[qman]

It is on the plans to get in the pool and work on my roll. I have been sea kayaking mostly but hope to get back on WW soon.

but i did stumble on a guy called Greg Mallory who seems to be paddling very serious water. there is a short video of him on Disaboom if you can navigate that terrible web site.

i figured a C to C would be the way to go also but maybe with a sweep forward once you are up. this would help finish you off and get your COG low. When you are mostly up sweep forward with the back of the paddle. Just and thought.

In my veiw sweeping to the back wouldnt be the most stable for me. and is always worse for your shoulders. and i seem to be stronger in the forward position.

[USMC_FMAgirl058]

Heya! I actually just got to start kayaking. We're taking it slow, though not so much because of me but more for my mom. >.> Anyway, we went on the James river, which technically doesn't classify above the 1st tier, but there were some hairy parts anyway. Hopefully this winter we can learn how to roll our kayaks so we can start stepping it up and getting into things that actually get the adrenaline going. I didn't get much the second time I went last weekend.

How does one roll themselves anyway? I don't exactly strap down into the kayak so I'm a tad worried I'd just slip out while the kayak is upside down. I've almost tipped once (though that was my own fault and got stuck sideways on top of a rock that dropped a bit on the other side).

-Hannah

[ajl338]

I'm guessing that you are the person i met in a white boat with a green helmet (i think) back at the beginning of this year at JJ's. I think i was doing a WWSR course or paddling my canoe.

I currently see kayaking as the dark side of paddle sport, i much prefer my spec WW canoe, with a single blade. I paddle G3 in that without a problem and apparently its harder to paddle a canoe than a kayak. I strap myself into my boat and despite hours and hours of trying still can not roll it yet.

but

I might be converted over to the dark side.....
Next weekend will be my first time on a WW river in a K***k, dont tell my friends.

I'll let you know what grade i can paddle, i suppect we will be at mile end mill playing and i might manage a grade 3/4 if i get it wrong and end up down town falls!

ann

[playboater J]

Hey I'm new to this forum. I'm a t12 para and I'm also a whitewater kayaker. I've been boating whitewater for almost 6 years, been a para for almost 13 years. I've also been an ACA certified kayak instructor. I have taught in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Colorado. I would be willing to teach anyone here at no cost and help out in any way. I feel this is an awsome sport fo lower level paras and a great equalizer.
Our website www.kansaswhitewater.org
my email james@kansaswhitewater.org

Thanks
James Smith

[ajl338]

I now have my new boat, i have a bright pink pyrannah burn medium. Its a fab boat. It got delivered to my work pigeon hole on a thursday (some access issues here, big boat, little slot) and i put it on the car roof and onto a trailer and went to the Usk in South Wales, straight onto a large river after lots of rain. It was excellent, a good G3 lots of standing waves and wave chains and 3 large ledge drops.

Give it a weekend off and i got a suprise invitation to N/Wales to paddle with some people i met the week before and i went down the Lower Trwyelen. including a good G4 bala mill falls. I then went onto the upper into the graveyard (which says a lot)

I'm off to the alps next year for my first taste of Alpine paddling- cold water but sunshine.

ann

[qman]

hi guys,

finally got back in a WW boat

i had done a reasonable amount in a sea kayak on lakes and fast flowing rivers up to G 1-2 with great success,

The WW boat was a little more interesting. i fell in twice but i think that was largely because of a short paddle with a different offset to what i am use to. i managed to ferry glide and eddy ok but required a fair bit of concentration.

I tried a strap under the seat across my legs which was ok but proved pretty dangerous when i went over. So i will revisit that before i try it again.

But i am super keen to get out again.

Q

[dart43uk]

playboater J, on Dec 24 2009, 05:47 AM, said:

Hey I'm new to this forum. I'm a t12 para and I'm also a whitewater kayaker. I've been boating whitewater for almost 6 years, been a para for almost 13 years. I've also been an ACA certified kayak instructor. I have taught in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Colorado. I would be willing to teach anyone here at no cost and help out in any way. I feel this is an awsome sport fo lower level paras and a great equalizer.
Our website www.kansaswhitewater.org
my email james@kansaswhitewater.org

Thanks
James Smith

Hi James

Great to read your story and excellent that you are now teaching other to paddle. lm T11 para who has been paddling for 12 years (doesnt seem that long) - for the past 6 or so years l have been a BCU coach. l paddle all manner of craft - Open Boat - suppose you would say Canadian - Sea Kayak (Wilderness Systems - excellent and well set up with great comfort) - White Water - Pyranha Burn at the mo. l have to agree that getting onto the water releases so much freedom - once on that liquid and your at one with the paddle.

Whats the paddling like in Kansas??

Keep up the good work.

Paul.

pyranha banana, on May 20 2009, 04:27 PM, said:

wriggley, on Nov 26 2008, 02:46 AM, said:

Just out of interest what do you folks paddle?

I started out with a liquid logic trigger which is the smallest in the lil joe and hoss range and one of the sexiest boats available for WW but being flat bottomed proved to be more of an issue on flat water than rapids, then last year moved onto a pyranha burn much higher volume and so comfy, have taken it up to Scotland and done the Spey, Tay and river Ness enjoyed it so much am looking at relocating next year.

Hi Dave hows it going - are you still down on the Marshes near Lydd fella - hows the paddling going nowadays.

lm still out there paddling & coaching

dont be a stranger m8

Paul.

[qman]

i recently got out a bit more and paddled a 2+ river, and was feeling way more confident,

interestingly i was also paddling a burn, love the boat, great fit out and easy enough to get in and out.
but love how it bites into eddies etc..

am pretty sure i will get one in the spring.

just got a new paddle,

Q

[selmasuki]

Hi everyone!

Been lurking for a while on the message boards and am new to the whole posting thang.

Great to hear that there are other paras out there who are also into kayaking.
I joined a local club that kayak/canoe on a nearby reservoir - has been so great getting out on the water in the sunshine and forgetting about the wheelchair. Would love to kayak on whitewater but at the moment am just developping my technique and trying out different boats.

I'm the first wheelchair member the club has had and generally people are pretty good about learning as we go along..but would be great to have tips from some of the trained and more experienced disabled paddlers out there on how to handle things. For example, some club members go really over the top in terms of trying to help me with everything...

Thanks

Selmasuki

[mellowgator]

hi there,

next week for spring break i am taking my 17 year old daughter and a couple of her friends to our family cabin in sapphire, north carolina. while there we want to go white water rafting. we went several years ago with an outfit called Nantahala Outdoor Center. the group did a good job and we really enjoyed the experience.

that being said, if anyone from this forum knows the area locally and has any suggestions on how to make this experience even better i'd appreciate your local knowledge.

sincerly,

mellowgator

[AC83]

I am T10 and kayaked for a long time before my accident. Since then I have continued to paddle, I have adpated my boat with a socket for a padded fibreglass brace that I wear around my waist. The brace stays on me if I need to exit the boat so I do not have to mess arounf with any straps and I have more rigid support all around me whilst I am paddling than any strap system I have ever tried. I have paddled up to grade 3/4 rivers with this system but almost exclusively sea kayak now. This gets me to the remote places that I love and that a wheel chair would never get to. I can roll my kayak, it is nowhere near as reliable as when I was able-bodied as I rely on my buoyancy aid to bring me up against the deck so that I can reach the surface with my paddle when I am upside down and then roll with an extended paddle reverse screw roll; as I can't use my hips I roll the way that you are taught not to as an AB paddler, coming up with the boat rather than turning the boat upright with your hips and then sitting up. It gets me up and that is what counts. Surf kayaking is a friendlier environment to roll in than most river as there is calm to set up the roll between the waves and then the next wave helps you up, also if you miss the roll you wash on to the beach and so does your kit, on a fast moving river you just keep going downstream.

[mtnlife]

qman, on 10 November 2008 - 10:01 AM, said:

I have just started kayaking again, couldnt quite roll yet ( i could before). I am trying to buy a sea kayak. I have really loved the few times i have been out. getting back on WW is next.

I used to rock climb a lot prior and figure i will take up kayaking to fill the void. I could kayak before but never had the time.

Have you checked out this website? http://www.nolimitstahoe.com/

[qman]

Thanks for the link,

Am well aware of the guys who have climbed big walls, and i don't want to take away from what is a huge feat, but

It doesn't really appeal to me, hauling up ropes. It isn't really "rockclimbing" in the way that i loved. It was about the tactile nature of it, and the movement, the asthetics and freedom of it. Whereas hauling up ropes is the complete opposite of that to me, it isn't hands on rock, it isn't freeflowing, and isn't an attractive aesthetic.

There are some of my pre accident activities that i have found fulfilling alternatives for and others i haven't. I have had to cut rockclimbing away as one of the sports/activities that "for me" there isn't a fulfilling expression for in a wheelchair. Skiing, Kayaking, cycling (to an extent) all allow me to perform at a moderately high level. I just can see a way to get that in Rock Climbing.

[MTB John]

qman, on 26 June 2011 - 02:42 AM, said:

Thanks for the link,

Am well aware of the guys who have climbed big walls, and i don't want to take away from what is a huge feat, but

It doesn't really appeal to me, hauling up ropes. It isn't really "rockclimbing" in the way that i loved. It was about the tactile nature of it, and the movement, the asthetics and freedom of it. Whereas hauling up ropes is the complete opposite of that to me, it isn't hands on rock, it isn't freeflowing, and isn't an attractive aesthetic.

It pains me to say it but I agree with you on this one..

[ajl338]

I've not gone back to climbing for that reason. I can at a push haul myself up a wall but it isnt enjoyable, just hurts and I get no sence of enjoyment from it.

Paddling is something i never did pre injury as is skiing, both I do well and paddle as well as my mates and sister who learnt the same time as me.

Also climbing it is obvious that you are a cripple, paddling isnt really so until you get out, on the water you are equal. I have found that paddling has improved my balance hughly

ann

[qman]

yeah it is nice to not be obviously different sometimes. kayaking is really great like that.

I can ski as well as many of my AB friends but it is a bit harder to blend in.

[Usewhatchagot]

K, I have been reading all the info on here about kayKing and am looking for more advice. I am a T2 para - yes, 2 vertebrae from quad. However, I am determined to be as independent as possible while kayaking. I just started this yeR and have done about 8-10 pool sessions in a massive daytripper with a gigantic cockpit. I am anxious to get a smaller boat that is stable or that I can maybe mount some sort of pontoon system to. I can wet exit and wet entry (if someone stabilizes my boat from the opposing side).

I do sit-ski. Took me 3 years to get on a mono but I'm there now. So, I figure kayaking will be a similar growing process. Specific advice I am after: what sort of boat do U recommend that is super stable, and short enough to fit INSIDE a mini-van (I can't load on top by myself). Any ideas about pontoon systems that work? I saw a kayrak and wanted to get one, but the guy isn't building them anymore Any advice about how to stabilize my torso would also be helpful.

I am hoping to learn to roll, but have NO ab function. Do U think with a paddle float I could power over a roll? Any tjoughts on that would be great too looking forward to any thoughts or words of encouragement.

[dianna318]

Are you dead set on a hard shell? I got me a sea eagle inflatable this summer and while they are open like a canoe, the consider them a kayak too. They are rated up to class 4 rapids, I got the 385ft, only rated to class 3, but I am mostly on lakes and slower rivers right now anyway. For wet entry I have a cord attached so I can also pull from the opposite side I am climbing in from. Makes it easier for me.

Any way, it's pretty light and folds up. Will fit in the truck of a care and can even be taken on aircraft. I would recommend the elec pump.

Nice to meet you and keep us posted on what you find out and your progress, Dianna