Supporting Big City Mountaineers
Published May 13, 2011 | 
If you’re in the Madison, Wisconsin area you can score some great deals on outdoor clothing and gear today through Sunday at a big new & used outdoor gear garage sale held outside Rutabaga Paddle sports shop. I saw a cool purple $200+ Marmot jacket that will be going for $50. No kidding, great deals! OK, but maybe the more important thing here is that all the proceeds are going to support Big City Mountaineers. You know about these folks right? Here’s what they say, “Big City Mountaineers mentors under-resourced urban teens through transformative outdoor experiences to enrich lives, broaden horizons and instill critical life skills.” My low-brow translation is that they help troubled teens find a new way to view themselves and the world around them with a bit of help from caring adults and the great outdoors. But here, why not watch the video… Continue reading
Engelandvaarders 2011
Published May 13, 2011 | 
In memory of the thirty-two young Dutchmen
who tried to escape to England by kayak
during World War II to join the Allied Forces.
Eight of them reached the English coast.
The last living survivor dedicated this memorial
to his brothers in arms who were less fortunate
he reached England – and freedom -
on this beach on 21 september 1941.
During World War II, some 1700 Dutch men & women escaped Nazi-occupied Holland by crossing the North Sea from the Netherlands to the UK in every sort of craft. They were called the Engelandvaaders. In August of this year three British paddlers, Alec Greenwell, Ed Cooper & Henry Franks, will attempt this hazardous crossing in their memory. The paddlers will be following a route that brothers, Henri and William Peteri took some 70 years earlier; launching from Katwijk, just north of The Hague and heading west across the channel to land on the beach at Sizewell in Suffolk, UK. It took the Peteri brothers about 56 hours to make the crossing, the 2011 team hopes to cover the 118 mile route in about 30 hours. What makes this historic crossing so challenging is that they will be padding against a constant natural current through some of the busiest shipping lanes on earth. This will certainly be one to watch. Continue reading
Something To Look Forward To…
Published May 12, 2011 | 
You don’t have to be into traditional rolling to appreciate this… (But it helps!) The amazingly beautiful Black Pearl design by Björn Thomasson has been something of a dream boat among home builders and Greenland rollers for some time. The Black Pearl is low slung, reactive, fast and a dream to roll. Did I mention that its beautiful as well? It’s no wonder why there is a lot of excitement in the traditional sea kayaking community right now about the new SeaBird Designs versions of the Black Pearl which are just now beginning to hit US dealers. Continue reading
Just Gotsta Believe
Published May 11, 2011 |
don’t give up now / we’re proud of who you are
don’t give up / you know it’s never been easy
don’t give up / ’cause I believe there’s the a place
there’s a place where we belong
- gabriel
Sometimes its only faith that keeps you going; The belief that if you work hard enough, if you face your fears head on, you’ll always overcome. Eventually. That was last night’s pool session in a nut shell. I spent another evening just trying to resurface as my 10-year-old son spent his night on his knees on a diving board trying to make his body fall in.. head first.
On her website, GreenlandorBust.org, instructor Helen Wilson responds to a question about weight and flexibility this way, “With rolling I have found that a person’s size has very little to do with ability. A person’s flexibility however can play a huge role.”. Then she goes on to talk about various exercises and yoga. All good stuff. That said, I don’t really have a “size” role model when it comes to rolling. I’ve not seen anyone 5’7″ and 220 do a straight jacket roll. Not to say no one has, I’ve just not seen it. At 45 I’m pretty flexible though, so if size doesn’t matter I’ll get there.. It’s a matter of faith. Well, to be honest.. I don’t really care about straight jacket rolls, but there are a few more I’d like to add to the my own personal list. 
Continue reading
Kid Bike – Trek 220
Published May 10, 2011 | 
Ride, captain ride upon your mystery ship
Be amazed at the friends you have here on your trip
Ride captain ride upon your mystery ship
On your way to a world that others might have missed
-Konte, Pimera
Family bike rides had turned into a struggle last year. Our 9-year-old had outgrown his “kid” bike. At the same time we adults were getting into doing longer and longer rides. There was simply no way we were going to hit the trails this year without investing in a new bike for the boy. “New bike!!” What’s not to like? We decided to buy the Trek MT 220. Continue reading
Chillsville
Published May 8, 2011 | 
Got no deeds to do / No promises to keep.
I’m dappled and drowsy and ready to sleep.
Let the morning time drop all its petals on me.
Life, I love you / All is groovy.
- Simon & Garfunkel
There are 2 main ways to approach kayak rolling, the high power, hip flick way, or the relaxed, chilled out way. I prefer to chill out. Both ways work, but the chilled out way works even when you’re just zapped. When it comes to learning to roll, we almost always tend to go for the power. It’s partially animal nature, and partly an expression of the anxiety lingering around because of the fear that you might blow it. Learning to chill out is practically its own step in your rolling progression; “Ok, you’re coming up now. Next we’ll move on to the “chill stage”… Continue reading
Hypothermia? Sure, If You Survive That Long…
Published May 6, 2011 | 
I am slowing down / As the years go by
I am sinking
So I trick myself / Like everybody else
- the cure
Safety officials and paddling coaches spend a lot of time going on and on about hypothermia this time of year. You know that bit right? It’s where cold water sucks the heat from your body until you start making bad decisions, then become incapacitated and finally you drown. According to a fancy little chart we have available right here, in water between 40-50f, without the proper clothing, you have about 5 minutes before you start losing dexterity and just 1-3 hours to survive. Scary. Still though, that’s plenty of time to swim to the beach, right? Continue reading
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