I Love Sweden: Skim Kayaks in the Netherlands

Här kommer Pippi Långstrump,
tjolahopp tjolahej tjolahoppsan-sa
Här kommer Pippi Långstrump,
ja, här kommer faktisk jag.
The Pippi-song, Astrid Lindgren 1949

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I love Sweden. Though I have never been there. But imagination can do a lot. Over the years always something with Swedish design or lifestyle fascinated me. My addiction started in the early 70's with the TV-series of Pippi, Annika and Tommy. Some highlights after Pippi were: Abba, Saab 96, Ikea, Smorebrod, Midsommerdagen, Anna, Allemansrätten, Mrs. Brundtland, the Swedish social security-model. Last year I had the pleasure to lecture a Swedish delegation from the region of Örebro about Dutch water management ->very nice people! Back to seakayaking: Swedish coast must be great, and Sweden offers some interesting seakayak-designs

I suppose I have pleased some regular visitors of this blog: since there is a link to my blog on Kajak.nu 15% of the visitors of this blog is from Sweden. Kajak.nu is the website and blog of Erik Sjöstedt and Pia Fransson: it looks very good, it's a pity I can't read Swedish...

And now to the motive for this post. Today I received an email from Peter Grobbee. Peter wrote that he will be the Dutch distributer for Skim Kayaks. Skim is new on the Dutch market and produces two seakayaks: the Distance and the Dex. The Distance is "a long-range kayak for those who aren't discouraged by a little blizzard. The boat's length and profile give it a sufficient loading capacity in combination with seaworthiness and reliable tracking in hard wind and rough seas (=orig. Skim-text)". The Dex is "a playful and nimble kayak for day and weekend trips where high seas and surfs are more than welcome. A boat for those who appreciate contact in leans, edges and manoeuvres. Low volume. Low profile. Tight cockpit (= orig. Skim-text)."

Both kayaks offer an interesting deck and hull design and detail-solutions like an integrated towing system on the deck, intern secured hatches, "glow in the dark"- deck lines, special rescue straps for a paddle float rescue (but I don't favour the paddle float rescues with a fixed paddle...). And they look good: Swedish design (with one little exception: the racing stripes: why? Starsky and Hutch?)!

I am happy with Peter's invitation to test the kayaks: I am especially curious about the Dex. It should be a very playful kayak! Have a look for yourself on Zeekajaks Nederland.

Picture of the Skim-detail used with kind permission of Peter Grobbee.

PS: Reading this post I realize that Gro Harlem Brundtland was prime Minister of Norway, not Sweden. However: a great scandinavian lady we should honour for introducing the broad political concept of sustainable development! (she could have been Swedish...)