Kayaking https://www.instagram.com/p/B4qIFpSArVO/ I've been going from strength to strength with my kayaking. I got a new boat that has a lot less volume and is a lot more playful. It's added some excitement to some of the easier rivers around this way and punishes mistakes more. That's meant that I've increasingly had to rely on my roll and it's feeling real solid right now. The interesting thing about rolling a kayak is that it starts off as a mechanical challenge most often practiced in the relative serenity of a swimming pool. Once you have the mechanics dialed, there's no reason you can't apply them to real whitewater with equal success. But then you're disorientated by the water rushing around you, the welcoming dark brown of the UK's rivers swallow the light, and the cold bites at your body. But still, the required movement remains the same. So at that point the roll becomes a head game instead. Right now, I tend to feel pretty zen when I flip over,, which is cool. I take a metaphorical breath, then just roll up on autopilot. Maybe that's due to the cold showers I've been taking. Music https://clyp.it/clroh5d1?token=0bfc978c628c7d6cc74dc203e7ca92d4 I finished a new track today. It's a different direction to the jazz fusiony stuff I was doing for the last couple of years. I only have one other track in this vein and I don't plan to focus on this style exclusively. But it's been fun to make purely electronic music again, especially as it gave me a chance to actually make use of my Behringer Neutron.
There's not many things that willingly get me out of bed before dawn on a rainy winter's morning. It really is the best. Being on the water, pushing yourself, and going on adventures with great people. Not to mention that it's great exercise. I couldn't recommend it more. The kayak in that video is an older model (2003) and only cost me £170 second-hand from an acquaintance. Considering my paddle was £150 second-hand, I can't complain about the price. It's what's known as a "river play" boat. It's designed to offer a middle ground between a bigger, more stable river running boat and a smaller, more agile play boat (essentially a trick boat). So in short, yes it is designed specifically for whitewater. You can read about the different types of whitewater kayaking here. My pure river running boat cost me £600 on a clearance offer. For reference, the latest top-of-the-line boats will set you back £1500-£2000. And the profit margins are very thin for the manufacturers, so really they should be selling them for more. If you wanted to try it out though, your best bet would be to find a local club. They will have boats, paddles, and PFDs that you can try as part of the session price. And often they will have pool sessions which can be more inviting for beginners around this time of year.
thank you! we do have a little club. membership $18 per year. i am not the club-joining type, but perhaps i will make an exception. can whitewater kayaks double as placid lake/river kayaks? probably right? if so, i may just buy one of those and if i ever get around to using it in whitewater, so much the better.
There's a maxim in kayaking: we're all between swims. And the real danger beings once you're swimming. If you don't join a club, it's sage advice to kayak with others around. Because when you fall out of your kayak in an unfavourable position, being on your own makes things a lot more dangerous and difficult. You want people around who can help you. A river running kayak can also be used as a touring kayak (i.e. one made for flat or calm water). A true touring kayak will be longer than a river runner as the added length helps to maintain speed. They'll also have a skeg (a fin centered on the bottom of the boat) that keeps the boat tracking in a straight line. You can also get crossover boats that seek to bridge the gap between the two.