fitting our kayaks in a cab.
Basically, learning how to kayak you have to balance yourself in what feels like a plastic bottle floating on water, paddle until your shoulders hurt, and spend loads of time under water learning how to get back up. I've never hated and loved an experience so much in my life. Kyle even wore a skirt for 3 days.
We did lots of paddling around, getting the hang of how to move around, through currents, waves, etc. By far though, the toughest part to get down is the life saving "e-steam roll". It's a 360 turn that basically consists of throwing your top half under your kayak; a horrible feeling until you know what you're doing.
Why's is so bad? When you're turned under water, it takes every muscles in your body to get the momentum and force to get back above water, and it generally takes a long time to learn. (After 3 days Kyle still couldn't get it down...) If you can't turn yourself back over, you have to disconnect your skirt from the kayak (like ripping the plastic off a Pringles can). You basically have to flounder to get free, your kayak fills with water, and it's a pain to get back in.
Oh, and aside from the mentally distressing part of being under your kayak and struggling to get back over, inside the kayak is pretty uncomfortable. Your legs are curved like you're riding a horse, toes shoved down into the bottom, and we've got the bruises to prove it.
"Well then don't flip over then!" you're thinking. Well, it's generally not by choice, and only in the case of strong waver, or river currents that easily flip you around if you can't manuever well. The risks of being under your kayak can be high though, besides the obvious lack of oxygen, rocks can cause some major damage. Our beginner waves were pretty friendly (Class I and barely II), but Kyle and I both got knocked over, couldn't flip ourselves back up, and did the under water flounder. Not fun to do or watch your husband do.
All that scary stuff out of the way though, kayaking is a pretty fun sport. It's totally kicked my butt, but I feel pretty good out there on the river. I got my roll down, which is a pretty awesome feeling. Here's a quick sequence, and the video shows my floundering around.
Why's is so bad? When you're turned under water, it takes every muscles in your body to get the momentum and force to get back above water, and it generally takes a long time to learn. (After 3 days Kyle still couldn't get it down...) If you can't turn yourself back over, you have to disconnect your skirt from the kayak (like ripping the plastic off a Pringles can). You basically have to flounder to get free, your kayak fills with water, and it's a pain to get back in.
Kyle practicing his roll.
Oh, and aside from the mentally distressing part of being under your kayak and struggling to get back over, inside the kayak is pretty uncomfortable. Your legs are curved like you're riding a horse, toes shoved down into the bottom, and we've got the bruises to prove it.
"Well then don't flip over then!" you're thinking. Well, it's generally not by choice, and only in the case of strong waver, or river currents that easily flip you around if you can't manuever well. The risks of being under your kayak can be high though, besides the obvious lack of oxygen, rocks can cause some major damage. Our beginner waves were pretty friendly (Class I and barely II), but Kyle and I both got knocked over, couldn't flip ourselves back up, and did the under water flounder. Not fun to do or watch your husband do.
All that scary stuff out of the way though, kayaking is a pretty fun sport. It's totally kicked my butt, but I feel pretty good out there on the river. I got my roll down, which is a pretty awesome feeling. Here's a quick sequence, and the video shows my floundering around.
#1 paddling through the river, #2 doing the roll, #3 coming back up!
If you find yourself in Colombia, don't miss San Gil, it's an adventure capital of Colombia. We've had a great experience with Colombia Rafting Expediciones, although they speak limited english. 3 day kayak lessons were about $150 US/ person, 5-6 hrs/ day.
We're silly and adventurous, computer geeks and yoga peeps.
October 31, 2008
DADDIO
October 31, 2008
Bessie
October 31, 2008
LINDA
October 31, 2008
Bessie
November 04, 2008
giulia
I'd like to try!!
Do you knwo where can I go here in Europe...?
Thanks,
Giulia
November 04, 2008
Kyle