Welcome to the home of premium, custom designed carbon fibre paddle blades for both river and flat water paddling. This site provides information on the Gara brand's blade designs, options for ordering complete paddle sets, details on manufacturing and contact details for orders and queries. Our photo gallery features the Gara paddle brand in pictures from the local South African paddling scene. Our news section below follows the latest developments in the paddling world. We trust you will enjoy your visit and should you need any further information, please feel free to contact us.
News:
[22 October 2011] McGregor wins World Champs in Singapore:
On Saturday Hank McGregor won the World Marathon Championship K1 canoeing title using a set of Gara Racing Paddles. After dominating the 35km race from start to finish and defying convention with the use of a Kayak Centre canoe fitted with pedals and an overstern rudder, he left the canoeing world heaping praise on his peerless performance.
Racing in hot and humid conditions at the Marina in Singapore harbour, using the unique floating soccer pitch for the 100 metre portage at the end of each of the seven laps, McGregor started alongside ten times world champ Manuel Busto Fernandes, defending champ Ben Brown of Britain and countryman Shaun Rubenstein, another former holder of the marathon world crown.
"I am so chuffed for my Team Best 4 Kayak Centre and my supporters who backed me all the way, even when I was determined to do things differently," Hank said. "I proved that it is possible to win a tough race like the Hansa Fish and then go on to win a world title two weeks later."
Photo courtesy of Lynne Haupfliesch / Gameplan Media
A lesser known fact about the set of Gara Racing Paddles Hank used to win the 2011 World Marathon Champs is that they are the same set he has used in 38 races this season (36 of which he has won outright). A true testament to the durability of Gara Racing Paddles and the sportspeople who choose them. Well done Hank!
For the full story and more details click here.
[30 September 2011] Gara Racing Paddles an official sponsor of Team Best 4 Kayak Centre:
Gara Racing Paddles are now the proud co-sponsors of Team Best 4 Kayak
Centre. This exciting new venture is bringing sports sponsorship in
South Africa to a whole new level. Embracing the idea to "boldly go!"
where no other high performance kayaking team has ever gone before, Team
Best 4 Kayak Centre aims to provide it's pool of top class Elite and
Premium athletes with the very best equipment, support, training,
medical expertise and logistic support to enable them to achieve optimum
results - Team Best 4 Kayak Centre Website.
Driven by the Holgoun Groups premium range of Best 4 pharmaceuticals and
the kayak and paddle building expertise at Kayak Centre, this pioneering team will
target
all the premier domestic river marathons in South Africa as well as the
thriving surfski series events, and the world's premier international
events across all of these disciplines.
Team Best 4 Kayak Centre aims to prepare our best athletes to take on
the very best in the world, at the worlds best events.
