Monday, May 06, 2013

Back to Basics

   As I have frequentlly noted, I paddle mostly alone and begin each on water session by practicing my basic strokes. What sometimes gets forgotten are the self rescue techniques. I see others practice them in the pool over winters (as do I); but I rarely see anyone do them in real conditions.
   Add to the mix that I am waiting for NDK to ship me the seat for my Romany. So, I made a temporary (read: sloppy) closed-cell foam affair and took it onto Lake Michigan yesterday. After a little playing in what waves I could find, I went near shore, got out of the boat and practiced paddle float rescues. They went well and it felt good to be in the cold water (in a dry suit) for practice.
   Now, I have to get out with someone else so I can practice in conditions, something I generally don't do aggressively when alone.

Paddle Safe...
DS

3 comments:

Dean said...

Here in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, we get together in one of the nearby coves on Thursday evenings from about mid-April to mid-October for our weekly practice sessions. Unless the conditions are so intense that it is unsafe to get on/off the water we go out into the cove to practice rescues, paddling, etc... in the conditions of the evening. Maybe you could start something like that in your neck of the woods to get people practicing in 'real' conditions....

Dean
http://nlkayakoholic.blogspot.ca/

Dean said...

Here in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, we get together in one of the nearby coves on Thursday evenings from about mid-April to mid-October for our weekly practice sessions. Unless the conditions are so intense that it is unsafe to get on/off the water we go out into the cove to practice rescues, paddling, etc... in the conditions of the evening. Maybe you could start something like that in your neck of the woods to get people practicing in 'real' conditions....

Dean
http://nlkayakoholic.blogspot.ca/

Silbs said...

That's great, Dean. Being semi retired, I get out at odd times, usually while the others are at work. On top of that, many of the paddlers have second jobs. We can't even get us all together on weekends. Maybe I should come up there.
Silbs