Outdoor Central Oregon Issue 7 | September/October 2018 | Page 32

32 PRODUCTS| KIALOA KIALOA originated from a shared love of being on the ocean as outrigger canoe paddlers, living on the windward side of Oahu. We paddled together, raced each oth- er, and afterward talked story and celebrated the shared experiences that brought us together and kept us together - like family (‘ohana). We moved from the Hawaiian oceans to the Oregon mountains and realized that this shared love of being on the water applied equally to the oceans, lakes and rivers of the Pacific Northwest, and to the people who paddle them. Our reverence for being on the water is reflected in this new site, and what you’ll find here; a collection of products for being in, on and around the water and stories from the people who use them. It’s our intention to enhance the connection to the water and to one another and to share stories from the community that celebrate those connections. Our Values: PO’OKELA (Excellence) We strive for excellence in our product and our service through the pursuit of innova- tion and commitment to quality. LAULIMA (Teamwork) Our employees,our customers, and our business partners - We are all in this to- gether. MALAMA (Stewardship) We honor the traditions of the past and dreams of the future by caring for people and our environment. written by Dave Chun SEPT/OCT 2018 PRODUCTS| NORTH SAILS DESIGN Bend office: Michael Richelsen, Mike Schrebier, and Dave Hueftle work in Software and Design for NSD. In 1957 at age 30, Lowell North decided to leave aerospace engineering to become a sailmaker. He never looked back. North, who won Olympic gold and bronze medals and four Star World Championships, never relied on intuition. He was only swayed by what could be quantified, so he built a company based on science, using constant testing and rigorous scientific methodology to build better sails. That changed sailmaking forever. When Lowell was 10, his family moved from Missouri to Los Angeles. Lowell’s father, who worked in oil discovery, purchased a 36-foot fishing boat. The purchase included an 8-foot tender, which Lowell instantly appropriated. He refurbished the boat and, at a ten- der age, made a new sail. “I’m sure it was the world’s worst sail,” he says. “The boat would barely sail to windward.” But it was a start. Five years later, the family moved to Newport Beach, CA, where Lowell honed his racing skills in local one design fleets. Later they moved to San Diego, CA where the senior North bought a used Star boat so he could crew for his son. “The Star class was way over our heads,” remembers Lowell, “but we learned a lot. We had these awful old cotton sails. It started me thinking about what makes sails fast.” After graduating from UC Berkeley, Lowell established himself as a successful aeronauti- cal/aerospace engineer. His restless mind, however, encouraged him to strike out on his own, so he quit his job designing rockets and started North Sails. Lowell questioned everything. He pioneered the application of plastic finishing to sailcloth after weaving, to help resist stretch. He oversaw the development of radial construction and Mylar laminates, for even lower stretch and lighter weight. FREEWATERS Freewaters makes the most versatile footwear available for those who want to travel without limitation and create unforgettable experiences. As global citizens, Freewaters believes they have a responsibility to do more that just create great products. Each pair supports their clean drinking water projects in Kenya, Haiti and the Philippines. To date, 80 projects have been completed globally. 1% of sales is designated to support grassroots partner organizations in each country. Co-founder Eli Marmar adds, “Our priority is on sustainability and empower- ment by fully engaging the local community. It all begins with trust.” Available at Tactics Boardshop. www.freewaters.com 33 Lowell embraced the computer even when it was still a relatively obscure and expensive device. If sailmaking is now considered a high-tech industry, Lowell North is its Steve Jobs. He and his disciples dragged a truly ancient craft into the modern world. While testing Soling sails, Lowell met Heiner Meldner, a professor of Fluid Dynamics at UC San Diego, who suggested sail testing could be done better and faster on a computer. “If that’s so,” Lowell told him, “you might make both of us fairly rich.” Over the next five years, Meldner computerized most of North’s sail testing, an d the result was nothing less than a revolution in sail design. He was helped by Kiwi Tom Schnackenberg, who was close to earning a PhD in nuclear physics when Lowell lured him to San Diego. Within ten years the company was designing sails on the computer, testing them in a computer-simulated wind tunnel, performing computer-simulated structural analysis, and cutting sail material with a computer-controlled laser plotter/cutter. Dr. Michael Richelson, North’s brilliant sails designer who is also a software engineer and mathematician, has since carried North computer technology to even greater heights. In 1984, Lowell North (nicknamed “The Pope” by his peers) sold his company and retired from sailmaking. North Sails is now part of North Technology Group, a company dedicated to design, engineering and performance leadership in the marine world. The company employs over 40 advanced degree engineers worldwide. AMERICA’S CUP North Sails is proud to be the Official Sail Supplier to the 2017 America’s Cup presented by Louis Vuitton. From the North Sales Design website COLORFUL VEGAN Snacks for Water Activities ThE By Kelly Maer Minimalist Baker’s Healthy 5-Ingredient Granola Bars Ingredients: 1 heaping cup packed (~220 g) dates, pitted (deglet noor or medjool) 1/4 cup (84 g) maple syrup or agave nectar (or honey if not vegan) 1/4 cup (64 g) creamy salted natural peanut butter or almond butter 1 cup (112 g) roasted unsalted almonds, loosely chopped (see instructions for roasting nuts) 1 1/2 cups (135 g) rolled oats (gluten-free for GF eaters) optional additions: chocolate chips, dried fruit, nuts, banana chips, vanilla, etc. Blueberry Smoothie A hydrating smoothie full of plant-based goodness is a really nice way to cool off in the heat. Store in a con- tainer that will keep it cold, such as a Hydro Flask. Freeze peeled over-ripe bananas overnight. Blend 1 cup plant milk (I use soy) with 1-2 frozen bananas, 2 hand- fuls of blueberries (fresh or frozen), a heaping spoonful of nut butter & a handful of spinach. 1. Process dates in a food processor until small bits remain (about 1 minute). It should form a “dough” like consistency. (Mine rolled into a ball.) 2. Optional step: Toast your oats (and almonds if raw) in a 350-degree F (176 C) oven for 10-15 minutes or until slightly golden brown. Otherwise, leave them raw - I prefer the toasted flavor. 3. Place oats, almonds and dates in a large mixing bowl - set aside. 4. Warm honey and peanut butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir and pour over oat mixture and then mix, breaking up the dates to disperse throughout. 5. Once thoroughly mixed, transfer to an 8x8-inch baking dish or other small pan lined with plastic wrap or parchment paper so they lift out easily. (A loaf pan might work, but will yield thicker bars.) 6. Press down firmly until uniformly flattened - I use something flat, like a drinking glass, to press down and really pack the bars, which helps them hold together better. 7. Cover with parchment or plastic wrap, and let firm up in fridge or freezer for 15-20 minutes. 8. Remove bars from pan and chop into 10 even bars (or 9 squares). Store in an airtight container for up to a few days. I kept mine in the freezer to keep them extra fresh, but it isn’t necessary. CV Tips: If your dates are super firm, try 30-seconds in the microwave to soften. I ran my toasted oats & almonds through the food processor a few pulses to break them up. I used the microwave to heat the maple syrup & raw crunchy almond butter. I rubbed coconut oil on my hands to Find The Colorful Vegan on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest for more recipe ideas or at https://colorfulveganfood.wordpress.com