White Water Kayaking

I told you already that Brad, Jordan and Ben, have taken up kayaking this year.  Brad and Jordan are already PROs because they have been at it since June where Ben is just starting because he only just acquired his little "sidekick" Jackson kayak.  Ben has gotten a handful of rolls down at the lake and is ready to take on moving current.  He is hopeful to get his first combat roll in the river.  Kenzie was tricked into coming along only to find out that she would have to run down the river trail chasing the boys while snapping pictures as fast as she could.

Jordan takes so long to get ready because he is trying to see if his six pack is in yet.  No, not yet.  More sit ups boy.  Ben struggles to see through his hair to zip up his jacket.  JP calls him a surfer dude.  Today he will really surf.

It really is too bad that Ben has to wear a helmet and cover up that great hair.  He looks almost as good in those goggles as mom did during her slalom ski training.   Seems pretty easy so far sitting in a gentle current.

Ben hits his first real white water following dad under the train bridge through town.  He made the statement later in the day that little waves like this are more scary than class IV 6-8ft tall waves in a raft. 

Kenzie learned about "framing" in her year book class.  Last smooth section before smelter rapid.

At this particular time of year the river is quite low and the rapids are sedate.  But Smelter rapid still had our Ben really nervous since he has never run it under his own power.  Paddle hard and lean forward Benners!  He takes smelter like a PRO!!  Pretty awesome for a beginner.

Dad on the other hand having more confidence than he should even in this low water doesn't do so good.  The river must teach him humility.  He was so stoked at seeing Ben make it through that he forgot the "lean forward and pull through the wave" part.  He leaned back, hit the wave, and unknowingly allowed the racing current behind him to grab the stern of his boat and shoot him straight  up like a cork and land him upside down on his head in the middle of the rapid.  Remember, this is the more experienced paddler who is supposed to be teaching the boys.  Nice picture Kenz.

At least his combat roll is coming along nicely.

And realizing he just got smoked by a minor river feature he goes back in to surf and show this rapid whose boss.

Ok, the river has established itself as the boss so we will go on to some smaller surf waves.

There we go, that is what it is supposed to look like.  Honey, does this jacket make me look fat?

And Jordan drops in to show dad he can do it too.

In the old days,  (this past July) Dad and Jordan only rarely managed to surf a wave and almost never exited the wave upright.

But they have both recently learned the "high brace" to keep from flipping every few seconds in turbulent waters.  Dad takes a deep breath anyhow, just in case.

Jordan forgets sometimes where the source for his awesomeness comes from and must be reminded by his sensei who is the real master jedi so Dad likes to play a little game with Jordan where he drops in on him in the surf hole.

Jordan does not like to play this game with Dad because it usually ends like this.

At least he has good opportunities to practice his combat roll.  Throttle off and SWEEP.

Ben's turn, getting ready to drop in for his first surf on his first day on the river!  It took the big boys all summer to get this far, Ben goes for it without any thought of drowning and dying.

SUCCESS ON HIS FIRST ATTEMPT!!!  Wait a minute, keep that upstream hip high . . .

Ok, maybe it is not as easy at is looks but Ben is game for anything, he is such an awesome kid.  He went on to get his first combat roll that day.   First surf and first combat roll first time on moving water is a big deal.  It is hard to imagine how a boy of 10 yrs can overcome his fear of death and drowning sitting upside down in the cold dark water to put together all the vital steps necessary to execute a proper roll without giving into panic and ejecting out of the boat to get a breath of air.

Roll the throttle onto slice paddle to homebase, tuck tight and feel your knuckles come out of the water, roll the throttle back before initiating the sweep stroke with your leading hand and hip snap simultaneously with enough power to carry you back to the surface.  Remember to follow the leading oar blade with your eyes and head so that your active blade hand and head are the last to leave the water,  and BREATH.

Naturally kayak rolling is taught with motorcycle analogy in our family.   BRAAAAAAP!!