Editorial: Born Again

Stories

Photo: Virginia Marshall — Editorial: Born Again

I was conceived in a tarpaper shack. It had a door handle of silver-polished driftwood scavenged from the neighboring beach, and a chicken wire window through which carried the sound of waves gently lapping or violently thrashing three-billion-year-old volcanic greenstone.

My parents never set foot in this rustic hut. I’m not referring to the conception of the large-lunged, platinum-haired infant they named Virginia and raised in a semi-rural colonial. Rather, it is my adult identity—a sea kayaker by passion and trade—that was born here.

Few people can pinpoint the protozoan moment they became the essence of who they really are. Identify the choices that defined the course the rest of their lives would take. I can.

For me, it was during one of those golden, bewitchingly long summer days just after solstice on Lake Superior, when shadows seem to stretch to the horizon and the lumpy hills turn softly purple.

I arrived on the lake eager and impressionable, a week out of college and sopping-wet-behind-the-ears—even more so after a first day initiation in the surf.

I had an extra large mesh duffle containing my worldly possessions, a Rubbermaid full of books and an invitation to work as an assistant kayak guide.

My Evolving Kayak Identity

For the next four months, I divided my time between the shack known to my co-workers as the Taudis des Souris (not without good reason, I soon discovered), my no-longer-new-smelling tent and the cockpit of a kayak. At season’s end, I was a sea kayaker.

Even more than the incredible tripping and surfing or adjective defying landscape, the other kayakers with whom I shared those blissfully isolated, uncomplicated months defined me. From them, I learned to be master of my craft, confident on open water and in avalanching waves. I discovered how to live simply and comfortably out of 130 liters of plastic for weeks at a stretch. I listened to remarkable stories that would eventually lead me to my own thrilling adventures. I fell in love and shared the shack with more than just mice.

Every raw experience further glazed the patina of my evolving identity. I couldn’t know the places kayaking would take me, but I was eager to discover. I’m still discovering. Settling in to helm this issue of Adventure Kayak, I’ve added another layer of identity: Sea kayak magazine editor.

Driftwood and paddles still decorate my home, but I’ve traded chicken wire acoustics and isolation for high-speed and a broad- reaching industry and community network. I look forward to the inspiring stories and people to which this job is an unrivalled portal. I’ve no doubt your tales will lead some fascinating places.

This article first appeared in the Spring 2011 issue of Adventure Kayak Magazine. For more great content, subscribe to Adventure Kayak’s print and digital editions here.

Boat Review: The Essence 17.0 by Airealite

Photo: Tory Bowman — Boat Review: The Essence 17.0 by Airealite

When people say the Perception Essence 17.0 Airalite is a “good looking boat”—as they inevitably do—they’re likely referring to the sexy lines of the long, slender bow. For it’s here that the Essence reveals its designers’ intentions to prolong the transition from bow to midsection to make for the finest possible entry lines.

The Essence is a sharp contrast to rough water designs that carry more volume in the ends for buoyancy in waves. Crafted by longtime Confluence Watersports boat designer Bob McDonough to be a friendly, high-performance tourer, it has a sporty feel and excellent capacity and speed for its length. This is achieved by the tapered bow and the Swede form shape, with the widest point rear of the midsection like a racing kayak.

The stern is stockier than the bow—a nod to packability. In McDonough’s words, “You’ve got to carry the volume somewhere.”

The result is capacity for long trips combined with excellent efficiency that is refreshing to find in a plastic boat. The Airalite we tested is the lighter, thermoformed version but the Essence also comes in more affordable poly, and both options are available in a 16.5 length for smaller paddlers.

A limited rocker plus the tapered bow’s emphasis on knifing the water equals strong tracking and minimal weathercocking. There’s perhaps less need for the skeg than for the optional rudder, which novices might appreciate for easier turning.

The hull under the cockpit is a shallower V than other popular British-style 17-footers like Confluence’s Wilderness Systems Tempest 170 and the NDK Explorer. It’s also about an inch wider and the chine is slightly softer, resulting in greater initial stability and more smooth, predictable edging.

For this new top-end touring boat, Perception has taken a winning British formula and expertly honed it to be a tad more welcoming to a wide range of paddlers and uses. And, dare we say, a little faster and more spacious.

With a distance swimmer’s heart for the straight and narrow, the Essence is perhaps not your first choice for a day in the surf. However, like the touring edition of a high-end sports sedan, this kayak is perfectly capable of dialing up the adrenaline and having some fun if opportunity booms. Which, in our books, is the definition of the perfect tripping kayak.

Rudder ready

In addition to the standard hydrofoil- shaped skeg and easy adjusting SlideLock foot braces, the essence comes rudder-ready with a mounting bracket on the stern and routings for cables.

Handy hatches

The Essence includes a 10-inch bow hatch, 8-inch day hatch and an oversized stern hatch, all with tight- fitting kajak-Sport rubber lids.

Comfort outfitting

Perception touts its Zone eXp Seating System as “expedition grade.” It includes a long, padded seat bottom with adjustable height to promote circulation on extended outings, and adjustable padded thigh braces. a long, spacious cockpit accommodates tall paddlers.

Specs

Length: 17 ft
Width: 23 in
Weight: 50 lbs
Max. load rating: 350 lbs
Price: $2,299 USD / $2,409 CAD

This article first appeared in the Spring 2011 issue of Adventure Kayak magazine. For more boat reviews, subscribe to Adventure Kayak’s print and digital editions here.

Neah Bay Kayak Trip

Trips

Loading up near Makah Bay. Photo: Bryan Smith — Loading up near Makah Bay.

This kayak trip destination information is excerpted from “Best of the West” in Adventure Kayak magazine.

Makah Bay to Cape Alava, Neah Bay, Washington

3 days

Launching through the surf at Makah Bay is just the start of this coastal journey on Washington’s rugged coast. Good weather and small swell during summer months open up landings at Shi Shi Beach and further south. Part of the Olympic National Seashore, this stretch of coast is home to some of the most impressive sea stacks and rock gardens anywhere.

Find more information about routes in this area at http://www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/shi-shi-beach-olympic-wilderness.htm.

This article originally appeared in Adventure Kayak, Spring 2011. Download our free iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch App or Android App or read it here.

Lower Columbia River Kayak Trip

Trips

Cape Horn in the Columbia River Gorge. Photo: Neil Schulman — Cape Horn in the Columbia River Gorge.

This kayak trip destination information is excerpted from “Best of the West” in Adventure Kayak magazine.

Lower Columbia River, Northern Oregon and Southern Washington

1 to 10 days 

Cruise 144 downstream miles from Bonneville Dam to the sea in the paddle strokes of Lewis and Clark. Or, pick a smaller section: The grassy, bird-filled wildlife refuges near Skamokawa, the cliffs of Cape Horn or the ocean-like training ground of swell, wind and currents closer to the Pacific. Watch out for big ships and big winds. Paddling this varied is hard to come by. Build street cred by “crossing the bar” where the Columbia’s current dissipates into the Pacific causing large standing waves.

Find more information about routes in this area at www.estuarypartnership.org/explore and www.columbiariverkayaking.com.

This article originally appeared in Adventure Kayak, Spring 2011. Download our free iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch App or Android App or read it here.

Desolation Sound Kayak Trip

Trips

Towering cliffs of Desolation Sound. Photo: Dave Quinn — Towering cliffs of Desolation Sound.

This kayak trip destination information is excerpted from “Best of the West” in Adventure Kayak magazine.

Desolation Sound, Sunshine Coast, British Columbia

5 days

This labyrinth of passages and islands is the perfect recipe for easy-access paddling. Anything but desolate, this protected sound provides safe paddling options for almost any weather, plus tidal rapids and exposed waters for the more adventurous. Aprés-paddling adventures abound, with hikes to nearby summits and lakes, and incredible warm water snorkelling beneath towering cliff gardens of red-barked arbutus trees. In fact, the sound is home to some of the warmest Pacific waters north of California, with sea temperatures reaching a positively tropical 72°F (22°C).

Find more information about routes in this area at www.bcseakayak.com and www.britishcolumbia.com.

This article originally appeared in Adventure Kayak, Spring 2011. Download our free iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch App or Android App or read it here.

Hakai Pass Kayak Trip

Trips

Hakai Pass. Photo: Dave Quinn — Hakai Pass kayak trip.

This kayak trip destination information is excerpted from “Best of the West” in Adventure Kayak magazine.

Hakai Pass, Central Coast, British Columbia

5 to 10 days

The Hakai region is a paddler’s Shangri-la. For those with the right mindset, Hakai Pass is a secret passage into a mystical island chain where anything is possible. Although the experience of a BC Ferries car deck wet-launch is reason enough to visit Hakai, it is merely the appetizer to the adventure main course to come. Daily encounters with orca, grilled fresh-caught salmon on a driftwood beach fire, sea otters galore and memory-engraving Pacific sunsets are all found in the Hakai, in the heart of the Hieltsuk Nation.

Find more information about this area at www.batstar.com and www.britishcolumbia.com.

This article originally appeared in Adventure Kayak, Spring 2011. Download our free iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch App or Android App or read it here.

Haida Gwaii Kayak Trip

Trips

Gwaii Hanaas. Photo: Dave Quinn — Haida Gwaii

This kayak trip destination information is excerpted from “Best of the West” in Adventure Kayak magazine.

Haida Gwaii, Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia 

14 days

 If Haida Gwaii is not near the top of your Pacific paddling list, it should be. The “Galapagos of the North” boasts some of the last, best remnants of the Pacific Northwest’s wild raincoasts. Gwaii Hanaas National Park’s unparalleled Eden-like mix of ancient rainforest and vibrant marine life offers a window into what the Pacific Northwest used to be. The tangible and authentic history and current genuine hospitality of the Haida Nation complete the picture.

Learn more about this amazing destination at www.gohaidagwaii.ca or www.butterflytours.bc.ca.

This article originally appeared in Adventure Kayak, Spring 2011. Download our free iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch App or Android App or read it here.

Best Alpine Lake Canoe Trips

Bowron Lake beauty. Photo: Tim Shuff. — Bowron Lake beauty.

This canoe trip destinations article was originally published in Canoeroots and Family Camping magazine.

Imagine watching the first warm rays of dawn blush the frozen summits above your camp, or floating spellbound beneath steep ranks of silent forest. Backpackers have long bartered for a taste of priceless mountain beauty with heavy packs, tiny tents and crummy food. But mountain lakes oblige canoeists with a leisurely, pampered route into sublime scenery. Don’t forget the Dutch oven for fresh brownies.

YELLOWSTONE LAKE, Wyoming

At 20 miles long and 14 miles across, and perched nearly 8,000 feet above sea level, Yellowstone Lake in the famous park of the same name is large and high enough to create its own weather, quickly transforming the lake from mirror-smooth to meringue- choppy. With a healthy respect for change-able conditions—figure on one day in every three as an onshore wind/hiking day—canoeists can escape the motorized main-stream and penetrate into the wild heart of the park. The motorboat-restricted South-east Arm makes a fine weeklong, out-and- back trip from Sedge Bay. Watch for moose, elk, osprey, bald eagles, bear and even bison. www.nps.gov/yell

MALIGNE LAKE, Alberta

Ringed by snow-capped peaks and three ice fields, Jasper National Park’s Maligne Lake is the largest natural water body in the Canadian Rockies. Solitude seekers should visit in September and head for two canoe access only campsites at Fisherman’s Bay and Coronet Creek. Fisherman’s Bay boasts nearby vistas of iconic Spirit Island floating on jade green waters, while Coronet Creek lies 22 kilometers from the parking area, beyond the reach of most tour boats. Both are great places to dip a line for record-sized rainbow and brook trout. www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/ab/jasper/visit.aspx

BOWRIN LAKE CHAIN, British Columbia

The Bowron Lake Canoe Circuit is a justifiably popular weeklong trip in central British Columbia’s Cariboo Mountains. Traveling 116 kilometers through 10 lakes, circuit paddlers can expect back-to-back two-kilometer portages, swiftly flowing rivers and sudden squalls of thermal winds in the steep-walled valleys. Bowron Lake Provincial Park’s excellent sandy beach swimming, waterfalls and plethora of alpine scenery are ample rewards. Wet your hull in late May, June or September for the choicest campsites and fewest portage trail pile-ups. www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/bowron_lk

HENDERSON LAKE, New York

Nestled in the mountainous embrace of the Adirondack Forest Preserve’s marquee High Peaks Wilderness lies little known Henderson Lake. As the crow flies, Henderson is just 15 miles south of the crowded Saranac Lakes, but in between is a roadless tract of 3,500-foot summits and steep, shadowy river valleys. Privately owned for over 175 years, this deep, clear lake is now open to the public, allowing paddlers to explore its many secluded arms. For an adventurous weekend of solitude even in mid-summer, brave the two-mile carry from the lake’s northwest end to the Preston Ponds and Duck Hole—14 miles roundtrip. www.visitadirondacks.com

This article originally appeared in Canoeroots & Family Camping, Spring 2011. Download our freeiPad/iPhone/iPod Touch App or Android App or read it here.

Top Spring Whitewater Park and Play

Trips

Crowe Bridge, Crowe River, ON. Photo: Cale Reeder — Crowe Bridge on the Crowe River, Ontario.

Rapid magazine’s top picks for class III Spring park and play rivers, perfect for practicing your freestyle moves.

BLADDER WAVE, Main Payette, ID

Found at the bottom of the Gutter section of the Main Payette, Bladder Wave has multiple personalities. It gets its name from the inflatable dam that creates the wave. When the volume of air in the dam changes or shifts, Bladder Wave can morph from an easy-to-catch, glassy smooth wave to a burly hole in seconds. It’s in during spring runoff and at high water levels—10,000 plus cfs. Keep an eye on local flow info and an ear out for rumors of when this shy wave will show its face.

YOUR RIDE

Bliss-Stick Smoothy

SHUTTLE ROUTE

The wave is only a half-hour outside of Boise. Take State Highway 55 north out of town. Hang a right on Pioneer Avenue before crossing the bridge over the Payette that takes you into Horse- shoe Bend. Drive for about two miles; when you see the access on the left, turn towards the water and park.

HELL HOLE, Middle Ocoee, TN

Pay homage to rodeo boating’s roots at Hell Hole, the birthplace of freestyle kayaking. There are access eddies on either side of the wave and boaters confidently push the limits knowing they will be flushed out if they misread. Tons of pros practice here so you’ll have plenty of chances to get pointers from seasoned freestylers. Getting a ride is well worth the wait in line. It’s runnable at levels between 900 and 2,500 cfs. Check with the Tennessee Valley Authority for dam release info.

YOUR RIDE

Jackson Rock Star

SHUTTLE ROUTE

Take the I-75 north from Chattanooga, and then head east on Route 64 until you can see the Ocoee on your right. Hell Hole is next to the powerhouse. Park along the road or at the take-out a half-mile or so down the 64.

CROWE BRIDGE, Crowe River, ON

This play spot in the heart of eastern Ontario’s spring creek playground has a feature for everyone. At spring highs, the wave train is just right for surfing with short boats. First in the lineup is a 40-foot-wide, flat, glassy wave with room for multiple riders. The next feature is a foamy hole followed by a third wave that steepens during runoff. Look for gauge readings of 100 cms or higher for prime conditions. Bring your camera and a friend to take your picture—the bridge overhead offers a perfect view.

YOUR RIDE

Wave Sport Fuse

SHUTTLE ROUTE

From Highway 7 between Havelock and Marmora, head south on County Road 50. Hang a left on 13th Line and then a right on Crowe River Road. Stop when you get to the bridge—mind the no parking signs.

This article originally appeared in Rapid, Spring 2011. Download our free iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch App or Android App or read it here.

Leg Drop Roll Kayak Technique

Skills

Photo: Shawna Franklin — A sea kayaker uses the bow of another sea kayak to practice a kayak roll.

Add reliability and ease to your roll by incorporating an active leg drop. The active leg drop better uses your body to roll the kayak and moves you away from relying too heavily on your paddle.

The quick, powerful action of rolling a kayak with the hips—a hip snap/flick—is widely described as getting the upper body near the surface and supported by the water, while righting the boat with a rolling action of the hips. Most people are told to lock their knees under the deck and concentrate on the upward action of one knee.

Both legs pushing up against the deck creates resistance to the rolling action. A paddler will often compensate by pulling harder on his paddle. He is essentially trying to lift his body up underneath the still overturned kayak, resulting in a cumbersome or failed roll and additional stress on the upper body. Avoid these problems with an active leg drop.

Start your roll by actively driving your leg closest to the paddle down, transferring con- tact from the thigh brace to the hull. Roll that hip and sit bone down while lifting with your opposite knee, bringing the kayak underneath your body.

This opposition of forces results in the kayak rolling almost upright before your body lifts out of the water, which reduces the need to pull on the paddle. As the kayak rolls up, your lowered leg and hip create a solid platform to help prevent it from tipping back over.

Watch another roller who is incorporating an active leg drop and you will notice that the boat moves before she starts to move her paddle.

Practice the action with this exercise. Hold onto a fixed object—a pool side or a friend’s bow or hand—and lower yourself into the water by rotating onto your back and bringing your shoulders parallel to the side of your kayak. Keep your arms bent in a strong position. Roll the boat over on top of your body while keeping your head on the surface.

Drive the leg closest to your hands to the bottom of the kayak while increasing pressure against the thigh brace on the opposite leg. Arc your spine and leave your head on the water. You will feel the kayak roll easily into a more upright position. This is similar to what Greenland paddlers refer to as a static brace position.

Repeat until you start to feel the coordination of your opposing leg actions, and then incorporate it into your roll.

In addition to rolling your kayak more efficiently, the active leg drop can also be incorporated into edging and bracing to the same advantage.

Shawna Franklin is the co-founder of Body Boat Blade International, an award-winning kayak school located on Orcas Island, Wa. A BCU coach Level 5 aspirant, Shawna was the first woman in North America to achieve the BCU 5 Star Sea award.

Peer review

“Shawna’s article is a great isolation and description of an important component to the roll. The connection to using downward pressure is key. ” » Ginni Callahan, ACA level 5 instructor and BCU level 4 coach, Cathlamet, WA

“It is great to see a coach moving paddlers away from the hip flick technique. Instead, think of your hips as a relaxed and flexible joint separating upper and lower body. Remember the mantra “Boat first, body second, head last” for the timing of a successful roll.” » Doug Cooper, BCU level 5 coach, Aviemore, Scotland

“Try backward learning to reinforce the leg drop. Holding onto a solid object, use one leg to actively pull the kayak upside down. Use the other leg to right the kayak. As you build confidence and skill, try Shawna’s drill holding onto a paddle float or flutter board. This will force you to drive the roll with your legs. If you use your arms, you will sink.” » Michael Pardy, Paddle Canada level 3 instructor trainer, Victoria, BC

“Many Greenland kayak designs [have] a wooden bar that holds both legs flat. [In] whitewater kayak designs, the limited space forces knees up and out- ward. So there’s a group of paddlers rolling with both legs straight and another rolling with both legs bent. Conceptually, I welcome Shawna’s instruction to prevent adverse pressure against the deck, although it’s not always possible. ” » Nigel Foster, BCU level 5 coach, St. Petersburg, FL

“Make sure your boat fits you correctly so you don’t fall out when using this technique. A keyhole cockpit offers a much better fit than a more open style. ” » Christopher Lockyer, BCU level 4 coach and Paddle Canada level 3 instructor, Halifax, NS

This article originally appeared in Adventure Kayak, Spring 2011. Download our freeiPad/iPhone/iPod Touch App or Android App or read it here.