When it comes to the art of whitewater kayaking, Eric Jackson has been best in class for as long as we can remember and, heck, he is still competing as one of the world’s best in the discipline of extreme slalom.
Roughly a decade ago, he came out with a series of instructional paddling videos for all levels of kayakers. These videos have proven to be timeless classics and unrivaled in the knowledge they exude.
In this tutorial, EJ walks us through the fundamentals of the forward stroke; how to effectively harness power and avoid bad habits that’ll slow you down. This might all seem simple enough for the seasoned kayaker, but we think you might be guilty of falling into some of these speed traps.
These tips will be valuable for springtime training, as we move to condition our bodies for the upcoming paddling season. Make sure to bring your technique back to basics from time to time, to ensure you’re not developing lazy habits.
Don’t beat yourself up if you’re not immediately successful troubleshooting your kayak roll. | Feature photo: Jennifer Uppendahl/Unsplash
Years ago, a buddy and I tied a couple of borrowed kayaks to his car and headed to the lake. Our mission was simple: we were going to learn to roll. We even had a book that was going to teach us how. We studied the crude line drawings, barely bothering to scan the accompanying text. Being natural athletes and confident of mastering such an easy trick, we were sure that our kayak roll wouldn’t require any real troubleshooting. I remember that our main strategy was to throw ourselves into the water with maximum force in order to generate the momentum necessary to get back upright again on the opposite side.
We failed to roll even once.
In our defense, at the time it was just about unheard of to be able to roll (at least in our circles). In fact, I don’t think that I had ever even seen the maneuver successfully performed—there were rumors, but no confirmed sightings.
Now, with the benefit of hindsight and many successful (and a few less successful) rolls behind me, it’s time to present a few hints about the often elusive art of rolling.
12 tips for troubleshooting your kayak roll
1 Don’t beat yourself up
Don’t beat yourself up if you’re not immediately successful. Most paddlers need more than one or two lessons. Be kind to yourself.
Most paddlers need more than one or two lessons. Be kind to yourself. | Photo: Jennifer Uppendahl/Unsplash
Don’t beat yourself up if you’re not immediately successful troubleshooting your kayak roll. | Feature photo: Jennifer Uppendahl/Unsplash
2 Make sure your boat fits you
Do make sure your boat fits you. If you are so loose that you can’t achieve a solid grip on the boat with your lower body, you will not be able to roll.
3 Work on your hip flick
Don’t forget to really work on your hip flick. A great drill is to grab the side of the pool or a dock or the bow of someone else’s boat, lay your head down on the pool’s edge and practice rolling your boat upside down and then upright again, using only your lower body and not your arms. Keep your head down.
4 Find a buddy
Do have a buddy stand in the water beside your boat, and have them guide your paddle through the proper motion.
5 Watch your blade
Don’t let your blade dive during a roll. Maintain a climbing angle on your active blade. Use goggles or a mask to watch your blade.
Illustration: Paul Mason
6 Get your buddy to spot you with a rescue
Do get your buddy to spot you with a rescue. This way, instead of having to swim, you can simply grab her bow and pull yourself upright if you blow your roll.
Don’t bring your head up first. Duct tape your head to your shoulder, bite the sleeve of your jacket or use any other means to ensure your head comes up last.
8 Don’t be rigid
Strive to be supple and flowing, don’t be rigid or depend on power.
9 Practice a dryland roll
Do practice a dryland roll by sitting in your kayak and going through the motions in the backyard—this is a great drill helping your body learn the motions through repetition.
10 Use a paddle float
Do make rolling easier by using a paddle float on your active blade. But don’t get stuck at this stage—ditch the float once your body has learned the motions.
The Governor General of Canada, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, has appointed Victoria Grant, the Canadian Canoe Museum’s Chair of the Board of Directors, to the Order of Canada.
Created in 1967, the Order of Canada is one of our country’s highest civilian honours, recognizing outstanding achievement and dedication to the community and service to the nation. Appointments are made by the governor general on the recommendation of the Advisory Council for the Order of Canada.
A proud Teme-Augama Anishinabai Kwe, Loon Clan, Victoria was appointed to the Order “for bridging the gap between Indigenous, non-Indigenous culture, business and communities through her facilitation and meditation”. Victoria accepts the Order as an Officer (O.C.), which “recognizes achievement and merit of a high degree, especially service to Canada or to humanity at large”.
Having stepped down as Chair of the Community Foundations of Canada, just prior to the country’s sesquicentennial, Victoria came into to the Canadian Canoe Museum family through the National Council in 2017. She went on to join the Museum’s Board in 2018, becoming the Chair of the Board of Directors just two years later, in 2020.
Victoria Grant, Chair of the Canadian Canoe Museum Board of Directors
“I cannot think of anyone who deserves this high recognition as much as Victoria; her contribution to this country has been immeasurable; the museum is so proud and fortunate to have her leadership and knowledge. She has been such a valuable asset to us, especially during those turbulent pandemic times, as we continued to forge ahead with our plans to create our new home in the community” says Carolyn Hyslop, the Canadian Canoe Museum’s Executive Director, adding “the Canadian Canoe Museum’s Board of Directors, staff and volunteers, congratulate Victoria on this tremendous honour.
Victoria has a wealth of experience in organizational governance and administration, having served in her home community of Bear Island as Coordinator of the Noojimawin Health Authority, Manager and Assistant Negotiator of the N’Dakimenan Land Claim process, as well as serving as the Interim Band Manager of Temagami First Nation.
With the ambition to identify, sustain, and further the essential character of the community, Victoria co-founded the Temagami Community Foundation in 2000. Then, during the pandemic, she was instrumental in the creation of the Indigenous Peoples Resilience Fund; both have raised and disbursed millions of dollars through resiliency grants.
In addition to her commitments to family, community and her private practice in facilitation and negotiation (under the proprietorship banner of “Moving Red Canoe”…maybe she knew she was destined for the Canadian Canoe Museum), Victoria has served on numerous boards, including being a member of the Ontario Trillium Foundation, Vice-Chair of the Ontario Health Quality Council, Chair of the Circle on Philanthropy and Aboriginal Peoples in Canada, Director of the Counselling Foundation of Canada and a member of the Advisory Committee of the Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award.
About the Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is one of our Country’s highest civilian honours. Its Companions, Officers and Members take to heart the motto of the Order: DESIDERANTES MELIOREM PATRIAM (“The desire a better country”). Those who bear the Order’s iconic snowflake insignia have changed our nation’s measure of success and, through the sum of their accomplishments, have helped us build a better Canada.
About the Canadian Canoe Museum (CCM)
With a world-class collection as a catalyst, the Canadian Canoe Museum inspires connection, curiosity and new understanding. In partnership with individuals, groups and communities – locally, provincially and nationally – we work to experience and explore all that our collection can inspire. This sees students opening their minds in our galleries; community members connecting through artisanry; people of all ages getting on the water and learning to paddle; and exhibitions and events that spark conversation and collaboration.
About the New Museum
The Canadian Canoe Museum is building a new home for its world-class collection along the water’s edge in Peterborough, ON. The new museum will be located on a five-acre site in Peterborough, ON that will provide stunning west-facing views of Little Lake, a connection to the Trans Canada Trail, and is surrounded by public parks. It will become a vibrant community space for outdoor activities and the Museum’s canoeing and outdoor programs and events.
The Canadian Canoe Museum has a unique opportunity to create a new cultural destination that will inspire visitors to learn about Canada’s collective history and reinforce our connections to land, water and one another – all through the unique lens of the iconic canoe. Learn more at canoemuseum.ca/new-museum.
Eager to launch on the water as quickly as possible, we kayakers are regular offenders when it comes to skipping warm-ups and warm-downs. Too often, it takes an injury to occur before many of us take body conditioning seriously.
In this training video, Dr. Sam (PT) of REI walks us through 8 tailored-for-kayaking exercises to increase mobility, strength, endurance and balance in the upper leg, hip, abdomen, and back. A handful of the movements will mimic certain kayak strokes. Ideally, you’ll need a resistance band to fully benefit from these exercises.
These movements are simple-to-follow and low intensity, making them a great way to ease back into paddling after some time off the water.
Ours is not a gentle sport. No matter how practiced and prepared you may be, a risk of injury exists around every rocky bend in the river. A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing—but that’s just what we’re going to give you. Here are some of the most common paddling injuries and how to recognize, prevent and when prevention fails, treat them.
Cause: When your elbow is raised above your shoulder, even a small amount of backward pressure can stretch ligaments and lever the ball of your humerus out of its socket in the scapula.
Symptoms: The dislocated shoulder droops and the humerus ball protrudes from the pectoral area, accompanied by discomfort or intense pain.
Prevention: Keep your elbows low and tucked in when bracing and keep your lower arm bent at the elbow when doing a Duffek or draw stroke. If you do suffer a dislocation, work on your bracing technique because your shoulder will now be more vulnerable.
Treatment: Leave relocations to experts. At the scene of the injury, sling and swathe the arm in the position you find it, monitor blood circulation to the fingers and get ready for a hell of a portage out. If you are on a three-week solo expedition and you need to relocate your shoulder on your own, try sitting down with your knees in front of your chest, hug your knees with both arms and slowly lean backward.
2 Broken nose
Cause: Penciling in off a large drop with your paddle shaft in front of your face.
Signs/Symptoms: You’ll look and feel like an old-timer staggering out of the Legion Hall with a swollen, deformed schnoz and a dull ringing in your ears.
Prevention: Hold your paddle to one side, parallel to the boat, while hucking—not in front of your face.
Treatment: Control any bleeding by blowing out clots and pinching the bridge of your nose for 15 minutes. Plan on visiting a hospital when you get off the river. there’s no point in resetting it yourself unless you weren’t very fond of it in the first place and are willing to take some chances.
External otitis (swimmer’s ear)
3 External otitis (swimmer’s ear)
Cause: An infection brought on when your ear becomes host to the bacteria and fungus most often present in warm water.
Symptoms: Your ear is tender on the outside and red, swollen and itchy on the inside. The combination will leave you dizzy with pain.
Prevention: Use a drying, antibacterial solution of equal parts rubbing alcohol and white vinegar after paddling in warm or polluted waters. Wear ear plugs.
Treatment: Wet willies with antibiotic cream.
4 Exostosis (surfer’s ear)
Cause: Your inner ear defends itself against cold water by building up layers of calcium in the ear canal.
Signs/Symptoms: As the calcium blocks off your ear canal it impairs hearing and drainage.
Tendonitis
Prevention: Keep cold water out of your ear by wearing earplugs or practicing your braces.
Cause: Repetitive contraction of the forearm muscles, leading to inflammation of the tendons. A white-knuckle death grip on an old school, straight shaft paddle with extreme feather is a great way to afflict yourself. Tendonitis often occurs early in the season when your forearm muscles are weak and unaccustomed to paddling.
Symptoms: Swelling, numbness, pain, loss of motor control.
Prevention: Loosen your grip on the paddle, choose a stick with less feather and work on strengthening your forearm muscles off the water.
Treatment: Rest, but since not paddling is obviously out of the question, your best bets are anti-inflammatories and stretching. Chronic cases may require surgery.
Sprained ankle
6 Sprained ankle
Cause: Your ankle rolls to the outside over top of your foot after missing a step on a portage, stretching or tearing the ligaments on the outside of the ankle. This usually happens near the end of the day when you are tired or rushed, or when you are portaging but still staring at the set through the trees, wondering if you should have run it after all.
Symptoms: An ankle that’s bruised or swollen on the outside and even more painful to walk on than look at.
Treatment: In order to get to a place where RICE—rest, ice, compression and elevation—is possible, you’ll have to stabilize the ankle. Wrap the affected area from the instep to mid-calf with tape or a tensor, starting from the arch side and running under then over the foot.
Prevention: Replace your neoprene socks with something more supportive, take your time while portaging or just stay in the boat and give’er.
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Bruised ego
7 Bruised ego
Causes: Either opting out of a run, or else convincing yourself to run something and then realizing you should have opted out.
Symptoms: Susceptibility to self-doubt, low self-esteem and depression. Chronic victims are usually accomplished swimmers.
Prevention: Always carry a camera. This way you can excuse yourself from suspect runs for the sake of “getting some shots.”
Treatment: Beer.
This article first appeared in the Spring 2006 issue of Rapid Magazine and in Paddling Magazine Issue 65. Subscribe to Paddling Magazine’s print and digital editions here, or download the Paddling Magazine app and browse the digital archives here.
In the words of Ronnie Lane of the Ooh La La’s, “I wish that I knew what I know now when I was younger”—a statement that rings true when most of us think back to our years as newbie-paddlers.
Of course, there isn’t a textbook substitute for first-hand experiences; our water literacy mostly develops through trial and error. Still, we thought it would be fun to ask our readers (via our Instagram account) what they wish they had known when they were beginners. After sifting through hundreds of great responses, we’ve handpicked our favorite 17 pieces of advice.
1. It would take years to get good, but it would be worth it.
– @katbulk
2. You don’t have to eat dehydrated meals on trips! Bring a cast-iron skillet!
– @kevinkapala
With the right gear, prep and knowledge, your camping meals don’t actually have to be any different from your at-home kitchen meals. Photo courtesy of Unsplash
Good relationships keep us happier and healthier. Another reason to plan a weekend trip. | Photo: Pierre Emmanuel Chaillon
The next time someone asks why you’re disappearing with your paddling buds into the wilderness for days at a time, tell them this: studies prove paddling is a factor to happiness.
Since 1939, Harvard University has been conducting what’s become the longest-running study on human happiness in the world.
For 80 years, the Grant and Glueck study has tracked the physical and emotional well-being of 724 men. A third were graduates of Harvard’s classes of 1944, and the rest were from inner-city Boston. A few dozen of the original subjects are still alive and in their mid-90s.
“The people who were the most satisfied in their relationships
at age 50 were the healthiest at age 80.”
After meeting with and interviewing these men every two years for the last eight decades and generating tens of thousands of pages of findings, the study confirms it’s not the oft-lusted after fame, fortune and success that creates long-term happiness.
Paddling can be a big factor in your happiness.
“The clearest message that we get from this study is this: Good relationships keep us happier and healthier. Period,” says Robert Waldinger, the study’s fourth director and professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.
His 2015 TED Talk, “What Makes a Good Life,” has been viewed 25 million times. “The people who were the most satisfied in their relationships at age 50 were the healthiest at age 80,” said Waldinger. The study found a person’s level of satisfaction with their relationships at age 50 was a better predictor of their future physical health than even cholesterol levels.
Close relationships—which doesn’t mean conflict-free relationships—help protect from life’s discontents, delay mental and physical decline, and are better predictors of long and happy lives than social class, IQ, and even genes, the study reveals.
All of this is good news for paddlers. Aside from a small minority of dedicated solo trippers, most canoeists go paddling with other people most of the time. And we know there are few better ways to foster a meaningful connection than wilderness travel.
Good relationships keep us happier and healthier–another reason to plan a weekend trip. | Feature photo: Pierre Emmanuel Chaillon
Scientists who study such things say developing friendship boils down to four factors—proximity, frequency, duration and intensity. This must at least partially account for why it’s so much easier for kids to strike up friendships. Being stuck in one elementary school classroom for six hours a day, five days a week does a lot for building comradery.
[ Paddling Buyer’s Guide: View all tandem canoes ]
The last piece of the puzzle, intensity, refers to the quality of the interaction. Think of these four factors like pieces of a pie. You don’t need an intense personal connection to form a solid friendship with someone you see every day at work. The reverse is also true. A brief but intense experience can connect for life two people living on opposite sides of the globe.
Canoe tripping is an intense interpersonal experience, stoking embers of friendship and future wellbeing.
Dr. Steven Howell studies the science of friendship at Keystone College in Pennsylvania and found exchanging confidences and taking risks together are two ideal ingredients for establishing or rekindling bonds. Perhaps not so surprisingly, his research found a night out drinking is often a quick and successful way to do this. He also found two people who handle a challenge together—even something small like stumbling home at the end of the night—were more likely to become close.
Time in the wilderness, on the water or around the campfire, also encourages sharing confidences, overcoming challenges, managing risks and lots of high fives—all the benefits of Dr. Howell’s prescribed night out, but without the hangover.
Canoe tripping is an intense interpersonal experience, stoking embers of friendship and future wellbeing. “This message, that good, close relationships are good for our health is wisdom as old as the hills,” says Harvard’s Dr. Waldinger, acknowledging we’re just not always very good at following this advice.
“The ways to enact this lesson in your own life are endless,” Dr. Waldinger adds. “It might be as simple as replacing screen time with people time, livening up a stale relationship by doing something new together, or reaching out to a family member you haven’t spoken to in years.”
Or you could call up a buddy and go paddling. It’s good for your health—Harvard University says so.
Good relationships keep us happier and healthier—another reason to plan a weekend trip. | Feature photo: Pierre Emmanuel Chaillon
Paddle silently through the stillness at Smoothwater Lake Provincial Park. | Feature photo: Gary McGuffin
The beauty of silent paddling is just that—the silence. You can paddle along a stretch of shoreline at dusk with the only sound of your passing being the small rippling wake slapping the rocks. Every sound of the forest is crystal clear: a creek burbling, the distant hooting of an owl, a frog croaking. Traveling in silence takes practice but the rewards are well worth the effort. Read on and learn how to paddle silently.
Whether you’re sneaking up on a moose for that perfect photo or simply enjoying the sensation of gliding across water soundlessly, silent paddling is a skill every canoeist should master. The good news is, at the heart of every quiet stroke is just good technique. Employ it and you’ll be able to travel farther and faster while conserving your strength—and no one will hear you coming.
Paddle silently through the stillness at Smoothwater Lake Provincial Park. | Feature photo: Gary McGuffin
Silent paddling is attainable by anyone willing to work on improving the biomechanics of their forward stroke. Your body and paddle should act as one to position the canoe and exert force, enabling your boat to move through the water. Any time you hear the paddle, be it banging the gunwale or moving water, you can be sure you need to improve the efficiency of your technique.
Position yourself properly
Efficiency starts with your body position. Your hands-on the grip and shaft of the paddle should be spaced a bit more than shoulder distance apart. Sit or kneel with your knees anchoring you to the canoe in a solid stance. This achieves balance and it enables you to transfer maximum power through your paddle to the canoe.
Slightly bend and lock your elbows so that your upper torso will have to rotate to plant the paddle, engaging your core muscles. To avoid a noisy splash when you plant your blade in the water, keep the paddle shaft near vertical as it enters—this way, you’ll only hear a whisper.
Fully submerging your blade will allow you to paddle without creating a gurgle. Think of the blade as anchored in the water. As you unwind your torso, pull with your shaft arm while pushing with your hand on the grip. Focus on bringing the canoe to your paddle instead of the other way around. As you do this, use your hips to thrust the canoe forward.
Exiting the paddle blade silently from the water requires finesse, and must happen in line with your hip and not behind it. To do this, drop your grip hand slightly while turning that thumb forward, effectively twisting the paddle in the water. Lift your shaft hand so the blade clears the surface, sliding out perpendicular to the water’s surface instead of parallel. Keep those elbows locked. Your arms, torso and paddle must remain as one unit to be efficient. Did you hear anything louder than a whisper?
Practice the perpendicular plant
Reach forward for the catch and plant the blade again—with practice this technique will become smooth.
Perfect this skill and you’ll not only notice the benefit of moving faster with less effort, but you will achieve a true sense of oneness between you, the paddle, the canoe and the water that only silence can bring.
Master the ancient art of the silent stroke
Good paddling form will help you to reduce noise, but the silent stroke can take it one step further. Once mastered, this variation on the J-stroke allows you a quick, quiet passage through the water.
The key to the silent stroke is the recovery. Following the J, the blade is sliced back to the catch position in an underwater recovery. Roll the grip in the palm of your hand so that the backface now becomes the powerface. From stroke to stroke, the blade does not leave the water at all. We break down the steps below.
Photos: Gary McGuffin
5 steps to perform the silent stroke
1 The underwater recovery is key
The silent stroke is a forward stroke with an underwater recovery where the powerface alternates on each stroke. Move from one blade face to the other by rolling the grip in the palm of your control hand while the blade is in the recovery position. Slice the blade forward in a complete underwater recovery. As the blade slices back to the catch, the blade’s leading edge turns toward the hull instead of away from it as in a forward stroke.
2 Spin the paddle grip to switch faces
Open your fingers on your control hand to spin the paddle grip in your palm. Now your control thumb points out. The leading edge of the blade turns toward the hull. What was the powerface now becomes the backface.
3 Pull your canoe to the blade
This is the propulsion phase of your forward stroke. Begin with a slight forward lean at the catch, with your upper body rotated toward the offside. Pull your lower body to the blade by sitting up and unwinding your torso.
4 Initiate J, then recover
At the end of the propulsion phase, turn your control thumb forward to initiate the J.
5 Aim for smooth transitions
The smooth transitions between powerfaces and the silence of the stroke comes from the blade never completely breaking the surface of the water. The silent stroke involves very subtle blade control.
This article originally appeared in Canoeroots and Family Camping, Spring 2014 and in Paddling Magazine Issue 65. Subscribe to Paddling Magazine’s print and digital editions here, or download the Paddling Magazine app and browse the digital archives here.
Paddle silently through the stillness at Smoothwater Lake Provincial Park. | Feature photo: Gary McGuffin
Looking to shield your kayak or canoe from the elements, but don’t fancy the extra clutter on your garage floor? Nick’s Life Outside is the man with the answers.
In his DIY boat storage tutorial, he’ll show you how you can put together a nifty little kayak storage solution with just a few basic hardware store supplies. We’re not talking two-by-fours either; all you’ll need is s-rings, cam straps and a non-defeatist attitude.
First, screw two D-rings into a ceiling joist about three feet apart—or wider if you have an especially broad boat. Move several joists down and add a second set of D-rings, far enough from the first set to support your craft. Nick’s joists are easy to see, or you can use a stud finder to pinpoint the exact location.
Next, use S-hooks and cam straps to fashion two matching cradles suspended from the D-rings. These cradles will hold your boat, so make sure the hardware is properly rated for the weight, plus some wiggle room. Use the cam straps to ratchet your boat up and out of the way of your vehicle.
[ View all Canoes in the Paddling Buyer’s Guide ]
Cradle Works For Cleaning And Maintenance Too
Beyond storage, suspending your boat at shoulder height can make it easier to clean and maintain. Once in the cradle, Nick wipes down his canoe and treats it with some spray wax. “Just make sure whatever you use is all-natural,” he advises.
Looking for adventure, or whatever comes our way. | Photo: Nicholas Spooner
Most paddlers have some sort of roof rack system to get their kayak to and from the water with ease and confidence. The systems vary, and, no matter what rack you have or if you are transporting a kayak without a roof rack, there are some basic principles to follow—and some common mistakes to avoid. Read on for ten expert tips to help you—and your boat—hit the road with confidence.
Top 5 roof rack dos
1 Do upgrade your factory rack system
Upgrade your factory rack system to a base rack from a quality roof rack company. This is a quality set of feet and bars upon which all other rack accessories can be mounted.
2 Do ensure you purchase the correct rack
Ensure you purchase the correct rack for the model and year of your vehicle. If it doesn’t say it’s made for your car, don’t trust it.
Looking for adventure, or whatever comes our way. | Feature photo: Nicholas Spooner
3 Do place your bars as far apart as possible
Place your bars as far apart as possible. The less the boat hangs past the front and rear bars the more the boat is supported in its straight-ahead position, and the less the boat is likely to turn in the wind.
4 Do periodically check and tighten the fasteners
Periodically check and tighten the fasteners securing the rack to your vehicle. Most racks are rubber mounted in some way. As the rubber compresses and hardens with age the friction holding it in place reduces. The only thing worse than losing one boat from the rack is having the entire rack blow off.
5 Do lube and periodically use the keys in the locks
Lube and periodically use the keys in the locks. Roof racks are exposed to the brunt of weather for all four seasons. They typically don’t ever move and when it’s time to remove them, sell the car or perhaps wax it, you may find the reason they weren’t stolen is because they are seized in place.
Don’t overload your factory racks. Most factory racks are recommended for a maximum load of 70 pounds, and any sort of tension applied to the bars will warp them out of shape. Most everyone breaks this rule.
2 Don’t get bars that extend past your roof
Don’t get bars that extend past your roof unless they are well overhead or you like the Rocky look. Once you have the correct feet for your vehicle you can purchase up to 78-inch-wide bars. The inconvenience of installing wider bars every time you want to carry two tandem canoes or kayaks side-by-side is far less than the pain from walking into them with your face. Trust us. Do as I say, not as I do. All my bars are 78 inches; they stay on all the time.
Periodically check and tighten the fasteners securing the rack to your vehicle, or you could lose that fancy surfski. | Photo: Takundamunashe Danha/Unsplash
3 Don’t leave them up
If you use uprights, don’t get in the habit of leaving them up. We all know someone who has peeled off bikes or boats while in a parking garage. From what we’ve heard, the driver always instantly knows the source of the horrible sound.
4 Don’t go through the car wash
Automated car washes should be avoided, even the no-touch ones. Yes, you’ve probably gone through okay, but you had your fingers crossed didn’t you? The fuzzy-roller car washes are sketchy on the best of days and even the no-touch car washes have sensors that “see” the surface of the vehicle but don’t always “see” the narrow tube bars of our roof racks. Once your wheels are locked into the tracks and the light turns green you’re committed.
5 Don’t fess up
Lastly and most importantly, if you lose a boat, luggage or your entire rack, DON’T admit it. Instead, try these lines: “The missing gel-coat and smashed rudder? That was from an epic surf landing. You should have seen it.” Or, “Where’s my boat? Umm. I just came to volunteer and help with the race. Then I’m going rollerblading.”
This article originally appeared in Paddling Magazine Issue 65. Subscribe to Paddling Magazine’s print and digital editions here, or download the Paddling Magazine app and browse the digital archives here.
Looking for adventure, or whatever comes our way. | Feature photo: Nicholas Spooner
