About Epic Kayaks Australia

Epic Kayaks Australia Pty Ltd was established in 2007 to manage sales, service and support of the full range of Epic products. These include the highly acclaimed Epic V10 racing skis, touring and recreational kayaks, ICF racing boats including K-1s, K-2s and K-4s as well as the full range of Epic paddles and accessories.

The establishment of Epic Kayaks Australia represents a strategic milestone in terms of Epic’s global expansion plans. They are the first off-shore surfski and kayak manufacturer to establish a direct presence in Australia.

The Epic range of skis, kayaks and paddles leads the world in innovation, design and performance, and will be instrumental in forging a solid future for this rapidly evolving sport, both in Australia and around the globe. The benefits to customers will be substantial, and will include a greater commitment to service and support, improved continuity of supply, and extended representation throughout Australia.

The Epic story

After enjoying the benefits of lightweight, well designed racing equipment, it was a shock to us the first time we paddled with heavy, unrefined touring kayaks and paddles. We thought, “Why can’t modern technology be used to build better touring equipment?” We’ve paddled the equivalent of 6 times around the world with 70 years combined experience in all water conditions. Our passion for paddling and knowledge of high performance racing technology is contained in every Epic designed kayak and paddle. Our models are optimized for ease of handling, efficiency in the water and to be extremely lightweight. Whether you are a beginning recreational paddler or a highly competitive racer, our equipment will improve your paddling experience.

We hope you enjoy our products as much as we do. See you on the water!

Greg Barton

Birthdate: December 2, 1959
Married to Justine Barton and has two daughters Kendall, 6 and Hayley, 9
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 175 lbs

Favourite Sports Drink: Cytomax
Favourite Training Device: Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS/Heart monitor

Sprint Kayak Competitions
Double Olympic Gold Medalist (K-1 & K-2 1000 meters), Seoul, Korea, 1988
Olympic Bronze Medalist (K-1 1000 meters), Barcelona, Spain, 1992
Olympic Bronze Medalist (K-1 1000m), Los Angeles, CA, 1984
World Champion (K-1 10,000 meters) and Bronze Medalist (K-1 1000m), Paris, France, 1991
Double World Champion (K-1 1000m and 10,000m), Duisburg, West Germany, 1987
Double Pan Am Games Champion (K-1 & K-2 1000m), Indianapolis, IN, 1987
World Champion (K-1 10,000m), Hazewinkel, Belgium, 1985
World Masters Games Champion (K-1 500m, 1000m & 10,000m), Portland, OR, 1998
Winner of more than 50 U.S. National Championship Titles Open Water Kayak / Outrigger Canoe Races Winner of USA Surf Ski nationals, 2003 & 2004
Winner of Finlandia Clean Water Challenge - Chicago to New York City, 1994
Winner of Hawaiian State Surf Ski Championships, Honolulu, HI, 1995
Winner of Sea Trek Alcatraz Island Race, Sausalito, CA, 1993, 1995, 1997
Winner of Molokai to Oahu Outrigger Canoe Challenge (Team Offshore), 1989 Major Marathon Canoe Championships U.S. Canoe Association Marathon National Champion
C-2 men's category 1983, 84, 89, 93, 94
C-2 mixed category 1982, 84, 89
K-1 Downriver category 1976, 77
Winner of General Clinton Canoe Race, Cooperstown, NY 1996, 1997
Winner of Classique International de Canots de la Mauricie, Shawinigan QC, 1996, 1997 Special honors Selected as "100 Golden Olympians" for 1996 Olympic Games
First American to win an Olympic Gold Medal in Kayaking
Won more Olympic medals than any other American in Sport of Canoe/Kayak

Sullivan Award Finalist, 1988
Olympia Award Recipient, 1986 Committee memberships U.S. Olympic Committee Board of Directors and Athlete's Advisory Council, 1997-2000
Member of Selection Committee for National & Olympic Sprint Canoe/Kayak Teams, 1995-96
Chairman of Sports Science & Technology Committee for U.S. Canoe & Kayak Team, 1992-96 Speaking/announcing highlights 1996 Olympic Games Announcer for Sprint Canoe/Kayak Venue, Gainesville, GA
Keynote speaker for numerous meetings, events and fundraisers, 1988-2006 Career and academic highlights President, Epic Kayaks, Inc. - Manufacturer of high performance kayaks and paddles
Graduated summa cum laude from University of Michigan, B.S. Mechanical Engineering, 1983
High School Salutatorian, National Honor Society, Honor Athlete.

Oscar Chalupsky

Birthdate: March 1, 1963
Married to Clare Chalupsky and has two children Luke, 13 and Hannah, 10
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 260lbs off training weight and 220lbs in training weight

Few Paddlers hold a record comparable to that of Oscar Chalupsky. Beginning his canoeing career during his school years, his list of accomplishments include eleven time World Paddle Ski Champion, multiple winner of the Umkomaas River Marathon and Olympic Canoe Team Captain & participant, representing South Africa in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

Oscar's achievements are endless and his decision to embark on the Chalupsky Paddle School is based on the aspiration of opening up the sport of kayaking to everyone. Oscar's skills coupled with some of Natal's finest canoeing rivers and venues make Chalupsky's Paddling School a unique outdoor attraction. Oscar's experience makes him an ideal instructor to all aspiring paddlers, both those who are trying out the sport for the first time, as well as the seasoned race participant.

Accomplishments

1979
Youngest Springbok/South African Lifesaver Victorious in Test against U.S.A
Won all SOUTH AFRICAN Junior sprints canoeing from U16, U18

1980
1st person in the world & in the history of Surf Lifesaving to win Junior & Senior Iron Man
Represented: Natal Schools Rugby
Natal Schools Water Polo
SOUTH AFRICAN Schools Water Polo
Natal Senior Canoeing Team
3rd SOUTH AFRICAN Wild Water Champs

1981
1st person in the world and in the history of Lifesaving to win Junior & Senior Victor Ludorum
Youngest person to win 244km Port Elizabeth to East London Paddle Ski / Ocean Kayak Race.
Junior Springbok/South African Water Polo Team, successful tour to Israel.
Youngest Springbok/South African Canoeist.
2nd in Sella Descent, Biggest Canoe Race in the world held in Spain.
SOUTH AFRICAN Junior Sportsman of the year.

1982
Springbok/South African Lifesaving Team test against U.S.A - Victorious
Natal Water Polo Team
SOUTH AFRICAN Iron Man Champion
SOUTH AFRICAN Paddle Ski / Ocean Kayak Champion

Winner of World Paddle Ski / Ocean Kayak Championships i.e. Molokai to Oahu (Hawaii), Beat 4 times winner Grant Henny from Australia, who won Bronze Olympic Medal
Winner of 244km Port Elizabeth to East London Paddle Ski / Ocean Kayak Race
Springbok/South African Lifesaving Team
Springbok/South African Paddle Ski / Ocean Kayak Team
SOUTH AFRICAN Body Boarding Champion
SOUTH AFRICAN K1 Canoeing Champion
Natal Sportsman of the Year

1984
2nd time winner of World Paddle Ski / Ocean Kayak Championships in Hawaii
SOUTH AFRICAN Iron Man Champion
Springbok/South African Paddle Ski / Ocean Kayak Champion
SOUTH AFRICAN Ski Champion

1985
3rd time winner of World Champion Paddle Ski / Ocean Kayak in Hawaii
World Canoeing Champion , Spain, Sella Descent, 2000 participants & 500 000 spectators
Winner of 244km Port Elizabeth to East London Paddle Ski / Ocean Kayak Race
Springbok/South African Canoeing Team
Springbok/South African Paddle Ski / Ocean Kayak Team
2nd place in Berg River Canoe Marathon
SOUTH AFRICAN K2 Canoeing Champion
3rd place in Dusi Canoe Marathon
SOUTH AFRICAN Paddle Ski / Ocean Kayak Champion

1986
4th time winner of World Paddle Ski / Ocean Kayak Championships in Hawaii
Springbok/South African Canoeing, Lifesaving & Paddle Ski / Ocean Kayaking
SOUTH AFRICAN K2 Canoeing Champion
Winner of SOUTH AFRICAN Premier Down River Canoeing Race Umkomaas Marathon
2nd by 1 sec in the Sella Descent, held in Spain
SOUTH AFRICAN Iron Man Champion
SOUTH AFRICAN Paddle Ski / Ocean Kayak Champion

1987
5th time winner of World Paddle Ski / Ocean Kayak Championships in Hawaii
Springbok/South African Lifesaving, Canoeing & Paddle Ski / Ocean Kayaking Teams
Winner of Australian Paddle Ski / Ocean Kayak Race in Newcastle
SOUTH AFRICAN Paddle Ski / Ocean Kayak Champion Winner Umkomaas Canoe Marathon

1988
6th time winner of World Paddle Ski / Ocean Kayak Championships in Hawaii
West German National Canoeing Team
Springbok/South African Lifesaving, Canoeing & Paddle Ski / Ocean Kayak Teams
3rd in SOUTH AFRICAN K2 Canoeing Championship
Winner of 244km Port Elizabeth to East London Paddle Ski / Ocean Kayak Race
SOUTH AFRICAN Paddle Ski / Ocean Kayak Champion

1989
7th time winner of World Paddle Ski / Ocean Kayak Championships, Beat double Gold Olympic Medalist, Greg Barton (USA), in World Paddle Ski / Ocean Kayak Champs.
Springbok/South African Lifesaving Captain, Successful tour to Taiwan against Australia, Hong Kong, Taiwan & Japan
Springbok/South African Paddle Ski / Ocean Kayak Colours
1st place in Umkomaas Marathon
SOUTH AFRICAN Iron Man Champion

1990
I of 10 Finalists in 'Sportsman of the Decade'

1991
Reduced Golf Handicap from 24 to 4. (Sporting isolation year).

1992
Springbok/South African Lifesaving Team, tour to Australia
Olympic Canoe Team Barcelona, Spain
Olympic Captain

1994
8th Time Winner of World Paddle Ski / Ocean Kayak Championships in Hawaii
Winner of the Port Elizabeth, East London Paddle Ski / Ocean Kayak Race

1996
Winner of the Port Elizabeth, East London Paddle Ski / Ocean Kayak Race

1997
Completed Dusi Canoe Marathon, Pietermaritzburg to Durban, with Naas Botha (former South African Rugby great)

1998
Winner of the Heineken International Paddle Ski / Ocean Kayak Race, Tahiti, French Polynesia
Winner of the Port Elizabeth , East London 244km Paddle Ski / Ocean Kayak Race
Completed Dusi Canoe Marathon, Pietermaritzburg to Durban, with Clive Barker (Former South African Soccer Coach)

1999
2nd in World Paddle Ski / Ocean Kayak Championships in Hawaii
Winner of the Heineken International Paddle Ski / Ocean Kayak Race, Tahiti, French Polynesia
2nd in 60km World Sea Kayak Championships, Canada, 2nd to brother Herman by 10 seconds
Winner of International Ocean Kayak Race, on the Chao Praya River, Bangkok, Thailand
Winner of International Ocean Kayak Race in Miami, Florida
Completed Dusi Canoe Marathon, Pietermaritzburg to Durban, with Doctor Khumalo (South African Soccer Player)

2000
9th Consecutive win at World Paddle Ski / Ocean Kayak Race in Hawaii
Winner of 65km Cape Point Ocean Kayak Race Cape Town
3rd Place in the Heineken International Paddle Ski / Ocean Kayak Race, Tahiti, French Polynesia
Completed Dusi Canoe Marathon, Pietermaritzburg to Durban, with Peggy Sue Khumalo (former Miss South Africa)

2003
Record 10th win at the Molokai World Surf Ski Championship

2004
Finished second at the Molokai World Surf Ski Championship

2005
Record 11th win at the Molokai World Surf Ski Championship

2006
Finished second at the Molokai World Surf Ski Championships