Recent content by Marc Ornstein

I think we, as aficionados of fine canoes put too much emphasis on light weight. I don't mean this in terms of our personal desires. Most of us began with much heavier canoes and gradually migrated to lighter ones, as our skills and resources allowed. What I'm referring to is beginner/entry...

The good news is that both of these boats show that it is possible to produce canoes in the $1000.00 range. Both are essentially "beginner" boats or fishing platforms in that they are both quite wide and flat bottomed. Hard to learn good technique when you can't easily reach over the side and...

Curtis Mayfly, Loonworks Solitaire, Bell Flashfire, Dogpaddle June Bug (original woodstrip), Slipstream Inspire 14.5, Savage River June Bug, Savage River Illusion, and Savage River Harmony. To be honest, the Mayfly, Solitaire and Flashfire belong to my wife. Totally unbiased of course, but my...

It would be nice if we had some marketing folks, here in the group, along with a production boat builder or two. Perhaps a plan could be hatched to produce a decent, entry level, plastic canoe (think Solo 13 ish) and a marketing plan to go with it. If enough of us got behind a social media...

Ski shops sell a product called P-tex. It's used to repair nicks and ding in skis. It's a plastic stick, 1/4"+- in diameter. You heat the end of it with a lighter until it melts. You can drip it on to the cracked/broken area or heat it until soft and "mush" it in. It comes in various colors...

Rascal, keeping me company.

Yesterday, I paddled with a local group (the Marion County Aquaholics). For the 1st time I was NOT the only one in a canoe. I was in my Illusion (solo) and a couple were in a Wenonah, tandem. The other eight boats in the group were kayaks and SUPs. I have no idea what it will take to revive...

That Red textreem June Bug is mine. I'm jealous. You guys are getting to see it and paddle it before I do. I likely won't see it for another 6 weeks.

What a strange coincidence. Last week I reread The New Jersey Pine Barrens, having read it the 1st time 30 or so years ago. Currently, I'm 2/3 of the way through a reread of Survival of the Bark Canoe. Again, having read it the 1st time, 30 odd years ago. John McPhee is inteed a great writer...

Bill Mason was an inspiration, a great paddler and a great teacher. His style of paddling, though highly effective was, in many ways dissimilar to the techniques taught in freestyle. Perhaps, even more to the point; Most (not all) of the videos, produced by Bill Mason had a whitewater theme...

I spoke to Sam Dunning today. Sam is the producer of "Canoe Dig It". He is trying to arrange screenings at the Little Theater in Rochester NY and at the North Park Theater in Buffalo NY. It would be helpful, in that effort, if paddlers from those areas would call the respective theaters and...

The most arrogant character is the producer/director himself and I think that's intentional.

A little over a year ago, Molly and I, along with several other FreeStyle instructors and past competitors, had the opportunity to pre-screen the film. We all had a good laugh. None took offense. The "mock" part of mockumentary is aimed at the Mainers whose personalities are portrayed in the film.

I'll take the credit for coining the term "functional freestyle". I don't recall when I first used the term. It was more years ago than I want to believe. I'm also humbled to be mentioned in the same missive as Charlie Wilson, Lou Glaros, Pat Moore, and Mike Gault. I don't belong in their league.