Kayak Stroke Recap and Refinement

I don't know who invented all these strokes for us to learn. They definitely had plenty of time to play around! (kidding!)

Today another student and I took a kayak class with Brian from Ckapco again...(which made 3 crazy people paddling in a rain at 55'F temperature.) We recapped Sculling Draw, Draw, Sweep, Reverse (all the way), Low Brace, High Brace, Bow Rudder, Draw in Motion, Sideslip (Hanging Draw) and Stern Rudder....then the new part we learnt was mixing them up.

Eww...like it's not confusing enough already.

Image from My 365 Project - Day 113 


Like in order to make a U-turn I usually just use Sweep Stroke 3-4 times or use Forward Stroke and Reverse Stroke on each side of the boat. But there are other ways accomplish this. For example today (as shown on the image) we went forward first, then used a wide sweep stroke w/ edging, then while holding edging on the sweep side*, used Bow Rudder on the opposite side (I found my hat was in a way quite often), held the edging until the boat almost completed the turn and then used Reverse Sweep Stroke to complete**.

Oh my...@_@! It sounds confusing, doesn't it ? But do you notice that I use only 2 strokes to accomplish a U-turn ?

Mixing them together definitely forces you to observe how a boat works and how your paddling is as every little move really makes a change even just by pushing one butt cheek down while moving you can see the difference.

Now paddling is more like an art than labor to me. :) And looks like there is a lot of practice to do.

Until next paddling~

*, ** correction on 4/23/2012 (I colored the edging on the third image wrong and put the reverse sweep on the wrong side. I am so sorry!)

The Art of Making a Paddle

What always intrigues me is the way people express their passion. Some people write. Some takes photos. A combination of personal interests mixed with our own background, living environment and maybe topped with some quirky habits makes us all different. And that is such a great thing. We should celebrate the differences.

This avid canoeist makes paddles. And they are the most fancy paddles I have ever seen. (Well, I know my experience to the paddling world is kind of short.) Check out his website.

If I own one of these, I will never let it touch the water ever.

24th Annual Potomac River Watershed Cleanup

I can't help posting about the 24th Annual Potomac River Watershed Cleanup on this blog as well since I paddle on the lakes and the Potomac River. I even capsized at one of the lakes.

The Potamac River, Washington DC

What a lovely day to start paddling for this year (and checked off one place from my wish list of 2012!) I am very sore at the moment. Don't worry! It's good sore. This is as bad as lap swimming except I can breathe through my nose.

Not much to say. Just hope you enjoy the photos. Nothing can describe the experience. It's almost like a dream. (Maybe because I had to wake up at 6:30 on Sunday. ha ha.) If you want to paddle on the Potomac but you are still a newbie like me or don't know exactly where to go, don't know how to read the wind or the current, the river traffic pattern, how to cross a river, check out Ckapco. Mike can arrange something for you. It feels much better to have an experienced paddler with you out there.

Here is our paddling route. It's a 3-hour trip. We took off from Columbia Island Marina, went up north through the channel before hitting the Potomac River.


Starting from Columbia Island Marina




The landmarks


Raft up!


I told you. It's a gorgeous day!



Francis Scott Key Bridge


There were 3-4 more kayaks and canoes on the river today.


Kennedy Center


Look at the sky! I mean Watergate Hotel!


C&O / Rock Creek (My most favorite. It's so very cool!)


C&O Canal - Lock 1




Heading out to the Potomac


And during the first half of the route I used Jackson Journey kayak before switched the boat.

Until next paddling!