My sister and I grew up being told to stay away from any water trip even though we both had weekly swimming lessons for over a year when we were in elementary school.
Decades passed by.
Early this year, June 2011, my sister had a business trip in Calgary, Canada. So we planned to meet up and spend a week vacation together in Banff and Jasper. Since I was the trip planner I had found that canoeing is quite famous there and the lakes are absolutely gorgeous. It would be our lost not to be on the water.
So here I am...during the period of 5 months I took a private canoeing lesson a week for my big trip, paddled on two lakes in Canada (I wish I could do more but it was raining while we're there.), paddled solo at the lakes (where I can find a boat rental) in my neighborhood and dragged my friend to take a kayak lesson with me (Thank goodness she enjoyed it though she's not into it as much as I am...yet.) This winter I will be taking a swimming lesson again to strengthen my swimming skill and to feel more comfortable in the water, so hopefully I'll be ready for more paddling next Spring.
I was asked why I was into this in all the sudden. I don't know. I was just hooked by it. Maybe it's the skill I need to have (I like technical stuff), the work against or along all the fluctuations caused by the water and the wind, the experience to be on the water or simply the views I had never seen from a shore.
Currently I only concentrate on the flatwater paddling since I am a newbie and no risk taker. It probably sounds less interesting to some of you already but I hope my experience will inspire ones who still hesitate to join this activity. Don't let any fear stop you. Start small.
I'll start posting a real blog next month since I have a professional license exam coming up at the end of this month which is no fun at all compared to paddling. But we have to prioritize things, don't we ? This is not an instructional blog. I simply want to share my experience as a newbie paddler on what I learn from lessons and from my practice, where I paddle, where I want to paddle, my anxiety (ha ha), photos (photography is my other hobby.) and any useful paddling information I find.
You're so welcome to share your paddling experience here.
Until then,
NP working on my cross forward stoke
Canoeing lesson and swimming in the winter? Water is going to be very cold. make sure you strong enough, so you won't get sick. I like water as well but not sport kind.
ReplyDeleteI did kayaking once in open ocean. It's very good exercise. You will be strong.
Good Luck with your exam!