Surfing in a SOT

For Memorial Day, my family went to 20th street in Del Mar to meet up with several other families from the preschool that the twins attend. One family brought a tandem, SOT by Ocean Kayak, aka "The Costco Tank". I had a chance to take a couple of other dad's out,as well as just myself. I sure did miss my Chilco, that thing weighs a ton. My arms were like lead weights after paddling that thing. It was almost impossible to get any rotation, so it seemed all I could do was arm paddle. The surf was up, about 3-5 feet, so we did have some fun out there. It is hard to brace for two grown men, so we did get dumped a few times, but still caught a few rides. Tonight is my wedding anniversary, so I'll have to miss the Herons and the tales of the aborted Catalina crossing.

Bracing for anything

De Anza cove was the latest spot in our tour of Mission Bay for the Flat Water Perfection class. Jane could not make it, so I was just Teresa and her canoe. This was the last class for about a month with Jeff. I was sore and a bit tired from the pool session the night before. We started the class with some edging work. The classic tennis ball in the boat skill was used, while we shifted from edge to edge. Note: Give out the tennis balls after you launch. Mine rolled to the front of the cockpit, making feeling the position of ball a bit tough.

We moved on to some scullling for support. Once I got my rotation working, it felt really good. I was able to get the edges of my spray skirt into the water. I was having a little discomfort with my left hip. I have an old cycling injury from a crash during a descent of Sycamore Canyon. So I was not at my best.

After that, Jeff worked with me on the high brace. This is starting to click in my head. I think if I can keep my head looking away the water and get that c-spine going, I might have this. After the Bay to Bay race, maybe I'll head over to Bonita cove to work on this.

Jeff then worked with Teresa on some elements, as I paddled back out of the cove. This is where I was working on the sculling for support 'clicked'. Once I have some exposure to a particlar stroke, I get a frame of reference to work back to.

We finished up with some bow rudder work, but I was bit beat, and it was just not happening tonight. "You should have seen me on Saturday...."

One thing we did play with was, as we were on edge, leaning a bit forward. This created a scissor-like effect, which allowed for a bit more edge, yet still have some stability.

I'm probably taking the weekend off, do the daddy thing and all. Have a great Memorial Day!

Taking the Plunge

Aqua Adventures has a class at the Mission Beach Plunge. So I loaded up the kayak, slogged my way down I-5, ugh!. Got there a little late, oh well. Teresa was allready in the pool, along with several folks in white water boats learning to roll.

I tried to work on my bracing before brushing up my rolls. The low brace seems fine. The high brace need so much work. There is something missing. The sculling for support was ok, I was able to get partially over, but I can't seem to get to 90 degrees.

The rolls were ok. The normal paddle roll was still a bit weak. I completed about half of the ones I attempted. I think my hip flick timing is off. The extended paddle roll was fine.

Jane joined us a bit later and showed off her new roll in her small boat. Teresa also spent some time with a piece of 2x4 as a paddle. The Greenland paddle is such an interesting blade.

Guiding around Mission Bay

Last Saturday, I took a group of friends on a guided tour of Mission Bay. This was my first multi-paddler trip I have lead. I have taken a friend out solo, so this was a new adventure for me. So my neighbor Jim, an old friend Kevin and a former co-worker Neil went down to Aqua-Adventures. Neil meet us there, while the rest car pooled with me.

The weather was fantastic! We had a light breeze coming off the ocean (8-10 mph), and the sun was shining. After they got their PFDs, paddles and a brief intro by the Aqua staff, we headed off. Kevin was in a nice 'glass boat from eddyline, Jim and Neil had some plastic boats from Necky.

We had to adjust Jim's seat and foot pegs out on the water, but nothing too bad. We had a nice paddle out to the penguins behind Seaworld. We took a break there before we headed into the breeze. We crossed the channel and headed into Bonita Cove. We saw some jellys, but no rays. We looped through the cove then back to the shop. I demonstrated a variety of strokes and really focused on my rotation on my forward stroke. No one request an Eskimo Roll demonstration, so none was given. Some paddliing on edge was also done. I can tell that the FWP classes was laying a good foundation for my paddling.

I met the basic rule of guiding, return with same number you started with (if they are the same people, it is an added bonus!)

We head over the BBQ place near Sports Arena, but it was closed for remodeling, so we opted for some Chinese buffet.

Kevin works at eyeSpot.com, a video sharing site, and took some footage with his cell phone:

At the enchanted cove...

As I left the office, I had to check that I had my sunglasses, since we actually had some sun. But alas as I neared Fiesta Island on Mission Bay, the marine layer was still present. Oh well...

For the class I was joined by Teresa and her trusty canoe and Jane. After a quick strech and warmup, we explored linking some of the stroke that we have covered in the last few classes. Hanging draws into a forward stroke. Once I stopped over reaching during the transition to the forward stroke, I felt a bit easier with this combo. We also worked a bit on the stern rudder. Then on to the main event: a mock BCU 3 star assessment by Jeff. Teresa has her kayak 3 star (or is she a 4 star?), but is working toward the same in a canoe. This was really helpful. I've reviewing the materials, there is never a sense of time nor distance that the assessment item must be performed in. So this gave Jane and myself a good sense of this.

The reverse figure 8 went well, once I got over my test fright. I need to roate more during the sweep and try to edge more. It was funny, I just did not totally click in my boat last night. My hips were just a touch sore, probably from Tuesday.

The draws went fine. I could have attacked the draw on the move more. I think I was being lazy with that stroke. My sculling draw seems good. I did actually feel that I was able to control the boats bow and stern and keep the boat moving properly.

The low brace turn was fine. I love that one. It is a cheap trick to demo to new paddlers.

I'm still going to have to spend some time on the high brace. Next Weds. I am headed to a warm pool to work on it and the roll.

I didn't sit on my edge as well as I know I can. I also have to remember to slow everything down. It's Not A Race.....

I think I can convince Jane while Jeff is gone to have a wet class were we suit up in our wet suits and push it too far. If we stay dry we did not push it far enough.

I am leading a group of friends tomorrow on a paddle in Mission Bay. This should be fun. I will be working on some of the elements from the classes while we tour the bay. It should be a perfect chance to paddle on edge, etc. I have to tie up my tow rope tonight just in case.....

Back with the Night Herons

The stars and planets must have been in alignment, because I finally got to go paddling with the Night Herons again. For those who do know of them, they are a groups of incredibly strong and smart paddlers. They meet every Tuesday at Shelter Island and paddle to the Coronado Ferry Landing. Usually the route is along the north edge of the bay, then crossing over around Seaport Village. During the summer, some will head out of San Diego Bay, turn toward the Del, land there, then continue back in the bay. I have yet to do this, but it is goal this summer to do it at least once. I haven't paddled with them for about 3 months.

There was a good crowd this evening. Teresa, Jane and I launched a bit early to get a head start. These guys (and gals) are fast. We held a good fast pace all the way to the marina entrance. The cruise ship got off a bit late, so got to enjoy some churning water from her leaving the docks.

We waited for the rest of the group before crossing en-masse from Seaport Village. Had a brief stretch of the legs, a quick Coca Cola and Oatmeal raisin cookie, and the three of us headed back along the North Island side. This did offer some shelter from the slight breeze. Unfortunately, we were fighting an incoming tide...

The return trip was very peaceful, almost no boat traffic (4 SEAL boats headed out for some training). We continued to work on a variety of strokes that Jeff had been refining with us. I did a little zig-zagging through the mooring (bow rudders, sweeping on an aggressive edge). We thought we might be rescuing a seagull caught in a fishing line, but it turned out to be two gulls fighting in the water.

One funny incident was one paddler showed up with his two paddle parts, unfortunately they were both the same side for two different paddles (He was able to drive over to another paddler's house and grab a complete set). But it did spark a conversation on spare paddles. That is something I have been meaning to acquire.....

Looking forward to the last FWP for a while since Jeff is headed to the river and NoCal for June.

One where Chris gets wet...

Our class gained another paddler, Mike, who pulled up in his nice new Audi. You got to love a kayak atop a little car. It reminded me of the ad for Seaward.

We returned to Bonita Cove to continue first with more draw practice. We focused on the hanging draw. Rotate, Rotate, Rotate. I have to remember to do this more with most of my strokes. One thing I had a bit of trouble with is my lower wrist tended to twist a bit as I held my draw. We played with pushing with each foot. I found using the opposite foot gave me more power. The boat does have strong bow tendency, so I tended to place my blade back toward the stern.

After a few games of joust (no collisions), we worked a bit on our edging.

Jeff had us pair up. One paddler was to hold the other on an agressive edge while they used a sweep stroke to spin the pair around. Unfortunately, I leaned to bit to far to be held and I went splash. My feet slipped a bit, but that is what I get for forgetting my water shoes, when I tried to roll. After a T-rescue, we continued our edging.

Jeff had us paddling backward on a 2 edge with our eyes closed. I could feel my boat steer offline. I attempt to correct with sweep strokes. I was not as far off line as I thought. At least I did not spin in circles. ;)

We continued back to the beach continuing our edging, and tossing in a few braces along the way. Maybe we can work on these next week before Jeff heads up to the Kern for a month.

At the end of the day, since I was already wet. I decided to attempt a roll. Greg Knight had stopped by, so I had a nice audience. Greg, former co-owner at Aqua-Adventures, was the one who taught me to roll several years ago, so no pressure.... I paused for moment, visualized the motions, took a deep breath, setup and over I went. Two taps on the surface, sweep around, hip flick, and up I came. Yeah!

My lovely bride had 3 wisdom teeth out today, so no paddling this weekend. So, Mike, Jane, and Teresa enjoy the bay to bay paddle. I might be able to grab some surfing in Sunday afternoon if she is up to it.

SDKC Kickoff-A Swell Time

The San Diego Kayak Club held their annual kick-off paddle and BBQ. Overcast skies greeted those of us who rose early on Sunday. The weather has been cool all week. Six of us turned up for a pre-BBQ paddle. Jon, Teresa, Jane, Dennis and his son. Dennis and his son opted to stay in the bay and play around there. So the rest of us decided to head out Mission Bay Channel and head up to the Belmont Park rollercoaster and then swing back past the OB pier. Teresa had taken Brent Reitz's Forward Stroke Clinic, so she was recalling what she had learned the day before.

As we headed out the channel, Jon noted that the swell was looking quite large. We continued to work our way out of the bay, I could feel all the skills that Jeff's classes really clicked in. I felt so much in tune with my boat. Also, paddling with three other strong paddlers really lets one have the ability to test their skills.

The further we got out, we saw the swells were running 4 - 5 feet by Jon's estimation. We all agreed that today was not the day for this paddle. So we looped around the bouy, waved at the seal lions, and headed back in. There was one nice swell, that if I was wearing a wet suit I would have surfed it. I was one strong paddle stroke from a nice ride. But with a BBQ later, I opted to slip down the back side of it. Jon thought the swell was from the north, so we crossed back to the north side of the channel to shield us from the larger swell on the south side.

So, as a backup plan, we headed into Marnier's Cove. Jon and Teresa traded boats. Jon wanted to see how Teresa's Epic felt for the upcoming Bay-to-Bay race. Jane and I continued to work on the techniques for the FWP class: bow rudders, backward figure eights, draws, and the like.

On the way back Teresa decided to give Jane a impromtu test, and "complained" that she could not paddle Jon's boat and needed to be towed. So Jane hooked up Teresa, and I came over and stabilized the boats during the hook up. I then drifted off to the spotter role as they headed for home. Jane was paddling along fine. I did need to flip the tow rope around her rudder after she dropped it down for steering. But before you knew it, Jane seems to be slowing down. I doubt it was the added effort of pulling Jon and myself along with Teresa. :)

We landed back at Bahia Point, enjoyed some coffee and muffins and fruit with some other fellow paddlers. I think we all left before the grill was lit, but I am sure it was an enjoyable time.

Ready, Set... Draw

My FWP class tonight was held at Bonita Cove. Jane and Theresa were also there. Theresa brough her canoe. Yes, I did try it out after the class. Boy it hard to keep on of those things going straight. It felt like my first time in a kayak.

Jeff had us working on the various draw strokes. Bonite Cove is great for that kind of pratice. There is a nice string of No Boating bouys to mark a swiming area. These serve as great points of reference to track your movement against. Also there is no boat traffic to worry about.

We started with the base draw stroke. This felt good. I normally do my draw stroke in a repeated fashion, so I slice my blade back to the extended point and start my draw over again. Jeff had us pulling our blade out toward the stern after each draw. I think I was able control the bow and stern pulls, so that was good. At a deeper level, feeling more connected with my boat, the fact I could get on edge and just more 'in tune' with the boat made the stroke more powerful.

Then we moved on to sculling draws. Boy, was I doing this stroke wrong! I knew something was off since I never seemed to be able to move the boat much using this stroke. It turned out that my blade path was in an arc rather than running parallel to the boat. That was my Aha! moment of the night.

We wrapped up the class with 'draws on the move' / 'hanging draws'. These are fun and easy to work into any paddle session. I could never tell if I had really moved the bow and stern together during the draw. Jeff suggested that we toss in a sweep stroke to offset some boat movement.