Dana Dopleach (Manager)

Position:: Manager
Length of service:: Since 2005
Favourite trips:: Quail Island, Avon, Mekong, Boundary Waters ( USA/Canada )
Favourite kayak:: Barracuda Beachcomber Ultralight - Super light for getting on and off the car easily, fast and manoeuvrable for day trips and stable for when the weather picks up or the river gets interesting.
Favourite gear: Sawyers V-Lam Crankshaft Cedar Sea Feather - Super light, super beautiful, and my favourite standard style blade shape.
Wicked Wings Ell - Nice and forgiving if I miss my catch, and powerful enough to get me up to speed to catch that next wave on my surfski.
C-Tug Kayak Trolley - Awesome addition to my gear collection! This trolley makes car to ocean a one trip affair, including Dylan riding in the cockpit at ramped sites! It also helps get my heavier kayaks back onto the roof of the car after paddling.
Countries paddled:: New Zealand, USA, Canada, Laos, Thailand
Qualifications:: MSc Botany, BSc(Hons) Botany

Dana was first on the water in the family canoe when she was 6 months old and has been a keen paddler ever since. She's very hands on and works with customers and staff every day to help them select the right gear for the job. Having cut her retail teeth with BodyTrends.com, and built it up from a tiny store in Santa Barbara into one of the largest online fitness retailers in the US, she moved to NZ in 2003 and is now a lot more laidback.