Archive for the ‘From The Beginning Series’ Category

Paddler on Lake Michigan at the Door County Sea Kayak Symposium. Door County, Wisconsin.

In the last “Paddling From The Beginning” post I gave you just some of the reasons we paddle.  Today I want to talk just a bit about paddling for fitness.. for us average non-super athletic types.

I’ll never forget reading an interview with Israeli expedition paddler Hadas Feldman where she said something to the effect that she had to go on a major expedition every so often to simply avoid getting fat.  Obviously she wasn’t serious, but that’s athleticism I understand!  Certainly there are paddlers who go for the most efficient strokes, amazing speeds and all that. Bless their little souls! But most of us define fitness by simply staying active, alive and not getting too fat! Read the rest of this entry »

Today on KayakQuixotica we start by going all the way back to the beginning.  After being online 5 years and traveling every wandering road in those years it seems a good time come back full circle and meet up with all the folks just coming into the sport here in 2010.  It’s also a good reminder for me as a paddler and a coach as to why I got into this gig in the first place.  So for the old sea dogs, I invite you to jump in and give your thoughts and advice as I travel down the road from considering paddle sports for the first time to insanely jumping into whitewater or a tidal race.  For those of you new to paddling or even just wondering what it’s all about, welcome to page one of a new pre-season series.  Along the way I’ll chase down athletes, instructors, shop owners and more. We’ll talk gear you need, and the gear you may want to avoid.  We’ll answer questions and share lots of pics from around the world.  So join us as KayakQuixotica goes back to the beginning…

What is paddling?  Whatever you want it to be…

Paddling is a lot of things. It’s the history of exploration, it’s a multi-million dollar business, it’s a competitive sport, It’s a social activity and for some it’s how you to get away from it all.  For each paddler the reason they do it is different.  Many have come to paddling from the seat of their parents canoe, while others like me, came to it much later in life.  Some got into paddling because it gives them a relaxing way to fish the shallow waters, while others fish for the big one on the open sea.  Some find joy is running wild whitewater, others in exploring distant shorelines. Some never go anywhere at all and just sit in one spot and roll, and roll, and roll.  Paddling is Canoeing.  Paddling is Sea Kayaking.  Paddling is taking a small recreational boat out on the local lake. It’s surfing. It’s racing. It’s even done standing up. It’s all paddling.  The first lesson of paddling then, is that it’s YOUR thing.  Don’t let anyone tell you that you must do this or that or the other.. Find your own place on the water. Make paddling your own.

Discussion… I know there are lots of very experienced paddlers out there.  Help me out and share how you got into paddling in the first place..  It’s O.K. Commenting doesn’t hurt!