This hypnotic video of a slab style break, or reef break does a really good job of showing how the power of the ocean essentially comes full stop onto a slab of rock. The board surfers here are doing a pretty decent job of judging where to grab their rides. I was not quite so skillful when I went to San Diego. Bird Rock is a beautiful relatively secret spot to go catch some waves. But it is a beefy, bowl shaped break. We just don’t have anything like this on Lake Michigan. Very cool stuff!
As the kayak pool session has progressed with the students, each of them has become curious about an eskimo roll. We had one dedicated rolling lesson last saturday with 10 students. A few came close to rolling, some were closer than others to getting the concepts.
Rolling, in my opinion is a basic or a gateway skill that allows you to progress on to other skills. Knowing how to right your kayak without fear is a big confidence builder and can really increase your ability to edge, lean and try different strokes.
So here’s the question for instructors: What works for you?
Share it here in the comments, whether it’s traditional style paddle, pawlata style roll, paddle-float training wheels approach or some sort of voodoo doll. I’d love to hear what the approach is for coaches to teaching a really important, but albeit tricky skill.
Students can be afraid of the water, entrapment, or just have general anxiety about working with a coach. How do you work on overcoming these issues with the student?
If you have videos, or photos send them along and I’ll add them.
The sponsors are impressive, (Arcteryx Outdoor Research, New Belgium Beer) for a paddling film which usually has the same three sponsors for each film. But the fact that this film covers, snowboarding, climbing, downhill mountain biking, and kayaking may have something to do with it. The footage above is impressive and may go a long way to improving the footage we see of outdoor pursuits. From what I understand a remote cable operated camera has a lot to do with the overhead perspective on some of the footage.
The premise for The Season series is to follow the athletes throughout a season of their activities as they pursue their athletic goals. The audience is allowed to see their triumphs, failures, and I am assuming whatever else happens. As I am not a one sport athlete either, I appreciate seeing how a mountain biker, climber or snowboarder has the same essential questions that paddlers do.
Why am I doing this? Is it for me? Do I need to keep pushing myself further and further, or can I be content with where my skills/endurance/training are now?
As a runner and a paddler I ask myself these questions a lot.
The psychology of the athlete is an interesting study, I look forward to seeing Smith’s film exploration of the subject.
Nathan Eades the 24 year old Welsh 3rd place winner of the World Surf Kayak Championship had this kayak built for his use in the contest. (Picture above).
In the second of my two presentations, the first being on Tides, is my presentation on piloting. The IDW/ICE was a great experience and I learned a lot through the process. I am not entirely displeased with this presentation, nor am I overtly thrilled about it. But having had the experience was a good one despite how I might feel about the result. I think other candidates should take note that the more interactive and fun your presentation is, the better you will do.
The object is to present basic information on piloting to a group of beginners in 10 minutes or less. So you have to cover a lot of information in 10 minutes, but not get to far into the weeds.
I use power point every day at work, so this seemed a good way of measuring my time, one slide per minute. Ask questions and get the group involved.
While encased in the ice and snow of midwest winter it is nice to hear about other far off lands where board surfing is picking up. I know that kayak surfing is what I am usually blathering on about, but I think it is great when we hear about some new untapped surfing region. Liberia as a surf spot you ask? Clearly the picture says it all.
For those that don’t know where Liberia is, this map may help.
A local Benjamin McCrumada said this after trying surfing for the first time.
Benjamin managed to stand on the board, for 10 seconds. And that was all it took. For those 10 seconds, he said, he forgot he was living in a postwar zone. He was gliding on top of the Atlantic, wave crashing, heart bursting with the freedom of it. “I felt like I was on a motorcycle,” he said, smiling. “I was so happy. I didn’t know you could do this.”
Funny how all of us that get hooked on surfing have a similar story to tell about the first time we caught a ride on a wave.
Mega has been making some of the best surf kayaks around for quite a while. Malcom, whose nickname was Mega tells the story of the company he founded in this YouTube video. I’ve paddled a few of Mega’s boats and owned one. I can say with authority that a Mega Surf Kayak will rarely disappoint you. The lineup from Mega Surf Kayaks becomes more impressive every year. I am already lusting after a Boost.
Malcom according to reports on Boatertalk.com has been having some health issues. I hope he is feeling better.
I had an excellent paddle along the cliffs on Saturday afternoon. I tried to explore all the areas where the cliffs were highest and were the brash ice was loose. Paddling amongst the flows and pancake ice is a serene experience. It is otherworldly, and sometimes violent as ice cracks, breaks off and falls into Lake Michigan. Other times it is more subtle where you hear a grating, or sliding noise as a giant piece of ice tumbles over. The loose crumbly bits of ice that float loose next to larger icebergs rub against one another. This makes a sound like a cocktail shaker with a martini in it. Am I the olive?
Temperatures were in the high thirties, rain sprinkled and spat a few times, but then the sun broke out among the clouds.
My gore-tex drysuit is in for repairs with Kokatat, so I wore my Brooks tuiliq and IR neoprene pants, I was plenty warm except my feet. I had a warmer pair, but I lost one in my ICE in the surf. I have a lonely single fleece lined bootie in the garage to remind me of the nasty swim I took on the rocks.
The full gallery of sea kayaking in the ice pictures can be found here:
keith is a sweet ass muther trucker lookin for a good time that is not afraid of anything. origin: 15th century Scotland02:20:29 AM February 03, 2010from TweetDeck
