About – CEKR Gear

Celliers’ 25 years of innovation in the paddling industry started in 1997 with the manufacturing of whitewater paddles in his garage. A mechanical engineer by trade, his passion for paddling guided his career path. He’s started kayak companies and manufactured many thousands of kayaks, wrote books on paddling, and designed kayaks, paddles and various other products for multiple brands.

His extensive experience as a paddler – of more than 30 years of paddling across a wide range of kayaking disciplines, as well as canoeing and rafting – has gone into creating products that offer performance for paddlers of all levels; from weekend recreational paddlers, to multiday, long-distance paddlers and whitewater kayakers.

With CEKR, Celliers combined his considerable knowledge of fluid dynamics, structural design and material processing to create the best paddles of his career. Staying true to being a seeker, he continues to seek better performance and better reliability. He knows intimately the consequences of using sub-par equipment, and it is his goal to use his expertise for the benefit of all paddlers.

“Designing and manufacturing paddles have been a constant in my life for almost as long as I’ve been paddling. A paddle is much more than just a piece of equipment to propel yourself forward. In the hierarchy of paddling gear, choosing the right paddle is as important as your choice of canoe/kayak.

A paddle becomes an extension of your arms, and If it is well designed and well made, it enables precision in movement. I design paddles for optimal performance in each category. Some disciplines call for the most efficient and stable forward stroke, while other disciplines require a much wider repertoire of strokes.

I am proud of my latest creations, and I work with some of the best craftsmen in the industry to bring them to life.”

CEKR Design Philosophy

The philosophy behind CEKR paddle designs is based on 4 principle concepts:

1. Precision of paddle strokes.

A forward stroke that is stable and flutter-free. Considered the holy grail of paddle design, CEKR’s designs achieves this without any loss of power. Instead, it is achieved by an off-axis blade curve, based on years of experimentation as well as advanced CAD simulations.
A sliding stroke that creates lift. Using extensive knowledge of fluid dynamics, blade cross-section profiles have been designed that creates lift in sliding strokes such as bow rudders and sculling draws. This has the benefit of more efficient strokes, and it also means less wrist rotation is needed to accomplish these strokes.
A back stroke that is neutral and powerful. While a back stroke is not to be used too often, when it is being used it is often a stroke under pressure. A neutral and powerful stroke that requires no thinking is what is needed then.

2. Buoyant blades. Celliers Kruger pioneered high-buoyancy blades 25 years ago, and has since refined the concept to create blades that offer the perfect balance between buoyancy and smooth strokes. All CEKR’s composite blades offer buoyancy that have been perfectly tuned for the specific application of each model.

3. Balance between weight and durability. Celliers’ expedition and racing background created a keen understanding of the detrimental effect of paddling long distances with heavy paddles. At the same time, the same background cemented the need for paddles that won’t let you down in the middle of nowhere.

4. Well-designed. Everyone needs a well-designed paddle, even if you’re buying the cheapest paddle in the lineup.