Pinchgut Island

This past week May 4th I was pondering whether I would take a run out to Colinet when I got a call out of the blue from a fellow paddler wanting to go to Pinchgut Island. What timing - it turned out it was just the two of us who landed on the beach of Colinet and took off early in the afternoon.

This is a great spot, well protected, with a considerable duck and bird population on the west,more protected side of the island. At the southern end quite a number of seals play in the rocks among the waves churned up from all sides.

It is easy to drive to Colinet, the whole trip takes about 4-5 hours to circumnavigate depending how long you stop for lunch or putter.

There is an abandoned farm house which is a good marker as a landing spot and a path leading to the beach overlooking open water.

See the KNL and Kayak the Rock websites for a trip report and more photos.

Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD)

Judo Canada recently published an outstanding document. Called: Taking it to the Mat. This publication is a sport specific follow-up to Sport Canada's publication and a major change in philosophy of sport, entitled Sport for Life.











These are sigificant publications - they are in fact dramatic departures from the previous approaches to instructing/coaching developing athletes. The tendency all to often seemed to focus on gold medal performances in what ever discipline and or olympic dreams but often young athletes stopped cold at national competitions and dropped out of the sport altogether. The penultimate folly has been demonstrated repeatedly in the public, by obsessed parents and overzealous coaches - at your local hockey arena.

Judo Coaches will be using the Taking it to the Mat document as a resource to their practice planning and long term development plans. A change in mindset is required to implement the ideas and elements in this LTAD. Some might call it a cognitive shift. One example - there has been a tendency in judo to fall into a trap when instructing children and occasionally lapse into treating them as little adults. New strategies in practice planning, integrated with this document will work to reduce this old practice. Another change is to integrate key milestones(balance, coordination, rolling and for juniors just having fun) in program development and to make time for sport specific games.

The goal is that more children and young adults will join in and participate in judo, compete if they like but equally important stay involved in the sport.

Judo is a great example of a sport that because of the national and international structure you can be involved in a club in Newfoundland and in the midst of your travels drop in, visit, workout with a club in Hamilton, USA, France, UK or Qatar.

For more information check out the links > coaching association of canada.

Bai Hui - the acupuncture point

In acupuncture, Bai Hui is located towards the end of the governing vessel meridian on the top of the head. It is described as the meeting point of the six yang channels.

It is located by acupuncture practitioners on the central imaginary line that is the GV meridian(from the coccyx over the head to the front of the face)at a point that intersects another line connecting the Rt and L ears.

The point can be very effectively used to treat and relieve headaches and in association with other acupuncture points help promote relaxation.

Winter Snow Shoeing

This past weekend we hit the East Coast Trail,leaving from Bay Bulls. It was
cold but sunny and the scenery spectacular.

The starting point for us was Gun Ridge once thought to be a British battery. More than likely the name reflects the location as a favourite hunting spot in the days when muskets were the norm. This settlement only sustained five dwellings and the occupants worked the land or harveted wood. This area was abandoned as a community in the 1950s and most people moved much closer to Bay Bulls itself.


We didn't make it all the way to the Spout but that is another story.

Bonsai

I have given up trying to grow bonsai. I have had a number over the years - some I have bought, others I have harvested or grown from cuttings. Unfortunately, all succombed to one ailment or another.

I recall mentioning to a friend that I was considering buying or special ordering others, his response was - "why bother?" we are, as the expression goes locally, maggotty with them. So I have moved on to appreciating the bonsai of Newfoundland in their
original state.

Naturally stunted growth by fierce elements and fighting for survival in odd precarious locations for growth.

These photos were taken on a sea kayaking trip from Bellevue Beach to Chance Cove in Trinity Bay, NL.

Sea kayaking provides remarkable access to the most isolated forms of growth.

The photo below is from Aquaforte on the Southern Shore of NL.

Kelly Kettle

A number of kayakers referred to the Kelly Kettle. I picked up mine
some time ago through Lee Valley. Water is poured down an outside cylinder and a
fire is made in the holder below - it almost works like a chimney. It is easy to carry and
a great back up when paddling or camping. Bring some dry kindling in your lunch
bag and usually that's enough to get the water boiling for tea or soups.












No matter where you land you can usually find enough dry twigs to keep it going for a second boil. Save the propane for serious cooking. It's a good idea to pack it in a small bag separately as the inside gets covered with soot and can mess up the rest of the gear you are packing.
A bonus is that is at least one person in camp usually volunteers to keep it going or ready to light.
It's a great gift.

Rotator Cuff Injury Prevention

Kayaking can put the shoulder at risk to sprain and in some cases dislocation. Injury can occur when paddling force on the shoulder occurs outside the power position or when the hands cross the midline or extend beyond the shoulder line. As well muscle tears can occur if the kayaker periodically works the shoulder in a stressful position overhead, much like a baseball pitcher.
The picture above(photo by Ken Whiting)highlights the need to keep that rectangular space between the hands.



Individuals who are at risk to shoulder injury or have had early warning signs would be well advised to include a programme of exercises that target rotator cuff stabilizers. Kayakers should be aware that pain can lead to selective neural inhibition and resultant localized weakness. Some individuals may need a specific training program focused on neural control as opposed to generic strengthening. Included in this post are some suggestions for kayakers who have shoulder pain.
Recommendations:
1. get feedback on your technique and shoulder positioning in the kayak
2. seek advice from a health care professional
3. keep in mind the mechanics of movements or biomechanics; many sports tasks including kayaking require shoulder abduction with end range lateral rotation. while stability is critical in this position (think also swimming and tennis swing) the lateral rotators can be quite weak in this end range position. It may be quite useful to train in the inner range first.
4. consider isolated activation of rotator cuff muscles first
5. learn to avoid unwanted activity of the deltoid muscle
6. utilize retraining techniques and mental imagery or visualization.
7. alter training method - start with isometrics,progress into lateral rotation at various angles of abduction.
8. If in the eccentric phase, focus on control and carry out slowly.