555-Shaggy

I know a few of these were done recently, but I never got around to posting it.. So here we go then.. How many kayakers / canoeists are on here?

I was just thinking wouldn't it be good to organise a Scooby-Kayaker weekend somewhere?

Anyone?

Scoobychick

iTrader: (1)

We've just bought a couple of cheap secondhand canoes for a laugh and have got really into it! I've been looking at costs of new canoes, in particular Canadian canoes. I can see this new hobby getting expensive...

Sal

[Edited by scoobychick - 8/21/2002 12:19:07 PM]

Jerome

I've done a bit of kayaking, but haven't quite mastered the proper eskimo roll yet. I was surf canoeing at Bideford, N.Devon, at the weekend funnily enough. I think I've reduced the sea levels by quite a bit from swallowing so much sea water...

IanW

I am actually a qualified instructor!

Although saying that i have not been out for abotu 3/4 years So i doubt i would be much good at teaching!

I MIGHT have to try and get on the water this weekend especially if the weatehr is good!

555-Shaggy

Come on, there must be more than that.. I've seen / heard of a few - they must be here..

millband

Me! Me! Me! Will we get enough people for a camp at the Holme Pierrepont (The National Whitewater Centre in Nottingham) then?

I'm into slalom and (slightly wimpy, old-school) playboating. Have a look at my Slalom version of Scoobynet and also my old University paddling pics on http://www.giveitfish.co.uk

Steve

mike_s14

I've done it once down the Ardeche in southern france

but in the process nearly killed myself and the girlfriend

I will have to learn how you should do it

EvilBevel

Used to kayak as a kid/teenager in competition (mostly on flat wather). It's a great sport. I had to stop because I became to big to comfortly fit into a K1 (not even a Lancer), but I've been thinking of picking it up again on and off for the last 20 years (not competition mind)

PS: my memory is a joke, but kayak is with the double paddles rotated 90°s from each other, and canoe is with a single paddle right ?

millband

Yes, that's right - or another definition is a Kayak is comfy and a Canoe is not (for competion boats at least - different matter for touring, when you can stash a whole pile of tinnies in a cool box in front of you in your big open Canoe )

S.

NDT

used to do it lots - but not very seriously....

haven't for about 10 yrs though....

millband

So there are lots of you who have had a go/used to do it but don't anymore. Mmmmm... we should hire some boats and get IanW to look after us as a qualified person Might be a laugh!

S.

PS. The Slalom World Cup is currently running. For info see http://www.canoeslalom.co.uk or Grandstand on BBC on the 31st.

obi

Used to do a fair amount but a back injury means I can't guarantee a roll on my righthand side. Took a bad swim in the Durrance gorge as a consequence and got an ear ragging from the specialist moaning that I'd put all their work back two years...whoops!

millband

Ouch!

millband

btt

obi

millband,

getting clouted by the 'tupperware' every four seconds was painful but SWIMMING....oh the shame!!!!!

millband

Got a friend who worked in France for PGL one summer. He got pushed against an overhang and went over, the current pushed him down, then down some more, he starts seeing his life flash before his eyes, then he pops up AROUND THE NEXT CORNER! He'd actually gone UNDER the undercut gorge bank instead of around it. Shook him up a bit I think.

S.

555-Shaggy

So, does anyone fancy making a weekend of it sometime then?

555-Shaggy

ttt

DJFish

Used to be about 3*/TI grade with my canoe lifeguard badge sewn onto my swimming trunks! Didn't paddle for a while then bought a Piranha Micro 250 last year and am trying to get back into it, did a 10 mile coastal paddle the other day and have the blisters to show for it!

Just need to replace my 200sx with something practical like a 5dr Scoob so I can actually do stuff.

Dave

millband

Probably not a whole weekend to be honest, but a meet for a blast down HPP might be on. Can I have a go in your boat? I've never tried a little 'un!

S.

Rusty Festa

how do Kayaks corner?

555-Shaggy

Oh, go on then, we'll make a day of it at HPP.

And as for my boat, erm, yeah of course, You never know I may get a demo boat of an even smaller one to try out..

555-Shaggy

Rusty.. incredibly well.. oh corner.. they don't need corners they flat spin

Dave P

last canoed when I was about 20.... 15 years ago now, would love to have a canoe, but with the kids it's a time thing. Used to be able to eskimo roll etc, but only really did it on flat water and a couple of small weirs....

ace fun...

555-Shaggy

So, thats no-one wnating to make a day of it then?

millband

Looks like there's only the two of us who paddle regularly anyway, so it wouldn't be much of a meet

I'm actually going to HPP tomorrow with a mate to do some slalom training - if my shoulders recover from Karting the other night

Steve

555-Shaggy

Oh well, It was worth a try.. Its quite nice really, being such a small breed of character..

Maybe see you on the river then.

Dr Hu

hehehehehe - i bought a secondhand kayak a few months ago as I live on the River Severn.

Its a Arrowcraft Aquabat - I fit in it....just - (mere waif):P

I have done a little kayaking before a Looong time ago - however I can't keep this thing straight......when I paddle it the front slowly comes round and if I paddle like **** on the other side it will gradually come round then go the other way , so I basically end up going faster an even more out of control.

Sometimes I can't stop it and it broaches right round.

WTF am I doing wrong?

It is on a calm river, but there is a definate current - is it the current pulling it round?

Any help appreciated - although I did mangage a 5 mile downstream yesterday in glorious weather....just fed up of going sideways!

Thanks

millband

Straight lines? In a kayak? What were you thinking

When I used to teach, I found looking into the distance - i.e. looking at where you were going, rather than the end of your boat - made it come more easily.

In the end though it's practice - you learn to balance the paddles, thrust from your hips/legs on the boat and your lean (leaning the boat makes it turn too) against each other. If you keep doing 5 mile trips you'll soon get it, even in your boat! (which is designed as a manoeuvrable river running boat rather than a tourer, so it'll turn very easily). Then you'll start to become at one with the water and you'll be ready for something more exciting that the Severn

Another tip is to make sure your hands are evenly spaced on the paddles (just wider than shoulder width apart as a rough guide).

Sunday was gorgeus, top day for a lazy paddle.

Have fun,

Steve

millband

555-Shaggy - yeah, I'll keep an eye out for you. Ended up on the Trent on Sunday as there was a charity rafting race on HPP - should have rung first!

S.