return for Coffee

This weekend’s paddle marked the welcome return of two misssing (feared lost) Team Fat Paddler characters. The inimitable Grumm (aka The Whinging Pom) and the Unknown Greenland Paddler, recently renamed…

Orbitz CEO and President Barney Harford with North & Middle Heads in background

On the Water with Orbitz and HotelClub

This week our business has been visited by senior execs from our parent company Orbitz, including our VP Global Media Kit Simon and CEO & President, Barney Harford. In an…

Two very different paddle craft sharing the water - Valley Aquanaut and SUP

The Odd Couple – A SUP and a Sea Kayak

One of the great aspects of paddling is all the different flavours that are available. White water, flat water, ocean paddling, ski paddling, Greenland paddling, kayak polo, canoeing and of…

Dawn's first rays of sunlight

Paddling Therapy – North Head Dawn

Sometimes life’s pressures build up and force us to seek therapy. For some, that might involve relying on a friendly shoulder to cry on. For others, it may be a…

The orange glow of the Trangia at night.

Night Adventure on Middle Harbour

There is something magical about paddling at night. The lights of civilisation reflecting off inky water,  the incredible array of stars overhead, and the tension of not being able to…

The rising sun and a lone kayak fisherman

Dawn Paddles, Grotto Point to North Head

Autumn is such a great time of the year. The morning air is cold but the water is still warm, so you get all kinds of wonderful weather effects. Low…

The cliffs of Grotto Point cop the full force of ocean swell

Dumb Paddlers without PFDs

Today after returning from a dawn paddle to the ocean-battered cliffs of North Head, I saw something that really annoyed me. Three kayakers had paddled around Grotto Point (see photo…

Like paddling through an enchanted forest

A Tale of Two Paddles (Part 2) – Peaceful Meanders

(Continued from Part 1) Both wet from our respective spills, Timbo and I paddled up to Bantry Bay in search of warmth and a hot cup of black gold from…

I can fit through there, NO problem! *gulp*

A Tale of Two Paddles (Part 1) – Thrills and Spills

Adventures always seem to start when you least expect it. Over the ANZAC weekend I was due to paddle & camp out in the Shoalhaven Gorge wilderness area, but sickness…

Kayak upgrade - a composite BD Nanook for the Hawkesbury Classic

Happy Bday – Fat Paddler Turns One

This time a year ago the FatPaddler.com website was launched. It’s initial goal was to document my personal journey to the Hawkesbury Classic, but quickly became a much greater adventure…