Archive for the ‘Paddling’ Category

Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people, right on
– lennon

We’re almost done with the Low Impact Rolling Series.  I hope you’ve gained something from it.  Remember, it’s not important that you do everything the way I do it.  In time everyone finds their own way.  But my hope is that through this series you may have found a tip or technique that has helped either firm up your roll or to make it easier and more efficient.  I also hope that you’ll take what you’ve pulled from this and share it freely.

Today we move on to “recoveries”.  I’m using the word recovery for this post because a roll is a combination of techniques, many of which we’ve covered previously. The recovery is just that last bit, where we get the boat back under our bums. I’m going to break this down as it relates to two sorts of rolls.. A standard “C2C, Sweep” roll recovery and a layback recovery.  My goal is to show you where the two rolling styles converge and where they become distinct and how I deal with both.  The layback roll is unquestionably the lowest impact roll from start to finish, so let’s start there. Read the rest of this entry »

Notice how by lifting my head, my body curves and begins to push the kayak back down!  This is why you can’t lift your head!

Let’s work one that roll a bit more, shall we? Today you get to be the coach. I’ve talked about a bunch of skills to this point. But I want to also show you what happens, “when good skills go bad.”  I’ve provided a video where I make enough mistakes to make my own teeth hurt.  I’ve captioned the worst offenses.  As you can see, the motions are still smooth, the scull still quiet and the roll still successful.  This is where I coined the term “Sloppy Competence” which is my response to “The 4 Stages of Competence” that we as coaches always hear about.  It’s the point beyond “Unconscious Competence” where we practically do everything wrong and still succeed in the end.  :)   But why?  Read the rest of this entry »

Preposterous, when you think of the time that each has spent.
Words heaven sent and truly meant to show
Old, may I sit down here and learn today?
I’ll hear all you say.
I won’t go away.
– dexy’s midnight runners

So, I was driving along just west of my home town here in Wisconsin and caught the glimpse of a boat out of there corner of my eye.  Kayakers know this sensation well.  We can spot a small hull at midnight from 500 yards away while traveling at the speed of sound.  I drove by it the first time around not wanting to let my crazy curiosity get the best of me.  The second time by, I knew I had to stop.    Read the rest of this entry »

For Sale: P&H Scorpio | $1,300 Just over one year old.  Happy froggy green.  Perfect kayak for someone looking for a fast, yet very stable and durable kayak. Mid-sized to taller paddlers will most enjoy the fit.  You can read the original write up I did of this boat here.  We’ve enjoyed this boat but actually it’s been paddled very little. Not enough to justify keeping it anyway.  We’re located in central Wisconsin. You can contact me at derrick@kayakquixotica.com.

I can hear chants and incantations and some guy is mentioning me in his prayers.
Well, I don’t know what it is but there’s definitely something going on upstairs – Nick Cave (Dig, Lazarus, Dig)

We’re back to “low impact rolling” again.  Today I want to spend time on about 1/10 of a second worth of your roll, the bit where you bring your body to the surface of the water from the upside down or inverted position.  How you approach this short moment in your kayak roll can make all the difference when it comes to ease and efficiency.  This is not the only way to do things, but learning it will make whatever roll you do more successful. Really. I promise!  So let’s get to it.    Read the rest of this entry »

Author, adventurer, scientist, sea kayaker and pretty smart guy, Jon Turk has a new book out called The Raven’s Gift. “A Scientist, A Shaman and Their Remarkable Journey Through the Siberian Wilderness.” I’ve not read Jon’s new book yet, but having read his past work I’ve no doubt this one will be as interesting and thought provoking as ever. The Raven’s Gift is described as, “a life-altering vision of the ties between the natural and spiritual realms, Read the rest of this entry »

Long as I remember The rain been coming down.
Clouds of myst’ry pouring Confusion on the ground.
Good men through the ages, Trying to find the sun;
And I wonder, Still I wonder, Who’ll stop the rain. – ccr

After a successful day of rolling on Thursday, you wouldn’t be surprised if Mary wanted to get back out and lock in her roll the following morning.  Now, some could say that the weather didn’t cooperate but I’d say it did exactly what it should have done.  It upped the ante… Read the rest of this entry »