http://www.kayakquixotica.com Tilting At Waves Sat, 04 Feb 2012 14:09:43 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= http://www.kayakquixotica.com/2011/08/16/qajaq-rolls/ http://www.kayakquixotica.com/2011/08/16/qajaq-rolls/#comments Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:34:34 +0000 derrick http://www.kayakquixotica.com/?p=8760 Time once again to take a break from my own endless chatter and recommend another blog worth checking out. Since I’ve spent a lot of time on traditional stuff recently, now is a good time to send you over to check out Minnesota resident, Christopher Crowhurst’s Qajaq Rolls.  I really like what Christopher is doing [...]]]> http://www.kayakquixotica.com/2011/08/16/qajaq-rolls/feed/ 1 http://www.kayakquixotica.com/2011/07/20/up/ http://www.kayakquixotica.com/2011/07/20/up/#comments Wed, 20 Jul 2011 12:13:29 +0000 derrick http://www.kayakquixotica.com/?p=8525 Talking about rolling and body position can be a challenge on land. Inevitably we find ourselves standing there, reaching far over our heads to practice (or demonstrate) paddle placement on the surface of the water, sweeping the paddle, and recovering over the kayak. It doesn't work, mind you. In fact, the more you ingrain the reaching over your head movements on land, the more your student will be reaching toward the bottom of the lake once they get out in the water. Still, there is just something in our crazy brains that makes us want to always reach UP. ]]> http://www.kayakquixotica.com/2011/07/20/up/feed/ 0 http://www.kayakquixotica.com/2011/07/15/madness-method/ http://www.kayakquixotica.com/2011/07/15/madness-method/#comments Fri, 15 Jul 2011 20:14:18 +0000 derrick http://www.kayakquixotica.com/?p=8476 Everyone teaches rolling in their own personal way.  Over the years I’ve learned that as instructors we need to be flexible. While we all may begin with a mental outline that serves us well most of the time, we quickly adjust that outline to fit each individuals needs.  Take Helen Wilson for example.. With this [...]]]> http://www.kayakquixotica.com/2011/07/15/madness-method/feed/ 6 http://www.kayakquixotica.com/2011/05/11/just-gotsta-believe/ http://www.kayakquixotica.com/2011/05/11/just-gotsta-believe/#comments Wed, 11 May 2011 10:46:08 +0000 derrick http://www.kayakquixotica.com/?p=7843 Sometimes it's 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. ]]> http://www.kayakquixotica.com/2011/05/11/just-gotsta-believe/feed/ 1 http://www.kayakquixotica.com/2011/05/08/chillsville/ http://www.kayakquixotica.com/2011/05/08/chillsville/#comments Sun, 08 May 2011 14:40:38 +0000 derrick http://www.kayakquixotica.com/?p=7824 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 it's own step in your rolling progression; "Ok, you're coming up now. Next we'll move on to the "chill stage"...]]> http://www.kayakquixotica.com/2011/05/08/chillsville/feed/ 5