Lifetime Employees Test Drive 2012 Kayak Line

Candace - 5/23/2012 9:04:00 AM in Water Sports
Tagged in Promotions and Giveaways, Kayaks, Sporting Goods

1 sales kayaks 2012.jpg Every year, the Lifetime sales and marketing team attends an internal Sales and Marketing Conference. This year, things were a bit different. We had 30 kayaks and paddle boards to test paddle at Sand Hollow - one of the most scenic reservoirs in Utah. It is exhausting just to think about…..exhausting in a good way, of course!

To kick things off with our kayak training a few weeks ago, we began with a training clinic and question and answer period. Many of our employees are just like you - they are a beginner or are just getting into the sport of kayaking. Our more advanced staff members were excited to help out as well. This was exciting for me as I love to share my love of paddle sports with anyone who will listen…….or paddle. :) I discussed paddle techniques, sitting in your kayak, and the differences in kayak styles. As you can see in the photos, I had quite an attentive audience. 3 sales conference 2012.jpg

In previous posts, I have mentioned that this was our first season with a sit-inside kayak, the Lifetime Payette 116. The Lifetime Payette quickly become one of the biggest talking points of our kayak test paddle. At first, people were apprehensive to try out this new style of kayak. I received lots of questions about the sit-inside model: Is it as stable as a sit-on-top, what if I flip over, how do I get in? After the first few paddle strokes, everyone was in love! By the end, I had to sweet talk paddlers into coming ashore so someone else could give the Lifetime Payette a whirl. This kayak was being paddled continuously up until it was stashed away in the trailer. Many people expressed how surprised they were that they enjoyed a sit-inside model as much as they did. (Though they still love the sit-on-top designs, too.)

2 sales kayaks 2012.jpg In the coming months, we will be posting video and information on basic paddling skills and activities similar to what we presented at our conference clinic. So, keep your eyes peeled on the Water Sports page of www.lifetime.com. Also, if you are interested in test paddling a Lifetime Payette of your own, we are doing a Lifetime Payette 116 giveaway this week! Check out Jan's last blog post for details on how to enter for a chance to win!

Until next time, Happy Paddling!

Check out the Previous Post:
Lifetime Named a Top Patent Company in Utah

Check out the Next Post:
"Salute Our Troops" This Memorial Day!

Candace

Name- Candace

Position at Lifetime Products- Watersports Marketing Manager for Lifetime and Emotion brand kayaks

How long at Lifetime Products- Since January 2012! I came as a packaged deal with the acquisition of Emotion Kayaks where I’d been for over a year.

Topics I blog about- Events and news in water sports, places to kayak, and enjoying the outdoors with friends and family.

My favorite products from Lifetime- Any of the Kayaks and paddleboards. One of these days I’ll get my hands on a Fold-up Trailer and a Camp and Tailgate Table!

On a Saturday afternoon you can find me- This question will always depend on the season! When the weather outside is frightful, you can find me at one of the nearby ski resort enjoying the fresh snow and crisp air or snowshoeing through the mountains. Once the sun is shinning and the birds are chirping, my Saturdays are spent outdoors hiking, backpacking, biking, paddle boarding or my most favorite activity of all, kayaking! All while enjoying the company of good friends of course!

My favorite escape- Anything whitewater, whether it be kayaking or rafting. A more relaxing escape would be taking my camera out into the wilderness to photograph everything from wildlife to serene landscapes.

Read all posts by Candace

Comments

Michael P Taylor

5/23/2012 1:53:52 PM

I also see a Tamarack or two, Envy 11, Spitfire 9, Traverse Paddleboard, Rouge Youth paddleboard, and a Monterey. A good selection.

Rich Sewell

7/30/2012 10:45:14 AM

Hi! Just purchased the Payette 116. New to kayaking. What type of paddle should I use? Also.. length? Thanks! Rich

Candace

7/30/2012 10:48:08 AM

Hi Rich! Glad to hear you have a Payette 116, it is a great kayak! The Payette isn't a very wide kayak so you don't need anything too long. I would try to stay with a paddle under 230cm in length(that length refers to the shaft). Generally, people under 5'10" will use a 220cm and taller people will want a 230cm. The best thing to do is hold the paddle in your hands to see what feels most comfortable. You want your hands to be at a slightly less than 90 degree angle with the paddle when you are holding it. You want to make sure that when you hold your paddle your arms aren't too spread out, this will take a lot of power and control out of your stroke. As far as paddle blades go, you will have a few options. If you need a price point paddle, you can get a standard symetrical blade with no cupping. This means the padle doesn't have an up or down and the blades are flat. These are basic and aren't as efficient as other paddles but they are generally less expensive. Asymetrical blades give you more power and less flutter in the water. These paddles have a top and bottom. The top of the paddle blade will be slightly longer than the bottom. It is also benefical to have a paddle blade with a "cup". Think swimming, when you swim, if you cup your hands you get more power than if your hand is flat or your fingers are spread apart. Paddle blades work similarly. The most efficient type of paddle is an asymetrical bladed paddle with a cupped blade.

I would suggest the Lifetime Elite Sport paddle or the Adventure XL paddle, you can find it at Sports Authority.

If you need anymore information or any clarification, let me know!

*Name: (required)

*Email: (required - this will not display publicly)

*Comments (required):

Incorrect please try again

Enter the words above: Enter the numbers you hear:

Nothing to report... Please be patient as it may take a few minutes to publish. Your comment will not publish right away because this blog is moderated.

Deluxe Playset

Categories

Random
Popular
Recent

Two Winners… and Still More Free Products!
What a great week! We picked winners for two different giveaways, and another giveaway has already started! First off, congrats to Janice D. of Mackinaw City, MI who is the lucky winner of our monthly giveaway. Janice won a Lifetime Raised Garden Bed - our newest product!With this product,she'll be able to set up a garden in less than one hour and be on her way to enjoying some delicious homegrownvegetables in no time! Next up. we awarded the first basketball hoop in our "25 Hoops for 25 Years" Giveaway! Congratulations to Joseph M. of Philadelphia, PA. Don't forget, this giveaway is continuing throughout the remainder of the year. We're going to give away a total of 25 hoops at random times. You'd better hurry to enter because you never know when we might pick our next winner! Once you enter, you name stays entered until t...

Lifetime's CFO Named a Utah CFO of the Year
We have great news! Mark Whiting, chief financial officer of Lifetime Products Inc, was named a CFO of the Year in the June issue of Utah Business Magazine (read all about it).Whiting was recognized for his 22-year contribution in building a recession-proof company, and a company that has become an international player in the sporting goods and outdoor products industry. The first time youmeet Mark Whiting, youare surprised by his genuine warmth.He laughs often, listens attentively, andusually refers to himself as a bean-counter. When asked about being nominated for the Utah Business CFO of the Year Award, he bursts into laughter (I experienced that one myself).Though hewould not say he deserves this award, the growing numbers speak for themselves Last year, Lifetime: Experienced an annual revenue higher than any record...

Need a Dinghy? Use a Lifetime Manta Kayak!
What's a dinghy? Most likely, if you had to ask, you probably don't need one.:) A dinghy is a small boat, often carried by a larger boat. And, as I recently found out, the Lifetime Manta Kayak makes a great dinghy! Over the past few weeks, I've shared with you my family's experiences with the tandem Lifetime Manta Kayak (aka the Yellow Banana). And, I keep telling you there is one "unknown" feature that turned out to be our favorite. Sohere it is. Ready? Wait for it, wait for it You can TOW a Lifetime Manta Kayak in the water behind another boat! Hmm, not as exciting as you had hoped for, huh? Well, read on, then see what you think. We wanted to kayak around this scenic little island in the middle of Lake Erie. The only problem is that getting to the island from my parents' house required going several miles across Lake Er...

Black Friday!!!
What is your favorite part of Thanksgiving? My wife’s favorite part is going shopping! I find more satisfaction in staying home, eating too much, and watching football, but, to each their own. I went one year with my wife and after I got beat by a bunch of spry and motivated ladies while trying to get some sheets, I decided to retire from Black Fridaying (is that even a word?). My goal is to help you know where you can find our products. With so many different retailers carrying our products, I wanted to help you wade through the mess. If you’re looking for a new basketball hoop, Sports Authority,

The Lifetime kids' furniture is hitting Costco stores this week!

The Kids’ Table is Now the Cool Table
I can’t even tell you how excited I am about our new Kid’s Furniture! This is a project that the whole company has rallied around – even employees can’t wait to get their hands on these! The Lifetime Children’s Square Folding Table and Stacking Chairs are hitting Costco stores this week! They are absolutely perfect for homes, daycares, parties, etc. and would be great as your kids’ Thanksgiving Table this year. The table comes in our traditional almond color, and the cute stack chairs are available in blue, green, and almond. The great thing about our tables...

Who doesn’t love costumes, face paint, spooky decorations – and my personal favorite – pumpkin carving?!

Love my Pumpkin Carving Table!
Halloween is such a fun time of year! Who doesn’t love costumes, face paint, spooky decorations – and my personal favorite – pumpkin carving?! So last night, my husband and I set out on our pumpkin carving adventure. My husband not only carves pumpkins, but he is amazing at shaving in faces, and doing all sorts of cool stuff. Over the years, he has helped me get more and more into it as well. Since I knew this was going to get pretty messy, I didn’t really want to use my wooden kitchen table, so I decided to pull out my trusty 4-Foot Fold-In-Half Lifetime Table. We live in a smaller apartment, so this is the perfect table for us. It is super easy to store and ...

Children’s Furniture Giveaway Winner!!!
Wow! Can you believe that Thanksgiving is only one week away!? It seems like it has come super fast! Thank you for all of the responses! We had over a hundred!!! Here are a here are a few of my favorite: “These are so adorable! Thank you for thinking outside the box and producing a child's chair that is useful, fun, and practical!” – Shara H. “We love the durability of our other Lifetime products and love that there is now an option for a kids table and chairs that will stand up to the messes and rough housing of our three little kids. The chairs look cool and super comfortable too!” –Melarie W. “So COOL!” – Clint P. “I am in love with the new kid's table and chairs! I especially love the blue and green. I've been look...

Lifetime Employees Test Drive 2012 Kayak Line