By: Tom Bamonte
Bill said it very well - at least, in my opinion. I, like Humberto, have known some very good paddlers who could paddle in crazy conditions without a roll. But most of the ones I know would say that they are at risk because they don't have that extra, bottom-line, safety tool that is the roll. The famous adventurer and author Lone Madsen died in 1999 because she could not roll. This is from an on-line description of her death: |
A Danish woman, Lone Madsen, died of exposure when her Skerry kayak capsized on the West Coast ofGreenland. Lone Madsen had paddled extensively in the Arctic and was well known for her exploits. Her paddling partner on this trip was Tore Sivertsen. The pair were caught in a sudden gale which quickly whipped up large waves. When Lone Madsen turned over, Sivertsen could not come to her aid because they had never practised assisted rescues. Neither paddler could right themselves with Eskimo rolls and instead depended on paddle floats which would have been useless in the conditions. In any event, Sivertsen reported that Madsen's paddle had floated away during the capsize due to lack of a paddle leash. Sivertsen, unable to turn his Prijon Seayak into the wind, was forced further and further away from Madsen and never saw her alive again.
By: Tom Bamonte
I closed out the Thanksgiving holiday weekend with two hours playing in the surf at Montrose. It was drizzly, with a 20 mph wind from the north northwest. Air and water temperatures were in the mid-40s. Waves were 2-4 feet building to 3-5 feet. Perhaps because the wind had just risen a couple of hours before, the gap between waves was as short as I've ever seen at Montrose.
Everything seemed damped down grey. As I unloaded my boat and scanned the dark, desserted beach I found myself yearning for the winter solstice and its turn to daylight.
Damped down grey
The day before I had paddled from Montrose down to Olive Park, hugging the breakwall each way. It had been sunny and warm enough then for a few knuckleheads to strip down to their skivvies and go for short swims. That day I had paddled south into the surprisingly strong sun. The reflection off the water made it difficult to peer below the surface. I learned the hard way that the Corps of Engineers in its wisdom has placed rocks just a few inches below the water line along some of the breakwall, such as from Belmont to Irving Park. Other areas appear to be relatively clear of such rock.
But back to surfing on this dark day. I launched about 2:15 p.m. and vowed to stay closer to shore than usual because of the conditions and the fact that I was alone on the water and the beach was all but deserted. I figured that with onshore wind and waves if I had to swim to shore I could. I had several layers of fleece under my drysuit and was actually too warm most of the time. My head was encased in a Kokatat Surfskin Balaclava, which was a luxurious alternative to my usual jerry-rigged neoprene hood with with a bicyclist fleece hood underneath. Received wisdom is that it is essential to cover neck and head to minimize the possibility of the gasp reflex when your head gets immersed in cold water.
My glasses quickly fogged up and got covered with both rain and spray. It actually is a useful learning tool to have to feel your way through a surf zone rather than be able to see the waves coming from afar.
I did 4-5 runs to shore and several times was able to run a nice straight line. On the last one I flipped, as if some cold, wet hands had grasped my stern and twisted. My first thought underwater as I was being pushed around was "remember pool session." So, in quick succession--relax, don't bail, be patient and wait for your body to signal which would be the best side up, set up paddle, begin to exhale, execute and up, bracing quickly into the next wave smacking the boat. It was a good feeling to be upright again, none the worse for wear except for a wet, cold slap across my face.
I then criss-crossed the surf zone a few times, in the area between the soup near shore and the outer line of breakers. This is my favorite part of surf zone play. I like to trace a route that minimizes--but never seems to eliminate--getting hit by breaking waves. By scanning the wave patterns ahead and making often small adjustments in course and speed I made my way through the waves without too much trouble. The best was when I caught a wave just as it peaked before breaking. My boat would be perched on the sharp edge of the wave and then I would slide down the back face of the wave as it passed, aiming into the face of the following wave.
At one point I stopped and around me there were no breaking waves. I had reached the quiet heart of the surf zone. For a few moments there were no breaking waves and I relaxed a bit. Inevitably, the breaking waves returned, but I felt like I had stumbled on the secret of many surf zones--there are a lot of quiet spots even in the midst of the tumult. You just have to find them. Sometimes they find you.
Not surprisingly, in our training and play we emphasize punching out through the surf and then zipping back to shore with a hopefully dashing ride that will thrill an audience. But as I learned this summer on North Manitou Island with Russ Johnson and near several islands in Georgian Bay with Tom Heineman, often it is necessary to paddle for an extended period in a surf zone. Getting comfortable with paddling in a surf zone seems to me to be equally as important as learning how to paddle out of the surf zone, whether to open water or to shore.
After two hours it was getting dark. I raced to unload the boat, get the car and strap down the boat before my fingers lost their ability to work in the cold. It was 5 p.m. and as dark as night when I was done. For the next day or so I felt particularly good and realized that at some level I was still carrying around the quiet heart of the surf zone.
By:
Tom Bamonte
"Kayak
Dave" Olson, the principal of Kayak Chicago, has been hosting winter pool sessions and classes
at the huge pool at the University of Illinois, Chicago for years. These
pool sessions have been a great way for beginning and expert paddlers alike to
learn new skills and polish old ones. In addition to the classes, there
are always friendly paddlers ready to offer you advice and encouragement. Over
the years hundreds of paddlers have gotten their start--and some their roll--at
the classes taught by Dave and his assistants. Dave offers these details
on this year's edition of UIC pool sessions:
The
pool sessions will begin on Wednesday, December 2, and run every Wednesday
night from 7-9:30pm at the UIC pool in Chicago. There will be no
pools sessions on February 24 and March 3 due to swim meets.
The
pool is located at 901 West Roosevelt Road, close to the expressways and public
transportation. There is parking on nearby streets and in a pay lot across the
street.
Open
pool is $15/session. You can rent a boat for $10/session. Sea
kayaks and whitewater kayaks are available. (Contact Dave to reserve a boat or call (630)
336-7245.)
Open
pool session are open to all paddlers, from beginners who want to practice
what they have learned in a class to advanced paddlers who want to refine
their roll, practice rescues or just hang out and paddle with friends. Paddlers
are always around to help and critique or just talk about paddling adventures.
There are 24 pool sessions this year. A open pool session season pass is available for $200. Pool classes are structured in a 4-week progression consisting of Introduction to Kayaking, Intermediate Skills and Techniques and a two-part Eskimo Roll class. Classes can be done individually for $50 each or all four classes for $180. (Dave also hosts kids groups on occasion, which really adds to the energy level.)
You
can access the class schedule and register for classes on-line here. Classes start on December 2. Gift certificates for classes are a nice gift for the holidays.
See
you all at the pool,
Happy Holidays
Dave Olson
Kayak
Chicago
By: Tom Bamonte
A group of Chicago area sea kayakers assembled recently at Geneva Kayak Center-Lakefront for a screening of "Sea Kayak with Gordon Brown: An Instructional Journey Along the Magnificent Isle of Skye." This group of film critics ranged from complete novices to highly decorated kayaking veterans. After the screening the group had a vigorous discussion of the film. This review is an amalgam of the comments. Any inaccuracies are those of the author. Note that the review is based on a preview version of the film that is likely significantly rougher than the final product. Please note the response by the filmmaker at the end.
“Sea Kayak with Gordon Brown: An Instructional Journey Along the Magnificent Isle of Skye” (preview) is a useful and inspiring new addition to the growing list of kayaking films. Simon Willis is the director. Gordon Brown, a noted sea kayaking instructor, a principal in Skyak Adventures on the Isle of Skye in Scotland and author of the acclaimed book "Sea Kayak: A Manual for the Intermediate and Advanced Paddler" (preview), is the star. Many paddlers will both enjoy the film and learn plenty about paddle strokes and boat control.
The 90 minute film is based on a four-day trip trip along the west coast of the Isle of Skye by a mixed group of paddlers. The group had great weather and it appears that some rough water footage may have been filmed elsewhere.
The film alternates between scenes involving the group and coaching sessions with Brown alone. The group scenes show off the beautiful scenery and give us a glimpse of life on a kayak "expedition." The coaching sessions by Brown consist of the following:
Foundations
Forward paddling
Turning
Steering
Rock Hopping
Tidal Races
The group had mixed feelings about the hybrid structure of the film. Many found the scenes with the group inspiring. These folks viewed the film as a welcome alternative to most training films, which sometimes seem to be so grimly focused on technique that they seem to squeeze the fun out of kayaking. By showing the group clambering over ruins, singing in sea caves, paddling in open water and gathered around a campfire the film well portrayed what fun can be had through kayak tripping. (The footage showing folks swatting biting insects also illustrated some of the challenges of kayak camping.)
Unfortunately, it was extremely difficult for us to understand much of what was said by the group members. It appeared that the participants had plenty to say, but we Chicagoans could not untangle the Scottish brogue and the film lacks English subtitles. Fortunately, Brown and WIllis, the narrator, can be understood throughout the film.
The other major criticism was that the film failed to use the group effectively to reinforce the instruction. With a couple of short short exceptions there is no footage of Brown offering group members instruction. The instructors in the group would have liked to have seen Brown’s teaching methods. Others thought that the non-expert paddlers could have been used to illustrate common errors and the methods used to correct them.
In the end, the group agreed that Brown was the star of the film and properly so. There were many comments to the effect that Brown was an extremely accomplished and intuitive paddler who is a joy to watch. Brown comes off as indefatigable and charismatic in an “aw shucks” kind of way. He has a wry sense of humor and an evident affinity for kayaking. One member of the group has taken a class from Brown and reported that the film captures him well.
The group consensus was that the film does not stand out for its technical quality, but is clear enough and well enough put together that the filmmaking does not get in the way of the viewer. Indeed, there were some nice features that attracted plenty of positive comment. These included equipping Brown with a microphone so that we got his commentary in real-time as he demonstrated the techniques. The footage of the paddling group, while adequate, did not match that of trip footage by filmmakers such as Justine Curgenven.
The group really appreciated Brown demonstrating various techniques in rough water, close to rocks and in tidal currents. This was another example of how the filmmaker went the extra mile to capture footage that everyone felt was important to the success of the film. The group thought that seeing these practical applications in real-life conditions helped differentiate the film from the standard how-to video shot in flat water. When Brown was paddling in rough water near a sheer rock face and let out a joyous whoop, we were all there with him.
There were various friendly criticisms of his teaching method. Some mentioned that Brown used terminology without providing an adequate explanation. Some found him a bit wordy. Some questioned his inclusion of the cross bow rudder. The prevailing view, however, was that Brown is an accomplished teacher as well as kayaker. There were several comments to the effect that the sequence on paddling in tidal races was “the best I’ve ever seen” and that Brown’s seamless mixing of strokes was amazing.
Another counterpoint to the criticisms was praise for the film's lack of testosterone-soaked antics. The group felt that the matter-of-fact approach Brown exhibited broadened the film's appeal in the kayaking community. The group also liked how Brown modeled safe paddling techniques (e.g., appropriate dress for immersion) without hectoring the audience about safety.
In the end, two questions dominated the discussion. The first was who is the intended audience for the film. The beginners in the audience indicated that that the coaching sessions were too much, too soon for beginners to absorb in one sitting. The more experienced paddlers agreed. In the end, the group consensus was that the film’s target audience was advanced beginning paddlers and above. As the film does not mark a major advance in kayaking pedagogy, this is a film for paddlers and not teachers.
The other key question came back to the hybrid structure of the film and its scope. While most if not all of the audience found much to like about the film there seemed to be a sense that the film may have tried to do too much. Some people clearly wanted to see more of Brown’s paddling in slow motion and in real time just to observe and learn. Others wanted to see more about the journey--e.g., navigation, picking campsites, group leadership techniques. The film gave both camps a good taste of what each wanted, but left both of them somewhat dissatisfied as well. Maybe there needed to be an instruction film and an expedition film rather than the single hybrid that we have.
What must not be forgotten, however, is that this film held the close attention of a group of generally restless and opinionated paddlers for 90 minutes. The film sparked much fruitful discussion in which no one said the film would make viewers worse paddlers but many cited both instructional and inspirational rewards the film offered. In sum, "Sea Kayak with Gordon Brown: An Instructional Journey Along the Magnificent Isle of Skye" is a film worth seeking out and viewing if for nothing more than to watch a talented paddler and instructor at work and even at a bit of play. And let's not forget the hard work of Simon Willis, the filmmaker, whose vision of an inspiring kayak instructional film has been capably realized.
Geneva Kayak Center stocks both the DVD of the film and Gordon Brown’s book. Thanks to GKC-Lakefront for hosting this review screening.
Thanks to Hether, Tom, Zach, Sarah, Peg, Rich, Fiona, Scott, Haris, Paul, Jim, John, Dave, and Tom for sharing their impressions of the film.
* * *
Simon Willis was kind enough to supply a response to this review addressing some of the criticisms:
I'm grateful to all the paddlers who contributed such positive comments and criticism from which we'll learn when shooting Volume 2 in this series. I'm glad it held your attention throughout, and I apologise that I could only send you a Preview Version. This clearly caused some problems which are apparent in your review comments.
The Final DVD has a very different menu structure to the Preview Version. In the Final Version, the Coaching Sessions and Journey can be watched separately, or integrated in one film. This is a key innovation for this DVD. (Watch video clips at www.SeaKayakWithGordonBrown.com)
Viewing the Final Version would answer the 'two questions' that dominated your discussion.
Those who felt the Coaching Sessions were too intense, and others who enjoyed the kayaking trip, would find it easy to watch more of the Journey, and then return to study the slow-motion Coaching Sessions one by one when they were ready. Incidentally, this intensity of coaching is precisely why Gordon does not coach on the journey; the Journey sequences provide relief from coaching and time to digest the information delivered. This is why other reviewers have said it is a DVD to return to time and again.
The second question centred on the hybrid nature of the film. If you had viewed the Final Version rather than the Preview, this would not be an issue. You could choose what to watch.
However, I'm delighted your group wanted more of both the Journey and the Coaching Sessions. Look out for Volume Two!
Simon Willis, Ardnamurchan, Scotland
by Haris
Sunday morning forecast for SouthEast corner of Lake Michigan was more than I could resist: 4-5' waves, water/air in low/high 50's and a relatively benign 15 knot wind from NNW. No partners were available to join me on short notice so this was my first solo surfing session.
During the season Beverly Shores, IN is a popular destination for many Chicago-area beach goers. Parking is a major obstacle when the weather is nice. Off season--there's no one there! You can easily park your car in this beautiful spot of nature and take the kayak several hundred feet down the dune to the Lake. In the past two years I had no officials or residents bother me there--even when I drag the boat to a busy beach and go paddling as waters boil with swimmers.
The sandbar does not seem as prominent here as it is further north up the east coast of Lake Michigan. Probably due to the fact that the coast here is not strictly South-to-North. Even the larger waves for the day, which seamed to reach at least twice as high as the eye-level, did not break on this reef--merely rose threateningly up, maybe spilled a couple of gallons of white water over the top, and proceeded to march toward the beach in an orderly fashion.
Launching, on the other hand, was trickier than in places like Rainbow Beach or Montrose in Chicago proper. The Lake quickly gains depth in between the shore and the sandbar and the waves descend on the soft sand somewhere in between a placid spill and an ominous dump. Otherwise, given the soft nature of the sea bottom, shoals form spontaneously and the pattern of breakers is quite diverse. A paddler can find calm channels where waves don't break until they are close to shore. Plentiful broken waves can be found with just a short paddle up and down the coast in the same location.
In summary, Beverly Shores, IN is one of the closest convenient put ins to Chicago where one can catch the waves created by the predominant westerly winds. We don't get spoiled with waves on the west coast, so whenever there is a northerly component to the west winds, this spot is well worth the attention of rough water enthusiasts.
Recent Comments