Rolling - Check out this DVD

I found this video on You Tube, as a result I was reminded of a recommendation made by one of the KNL regulars - give it a view. I ordered a copy today the other day from Joe O'Blenis. Helen gives an interesting and unique perspective to rolling.



I don't know if this additonal section is contained in the DVD I ordered, but Helen Wilson makes things look less complicated. Also check out: greenlandorbust.org




I am highly motivated to keep up with my yoga.

Greeenland rope exercises

The closing event for the Atlantic Paddling Symposium was a demonstration by Maligiaq on training with the ropes.
There were a number in the group who did well but Maligiaq made things look easy

Surf session in Eastport

009_1107AtlanticSymposium0065.JPG">

A perfect way to end the symposium. Small surf but a good fun practice. And lots of sun. Instructors Tim and Johnny provided some onland information - then it was out on the water. The surf was not particularly high or heavy but it was remarkable how much power was in the waves and how easily one could be turned over if we didn't lean into the wave. A low brace was sufficient for most waves we encountered.
Johnny made the surf launch look easy. A great morning and a great way to end the sessions.

Rock Hopping in Salvage

I think the subtitle to this session was Fear to Fun. Right after you got over the fear it was fun. It is fair to say, no one in this group noticed the bitter cold. The wind was at least 20-25knots - the sort of conditions I typically wait to calm down. Seaman would describe it as a strong breeze. On this occasion, the training exercise was well planned and by all accounts a great confidence builder. After following Mark into the cove where we were landing to wrap up - I popped out to take some shots of the group making some runs.

Sandy Cove - Paddling Clinics

Sandy Cove was host to a number of sessions: Forward Stroke, Advanced Rescues, Wind Management, Blending Strokes and Navigation.
There was no shortage of wind to make the stroke sessions and wind management sessions both relevant and interesting.

The Atlantic Paddling Symposium

What a great event!
The temperatures ranged from 1 degree to 8, which was not totally unexpected but always amazing nevertheless.
Great spirit and a lot of folks from all around the Atlantic region and beyond.
Organizers did a great job from registration to arrivals and departures. There were a lot of kayaks to lift, trade, transport, store and tie down. And this event was significant in the number of different types of paddlers we got
together: canoeists, white water kayakers, sea kayakers, canoe polers and there was the introduction of standup paddling.
Kayakers made good use of facilities all around the headquarters at Splash n Putt - including Terra Nova Park and various other accomodations in the region.

Greenland Paddling

Maligiaq Padilla was the special guest instructor Saturday morning at Sandy Pond. He provided excellent direction and advice. His demonstrations made using the Greenland paddle appear effortless. One interesting aspect to his approach was that he was not hard and fast in method or technique. He let us know there are many different forms of Greenland paddling - and there is no right way. The most significant point he emphasized was that he avoided trunk rotation and felt doing so made his back more at risk to injury. We spent a lot of time in drills, practicing forward and backward strokes, and sweeps. He is quite a competitor, so there were several races, lots of drafting and a few toggle to toggle tug of wars on the water. Another exercise was to kayak up on a blind folded resting paddler and paddle upclose to his kayak, without him hearing the movement of the paddle in the water. A great session.

Atlantic Paddling Symposium

A great weekend for learning and starting to work in more challenging conditions. It was early in the season for many of us, so this was a great opportunity to work with different instructors from the Atlantic region. In this short clip on Rock Hopping we practiced controlling forward strokes in higher winds. Chris Lockyer and Mark Scriver did a super job coaching all of us through the session.

Frequent practice can't go wrong

What an evening for practice! Land temperature was 20 degrees when I left work, so I could not pass up an chance to join the regular practice group. The nice weather also brought out beach combers and a lone diver/snorkeller.
Water temperature was still very low. The location and timing seemed a great chance to practice strokes, a few rolls, rescues and reentries. It occurred to me later that frequent exposure to cold water, even though we are all wearing dry suits may also be a useful means of increasing the body's sensitivity to cold immersion. A lot has been written about cold shock and I don't know if there is solid physiological evidence to support this, but it seems to make intuitive sense. What is not known is whether you will react the same way every time - so another good reason to paddle with 1-2 folks.

According to one resource:
Cold shock occurs immediately - as you enter the cold water. It lasts three to five minutes but it can result in quick drowning because of the way the body reacts. You cannot control these reactions:
A large intake of breath
A rapid increase in breathing rate (up to four times as fast)
A reduced ability to hold your breath (to as little as 10 seconds)
A massive increase in heart rate and blood pressure

A significant factor seems to be reducing exposed skin - I added a cap over my thermal head protection. Tony wears a helmet which I think further increases thermal protection and also reduces risk of injury by another boat while in the water. And hand protection is a good idea, I couldn't get a mitt my size, so I settled for using a glove made by Brooks that has a leather palm, but is also neoprene - while waiting on an order.