kayakr.net » Paddling technique

Basic Kayak Instructions

kayakr — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 07:01:46 +0000

What is most important to know as a new paddler? I haven’t given any kayak classes for a long while and my girlfriend Gabriella is fairly new to kayaking. So it is time to resume my old skills. Today we paddled to Eskilsholmen in the Archipelago west of Göteborg. Previously, we have only paddled short distances, about three times, without any special instructions or exercises. I have just given basic kayak instructions such as forward paddling strokes and reverse paddlings strokes. Gabriella have felt some uncertainty about being able to evacuate from the cockpit and what her reaction will be when she hits the water. I have good experiences to practice wet drills and evacuation from the cockpit early on to increase the development of paddling technique. Early exercises makes the paddler feel secure and increase the confidence.

Gabriella is paddling the Qanik in the harbour of Hinsholmen.

Summer is coming to an end and the boats have decreased in number in the archipelago.

On Eskilsholmen, we had a really good time with good drinks and food. Besides eating and drinking we practiced on basic under water exercises, wet evacuation and basic rescue techniques. Gabriella enjoyed the excercises and was eager to learn more. On the way back home I noticed a big difference in the attitude of pushing the limits in edging the kayak and also the paddling strokes were more powerful and distinct.

Gabriella doesn’t look to unhappy about the kayak drill.

On the way back was Gabriella’s paddling strokes more powerful.

We have another week off. Hopefully with good weather and some more kayaking.

Seakayak Pool Training

kayakr — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 20:56:25 +0000

Today the Göteborg Kanot Förening (GKF) had a indoor pool training session. There were about 20 kayakers in the pool. The instructors showed different techniques how to rescue a fellow paddler and also self rescue techniques.

Anders explains various rescue techniques.

Indoor training

kayakr — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 11:11:56 +0000

This winter has been extremely long in Sweden. I haven’t exeperienced such a long winter before. The lack of open water haven been troublesome for me and other kayakers. Well, some of the extreme kayakers have been kayaking in the inlet to Gothenburg but I’m not that extreme.

Stockholm City Hall. The ice is starting to break up even in Stockholm.

I’m working a couple of days in Stockholm every month. Stockholm offers excellent paddling but it is still cold. Outside the City Hall, where the Nobel Prize banquet is held, the ice is starting to break up. My plan is to paddle every now and then when I’m visiting Stockholm. Stockhom is normally really beautiful but today it was a cloudy grey day.

Carin is giving instructions to one of her customers

When I was in Stockholm I took the opportunity and joined Horisontkajak when they held an indoor course. The course was really good and they met the needs and expectations of the participants very well. I haven’t been practising my roll for a while. My goal with the course was to improve my underwater orientation and stress management. Carin had heaps of ideas of new underwater excerices. She prompted and guided me skillfully when I needed it. I learned a lot and I feel much more secure underwater after the course. Thx Carin!

Now I’m really eager to get into the water for some real paddling. Hopefully I will launch the kayak next week!

Rolling exercise

kayakr — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 17:51:12 +0000

I have been practising rolling technique last weekend. I need to improve my technique, especially on my weak side. The hardest thing to me is to stay calm subsurfaced. To my help I had my friend Tomas who is an excellent roller.

Tomas starts to handroll

Tomas ending hand roll

Tomas is sculling in his Rumour