Xylobladz in Mackay, Queensland | Sport & recreation

Xylobladz

Locality: Mackay, Queensland

Phone: +61 7 4954 8488

Address: 204 Shoal Point Road 4750 Mackay, QLD, Australia

Website: http://www.xylobladz.com

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24.01.2022 The cultural show at the end of the day, world sprint titles in Tahiti. A couple of images showing a little of the passion delivered by performers. The spectators lapped up what each country show cased for the event..awesome!

23.01.2022 At the AOCRA NQ Zone Gala Night recently, we were lucky enough to attend and witness special people receive amazing awards and recognition for a fabulous year of paddling 2019. We also offered a paddle as a prize The Zone also purchased prints and postcards of a select few images that were offered as random prizes. So cool.... If you were able to see these images up close and personal, they look amazing! It is so important to print your most treasured images ( especially family and moments) If you'd like the opportunity to see which ones were on offer as prizes, this is the link to see them and of course they are available to purchase in various options delivered direct to you. In fact any image I have posted on instagram or to various Facebook pages including ours is able to be purchased, just screenshot the one you like and let us know. https://www.martystrecker.com/purchase

22.01.2022 Images from Airlie race days.

22.01.2022 Beach vibes....:)

22.01.2022 All the training leads to this last camp before Qualifying. Good Luck all those paddling as Cairns Beaches

22.01.2022 A quick video I put together from Outrigger Whitsunday regatta in the AOCRA NQ Zone . It has no sound and is about 5 mins long...so put on your fav motivationa...l tune!!! The size is small as the whole file is quite large, trying to make it load ok. Olympus AU & NZ EM1 MII with 40-150 pro lens +1.4 converter. Lucky this setup is weather sealed, image stabilized and light weight. All hand held, no gimbal etc etc. I have the camera preset, to switch easily from video to stills on the fly in a bumpy IRB and choppy water. Get Olympus

20.01.2022 Black and whites :)

20.01.2022 Eimeo Beach, at Sunrise...could have been good paddling, but tough to run a regatta safely...

18.01.2022 Outrigger Whitsunday hosted a May weekend regatta with AOCRA NQ Zone. We were only there for the one day and good to catchup with a few people and managed to get some images from the beach. We are now in a better position to service our paddlers, as we have taken a distracting load off our shoulders and doing more of what we love.... Welcome to repost any images while tagging Marty Strecker Photography as you do so. Images are also available in print for purchase in various sizes.

17.01.2022 It's good to take a quick break, touch the ocean. Olympus AU & NZ EM1 M11 12-40mm pro lens at 15mm 1/6sec f/10 ISO 200 Handheld.

17.01.2022 Since 1986, yes it's hard to look that far back, we have paddled and made paddles, it was a very small start and we learned so much about paddling and making paddles, finding the right blend of timber and materials. Mind you still learning. Every now and then we are asked to repair some of these old gems, some that have been around 20 years and they come out almost good as new! We had a small start, we had a peak, technology changes, we just kept doing and still do. Yes we a...re and always have been around though juggling life like we all do. Of course if you're not everywhere, people forget, it's the world we live in...we are not ones to shout our name all over the place. Creating paddles and catching up with paddlers is always a pleasure. We can't be everywhere, so we do what we can. Our goal is to provide value to you as paddlers. (sometimes I get to make images, paddle and be present to connect). If there is something that we are could do better or offer more of, I'd love to hear from you. See you at Nationals, come chat, bring the oldest paddle you've got, show and tell it's life story :). Maybe I'll make a portrait of you and the paddle! Support locally made. AOCRA AOCRA NQ Zone Image is from 2019 Olympus AU & NZ EM1 MII 40-150mm pro plus the MC-14 at 210mm 1/3200sec f/5 ISO400 Marty Strecker Photography

15.01.2022 Images from the Tannum Sands Regatta 2020

14.01.2022 You have a handmade timber paddle because it reminds you, it connects you to the times long gone of outrigger history and just as important as ever, to the feeling of nature around you. You are in nature every time you paddle. You are nature and energy. This effort is channelled through your paddle and the waters that we glide over. Xylobladz has been with paddlers in this endeavor since 1986. The last few years I feel like I have dropped the ball with doing what I love to ...do. (Maata has been holding the fort on the front line so much). Very recently, I have walked away from a chunk of a thing that has taken up too much energy, and I'm super happy to get back to the roots, create!! It could be looked at in two ways, full circle, back to the start and that creative outlook in touch with nature's gifts that can be repurposed into something beautiful to use. This is exciting and positive for me! I would like to think that I might have learned some things along the way, about me, about others and the things that do matter most. There is no end game, no score to keep, no winners which means there are no losers, just to play to be able to keep playing - the infinite game. If you'd like to reach out about our creations of paddles (or images), I'd love to catch up. I'll be dropping in here a little more regularly! About this image :- Taken at Eimeo Beach at Sunset. Using my Olympus AU & NZ EM1 MIII with a 12-40mm pro lens set at 12mm 1/3sec f/13 ISO200. Because my camera is so cool, I did this handheld (no tripod) and it is 5 seperate images I stitched together in post processing.

13.01.2022 Eimeo Creek, Mackay. The tide was very low and you can walk a fair way up the creek if you're up to it. . At high tide it’s a great paddle ! . As a kid I used to wade through the creek and over the sand bars to get to a spot for bream on a float. ... . I wouldn't be doing that now. . This tree was a little higher up the tide line. This is often how mangroves start, a random shoot takes hold. I suspect this one was transplanted by human for some reason, but I'll check back one day and see if it's washed away. . The beauty of it though, by itself in the elements and standing proud struck me and called me in. Visit Mackay, Queensland, Australia ABC Tropical North . . . . . Olympus AU & NZ EM1 MII 1/8sec f/9 ISO200 with the 12-40mm pro lens at 12mm a series of 8 images stitched together all taken handheld. See more

13.01.2022 Always a bit on for everyone this time of the year! This past weekend was another camp at Lake Tinaroo, West of Cairns, for the FNQ squads. Maata and myself undertook the journey for the last time this year. Maata is steering the MW and the SMW are also strong with a Mens Masters presence as a bonus, all aiming for the qualifying early in the year for the World Sprints in Hilo.... I love hanging around, feeling the dedication, the desire to improve by all the paddlers and the effort that Tuki puts in to make the preparations the best they can be, with a custom course setup, training objectives and canoes on hand. So a few images as part of the experience of the weekend. Arrival, rigging in the moonlight, sunrise over the lake, a hot day followed by a night time storm, secret Santa and a massive feast then back out for Sunday sessions before we all head home. If nothing else, the weekend is a Master Class in a really united energy from everyone toward a common goal. AOCRA NQ Zone Tinaroo Dam Discover Atherton Tablelands Visit Cairns - Cairns Rainforest and Great Barrier Reef tours

10.01.2022 Action on the water...

09.01.2022 A little time lapse showing part of the paddle making process, the elf looks like he going flat out.

07.01.2022 Just a normal day... Maybe not so much. Destiny, Steve from Wild Mob was back in town as their Marine Turtle Monitoring trip to the islands and reef was cut ver...y short due to the threat of cyclonic weather. How ironic to find all the action in the backyard. Also get involved in the campaign to reduce marine debris in our oceans and to help reduce use of plastics. Check out the full story and support them at the event at Mackay Marina on the 16th December. Pro Paddle- Mackay SUP Centre Daily Mercury ABC Tropical North North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation Visit Queensland, Australia Visit Mackay, Queensland, Australia Turtles in Trouble Reef Catchments Mackay Regional Council Olympus AU & NZ Get Olympus Australia Olympus TW

06.01.2022 How can you resist getting a few images at the great spot where the Coconuts Outrigger Canoe Club Inc held their regatta at Innisfail, Queensland The early sun, a heartfelt blessing and some great racing on beautiful day. AOCRA AOCRA NQ Zone... . . . . . . Photos by Marty Strecker. Please mention or tag if you choose to download and use the images. No commercial use without permission. Olympus AU & NZ See more

05.01.2022 First day of AOCRA Nationals hosted by Rocky outrigger canoe club which coincides with the clubs 30yr anniversary, moved off the starting blocks in fine form today at Emu Park. Marty was surprised and extremely privileged to perform a blessing to help set the tone for the day. We had our humble little tent and it was soooo good all day to catch-up with many old friends in paddling and make some new ones. ... Challenges and stories of delight and woe went hand in hand, just sharing those moments is what it’s all about for us. As some may know, Marty is ridiculously obsessed with making images as well as the love of crafting our timber paddles, so it didn’t take much arm twisting to get out on a boat with Kai and Mel from LIFE Media Productions who are doing stories, motion imaging and interviews for the whole event. He managed to get a few moments of the downwind race. Prints are available as always (yes even huge 1.8m ones) and here a few from the camera with minimal or no processing by my phone. There will be a gallery where they can be downloaded individually next week and build your collection. If you’d like some special images of your races, teams or individuals, please message or come see us. Saturday Marty Strecker Photography will also be available for deliberate portraits, outdoor studio style. Order a new xylobladz paddle, and take up the option to get a professionally lit crafted portrait complimentary right there! Anyone is welcome to do the same for a small investment. Enjoy these images.

04.01.2022 Good to finally get back up to Innisfail for the Coconuts regatta ... the club has been working hard to get this show in the road and running well! . AOCRA AOCRA NQ Zone Coconuts Outrigger Canoe Club Inc Olympus AU & NZ ... . .Thanks . . . . Photos by Marty Strecker. Please mention or tag if you choose to download and use the images. No commercial use without permission.

03.01.2022 What a great event and catchup we had at the AOCRA National Titles held in the beautiful Emu Park area hosted by Rocky outrigger canoe club. So many people we caught up with, which was a real pleasure, pretty much we are both still on a high. Thanks for all the support and finding out a little about us and what we’re up to at xylobladz. (and personally) Our intention was to be there but not paddle, though Marty couldn’t help himself jump on the media boat for a couple of even...ts with the camera. Marty’s attempt at making images revolves around the feeling of paddling and translate that into a still image. Both of us having paddled in many and varied conditions, he always looks at living the moment of the team, seat, paddler as if in that position. There was plenty of media and photogs on hand to grab the action all over. Awesome that the governing bodies of our sport Nationally and locally are paying something toward professional imaging. If you have been behind the scenes of making a production of highlights and longer coverage like LIFE Media Productions, the compensation goes a part of the way to making it worthwhile. Apart from getting wet, the gear, bouncing around in a boat for hours and getting the shots, the skills, there is planning and post processing that could take as long or longer than the actual capture to end up with a polished professional result. It’s easy to take this for granted and luckily a few people appreciate the value. (paid or not) Here’s a selection of images to assault your eyes and minds, these are from the mixed race on Sunday. (Some of them are even in focus ) If you share these or other images from the weekend, credit the people that took them. I’m sure if you wanted prints or to use footage in some way, contact the makers and work it out. Congratulations to all the winners and competitors who made a great show for us all to enjoy your energy and spirit of paddling! Now, back to the shed, if you’d like to know more about anything we do or how we do it, we’d love to hear about it.

03.01.2022 The time in Tahiti is nearly at an end. It has been a journey. I was lucky enough to paddle the Te Aito as a finisher to my time here. The bungalows we were staying in is part of club house of OPT’s Va’a club and we looked over the middle section of the Te Aito course. As much as we could a few of us would paddle out on part or all of it on V1’s once or twice a day. The day of the Te Aito race several people paddled to Point Venus rather than drive to the start line. ...Continue reading

01.01.2022 Keep an eye of for Paddle Life TV

01.01.2022 Merry Christmas

01.01.2022 Privileged to be at Eimeo Beach, Mackay for the Sunsetbay Outriggers Sbocc turn to host a Wai Puhi and share a blessing prior to racing. I managed to get a few images around start time. AOCRA NQ Zone