Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Safe and/or fun?


My basic truth about sea kayaking is simply the bigger the waves the more fun and more thrilling the sport can be. I have a friend in Ironwood MI (he does own a kayak) who's motto is, "If you took the time to do everything safely you wouldn't get nuthin' done!". And yes, he is still alive although there have been countless close calls. My idea of balance between the safe and the thrilling is to have good gear (wet or dry suit, radio, pump/float, spare paddle, tow line, etc) and the set of skills necessary to deal with the big water. A solid wet exit and reentry is crucial but if you go over in big water I think you need a rock solid brace and a bombproof roll. Plenty of people don't and thats fine 95% of the time. But trying to do a paddle float reentry in 4' - 6' seas is shaky at best. I also think that 'roll for show, brace for dough' is a key point also. If you have a solid high, low, sculling, and maybe even a static brace you might never have to roll. Unless your paddle breaks, as mine did while testing my new Valley Aquanaut last spring. It was a couple high braces on the left, a couple on the right and on the last one I heard a snap and was upside down before I knew it, a half mile off the entry to the Port of Duluth. THEN you need to know how to roll, although I was with another guy, the seas were calm, and a reentry would have been a piece of cake. Anyway, in the thrill v safety debate you need to remember, as always, that the lake is the boss.

6 comments:

Ron said...

Hearing that paddle "snap" is a crummy feeling isn't it ... Thats when you use the broken paddle like a narsaq and smartly roll back up.

DaveO said...

If you're lucky and have your wits about you.....I'm not saying it would work twice!

Silbs said...

Great posting. I don't know why more folks don't gradually scull up (after inverting), get a breath on the surface and then finish "rolling" up with a little sweep and hip lift. It is psychologically easier than betting it all on a roll and gives a wonderful sense of boat control.

DaveO said...

I wonder the same thing. You can use one or more components of your roll depending on the circumstances. I'd like to figure out how to train effectively with that in mind.
(for some reason I can't access my own blog and am trying to figure it out now......!)

Silbs said...

Yes, something is up with your site because when I try to bring it up it goes directly to this comment page.

DaveO said...

I think I may have gotten whatever it was straightened out. Did you see the kayak fishing posting? Some consultation with Ron and I think things are working. Although I still feel inadequate since I can't get my picture next to my post like you veteran users!