It’s every kayakers worst nightmare and Joey Nocchi experienced it first-hand this past weekend while kayaking off the coast of Cambria. Joey and some friends were enjoying a day of kayak fishing when a fourteen foot great white shark attacked his kayak from the bottom, throwing him five feet into the air. Luckily, Joey was able to get back into his kayak and paddle to shore without further incident, however his kayak took quite a beating with a massive 22 inch bite mark causing it to take-in water as he headed to shore.

In this incident the great white attacked using its trademarked move of launching itself from below, building up speed from the depths of the ocean. It’s the same technique that great white’s have used time and time again to attack their prey out of the blue with incredible force. Luckily a kayak doesn’t taste very good so the shark most likely realized this wasn’t the yummy fish he was looking for.

This story does serve as a good lesson for all ocean fishing kayakers. When you’re fishing in kayak you have to remember that your kayak probably might smell quite a bit like fish. You should do everything you can to mask this smell and avoid having a similar experience to Joey. In this case, he was very lucky, but as we all know, this isn’t always the case.

(Photo Credit)

A couple of friends of mine have both taken the plunge and bought K1 race boats. When I say ‘plunge” I mean it quite literally – there are very few people who manage to stay in them easily. It is winter in NZ and gets pretty cold so I would rather them than me! I am strictly a fair weather K1 paddler and am quite happy to stay that way until summer.

Thinking about falling out of boats made me reflect on my first proper coaching lesson. The kayaking community is fairly active in Wellington and the surrounding areas. One of the clubs I belong to offers almost unlimited coaching for around a hundred dollars a year. You don’t even have to take your boat or gear – the club owns enough for everyone. Three main coaches give up their time, energy and resources to make sure we all paddle as well as we can. They are amazing people, but more about them in blogs to come.

I thought multisport boats were tippy, until I experienced a TK1. These boats are lighter, more voluminous and have tiller bars for steering. Which is a recipe for disaster if you suffer challenges with coordination (as I often do. If you don’t believe me I will tell you about learning to stay on a mountain bike!). As if it wasn’t bad enough that I was in a boat that had a mind of its own and refused to go anywhere even vaguely related to where I wanted it to, people started talking about using my legs. WTF?! Legs are for running and cycling, paddling is when they rest!!

Apparently not. The first thing the coaching team patiently explained to me was that paddling is 60% legs, 20% abdominals and 20% arms. My first attempt at using my legs was less than successful. I am a kinesthetic learner so have to feel things to understand doing them. I was so busy concentrating on staying in the bucking bronco I was paddling that I couldn’t listen and translate what I was hearing into actions. Plus, looking as well as listening is something you do when you cross the street, not when you are terrified of falling into a) water and especially b) cold water. The only way to solve this conundrum was to seek stability. Stopping paddling was out of the question so I pulled into the side of the inlet (and sweet, solid ground) to try and focus.

The theory goes that using your legs is just like riding your bike. Apparently I had to press one foot at a time against the foot-board. The resulting force moves toward the stroke-side hip. The hip then apparently compresses against the seat. Which is all well and good but I asked a fellow paddler if it was like running. When they gave me a hesitant yes I began using the pressing on the opposite side to the one where my blade was entering (try and visualise it – bet you can’t, it is that whacked). And guess what the outcome was? Whee, me indulging in my favourite pass time of lake bottom inspector!! My fall was rather pathetic, actually and I am not sure waist deep water counts as a swim. But y’know, the overactive imagination came back again…falling out by a culvert made it all the worse – not only were there sharks hiding up the culvert, rapidly approaching with perfect rows of teeth glistening there were also at least 4 bodies trying to grab my ankles and probably some contaminated water leaching into my ears where it was going to seep into my brain and render me a zombie!

I later read that a sensory approach is the best way to ensure technique improvement but I think fear is an even more powerful motivator because I was dammed if I was falling out again anytime soon after that little dramatic trip down imagination lane!There wasn’t much else to do but get back into the boat and attempt to paddle after the group who had moved on to their next drill. The monster of self-doubt, ever present, was now jumping up and down in front of me and letting me know that I would never catch the group. I was huffing and puffing and flailing madly…there was no way I would ever see them again. The whole lot of them were leaving me there to drown/be eaten by sharks/turned into a zombie….life was truly over…what? What are they doing? They are turning around?! All of them? Am I sure?? That’s great! They are coming back! Woo hoo!! I am saved!

On the return journey, one of the Coaches took the time to paddle back with me. His words struck a chord and I remember them to this day. He told me to “feel the water” through the boat and become aware that boat and paddle are only extensions of the my body. I couldn’t quite cope with that whole concept in one go but I liked the idea of feeling the water rather than just feeling the hard boat. I could cope with that!

(Photo Credit)

Most people who read this blog or subscribe to kayaking.org are probably not the culprits of the thoughtless act of littering because most paddlers believe, like other outdoor enthusiasts, “If you packed it in, you pack it out” and leave no trace.

There’s nothing more sickening than to see trash on the shores, trails, and waterways when one is attempting to enjoy the outdoors and nature. I wonder how people can be so disrespectful of Mother Earth and willingly choose to leave their trash behind for others to see or even to clean up.  We that love the outdoors and enjoy the beauty of nature cannot go anywhere without seeing the waste left behind by careless and thoughtless individuals. Not only is this rubbish an eyesore; more importantly, it kills our wildlife. I’m sure we all have seen evidence of animals or fish that have choked on plastic or styrofoam, are cut from broken glass or metal, or are entangled in what we humans (or should I say, we “inhumanes”) have dropped or discarded because we are too lazy to pack it back out to a waste can.   I can only wish that one day we will wake up and see what this littering is doing to our world and all that live in it.

Maybe if the wildlife enforcement would focus more on littering rather than licensing and begin enforcing steeper fines for litterbugs, we could cut down on the waste left for others to pick up.  After all, a true sportsman SHOULD want to hunt and fish in a natural and clean environment and SHOULD NOT want to leave trash behind that might jeopardize the wildlife that he/she is pursuing.

Not so long ago I remember a commercial that ran on television that had a native American standing on the side of the road as someone driving past him threw trash out their window.  You could see a tear running down his cheek as the camera drew in closer.  Every time I try to enjoy the outdoors, I too get equally emotional.   Drive down any country road in America and sooner or later you’ll see a sign in a wooded area that says “No Dumping”.  Duhhhhhh!!!  That certainly says a lot about the type of society that we’ve become if we have to post a sign to tell us that it’s wrong to drive out to the country and dump your trash wherever you see fit.  We, our children, and our children’s children have the privilege of enjoying this land…..what’s so difficult about packing your own trash back out to a trash can!!!!

As the title of this bog implies, what is it we do to get into kayak shape? After coming off the Winter season our thoughts turn to visions of dangling branches, eddies, shoreline wildlife, fresh air, rejuvenating our love affair with water and nature, and the sense of accomplishment towards being physically active.

However, the pretty picture painted before you often times gets distorted from the trees that bottle neck and choke off your favorite inlets as a result of those Winter and early Spring storms. Those swirling eddies with all the extra run off from snow melt and monsoon rains now resembles that of a vortex that could suck you and your kayak into the inner stratum of the earth’s core. Oh, and what about those water’s edge fowl that are no longer gracing the scenery but instead swoop down, squawk and practically dislodge you from the kayak in an effort to protect their mini feathered offspring that are in the nest? Remember that “hell hath no fury like a goose protecting their young”; or something like that. Thank the heavens that the fresh air and re-attachment with nature paradigms are hard to taint, so that just leaves us with the ego boosting exercise thing.

It’s amazing that when we associate leisure activities such as kayaking with working out, stretching or just plain getting into shape, very little priority is put on taking precautions that are necessary to protect our bodies. We are just interested in jumping in the kayak and paddling away, after all this is a fun activity so why should we desecrate the moment and waste time by stretching before and after our paddle of joy, as recommended by any health specialist? Please do not assume that I paddle around with a halo hovering inches from my cranium, or that I’m some kind of self proclaimed poster boy for proper kayak training techniques, I too, often in a haste of excitement and laziness, just take off without so much as one side bend or an arm and shoulder roll, which are great for loosening up. (I have been training for an upcoming marathon and would be very much interested in how others train).

Do to the mild Midwest Winter we just experienced, I have been paddling since January once most of the ice melted. There is no better cure for cabin fever than to get out and experience Winter on the water, especially when snow is covering the dormant vegetation. I do need to throw in the disclaimer that I usually take my wife. We do have wet suits and various other cold gear, and to prove we are not completely nuts, we very seldom go unless the thermometer is somewhere in the mid 30’s (Fahrenheit). Our original kayaks are 10.5 feet fishing kayaks that we purchased as a way of becoming acquainted with the sport. The stability they provide has given us the confidence to paddle in the cold without fear of getting wet and becoming human popsicles. The downside of using these paddled power barges for training, are just that; they are barges. When trying to paddle up stream it is more akin to a watery treadmill, and the amount of energy needed to virtually go nowhere can be overwhelming.

Since then, we have purchased sea kayaks that make paddling up river much more tolerable, and doable, just don’t quit paddling or you instantaneously start going backwards. I have a route mapped out where I started paddling 2 miles, then 4 miles and now I paddle 6 miles upriver, which usually takes 2 hours to complete, then the exhausted return paddle typically takes less than an hour. The ironic part is that no matter which way I go there always seems to be a head wind, go figure. As challenging as my workout appears, the worst part is trying to pry my feeble almost lifeless body out of the kayak without dumping myself (which has happened).

I realize that what I put myself through once every 4 or 5 days is a bit extreme and without some type of conditioning regimen, I would be unable to accomplish. Paddling basics tell us that the core, shoulders and back are the main muscle groups needed for proper paddle techniques, but as you probably know there aren’t too many muscles that are not sore after your first few hard paddles.

I have been to various web sites that offer conditioning tips for kayakers and have been thankful I had. I mentioned earlier about shoulder and arm rolls, that are simplistic in nature, however when done properly leaves them burning. I strongly encourage any of you who are extreme if only for a couple paddles a year, to get into some sort of shape, and take the few minutes to stretch before and after. You will feel better and enjoy more of what kayaking has to offer not to mention that it will help in your everyday life as well. Not all training is or should be about physicality entirely, though very important, I heard that 90 % of what we do and why we do it is determined by what goes on between the ears.

We kayakers are a unique group, maybe not your prototypical “jocks”, but that’s what makes this past time, and us so special. Anyone, even with limited physical abilities can enjoy paddling and with some practice can become proficient in most aspects. It only requires as much physical effort as the individual cares to exert, remembering, “You get out of it, what you put into it”. Here we have made a conscious effort to improve our overall well being not only through the physical phases kayaking offers, but also the mental ones as well. Positive endeavors like kayaking are much more than hobbies or past times as they become a way of life in the sense that our self esteems increase which causes an infectious snowball affect towards wanting to improve other areas of your life as well.

Getting into kayak shape goes much deeper than working out in a gym, or paddling up river for miles, it’s more about what goes on between the ears and the subliminal lessons we learn as a result that make us better people, while we’re away from the water.

Until next time; may your paddles stay wet and your hulls stay under you.

(Photo Credit)

So, just to reiterate: we have established that I am a) scared of the water, b) lacking in any natural talent when it comes to paddling and c) training for a race that has a 70km paddle in the middle of it. Uh oh.

Luckily, somewhere along the line I had a flash of insight and thought that training for a big multisport race isn’t really something you can do easily if you have no expertise in the area. I applied the same logic I would in a corporate context and contracted some help in. Also lucky for me, I managed to find an excellent Coach on my first try. If anyone out there is looking for a Coach I advise you to do your research, and to shop around. It is important to find someone who wants to understand you and will work through your expectations. They need to be friendly and approachable. They need to work through your expectations with you. A good Coach will also excel at giving and receiving feedback. An excellent Coach will believe in you more than you believe in yourself and will help you exceed your self expectations. When you find a good Coach your goal stops being an individual one and starts being something you work towards together. You work to achieve, both for yourself and for them. I can’t recommend it enough.

One of the best things my Coach did for me was to introduce me to some of his connections. Who are now very good friends of mine. Kayakers and multisporters are a friendly bunch. You meet one person, and before long you have met a dozen. All of a sudden you have others to train with in a friendly, non-competitive environment. Everyone is encouraging, and people remember what you are going through. If I could describe the kayaking culture I have experienced in one word it would be ”inclusive”. I wonder if this is a New Zealand experience or if it is a global phenomenon? While out paddling I have thought long and hard about why we are the way we are and came up with a few hypotheses.

For the sake of safety, we often paddle in groups. One of my kayaking friends once told me ‘there are 2 types of help you need when you are white water paddling – the kind you need in 90 seconds and the kind you need in a few hours”. He explained further by saying that if things go wrong on the water, people can drown or get seriously injured (especially on moving water). A strong, experienced, confident paddler will be your best bet for getting out of trouble. a third paddler should be reliable, have a level head and be the kind of person who could go and get help. You check through safety together, you work out logistics together and you commit to the group together. I think the above contributes to making us a tight bunch.

Further to the above, we normally paddle together when we share common goals. These may range from enjoying the scenery to doing 12km/hr on a flat water paddle to smashing down big white water as fast as you can. Regardless, we bond over common goals. Our partners, friends and family (who are often dragged in to drive for us) become part of the extended paddling family too.

I have also wondered if all paddlers are touched by the spiritual side of being at one with the water. There is something hypnotic and therapeutic about the blades slicing through flat water and being at one with the elements. Alternatively, there is something fatalistic about ripping though white water….and coming out the other side to tell the tale (there is a God).

What does everyone else think? Are kayakers generally friendly? What us the culture of kayaking like?? Is my experience unique or typical?

Had the pleasure of meeting a couple great ladies (Mehrnaz & Bev) out paddling their Outriggers on Skaha Lake today. They wanted their photos taken. 

Click here to view the embedded video.

My favorite local lake to paddle would be Falls Lake. It’s located between Badin Lake and Lake Tillery on the Yadkin Pee Dee River near the towns of Badin and Albemarle, North Carolina.  What makes this lake such a gem? It’s a rather small lake with little power boat traffic and with only two access roads–one from the Uwharrie National Forest on the east side of the lake, the other on the west side which is Alcoa and Yadkin Hunting Club land. The latter access is the only paved road (Falls Road) to the lake.

I guess the biggest factor making it my local favorite is that there are absolutely no houses or development anywhere on this lake (other than the two dams on each end of the lake, that is). The access road on the east side is a local favorite.  This road is a very long and winding drive on a dusty dirt road (Deep River Trail) through a section of the Uwharrie National Forest. The road ends at the shore where the locals camp, although there are no facilities at this location. There are more remote areas to camp along the shore line as well, most of which can only be reached by watercraft.

When paddling this lake one gets the feeling of being alone with nature.  The shores of this lake rise into gentle hills as well as sharp, steep cliffs that form a gorgeous boundary for these waters. Many of the gentle slopes form great spots at the water’s edge to swim, and some of the cliffs and rocks are perfect jumping or diving spots to escape the summer heat. There is a small stream which cascades down a 20’ or 30’ cliff in the back of a nook. After a heavy rain it makes a pretty little waterfall, and a great place to cool off by letting the water splash over your body.  On occasion, one might even spot people rappelling on this small cliff.

The beauty and solitude of this lake, ease of access, and the good number of beaching spots makes it a “must do” again kind of place. We kayaked there this past weekend making a whole day of it by beaching the yaks, having a nice picnic, and enjoying the cool breeze while kicking back on its shore. It was nice seeing a few other paddlers enjoying the day, although my girlfriend won’t say it was just as nice to see a large rattlesnake swimming across the water as well that day.  During summer visits to this lake it’s best to be able to identify poisonous snakes, as well as poison ivy and poison oak. However, the only poisonous snakes in this area are the Copperhead and the Rattlesnake.  Just remember that it’s their home, we’re just visiting; so leave them alone and they won’t bother you.  And this sighting served to remind us of the importance of having an evacuation plan in the event of such an emergency and the importance of bringing along the Delorme Spot for emergency calls should there be no cell phone signal wherever you’re kayaking.  

And speaking of that topic, maybe safety tips and evacuation planning would be an informative blog topic.  Any tips and/or advice would be welcomed.

To access this small but beautiful lake:

From the west side – turn off of highway 740 in Badin (across from Alcoa) onto Falls road. Follow Falls Road past the post office and up a steep hill approximately 2.5 miles to boat ramp.

From the east side – turn off of highway 109 onto Reservation Road (SR 1153). Then turn right onto Moccasin Creek Road (US Forest Service Road 576).  Travel this winding dusty road till you

                       reach Deep River Trail (on right).  Turn onto Deep River Trail and the lake is at the end.  Truck or SUV is recommended for this route.

Hello everyone and welcome to another Kayaking News Update here on Kayaking.org. It has been a very exciting week for us with some great new writers coming onboard and contributing some absolutely incredible articles. If you didn’t have a chance to read them yet I highly recommend you take a look, these are real paddlers just like you who are sharing their experiences with the community!

Of course as another week goes by we are getting closer and closer to summer which means more people will be hitting the water and enjoying some time on the yak. To keep you in the know we’ve hand-picked some of the top kayaking stores this week, enjoy!

Trail of the unexpected: Kayaking in Vietnam

Vietnam has had to put up with more than its fair share of intruders: the US, of course, and the French and Japanese before them. But peer back into history and this beleaguered country was repelling enemies when dragons still roamed the earth.

For me, this has been a dilemma of some significance throughout my kayaking experiences of less than one year. During this first year, my girlfriend and I have been on more than fifty different kayaking adventures consisting of both types of paddling. Well, let me clarify that statement. Our experience to date with “white water” has been limited to rapids of classes I – IV (through no fault of my own…my significant other is just a little skiddish). Both of us have Wilderness Systems kayaks (Pungo 120 and Pungo 140) which are not exactly designed for Class III and above rapids, but we’ve fared well so far in them. That is, we’re still here to talk about it.

There’s just nothing like the adrenaline rush of the white water and the importance of making quick decisions on which route to take through boulder fields as the sounds of the roaring river amplify the excitement. But, then, a long, scenic float on flat water holds a totally different type of thrill…one that’s less adrenaline and more relaxing and inquisitive in nature. The slow, leisurely pace provides opportunity to unwind and take in the beauty of nature and allows for lots of photo opportunities (another of my favorite activities). The solitude and serenity of nature and the opportunity to enjoy a glass of wine is just an awesome experience. And then there are the slow river paddles allowing for a little less paddling and an occasional cranking up of In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida on the MP3 player (as well as many other “old hippy” tunes).

I’m torn. But I guess as long as I’m in my yak with the paddles in hand, any water will do. I can enjoy all. How about you?