Helen Wilson is coming to Sweden

February 29, 2012

The greenland kayak rolling expert and teacher Helen Wilson is coming to Sweden during the end of June. She is planning to hold kayak rolling classes in Göteborg at Göteborgs Kanotförening the 27 and 28 of June and at Grebbestad kajakcenter the 29 and 30 of June. The class on the 30 of June is already full. Helen is eager to learn others about the greenlandic culture, traditional paddling and the joy of rolling a kayak. I will try to attend one of the classes in Göteborg.

Helen visited the team Fat Paddler last year and held a kayak rolling class in Australia.

(Thanks Sean for permission to use the image)

First paddling trip for the season

February 26, 2012

I have been paddling in January but this weekend was the first paddling trip for the season. The ice is almost all gone. We carried our kayaks about 200 meters from our club house and we had to paddle between some ice floe to reach open water but it wasnt that hard. We had a really nice trip to Valö in Göteborg archipelag. Valö is an island and also the outer harbour for our kayak club. On valö is a lighthouse and some cabins located. The cabins are available for the members to stay in over night.

Patric is breaking through the ice in the harbour

We had a nice evening paddling to Valö

Johan and Patric in the cabin

The lighthouse gives good protections from winds from north

We took a short walking trip at sunday morning

Patric is packing the new club kayak from Kayakpro

Johan is packing his Clapotis

I have started to use a Braca IV Wingpaddle last year.

Johan is pulling his kayak on the ice. The ice is pretty thick the last 50 meters.

Kayak sweep roll

February 25, 2012

Last Sunday we had an indoor pool kayak training session in Göteborg. Practicing in a pool is very thankful, at least in our latitudes at this time of the year. It gives us great opportunities to practice rescue exercises in calm and warm conditions.

I took the opportunity to practice my kayak roll. I’m doing alright but it isnt as graceful as Johan’s roll. Johan does it really good. Watch and learn.

Surfski Spring Camp 2012 with Dawid Mocke

February 12, 2012

It is time to register to the Surfski Spring Camp 2012 in Sweden. It will take place the 10 to 13 of may at Barnens Ö, about 100 km north of Stockholm. I was there last year and it was the first time I tried Surfski paddling. It was really great and I can highly recommend it. I’m going back this year. One of the best surfski paddlers, Dawid Mocke, is attending this year and will be holding classes.

Barnens Ö is located close to the Stockholm International Airport, only 80 km, if you are interested in attending.

Dawid Mocke in Norway, during the ASKR 2011.

The program contains:

• Beginners courses
• Downwind paddling
• Paddling technique
• Re-mounting technique
• Paddling classes with the elite paddlers for input and advices
• Surfski Safety
• How to choose the right Surfski

More information is found at globalsurfski.com.

 

Hand of God

February 4, 2012

A good technique for rescuing a fellow paddler in trouble is the Hand of God. SeakayakingTV has done som instructional kayaking video clips on youtube. Unfortunately they have lots of ads on the latest videoclips. Some of them are in two versions, as this one: