Without a doubt, this programme has worked better than ever for us this season. Words out to the traveling boater, the first thing you do when you get to Kiwiland, is head down to Bliss-Stick, and sort out a boat or two. We’ve had a continues river of boater's through the doors this summer, and they’ve all left, totally rapped with the setup.
We’ve maintained an open door policy here, right from the beginning knowing we have everything to gain, and nothing to fear, by letting boaters experience what we do here first hand. It works for all involved and not least of all, it keeps us in touch with the rest of the world. They come from all corners of the Globe. Beginners to experts, we get to hang out with them all and find out what’s really going on out there.
It’s got so popular now we have had to introduce a little more structure. It’s not the old hangout at the shed for a few weeks and scam a boat. No no no no…. you have to hand over a bit of cash these days to make it all fly. But fly it does so watch out, because one thing we try and do more than ever when your here, is steal a little piece of your heart forever…..
Here’s Lizzy’s story who was here a couple of weeks back… Maybe Nils was doing a bit of overtime here!!!!!!!!
I had made rough plans in December to visit the factory
after a 3-month-course on New Zealand's South Island. I
didn't expect too much, maybe some factory work ending
ideally with a new boat to throw over my shoulder on my
plane ride home to the States. What I found at Bliss-Stick
was much more. I read a poster in the factory as soon as I
hopped out of the "Bliss-mobile" that Nils picked me up
in. "Kayakers making kayaks for kayakers. Just the way it
should be." It sounded good at the time, but I came to
learn after living and working with the Bliss-Stick boaters
and employees (which happen to be one in the same) for a
week how dead-on that poster really is.
I first met the employee side of the Bliss-Stick
family. My first day working at the factory Nils showed
me how to use the blow torch to heat the foam pieces into
back bands and seat pads. I probably enjoyed welding the
blow torch a bit too much, thus Nils branded my accomplice
Maggie and I the "foam girls." But it felt great using my
hands to make products I knew would be used by boaters all
over the world. There is a great laid-back vibe at the
factory. Indicative of the Kiwi-culture, I felt like I was
friends with everybody by the end of the first day.
That afternoon, I met the boaters. I demoed the new
Mystic creeker on their home run, the stunning Rangitikei.
After an incredible seal launch into the gorge, I noticed
how easy it was to catch and peel-out of eddys in the new
boat. Even as a smaller boater, I had no trouble putting
the boat on edge and controlling in the technical bits. We
had a great day on the river and an even better time over
beers at the take-out. Over the weekend, Maggie and I
cheered on Nils and Honza as they ran a local legendary run,
Aratiatia-the most intense section of river I've ever seen
boated. They styled it in their Mystics, quite a ballsy
form of advertisement for a new boat, but effective ( from
the looks of surprised tourists on the viewing platforms)
nonetheless.
If the employees of any company determine its
success, then Bliss-Stick is doing something right. Bottom
line, the hands that make your boats are hands of paddlers
first and workers second. After cutting the foam bits and
shaping the hulls, the boys are off to the river-
experimenting with their new boat idea or pushing the limits
of paddle-able white water. You'd be hard pressed to find
someone who helped in the making of a Bliss-Stick boat
without a strong history of incredible paddling. It's as
simple as loving to paddle and loving to make boats for
those who share that passion.
Bliss-Stick is an incredible place and I thank them
for letting me visit, learn a little bit more about
kayaking, and getting to bring home a sweet new boat. After
serious debating with Nils and Honza, I decided to bring
home the Mystic. But according to Honza, as a girl, I
really just needed to get the color right (blue). Thanks to
Nils, Honza, Andy, Phil, Jared, Norm and Charles. You've
got a great thing going on down there!