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CRAIGS COLUMN- XCEL VENTEX RASHIE
2nd January, 2011
Any one that has been either on the water or to the beach recently will realise how hot the sun has got. My new favourite rashie is Xcel’s Ventx long sleeve loose fitting top. (Apparently Xcel was first design for the outrigger canoe paddlers in Hawaii and is now worn buy the life guards over East). Either way this top has the most sun protection and is by far the coolest top I own to paddle in.
Initially I wasn’t keen on loose fitting long sleeve tops as the sleeves usually annoy me on the water, but Xcel have designed this well and it doesn’t seem to be an issue. I first got this top for the Mainpeak bay to beach race and in our current temp I am wearing this top everywhere from paddling to going to the beach for a swim.
ABOUT CRAIG
Craig started his paddling career in 1995 with an Air New Zealand corporate Dragon boat team, in 1997 he raced in the world club champs and made the New Zealand Dragon Boat Squad. He then spent the next few years racing Outrigger Canoes (mostly OC 6 ) all over New Zealand competing in most major races from Sprint through to Marathon distance's. In 2000 Craig was introduced to kayaking through a white water kayak course and ever since has been totally addicted, paddling K1 's and K2's at Marathon nationals, and has raced most moving water and flat water kayak races in held within the South Island. 2 years ago he discovered long distance (Molokai) ski paddling, and competed in Auckland's King of the Harbour and also the New Zealand Long Distance Ski champs.
Moving to Perth in August 2009 in search of a warmer climate, Craig hopes to improve his ocean paddling and also get better at ski paddling, and since moving, has competed in almost all local ski races with the biggest being the "Doctor" world cup race which is held in Perth every year.
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