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Monthly Archives

November 2023

Heliconia
In Awards, Best in Class, PaddleTV

PaddleTV Announces 2023’s “Best in Class” Awards for Best Kayaks and Canoes

PaddleTV’s second part of the 2023 Best in Class awards have been announced by world-renowned paddler, instructor, television host, and YouTuber, Ken Whiting. Ken spent the summer testing some of the industry’s top kayaks and canoes and has narrowed down eight of the industry’s best boats, awarding them the title of Best in Class.

A natural evolution from PaddleTV’s Buyer’s Guide YouTube series, the Best in Class awards celebrate the “best of the best” in paddlesports. Produced by Heliconia, the Best in Class awards are an authentic and unbiased celebration of the top paddlesports products that Ken tested in 2023.

Each Best in Class video features the top products within a specific category. For each product featured, Ken discusses why he has chosen it as one of the top products of the year, and who should consider purchasing it.

The awards are being released to over 124k subscribers through Ken’s industry leading PaddleTV YouTube channel, and also being shared to his 132k followers on Facebook, Instagram, and on in4adventure.com, a new online resource focused on getting people outdoors, and ensuring those experiences are as great as possible.

Without any further ado, the 2023 PaddleTV Best Kayaks and Canoes Award winners are:

  • Sea Eagle 330
  • P&H Volan 160
  • Perception Hangtime 11
  • Melker Rodloga
  • Pyranha Scorch X
  • Delta 15.5GT
  • Sea Eagle Travel Canoe 16
  • Swift Pack Boat – Cruiser 14.8

Brands interested in having products considered for PaddleTV Awards in 2024 are encouraged to reach out via this Paddling Gear Guide form. For more information about PaddleTV and Heliconia’s various paddle-focused media projects, visit www.heliconia.ca.

About Ken Whiting
Ken Whiting is a world-champion kayaker, author of 12 books and videos about paddling, and the host of the world’s largest paddle sports YouTube channel, PaddleTV. Ken is also the host of Facing Waves, a leading outdoors paddle sports adventure show. He is one of the most accomplished and respected paddle sport professionals in the world. Through his project, Ken hopes to help get people outdoors and have positive, enriching experiences that will result in them being life-long outdoor participants.

About Heliconia
Heliconia’s goal is simple – to get more people outside and to help them become lifetime outdoor participants. The award-winning video production company does this by showcasing outdoor adventure and adventure travel through inspiring and educational content with industry-leading influencers. Heliconia currently produces seven unique media projects, providing authentic storytelling opportunities for every adventure and every destination. These series include: Epic Trails, Facing Waves, Adventure Cities, Great Family Adventure, Hook, Line & History, Road Trip Angler, and Outdoor Eats. For more information, visit www.heliconia.ca.

Heliconia
In Epic Trails

Stella Blashock Named New Host of Epic Trails TV Show and BackpackingTV YouTube Channel

After a thorough search and interview process, Heliconia is thrilled to announce Stella Blashock as the new host of the Epic Trails television show and BackpackingTV YouTube channel.

Stella Blashock, a long-distance hiker, educator, vlogger, yogi, and poet, is passionate about connecting with the wilderness through backpacking and hiking. Once a high school math teacher, Stella’s mission is to create beautiful hiking and backpacking content in hopes of empowering and encouraging others to embrace the beauty and wonder of nature. She has hiked over 6,000 miles in the last five years alone, documenting and sharing her journey along the way.

“Backpacking has pushed me to my limits and made me take stock of my restrictive self-beliefs,” reflects Blashock. “I went from thinking ‘I could never hike that far or climb that mountain’ to thinking ‘I wonder if I can hike that far and climb that mountain’. The paradigm shift from doubt to curiosity gave me the strength to push myself, and I found that by taking it one step at a time I can get there – to that summit, to that lake, through the bugs or bad weather. I learned I could do it! This was transformative not only for my hiking and backpacking life, but also for my everyday life. I am so thankful.”

Stella’s extensive experience in the world of backpacking and hiking, and her ability to connect with both nature and her online followers, makes her the perfect fit for the Epic Trails media project. She brings a unique combination of expertise, enthusiasm, and storytelling to the project, which is sure to captivate viewers and inspire them to embark on their own outdoor adventures. “Stella has a passionate and dedicated following,” lauds Brendan Mark, Heliconia Vice-President. “Her optimistic, genuine, accessible take on outdoor adventure resonates strongly with both novice and expert hikers alike. Her love for the outdoors is infectious, and we’re so excited to be working with her as she inspires a new generation of outdoor enthusiasts.”

Heliconia is currently filming Season 7 of Epic Trails, with four episodes set to premiere in the Spring of 2024. Episodes air nationally in the US across the Bally Sports Network, Outside TV and PBS. Tourism destinations interested in inviting Stella to explore their region’s outdoor offerings are encouraged to reach out to Stefanie Manton, Heliconia’s Tourism Partnership Strategist, at stefanie@helipress.com. For more information on the Stella and the Epic Trails media project, visit www.heliconia.ca.

ABOUT EPIC TRAILS: Epic Trails is an exciting and inspiring adventure travel media series that follows outdoor content creator, Stella Blashock as she explores the people, places, and adventures surrounding the world’s top hiking destinations. Each 30-minute TV episode airs in the US on Outside TV, nationally on Bally Sports Network and PBS, and internationally through a global network of channels in Europe and abroad. Episodes of Epic Trails aired over 5,000 times in 2022 alone. Learn more about the series at www.heliconia.ca. Networks or partners interested in Epic Trails are encouraged to reach out to Heliconia’s Vice-President, Brendan Mark, at brendan@helipress.com.

ABOUT HELICONIA: Heliconia’s goal is simple – to get more people outside and to help them become lifetime outdoor participants. The award-winning video production company does this by showcasing outdoor adventure and adventure travel through inspiring and educational content with industry-leading influencers. Heliconia currently produces seven unique media projects, providing authentic storytelling opportunities for every adventure and every destination. These series include: Epic Trails, Facing Waves, Adventure Cities, Great Family Adventure, Hook Line & History, Road Trip Angler, and Outdoor Eats. For more information, visit www.heliconia.ca.

For media inquiries and to schedule interviews, please contact:

James McBeath
Marketing Manager
613-256-0598
james@heliconia.ca