Training Log Archive: danfoster

If adventure racing is all about paddling canoes with kayak paddles, this was the opposite. I wanted to try using our open cockpit tandem rec kayak as a "canoe-like vessel" for some potential canoe tripping weekends this summer. Bundled up in the drysuit, rolled it down the street, and was immediately greeted by a cold north wind blowing 10-15mph. Did I mention it was 32 degrees out? Anyways, hopped in to the kayak with the seat positioned in the center, and poked out into the wind with my trusty $12 Cabela's "economy wood canoe paddle". Much pirouetting ensued. Managed to get into a sheltered bay by switching sides every other stroke, but the shallow bay meant I couldn't paddle vertically, so I continued spinning. Neoprene-clad fingers were already going numb in the wind.

Switched to the kayak paddle and fought my way up-wind, knowing I'd find some deeper, sheltered water there. Hauled out on a muskrat platform, and switched to the stern seat. Started hunting for logs to use as ballast up-front. Things got much better behaved once I stuffed a heavy 6ft pine branch as far up into the bow as I could.

Tried kneeling, a la canoeist. Had to straddle the crotch-height pine branch. Couldn't get back any further because my feet were up against the stern seat. Very tippy, and I was forward of the center point. Hard to go straight in this configuration. Got up some speed and ran into a hidden sub-surface stump, which lifted the bow and nearly dumped me. Back to sitting.

Practiced steering courses cross-wind for landmarks on either side of the pond. Having a strong cross-wind actually helped - I could use it to counteract the natural tendency to turn. Goon stroke much more effective than the J-stroke.

Ended up down in the land of 1000 stumps. Spent a while playing stump slalom, weaving in and out of obstacles. This was incredibly fun, and I worked up a good sweat trying to swing the boat around while keeping up speed.