Shoulder, Shoulder, Shoulder!
Published May 30, 2013 | 
Splash, dash heard your call
Bring you back your golden ball
He’s gonna dive down in the deep end
He’s gonna be just like your best friend
- gabrial
So when I watched this video posted with an article in RapidMedia, the first thing I thought was “Shoulder! Shoulder!, Shoulder!” I mean, putting that arm out in chicken-wing fashion then hitting the water will put a lot of tension on that shoulder, right? Next I thought, is there really a safe way to learn this style of high brace on flat water? Then I thought, isn’t there this whole school of thought out there that there is rarely a need for a high brace at all? Then I thought, hey look at all the peer reviews at the bottom of the article!! That’ll cover it! Continue reading
Can’t See The Water For The Trees
Published May 25, 2013 | 
Last night I had a dream / You were in it, I was in it with you
Everyone that I knew /And everyone that you know was in my dream
I saw a vampire / I saw a ghost
Everybody scared me but you sacred me the most
- randy numan
I’ve spent a lot of time writing about products over the years. I’ll do it again. Still to be honest, I must be getting old.. or maybe I’m just drowning in the product placement seas. When browsing the blogs, Facebook and the rest of the social media universe I have to admit I’m getting a little burned out on the newest and latest thing. I mean, can’t we just go paddling? Continue reading
Posted in advertising, Coaching, Commentary & Rants, My Paddling, Outdoor Recreation, Paddle Gear, Paddling, Reviews | 
Coaching, Reviews, social media | 
Leave a commentFinally!
Published April 19, 2013 | 
Yesterday we finally able to get out onto our local lake (Devil’s Lake State Park). Here it is mid way through April and the ice is just now breaking up and melting off of the lake. Well, I guess I’ve been spoiled, it’s not really unusual to wait until mid-April to see open water here in central Wisconsin, but it has been a few years since winter has hung on so long. Continue reading
Those who can’t… teach…
Published April 13, 2013 | 
This is Major Tom to Ground Control
I’m stepping through the door
And I’m floating in a most peculiar way – bowie
We’ve all heard the quote,”Those Who Can, Do; Those Who Can’t, Teach.” Personally I like the Woody Allen version.. “Those who can’t do teach. Those who can’t teach, teach gym.” Well, that certainly fit my middle-school gym teacher anyway.. Buh! I’ve always hated that quote, but sometimes there is a ring of truth in it as well. I mean, there are some careers you’d never take a relatively low paying job teaching if you could make real money actually doing.. As a sea kayaking / rolling coach there is one place where the phrase points it’s nasty little finger right at me however, that’s the Balance Brace. I can teach it, but I’ll be damned if I can do it! Continue reading
Duck Season, Kayak Season
Published April 12, 2013 | 
It’s spring in Wisconsin and as is typical this time of year, we’re all complaining about the weather. Me too. Not because I think spring is late or that winter is clinging on too long. I know it’s not. In fact, it’s a pretty average Wisconsin spring. No, I can happily complain about an average Wisconsin spring, just because it feels like I’ve waited forever to get back outside in my kayak. So yesterday, it really didn’t matter that the rain was coming down in mats or that the air temperature was clinging somewhere just above freezing. I’d found some open water and I was going kayaking…. dammit! Continue reading
Learning to Learn
Published March 9, 2013 | 
Last evening Sue and I started a beginners fencing class at the local university. It was interesting to be on the student side of the fence. As a coach, you can become so used to examining your students learning styles and their progressions that you often forget your own. Coaches and teachers don’t always make the best students. 
Continue reading
Posted in Coaching, Fitness, Learning, Outdoor Recreation, Paddling, Random Thoughts | auditory, Coaching, discovery learning, fencing, kinesthetic, Learning, learning styles, visual | 3 Comments
I know, I know.. I’ve heard it before.. “All boats are good boats.” but when I see kayaks that will do this it gives me the willies! I mean I get it, recreational kayaks are popular and for some unfathomable reason most people survive their experience. Still, when I think of the people who rent kayaks like this regularly all over the world in all sorts of weather and conditions, many who can barely swim… not to mention the sketchy “life jackets” they are given.. I’m surprised people aren’t dropping like flies.. or is that sinking like stones? Well, if your going out in one of these things, only go out in warm, flat water.. and stay close to the shore. Humans are amazingly lucky creatures sometimes…..