Kayaking superstar Rudy Rampage takes on a step by step instructional to one of the basic skills in whitewater kayaking: “The Wet Exit.” Continue reading
Tag: Skills (Page 3 of 4)
We had a great time in Scotland recently on the OC1 Creeking Course and I was reviewing the pictures today with the intention of posting a Blog. It occurred to me that some of the pictures showed an aspect of paddling we often ignore the importance of; psychological skills. As skills they are learned and take time to develop, so require some deliberate practice.
Here I will give you an example using the concept of attentional focus. If we focus all of our attention on the target attainment we are paddling to, we should be able concentrate on the outcome and use autonomous skills to achieve it. In other words if we stare at the target we seem to get there automatically without being conscious of how we did it.
Here you see a sequence of pictures that show Jan using attentional focus in a skilled way to achieve an outcome. He is paddling from the eddy between the first and second drop on Triple Falls on the Etive.
Even before he leaves the eddy he is focussed on the lip of the next waterfall where he needs to perform the boof to make a successful descent:
An active paddle blade is a great way to help you stay upright. By having a blade in the water at all times you can quickly use it to brace or to turn, there is no need to have your paddle just sitting above the water, small pushes and braces will allow you to react to anything that you might encounter. So practice an active paddle blade in the water both on the flat water and whitewater. Continue reading
The Advanced Water Endorsement (AWE) is for coaches who wish to operate in advanced conditions. For Canoe this is Grade 3 rivers and in winds up to Force 5 on bodies of considerable open water.
The pre-requisites for AWE Training are: Continue reading
I was thinking about S-Turns the other day and thought I would share my thoughts with you.
Successful entry into the attainment on the far side of the river depends upon your tactical approach to the exit from the original eddy.
To begin with forward speed needs to be generated in the eddy with good power generation and transfer. This could only offer you the oportunity for one power stroke!
By carrying this speed across the eddy-line with some stern-heavy trim to maintain directional stability (keeping a straighter line), the boat moves into the flow with more of a ferry-glide angle. This is so positioning across to the other side of the river can be begun early in the sequence.
Here we see the result of acceleration out of the eddy. However, the trim is now being moved forward and neutral to promote turning:
A great video from our friends at NRS.
Knowing how to quickly coiling your throw rope for a second toss is an essential swiftwater rescue skill. Here’s a trick to help you make a fast, tangle-free second throw.
Another great video from JezJez. This one shows how to break out into an eddy. This is a super important skill that all boaters should master.
How to Kayak – Catching an Eddy from Jez Jez on Vimeo.
A great video from Unsponsored’s friend Simon Westgarth. Well worth checking out all of the instructional DVDs that Simon has produced over the years. More info can be found @ http://gene17.com
Genes; Advanced WW Part 1 Posture/Body Form from Gene17 – Simon Westgarth on Vimeo.
Another great video from Bren Orton.
The Slim Chance from Freestyle.inc on Vimeo.
A short video to give an example of the “Slim Chance” – An exit move out of the hole. Back loop to Front loop.
Kayaking Manual: The Essential Guide To All Kinds Of Kayaking is a Haynes manual written by Bill Mattos. Yes that’s right Haynes, the same Haynes that make the guides to fixing your knackered car.
I must admit that this along with the bold claim of the title made me extremely dubious about this book. The last time I had a Haynes manual was around 20 years ago for a MK II Ford Fiesta, and although great for fixing the brakes etc it wasn’t the kind of book you would read just for the hell of it.
Training is something I don’t mention on the site as I believe if you are out paddling then that is as far as training needs to go. However a few bits and bobs have cropped up in conversation over the last few weeks that I thought I would get onto the site.
The Whitewater Troubleshooter series is an awesome set of videos covering a wealth of information that all paddlers would find useful. I have posted quite a lot of them previously but I thought it may be useful to gather them all in one post. I have thought about doing something similar in the past but could never hit the high quality information, instruction and production of the following.
North East Kayaks & Paddles
Pure Land Expeditions
Northshore Watersports
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